The Southampton Democrat said he doesn't know whether to believe if the Westfield Republican he's running against knew about the harassment his fiancee faced from co-workers in a state agency beset by political scandal. "I have no evidence one way or the other whether he knew," Parker-O'Grady said of Humason, who has denied any knowledge of the harassment.

SPRINGFIELD -- Democratic state Senate candidate J.D. Parker-O'Grady said the state took too long to investigate allegations of political intimidation and harassment against his fiancee by her state-worker colleagues, two of whom have been snared in the probe.

"It's unfortunate this took so long. This has been boiling under the surface for months now. It seems like it took it hitting the press for anything to happen," Parker-O'Grady, a 32-year-old law-school student from Southampton, said during an interview with The Republican's editorial board Friday.

An investigation into harassment allegations made by Cynthia Lewis, Parker-O'Grady's fiancee, against her colleagues at the state Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs has so far resulted in the resignation of EEA chief operating officer Michael Valanzola.

Also caught up in the investigation was Jared Valanzola, a personnel officer with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, who is accused of attempting to coerce Lewis to get Parker-O'Grady to drop out of his race against Republican Don Humason.

Earlier this week, EEA officials called Jared Valanzola's behavior "unacceptable" and said they are "moving to terminate" him. Although the probe found "no conclusive evidence" that Michael Valanzola had retaliated against Lewis, his resignation was "necessary to restore confidence in the human resources function for the secretariat," the Baker administration said in a statement. The Valanzolas are related, according to officials. 

"No one in our administration should ever think that it's appropriate to pressure anybody not to run for something for political purposes," Baker said, adding that Humason had "zero" involvement in the fiasco.

For Parker-O'Grady, a third-year law student at Northeastern University, the incident has been an unwelcome intrusion into his campaign and stressful for his fiancee, who is currently on voluntary administrative leave from her EEA job.

Despite Lewis making complaints in early June, the Baker administration did not begin to investigate the matter until Sept. 12, or thereabouts, according to a time frame provided by an aide to the governor. The administration's legal team became aware of the initial allegations in June. Further detailed allegations in August led to the investigation, the aide said, adding that Baker was unaware of that information due to it being handled at the staff level.

"As far as how the governor handled it, I'm glad he addressed at least some of the people involved," Parker-O'Grady said Friday. "He did come in and do an investigation, and at least two people are out of their jobs now because of it."

More personally, though, "it's been a long few months," Parker-O'Grady said. Lewis faced a "hostile environment" every day she went to work, Parker-O'Grady said, including harassment and intimidation from colleagues who tried to "set her up to fail."

"She's unbelievably strong to have put up with it for so long and to have faced that, all while trying to be supportive and by my side during a campaign, which is stressful in itself," he said. "I'm unbelievably lucky to be engaged to her."

Asked if he believes whether Humason knew about the harassment, Parker-O'Grady stated: "I don't know. I have no evidence one way or the other whether he knew. If he says he didn't, well (laughter), maybe those emails and text messages he was supposed to secure could shed more light on it. But I don't know -- I really don't."

The Senate's legal counsel received a letter in early June about the alleged harassment against Lewis, and Humason was notified. Humason knew nothing about the harassment, he told The Republican on Thursday, saying he wanted "to get out there in front of it," but was told by counsel to remain quiet.

Parker-O'Grady said the letter that was sent to the Senate counsel was a "litigation hold letter," a written directive to preserve potential evidence, electronic or otherwise, that may be used in future litigation. "He was notified that he needed to secure emails, text messages -- things like that -- related to this," Parker-O'Grady said of Humason.

The incident has received statewide attention and raised Parker-O'Grady's political profile, but not necessarily in a good way. However, it is a good segue into discussing issues of importance to district voters, he said.

"Anybody politically involved, obviously, has seen it and has read about it," Parker-O'Grady said. "I wouldn't say it's a distraction, but it's out there, and it actually helps lead to other conversations."

Two other EEA officials also recently resigned from the state agency, but neither resignation was related to the Lewis affair. The matter has dealt a political blow to Baker, a popular Republican known for his squeaky-clean approach to government. Baker has vowed to make changes at EEA.

Both Xavier Farrell and Lea Estien said they stammered and felt anxious delivering practice runs of their much-rehearsed TEDx talks before an upcoming all-day event at the State Street MassMutual Headquarters. When the moment finally arrived Friday, in front of a packed house of roughly 300 people, the pressure really on, both stuck the landing with seeming ease. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD -- Funny thing, those nerves.

Both Xavier Farrell and Lea Estien said they stammered and felt anxious delivering practice runs of their much-rehearsed TEDx talks before an upcoming all-day event at the State Street MassMutual Headquarters.

When the big moment arrived Friday, in front of a packed house of roughly 300 people, the pressure really on, both stuck the landing with seeming ease.

"One thing I really took away from this is: believe what you're saying," Farrell, 17, a Springfield High School of Science and Technology student said. "Once you believe it, other people will believe with you. Think about your words. Stand behind them."

Friday's event was the 5th annual TEDx Springfield event and featured 13 speakers.

Estien, a 16-year-old native of Puerto Rico who attends The Springfield Renaissance School, focused her words on the trickiness of the American dream.

"I was working so hard -- extra hard -- to make a good life, I was missing the one I had," Estien said. "Sadly, trying to 'get there first' is making us miss the dream."

Wise words from someone not yet old enough to vote. She said her mother faced the same struggle.

"She didn't seem to have time," Estien said. "In Puerto Rico, she seemed to have time for everything. But here, time seemed to go faster. She never seemed able to catch up with it. She was no longer present at my recitals, my awards, family gatherings, church -- we wouldn't converse like we used to."

She added, "She was working hard to make a good life for me, but she was missing seeing me actually live that life."

The two tackled the problem together, finding happiness in slowing down and soaking in life, taking pleasure in the small stuff.

"Remember to live your life while your building life," she concluded.

Farrell found his point -- a big one -- in a small situation: He hated cleaning his room.

In search of some positive light to cast the activity in, he realized the stuff he was cleaning up he was lucky to have, largely comprised of gifts from loved ones, toys and items of sentimental value.

"The trap many people often fall into is that, in order to see the value in their own life, they have to measure it against people who have it worse -- or too often -- people who supposedly have it better," Farrell said. "Get away from that. See the value in your own situation."

Many of the day's speakers focused on science in honor of Albert Einstein's theory of relativity. 

"The theme was what I like to call 'geeky,'" said Jae Junkunc, creative consultant of the event.

Junkunc said interest in the annual event has surged and Friday's audience was the biggest yet and contained a higher percentage of people from the general public. 

"It's great to have it be more of a community event," Junkunc said. 

Peter Gailey, a former speaker at the event, emceed this time around. 

"The reason I came back is because I enjoy these events," Gailey said. "When I was on the speaker side, I was concerned only about the message I was spreading. Now that I'm on the other side, I'm coming to realize the audience members have a responsibility to be a force multiplier of the ideas discussed, to be that change that those ideas promise, to amplify the message."

Mall of America made a bold move to close for Thanksgiving, and many other retailers are following suit.

Mall of America made a bold move to close for Thanksgiving, and many other retailers are following suit. Whether or not stores should remain open on Thanksgiving has been a hot topic the last few years, with many Americans arguing workers should be at home with their families. Others see nothing wrong with working the holiday and making extra money. There are also shoppers who like starting their Black Friday shopping on Thanksgiving. What do you think? Read more and vote below!

PERSPECTIVES

USA Today reported that Mall of America's 520 stores will have the option to stay open or not on Thanksgiving Day, but the Minneapolis Star Tribune wrote that most stores will most likely choose to remain closed. And Americans are elated about this news!

Mall of America will be closed on Thanksgiving, and it's not the only shopping center going dark https://t.co/vDtVPLWDn1

-- USA TODAY (@USATODAY) October 6, 2016

Two years ago, Vox reported that working on Thanksgiving is nothing new and that asking for an entire ban on retail stores opened on Thanksgiving -- like Bryce Covert at ThinkProgress suggested back then -- is a bit ridiculous.

BestBlackFriday.com has a running list of all the retail stores that will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and the list is extensive. Maybe this is the year that most retail stores will no longer be open on the holiday.

Side Hustle HQ created a list of ways to make money on Thanksgiving. The list includes extending Black Friday to Thanksgiving Day. Plus, families can plan the day around members who have to work ... or just save them a plate. Nothing's wrong with making extra money during the holidays.

Movie theaters aren't included in this debate, right?

Anyways, people feel that America is capitalist and greedy. It's okay to let people be at home with their families.

@IcedTea17 As long as a movie theatre is open :) But I also don't think retail stores should be open on Thanksgiving just to increase profit

-- Miss D (@bonobochick) October 5, 2016

But some folks like making their money even on holidays.

Was suppose to be off tomorrow, but making money on Thanksgiving sounds good too [?] #workaholic

-- BreAnn Burness (@Bree_Burness) November 26, 2015

Thanksgiving is a family holiday. Maybe just wait until Black Friday to do your holiday shopping.

Heard that many retail stores will be closed on Thanksgiving and I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER. Thanksgiving = family time, not shopping :)

-- Kayla Malecki (@kmalecki23) October 6, 2016

Some places might still open at midnight or super early on Black Friday morning. So what's so wrong with a little extra help with shopping on Thanksgiving Day?

There's nothing wrong with shopping on #Thanksgiving that isn't already wrong with #BlackFriday or mass retail in general

-- Bob Gale (@bawbgale) November 23, 2014

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Sullivan said the raids are "a poor use of resources" and denied having any involvement.

GREENFIELD -- A Wendell woman whose five outdoor-grown medical marijuana plants were recently confiscated in a helicopter-driven police raid blasted Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan at a public forum on marijuana legalization held at Greenfield Community College.

The federally-funded Domestic Cannabis Eradication and Suppression program is executed by the Massachusetts State Police and National Guard. In recent weeks police supported by guardsmen in black helicopters targeted small outdoor pot gardens in Franklin and Hampshire counties.

"I feel like I participated in a total scam," said Patti Scutari. "I did everything I was supposed to do according to the state of Massachusetts. ... Your SWAT team came in, would not tell us their names. ... The only thing they would say is 'I work for DA Sullivan, that's who's my boss, you can call him and ask him who we are.'"

Sullivan, a panelist at the forum, denied being behind the operation, saying "the people who conducted that helicopter surveillance and extraction of marijuana plants do not, have not, never have worked for me." Sullivan said he "never spent a nickle, I did not authorize that at all, and in fact when I read about it online I was very surprised."

Sullivan had previously declined to comment on the raids when asked by reporters.

Scutari is a registered patient with a further "hardship registration" to grow her own. She and her partner, also registered, lost their 10 plants Sept. 13 when five men arrived in their yard moments after a helicopter hovered over their property. The men, who did not produce a search warrant and left no paperwork, cut down the pot and confiscated it.

Scutari, who was clearly angry, asked Sullivan if he thought the raids are a good use of public dollars.

"I know people with opioid addictions who are dying to have help and support, and they can't get it. ... But you're spending taxpayer money to go after people who think they're cooperating with the law."

She referred to another recent raid in Amherst, where five troopers confiscated a single marijuana plant from 81-year-old Margaret "Peg" Holcomb, who does not have a medical marijuana card, according to published reports.

"I want to know how you justify wasting thousands of taxpayer dollars to terrify a person like myself, and an 81-year-old woman in Amherst who had one little plant in her raspberry bushes," Scutari said.

Sullivan said he's aware of a "technicality where you supposedly have to cultivate it indoors." He also said he supported the medical use of marijuana for debilitating conditions. Voters in the state approved medical pot in 2012.

"I'm sorry for your troubles, but please don't accuse me of conducting that raid," Sullivan said.

Sullivan said he thought the program was "a poor use of resources for people who have three plants or less." He also said that if state troopers on the ground are invoking his name, they are doing so improperly.

Sullivan throughout Thursday's discussion expressed his strong opposition to Question 4 on the statewide ballot, which would legalize recreational marijuana. "I am a big supporter of Black Lives Matter, and this is a class issue. Marijuana derails poor kids," he said.

State police spokesman David Procopio previously said medical marijuana plants in the region were seized because they were outdoors and not locked up, as required by state law. As for the lack of search warrant, he said "probable cause was established by a trained spotter in the helicopter."

Thursday's forum, titled, "Should Massachusetts Legalize Marijuana?" was sponsored by the Greenfield Recorder, Valley Advocate and WHMP radio. It was broadcast and recorded by Greenfield Community Television.

After police said they had a warrant to search the home, Jonathan Rodriguez said, "Everything is mine in the living room," according to a prosecutor.

SPRINGFIELD -- A Springfield mother and her son are being held on a combined total of $3,000 cash bail following their arrest early Friday during a drug raid in the city's North End.

Diane Maisonet-Quinones 

Two others, Imalai Rodriguez, 24, and Diangelis Rivera, 22, both of Springfield, denied the same charges and were released on $1,000 bail each.

Springfield detectives said they seized 303 packets of heroin, most marked with the "Happy Meal" logo, as well as 38 packets of cocaine, 14 packets of marijuana and three shotgun shells during an early morning raid at 26 Orchard St., student prosecutor Jeffrey McDonald said.

Jonathan Rodriguez 

As the officers began searching the apartment, Rodriguez announced, "Everything is mine in the living room," McDonald said.

He asked Judge Patrick Sabbs to impose $5,000 bail each on the mother and son, citing the amount of drugs seized and the potential jail terms each faced if convicted.

Defense lawyer Scott Skolnick said Rodriguez was a drug user, but did not sell drugs out of the apartment.

In an application for a search warrant, police said a heavyset Hispanic male, between 25 and 35 years old, was running the drug operation, Skolnick said. Rodriguez is "5 feet 3 and 125 pounds," Skonick said.

Maisonet-Quinones' lawyer asked for $500 cash bail, explaining she is a cancer survivor whose income is limited to monthly federal disability payments. "She has no record," attorney Dennis Powers added.

Sabbs set bail at $1,000 for Maisonet-Quinones and $2,000 for Rodriguez.

They are due back in court for a pretrial conference on Oct. 25.

The talk is Oct. 15 at the Jones Library.

AMHERST -- As part of a nationwide lecture series inspired by the new film "The Birth of a Nation," local historian Robert Romer will speak about five people who resisted slavery in the Connecticut Valley.

His talk, "Slavery in the Valley: Five Unsung Heroes Who Resisted," is Oct. 15 at 2:30 p.m. at the Jones Library.

Slavery was widespread in the Connecticut Valley in colonial times, where most of the "important people," including ministers, owned two or three black slaves, according to a Jones Library press release.

Romer will talk about how not all those enslaved passively accepted their status as the property of white owners. He will focus on five who, in various ways, actively resisted.

Romer is Amherst College emeritus professor of physics and author of "Slavery in the Connecticut Valley of Massachusetts."  

Created by the American Library Association, the lecture series is inspired by actor and director Nate Parker's "The Birth of a Nation" and runs from Aug. 21 through Oct. 30 to commemorate the slave rebellion launched by Nat Turner, which lasted during those dates in 1831.

The film depicts Turner's rebellion and shares a title with a 1915 Ku Klux Klan propaganda film. It opens next month.

The lecture series also marks the 185th anniversary of Turner's rebellion and the United Nations International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, observed annually on Aug. 23.

Defense lawyer Thomas Bessette said the woman started the fight but was too drunk to defend herself. "Her injuries were self-inflicted," he said.

SPRINGFIELD -- Two sisters are facing aggravated assault charges after allegedly pummeling a woman outside a bar in East Springfield.

Danielle Martin, 21, of Springfield, and Jessica Martin, 26, of Ludlow, each pleaded not guilty last week in Springfield District Court to assault and battery with serious bodily injury.

Assistant District Attorney Cary Szafranski said the sisters punched and kicked a woman outside Rory Fitzgerald's on Page Boulevard, causing a possible concussion and other injuries.

The woman was standing outside the bar on Sept. 21 when the sisters drove up; Danielle Martin jumped from the car and began punching the victim, with Jessica Martin joining in the attack, the prosecutor said. Leaving the woman unconscious on the sidewalk, the sisters got back in their car and drove away, Szafranski said.

After submitting photos of the victim's wounds, Szafranski asked Judge Matthew Shea to set bail at $1,000 for each sister and order them to stay away from the alleged victim. She also urged the judge to revoke Jessica Martin's bail in a domestic assault case in Palmer District Court.

Defense lawyer Thomas Bessette challenged the alleged victim's account, saying she started the fight with Danielle Martin, but was too drunk to defend herself. She eventually passed out, falling "flat on her face on the pavement," Bessette said.

"Her injuries were self-inflicted," he added.

Following the fight, the woman returned to the bar and continued drinking for two more hours, Bessette added.

Attorney Scott Skolnick said Jessica Martin did not participate in the fight. She was sitting in her car and preparing to drive away when the woman dragged her from the vehicle, Skolnick said.

He argued against revoking his client's bail, pointing out that the domestic battery charge involved her boyfriend, who was in the courtroom to support her along with her parents and other family members, Skolnick said.

The alleged victim, in a complaint filed in district court, claimed the sisters were "looking for her" because she was friends with Jessica Martin's ex-boyfriend. She was diagnosed with a concussion and has no memory of the fight, she wrote.

"I was told that both girls fought me and Jessica kicked me in the face ... all over nothing," she added.

Shea set bail at $500 for each sister and revoked Jessica Martin's bail on the domestic assault charge. The sisters are due back in court on Oct. 25.

A Polish plate with Golumbki, pierogi, kapusta and kielbasa will be on sale.

CHICOPEE - The 40th St. Stanislaus Parish Bazaar featuring music, homemade Polish food, crafts and other activities will be held Oct. 15 and 16.

The bazaar will run from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday at the St. Stanislaus School and Parish Center on 534 Front St. Proceeds from the event will benefit the parish school, which educates pre-schoolers through eight-graders, said City Councilor William Zaskey, who is also a long-term member of the church..

Sarah the Fiddler will perform at 5 p.m. on Saturday and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Jeff & Joe Polka Band will perform at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday and Joe Dziok will also provide music for dancing both days.

A Haloween costume contest will be held at 2:30 p.m on sunday and there will be games for the children and a variety of other activities

One of the highlights will be the Polish and American kitchen. Golumbki, pierogi and kapusta, all homemade by church members, will be on sale. People can purchase a traditional Polish plate of all the delicacies at the fair and can also take food to go. Some order the food and freeze it for later. The kitchen will also serve kielbasa, hamburgers, hot dogs and baked goods, he said.

The bazaar also celebrates Chicopee's Polish heritage. Admission and parking for the fair is free.

Hours after the release of audio depicting Donald Trump lewdly talking about women, several Republican Party leaders backed away from their presidential nominee, condemning his 2005 comments and, in some cases, calling on the businessman to exit the race.

Hours after the release of audio depicting Donald Trump lewdly talking about women, several Republican Party leaders backed away from their presidential nominee, condemning his 2005 comments and, in some cases, calling on the businessman to exit the race.

Trump, who initially cast his comments as "locker room banter," apologized via video for the 11-year-old remarks, in which he told then-"Access Hollywood" correspondent Billy Bush about his efforts to have sex with a married woman, as well as discussed groping and kissing women.

The businessman's early Saturday apology, however, wasn't enough for some Republicans to remain behind their party's presidential nominee.

Democrats, who have repeatedly criticized Trump's treatment of women throughout the campaign, meanwhile, were quick to condemn the comments, calling them "disgusting" and saying they represent another example of why he is unfit to take over the White House.

Trump: 'I was wrong and I apologize'

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, in wake of the audio's release, released a statement criticizing Trump's remarks.

"No woman should ever be described in these terms or talked about in this manner. Ever," he said.

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, who was set to campaign with the GOP nominee in Wisconsin on Saturday, meanwhile, said he was "sickened" by what he had heard, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

"Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified," he said in a statement. "I hope Mr. Trump treats this situation with the seriousness it deserves and works to demonstrate to the country that he has greater respect for women than this clip suggests. In the meantime, he is no longer attending tomorrow's event in Wisconsin."

Trump said vice presidential nominee Mike Pence would instead represent him at the event, attributing his absence to "debate prep."

Calling the businessman's remarks "some of the most abhorrent and offensive comments that you can possibly imagine," Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz withdrew his endorsement of Trump, contending that he can "no longer in good conscience endorse this person for president."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee and an outspoken critic of Trump, argued that such comments "demean our wives and daughters and corrupt America's face to the world."

Hitting on married women? Condoning assault? Such vile degradations demean our wives and daughters and corrupt America's face to the world.

-- Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) October 8, 2016

Arizona Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, said "there are on excuses for Donald Trump's offensive and demeaning comments."

"No woman should ever be victimized by this kind of inappropriate behavior. He alone bears the burden of his conduct and alone should suffer the consequences," he said in a statement.

Former New York Gov. George Pataki, meanwhile, joined a handful of Republicans in calling on Trump to leave the presidential race.

I'm horrified by #TrumpTape news. @realDonaldTrump campaign is a poisonous mix of bigotry & ignorance. Enough! He needs to step down.

-- George E. Pataki (@GovernorPataki) October 8, 2016

Contending that the businessman "is obviously not going to win," Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse also urged Trump to "step aside and let Mike Pence try."

Character matters.@realDonaldTrump is obviously not going to win.
But he can still make an honorable move:
Step aside & let Mike Pence try.

-- Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) October 8, 2016

Utah Sen. Mike Lee, in a video posted on Facebook, further chastised Trump over his 2005 remarks, saying he wouldn't hire or want to be associated with a person who makes such comments about women.

Calling Trump "a distraction," he urged the GOP nominee to step aside and allow someone else to represent the Republican Party on the ballot next month.

"This can't continue, it's time for us not to settle, it's time for us to expect more," he said.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, called Trump's comments "horrific," saying the country cannot allow him to become president.

This is horrific. We cannot allow this man to become president. https://t.co/RwhW7yeFI2

-- Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 7, 2016

Tim Kaine, Clinton's Democratic VP running mate, further called Trump's behavior "disgusting."

"It makes me sick to my stomach," he tweeted.

Clinton's campaign released a video highlighting comments the businessman made in the 2005 recording and on the campaign trail, as well as those from women who have criticized the GOP nominee's treatment toward them.

Women have the power to stop Trump.https://t.co/tTgeqy51PUhttps://t.co/VH3woeAf9Q pic.twitter.com/NjvbkPsjPR

-- Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 7, 2016

Although Trump faced pushback from several figures across the political spectrum, some remained by the GOP nominee's side.

Ralph Reed, the founder and chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, said while he did not appreciate the remarks, he is glad Trump has apologized for making them.

Voters, he argued, are concerned more about issues than something the businessman said more than a decade ago.

"People of faith are voting in 2016 on critical issues like who will protect the unborn, defend religious freedom, appoint conservative judges, grow the economy, stand by Israel and oppose the Iran nuclear deal, which Hillary Clinton helped to negotiate," he said in a Facebook post.

"Given the stakes on the election and the critical issues confronting our nation, an audiotape of an eleven-year-old private conversation with an entertainment talk show host is unlikely to rank high on the hierarchy of their concerns."

Fox News' Sean Hannity, meanwhile, questioned why Trump has faced such scrutiny given the alleged sex scandals former President Bill Clinton has faced -- an issue the GOP nominee has pledged to bring up in Sunday's presidential debate.

Im not defending his words. Why are you defending Bills ACTIONS and how Bill and Hillary smeared woman? https://t.co/IfK1tUwAiX

-- Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) October 8, 2016

A horse that was found wandering the Massachusetts Turnpike in Charlton Saturday morning has been captured and returned home safety, state police have announced.

A horse that was found wandering the Massachusetts Turnpike in Charlton Saturday morning has been captured and returned home safety, state police have announced.

Massachusetts State troopers responded to reports of a loose horse on Interstate 90 Westbound between Exits 9 and 10 around 9:30 a.m.

Officers were quickly able to capture the wandering horse and remove it from the highway without incident.

The horse was returned home to a farm, which state police said is located near I-90.

State Police said they believe the horse made its way onto the highway after slipping through a fence.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence slammed remarks his Republican presidential running mate made in 2005 about groping and kissing women, saying he doesn't condone such comments and cannot defend them.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence slammed remarks his Republican presidential running mate made in 2005 about groping and kissing women, saying he doesn't condone such comments and cannot defend them.

Pence, in an statement issued on Twitter Saturday afternoon, said he was "offended by the words and actions" GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump described in an 11-year-old recording released Friday.

"I do not condone his remarks and cannot defend them," he said. "I am grateful that he has expressed remorse and apologized to the American people."

The Republican VP nominee added he looks forward to the opportunity for Trump to "show what is in his heart" as he publicly addresses the nation in the second presidential debate on Sunday.

My statement below: pic.twitter.com/92VYEAxIcl

— Mike Pence (@mike_pence) October 8, 2016

Trump, who initially cast them as "locker room banter," apologized via video for remarks, in which he told then-"Access Hollywood" correspondent Billy Bush about his efforts to have sex with a married woman, as well as discussed groping and kissing women.

Pence canceled an appearance at a Wisconsin GOP event on Saturday -- the same rally that U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan disinvited Trump from attending hours earlier.

Sources familiar with the governor's thinking told the Associated Press that Pence was "beside himself" after hearing the recording.

Despite calls from members of his own party to end his Republican presidential campaign, Donald Trump remained firm Saturday that he is not going anywhere.

Despite calls from members of his own party to end his Republican presidential campaign, Donald Trump remained firm Saturday that he is not going anywhere.

Trump, who faced a firestorm of criticism and calls to step down over lewd comments he made in 2005 about groping and kissing women, told the Washington Post that he would never withdraw from the 2016 presidential contest.

Citing the "tremendous support" his campaign has received, the businessman stressed that he will continue to challenge Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for the presidency.

"No, I'm not quitting this race. I have tremendous support," he said in a telephone interview with the newspaper. "People are calling and saying, 'Don't even think about doing anything else but running."

Trump further argued that facing Clinton in the general election makes it easier to keep the GOP behind him.

"It's because she's so bad. She's so flawed as a candidate," he told the Washington Post. "Running against her, I can't say it'd be the same if I ran against someone else, but running against her makes it a lot easier, that's for sure."

Although the businessman acknowledged that his remarks have taken over the race, he said it's not the first time he's faced controversy in his life.

"You go through things. I've been through many," he told the newspaper. "It's called life. And it's always interesting."

Trump further offered that he may make a speech Saturday evening to encourage supporters, but stressed any remarks would not be an announced departure from the contest.

"That's not my deal," he said, dismissing the idea.

The Republican presidential nominee further doubled down on his pledge to stay in the presidential race in a Saturday Wall Street Journal interview, telling the newspaper there's "zero chance (he'll) quit."

"I never, ever give up," he said, adding that his campaign is not in crisis.

Republican leaders -- including GOP vice presidential nominee Mike Pence -- came out against Trump following the Friday release of audio, in which the businessman told then-"Access Hollywood" correspondent Billy Bush about his efforts to have sex with a married woman, as well as discussed groping and kissing women.

Despite the controversy surrounding the 2005 remarks, Paul Santaniello, a former Longmeadow selectman and outspoken Trump supporter, said he still supports the businessman's White House bid, even if his comments were "unfortunate" and "obviously regrettable."

"I'm still behind him because I still think he's the best person to lead our country out of the mess we're in right now...The reality is there are far more important things that what he said to Billy Bush on a bus in 2005," he said.

Holyoke City Councilor Kevin Jourdain, who served as a Trump delegate at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this summer, meanwhile, said he had "no comment" on the controversy.

A fast-weakening Hurricane Matthew continued its march along the Atlantic coast Saturday, lashing two of the South's most historic cities and some of its most popular resort islands, flattening trees, swamping streets and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- A fast-weakening Hurricane Matthew continued its march along the Atlantic coast Saturday, lashing two of the South's most historic cities and some of its most popular resort islands, flattening trees, swamping streets and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands.

The storm was blamed for at least four deaths in the U.S., all in Florida. In its long wake, it also left at least 470 dead in Haiti in one hard-hit district alone, according to officials, with other stricken areas still unreachable four days after the disaster struck.

Matthew raked Georgia and South Carolina with torrential rain and stiff winds, and -- for the first time in its run up the U.S. coastline -- its storm center blew ashore, making landfall north of Charleston, near the town of McClellanville, where it caused serious flooding.

Up until then, the center, or eye, mercifully stayed just far enough out at sea that coastal communities didn't feel the full force of Matthew's winds. As the storm passed one city after another, the reaction was relief that things were nowhere near as bad as many feared.

"We are all blessed that Matthew stayed off our coast," Florida Gov. Rick Scott said. "We are blessed that we didn't have a direct hit."

As of 11 a.m., Matthew was just barely a hurricane, with winds of 75 mph. That was down from 145 mph when the storm roared into Haiti. It was moving at 12 mph.

Among the cities bracing for its effects later in the day were Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina. From there, the storm was expected to veer out to sea and loop back around toward the Bahamas, though as a much-weakened storm.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory warned people not to let their guard down just because Matthew was losing steam.

In Savannah, Georgia, a historic town of moss-draped squares and antebellum mansions, floodwaters several feet deep submerged a long stretch of President Street, which links downtown to the highway to Georgia's Tybee Island. A woman was seen staggering through waters up to her neck.

The shivering woman made it to the water's edge. A bystander handed her a sheet, which she wrapped around her neck.

"I'm homeless," said the woman, who identified herself only as Valerie. "I've got nine kids, but I couldn't evacuate with them."

Matthew also brought some of the highest tides on record along the South Carolina coast. Streets in Charleston -- a city of handsome pre-Civil War homes, church steeples and romantic carriage rides -- were flooded.

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said water shut down about 100 roads and streets in the city, with serious flooding near the Medical University of South Carolina.

Leigh Webber watched the torrential rains from the porch of her home in the city's historic district.

"It's not as bad as maybe I was expecting," she said.

"I feel badly for a lot of the businesses downtown that have been closed since Wednesday," she added. "I noticed a lot of hotels were completely closed. I know some weddings were canceled and it was a huge financial loss for a lot of people."

South Carolina's golf-and-tennis resort Hilton Head Island also took a blow as the eye of the storm passed 20 miles to the east. At least one gust of 87 mph was recorded at Hilton Head.

The two roads onto the island of 40,000 people were blocked by fallen pine trees, and many roads were under water. Signs were blown over, and power was out across the island.

Chandler Brunson and was among those trying to go back to her home after evacuating, but found her path blocked.

"I think we're going to have a pine tree splitting our house," she said. "That's what I'm afraid of."

Residents of Brunswick, Georgia, woke to roads covered by water or fallen trees and power lines. All access points to nearby St. Simons Island from the mainland were blocked. Tybee Island also took a beating, with gusts clocked at 93 mph.

Nearly a half-million electric customers in South Carolina were left without power, and 250,000 were in the dark in coastal Georgia.

Matthew -- the most powerful hurricane to threaten the Atlantic Seaboard in more than a decade -- set off alarms as it closed in on the U.S., triggering evacuation orders covering at least 2 million people.

But in the end, the hurricane skirted Florida's heavily populated Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area and sideswiped cities farther north, including Daytona Beach, Vero Beach, Cape Canaveral and Jacksonville, without its center ever actually coming ashore in Florida.

The damage consisted largely of fallen trees and power lines, eroded beaches and flooded roads. In northeastern Florida, the storm gouged out several large sections of the coastal A1A highway north of Daytona Beach.

Well south of the storm, things quickly began returning to normal Saturday, with all three of Orlando's main theme parks -- Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld -- reopening in the morning.

The deaths in Florida included an elderly St. Lucie County couple who died from carbon monoxide fumes while running a generator in their garage and two women who were killed when trees fell on a home and a camper.

On Friday, the storm raked yet another historic Southern city: St. Augustine, Florida, which was founded by the Spanish in the 1500s and includes a 17th-century stone fortress and many historic homes turned into bed-and-breakfasts. The city was left awash in rain and gray seawater, though the floodwaters had mostly receded by morning.

On Saturday, property manager Nick Trunck was in the city's historic district to check on several stores and apartments. He said he was prepared for the worst, but the damage consisted of little more than several lost shingles, a lost awning and water seeping into one area.

Trunck had arranged for 10 men to come from Connecticut to help with the cleanup, but after getting a look at the aftermath, he said he didn't think he needed anything but "a couple of guys and a mop."

The explosion is currently being investigated by the state fire marshal. Injured fire fighters are now home resting

SOUTH HADLEY ‒ Two South Hadley firefighters have been released from the hospital after sustaining injuries in an explosion, which occurred during Massachusetts Fire Academy training on Tuesday.

South Hadley Fire District 1 Chief Robert Authier confirmed the injuries in an email to The Republican.

"While conducting a live fire training with the Massachusetts Fire Academy's (mobile live fire training trailer,) an incident occurred, in which two members were injured," he said. "Both members are home, resting."

State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey is investigating the explosion, which took place at the South Hadley District 2 station, he added.

A third District 2 firefighter was also injured in the "live fire training" exercise, but was not hospitalized.

According to the state fire services website, the Mobile Training Unit (MTU) is a live fire training prop that can be delivered to fire departments across the state.

It uses propane gas and can be placed almost anywhere and allows firefighters to combat kitchen, bedroom and living room fires and experience a rollover.

The Republican has requested a copy of the video showing the explosion. The newspaper is seeking comment from the fire marshal's office.

This is a developing story and more information will be provided when it is available.

City firefighters rescued three people and one cat from a blaze that damaged an Orange Street apartment building on Saturday.

SPRINGFIELD ‒ City firefighters rescued three people and one cat from a blaze that damaged an Orange Street apartment building on Saturday.

Dennis Leger, aide to Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant, said firefighters, who responded to the 1:20 p.m. call, used ground ladders to remove one female, two males and one cat from the second floor windows of the four-unit building located at 44 Orange St.

The blaze, which was sparked by electrical issues, began in the laundry room of the first floor right apartment, Leger said.

No injuries were reported in relation to the fire, which caused an estimated $80,000 in damage and displaced eight residents, according to fire officials.

The building's landlord is reportedly putting up the displaced individuals in hotels.

Already under fire for lewd comments he made about women in 2005, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump faced an additional bout of criticism Saturday, as a video of Robert De Niro insulting the GOP nominee began circulating online.

Already under fire for lewd comments he made about women in 2005, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump faced an additional bout of criticism Saturday, as a video of Robert De Niro insulting the businessman began circulating online.

In the video, which was reportedly filmed as part of a voter initiative called "#VoteYourFuture," the Oscar-winning actor called Trump, among several things, "an embarrassment to this country."

"It makes me so angry that this country has gotten to this point that this fool, this bozo has wound up where he has," he said. "He talks about how he wants to punch people in the face, well, I'd like to punch him in the face."

Producers of the video concluded that De Niro's impassioned comments could not be part of the non-partisan initiative, but released it to the media Friday, Variety reported.

Although the minute-long video aired on "The Kelly File" Friday -- hours before the Washington Post released the 2005 recording of Trump discussing groping and kissing women -- it picked up steam online in wake of the controversy facing the businessman's campaign.

The video, however, is not the first time De Niro has criticized the GOP nominee. In August, he compared Trump to the main character of the 1976 movie "Taxi Driver," the mentally disturbed Travis Bickle, the Associated Press reported.

A weakening Hurricane Matthew lashed Georgia and the Carolinas on Saturday in what appeared to be the last leg of its march up the East Coast, leaving in its wake millions of Americans relieved that one of the most fearsome storms on record in the U.S. wasn't that bad after all.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- A weakening Hurricane Matthew lashed Georgia and the Carolinas on Saturday in what appeared to be the last leg of its march up the East Coast, leaving in its wake millions of Americans relieved that one of the most fearsome storms on record in the U.S. wasn't that bad after all.

The hurricane was blamed for at least 10 deaths in the U.S., including that of a 68-year-old Georgia man who died when two trees fell on his home. And hundreds were left dead in Matthew's wake in Haiti.

But in many places along the Southeast coast, the damage consisted mostly of flooded streets, flattened trees and power outages.

As the storm passed and the skies cleared, many people were already cleaning up, reopening their businesses or hitting the beach. The power started coming back on. And all three major theme parks in Orlando, Florida, including Walt Disney World, were up and running.

"We are all blessed that Matthew stayed off our coast," Florida Gov. Rick Scott said. "We are blessed that we didn't have a direct hit."

On Saturday, Matthew sideswiped two of the South's oldest and most historic cities -- Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina -- and also brought torrential rain and stiff wind to places like Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina.

From there, it was expected to veer out to sea, lose steam and loop back around toward the Bahamas and Florida, too feeble to cause any trouble.

For nearly its entire run up the coast from Florida, Matthew hung just far enough offshore that communities did not feel the full force of its winds.

Its storm center, or eye, finally blew ashore just north of Charleston on Saturday, but only briefly. And by that time, Matthew was just barely a hurricane, with winds of just 75 mph.

Within an hour of residents being allowed to return Saturday to Jacksonville Beach, Florida, David Villmow had fired up the two pizza ovens at his beachfront restaurant, The Art of Pizza. He was hoping to start serving customers in a few hours.

"We got really lucky," he said. "We could be looking at a whole lot worse. All you see are downed signs, downed fences, a few gas station sign letters missing."

Matthew's deadly potential was made all too clear in Haiti, where the hurricane roared ashore on Tuesday with terrifying 145 mph winds. At least 470 people were reported dead in one hard-hit district alone, with other devastated areas still unreachable four days later.

An estimated 2 million people in the Southeast were ordered to evacuate their homes as Matthew closed in on the U.S. By hugging the coast, the storm pretty much followed the path forecasters had laid out. A shift of just 20 or 30 miles could have meant widespread devastation.

"People got incredibly lucky," Colorado State University meteorology professor Phil Klotzbach. "It was a super close call."

While Matthew's wind speed had dropped considerably by the time it hit the Southeast coast, the storm will still go down as one of the most potent hurricanes on record, based on such factors as wind energy and longevity, and one of the most long-lived major hurricanes, too.

It was a major hurricane -- that is, with winds of at least 110 mph -- for 7.25 days.

The storm swamped the streets of Savannah, a historic town of moss-draped squares and antebellum mansions. A homeless woman was seen staggering through waters up to her neck. She made it across safely.

A Coast Guard helicopter crew also rescued a man stranded on a sailboat in a river near Georgia's Tybee Island. And North Carolina officials said they had to rescue numerous people from cars and homes.

The streets of Charleston -- a city of handsome pre-Civil War homes, church steeples and romantic carriage rides -- were also flooded.

"It's not as bad as maybe I was expecting," said Leigh Webber, who watched from her porch in the city's historic district.

"I feel badly for a lot of the businesses downtown that have been closed since Wednesday," she added. "I noticed a lot of hotels were completely closed. I know some weddings were canceled and it was a huge financial loss for a lot of people."

South Carolina's golf-and-tennis resort Hilton Head Island also took a blow as the eye of the storm passed 20 miles to the east. At least one gust of 87 mph was recorded at Hilton Head.

The two roads onto the island of 40,000 people were blocked by fallen pine trees, and many roads were under water.

All access points to Georgia's St. Simons Island from the mainland were blocked. Tybee Island also took a beating, with gusts clocked at 93 mph.

Three-quarters of a million people in South Carolina were left without power, and 250,000 were in the dark in coastal Georgia. About 1 million people in Florida lost power.

Four deaths were blamed on the storm in Florida, three in Georgia and three in North Carolina. The deaths included an elderly Florida couple who died from carbon monoxide fumes while running a generator in their garage and two women who were killed when trees fell on a home and a camper.

The storm raked yet another historic Southern city on its way up the coast: St. Augustine, Florida, which was founded by the Spanish in the 1500s and includes many historic homes. The city was left awash in rain and gray seawater Friday.

Property manager Nick Trunck went to check on check on several stores and apartments. He said the damage consisted of little more than several lost shingles, a lost awning and water seeping into one area.

Trunck had arranged for 10 men to come from Connecticut to help with the cleanup, but after getting a look at the aftermath, he said he didn't think he needed anything but "a couple of guys and a mop."

Property data firm CoreLogic projected the storm would cause $4 billion to $6 billion in insured losses on home and commercial properties. That compares with Hurricane Katrina's $40 billion and Superstorm Sandy's $20 billion.

With just one month left in the 2016 presidential campaign, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, returned to New Hampshire Saturday to rally support for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in the important battleground state.

With just one month left in the 2016 presidential campaign, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, returned to New Hampshire Saturday to rally support for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

The Springfield Democrat, who previously canvassed for the former first lady in the important battleground state ahead of it's first-in-the-nation presidential primary, stopped at the campaign's Keene office before going door-to-door in Peterborough.

Neal said his return to New Hampshire comes as the campaign looks to shore up support in the handful of states that are still up for grabs.

"(Clinton) has not been behind in New Hampshire since the respective two conventions, but at the same time, New Hampshire was the only state that flipped from Bush to Kerry and so it has the potential to be volatile in terms of where it lines up on Election Day," he said, pointing to the 2004 presidential election as an example of the state's potential impacts.

US Rep. Richard Neal, others canvass for Hillary Clinton's Democratic presidential campaign in New Hampshire

Although the former secretary of state has made far fewer appearances in New Hampshire than Republican rival Donald Trump in recent weeks, Neal said he expects Clinton to return as the November election gets closer.

He further argued that because New Hampshire is smaller than other battleground states, like Ohio and Pennsylvania, candidates don't have to spend as much time on the ground there.

"You can do a lot of work in New Hampshire in a very short period of time," he said. "And there's a lot of time for her to get back there. You can bet your life on her getting back there."

A Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll released this week placed Clinton and Trump in a statistical dead heat with a respective 44 and 42 percent of the vote among New Hampshire voters.

David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, noted that there are just two sets of persuadable voters left in the state for candidates to woo: undecided voters and those supporting third party candidates.

"Each group polls in the mid-to-high single digits, but voters abandoning the major parties to vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson could determine the outcome in New Hampshire," he said in a statement.

The poll, which surveyed 500 likely voters from Oct. 3 to 5, has a margin of error of plus of minus 4.4 percentage points.

In addition to New Hampshire, Neal said he also plans to campaign for Clinton's White House bid in Pennsylvania and in Cleveland, Ohio in the coming weeks.

This holiday season, the U.S. Postal Service plans to hire between 35,000 and 40,000 seasonal workers nationally to process and deliver holiday cards and packages.

SPRINGFIELD -- 'Tis the season to be hiring -- if Pioneer Valley manufacturers, retailers and delivery companies expect to meet demand this holiday season.

Here and nationally, delivery companies like FedEx, the U.S. Postal Service and UPS are hiring to meet a large expected demand generated by today's e-economy and the popularity of online shopping. The Postal Service alone is looking for 700 seasonal employees in Western Massachusetts.

"You need people who can take that order, if it's online, on the phone or in person, and turn that into a purchase with a delivered product and a happy customer. I think for this season we are feeling optimistic," said David Gadaire, president and CEO of CareerPoint, a job center in Holyoke. "The economy feels better. There is more churn. It certainly feels like there will be more positions available in the next few months."

While temporary and expected to conclude around the first or second week of January, seasonal holiday jobs can be a lifeline to struggling families looking for more income and are an opportunity for those looking for work.

"It's a foot in the door," Gadaire said. "And it is a chance to learn skills that can help fill out your resume."

He said many teenagers from CareerPoint's summer youth employment program have already been called back by their employers for the holiday rush.

Nationally, retail hiring for Christmas is expected to remain unchanged from a year ago with about 700,000 jobs added, according to projections from consultants Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.

Transportation and warehousing employment increased by 200,500 across the country in November 2015, the firm said, quoting data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. A decade ago, the seasonal job gains for this sector measured just 42,400, the firm said as a way of pointing out how much more online commerce there is today.

The Postal Service, which a has a deal to deliver packages for online megaretailer Amazon.com, is looking for 1,430 temporary workers to fill holiday jobs in this region, which covers Connecticut, Rhode Island and most of Massachusetts outside Boston, said spokeswoman Christine Dugas.

Nationally, the Postal Service plans to hire between 35,000 and 40,000 seasonal workers to process and deliver holiday cards and packages. Of those, 700 workers are needed at the Bulk Mail Facility on Fiberloid  Street in Springfield's Indian Orchard neighborhood.

The Postal Service needs 150 mail handlers for Fiberloid and another 150 clerks. Mail handlers make $12 an hour, clerks make $16. Elsewhere, the Postal Service needs drivers, who earn $17 an hour but need a commercial driver's license. More information is available online at usps.com/careers.

Nationally, UPS is set to hire 95,000 for the holidays and has job openings listed in West Springfield, Springfield and South Deerfield on its website, UPSjobs.com.

FedEX says it will hire 50,000 for the holiday rush and also has job openings listed in West Springfield.

Yankee Candle will hire about 300 seasonal employees for its retail flagship store and for its factory, both in South Deerfield, said spokeswoman Shelley Hazlett. She said those numbers are about equal with last year.

Tricia Canavan, president of United Personnel, said Yankee Candle staffs up early to get its products manufactured and shipped.

"They are shipping things now for the holidays," Canavan said.

Despite Challenger, Gray & Christmas' prediction of stable, though not growing, holiday hiring, Canavan agreed with Gadaire that demand for seasonal workers will be higher locally than it was last year. Canavan said it's part of an overall increasing demand for labor.

"I think certainly across the board we are seeing hiring very strong," she said.

Among retailers, Target has plans to add 70,000 retail workers and 7,500 people in its distribution facilities, Challenger, Gray & Christmas said. 

Kohl's, with stores in Springfield and West Springfield, plans to hire 69,000 seasonal workers nationally, according to the corporation.

Bon-Ton stores are seeking to hire 13,000 associates nationwide. Bon-Ton has a location in Westfield, according to a news release from the store.

Lenox's corporate parent expects the sale to be final in early 2017.

EAST LONGMEADOW --News came this week of the impeding sale ofa major East Longmeadow employee, the fallout from cutbacks at Baystate Health continues and there was good news about the local economy.

Here are 5 business stories you might have missed:

1) Lenox American Saw in East Longmeadow is for sale, says owner Newell Brands

Lenox American Saw has about 640 employees in East Longmeadow, according to the company. That's out of the 900 people who manufacture and market Lenox saw blades and tools in more than 70 countries.

Lenox's corporate parent expects the sale to be final in early 2017.

2) Western Mass. 'overlooked and underappreciated,' economist says at Knowledge Corridor event

Greater Springfield has already more than gained back the jobs lost in the recession. In fact, its a job recovery rate is 167.8 percent having gained back 25,000 jobs after losing 15,000 in the recession.

and

US jobs increase by 156K, unemployment rate unchanged at 5%

Economists say a December interest rate hike is likely.

American International College purchased 1081-1095 State St. last month for $375,000 but has no immediate plans for the property.JIM KINNEY/ THE REPUBLICAN 

3) AIC buys State Street building plus adjacent land

American International College has purchased a now-vacant strip mall and car wash and nearly a half-acre of land adjacent to its campus for $375,000.

4) 'Everyone deserves to be treated with respect': $300K federal grant helps domestic violence housing at YWCA of Western Mass.

The money will be used to help women and children escape from their abusers and live in a secure transitional housing complex in Springfield. 

5) Baystate Health outlines layoffs, cuts, outsourcing, way forward in new health care landscape

On Thursday,Baystate management  broke down the 323 job losses across the Baystate system:

• Open positions: 95 unfilled jobs were eliminated.
• Voluntary: 123 Baystate employees took a voluntary buyout.
• Involuntary: 105 Baystate employees were laid off.
• Managers: Of the 323-job total, 22 percent of the jobs eliminated were in management. That works out to 27 managers. Overall, about 7 percent of Baystate's 12,000-person total workforce is management. 
• Physicians: Four physician jobs were eliminated. Shendell-Falik didn't go into detail, citing employee confidentiality.
• Nurses: No front-line bedside nurse jobs were eliminated. Some nurses who were working in management positions did lose their jobs.