Three people were arrested on Wednesday that police suspect of committing a series of house breaks in the Easthampton area.

EASTHAMPTON — Police have arrested three people suspected of being responsible for a rash of house breaks in the Easthampton area.

Wilson Mercado and Jessica Vargas, both of Holyoke, and Shane Morin, of Easthampton, were taken into custody on Wednesday morning, after Easthampton detectives witnessed the trio perform an act of theft, police said.

The detectives sighted Mercado, Vargas, and Morin driving around a neighborhood in a car on Wednesday morning. As the detectives watched, one of the suspects exited the vehicle and proceeded to steal a package off of a porch, police said.

After the individual got back into the car with the package and attempted to drive away, detectives subsequently conducted a motor vehicle stop and arrested the three of them.

Police say they believe the three may be the culprits in a rash of house breaks in the Easthampton area that has occurred over the past several weeks.

Morin is charged with larceny over $250, while Mercado and Vargas are both charged with larceny over $250, as well as receiving stolen property over $250.

Police have stressed that investigation into the other house-breaks and larcenies will continue, but that more charges may follow for Morin, Mercado, and Vargas.

The three are scheduled to be arraigned in Northampton District Court on Thursday.

"Horrendous" media coverage. Being "handcuffed and paraded through" an in-session high school. Ostracization by members of the community. Wearing a GPS tracking device, required to avoid the school and missing graduation as a result. Swift termination of acceptance by an Ohio college.

PALMER -- "Horrendous" media coverage. Being "handcuffed and paraded through" an in-session high school. Ostracization by members of the community. Wearing a GPS tracking device, required to avoid the school and missing graduation as a result. Swift termination of acceptance by an Ohio college.

These were among the consequences East Longmeadow's David Becker, 18, faced after he allegedly digitally penetrated two unconscious young women - classmates and friends - at an April 2 house party in Palmer.

In Palmer District Court on Aug. 15, both Judge Thomas Estes and Becker's attorney Thomas Rooke agreed that these were commensurate with the crime.

Rooke called the affair "humiliating, embarrassing, a horrendous experience and something (Becker) will never forget for the rest of his life," recounting how, during a trip the Holyoke Mall with his mother, strangers stopped to take cell phone pictures of a mortified Becker.

Estes continued the case -- downgraded from the original rape charges, Becker faced two counts indecent assault and battery -- without a finding.

Who is Thomas Estes? Judge in David Becker sexual assault case under glare of spotlight following ruling

The district attorney favored much steeper penalties: two years jail time and sex offender status for 20-plus years for the teenager.

Becker admitted to the first charge and denied the second but said enough evidence existed to convict him of it.

For the crimes, Estes dealt Becker two years probation and mandatory counseling -- prompting an online petition calling for the judge's removal.

Petition calls for removal of Judge Thomas Estes who gave probation to David Becker, accused of rape

In court, Estes said at least one victim and her family wanted to see Becker not incarcerated.

"That is moving to the court," Estes said. "While certainly not lessening it in any way, any crime, there's a spectrum. There's a spectrum for the nature of the offense, and I think given Mr. Becker's position in life, to find him guilty at this point would slam a lot of doors. I agree with attorney Rooke. There have already been significant consequences, collateral consequences to simply being charged with the offense in the first place."

Estes bristled during an earlier exchange with Assistant District Attorney Eileen M. Sears, who argued the commonwealth's case to jail Becker.

"He's got a lot of support, and he's going to need it," Sears said. "He's going off to college --"

"Well," Estes interjected, "he's not going off to college if I adopt your recommendation. He's going to jail, and he'll be a sex offender, and he'll have to register for at least the next 20 years. I don't think he'll go to college at all."

"Maybe not," Sears replied.

Drawing from a report from a clinician who analyzed Becker, Sears added, "If the court does not incarcerate this defendant, then he might end up on a college campus, where there is a moderate to low risk that this could happen again. I would suggest that is a risk that at least the commonwealth is not willing to take."

On the other hand, the clinician's report ultimately did not recommend incarceration or adding Becker to the sex offender registry list, which it said "does not serve the public interest" and would increase Becker's "isolation" and "shame" -- and as a result the chances he would act out again in the future.

According to Rooke, the first victim and her family wanted Becker to serve probation, undergo treatment and write them an apology, and the second said she wanted him "held accountable."

"They don't want to destroy his life," Rooke said. "They don't want to ruin his career."

Becker, an athlete who graduated East Longmeadow High School with a 3.86 GPA had been accepted into and planned to attend the University of Dayton in Ohio to study biomedical engineering.

However, the school contacted The Republican this week to say Becker would not be a student there.

Estes closed the hearing by saying both defense and prosecution did an "excellent job" in a "difficult case" that was "well argued."

Boston police and the FBI were justified in fatally shooting Usaamah Rahim, a man that law enforcement officials allege had links to the terrorist group ISIS, in June 2015, Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley said Wednesday. Watch video

BOSTON - Boston police and the FBI were justified in fatally shooting Usaamah Rahim, a man that law enforcement officials allege had links to the terrorist group ISIS, in June 2015, Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley said Wednesday.

They had probable cause to arrest him, did not require a warrant, and acted in self-defense, Conley said at a press conference, where he went over recorded video and eyewitness accounts that he stated supported the police account.

He would not seek criminal charges against the law enforcement officials, he added.

"In fact, knowing what they now did about his plans for that day, they had the duty to stop him before he could act," Conley said.

A joint terrorism task force had Rahim under surveillance, and on the morning of June 2, 2015, they listened to a recorded phone call between Rahim and an alleged co-conspirator. During the call, Rahim allegedly abandoned a plan to travel to New York and behead an unidentified individual, and shifted to targeting local police officers.

"It was clear from this recorded conversation that Mr. Rahim did not expect to survive this attack," Conley said.

Later that morning, as Rahim prepared to board a MBTA bus, members of the surveillance team approached him with weapons holstered and asked Rahim to put his hands in the area. He drew a 13-inch knife with an 8-inch double-edged blade, and he advanced as they backed away with their weapons drawn, Conley said.

According to Conley, surveillance team members asked him to drop the weapon, but Rahim refused, saying, "You drop yours" and "Why don't you shoot me?"

A Boston Police detective fired one round at Rahim, and an FBI agent fired two rounds. Rahim was later rushed to a hospital where he died.

Because of the ongoing prosecution of two men linked to Rahim, certain documents related to the shooting were not released to the media on Wednesday, Conley said.

Two men, charged as co-conspirators, are facing federal charges as part of an ongoing case. They are David Wright of Everett, also known as Dawud Sharif Abdul Khaliq, and Nicholas Alexander Rovinski of Rhode Island, also known as Nuh Amriki or Nuh al Andalusi, according to prosecutors.

Knife-wielding man's relative David Wright held on conspiracy charge

The 118-mile ride goes through several Massachusetts and Connecticut towns and ends up at the Ludlow Fish & Game Club, where there will be a party, dinner and entertainment.

LUDLOW — The Ludlow Rotary Club is holding its 11th annual Poker Run motorcycle ride to benefit the Ludlow Police Department K-9 unit on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Tickets are $20 a rider and cover the cost of the ride, dinner, entertainment, and a poker hand back at the Ludlow Fish & Game Club, where an after-party will be held, according to Rotary Club president Darlene Rae, organizer of the event.

Proceeds will benefit Ludlow Police Officer Michael Whitney and Rocky, his four-legged partner in crime, according to Rae. "The K-9 unit is self-funded," she said, noting that all money goes toward training and other expenses.

"If something happens to Rocky, it helps with the vet bills," Rae said.

Registration for the motorcycle ride, which features a scenic 118-mile route through several Massachusetts and Connecticut towns, is at 9:30 a.m. at the Fish & Game Club, 200 Sportsmans Road.

If people don't want to participate in the ride itself, $15 will get them a ticket for the party and dinner, which begins at 3 p.m. at the club. The menu includes pulled pork, barbecue chicken, corn on the cob, roasted potatoes, baked beans, rolls, and more, There is a cash prize of $100 for the best poker hand.

Riders will leave the club and head south through Wilbrham, Hampden, Somers and Enfield before crossing the Connecticut River into Suffield, Granby and Barkhamsted, among other Connecticut towns. The ride ends back at the club in Ludlow — and just in time for the party.

This is the 11th annual ride to benefit the K-9 unit. The unit's only other fundraiser is a spaghetti dinner in the spring.

The ride will be cancelled if the forecast calls for rain, but the party and dinner will go on no matter what at the Fish & Game Club at 3 p.m. The general public is welcome to attend, said Rae, who can be reached for tickets at 413-531-6282 or djrae30@aol.com.

Tickets may also be purchased by calling Kevin Vestal at 413-563-9362, or Whitney at the Ludlow Police Department at 413-583-8305.

Suffolk District Attorney Dan Conley’s office on Wednesday released its final report on the fatal shooting of Usaamah Rahim, a man linked to ISIS by federal prosecutors. Conley spoke to reporters after meeting with Rahim’s family. Watch video

BOSTON - Suffolk District Attorney Dan Conley's office on Wednesday released its final report on the fatal shooting of Usaamah Rahim, a man linked to ISIS by federal prosecutors.

Conley spoke to reporters after meeting with Rahim's family. Rahim had been under surveillance by a joint terrorism task force before he was shot by a Boston Police official and a FBI agent on June 2, 2015.

"The overwhelming evidence gathered and analyzed during the course of the past year proved beyond any reasonable doubt that Mr. Rahim was armed with a large, military-style knife and posed the threat of death or serious injury to the Task Force officers at the time of the shooting," Conley said at the press conference.

"Their use of deadly force was a lawful exercise of self-defense or defense of others and did not constitute a crime under Massachusetts law," he said, according to a transcript of the press conference.

Conley's office also released video footage of Rahim entering a local CVS earlier that morning. Conley said the video footage indicates Rahim was carrying the knife, since a cord tied to the knife is visible.

The video footage is available above. The report is available further down below.

Suffolk District Attorney: Boston Police/FBI shooting of Usaamah Rahim was justified

Conley said he had also met with members of Boston's Islamic community.

"I told them, as I'll tell you now, that Mr. Rahim was being investigated for his actions, not for his faith," Conley told reporters. "My office has had a long and productive partnership with Minister Don Muhammad, the Muslim Athletic League, the Alrowda Masjid Mosque in Dorchester, and other groups. "

He added: "We value their contributions to Boston and Suffolk County, and I want to be clear - we condemn any violence perpetrated against them because of their religious or cultural heritage.

Suffolk DA Report on Fatal Shooting of Usaamah Rahim

Dameian White is charged with home invasion, armed assault with intent to murder and two other crimes for Chicopee home invasion Watch video

SPRINGFIELD — A 35-year-old Chicopee man testified Wednesday about the fear he felt when Dameian White held a gun to his head during an April 19, 2015, home invasion.

"I felt I'm going to die, pretty much," Michael Marsh testified at White's trial in front of Hampden Superior Court Judge Edward J. McDonough.

Dameian White 

White, 22, of Springfield, is charged with home invasion, armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and larceny of a motor vehicle.

Marsh said he was Facebook friends with White and Dayquan Little before the two men entered his home at 3 a.m. with White holding a gun.

He said he didn't socialize with the two men and had just friended them on Facebook because he liked their music. He said he saw them perform rap at the Hippodrome club in Springfield a year or two before the home invasion.

Defense lawyer Raymond Jacoub asked in cross-examination if it would surprise Marsh to hear White never performed at the Hippodrome. Marsh said it would.

Marsh, who said he has a master's degree in psychology, said when the men came into his Grape Street home, he didn't know their real names but knew them by Facebook names.

Marsh said White told him he wanted "two stacks," which he said means $2,000. When he didn't have the money, they asked for $1,500, then $1,200.

He said he ended up giving them a debit card, a credit card, his car keys and his phone.

Marsh said the two men left, and as he called police, he saw them — along with a third man — take his car.

The car was later found stripped in Queens, New York, Marsh said.

Jacoub asked Marsh why he told the police dispatcher three men had come into his house, and now is saying two men. Marsh said he meant three men were involved, but only two came into his house.

Under questioning from Assistant District Attorney Mary Sandstrom, Marsh said White kept saying he would "pop" him — kill him. He said White would then say he didn't want to shoot him.

He said White hit him in the head twice with the gun.

Marsh said his 54-year-old mother was in her room in the apartment when Little and White were there. He said her door was partially closed, but he thinks she would have heard some of the conversation outside her door.

He said his mother is now in her native Jamaica attending to a family situation.

Jacoub quizzed Marsh about the reasons his mother couldn't come testify at this trial.

Marsh asked McDonough if he needed to talk about the family situation that required his mother's presence in Jamaica. Marsh then said because of a situation with a sibling of his, his mother needed to take care of her grandchildren in Jamaica.

Little pleaded guilty on Monday to his part in the home invasion.

Sandstrom asked McDonough to sentence Little, a 21-year-old Springfield man, to 20 years in state prison for home invasion. McDonough said he agreed with Sandstrom about the severity of the crime, but not about her sentence recommendation for Little, who had no criminal record. He sentenced the defendant to 21/2 years in the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow followed by three years probation.

Little pleaded guilty to home invasion, armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and larceny of a motor vehicle.

State Police are investigating a helicopter crash that occurred in Ashland on Wednesday.

ASHLAND — A helicopter crashed into a reservoir in Ashland on Wednesday afternoon and State Police are now investigating the incident.

Air Wing and ground units of the State Police responded to the Ashland Reservoir at approximately 4:48 p.m., for reports of the crash.

The Ashland Fire Department was also called to the scene of the incident.

At 5:12 p.m., State Police announced that the operator of the helicopter had made it safely to shore, but that the aircraft was still in the water.

The Reservoir is located inside Ashland State Park and covers an area of roughly 147 acres.

Police haven't yet made clear if they know how the crash occurred.

No further information has been made available yet.

This story will be updated when more details become available.

The town's Finance Committee on Thursday will consider a $2,200 request from the Police Department to repair the air conditioning system at their headquarters.

WARE -- The town's Finance Committee on Thursday will consider a $2,200 request from the Police Department to repair the air conditioning system at their headquarters.

The money would come from the municipality's reserve fund, for which Town Meeting allocated $55,000 this fiscal year.

Ware's town bylaws permit the Finance Committee to approve requests from the reserve fund for unforeseen costs during the fiscal year.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 126 Main St.

The family of Usaamah Rahim is still digesting the Suffolk County District Attorney’s report into a Boston Police detective and a FBI agent fatally shooting the 26-year-old in June 2015, but the family attorney declined to rule out a civil suit. Watch video

BOSTON - The family of Usaamah Rahim is still digesting the Suffolk County District Attorney's report into a Boston Police detective and a FBI agent fatally shooting the 26-year-old in June 2015, but the family attorney declined to rule out a civil suit.

"Nothing's off the table," the attorney, Ronald Sullivan, Jr., told reporters on Wednesday.

Sullivan said the five law enforcement officials who approached Rahim could have further de-escalated the situation. Rahim was wielding a knife and advanced on members of the anti-terrorism team monitoring him, prosecutors say.

The family was "absolutely floored" by prosecutors' allegations that Rahim had ties to ISIS, the terrorist organization, Sullivan said as family members stood behind him outside the Suffolk District Attorney's office. They viewed him as a "gregarious" and "happy" young man, he said.

Usaamah RahimFile 

The family members plan to take a look into the 700-page version of the DA's report. "As I said a year ago, the facts will lead us where the facts lead us, but at this point we don't have anything further to say until we've had a chance to really take a deep dive into those 700 pages," Sullivan said.

Dan Conley, the district attorney, said law enforcement officials were investigating Rahim, citing an alleged plan to behead a New York City resident. The plan was later abandoned, and the plan's focus turned to targeting Boston police officers, according to prosecutors.

Conley said he would not seek criminal charges against the officials, since they had probable cause to arrest him, did not require a warrant an they acted in self defense.

"The family is heartened by the fact that the DA has spoken with them throughout this process and has explained himself fully," Sullivan said.

"The disappointment comes in the fact that the investigation was limited only to an alleged criminal conduct by the officers. There are far broader issues at stake here," Sullivan said, referring to a potential constitutional violation.

They could have gotten a warrant for his arrest, Sullivan said.

Conley met with the family for 90 minutes. They had many questions, he said, and his office told them they're available to answer more if they arise.

Conley said he apologized to the family for the report taking a "little bit too long," and added that prosecutors in his office have been working on other cases at the same time as handling the Rahim case.

Suffolk DA says Boston Police/FBI shooting of Usaamah Rahim was justified

Elm Street from Main Street to Franklin Street will be closed to motor vehicle traffic Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

WESTFIELD - Elm Street will be transformed into a large outdoor food court this weekend when the Rotary Club of Westfield hosts its annual Westfield Food Fest.

Most of Elm Street, from Main Street to Franklin Street will be closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday to allow the transformation that will bring many restaurants and other types of eateries to the downtown.

Westfield Food Fest will operate from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday; noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Mayor Brian P. Sullivan said that section of Elm Street may also be closed at least during the a.m. hours on Monday to allow for clean-up.

In addition to various foods and beverages, the weekend will feature live music from a main stage located in front of Westfield Bank to an acoustic stage sponsored by Kirby Productions and Riverside Productions that will be located on the south end of the festival.

Some participating restaurants include Pasquale's, Janik's Pierogis, The Pahk and Ebenezer;s. Food Trucks from Ed & Angies, Sun Kim Bop Korean, Silver Platter Gourmet, Bistro Bus, Moolicious Ice Cream, Angelo's Fried Dough, Buster;s, Mo;s Donuts and Ed's Fries will be there.

Several non-profit organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, Amelia Park Children's Museum will set up shop along Elm Street as well.

The city's Drug Task Force with assistance from the Police and Fire Departments will demonstrate the use of Narcan at the Community Police office at 71 Elm Street Friday night from 6 to 8 p.m..

Police have arrested 4 teenagers in connection to the slaying of Connecticut woman who died Tuesday night.

WATERBURY, CT — Four teenagers have been arrested in connection to the slaying of a Chinese food delivery woman that occurred in Waterbury on Tuesday night, according to the New Haven Register.

Helena Vargas, 59, was shot in the neck on Tuesday night, while attempting to make a delivery for the Golden Wok, the restaurant where she worked.

Vargas was working with a male employee, identified as Rolando Alvarez, 60, who was also assaulted during the incident.

Both employees were transported to a local hospital for treatment, where Vargas died from her wounds.

Police arrested four teenagers on Wednesday morning in connection with the shooting, including a 16-year-old girl, a 17-year-old girl, and a 16-year-old boy. The only suspect who has been publicly identified is 19 year-old Anthony Wright, of New York.

Fox 6 reports that Wright is a member of the street gang known as the "Crips," and that he has a criminal record that includes first degree robbery.

It is not yet clear whether the teenagers have legal representation at this time.

A man was arrested on Wednesday after police seized over 2,000 bags of heroin from a building in Holyoke.

HOLYOKE — After executing a search warrant at an apartment building in Holyoke, authorities seized thousands of bags of heroin and arrested one man on Wednesday morning.

Heriberto Escalera, 28, was taken into custody after Holyoke authorities searched the residence at 470 Maple Street.

Authorities recovered approximately 2,600 bags of heroin, which police say is valued at over $13,000. They also seized $650 in cash from the apartment.

A number of agencies assisted the Holyoke Narcotics and Vice Unit with the investigation, including the Easthampton Police Department and the FBI's Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force.

Escalera was charged with trafficking heroin of 36-100 grams, and was arraigned in Holyoke District Court on Wednesday.

Longmeadow's Select Board is seeking volunteers to apply for vacant positions on various boards and committees.

LONGMEADOW — The Longmeadow Select Board is looking to fill several vacant positions on town boards and committees with interested residents.

Select Board members are inviting Longmeadow residents to apply for positions on boards or committees, a statement on the town website says. An application can be found at www.longmeadow.org by clicking on Select Board and then Applications and Documents.

Interested residents should return applications to the Select Board office at 20 Williams St. by 4 p.m. Monday. Applicants must be available to attend short interviews with the Select Board on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. at Longmeadow High School.

For those who cannot make that meeting, there will be one session for makeup interviews on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. Those seeking additional information may call the Select Board office at 413-565-4110.

MGM Springfield was worried about opening during construction on the highway.

SPRINGFIELD -- The $183.3 million reconstruction of Interstate 91 through downtown Springfield is six months ahead of schedule because of the incentives for speedy work the state built into the contractors deals, said Stephanie Pollack, Massachusetts secretary of transportation and CEO of MassDOT.

All highway ramps and lanes are expected to open to the public in December 2017. Final completion and punch list work, like signs and landscaping, won't be done until 2018.

"There was worry that we would interfere with the opening of MGM Springfield, now we know we will be clear of that completely," Pollack said.

She spoke on the subject of the highway project Thursday following a topping-off ceremony for the CRRC MA rail car manufacturing plant in East Springfield. The rail car plant is itself 60 days ahead of schedule.

From the dais, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno pointed out that two of the signature transportation-related projects in the city -- the CRRC factory and Interstate 91 -- are both ahead of schedule.

The 2-mile stretch of Interstate 91 that passes over downtown Springfield on an overhead viaduct was built in the 1960s and opened to the public in December 1970.

Stephanie Pollack 

The interstate quickly became a major north-south artery for all of New England.

But the years were not kind, and the bridges and road surface of the highway over Springfield degraded.

In May 2015, MassDOT signed a $148 million contract with contractors J F White Contracting Co. of Framingham and Schiavone of New Jersey to replace the deck of the viaduct.

That base contract had incentives for early completion and penalties for late completion. Payments or deductions of $50,000 per day for up to 180 days can be applied based on whether the contractor meets the original goal of returning all highway lanes and ramps to normal use by Aug. 6, 2018. But White and Schiavone plan to have the highway and ramps open in December 2017. If they meet their goal, they stand to earn an incentive payment of $9 million.

Because of the I-91 construction, MGM Springfield pushed back its opening date to the fall of 2018 instead of February 2018. But Pollack said Thursday that the highway will be ready by the casino's original opening date.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced that it will close Exit 1A on Interstate 91 and a section of the highway southbound in Springfield tonight.

SPRINGFIELD -- The Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced that it will close Exit 1A on Interstate 91 and a section of the highway southbound in Springfield tonight, Aug. 25.

Closures are:

• Exit 1A from I-291 West (to I-91 South): From 9 p.m.  Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday.
• I-91 South in the vicinity of the I-91/I-291 Interchange: Traffic will be routed to Temporary Exit 7-6  from 11 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday.

Detour routes are:

• To reach I-91 South from I-291 West: Take Exit 2B on I-291 West and follow signs for Dwight Street. Turn left on Dwight Street, then turn right on State Street. Turn left on West Columbus Avenue/Hall of Fame Avenue, and bear left after crossing Union Street, to merge onto I-91 South.
• To reach downtown destinations from I-91 South: Take temporary Exit 7-6 and merge onto West Columbus Avenue. Turn left onto Boland Way.
• To continue to I-91 South (refer to Stage 1B detours for details and maps): Take temporary Exit 7-6 and merge onto West Columbus Avenue. Continue south onto East Columbus Avenue through the rail underpass. Bear right onto West Columbus Avenue behind the I-91 North Garage. Continue onto Hall of Fame Avenue. After passing Union Street, use the left lane to merge onto the on-ramp to I-91 South.

MassDOT advises drivers to plan for additional travel time through this area.

The construction work is part of the ongoing rehabilitation of the  Interstate 91 viaduct through downtown Springfield. The highway is expected to fully reopen to drivers in December 2017.

I-91 Springfield viaduct 6 months ahead of schedule

City public school children in grades one through 12 head back to school on Tuesday, August 30.

HOLYOKE -- City public school children in grades one through 12 head back to school on Tuesday, August 30. 

Students taking the bus to and from school are expected to arrive at the stop at least five minutes prior to the time listed at the location closest to their home. Bus arrival times may vary due to traffic and weather conditions. 

Pre-kindergarten students through grade two must be met by a parent or authorized adult at their bus stop. Bus drivers will not drop off young students without an authorized adult present. 

Unsure where your bus route is or need to authorize an adult for pick up and drop off? The forms are on the Holyoke Public School website. 

Below are the bus routes for city schools:

High Schools | Donahue | E.N. White | Kelly | McMahon | Metcalf | Morgan | Peck | Sullivan 

Still have questions?

For Special Education bus questions/issues:  Call Moreen Labelle at 413-413-534-2000 ext 238

For all other bus issues:  Call Patty Ferreira at 413 534-2000 ext. 242.

This will be the third trial for Rintala, who is accused of killing her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, in Granby in 2010.

SPRINGFIELD -- Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup met with prosecution and defense Thursday to go over pretrial issues for the third murder trial of Cara Rintala, set to begin Sept. 6 in Hampshire Superior Court.

Rintala is accused of killing her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, in Granby on March 29, 2010. The first two trials, in 2013 and 2014, ended in hung juries.

Thursday's pretrial session, held in Springfield because Rup is sitting in Hampden Superior Court this month, dealt with some last-minute issues. At times First Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Steven E. Gagne and defense lawyer David P. Hoose expressed flat-out frustration with each other.

Hoose had successfully asked to waive Rintala's presence at Thursday's hearing, so she wasn't there.

Rup said although she hadn't finished her written ruling, she has allowed Hoose's motion to exclude any testimony by prosecution expert witnesses who would say someone staged the crime scene.

The prosecution sought to have at least two expert witnesses who were prepared to testify someone -- likely a person who knew the victim and was comfortable in the Granby home -- altered the crime scene to hide their own guilt. Rup's ruling is that their testimony won't be allowed.

Rintala has maintained that she was out doing errands with the couple's daughter around the time her wife was killed. She told police she returned home in the evening and found her wife dead in the basement, covered in paint.

The prosecution's theory is that Rintala killed her wife, left the home with their daughter for hours, and then dumped paint on the body to try to hide evidence shortly before police arrived. They have argued that Rintala also used a shovel to put dents in the door jamb to try to make it look like someone broke into the home.

Gagne strongly objected to what he said was Hoose's late-breaking request to have a second medical expert testify about the difficulty in determining Cochrane Rintala's time of death. He asked Rup to exclude that expert's testimony.

Hoose said the doctor, who has worked as a medical examiner in other states, will basically concur with defense expert Dr. Jonathan Arden, who testified at the previous trials that time of death couldn't be established. Arden is expected to testify again in the third trial.

Gagne said Hoose first mentioned the second doctor to him Aug. 17. He said tying up loose ends right before a trial is one thing, but "to have an entirely new substantive expert dropped on us before trial" was unfair. He said there is "so much work" that goes into preparing to cross-examine an expert witness.

Hoose indicated that Gagne was late in giving him some information on fingerprint testing.

Rup said she would make a decision at a later time whether Hoose's second expert on the science of establishing time of death could testify.

Gagne asked Rup to question Dr. Frederick Bieber, a DNA expert who teaches at Harvard University, outside of the presence of the jury as to how he comes to his conclusions. Bieber was a defense witness at both previous trials. He disputed prosecution testimony about DNA found on a rag that Rintala allegedly left in a McDonalds trash bin on the day of the killing.

"I really don't understand what the trouble is with his (Bieber's) opinion," Hoose said. He said Gagne just didn't like Bieber's opinion on how DNA can degrade on an object.

Rup said she sees no problem with Bieber's testimony and will not question him about how he comes to his conclusions.

At the end of Thursday's hearing, Rup turned to the logistics of jury selection and the trial.

She said she anticipates having the trial go four days a week, probably not being in session on Wednesdays to give lawyers the chance to do whatever work they have to do on the case that has arisen during the trial.

Rup said 100 people have been called in for the jury pool for each of the first two days of the trial. Jurors will be asked to fill out a questionnaire specific to this trial that could be as long as 27 pages.

Rup said the logistics of having all the filled-out questionnaires copied for prosecution and defense before jurors are questioned will have to be determined.

A three-judge appellate panel ruled that land set aside for a school project was never designated as protected land.

WESTFIELD — The state Appeals Court has upheld a ruling by a lower court that paves the way for a long-delayed school project to proceed.

"It's hopefully going to allow us to move forward with a school project that's been stalled for many years," Westfield City Solicitor Susan C. Phillips said.

On Thursday, a three-judge panel affirmed an October 2014 ruling by Superior Court Judge Daniel A. Ford, who lifted an injunction that had stopped the school project dead in its tracks. However, residents opposed to the project and Ford's ruling, which would have allowed the plan to continue, filed suit against Westfield, claiming the public parkland where the new elementary school would rise is protected by Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution.

The constitutional provision, authorized in 1972, protects public lands in perpetuity and requires a two-thirds vote by the state Legislature to change the use of protected land. Article 97 was designed to safeguard property acquired for conservation and recreation purposes from being converted for other uses.

Ford lifted the court-ordered injunction that delayed the project after finding insufficient evidence to suggest Cross Street playground — a roughly 6-acre parcel bounded by Cross, Ashley, Main and State streets — is protected under Article 97.

Now that the Appeals Court has issued an opinion in the case, it helps clear a path for a project that broke ground four years ago and had been in the planning stages for even longer. In September 2012, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new school project, which calls for using a sliver of parkland at Ashley and Cross streets and would replace the former Ashley Street School. Local and state officials attended the event, which featured several small children with tiny shovels digging the ceremonial "first scoop."

"The city is happy. Hopefully this is the end," Phillips said, referring to any further legal challenges. The city attorney said the school project calls for using around 1.37 acres of the 6-plus-acre playground. "It's a large park," she said.

The lawsuit was filed in April 2012 by residents opposed to the project. They argued that the city had started work before satisfying various Article 97 requirements. Superior Court Judge Tina S. Page issued an injunction halting the project in September 2012, but the city went ahead and demolished Ashley Street School.

The park in question, formally known as the John A. Sullivan Memorial Playground, became public property after Westfield took control of the land for nonpayment of taxes in 1939. The park is commonly called Cross Street playground.

Ford, in his ruling, said the Supreme Judicial Court had previously established that land is only protected by Article 97 when it's specifically designated and recorded for Article 97 purposes. Westfield never recorded a deed designating the property as protected conservation land, said Ford, noting that the city took ownership of the property to satisfy a tax debt, not to preserve it as conservation land.

Thursday's appellate decision, written by Justice Joseph A. Trainor, rejected the plaintiffs' claim that Westfield had acted "beyond its authority" by approving construction of a school on a portion of the playground before obtaining approval from the Legislature.

The property was never designated for Article 97 purposes "in a manner sufficient to invoke its protection," Trainor wrote, and was conveyed to the city "with no limitation on its use." The land was not taken for conservation and didn't incidentally or subsequently come under Article 97 protection.

The new elementary school was billed as a $36 million project when it was proposed several years ago. It was not immediately known if project costs have increased because of the delay, or how much the city has spent defending itself in the lawsuit. A related suit is pending in Superior Court.

The Chicopee Police Department is searching for several missing children and are asking for the public's help.

CHICOPEE — Police are asking for the public's help in locating two missing juveniles who went missing on Wednesday evening.

Brother and sister Samson Cotto, 14, and Sonia Cotto, 16, were last seen in the vicinity of the Motel 6 located on Burnett Road on Wednesday, at approximately 5 p.m., said Chicopee Police Department spokesman Michael Wilk.

Police say that Sonia, who has brown eyes and dark, shoulder length hair, was last seen wearing a turquoise top, blue jeans, a black hoodie and a camouflage baseball cap that also had the American flag on it. Sonia is 5'3" tall and weighs 180 lbs.

Samson, who has short dark hair, was last seen wearing a blue and black shirt, as well as stone wash navy blue sweatpants with a blue and black shirt. Samson is 5'4" tall and 120 lbs.

"There mother is concerned for them," Wilk said.

Police have asked that anyone with any information regarding the whereabouts of these children to contact the Chicopee Detective Bureau at (413)594-1730.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Thursday she is "concerned" about a November ballot question that seeks to expand charter schools in Massachusetts. Watch video

BOSTON - Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Thursday she is "concerned" about a November ballot question seeking to expand charter schools in Massachusetts.

"You know, I'm just concerned about the proposal and what it means for the children all across the Commonwealth," Warren, D-Cambridge, told reporters after a talk focused on the middle class that she gave to supporters at Roxbury Community College.

"Public officials have a responsibility not just to a small subset of children but to all of the children, to make sure that they receive a first-rate education," she said.

Asked if that meant she is voting against the ballot question, Warren said, "Well, I want to hear more about what the plans are from this group that's proposing it."

Supporters of the question, including Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and a number of Massachusetts Democrats under the banner of the Great Schools Massachusetts campaign, say a "yes" vote on the question would help parents in under-performing school districts and communities of color.

Warren's remarks echoed slightly some of the arguments made by opponents of the question, including teachers' unions, who say charter schools siphon funds from district schools. They instead back "increasing funding to provide high-quality public schools for all children," the Save Our Public Schools campaign argues.

The ballot question, known as Question 2, has proved to be divisive within the Massachusetts Democratic Party.

Members of the party earlier this month voted to oppose the question, while ballot question proponents note that top Democrats like President Barack Obama support charter schools.

Mass. Democratic Party votes to oppose charter school expansion question