His appointment runs until the annual town election next year, as the Monson School Committee is an elected position. However, when a vacancy occurs, it is filled by appointment by the committee and selectmen during a joint meeting.

MONSON -- Ed Maia of 33 Green St. is back on the School Committee following his appointment on a 5-1 vote Tuesday during a joint meeting of the selectmen and school board.

Maia replaces Jenny Curry, who resigned in August.

His appointment runs until the annual town election next year, as the Monson School Committee is an elected position. However, when a vacancy occurs, it is filled by appointment by the school board and selectmen during a joint meeting.

Maia previously served on the committee from 2007 until 2011, when he did not seek re-election, instead opting to run for the Board of Selectmen, where he served from 2011 to 2014.

East Longmeadow High School was evacuated Wednesday morning after a bomb threat was found on school property.

East Longmeadow High School was evacuated Wednesday morning after a bomb threat was found on school property.

Shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday, a student reported finding the phrase, "bomb at 12" written on a bathroom wall, East Longmeadow police told Western Mass News.

The school was evacuated and emergency responders searched the building, finding no traces of an explosive device. School was resumed before noon.

Cara Rintala, 49, is accused of strangling her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, then 37, on March 29, 2010, at the couple's Granby home.

NORTHAMPTON -- Cara Rintala told a police officer that, when she left the house at about 3 p.m. on March 29, 2010, her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, was awake and alive.

On Wednesday, a defense lawyer in Rintala's murder trial called to the witness stand Dr. Edward McDonough, who worked for decades as a medical examiner and is now a consultant. McDonough said it is impossible for him to say if Cochrane Rintala was killed before or after 3 p.m.

He did not examine the victim, but reviewed records, testimony, police reports and photos in the case. McDonough said first responders, although they noted the stiffness in Cochrane Rintala's body, did not do a thorough assessment of how much rigor mortis had set in.

Rintala, 49, is accused of strangling Cochrane Rintala, then 37, in the couple's Granby home.

This is Rintala's third murder trial, following mistrials in 2013 and 2014 resulting from deadlocked juries. She has been free on $150,000 bail since March 2014.

Assistant District Attorney Steven Gagne, on cross-examination, went after McDonough, questioning the basis for his conclusion. He questioned McDonough's motivation, as a consultant hired by the defense, for coming to the conclusion that time of death can't be set before or after 3 p.m.

McDonough said there could be many reasons Cochrane Rintala didn't use her phone after 12:21 p.m on day of her death. He said she could be sleeping, or in the shower, or she could have been dead.

The trial continues Wednesday afternoon before Hampshire Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup.

Follow Buffy Spencer's updates from the trial on Twitter:

Tweets by @buffyspencer1

The program, titled "Getting to Know ... Know Your Town," begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at the South Hadley High School library, 153 Newton St.

A candidates forum sponsored by Know Your Town.(Jim Russell photo) 

SOUTH HADLEY -- The community group Know Your Town has planned an event on Thursday night to discuss its founding more than seven decades ago at the close of World War II, and to hear a trio of municipal department heads discuss the future of their agencies.

The program, titled "Getting to Know ... Know Your Town," begins at 7 p.m. at the South Hadley High School library, 153 Newton St.

In 1941, Margaret Saunders, a 1905 Vassar College graduate, and her husband, Frederick, a retired Harvard University physics professor, moved to town.

Margaret, with the assistance of other civic-minded women, founded Know Your Town in 1945 with the goal of educating the community about local government and the importance of elections, and undertook efforts to inform residents about who was running for office.

"In 1948 Know Your Town published a voters primer to promote understanding of the town's problems and to provide information on the mechanics of town government and how to give town officers help and intelligent cooperation. It had been found that many in town did not vote and those who did often were not informed on the issues," the group's website states.

In an email statement, the group said, "In those days, most members were female homemakers and the primary caretakers for raising the kids, but they took the time to attend local meetings and report out."

Among the half-dozen or more events Know Your Town presents each year is the annual Candidates Night in the spring, preceding the annual town election in April. Recent forums have included discussions about the South Hadley Electric Light Department, a proposed library consolidation effort, the need for trees to keep the town beautiful, and social and economic development in the Falls neighborhood.

The group also hosts an annual meeting that includes a full meal with dessert, with an after-dinner speaker. Hampshire County Sheriff Robert Garvey spoke at the May annual meeting.

All the programs are free, and always end with an offering of home-baked desserts, such as cakes, cookies, peanut butter and jelly squares, fruit and nuts, and fresh coffee, to encourage attendees to mingle and discuss the program informally.

At Thursday's forum, the town's new police chief, Steven Parentela, the new manager of the municipal golf course, Andy Rogers, and the new Council on Aging director, Leslie Hennessy, will discuss how they envision the future of their respective departments.

Know Your Town has scheduled two events next month to discuss referendum questions that will appear on the Nov. 8 general election ballot, and also a local question about whether the town should approve the Community Preservation Act.

The Select Board and School Committee will select a new member Oct. 13.

AMHERST -- Anyone interested in filling a vacancy on the School Committee has until Oct. 6 to apply.

The Select Board and four remaining School Committee members will jointly select a new member Oct. 13 to replace Laura Kent, who resigned this month.

Whoever is chosen will serve until the next town election March 28. He or she could then choose to run for the remaining two years of the term.  

Candidates are asked to submit a letter explaining reasons for wishing to serve, qualifications and experience. Members of the Amherst School Committee also serve on the nine-member regional school board.

Candidates can email letters to selectboard@amherstma.gov (preferred) or via hard copy to Select Board, Town Hall, 4 Boltwood Ave., Amherst, MA 01002.

Kent, who was chairwoman of the regional committee, resigned Sept. 14 of citing concerns about her family's well-being and her own health. Her resignation came after months of turmoil on the committee surrounding the separation agreement with former Superintendent Maria Geryk.

Geryk threatened to sue, and some committee members preferred that option instead of a settlement package worth more than $300,000.

Meanwhile, the Select Board and Jones Library Board of Trustees on Monday selected Lee R. Edwards to fill a seat on the library board vacated by Jonathan McCabe. Edwards will serve until the next town election. Cathy "Kitty" Axelson-Berry was the only other candidate. 

Edwards is a former University of Massachusetts professor and dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts.

National Coffee Day, Thursday, Sept. 29, is upon us again, and as fake holidays go, this one is pretty decent, with free or discounted coffee available at McDonald's, Cumberland Farms and Dunkin' Donuts.

National Coffee Day, Thursday, Sept. 29, is upon us again, and as fake holidays go, this one is pretty decent.

A number of retailers are offering specials and promotions. Here is a roundup:

McDonald's: McDonald's in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island will offer a free any-sized McCafe Hot Coffee (including Pumpkin Spice or any other flavor) with any food purchase. 

Cumberland Farms: The Framingham-based convenience and gas chain is running two promotions.

On National Coffee Day, Cumberland Farms is giving away a free Farmhouse Blend or Bold coffee, hot or iced, in any size. To get one, customers must text the word FREECOFFEE to 64827 using their smartphone, and will receive a mobile coupon for a free hot or iced coffee, in any size the coupon can only be redeemed on National Coffee Day.

On Fridays throughout the month of October, Cumberland Farms brings back its customer favorite, "Free Coffee Fridays." Beginning Oct. 7 and continuing each Friday throughout the month, customers can get a cup of coffee -- hot or iced, in any size, for free. 

Dunkin' Donuts: Dunkin' Donuts locations in Massachusetts are marking the chain's 66-year history by selling a medium hot coffee for 66 cents.

Starbucks: The Seattle-based coffeehouse chain is taking the altruistic approach. Starbucks will donate a coffee tree to a farmer in the Mexican state of Chiapas on behalf of each customer who purchases a brewed Mexico Chiapas coffee in a participating U.S. and Mexico stores on National Coffee Day.

The effort is meant to battle a persistent coffee rust blight in the region.

A blood alcohol content of 0.49 percent is high enough to kill.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- A 19-year-old University of Massachusetts student visiting Pennsylvania State University was discovered unconscious Saturday night with a blood alcohol content of 0.49 percent, easily enough to kill.

The UMass student, who was not identified in a news release from the State College Police, was successfully resuscitated and transferred out of the Intensive Care Unit at Mount Nittany Medical Center. It is believed he will make a full recovery.

The incident was first reported in The Daily Collegian, Penn State's student-run newspaper.

State College Police responded to reports of an unconscious male near the campus at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Collegian reported that the police spotted the UMass student as his friends were attempting to carry him off the street. Police subsequently learned that the young man had been binge drinking vodka.

Responders took the student to Mount Nittany Medical Center, where he had to be placed on a ventilator.

"A family almost lost a son," Police Lt. Keith Robb told The Collegian. "A young man almost lost his life. Nineteen is too young to die over drinking a bottle of vodka."

State College police told the student paper that they publicized the incident as a warning.

For comparison, the legal limit to drive in Massachusetts is a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent. According to published estimates, poisoning and a loss of consciousness begins around 0.25 percent. Onset of coma and possible death due to respiratory arrest starts at 0.40 percent.

The Arizona Republic's unusual decision to endorse Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton this week sparked outrage from some, drawing subscription cancellations and even death threats.

The Arizona Republic's unprecedented decision to endorse Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton this week sparked outrage from some, drawing subscription cancellations and even death threats.

The newspaper, which broke from its 126-year tradition of backing Republican White House candidates to endorse Clinton over Donald Trump, told Arizona's 12News that the move garnered both local and national attention.

Arizona Republic Editorial Page Director Phil Boas, in an interview with the television station, said although the newspaper has received countless subscription cancellations and death threats in wake of the endorsement, its decision to back Clinton should not have come as a surprise.

"I don't believe that loyal readers of the Arizona Republic editorial pages are at all taken by surprise by this endorsement, because for the past year we have been writing scathing, scalding editorials about Donald Trump," he told 12News. "The things he has done, making fun of disabled people, rolling back press freedoms. You know a guy who would do, who would crush our freedoms in one area will do it in other areas, as well."

Boas, however, noted that while the newspaper has endorsed Clinton's White House run, it still has concerns about her use of a private email server as secretary of state.

He added that the Arizona Republic's endorsement "might have been a different story if Republicans had elected a Marco Rubio or a Jeb Bush -- responsible men."

The newspaper, which had never endorsed a Democrat for president over a Republican, said it decided to back Clinton and not Trump because it believes the 2016 GOP nominee "is not a conservative and he is not qualified."

The Arizona Republic, in its Tuesday endorsement, accused the businessman of lacking the temperament and experience to serve as president and blasted him for not releasing his tax returns.

Although it noted that Clinton is not without her own flaws, the newspaper further contended that the former first lady faces an opportunity to "heal this nation."

"This is Hillary Clinton's opportunity. She can reach out to those who feel left behind. She can make it clear that America sees them and will address their concerns. She can move us beyond rancor and incivility," it concluded. "The Arizona Republic endorses Hillary Clinton for president."

The Arizona Republic is not the first newspaper to break with tradition by endorsing Clinton.

Dallas Morning News threw its support behind the former first lady's White House bid earlier this month -- marking the first time in more than 75 years the newspaper had backed a Democratic presidential candidate.

For the sixth year, Massachusetts has topped a national ranking for energy efficiency released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

For the sixth year, Massachusetts has topped a national ranking for energy efficiency.

Massachusetts tied for first place with California on a scorecard of the states released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

"The Commonwealth continues to lead the nation in energy efficiency, which remains the most cost effective method of reducing ratepayer costs and lowering emissions," Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement.

One major reason Massachusetts earned the top score was because of programs it has in place for utilities, offering incentives and setting standards for utilities to encourage energy efficiency among their customers. Massachusetts also performed well on transportation, for having tailpipe emissions standards and significant levels of transit funding, and on building standards, for adopting energy efficient building codes. Other scores related to state government-led initiatives, heat and power and appliance standards.

Five things to know about the 1992 unsolved killing of Agawam teacher's assistant Lisa Ziegert.

The U.S. State Department has reportedly agreed to process nearly 3,000 pages of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's emails for public release ahead of the November general election.

The U.S. State Department has reportedly agreed to process nearly 3,000 pages of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's emails for public release ahead of the November general election.

Under the agreement, which the State Department and Vice News reporter Jason Leopold submitted to federal judges Wednesday, 1,850 new email pages recovered in the FBI's closed investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary of state will be scheduled for processing.

They will come in addition to the 1,000-plus pages a federal judge previously ordered the agency to review, Politico reported.

The new agreement looks to make the releasable portion of the additional 1,850 pages public on the State Department's website on Nov. 3 -- just days before voters hit the polls, according to the news outlet. Under the existing schedule in a case brought by Judicial Watch, sets of 350 email pages are to be posted on Oct. 7, Oct. 21 and Nov. 4.

Although the agency has agreed to process 2,900 pages of FBI-recovered emails by the November election, fewer may be released by then, Politico reported.

News of the email release agreement came as FBI Director James Comey defended his investigation into Clinton's private email server -- an issue that has dogged her Democratic presidential run and sparked questions over ties between the State Department and her family's charitable foundation.

"You can call us wrong, but don't call us weasels. We are not weasels. We are honest people and ... whether or not you agree with the result, this was done the way you want it to be done," he reportedly told the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday.

Comey, in a July statement, called Clinton's private email server set-up "extremely careless," but announced that the FBI would not recommend any charges be brought against her.

Police began surveilling the Orchard Street area Wednesday morning.

SPRINGFIELD-- Detectives arrested three suspects on heroin charges in the North End Wednesday morning after receiving complaints from residents regarding open-air dealing in the Orchard Street area.

Detectives, led by Jaime Bruno and Mike Goggin, began surveilling the area at 9 a.m., Sgt. John Delaney said. It didn't take them long for them to observe drug transactions, he said.

The detectives saw two males selling drugs in the area of 51 to 69 Orchard St., said Delaney, public information officer for the department.

One of their customers was a female who approached in a car, got out and bought heroin. Backup officers pulled her over after she left the scene and found three bags of heroin in her possession.

Another team of officers moved in and arrested the two male suspects. They seized 25 bags of heroin stamped "Welcome Back" and "Rolex," Delaney said. Police also seized 16 small rocks of crack cocaine that was packaged for sale, and $290 in cash.

Jeffery Gonzalez, 38, of 414 Chestnut St., and Juan Colon, 42, of 142 Sanderson St., were charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

Angelina Walker, 28, of 18 Larchmont St., was charged with possession of heroin.

In a follow-up post, the Scibellis said the popular restaurant, known for hosting banquets and events, has been sold to a new family. no one at the restaurant wanted to comment Thursday.

SPRINGFIELD -- Salvatore's Restaurant on Springfield's Boston road is changing hands after more than 40 years.

The business announced this week on the restaurant's Facebook page, that this weekend will be the Scibelli family's last at the helm.

The message read in part, "One thing is for sure, we will always have our memories and many of them."

In a follow-up post, the family said the popular restaurant, known for hosting banquets and events, has been sold to a new family. No one at the restaurant wanted to comment Thursday.

In a 2001 review, The Republican's Fran Bellamy wrote:

     "It's no mystery why Salvatore's has been a Boston Road destination for a quarter century now. The restaurant, which is operated by the Scibelli family, offers the sort of quality dining experience that's the key to any restaurant's long-term survival - great food, good prices, and unfailingly friendly service."    

Brothers John and Salvatore Scibelli opened Salvatore's in 1976, according to the restaurant website. Salvatore's expanded the lounge area in 1985 to host live music on weekends. Their sister Nancy (Scibelli) Carrie joined  in 1991. The chef is another family member, Bob Scibelli, according to the website.

The restaurant's website lists it as open from 4 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, and 4 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, for those interested in heading over for dinner one last time. 

Police have given the farmer taking care of the pig the option to keep her.

HADLEY -- Police have given the farmer caring for a stray pig the option of adopting if the pig's owner doesn't come forward.

In an email, Sgt. Mitchell Kuc said if the farmer doesn't want the pig, others in the community have expressed interest in taking her.

"Those with experience with this type of animal will be strongly considered," Kuc said.

Police found the potbellied pig on Mountain Road at the base of Skinner Park Tuesday. This is the first pig the department, which is known for reuniting lost dogs with their owners, has taken in.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 413-584-0883.

Charter schools across Massachusetts will receive a big boost in funding thanks to a federal grant program.

SPRINGFIELD -- Charter schools across Massachusetts will receive a big boost in funding thanks to a federal grant program.

The U.S. Department of Education announced Thursday that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will receive $15,876,000 over three years.

The federal funds are earmarked to support opening new charter schools, strengthening accountability for charter school performance and sharing best practices between charters across the state.

Massachusetts is one of eight states across the country to receive such funds.

"We have the strongest school system in the nation, and this grant is a major vote of confidence in the quality of Massachusetts' charters," Governor Charlie Baker said in a statement.

There are 78 charter schools operating in Massachusetts, collectively serving more than 40,000 students. A total of 953,429 children across the state are enrolled in public school.

A ballot question will ask Massachusetts voters in November if the state should allow more charter schools to open.

If charter school ballot question passes, where would the new schools go?

Question 2 would allow the state education department to open a dozen new charter schools per year, as long as enrollment in charters does not exceed 1 percent of the total school enrollment statewide. The new schools could open anywhere, with priority given to schools seeking to open in districts considered "underperforming" by state education officials. 

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education estimates there are just over 32,000 students on waitlists for at least one charter school in the commonwealth.

Boston and Springfield are the communities with the highest number of children seeking to attend charter schools. In Boston, 10,308 are on at least one waiting list. Just under four thousand children in Springfield seek to attend a charter school.

A Massachusetts native who was shot six times when a gunman attacked Pulse nightclub in Orlando was on Capitol Hill this week vouching for stricter gun control standards.

A Massachusetts native who was shot six times when a gunman attacked Pulse nightclub in Orlando was on Capitol Hill this week vouching for stricter gun control standards.

Angel Colon, who is originally from Framingham and also has ties to Boston, joined The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence on Wednesday, speaking to House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi and other officials about ways to prevent violence.

Angel Colon who was shot at the PULSE nightclub is joined by @Dan_at_Brady & @NancyPelosi to talk about ways to prevent #gunviolence pic.twitter.com/kqTgyrvydh

-- Brady Campaign (@Bradybuzz) September 28, 2016

Colon said he was there asking for more gun control because he does not want another family to go through what his and other's families did, being shot and injured among dozens more when Omar Mateen went on a rampage in the club, according to NECN.

Colon was lobbying for legislation that would have new standards about who can access guns with Sens. Charles Schumer, of New York, and Bob Casey, of Pennsylvania.

Casey is introducing a bill that would prevent anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime involving violence from buying a gun, according to WFTV9.

Colon told WFTV that he thinks adding his voice to the debate can help "save lives."

The survivor's leg was injured during the shooting, and he now walks with a crutch.

Firearm advocates have said that similar gun control bills violate Second Amendment rights.

Pulse shooting survivor Angel Colon talks to @TayeDiggs as he visits Congress to talk about expanding Brady background checks #FinishTheJob pic.twitter.com/lIpP4iqQPm

-- Brady Campaign (@Bradybuzz) September 28, 2016

Pulse survivor Angel Colon is asking Congress to prevent #gunviolence & support expanded Brady background checks --> https://t.co/kMAxoxUaho pic.twitter.com/k41N0mHK6N

-- Brady Campaign (@Bradybuzz) September 29, 2016

The Springfield gunmaker announced last week that the Pentagon has told it and partner General Dynamics "no".

SPRINGFIELD -- Smith & Wesson and its partner, defense giant General Dynamics, will not be selected to manufacture the Army's new M9 standard-issue handgun.

Smith & Wesson announced last week in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that the Army has already notified both companies that Smith & Wesson's M&P division -- the initials stand for "military and police" -- will not win the years-long competition. 

Smith & Wesson had partnered with General Dynamics in an effort to win the contract to replace the 9-mm Beretta M9 pistol, which was adopted by the U.S. armed forces in 1985. The contract, which has yet to be awarded, is worth up to $580 million and would carry with it significant bragging rights within the industry.

Smith & Wesson was proposing a handgun in a larger caliber, probably a .45-caliber like the Army handguns issued through most of the 20th century and in both world wars.

According to the filing, Smith & Wesson said:

"The (Army handgun) program has never been included in our financial guidance. We are assessing our options in response to the notification and remain focused on achieving our long-term strategy of organically and inorganically expanding our product offerings in the consumer market for shooting, hunting and rugged outdoor enthusiasts."

In a blog post on a National Rifle Association website, author Mark Keefe wrote that Smith & Wesson competitors SIG Sauer and Glock are rumored to be front-runners for the award.

Army brass are already expressing frustration at the drawn-out process, with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley famously asking for $17 million to buy guns from sporting goods outfitter Cabela's. 

He was widely quoted as saying:

"We're not figuring out the next lunar landing. This is a pistol. Two years to test? At $17 million? You give me $17 million on a credit card, and I'll call Cabela's tonight, and I'll outfit every soldier, sailor, airman and Marine with a pistol for $17 million. And I'll get a discount on a bulk buy."

Smith & Wesson has 1,758 full-time employees, most of them at its factory and headquarters on Roosevelt Avenue in Springfield. 

Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson founded the company in 1852. Over the following decades in Springfield, Smith & Wesson made itself famous by making handguns for everyone from the Imperial Army of the Russian Tsar and the Allies in both world wars to Clint Eastwood, who used a Model 29 revolver in "Dirty Harry."

Smith & Wesson's stock, SWHC on the NASDQ, fell 2.8 percent on the announcement. On Thursday it was $25.85, down 15 cents or 0.5 percent on the day.

Voters consider the override Nov. 8 to finance the town's share of the cost.

AMHERST -- School officials now have the official word that they will receive up to $34.4 million from the state toward the cost of building a new elementary school.

The Massachusetts School Building Authority sent a letter to acting Superintendent Michael Morris on Sept. 28 authorizing funding of $33.7 million for the project. That figure doesn't include owner or construction contingency expenditures, which could raise the state contribution to $34.4 million.

Town Meeting and voters must approve a Proposition 21/2 debt exclusion override for the town's share of the total project cost, estimated at $67 million.

The plan is to build the new school to accommodate students who now attend Wildwood and Fort River elementary schools, each in a separate wing. The school would be for grades two through six and accommodate 750 students. 

Preschool through first grade would attend an Early Childhood Center at Crocker Farm Elementary School.

School officials have 120 days to acquire and certify local funding approval for the project, according to the letter. Voters will consider a debt exclusion override Nov. 8, with Town Meeting taking up the issue later. The meeting begins Nov. 14, but the date of the vote is not yet known.

Town Meeting needs to pass the borrowing measure by a two-thirds majority, while the town-wide vote requires a simple majority. The ballot question does not specify an amount for the override.

The Berkshire Eagle reported that a motorist spotted the body near North Street and Hancock Road at about 9 a.m. and reported it to authorities.

Robert Rizzuto | rrizzuto@repub.com 

PITTSFIELD -- A body was reportedly discovered Thursday morning in the southeast corner of Pontoosuc Lake.

The Berkshire Eagle reported that a motorist spotted the body near North Street and Hancock Road at about 9 a.m. and reported it to authorities.

Firefighters responded to the scene. Police were not immediately available for comment.

This is a developing story. Additional information will be added as soon as it is available.

After a commuter train barreled through a Hoboken train station during the Thursday morning rush hour commute, more than 100 were injured, including at least one critically.

After a commuter train barreled through a Hoboken train station during the Thursday morning rush hour commute, more than 100 were injured, including at least one critically.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said 108 people were injured in the train crash and confirmed one fatality.

The train crashed through all of the station's barriers, bringing it all the way to the internal wall of the Hoboken terminal, Christie told reporters during a press conference Thursday.

The train left Spring Valley, New York at 7:23 a.m. and crashed into the Hoboken Terminal at 8:45 a.m. NJ Transit spokeswoman Nancy Snyder said.

Commuters from New Jersey and New York were on board.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the "silver lining" is that there was only one fatality, given the extent of the damage.

Photos of the scene show the crash left the train in a twisted heap of metal covered in bricks from the structure. The person killed was not on board, but standing in the station, hit by debris.

As to the cause, Christie asked all to not "jump to conclusions, let the facts lead you." He added Thursday afternoon that the investigation is ongoing and said "We're not going to speculate about the cause."