Baltimore police officers routinely discriminate against blacks, use excessive force too often and are not adequately disciplined for misconduct, according to a harshly critical Justice Department report being issued Wednesday.

BALTIMORE -- Baltimore police officers routinely discriminate against blacks, use excessive force too often and are not adequately disciplined for misconduct, according to a harshly critical Justice Department report being issued Wednesday.

The report, the culmination of a yearlong investigation into one of the country's largest police forces, also found that officers make large numbers of traffic stops -- mostly in poor, black neighborhoods -- with dubious justification and unlawfully arrest citizens for speech deemed rude or disrespectful.

The Justice Department released a copy of the report in advance of its public announcement Wednesday at an event in Baltimore.

The report is a damning indictment of how officers carry out the most fundamental of policing practices, such as traffic stops and searches and responding to First Amendment expression.

Beyond that, though, it could serve as a blueprint for sweeping changes at the police force: The Justice Department said it was seeking court-enforceable consent decree that would force the police agency to commit to improving its procedures in order to avoid a federal lawsuit.

The federal investigation was launched after the April 2015 death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man whose neck was broken while he was handcuffed and shackled but left unrestrained in the back of a police van. The death set off protests and the worst riots in decades. The report examined a slew of potentially unconstitutional practices, including excessive force and discriminatory traffic stops, within the department.

Federal investigators spent more than a year interviewing Baltimore residents, police officers, prosecutors, public defenders and elected officials, as well as riding along with officers on duty and reviewing documents and complaints.

Among the findings: Black residents account for roughly 84 percent of stops, though they represent just 63 percent of the city's population. Likewise, African-Americans make up 95 percent of the 410 people stopped at least t10en times by officers between 2010 and 2014.

During the same time period, officers stopped 34 black residents 20 times, and seven African-Americans 30 times or more, while the report says that no individuals of any other race were stopped more than 12 times.

One man who spoke to investigators said he was stopped 30 times in less than four years. Fifteen of those stops, he said, were to check for outstanding warrants. None of the stops resulted in charges.

In addition to pat-downs, Baltimore officers perform unconstitutional public strip searches, including searches of people who aren't under arrest.

The report partially blames the department's unconstitutional practices on a "zero tolerance" policy dating back to the early 2000s, during which residents were arrested en masse for minor misdemeanor charges such as loitering.

Although the department has publicly denounced these practices after a 2010 settlement with the NAACP, which sued the department over the policing strategy, "the legacy of the zero tolerance era continues to influence officer activity and contribute to constitutional violations," the report said.

Officers also routinely stop and question individuals without cause or a legitimate suspicion that they're involved in criminal activity, the report says: No charges were filed in 26 of every 27 pedestrian stops. The directives often come from supervisors. In one instance, a supervisor told a subordinate officer to "make something up" after the officer protested an order to stop and question a group of young black men for no reason.

Unconstitutional frisks are also rampant, the report says. In one incident in 2010, a man fled from an officer patrolling a "high-crime area." The officer proceeded to fire his stun gun at the running man's back, striking him several times. When the officer was able to detain the man, he frisked him but found no weapon. The officer's report "provides no reason to believe the man was armed."

State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby, the city's top prosecutor, said she expected the report to "confirm what many in our city already know or have experienced firsthand."

"While the vast majority of Baltimore City Police officers are good officers, we also know that there are bad officers and that the department has routinely failed to oversee, train, or hold bad actors accountable," she said in a statement.

She said she was confident that the federal probe would "lead to even more reforms which is an important step in ensuring best practices for a fully functioning police-prosecutor relationship."

Six officers, three white and three black, were charged in the death of Gray. Three were acquitted, another officer's trial ended in a mistrial and the charges against the others were dropped.

The Select Board is considering scheduling a public hearing on the issue.

SOUTHWICK - Health Wise Foundation Inc. wants to establish a medical marijuana distribution facility at 185 College Highway by this time next year.

Foundation representatives James A. McMahon and Christopher Acosta presented their plans to the Select Board Monday night at Town Hall asking town officials to consider "not opposing" the proposal.

Members of the Planning Board and Town Counsel Benjamin Coyle and Thomas Reidy were also present to learn that Health Wise is willing to sign a letter of understanding that will assist the down in endeavors such as drug abuse education.

The facility, to be located in the former Berkshire Bank Building next to Big Y Supermarket, will have a targeted clientele who obtain necessary state license to purchase medical marijuana. The average price will be $350 per ounce and available by doctor prescription as well as state license.

Also, Health Wise plans to create a production and processing facility in North Brookfield and has completed most of the process of gaining approval from the state Department of Health. McMahon and Acosta said they plan to file final paperwork identifying it proposed sites, along with letters of non opposition by December.

"This Southwick facility will have limited distribution because the product is for medical use only," said McMahon.

He also vowed the company has no interest in converting operations to recreational marijuana production and distribution is a November ballot question passes.

"We are only interested in medical marijuana production and distribution. It is a passion of ours," he told Select Board chairman Russell Fox.

Fox said Tuesday the Select Board "will has a lot of discussion on this issue. This is very sensitive and we may hold a public hearing to get a wide discussion and different views from the public."

The Select Board asked members of the Planning Board to consider drafting local bylaws that could restrict where such a facility could be sited in Southwick, how many and other local requirements.

Currently medical marijuana facilities are controlled by the state Department of Public Health with little or no action required by municipalities.

Investigators launched an effort in 2014 to "disrupt and dismantle" the Latin Kings in Springfield and Holyoke, citing drug activity and "serious crimes of violence" related to turf disputes with rival gangs.

SPRINGFIELD - The former leader of the Springfield chapter of the Latin Kings has been sentenced to 20 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing heroin.

Jose Cartagena, 38, of Springfield, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni. He pleaded guilty in May.

Investigators launched an effort in 2014 to "disrupt and dismantle" the Latin Kings in the city and in Holyoke, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz, citing drug activity and "serious crimes of violence" related to turf disputes with rival gangs. Twelve alleged Latin Kings were arrested in November 2015, including Cartagena, otherwise known as "King Black."

Cartagena, the gang's "inca" or chief, admitted to selling 300 bags of heroin to an informant in Springfield on July 31, 2015.

His guilty plea came after a state court granted him a new trial for a different heroin distribution charge because of the crime lab scandal, in which state chemist Sonja Farak admitted to widespread drug evidence tampering.

In court documents, prosecutors asked for a 36-month sentence. They argued that if the crime lab scandal had not interfered with the other heroin case, Cartagena would be considered a career offender eligible for a sentence of more than 15 years.

"The defendant's criminal history, his role as a member and leader of the Latin Kings in the Springfield area, his out-sized influence on the path of younger gang members, and the need to deter both the defendant and others who peddle drugs on the streets of Springfield collectively warrant a sentence of 36 months," prosecutors wrote.

Cartagena's attorneys argued that he was not an active Latin Kings member at the time of the heroin sale, and said the state has made no effort to retry him on the previous heroin charge, so the recommended 36-month sentence would be excessive.

The committee met for more than two hours in another executive session. Watch video

AMHERST -- School Superintendent Maria Geryk will earn $295,238 in a separation settlement approved by the Amherst-Pelham Regional and Union 26 school committees on Tuesday.

Maria Geryk 

The vote to OK the settlement was 5 to 3. Geryk, who sought the buyout, will earn an additional $14,277 in fiscal 2018 to cover the cost of health insurance.

Geryk's last day was Tuesday. A successor has not been named.

She did not attend Tuesday night's meeting, but was represented by her lawyer, Thomas W. Colomb.

The committee met in executive session for more than two hours. This was on top of 11 hours of executive sessions held over three nights on the issue.

Before the executive session began, committee member Trevor Baptiste said he opposed entering into the session because he wanted to do Geryk's annual evaluation before the committee addressed the issue of compensation. He said he felt he had been coerced into the negotiations.

The committee voted 5 to 3 to enter executive session, with Baptiste, Amherst representative Vira Douangmany Cage and Shutesbury representative Stephen Sullivan voting in opposition.

They all voted against the agreement as well. Cage had asked for the committee to wait and continue deliberations.

Voting in favor of the agreement were Chairwoman Laura Kent, Katherine Appy, who participated remotely, Sarah Dolven, Darius Modestow and Anastasia Ordonez.

The committees did not talk about the reasons why Geryk asked to leave or why they reached the separation agreement.

The money will come from the school budget.

Kent said the committees hope to release the minutes of the executive sessions to help the community understand the committees' thinking.

The regional school district includes Amherst, Leverett Pelham and Shutesbury.

4 school controversies during Amherst Superintendent Maria Geryk's tenure

Under the superintendent's contract, the school committees are supposed to conduct a "mid-cycle progress review" of the superintendent by Jan. 31 in each contract year. And, the contract states, "The Superintendent will be formally evaluated by the Committees on or before June 30 of each contract year."

Geryk has not been evaluated this year.

Last year, her review deemed her "proficient." Ratings also include "unsatisfactory," "needs improvement" and "exemplary."

Geryk earned $158,000 a year under a five-year contract signed in 2013 that runs through June 30, 2018. 

As superintendent of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District, Geryk oversees the Amherst elementary schools, the regional high school and middle school and Pelham Elementary School.

When former Superintendent Alberto Rodriguez left in 2010, eight months into a three-year contract, the committee agreed to a $36,000 buyout.

Geryk has been superintendent since he left, first as interim and then as permanent.

The separation comes on the heels of a controversy regarding bullying and race that arose in March when Aisha Hiza, the parent of a first-grader at Pelham Elementary School, was banned from all public schools. The ban came months after Hiza began reporting racially motivated bullying incidents she said her daughter suffered at the school. 

There was minor damage to the building's exterior, fire officials said.

HOLYOKE -- Firefighters extinguished a blaze in a large dumpster outside a Dwight Street building Thursday night.

The fire was reported at the Canal Gallery, 380 Dwight St., shortly before 9 p.m.

Deputy Chief Thomas Shea said there was minor damage to the building's exterior. A firefighter was seen on a ladder checking the building's roof to make sure the fire had not spread.

There were no injuries. Dwight Street was briefly closed between Front and Race streets.

Long a home to artist studios, the 19th-century former mill -- owned by David Scher and two partners under the business entity AACO Realty -- is slated to be transformed into 26 condominiums.

Scher, who has owned the building since the early 1970s, was at the scene but was not immediately available for comment.

Witnesses said a dumpster outside a neighboring building was also set ablaze in recent weeks.

Boston Red Sox catcher and left fielder Blake Swihart is set to have surgery on his left ankle thanks to a sprain he suffered at Fenway Park on June 5.

BOSTON -- Blake Swihart will not be returning to the Boston Red Sox lineup any time soon, as he is set to have surgery on his left ankle, according to manager John Farrell.

Swihart, 24, sprained his ankle while running into a wall in left field at Fenway Park on June 5. He progressed slowly through rehab, and was re-evaluated Tuesday night.

"He is going to have surgery with Dr. Anderson in North Carolina," Farrell said after Boston's win over the Yankees Tuesday. "That is going to be set up in the coming days, but that has been determined."

Swihart hit .258/.365/.355 in 19 games with the Red Sox this season, 13 of which he played in the outfield.

Chris Young appears close to returning to the outfield, though rookie Andrew Benintendi has been impressive early in his first call up to the majors. Bryce Brentz has also played 24 games for Boston this season.

Rick Porcello said his argument with Chase Headley that cleared both benches during Tuesday night's Red Sox-Yankees game stays 'between me and him.'

BOSTON -- Rick Porcello and Chase Headley did not exchange punches during Tuesday night's Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees game. No one charged the mound or shoved a catcher's mitt into anyone's face.

But still, Porcello and Headley brought some heat to the rivalry Tuesday. After Headley was thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple, Porcello yelled something at him, causing Headley to walk onto the infield and yell back. Suddenly, the benches were cleared, and it began to feel a bit like the Red Sox-Yankees games of yesterday.

But why Porcello even yell at Headley in the first place? According to The Journal News, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Porcello was accusing Headley of stealing signs or looking back to see where the catcher was lining up for pitches. Porcello, on the other hand, had no interest in sharing what the argument was about.

"It's baseball stuff, it happens down on the field," Porcello said. "I'm just going to let it stay there between me and him.

"Joe can think whatever he wants to think. But it's between me and Chase Headley."

Regardless of what started the argument, the play briefly overshadowed what was a terrific play from Jackie Bradley Jr. The Red Sox center fielder recovered very well after the ball took a funny hop off a ledge on the Green Monster before throwing the ball across his body while falling away from the play.

The result of the throw was a perfect strike to Brock Holt, who was covering third base and planted a great tag on Headley to force the out. It prevented the Yankees from putting someone in scoring position while down by three runs.

"He has such an outstanding ability of throwing the baseball," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "The carom was an odd one, which it's off the top portion of that slope where the message board is and his momentum is going almost toward the right field corner and he throws the ball back to third base and somehow finds enough arm strength and accuracy to make one heck of a play.

"At the time, that's a fairly close ballgame and a chance to put a man at third base with nobody out. Changes the complexion of the game. Just an outstanding play on his part."

The bill ncludes a mix of funding for infrastructure, housing, workforce training, business development and other projects.

BOSTON -- Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday signed into law a nearly $1 billion economic development bill, which includes a mix of funding for infrastructure, housing, workforce training, business development and other projects.

"We're all about creating jobs, promoting vitality in communities, helping eliminate blight and creating a better quality of life for all residents of the commonwealth and businesses that operate here," said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash.

The bill includes $500 million over five years for MassWorks, a program started under former Gov. Deval Patrick that gives grants to cities and towns for public infrastructure that promotes economic development.

Baker called MassWorks "an incredibly powerful tool for the commonwealth to use to help local communities and local developers on local projects."

State Rep. Joseph Wagner, D-Chicopee, chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, said the public money leads to enormous private investment. In Chicopee, for example, a $2.6 million grant for water and sewer improvements to rehabilitate an old mill building led to a $55 million project to build 600 new market-rate housing units.

"That's the kind of shot in the arm a targeted investment can make," Wagner said.

Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos said in addition to the MassWorks grant, Chicopee may be able to use other initiatives in the bill, for example to help redevelop brownfields. "It's exciting to have these type of tools as we face the daily problems of running a Gateway City," Kos said.

The bill gives $45 million over three years to a transformative development initiative, which funds significant projects in Gateway Cities, struggling cities that have the potential to anchor their regional economy. It gives the same amount to a program that cleans up contaminated properties for development. Another $15 million over three years would be spent on a new program that pays municipalities to assemble sites to sell to developers.

There is $45 million over three years for a workforce training grant program to pay for equipment for career and technical schools. Several funds target assistance to specific industries -- such as manufacturing, scientific research and digital health care.

Tim Murray, a former Democratic lieutenant governor who is now president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the workforce skills training program will expand the pool of talent available to Massachusetts businesses "and create meaningful career paths for young people as well as those seeking to upgrade their skills."

The law includes $109 million to upgrade a shipping terminal in Boston to accommodate larger cargo ships. Another $6.4 million will go toward supporting rural agriculture and providing fresh food in low- and moderate-income communities. Other initiatives relate to tax incentives and zoning to develop housing in targeted locations.

Another new program would provide tax deductions to families who put money into college tuition savings accounts.

"College savings tax incentives open doors for children growing up in low- and middle-income families, as they are proven to encourage families to start saving earlier and more frequently for their children's education," said Richard Doherty, president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts.

There are some changes to state liquor laws, to allow farmers that have wineries or distilleries to both sell and serve alcohol on their premises, and to allow stores that sell alcohol to serve it at in-house cafes.

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said provisions of the bill will catalyze private development throughout the state. "Each region has its own special opportunities, and by bringing these public dollars we'll be able to leverage private dollars and drive the economy in all these places," Polito said.

The money in the bill would be borrowed, as is typical for capital projects.

Baker vetoed two sections of the bill. One relates to the creation of "community benefits districts" in which property owners, with city approval, can charge a fee to businesses and individuals within a district to pay for benefits in the district. Similar "business improvement districts" are already part of state law and require businesses to pay taxes to cover area projects. Baker said the community benefit district provision was too broad because it did not provide exemptions for tax-exempt organizations like churches and government buildings and for homeowners who get tax abatements, like the elderly or veterans.

Baker also vetoed a section of the bill that would have given the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority the ability to offer driving classes for people looking to get a commercial license. Baker worried that this would give the RTA an unfair competitive advantage over small businesses.

Geryk left the district Tuesday after school committees agreed to a settlement.

AMHERST -- After making her departure official Wednesday afternoon, Superintendent of Schools Maria Geryk said she "had no choice but to take this step."

Tuesday night, in a 5-3 vote, the Union 26 and the Amherst Pelham Regional School committees agreed to a settlement with Geryk that will pay her $309,515 over the next two years. That includes 18 months of salary, 69 vacation days and health insurance through 2018.

Although her contract wasn't due to expire until June 30, 2018, Geryk's last day was Tuesday.

In a statement, Geryk wrote:

"I believe that education is the most important mission-related work there is. I have also always believed it is important to work and live in the way that makes you personally happy and professionally fulfilled. While the decision to leave was extremely difficult, it was clear to me that I had no choice but to take this step so that I could live true to this belief."

Geryk began working for the district in 2002 as a special education administrator and became superintendent permanently in February of 2011 after serving as interim superintendent. In recent months she has been embroiled in a controversy over a parent who was banned from district schools.

Regional School Committee chairwoman Laura Kent said the committee next week will release minutes from the executive sessions held to talk about Geryk's request. She said the minutes would help the community better understand what transpired.

The committees met in executive session for a total of 14 hours over four nights, emerging from the final session Tuesday to make the public vote approving Geryk's severance.

Steven Wright injured his shoulder while sliding into second base as a pinch runner Sunday, and he will miss his scheduled start Thursday. Clay Buchholz is set to take Wright's spot in the rotation.

BOSTON -- Steven Wright did something he does not usually do Sunday -- run the bases. The Boston Red Sox starting pitcher replaced David Ortiz on the basepaths, helping take the veteran designated hitter off his feet for a bit.

Unfortunately for the Red Sox, that move came at a cost. Wright jammed his pitching shoulder diving back into second base on a faked pickoff move, and will miss his scheduled start Thursday with inflammation in the shoulder. Take a look at the play below.

Steven Wright agility rating: 99. https://t.co/SH3rQA2NkU

-- Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) August 8, 2016

According to Red Sox manager John Farrell, an MRI showed no structural damage to the shoulder, which means he will not go on the disabled list at this point. With Wright unable to pitch, Eduardo Rodriguez will pitch Thursday, David Price will pitch Friday, and Clay Buchholz will make his return to the rotation Saturday.

"The other day when Steven Wright pinch ran, he dove back into second base and jarred his pitching shoulder," Farrell said. "There's some inflammation. No structural damage, but some inflammation to his right shoulder. He is not a DL to this point, but he will not be able to make the start tomorrow."

"We are in a National League game, you are looking to do what is right by the game situation," Farrell said. "Trying to get David off his feet for precaution of injury there and yet it shows up in another way. We've got an opportunity for Clay to insert back in and take advantage of the opportunity that is there, but unfortunately this situation emerged."

Farrell said Wright was in the game because he was not going to come in to pitch at any point. Rick Porcello had already flown back to Boston and was unavailable to pinch run, so Wright was next in line.

Wright is 13-5 with a 3.01 ERA in 22 starts this season. Meanwhile, this marks the return of Buchholz, who is 4-9 with a 5.68 ERA this season, and has made 12 of his last 15 appearances out of the bullpen. Farrell said he feels comfortable with Buchholz reaching a pitch count in the 65 to 75 range.

"It was an unfortunate situation there because of the time missed right now, but encouraging that the MRI didn't show anything further," Farrell said. "Like I said, an opportunity for Clay to step back in. We had said all along, Clay's depth would be tested, and we are at that point right now."

The Yankee Pedlar in Holyoke, Massachusetts, formerly the Yankee Pedlar Inn, has been a business since 1947 and its history stretches to the late 1800's as it became an institution hosting banquets, weddings and events and now, it is for sale.

HOLYOKE -- The iconic Yankee Pedlar is for sale for $1,850,000, officials said today.

The establishment at Northampton and Beech Streets is on the market and future uses include the possibility of keeping it as a restaurant and events host or conversion to medical offices, said Frank Fitzgerald II, vice president with Opal Real Estate Group of Springfield.

"They'll stay open for business. The business is still there" and will stay open until a sale, he said.

Marcos A. Marrero, director of the city Planning and Economic Development Department, said the site comes under mostly the business limited zone, which allows for medical offices. The Yankee Pedlar , which has been a business since 1947, is a few doors down from Holyoke Medical Center.

City Board of Assessor records list the owner as Northampton Street Inc. 1866. The local Clayton Family bought the Yankee Pedlar in 1995.

As for why the Claytons are selling, Fitzgerald said, "I think it's just time, you know. He says he's owned it for 20 years and he's had a number of offers over the years."

The asking price for the Yankee Pedlar is $1,850,000, he said.

The history of the Yankee Pedlar, formerly the Yankee Pedlar Inn, stretches to the late 1800's. It became an institution hosting banquets, weddings, proms and other events, which continue today.

Many of those events were held by the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee. And the sidewalk and street in front of "the Pedlar" every year draws crowds as a popular meeting place and viewing spot every March for the parade, which begins blocks away on Northampton Street and makes its first turn in heading to downtown at the Yankee Pedlar, from Northampton Street to Beech Street.

But economic downturns and changing dining habits hurt the business, owners have said over the years.

The property originally was the home of Judge John Hildreth who left England in 1871, and settled in Holyoke. The home was built in 1875.

Hildreth died in 1942 and his family sold the property four years later to Eugene and Catherine Tamburi.

"The Tamburi's invested a great deal of time and money renovating the original house, and the Yankee Pedlar Inn opened for business June 7,1947," the Yankee Pedlar website said.

Frank and Claire Banks bought the Yankee Pedlar in 1977. Features they added included the Garden Room, the Herb Terrace and Simone's, "a small French bistro restaurant named after the long time French Canadian employee, Simone Patenaude," the website said.

In 1995, the Yankee Pedlar Inn was purchased by the Clayton Family, which expanded and remodeled.

"With three generations in Holyoke, the Claytons were very familiar with the Yankee Pedlar Inn," the website said.

Converting the Yankee Pedlar to medical offices perhaps makes sense, given its proximity to the hospital.

"That's been floated. I know before we came on board, there were offers to do that," Fitzgerald said.

But such a demise would sadden Holyokers such as James M. Leahy, a longtime Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee member and member of the City Council.

"As co marketing director of the St Patrick's Parade committee I have had hundreds of events there over the years. It's an historic landmark. My hope is someone will purchase it and keep it a restaurant and banquet hall," Leahy said.

The Yankee Pedlar sits on 1.147 acres at 1864-1866 Northampton St. The property has an assessed value of $1,210,400, according to Board of Assessors records.

ISO New England also predicts that there will be sufficient power resources to meet demand.

HOLYOKE -- Hot, muggy temperatures and the attendant demand for air conditioning are expected to drive electricity consumption in New England to a 2016 peak during the late afternoon Thursday.

ISO New England, the Holyoke-based entity that manages the New England power grid, predicts a peak demand of 25,100 megawatt hours to be reached between 4 and 5 p.m. The term megawatt-hour is equivalent to one megawatt of electricity extended over one hour, which can serve about 1,000 average homes in New England for about one hour, according to ISO New England.

A chart prepared by ISO New England shows power demand starting off at 15,860 megawatt-hours at about 6 a.m. and building slowly as the day warms up and human activity starts for the day.

If that 25,100 megawatt-hour prediction is reached Thursday evening, it would top the current 2016 peak of 24,305 megawatt-hours hit July 22 and last year's record of 24,437 megawatt-hours on July 29.

Wednesday's demand peaked at about 5 p.m. with 20,149 megawatt-hours.

Don't worry about the lights going out: ISO says it will have more than enough power to meet demand with 32,874 megawatt-hours of power lined up, including generation capacity that can be imported from elsewhere.

The all-time record for peak demand was set on Aug. 2, 2006, when demand reached 28,130 megawatt-hours after a prolonged heat wave.

Heading into the summer, ISO predicted demand to peak at 26,704  megawatts. Extreme summer weather, such as an extended heat wave of about 94 degrees, could push demand up to 29,042 megawatt-hours.

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service predict a high of 94 Thursday with a heat index, a measure that includes humidity, of as high as 100 degrees. The National Weather Service is also calling for a three-day heat wave, with temperatures hotter than 90 for three consecutive days Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The city of Springfield has already announced plans to reopen 10 cooling centers on Thursday and Friday. A list of locations is available at http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/08/springfield_reopens_cooling_ce.html.

Eversource, the former Western Massachusetts Electric Co., has offered a few energy-saving tips:

• Increase the temperature on air conditioners.  Keep air conditioners set at a moderate temperature throughout the day because cranking the unit up after work uses more electricity. Programmable thermostats or temperature timers can also help keep costs manageable, especially when away from home.
• Keep air conditioner filters and coils clean.  Clean air conditioner filters and coils at least every three months.  Dirty filters block air flow, reducing efficiency and making it harder to deliver the cool air. 
• Don't block air flow.  Keep air vents clear of obstructions such as furniture, curtains and rugs.  For those with central air and floor vents, consider using vent deflectors to direct and increase the reach of cooled air. 
• Seal home cracks and gaps.  Seal cracks or gaps in walls and outlets, and window and door frames, to keep cool air from escaping and letting hot air in.   
• Save major appliance use until the evening. Help conserve energy by using appliances like clothes washers and dryers early in the morning or late in the evening, when there is less demand on the electric system. 

Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday signed a law mandating insurance coverage for a debilitating side effect of old HIV drugs.

BOSTON -- Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday signed a law mandating insurance coverage for a debilitating side effect of old HIV drugs.

HIV-associated lipodystrophy syndrome is a side-effect of drugs that were used to treat HIV in the 1989s and 1990s, before more advanced drugs were developed. It causes abnormal fat accumulation around the head or neck and fat loss in the face and limbs.

The treatment is generally surgery to remove the excess fat. But often, insurers deny coverage for treatment, arguing that it is a cosmetic procedure.

"Some of our longest-term survivors of the HIV epidemic have been suffering profoundly, silently and invisibly because of medications," said Ben Klein, senior attorney and AIDS law project director at GLAD, which provides legal services for gay rights issues.

The new law will require insurers to cover surgery, injections or other treatments for the disease. The copays will have to be comparable to copays for other similar services.

Massachusetts will be the first state to mandate this coverage.

Klein said lipodystrophy remains "one of the most unrecognized issues in the HIV epidemic." His organization has met people who refuse to leave their homes for fear of being ridiculed and people who are depressed, suicidal or living in pain due to the disfigurement.

A group of more than 100 doctors wrote to House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, supporting the bill. The doctors wrote that lipodystrophy causes serious health problems, including head and neck pain, postural problems, depression and inability to sleep. It enhances stigma and discrimination against HIV patients, most of whom are now in their 50 and 60s.

"Treatment of lipodystrophy is basic medical care; it is not cosmetic," the doctors wrote. "It is also sound health policy. It is costlier to address the harm of untreated lipodystrophy (e.g., pain medications, physical therapy, psychotherapy) than it is to treat the underlying disease."

Lora Pellegrini, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, said insurers oppose the mandate because it will make insurance more expensive. "Mandates take away the ability for small businesses and individuals to have flexibly designed products," Pellegrini said. She added that larger companies that are self-insured are not required to abide by state mandates.

The independent Center for Health Information and Analysis estimates that the average individual's annual increase in monthly premiums to pay for lipodystrophy coverage will be one to 10 cents a year.

But Pellegrini said the Legislature keeps adding more insurance mandates. "Over time, they add up to real money," she said.

Also this year, lawmakers passed a mandate requiring insurance coverage for long-term antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease.

The insurers group joined several business groups in a letter to the Legislature that did not single out the lipodystrophy mandate but stressed the economic impact of mandates overall on the health insurance market.

"At a time when employers and the state are struggling with the high cost of health care, adopting new mandated benefits will exacerbate the challenge Massachusetts businesses face in finding affordable options, will add to the financial strain in the state budget, and run counter to efforts to address underlying health care costs," the business groups wrote.

The bill passed the Legislature on the final day of the legislative session. Baker took the full 10 days he is allowed by law to review the bill before signing it on Wednesday evening without any public fanfare.

Baker worried that taxing miles traveled rather than gas would hurt drivers in the western part of the state who drive farther distances and have less public transportation.

Citing concerns about the impact on drivers in Western Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday vetoed a pilot program to test a mileage-based tax on drivers.

"I worry a lot about the consequences of this for everybody from Worcester west," Baker said. "It feels to me like it falls into a category of something people really ought to know a lot more about before they head down this road."

The Massachusetts Legislature sent Baker a road and bridge funding bill with a provision directing the administration to apply for federal funding to test a new tax on drivers based on miles traveled. Baker signed the bill on Wednesday, but, as expected, vetoed the pilot program.

The Legislature cannot override his veto because formal legislative sessions have concluded for the year.

The point of the volunteer program would have been to figure out whether a vehicle miles traveled tax would work, what its impact would be and how to best collect the information. If it went well, lawmakers could have considered replacing the state gas tax with a mileage tax.

Supporters of the pilot program said it would create a way to continue to raise money to fund transportation infrastructure as cars become more efficient and use less gas. Opponents said lawmakers were unlikely to repeal the gas tax and would simply tax residents more.

Baker, a Republican, generally opposes raising taxes.

Baker said the vehicle miles traveled tax has the potential to create a "really skewed set of tax circumstances" for some Massachusetts residents.

"I would never support a vehicle miles traveled tax unless I was absolutely sure it was not going to create an additional burden on drivers in Massachusetts, especially on drivers in parts of the commonwealth where there's not a lot of available public transportation," Baker said.

He noted that Western Massachusetts drivers must generally drive further distances than drivers in eastern Massachusetts.

Baker said the gas tax structure is fair because it rewards people who drive more fuel-efficient cars. He noted that people generally drive more when gas is cheaper.

A new federal fund will provide money for states to do these types of pilot programs, and Oregon and California are already testing similar taxes. Baker said he thinks Massachusetts can learn from the experiences of those states without running its own pilot program. He said transportation officials in Massachusetts have other priorities.

"Let's see what we can learn from the folks who are doing this in other states," Baker said.

In his signing statement, Baker gave several reasons for the veto. He wrote that he would oppose any vehicle miles traveled tax that would impose the tax in addition to the gas tax. He worried about the privacy rights of participants. He said he believes that before embarking on a pilot program, the state should identify any emerging technologies in Massachusetts that are available to implement it. The administration must also identify any financial obligations that would be imposed on Massachusetts if an application for federal funding is successful.

State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, one of the major proponents of the pilot program, said she is hopeful that the administration will work on the issue of transportation funding administratively, even without a legislative directive.

"I think that both the governor and the secretary ... understand that as we plan for the future of higher-miles-per-gallon cars, we still need to have a stable revenue stream for transportation infrastructure," she said. "Whether this happens legislatively or administratively is totally fine with me."

"We just want to be able to collect the best information we can so when the time comes several years down the road, we have the best information to have an informed debate," Farley-Bouvier said.

Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack said if the goal of the pilot program is to reduce greenhouse gases from transportation by encouraging people to drive less, she plans to work with Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matt Beaton to develop ways to encourage people to reduce the miles they drive.

"We're really focusing on ways we can encourage people to voluntarily choose to change their travel behavior as opposed to something like a tax, which is more a stick than a carrot," Pollack said.

Pollack said the administration is improving its Complete Streets program, which funds projects to make streets more accessible for pedestrians, bikers and public transit. She hopes to examine other tools as well.

"We're totally committed to figuring out ways that encourage people to do things other than driving and to reduce greenhouses gases," Pollack said. "We're not committed to that particular program."

Special operations officers could be seen grabbing the unidentified climber into an opened window on the 58-story building's 21st floor.

NEW YORK -- A man spent more than 2 1/2 hours scaling the glass facade of Trump Tower on Wednesday using large suction cups, climbing as high as the 21st floor before police officers grabbed him and hauled him to safety through an open window.

The climber had a backpack and used a harness and rope stirrups to fasten himself to the side of the 58-story Manhattan skyscraper.

Police officers smashed windows and broke through a ventilation duct in an attempt to block his progress. Officers also lowered themselves toward him using a window washer's platform.

WATCH: Police smash window, grab man scaling Trump Tower

The man started climbing Donald Trump's namesake skyscraper at about 4 p.m., witnesses said. He was wearing a backpack and used suction cups, ropes and a harness to slowly climb the building from an outdoor terrace just a few floors up.

The tower is headquarters to the Republican presidential nominee's campaign and his business empire. He also lives there.

For a long time, the climber played a slow-motion cat-and-mouse game with his would-be rescuers, keeping his distance by methodically working his way back and forth across the facade and angled corners of the building. When would-be rescuers smashed a window above him, he ducked to avoid big shards of glass that fell.

The chase ended dramatically just after 6:30 p.m.

As a crowd gasped on the street below, two officers leaning far out of a window frame where the glass was removed grabbed the climber's arm and backpack, and in a flash yanked him from his dangling stirrups. He went through the opening head first, his legs pointed skyward.

Police had deployed large, inflated crash pads at the scene, but it was unclear whether they were positioned close enough to where the man was climbing to offer any protection if he fell.

The tower is headquarters to Donald Trump's Republican presidential campaign and his business empire. Trump also lives there, though he was in Virginia in the afternoon and was headed to Florida for an evening event.

A Trump campaign spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

"This man performed a ridiculous and dangerous stunt," Michael Cohen, an executive at the Trump Organization, said in an emailed statement. "I'm 100 percent certain the NYPD had better things to do."

Terraces and other parts of the building are open to the public during the day.

Obituaries from The Republican.

Hubert D'Ambrosia 

Hubert A. "Hugh" D'Ambrosia, 77, a resident of Vero Beach, Florida, and Cotuit, Massachusetts, and formerly of Springfield, died Sunday. He was born and educated in Springfield, and was a graduate of the former Springfield Trade School Class of 1958. He enlisted in the Army in October 1958, and received an honorable discharge from the Army National Guard on Sept. 15, 1982, retiring as a command sergeant major. During his time with the National Guard, he began his second career, working for the State of Connecticut Correctional Department at the Somers facility for 21 years, retiring as a training captain. He was involved as a baseball coach for many years with the Porter Lakers Athletic Association. He served on the staff at Cathedral High School for many years as the gym coordinator and mentor to the many students who knew him as "Mr. D."

Full obituary and funeral arrangements for Hubert D'Ambrosia »

It's always among the best of the annual meteor showers, but this year's Perseid meteor shower has the potential to outshine the stars.

It's always among the best of the annual meteor showers, but the 2016 Perseid meteor shower has the potential to outshine the stars.

Astronomers predict as many as 200 meteors per hour — more than three a minute and twice as many as in a typical Perseid shower — will light up the sky Thursday night into Friday morning, if conditions are right.

Problem is, conditions don't exactly appear to be lining up as "right," at least for residents of Massachusetts. The right conditions would include being able to actually see the night sky, and clouds have a way of mucking that up. On Wednesday evening, the National Weather Service forecast for Greater Springfield for Thursday night was, "A slight chance of showers between 10pm and midnight, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Patchy fog after 5am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy."

But weather and meteor showers are unpredictable, so let's deal with what we do know:

Why the prediction of more Perseids this year?

This is expected to be an "outburst" year, meaning more meteors than usual, for the Perseid meteor shower, the first Perseid outburst since 2009. The Perseids come from dust and debris of Comet Swift-Tuttle, streams of which Earth skips past every year at this time.

According to NASA, Jupiter's gravity occasionally "tugs the huge network of dust trails closer, and Earth plows through closer to the middle, where there's more material." NASA says at least three Swift-Tuttle dust streams were bumped toward Earth, and should result in more meteors.

When is the peak time for viewing the Perseid meteor shower?

The Perseids start showing up in mid-July and shut off sometime in late August. The peak viewing time is generally Aug. 9-13, with the night of Aug. 11 into the early morning of Aug. 12 the highlight of the show. NASA says the absolute best time is after midnight until dawn on the morning of Aug. 12.

Where in the sky do I look to see the most meteors?

The Perseid meteor shower is so named because the "shooting stars" appear to emanate from the constellation Perseus in the northeast of the sky. But the meteor streaks will appear all over the sky.

Where do I go to see the Perseid meteor shower?

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you're all set. Your chances of seeing meteors get better the further away from artificial light and obstructions you can get. Watching from a city center is not ideal, while watching from an unlit field in a rural area gives you both premium darkness and unimpeded views of the sky.

But in general, wherever you are, such as a backyard in city and suburban areas, should work out, assuming at least part of the sky is clear.

Tips for seeing more meteors

• Plan to give sky-gazing a fair amount of time — allow 20-30 minutes or more for your eyes to adjust to the dark, then plenty of patience for the meteors to start streaking across the sky.
• Sitting, or ideally lying on your back, will also help your eyes focus on the vast sky above.
• You don't need a telescope or binoculars — the 200 meteors per hour predictions are based on what observers will be able to see with the naked eye.
• Moonlight makes it harder to see meteors. The moon sets over Springfield at 12:44 a.m. Friday (Thursday night), so if you can wait till then, it'll be darker, and easier to see meteros.

How can I see the 2016 Perseid meteor shower if it's cloudy where I live?

Slooh, a Connecticut-based organization that connects its telescopes to the internet, and NASA will have livestream broadcasts. Slooh starts its livestream at 8 p.m. EDT.

You can go to Slooh.com to join and watch this live broadcast, snap and share your own photos during the event, chat with audience members and interact with the hosts, and personally control Slooh's telescopes.

Slooh livestream (Perseid show starts Thursday, 8 p.m. EDT):

NASA plans livestreams both Thursday and Friday nights starting at 10 p.m. EDT.

NASA livestream (Perseid show starts Thursday, 10 p.m. EDT):

More about meteors and the Perseids

According to Hubblesite.org, meteors are the streak of light you see when a meteroid burns up in the atmosphere. A meteoroid is piece of space debris, generally ranging in size from a very large boulder to a grain of sand. A meteorite is a piece of a meteoroid that survives the fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere and lands on the planet.

NASA article on 2016 Perseid meteor shower »

timeanddate.com's details on where to look for the Perseids, plus links to moonrise / moonset times in your location »

Space.com's "Perseid Meteor Shower 2016: Sky Maps and Viewing Guide" »

Charts and scientific details from EarthSky.org »

The first 1,200 Holyoke school-aged children will get a free bag of school supplies at the Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative event on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Carlos Vega Park at Hamilton and Clemente streets.

HOLYOKE -- The Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative will hold its popular annual back to school event with a free bag of supplies given to the first 1,200 school-aged children Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. at Carlos Vega Park at Hamilton and Clemente Street.

The back to school event is the Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative's largest "community outreach" event of the year, said Ed Caisse, program supervisor with the Hampden County Sheriff's Department.

Originally, the plan was to mail coupons to the homes of public school students that would be necessary the day of the event to secure a bag of school supplies, but the mailing didn't happen, so instead the first 1,200 school-aged children who attend will be given the supplies, he said.

Parents are encouraged to join children at the event, which will include a rock-climbing wall, laser tag, "power cars," music and free hamburgers and hot dogs, he said.

The Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative is sponsored by the Hampden County Sheriff's Department and Holyoke Police Department and includes community organizations and businesses with a goal of unifying residents against street gangs, drug abuse and crime, Caisse has said.

For more information call 413-858-0225.

Springfield City Library hosted a meet-and-greet that allowed local and state candidates running for office to speak to local community members on Wednesday. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD — Political candidates for state and local office were given an opportunity to speak to the Springfield community at a meet-and-greet held at the City Library on Wednesday evening.

From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., candidates hoping to secure a number of positions – including Hampden County Sheriff, U.S. Representative, State Representative, Governor's Councillor, and State Senate – met with community members to discuss ideas and address concerns.

Michael Jones, running for the position of state representative in the 11th Hampden district, said that he believed the surrounding community needed a brand new set of ideas – and that he hoped he could contribute to helping the city's youth by expanding educational programs and institutions.

Jones also highlighted his distinctive role as the only conservative currently running for the seat: "I, Michael Jones, am a true conservative Republican," Jones said with a smile.

Towards the other end of the political spectrum is Jeff Morneau, who is currently running for the role of Governor's Councillor, and who was present Wednesday evening.

Current president of the Hampden County Bar Association, Morneau calls himself a "progressive Democrat" and stands to the left on a number of issues – including supporting a woman's right to choose, marriage equality and "treatment over punishment" in cases of drug addiction and substance abuse.

Morneau also explained at the meet-and-greet that one of his biggest goals was to "make sure that we get the best judges we can on the bench" in Western Massachusetts. "If you get it wrong, you're going to get injustice. If you get it right, you're going to get justice. And it's one of the things that makes the biggest difference for the community," said Morneau.

Another competitive race is for Hampden County Sheriff, where five candidates are competing for office – including Democrats Mike Albano, Nick Cocchi, and Tom Ashe, and Republican John M. Comerford and non-party candidate James Gill.

Cocchi spoke with The Republican briefly, saying that he believed his extensive experience in law enforcement had prepared him for the position.

Cocchi, originally from Ludlow, has been the Deputy Chief of Security at the Hampden County Sheriff's Office since 2011.

"For the past 22 years I've been at the Sheriff's Department working from the ground up," said Cocchi. "I understand what it takes to take men and women from leg irons and handcuffs and to bring them back into the community less likely to be violent, less likely to be addicted and afflicted," he said.

Tom Ashe, Cocchi's competitor, was also present at the event. Ashe, who is currently a City Councilor, recently received the endorsement of Massachusetts Representative Joe Wagner, and has said that as Sheriff he would work to address the opioid crisis currently affecting Western Massachusetts.

While designed to allow candidates to speak with potential constituents, the meet-and-greet was also an opportunity for residents to register to vote, as well as to get informed about where their polling place is.

The event was scheduled to give community members the chance to get registered before the August 19th deadline for the September 8th primary.

Kathleen O'Shea said she is not angry at her mother, but wonders about the circumstances of her birth.

For years, Kathleen O'Shea has run into people in the grocery store or on the street and wondered if that person could be her mother, a sibling or another relative.

While the Palmer resident celebrates her birthday on June 18, she isn't positive that is the day she was born. People comment on her Irish name, but she isn't sure if she has a drop of Irish blood.

And when doctors ask about her family's medical history, she has no answers.

The only thing O'Shea knows is she was abandoned in the women's room at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield on June 19, 1991. She was left with a bottle of milk, wearing a tiny T-shirt and wrapped in a yellow crib blanket when a hospital employee found her.

She was less than 10 days old and healthy. Her mother turned herself in about a week later, but police declined to press charges, so there was no record of her name. Articles from The Republican's archives confirm her mother was a Springfield teenager who gave birth at home. She was not charged.

"It is the one missing void," she said. "I have everything in my life now except for that one empty spot in my life that keeps coming up every once in a while."

O'Shea said she has a happy life and a wonderful family. She was first placed in foster care and adopted by the people she always considered her real parents at 3 months. She was raised in Monson but now lives in Palmer with her fiance, Joseph Turenne, and their children. She is a nursing student at Holyoke Community College.

She first looked up the articles about being found as an infant while in high school. Later she contacted Springfield Police Sgt. David McGibbon, but he and other officers involved in the case are now retired and didn't remember specifics about the long-ago discovery of the infant. She was told since charges were not filed, it is unlikely her mother's name was ever officially recorded.

So early Wednesday morning, O'Shea decided to turn to social media to see if she might be able to find her mother's name that way.

"It's crazy. I've gotten 3,000 shares (on Facebook) since then," she said. "I can't believe it went viral."

Typically O'Shea said she keeps things she posts on Facebook pretty private, sharing mostly with family and friends. She was shocked to be getting messages from people in California, Missouri and Florida, as well as a lot of strangers closer to home.

Many of the responses are just from people who are sharing her message. Others have encouraged her by telling their own stories about successful searches for their birth parents. Almost none have been negative, she said.

O'Shea's adoptive mother, Patricia Carr, gave her daughter her blessing to start the search. Her adoptive parents were divorced when she was 11.

"My mom is my mom and she will always be my mom," she said. "She has a great sense of humor about it. ... She knows I've been thinking about it for a long time and am curious about my birth mother."

O'Shea also has two siblings, a sister who is 22 and a brother who is 20. They were also adopted.

Part of her interest comes from becoming a mother herself. Her son, Chevy, is 3 and her daughter, Olivia, is 5 months old.

"It is different as a mother. When I look at my kids I can't imagine a day without them," O'Shea said. She would also like to be able to share more information about her medical history with her children.

The state's Baby Safe Haven law, which allows a parent to surrender an infant under 7 days old to a safe place such as a hospital or police station, was not enacted until 2004. O'Shea said she would like to know what circumstance led her own mother to leave her in a bathroom. She asks if her mother's parents knew she had given birth and questions if her biological father knew anything about her.

"Now that I'm a mother and have a wonderful family of my own, I truly understand the heartache and decisions you must've gone through. I don't resent you, or hate you, or hold anything against you. I guess, well, I'm just curious in a way," O'Shea wrote to her birth mother on Facebook.

She said she understands her mother may not respond. The most difficult thing would be to find out she has died.

O'Shea said she knows her mother could have a family and may have never told anyone about giving birth to a daughter in 1991. "I don't want to step on anyone's toes."

"I'm hoping she contacts me," she said. "I'm prepared for the worst but hoping for the best."

Even if her mother does not contact her, she is hoping someone else may know the circumstances of her birth and tell her.

People can send messages to O'Shea through her Facebook page.