Quantcast
Channel: News
Viewing all 62489 articles
Browse latest View live

13-year-old boy fatally injured in Buckland off-road utility vehicle crash

0
0

The crash occurred Wednesday afternoon in a field off Creamery Avenue.

BUCKLAND - A 13-year-old boy was fatally injured Wednesday afternoon after he crashed an off-road utility vehicle in a field off Creamery Avenue.

The boy, the operator and lone rider, was taken by ambulance to Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield with significant head trauma, Mary Carey, a spokeswoman with the Northwestern District Attorney's office. He was pronounced dead at approximately 5:30 p.m.

The incident remains under investigation by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney's Office, Massachusetts Environmental Police and Buckland Police.

The boy's identity will be released pending notification of family. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine cause of death.


VIDEO: 90-year-old driver crashes into Wild Willy's Restaurant in Quincy, four injured

0
0

As patrons were placing their lunch orders at Wild Willy's in Quincy this week, a Subaru smashed through the front of the restaurant, injuring several customers. Watch video

As patrons were placing their lunch orders at Wild Willy's in Quincy this week, a Subaru smashed through the front of the restaurant, injuring several customers.

An elderly couple was in the vehicle that crashed through the front door and inside wall of the hamburger restaurant, Quincy police say, with a 90-year-old man driving.

Four family members, visiting from out-of-state, were injured in the crash and taken to a nearby hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Police have not identified the driver as no charges or citations have been filed against him, but city police filed an immediate-threat form with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles to have his driver's license revoked.

Gallery preview 

Westfield boxer Taylor Smith may be young, but she knows how to throw a punch

0
0

Smith is slated to fight Hartford boxer Debbie Basora at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, on Saturday, July 23.

WESTFIELD — She's young and knows how to throw a punch. Her name is Taylor Smith, an 18-year-old boxer from Westfield who's scheduled to fight at Mohegan Sun on Saturday, July 23.

The Westfield High School graduate has only been boxing for two years, but she's already racked up some big wins, including two Golden Gloves titles. She trains at Whitley's Boxing & Fitness Center in Holyoke, where she's clearly a rising star.

Before boxing, Smith played soccer and ran track in high school.

On Saturday evening, she'll face Hartford boxer Debbie Basora, who trains at the Hartford Boxing Center.

This will be Smith's last boxing match before she ships out for basic training with the Army National Guard.



Bring the NBA All-Star Game to Massachusetts, House Speaker Robert DeLeo urges

0
0

As the National Basketball Association seeks a new host for next year's All-Star Game, a Massachusetts official has 351 options in mind.

As the National Basketball Association seeks a new host for next year's All-Star Game, a Massachusetts official has 351 options in mind.

Bring the All-Star Game to Massachusetts, House Speaker Robert DeLeo said Thursday evening.

The NBA announced Thursday its decision to relocate the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte.

"Since March, when North Carolina enacted HB2 and the issue of legal protections for the LGBT community in Charlotte became prominent, the NBA and the Charlotte Hornets have been working diligently to foster constructive dialogue and try to effect positive change," the league said in a statement. "While we recognize that the NBA cannot choose the law in every city, state and country in which we do business, we do not believe we can successfully host our All-Star festivities in Charlotte in the climate created by HB2."

DeLeo touted Massachusetts' new transgender accommodations law that will allow people to use the restroom that matches their gender identity and protects transgender people from discrimination in public places.

NBA officials said Thursday the new location of the NBA All-Star Game will be announced in coming weeks.

Springfield man arrested before he could rob store at gunpoint for 6th time, police say

0
0

Tyrone Bryant, 47, of 125 Andrew St., was charged with attempted armed robbery and possession of a deceptive device during a violent crime (mask).

SPRINGFIELD -- Police say they arrested a city man, suspected of robbing the Food Mart on State Street five times at gunpoint, shortly before he attempted it for a sixth time on Wednesday night.

The armed robberies began in February and the suspect was always partially-masked and wearing the same black hooded sweatshirt, black jeans, brown work boots and distinctive colored gloves in each robbery, Sgt. John Delaney said.

Officers John Ruyffelaert and Ranuel Bibby were on patrol in Mason Square when they saw a suspicious male wearing similar clothes to the ones described in the five armed robberies, Delaney, public information officer for the department, said.

The officers saw the suspect pull the hood of the sweatshirt over his head and don the distinctive gloves. He then put a mask on the lower half of his face and approached the store.

The officers intercepted the suspect before he entered, arrested him and found him to be in possession of a BB gun.

Detectives from the Major Crime Unit, under the direction of Capt.Trent Duda, are working to see if the suspect can be linked to the other five armed robberies there, Delaney said.

Tyrone Bryant, 47, of 125 Andrew St., was charged with attempted armed robbery and possession of a deceptive device during a violent crime (mask).

"This was an outstanding arrest by two outstanding police officers whose attention to detail and professionalism resulted in an arrest before any violence could take place," Delaney said.

New Bedford man killed in Route 195 rollover crash in Dartmouth

0
0

Massachusetts State Police are investigating an early Friday morning crash that killed a driver.

Massachusetts State Police are investigating an early Friday morning crash that killed a driver.

State police from the Dartmouth Barracks were called to Route 195 east of the exit 12 in Dartmouth around 3:33 a.m. for a report of a single-car crash.

A 2006 Mazda 3 was traveling east on Route 195 when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to rollover onto the guardrail, state police say.

The driver has been identified as 32-year-old Carlos Santiago, of New Bedford. He was ejected from the vehicle during the crash and pronounced dead at the scene. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

The crash remains under investigation by members of the Bristol County State Police Detective Unit, State Police Collison Analysis and Reconstruction Section, Crime Scene Services Section.

House, Senate agree on pay equity bill sought by Baker

0
0

The Massachusetts House and Senate on Thursday reached an agreement on legislation to ensure that men and women are paid the same for comparable work.

By Colin A. Young
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, JULY 21, 2016.....One down, five to go.

The Massachusetts House and Senate on Thursday reached an agreement on legislation to ensure that men and women are paid the same for comparable work, a bill identified by Gov. Charlie Baker as one of six major bills he's hoping lawmakers will send to his desk before formal sessions end July 31.

The compromise legislation most closely resembles the version approved unanimously last week by the House, which business organizations like Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) and the Massachusetts Business Roundtable had supported, House and Senate officials said.

"The spirit and sense of what was proposed in the Senate is still there. The House worked closely with AIM and the people over there to make sure that the details reflected their concerns," House Speaker Pro Tempore Patricia Haddad told the News Service. "I don't think anybody ever in the entire process was against pay equity, it's always that the devil is in the details."

Sen. Karen Spilka, who co-sponsored the bill that the Senate passed unanimously in January, said the agreement was not a difficult one to reach since the differences between the bills were fairly small.

"The House version closely mirrors the original Senate bill with three or four changes," she said. "So it was not a long stretch for us to agree."

The bill (S 2119) prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender in the payment of wages for comparable work "unless the variation is based upon a mitigating factor" including seniority, education, training, experience, or a bona fide merit system like one that measures earnings by sales, according to Haddad.

"It's not rocket science, there are not a lot of new concepts," Spilka said. "We're putting together, in a more clearly defined and expressly defined bill, a lot of what people have been talking about as necessary to end the gender pay gap."

A study from the Institute for Women's Policy Research reported earlier this year that the state's earnings ratio placed Massachusetts in 18th place nationally for pay equity and, without changes, the state's wage gap is expected to persist until 2058.

"I am so happy for my granddaughters, who will enter a much fairer workforce and won't have to battle the same gender wage gap that has held back women's salaries for too long," Sen. Patricia Jehlen, who has filed pay equity bills in numerous sessions, said in a statement.

The compromise contains a Senate-backed provision that forbids businesses from requiring a job applicant disclose their previous salary history, though the employer may inquire about previous salaries after making a job and compensation offer to the prospective employee.

The legislation encourages businesses to evaluate their own pay practices and would allow self-evaluations to be used as an affirmative defense in a pay discrimination claim, if they were conducted within the previous three years and the employer could demonstrate "reasonable progress" toward closing pay differentials. The evaluation and any steps taken to close a gap could not be used as evidence of a violation of pay equity.

"I think it was a win-win for both sides because businesses were able to redefine things that were sort of vague and I think we went very far in being able to allow women to now have a level playing field when they go for a job," Haddad said.

The branches agreed to the new version of the bill Thursday without sending differing bills to a conference committee for resolution. The agreement was reached without debate and advanced on voice votes during lightly attended informal sessions.

The final votes -- on enactment of the compromise bill -- are expected Saturday, when both branches plan to meet in full formal sessions between the Republican and Democratic national party conventions.

Equal pay bills stalled on Beacon Hill in previous sessions, and both Haddad and Spilka said the effort was successful this session because everyone involved devoted time and effort to it.

"All four entities -- the governor recognized it as important, the attorney general put in the work and the Senate president and speaker -- identified it as something that has been around for too long and we needed to really do something about it," Haddad said. "Sometimes it just takes a number of people saying, 'we're going to put in the work and get it done.'"

Spilka said, "Sometimes it takes a little while to build the critical mass and make sure we have strong consensus. That's what we did this session."

Western Mass Republicans to hold annual summer picnic today

0
0

The event is scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 22, at the Elks Lodge on Tiffany Street in Springfield's Forest Park section.

SPRINGFIELD -- Western Mass Republicans will hold its annual summer picnic this evening, from 5 to 9 p.m., at the Elks Lodge on Tiffany Street in Springfield's Forest Park neighborhood.

With members from Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties, the event typically attracts a crowd of around 200 GOP supporters from across the region, according to WMR officials.

The casual event is chance for Republicans to get together during this hotly contested election year and talk about the highlights of the Republican National Convention, which wrapped up Thursday evening with Donald Trump's nomination as the party's candidate for president.

The WMR picnic will take place under the pavilion at the Elks Lodge, 441 Tiffany St. Doors open at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and speakers at 7 p.m.

Among those slated to attend are state Sen. Don Humason, R-Westfied; state Rep. Susannah Whipps Lee, R-Athol; 2nd Hampden House District candidate Sid Starks, chair of the East Longmeadow Town Republican Committee; 1st Hampden and Hampshire Senate District candidate Chip Harrington, a Ludlow Republican; MassGOP Victory office director Matt O'Keefe; and WMR Chairman Robert Grove, among numerous other Republicans.

Local radio personality Brad Shepard will host the event, which will include food, live music, and more. Tickets are available by clicking HERE.



WORTH, nonprofit honoring late Renee Herbert, launches its services on Sunday

0
0

WORTH, a non-profit honoring the late Renee Herbert, will both launch its services on Sunday and be given an award on Friday.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — A new non-profit aimed at tackling domestic abuse will be starting its community services on Sunday, as well as being honored with an award on Friday.

WORTH, which stands for Warriors of Renee Thibeault Herbert, was inspired by Herbert, who died tragically in April, when authorities believe she was attacked and killed by her husband in West Springfield.

At the time of Herbert's death, many of those closest to her expressed surprise that she had been struggling with domestic violence issues.

Now, as WORTH begins to take off, its founders – who are also Herbert's family and friends – hope to help others who are struggling with issues similar to Renee, and who feel they have no one to talk to.

The group, based out of West Springfield, will connect victims of domestic abuse with services they need through an 800 number.

That number – 1-844-WORTHY2 – will be launching this Sunday, according to Denise Morton, Renee's aunt, and a founding member of the group.

In addition to starting its new services, the group will also be receiving an award on Friday for its contributions to the surrounding community.

"Game Changers," an award created by the Holyoke Blue Sox in collaboration with the Center for Human Development, aims to recognize every day people that affect large changes for their community.

The award will be presented to several founding members of WORTH at a Blue Sox home game at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke, at approximately 6 p.m. on Friday.

The honor will be presented during a pre-game ceremony, and will be observable to those who attend the game.

"Join us as we honor true heroes from our community," says the CHD website, pledging to give recognition to people who have "made a critical difference in the lives of others."

Though they've only just started, WORTH's members, who call their group a "launching pad to understanding the centrality of your worth," hope the organization can eventually grow into something that will help people with all different kinds of struggles.

The Mackenzie Stadium is located at 500 Beech St. in Holyoke. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children and seniors. The ceremony begins shortly before 6 p.m.

The WORTH organization, which will be launching its phone services on Sunday, can be reached by calling 1-844-967-8492.

Elizabeth Warren goes on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' says Donald Trump 'sounded like a two-bit dictator'

0
0

After Donald J. Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination, criticism that has dogged his campaign continued. Watch video

After Donald J. Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination, criticism that has dogged his campaign continued.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren went on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on Thursday evening to discuss the Republican National Convention.

After calling the event the "nastiest, divisive convention" of the past century, Democratic senator from Massachusetts criticized the party's nominee.

While Trump has promised to make significant changes in Washington D.C., Warren said he does not have the answers to help average Americans.

"What he's really talking about is what he's talked about his entire life and that is how to improve the world for Donald Trump," she said.

Warren went on to compare him to a dictator "rather than a man who is running for the highest office of the strongest democracy on the face of this earth."

She said, "What Donald Trump says is there's a problem out there and what you have to understand is that it's all about each other. What you need to be afraid of is every other American. I've got to tell you, that speech tonight, he sounded like some two-bit dictator of some country you couldn't find on a map."

Colbert replied, "I want to defend him for a second here. He's not a two-bit dictator, he sounded like a billionaire dictator. Two-bit is insulting to the man."

Tinder Social app launches new feature for groups dates

0
0

Working to eliminate the awkward pressure of texting to meet a match one-on-one, Tinder allows for matches to plan dates as a larger group.

Tinder is taking its matchmaking services to the next logical step: Group dating.

Now, when lonely millennials scroll through Tinder page after Tinder page, they can swipe right not on just one similarly lonely individual, but groups of two to four.

Groups can also create a theme for a gathering, such as "Let's party," "Pub crawl... Join us," "Gotta catch 'em all," and "Road Trip!"

Users can create groups on their profile, and invite their Facebook friends who also use the app. Groups last two days, and can be canceled and recreated at any time.

In an article by Fortune, Sean Rad, CEO and co-founder of Tinder, said, "Tinder Social is designed to make it as easy as possible to plan your night, get out into the real world and meet new people. The new feature takes the Tinder experience to a new level, offering our users more ways to expand their social circles and interact with potential matches. We believe it's the ultimate tool for planning your next adventure."

According to the article, the feature was beta-tested in Australia after Tinder found that users were looking for a way to get a crowd of new people together for a night out. Through Tinder Social, groups in Australia have organized bar nights and attended concerts.

Colorado town's water contaminated with THC, officials say

0
0

A small town in Colorado's water supply has been contaminated with THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, local health officials said Thursday.

A small town in Colorado's water supply has been contaminated with THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, local health officials said Thursday.

According to the Denver Post, multiple field tests of the water in Hugo, Colo. came back positive for THC, with others showing negative results. Authorities, seeking to weed out possible explanations for the results, have narrowed the cause to a single well in the town. When investigators examined the site they found evidence of forced entry.

"We are checking to make sure this isn't because of the field test kit -- that it isn't a false positive," Capt. Michael Yowell of Lincoln County Sheriff's Office told the Denver Post.

Colorado legalized the recreational use of marijuana in 2014, but neither Hugo nor Lincoln County contain any commercial marijuana operations, the Post reported.

No health effects have been reported, and authorities plan on doing more sophisticated testing to confirm the results. The reports have drawn attention from state-wide health and law enforcement agencies, with the FBI, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the local District Attorney's Office making a joint effort to investigate the case.

But experts interviewed by the Post were blunt in their conclusions that such contamination is extremely unlikely. THC is not soluble in water, making it difficult to imagine how it could show up in water testing, according to Joseph Evans, a former EPA scientist who now works at a marijuana testing lab.

"The one thing that bothers me about this story from a scientific perspective is that THC is so insoluble in water," Evans told the Post. "I can't imagine, I can't even fathom the idea that THC would be in water at any type of solubility to create any kind of health hazard."

For now, authorities are warning residents not to use tap water until further testing is completed. The Lincoln County's public health office posted note on Facebook downplaying fears of possible health consequences, while saying it would be reasonable to avoid drinking or cooking with the water.

Northampton's free summer concert series begins, improved Pulaski Park opens Friday

0
0

The evening's performers are the Blue Ribbons, a soul and rock hybrid out of Boston, and Izy Coffey, a Hadley folk singer-songwriter.

NORTHAMPTON -- The Northampton Summer Concert Series, a showcase of local and touring artists in the heart of downtown, begins Friday night.

The free event begins at 6 p.m. on the Hampshire County Courthouse lawn, according to organizers. Its the first of five free concerts this summer.

Friday evening's performers are the Blue Ribbons, a soul and rock outfit from Boston, and Izy Coffey, a Hadley folk singer-songwriter.

The Northampton Arts Council is organizing the 2016 summer shows. They were coordinated for several years by Jamie Kent's Collective Music Group, but Kent has moved from the area, according to the Republican.

The series runs every Friday through Aug. 19. The event is family friendly, with the A2Z Science & Learning Store providing free activities at every show in the "KIDSZONE."

The Downtown Northampton Association and Tea Guys are the event's main sponsors.

In the event of rain, performances will be moved to the World War II Club on Conz Street.

The outdoor show will follow a 4 p.m. grand opening event for Pulaski Park -- just up the street -- which has undergone major renovations over the past nine months.

Springfield officials invite the public to escape the heat at 10 cooling center sites

0
0

The city is inviting the public to escape the heat by dropping by oine of the 10 designated cooling centers at 10 locations in Springfield including eight public libraries.


SPRINGFIELD -- Mayor Domenic Sarno, in conjunction with Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Helen R. Caulton-Harris, announced Friday that the city is opening 10 cooling centers across the city, including at eight libraries, on Friday and Saturday, July 22-23, due to the forecast for very hot weather.

The public is invited to escape the heat a the following 10 air-conditioned locations:

  • Brightwood Library, 359 Plainfield St. -- Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; and Saturday, closed
  • East Forest Park Library, 122 Island Pond Road -- Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • East Springfield Library, 21 Osborne Terrace -- Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Forest Park Library, 380 Belmont Ave. -- Friday, 1 p.m - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Indian Orchard Library, 44 Oak St., -- Friday 1 p.m., - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Library Express at Pine Point, 204 Boston Road -- Friday, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Mason Square Library, 765 State St. -- Friday, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Sixteen Acres Library, 1187 Parker St -- Friday, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m
  • Greenleaf Community Center, 1187 1/2 Parker St. -- Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Hungry Hill Senior Center, 773 Liberty St. -- Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  • "It is very important in extreme weather conditions that we afford those in need of assistance, especially our seniors and those dealing with medical challenges, these relief accommodations," Sarno said.

    The city issued the following warning to the public regarding the high temperatures and heat stress:

    Heat stress is a serious condition that poses a health threat to many people, particularly the elderly. Heat stress places a strain on the body, and if the strain becomes too great, it can cause serious and permanent damage, even death. Preventive measures should be taken in order to avoid heat stress.

    Certain medical conditions and prescription drugs can make you more vulnerable you more vulnerable to heat stress. Those who have high blood pressure, diabetes, a weak or damaged heart, infection or fever, diarrhea, problems with circulation, skin diseases, sunburn, those who are overweight, or who have had a previous stroke are at a greater risk of falling victim to heat stress. In addition, those who take medication for sleeplessness, high blood pressure, nervousness, depression, or poor circulation are also more susceptible to heat stress. If you fall into either of these categories, consult your doctor of pharmacist for advice.

    Loss of appetite, lack of energy, fainting, and cramps are signs that you are losing the battle against heat. Take the appropriate steps to protect yourself.

    What you should do if the weather is extremely hot:

    * Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
    * Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.
    * Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, and other community facilities. Circulating air can cool the body by increasing the perspiration rate of evaporation.
    * Eat well-balanced, light, and regular meals. Avoid using salt tables unless directed to do so by a physician.
    * Drink plenty of water. Persons who have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease; are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake.
    * Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.
    * Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes that cover as much as possible.
    * Protect face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
    * Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
    * Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
    * Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat, and take frequent breaks.

    Keep your four legged friends safely and comfortably at home during the extreme heat.

    * Never leave an animal in a parked car. Car rides can quickly turn deadly as the inside of a car can reach temperatures in excess of 120 degrees in several minutes.
    * Bring outdoor animals into cooler areas of your home. If they must stay outside, ensure they have protection from the sun. A dog house does not provide relief or protection from the heat. Access to plenty of shade and cool, potable water is critical to their well being.
    * Limit exercise to hours when the sun is down and take it easy or better yet, wait until the heat wave ends. Pets are prone to heat exhaustion just like people. In addition, hot asphalt can burn their feet.
    * Animals are susceptible to sunburn. Be sure any topical sunscreen products you use are labeled for use on animals.

    Former Chicopee Michael Bissonnette settles charges over election fracas; barred from posting about case on social media

    0
    0

    The charges stem from a September altercation between Police Lt. John Pronovost and Bissonnette in a polling place during the preliminary election in September.

    CHICOPEE -- Criminal charges filed against former Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette will be dismissed in November -- as long as he keeps his distance from Police Lt. John Pronovost and refrains from commenting about Pronovost on social media.

    The agreement was made Friday in Holyoke District Court following months of legal negotiations. Bissonnette -- a prolific poster on Facebook as mayor and since leaving the office -- and his lawyer Lisa Ball agreed to the conditions set by Judge Thomas Estes with little comment.

    The agreement preserves Bissonnette's right to go to trial if there are any problems in the next four months, the former mayor said.

    The decision ends a 10-month saga that began when Bissonnette, wearing a campaign sticker, entered the Ward 1 polling place during the Sept. 8 preliminary election and engaged in a shouting match with Pronovost over the display of campaign material.

    Bissonnette was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, displaying campaign material within 150 feet of a polling place and two counts of disorderly conduct following the altercation.

    Months ago, during an earlier hearing, Estes threw out a felony witness intimidation charge.

    Bissonnette and Pronovost started shouting at each other at the polling place when the officer confronted the former mayor for violating a law barring candidates from campaigning within a specified distance of a voting site. Bissonnette was not on the ballot in the preliminary election but was wearing a sticker promoting his candidacy.

    Pronovost insulted Bissonnette's wife and Bissonnette called Pronovost "a crooked, dirty cop" during the argument, court records state.

    The charges were filed in mid-October 2015 and Bissonnette was arraigned two days after losing a bruising mayoral election to Mayor Richard J. Kos. Bissonnette served as mayor from 2006 through 2013, but was unseated by Kos, who had also previously served as mayor.

    On Friday Pronovost also attended the court hearing wearing a gray suit and accompanied by two other members of the Police Department. Pronovost and Bissonnette kept their distance from each other in the court building.

    Both declined to comment after the hearing. Michael Wilk, public information officer for the Chicopee Police Department, also declined comment.

    While he was serving as mayor, Bissonnette clashed with Pronovost several times and was highly critical of him and current police Chief William Jebb over the handling of the Amanda Plasse murder and other issues of misconduct in the Police Department.

    Bissonnette sparred with Pronovost and Jebb especially over a complaint filed by Capt. Mark Gilbert against the lieutenant in 2013. Gilbert accused Pronovost of pointing his service weapon at him after he criticized the lieutenant for claiming to communicate with the dead, setting up "ghost detectors" in the police station and speaking to the dead through crystal rocks in an incident dating to 2007.

    Later the city brought charges of filing a false police complaint against Gilbert. Estes found Gilbert innocent of the charges in February. Gilbert has now filed a federal lawsuit accusing Jebb, Pronovost, Kos and unnamed people of retaliating against him for filing the complaint.

    The lawsuits are one of many filed in civil and criminal court over allegations of police and political misconduct in Chicopee over the past four years.

    Bissonnette appeared before Estes in Holyoke District Court in June for a status conference. At the time prosecutors and his lawyer agreed they were close to reaching a plea agreement on the charges.



    Chicopee Parks Dept. offering week-long art program for children

    0
    0

    Children will be exposed to and create art from different countries and cultures.

    CHICOPEE - The Parks and Recreation Department is offering a week-long art program for children, ages 5 through 12, this August.

    The program "Weird Faces and Places Art Ventures" will be offered through Let's Gogh Art! The program will introduce children to a variety of art from different cultures and countries. They will experience cave painting, make fossils, create egg shell mosaics and learn about the Taj Mahal and Oaxacana Alebrijes while designing T-shirts.

    The program will be held from Aug. 15 to 19 at the Lincoln Grove Resource Center, formerly the Chicopee Falls Library. Children can register for a half cay, from 9 a.m. to noon or full days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee for a half-day is $135 for residents and $140 for non-residents. The full-day program is $235 for residents and $240 for non-residents.

    People can register online at www.GoghArtWestMA.com and clicking "Register Now." They can also sign up in person at the Chicopee Parks Office, 687 Front St.

    Munich mall shootings: Suspect found dead after killing 9 as terrified shoppers fled

    0
    0

    A body found near the scene was that of the shooter and he appeared to have acted alone, officials said.

    MUNICH -- Munich police gave a "cautious all clear" early Saturday morning, more than seven hours after a gunman opened fire in a crowded shopping mall and at a nearby McDonald's killing nine people and wounding at least 10 others in a rampage authorities called an act of terrorism.

    A body found near the scene was that of the shooter and he appeared to have acted alone, officials said.

    Witnesses had reported seeing three men with firearms near the Olympia Einkaufszentrum mall, but police said on Twitter that "as part of our manhunt we found a person who had killed himself -- the person is likely to have been the attacker who, according to the current state of the investigation, acted alone."

    They lifted a shutdown of all public transport in the Bavarian capital, and said more details would be disclosed at a press conference later in the morning.

    After gunfire broke out at the mall, one of Munich's largest, the city sent a smartphone alert declaring an "emergency situation" and telling people to stay indoors, while all rail, subway and trolley service was halted in the city.

    Graphic video shows Munich mall shooting victims

    It was the third major act of violence against civilians in Western Europe in eight days. The previous attacks, in the French resort city of Nice and on a train in Bavaria, were claimed by the Islamic State group.

    While police called the mall shooting an act of terrorism, they said they had "no indication" it involved Islamic extremism and at least one witness said he heard a shooter shout an anti-foreigner slur.

    The attack started shortly before 6 p.m. at a McDonald's across the street from the mall, which was filled with people doing their weekend shopping. As dozens of shots rang out, terrified shoppers ran from the scene, some carrying babies and pushing strollers.

    Video obtained by The Associated Press from German news agency NonstopNews showed two bodies with sheets draped over them not far from the fastfood restaurant. Another video posted online showed a gunman emerging from the door of the McDonald's, raising what appeared to be a pistol with both hands and aiming at people on the sidewalk, firing as they fled in terror.

    Witness Luan Zequiri said he was in the mall when the shooting began.

    He told German broadcaster n-tv that he heard the attacker yell an anti-foreigner insult and "there was a really loud scream."

    He said he saw only one attacker, who was wearing jack boots and a backpack.

    "I looked in his direction and he shot two people on the stairs," Zequiri said. He said he hid in a shop, then ran outside when the coast was clear and saw bodies of the dead and wounded on the ground.


    Germany's Interior Ministry said Munich police had set up a hotline for concerned citizens. Residents of Munich opened their doors to people seeking shelter using the Twitter hashtag #opendoor.

    Also on Twitter, police asked people to refrain from speculating about the attack. Germany's interior minister cut short his holiday in the United States to go back to Berlin late Friday to meet with security officials.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel was being regularly briefed on the attack, said her chief of staff, Peter Altmaier.

    "All that we know and can say right now is that it was a cruel and inhumane attack," he said on German public channel ARD. "We can't rule out that there are terrorist links. We can't confirm them, but we are investigating along those lines too."

    Altmaier noted that Friday was the fifth anniversary of the massacre in Oslo, Norway, by a far-right extremist that killed 77 people, 69 of them at a youth summer camp.

    "You can only have absolute security in an absolute surveillance state, and nobody wants that, it would be the opposite of our free western European way of life," he said. "But, and this became clear again today, we can't talk down this danger. It's a danger that many countries are exposed, especially in the west, and that's why it's important to give our security agencies the instruments they need."

    Police responded in large numbers to the mall in the northern part of Munich, near the city's Olympic Stadium in the Moosach district of the Bavarian capital.

    It was also not far from where Palestinian attackers opened fire in the Olympic Village in 1972, killing 11 Israeli athletes. Five guerrillas and a police officer were also killed. The GSG9 anti-terrorism unit was created after that attack, though the city saw a worse one in 1980, when 13 people were killed and more than 200 injured at the city's annual Oktoberfest in a bombing blamed on a student with ties to a neo-Nazi group.

    It was the second attack in Germany in less than a week. On Monday, a 17-year-old Afghan wounded four people in an ax-and-knife attack on a regional train near the Bavarian city of Wuerzburg, and another woman outside as he fled. All survived, although one man from the train remains in life-threatening condition. The attacker was shot and killed by police.

    The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the train attack, but authorities have said the teen likely acted alone.

    Gun attacks in Germany are uncommon. Firearm ownership is widespread but they are strictly regulated, with purchasers first having to take training courses in order to be granted a permit to own one. Many types of firearms are banned.

    In the U.S., President Barack Obama pledged to provide Germany with whatever help it might need to investigate the mall shooting.

    Victim of Hatfield rollover crash is a 53-year-old Shelburne man

    0
    0

    The victim of a rollover crash in Hatfield on Friday has been revealed to be a 53-year-old Shelburne man, according to police.

    HATFIELD — The victim of a deadly rollover crash on I-91 in Hatfield on Friday has been identified as a 53-year-old man from Shelburne, according to Massachusetts State Police.

    The official identity of the victim is currently being withheld pending notification of family members.

    Police say that a number of people called 911 at approximately 4 p.m. to report a rollover crash on the median in between the southbound and northbound lanes of I-91, near Exit 21.

    State Troopers arrived at the scene to find a 2000 Toyota Tundra upside down in the median.

    The driver, who had suffered life threatening injuries, was discovered a short distance away, according to police.

    Police believe that driver had not been wearing his seat-belt at the time of the crash, which caused him to be ejected from the vehicle upon impact.

    The victim was quickly taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, where he was pronounced dead.

    The crash caused significant traffic and the northbound and southbound lanes of Rt 91 were temporarily closed while police and medical units responded to the crash.

    Police believe that the crash was caused by a flat tire, that subsequently made the vehicle swerve and rollover.

    The cause of the crash is still under investigation, according to police.

     

    Take a look at 'Taco Night' at Nuestras Raices in Holyoke (photos)

    0
    0

    Nuestras Raices ("Our Roots") held its fourth monthly Taco Night at its 329 Main St. headquarters in Holyoke, Massachusetts on Friday, July 22, 2016 using vegetables grown at the nonprofit organization's farm at 24 Jones Ferry Road. Watch video

    Updated at 10 p.m. on Friday, July 22, 2016: video added.

    HOLYOKE -- Taco plates and bicycle repairs were on the menu Friday night at Nuestras Raices.

    The nonprofit organization at 329 Main St. whose name in English means "Our Roots" offered its monthly "Taco Night" including tacos of pork and summer squash with rice and black beans. The vegetables were grown at the Nuestras Raices' 30-acre farm at 24 Jones Ferry Road, chef Neftali Duran said.

    Staff from the Holyoke Urban Bike Shop (HUBS), a program of the Greater Holyoke YMCA, were on hand again offering free bicycle repairs as patrons sat eating at outdoor tables and inside at the Main and Cabot streets establishment.

    "To bring people together, show some familiarity, have different parts of the community show up," said Duran, describing the purpose of Taco Night.

    "A lot of the programs that Nuestras Raices does is food-related, so we wanted to create an ambience where people come and learn what we do," he said.

    The red-bandana-wearing Duran, whose Facebook page has a photo of a sign that says "Make Tacos Not War," is 38 and said he has been a chef for 19 years.

    Nuestras Raices seeks to promote economic, human and community development in Holyoke through projects relating to food, agriculture and the environment. The organization began in 1992 in South Holyoke.

    This was the second Taco Night for HUBS, coordinator Colby Singleton said.

    "We're doing some repairs, you know, brake adjustments, gear adjustments, flat-tire fixes," Singleton said.

    HUBS always is accepting bike donations and received three or four at the previous Taco Night, she said.

    "And parts, if it's just parts, we take those, too," she said.

    Seen@ Photos from the annual Western Massachusetts Republican Picnic in Springfield

    0
    0

    The annual Western Massachusetts Republican Picnic at the Springfield Elks Club on Friday, July 22, 2016.

    SPRINGFIELD - The annual Western Massachusetts Republican Picnic was held at the Springfield Elks Club on Friday, July 22, 2016.

    The casual event is chance for Republicans to get together during this hotly contested election year and talk about the highlights of the Republican National Convention, which wrapped up Thursday evening with Donald Trump accepting the nomination as the party's candidate for president.

    Local radio personality Brad Shepard hosted the event, which included food, live music, and more.

    Check out photos from this year's picnic above and last year's fun at the link below.

    Viewing all 62489 articles
    Browse latest View live




    Latest Images