The president of the Springfield NAACP said the police department has a history of brutality and misconduct — in contrast to the mayor's comments that excessive force is not systemic and is punished when it occurs.

SPRINGFIELD -- In response to the mayor's comments that police brutality is not a systemic problem in the city, Bishop Talbert W. Swan II, president of the Springfield NAACP, said Tuesday the issue is real and the department needs to rid itself of abusive officers.

Swan said he "wholeheartedly" agrees with Mayor Domenic Sarno that the city should support its police department, Commissioner John Barbieri and the police officers who put their lives at risk every day.

"I refuse to sugarcoat the fact that the Springfield Police Department has a well documented history of police brutality and misconduct, particularly relating to communities of color, which long precedes the current commissioner's tenure," Swan said. "Furthermore, the process of receiving, reviewing and investigating citizen complaints has been a major concern for quite some time."

Sarno's comments in support of Barbieri and the police force followed news that U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson had refused to dismiss a police brutality case against the city, ruling a plaintiff's lawyers may argue the police department has systematically failed in supervising and disciplining its officers.

Bishop Talbert W. Swan IIDave Roback / The Republican file 

Robertson cited internal affairs records detailing 131 civilian complaints against seven city police officers named as defendants in the case, which was brought by convicted firearms and jewelry thief Justin Douglas, who claimed he was beaten by police. Of the the 131 civilian complaints, four were resolved with retraining of the officers and one resulted in a verbal reprimand, according to records.

One of the defendants, Detective Gregg Bigda, is accused in a separate matter in February of threatening to kill and plant drugs on two juveniles after they allegedly stole an undercover police vehicle. Barbieri suspended Bigda for 60 days, but some questioned if the penalty was severe enough given the circumstances and the difficulties that followed. Numerous drug prosecutions involving Bigda have been compromised over questions of his credibility as a witness.

Swan said the irregularities cited by Robertson "only affirm systematic failure long known to exist by police reform activists for many years."

"To make light of 131 complaints and to pretend that such a startling reality is not an indication of a systemic problem is either naive or completely irresponsible," Swan said.

It is definitely a systemic problem when the city has paid millions of taxpayer dollars related to litigation around police misconduct complaints, Swan said.

"Unfortunately, we cannot effectively deal with the problem of police brutality, misconduct and the tenuous relationship between the police department and communities of color if, at the highest levels of city government, we deny that the problem exists," Swan said.

"Yes, we support the brave men and women of the Springfield Police Department and the commendable job of Commissioner Barbieri in seeking to be an agent of change, yet we have to be realistic regarding the rogue cops who abuse their authority, brutalize our citizens, plant evidence and, like officer Bigda, revel in the notion that they can do it and get away with it," Swan said.

"We salute the officers who serve our community with integrity, however, we cannot sweep under the rug that the force needs to rid itself of abusive police officers who have gotten away with their misconduct for far too long," he said.

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Defense attorney Tracy Duncan asked for internal affairs records for a team of narcotics officers who executed a search warrant that led to drug trafficking charges against her client.

SPRINGFIELD -- A defense lawyer on Tuesday made an impassioned plea for internal affairs records of complaints filed against the city police officers -- including suspended Detective Gregg Bigda -- who took part in a raid that resulted in drug trafficking charges against her client.

But a city attorney who attended the hearing cited a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice asking the Springfield Law Department not to disclose such records until a federal probe of Bigda's February interrogation of two juvenile suspects at the Palmer police station is complete.

Tuesday's hearing involved a case against 42-year-old defendant Maurice Young. The case is one of a number of drug prosecutions potentially jeopardized by the videos, which show Bigda threatening to kill and plant drug evidence on two teens accused of stealing an unmarked, undercover Springfield police vehicle.

Bigda received a 60-day suspension for the incident, and his credibility as a witness in drug cases has been called into question in a number of recent court hearings.

Young's attorney, Tracy E. Duncan, told Hampden Superior Court Judge Edward J. McDonough Tuesday that Bigda participated in the execution of the search warrant that led to Young's charges.

Duncan described the videos to McDonough, highlighting Bigda's threats to plant drug evidence on the boys. She said the footage showed a cavalier attitude toward people charged with a crime.

Duncan said Springfield Police Officer Luke Cournoyer -- seen in the videos looking on as Bigda interrogates the teens -- was also involved in the execution of the search warrant.

A prosecutor said Bigda and Cournoyer only handled marijuana seized during the raid. Because of the officers' roles, Assistant District Attorney Kerry Beattie said, a charge of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute against Young was dropped several days ago.

Young, of Springfield, is still facing charges of trafficking 18 to 36 grams of cocaine, illegal possession of ammunition, violation of a drug-free school zone and two counts of possession of a Class B drug with intent to distribute.

Duncan said she believes records from the police department's Internal Investigations Unit will reveal information about the manner in which members of the narcotics unit execute search warrants, and whether there is evidence of any patterns of bias.

Beattie told the judge the access to the records as proposed by Duncan was "really a sweeping indictment of all officers."

McDonough took Duncan's request under advisement.

City attorney Alesia H. Days was on hand at the hearing, as she has been at several other similar hearings. She called Duncan's request a "fishing expedition," echoing language used by a prosecutor during another recent hearing involving the Bigda videos.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni and Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno announced last week they referred further investigation of Bigda's interrogation of the teens to federal officials.

Days gave McDonough the letter from the U.S. Department of Justice, which said disclosure of records from the Internal Investigations Unit could compromise the federal investigation.

The exterior of the Hampden County Hall of Justice is seen Saturday evening, April 25. (Dwight B. Shepard / The Republican)Dwight B. Shepard / The Republican 

Standing outside the Boston Museum of Science, Michael Bloomberg announced a $50 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies, saying he hoped other children would benefit from the same eye-opening experiences he had as a kid at the museum.

BOSTON - At age 8, Michael Bloomberg would often arrive at the Boston Museum of Science on Saturday mornings.

He'd take the bus from his hometown of West Medford to Sullivan Square in Charlestown, board the train into Boston, then hop on the trolley to Lechmere, and walk to the museum.

"I really did look forward to that trip all week long. As a kid, I just loved the museum because they had hands-on exhibits and that made everything come alive for me," Bloomberg said, recalling the animals inside, including an owl named "Spooky."

"Most importantly, this museum taught me the value of thinking, and incidentally, it taught me the value of never being afraid to ask a question," said Bloomberg, now a wealthy businessman and former three-term mayor of New York City.

Standing outside the museum with Gov. Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh on Tuesday, Bloomberg announced a $50 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies, saying he hoped other children would benefit from similar eye-opening experiences.

It's the largest gift in the museum's history and will support the education division and science education center, both of which will be named after Bloomberg's parents, William and Charlotte.

"His generous act is an endorsement of the amazing work of our educators and dramatically expands our capacity to make science and engineering accessible to all," Ioannis Miaoulis, museum president and director, said in a statement. "The gift also underlines the significance of our region. We are thrilled and honored by his belief in us and the region as a whole."

Museum officials set up a special contraption to help with the unveiling of the names of Bloomberg's parents on the front of the museum.

Messier was a life-long resident of West Springfield and a 2010 graduate of West Springfield High School.

WEST SPRINGFIELD - The family of Justin Messier, the 24-year-old West Springfield man killed in a Westfield car accident Saturday night, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to defray the cost of his funeral.

As of Tuesday evening, the campaign had attracted 66 donors since its launch on Monday and raised $5,700 toward the $10,000 goal. The GoFundMe post notes that given his age he had no life insurance to defray that costs for his family for funeral expenses.

Messier was a passenger in a car involved in an accident on Russellville Road near Cabot Street. The car went off the road, struck a tree and flipped over.

A memorial page in his honor was also created on Facebook.

Messier was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the car, Nick Sanchez, 19, was injured and taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

The accident remains under investigation, according to the Hampden County District Attorney's Office.

Messier, according to his obituary, was a life-long resident of West Springfield and a 2010 graduate of West Springfield High School. He graduated from Porter and Chester Institute in 2014 and worked at Color Storm Enterprises.

Calling hours are Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. at Toomey-O'Brien Funeral Home, 1043 Westfield St., in West Springfield, to be followed by a funeral home service at 7 p.m. The burial is private for family.

Springfield Technical Community College held a groundbreaking ceremony today, beginning construction of the college's new Student Learning Commons.

Springfield Technical Community College held a groundbreaking ceremony today, beginning construction of the college's new student learning commons.

The 24-month project, which will cost about $50 million, will convert Building 19, 170-year-old warehouse, into a cafe, library and social space for students.

Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, Mayor Domenic Sarno, STCC President John Cook and officials from the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) and Consigli Construction Co. were at the ground breaking.

Cook paid homage to former STCC President Ira Rubenzahl in his opening address and acknowledged his support and efforts to get the project off the ground. Cook then revealed that the learning commons would be named after Rubenzahl, who retired in June.

"We are thrilled with this project given that upwards of 17 student services and resources now land under this one roof," Cook said in a press release. "The learning commons should have a dramatic impact on the student experience here at the college."

According to Cook, once construction is complete the building will be the heart of the campus.

The 100,000-square-foot warehouse will feature a variety of student services like student accounts, financial aid and the registrar in one easy-to-find location that will eliminate the need for students to go to different parts of campus.

It will also provide students with a place to study and mingle with classmates, as the building will also house activity space and amenities.

Senior Director of Facilities Maureen Socha expressed her excitement for the new renovations, mentioning that the facility will provide much needed space for students to unwind while also getting rid of what students refer to as the "STCC hustle."

"We're putting all the student services in one building, which is better that 15 different location, as it is now," said Socha. "It shifts the campus focus to the north side of the campus and really it's just a big student-focus building."

The project is funded by DCAMM, which oversees Massachusetts capital assets and handles capital planning, construction of public buildings, facility management and other services in the state.

Taking point on project construction is Consigli Construction Co., which was recognized in the Boston Business Journal as the second-largest construction company in the state.
According to the company's president, Matthew Consigli, the construction of the learning commons building will be a crowning achievement for his company and all workers involved.

"We, as a company, love projects like this because they're not easy," said Consigli. "We thrive on challenges, and this one here is certainly going to be a challenge. It's really in our wheelhouse, and it's the type of project we enjoy doing and we're good at. The added bonus is being able to work on a project that will have a pretty significant impact on the community for years to come."

The Ira H. Rubenzahl Student Learning Commons is projected to open in fall 2018.

Detection equipment used by the fire department showed carbon monoxide levels on the two floors reached as high as 3,000 parts per million.

SPRINGFIELD - Two floors at the Springfield Marriott had to be evacuated Tuesday afternoon after a malfunctioning boiler caused a deadly buildup of carbon monoxide levels inside the downtown Springfield hotel, a fire official said.

Dennis Leger, aide of Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant, said approximately 50 guests had to be evacuated from the 6th and 7th floors until carbon monoxide levels returned to acceptable levels.

Detection equipment used by the fire department showed carbon monoxide levels on the two floors reached as high as 3,000 parts per million.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can be fatal with enough exposure.
Exposure to levels of 35 ppm over 8 hours can cause dizziness and headaches. A reading of 3,200 ppm can result in death in as quickly as 30 minutes.

Leger said there were no injuries to any guests or employees. One firefighter complained of nausea and was treated at the scene. He did not require hospitalization.

The source of the leak was determined to be a boiler in the hotel, Leger said. Once it was taken off line, carbon monoxide levels began to return to safe levels, he said.

Ecuador's government acknowledged on Tuesday that it cut off WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's internet access at its embassy in London after the whistleblowing site published a trove of damaging emails from Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

QUITO, Ecuador -- Ecuador's government acknowledged on Tuesday that it cut off WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's internet access at its embassy in London after the whistleblowing site published a trove of damaging emails from Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

The foreign ministry said that while it stands by its 2012 decision to grant Assange asylum based on legitimate concerns he faces political persecution, it respects other nations' sovereignty and doesn't interfere or support any candidate in foreign elections.

"The decision to make this information public is the exclusive responsibility of the WikiLeaks organization," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The recognition of the reprimand comes less than 24 hours after WikiLeaks tweeted that Ecuador had cut off Assange's access to the Internet on Saturday after the publication of Clinton's speeches to Wall Street investment bank Goldman Sachs.

In follow-up messages posted Tuesday, the group claimed U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had personally intervened to ask Ecuador to stop Assange from publishing documents about Clinton. Citing "multiple US sources," WikiLeaks said the request was made on the sidelines of a visit by Kerry and Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa last month to Colombia to show their support for a peace deal with leftist rebels.

The State Department denied the allegation and Correa's leftist government said it was acting on its own and not ceding to foreign pressures. The foreign ministry didn't specify the extent of the "temporary restrictions" on Assange, saying only that they wouldn't affect WikiLeaks' ability to carry out its journalistic activities.

"While our concerns about Wikileaks are longstanding, any suggestion that Secretary Kerry or the State Department were involved in shutting down Wikileaks is false," U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said in an email. Speaking to reporters later, deputy spokesman Mark Toner said Kerry never even raised the issue or met with Correa during his visit to Colombia.

"There just was no meeting," he said. "They didn't discuss any of this stuff."

Assange has been holed up at the modest embassy suite at No. 3 Hans Crescent for more than four years after skipping bail to avoid extradition to Sweden over sex crimes allegations, a position which -- until now -- hasn't prevented him from continuing to play a pivotal role in exposing state secrets and backroom trade deals.

WikiLeaks said unspecified "contingency plans" were in place and the site and its Twitter feed appeared to be working as usual. On Tuesday it released another tranche of emails from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, suggesting that the group's ability to publish has yet to be compromised.

The disclosure was the 11th installation in a series of leaks that have captured the workings of Clinton's inner circle. Those leaks themselves are part of a wider cascade that have embarrassed the Democratic Party and which the American intelligence community has recently described as an attempt by the Russian government to interfere in the U.S. election.

Staff at WikiLeaks and the embassy either declined comment or didn't return messages.

Assange fled to the Ecuadorean Embassy on June 19, 2012, after a drawn-out and ultimately unsuccessful legal battle to being sent to Sweden, where he remains wanted over an allegation of rape. Ecuador granted him asylum, but British authorities have made clear they would arrest him if he tried to leave. London's Metropolitan Police used to maintain a visible presence outside the building, although officers were nowhere in sight when an AP journalist visited on Tuesday.

Assange has carved out a life at Hans Crescent, dining on delivered food, welcoming famous well-wishers and even occasionally addressing the media from the embassy's balcony. On Saturday, former television star Pamela Anderson paid a visit.

But evidence of mutual suspicion with his hosts surfaced after BuzzFeed News drew on leaked documents to detail tensions between Assange and Ecuadorean embassy staff.

In targeting Clinton, Assange may have run afoul of Correa's own preference for the Democratic candidate and a renewed effort to repair strained relations with Washington. The president recently said that while a Trump victory would energize Latin Americans to reject overhanded U.S. policies in the world much in the way George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq did he personally would like to see Clinton prevail.

"For the good of the United States and the world, and for my personal appreciation of her, I'd like to see Hillary win," he told the Moscow-backed RT broadcaster last month.

Assange isn't likely to submit to the internet ban quietly. Over the weekend WikiLeaks released three lines of code it described as "pre-commitments," labeling them "John Kerry," ''Ecuador," and "FCO" -- an apparent reference to Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Pre-commitments are cryptographic functions that can be used to verify the integrity of material released subsequently.

Thomas White, a U.K.-based security researcher and transparency activist, saw the posts as a warning to the named parties that WikiLeaks had ammunition in reserve if Ecuadorean authorities "do not continue to offer him political asylum."

The Holyoke, Massachusetts City Council on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016 postponed a vote on whether to override a veto issued by Mayor Alex B. Morse of an ordinance the council approved that sought to strip exclusive authority from the mayor to award contracts for towing and outside legal counsel services.

Updated at 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016 with a change to clarify the headline to note that contract-awarding authority would remain with the mayor. The story also notes that the ordinance wouldn't subject towing contracts to public bidding but would require that the mayor advertise that towing contracts will be awarded such as with a legal notice to increase public awareness of that contract process.

HOLYOKE -- The City Council Tuesday declined to vote on whether to override a veto issued by Mayor Alex B. Morse of an ordinance that sought to change how towing and outside legal vendors are hired.

The council instead opted to table the item, meaning it will be considered at a future meeting.

Some councilors opposed the tabling and wanted to discuss the veto but were overruled.

A two-thirds majority of the 15-member City Council, or 10 votes, are required to override a mayoral veto.

City Council President Kevin A. Jourdain, a lead supporter of the changes in the procurement law, has said that campaign contributions made particularly by towing company owners and employees create an image of "pay to play" in getting government contracts.

The ordinance would require that the mayor announce in the form of an advertisement such as the posting of a legal notice that he is awarding the towing contract. That would be a public disclosure that would put more attention on the step than is now the case and perhaps let more companies get involved, Jourdain said.

The ordinance also would subject the hiring of outside legal counsel to public bidding, which councilors David K. Bartley and Jourdain said would ensure total public disclosure and "increase consumer protection."

The mayor in all cases still would retain authority to award the contracts, but, in the opinion of councilors who support the ordinance, with more public disclosure than is now the case.

But Morse said in his Oct. 2 veto letter that removing such contract-awarding abilities of the mayor would be "effectively limiting the executive functions of the mayor."

"Under my administration, every contract has been awarded well within the parameters of state law and the City Charter and ordinances, and in the same manner that my predecessors have awarded contracts before me," Morse said.

State ethics and campaign finance laws regulate the effects of political campaign donations on government administration, he said.

Ward 3 Councilor David K. Bartley, chairman of the Development and Government Relations Committee, made the motion to table the item regarding Morse's veto. Under council rules, a motion to table an item cannot be discussed and must lead directly to a vote, for or against tabling.

Jourdain determined the motion to table passed by listening to a voice vote of the 15 councilors. He then requested a show of hands and eight councilors voted to table the item. Councilor at Large Rebecca Lisi requested a recount to identify the votes and that was done.

Councilor at Large Joseph M. McGiverin said he would liked to have had a discussion about the issue.

A story with additional details about this issue will be published later this week.

Veto issued by Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse: by Mike Plaisance on Scribd

Last year the city expressed concerns about safety, said Hackworth School of Performing Arts co-owner Alison Forance.

EASTHAMPTON -- The city's annual Halloween parade is on for the evening of Oct. 25, but dancers from the Hackworth School of Performing Arts will not be part of the post-parade festivities.

While in recent years, dance students from the local studio brought spirited entertainment to the Easthampton Savings Bank parking lot after the Rag Shag Parade, this year they will not be performing, school co-owner Alison Forance confirmed on Tuesday.

Forance said that in 2015, she was told at the last minute by the city's Parks and Recreation department that in 2014, there were space and safety concerns around the performance. 

"I actually had to put out a very strong plea last year on behalf of our students," Forance said in a Facebook message. She said the students had been rehearsing for months. 

Forance said she didn't contact Parks and Recreation this year because "of how it was stated and handled last year," and assumed the dancers would not be welcome back.

The family-friendly parade, which began decades ago as a small event, now draws more than 1,000 people. In recent years, the bank parking lot, where candy is distributed, has been crowded.

"Hopefully there will be other opportunities in the future for our dancers to perform, as we continually encourage and teach our students the importance and value of being involved and giving back to their communities," Forance said.

The city's Parks and Recreation department tells a different story. Administrative Assistant Sam Pliska said in a telephone conversation Tuesday that she had not heard from Hackworth this year, but that they are welcome.

Pliska said there was disagreement last year over the timing of the performance. She said the city department wanted the school to perform "during the candy line" instead of after. The dancers sought a full, attentive audience, and wanted to perform after everyone had their candy bags, she said. However, there was not enough space to let that happen.

Pliska said having the dancers perform while people were waiting in line for candy made for better use of the space and better "crowd control." She said the decision not to perform this year was made by Hackworth, and not by city officials. 

Forance responded that she was under the clear impression the dance performance had become problematic. She suggested that holding the festivities at a larger outdoor venue might make more sense, considering how popular the parade has become.

Hackworth does not want to create any work for others, said Forance. She said the school sets up its own lights and audio equipment, and helps direct and monitor the crowd around the performance area. "Having been in business for so many decades, we are always organized and professional when it comes to performing in local community events," she said.

Forance said the school will be in contact with city officials regarding 2017 "in case they have reconsidered and welcome our participation. I know our dancers would be happy to return."

The family-operated Hackworth School of Performing Arts, located at 397 Main Street, has been in business since 1934. The studio offers dance classes for children, teens, and adults. 

Easthampton Police Department spokesman Chad Alexander was on vacation and not available Tuesday to discuss the crowd control matter. The Republican has reached out to Parks and Recreation director John Mason for further comment. 

The police-escorted Rag Shag Parade starts at 6:30 p.m. from Clark Street and makes its way down Cottage, Union, and Main streets. The downtown streets will be closed for the event. 

The shooting was discovered on Newland Street shortly after 8 p.m. according to police.

SPRINGFIELD - Police are investigating a Tuesday night shooting on Newland Street that left an unknown man in critical condition with four gunshot wounds, police said.

Lt. Mark Rolland said the man was found lying in the area of 102 Newland St. shortly after 8 p.m. The man was rushed by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center.

Rolland said that at last report, he was in critical condition.

The man's name was not being released to the press.

Newland Street, a one-way street in the city's Brightwood section between Orchard and Clyde streets, was blocked off to traffic Tuesday night.

Police officers with flashlights could be seen searching the ground at the far end of the street near Riverside Road. Police cars could also seen patrolling neighboring streets.

One neighborhood resident said she was surprised to see the police activity on her street, which she said is ordinarily very quiet and safe. "I've lived her four years and never had any problems."

She said she was inside watching television and never heard any gunshots. She said she also didn't hear any police cars coming, and only noticed them when she saw the flashing lights outside her window.

Defense lawyer Jeanne A. Liddy wants to use videotapes to argue suspended narcotics Detective Gregg Bigda has no credibility.

SPRINGFIELD -- Defense lawyer Jeanne A. Liddy will argue on Oct. 25 that she should be able to use videotapes, which show suspended Springfield narcotics Detective Gregg Bigda threatening two juveniles, in her unrelated drug case.

Liddy, lawyer for Fernando Rosado, and Joe Smith III, lawyer for co-defendant Jotsan Rosado, were in front of Hampden Superior Court Judge Tina S. Page for a status conference on their clients' cases Wednesday.

The videos, recorded at the Palmer Police Department, show Bigda threatening to kill and plant drug evidence on two teens accused of stealing an unmarked Springfield police vehicle.

Bigda received a 60-day suspension for the incident, and his credibility as a witness in drug cases has been called into question in a number of recent court hearings.

Liddy told Page her expert has redacted the videotapes of Bigda so the identity of the juveniles is shielded. She hopes to show the videos to a jury in order to question the credibility of Bigda, who had a role in the execution of the search warrant that led to her client's arrest.

Page told Liddy she will hear her motion to introduce the redacted videotapes into evidence at the trial of the Rosados, then make a decision on whether they would be admissible. The Oct. 25 date was set for arguments on the matter.

Liddy told Page her expert has received requests from other defense lawyers for copies of the redacted videotapes. Liddy asked Page for advice to give her expert. Page said her protective order preventing the videotapes' distribution still applies.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni has distributed copies of the videotapes to some lawyers with cases involving Bigda, but they cannot share it.

Page told Liddy other lawyers looking for the redacted video can appeal to the judge presiding over Courtroom One. That judge may chose to refer the request to her regarding only how her protective order applies, Page said.

Liddy had previously asked for the Springfield Police Department's internal investigation records regarding the Palmer incident. Page said she reviewed those records and there was nothing in them that would be relevant to the case involving the Rosados.

Each of the Rosados is charged with distribution of heroin, subsequent offense.

The case of David Jordan, who had been a third co-defendant in the case, was severed from the cases of the Rosados by Page Wednesday when Jordan's lawyer said he had scheduling conflicts.

Mayor Richard A. Cohen on Wednesday fired three Agawam police officers who were involved in a use-of-force incident at police headquarters on June, 19, 2016.

AGAWAM -- Mayor Richard A. Cohen has fired three Agawam officers who were under suspension for a "use of force" incident that happened at police headquarters.

City officials have yet to fully detail what transpired during the June 19 incident at the station, where the officers allegedly assaulted a male suspect who was in their custody. The officers -- Sgt. Anthony Grasso, Edward Connor and John Moccio -- were terminated on Wednesday, according to Agawam Police Chief Eric P. Gillis.

"The men and women of the Agawam Police Department serve this community with honor and distinction every day, and both Mayor Cohen and I stand firmly beside them," Gillis said. "We will continue to work hard to maintain a level of trust with our citizens, and we fervently hope that this incident will not interfere with those efforts."

The officers were placed on paid administrative leave in September, pending hearings and the outcomes of internal and external investigations. The case is now in the hands of the district attorney's office, which will determine whether to file criminal charges against the officers. 

Attorney John Connor, who represents the officers, said in recent comments to the media that he would appeal any disciplinary measures taken against his clients, who "acted properly" in the incident. Connor could not immediately be reached for comment.

"We fully expect that this matter will continue forward pursuant to law and established provisions within both of the collective bargaining agreements currently in place," Gillis said.

All materials related to the investigation, including audio and video recordings, have been turned over to Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni, whose office is conducting a criminal investigation. A spokesman for Gulluni has declined to comment on the probe.

Legal and law enforcement sources have told The Republican that the officers used excessive force when handling the suspect, whose leg was reportedly broken during the June incident. The alleged assault was captured by police station cameras, according to officials.

As part of the investigation, Agawam hired APD Management, a Tewksbury firm that conducts confidential inquiries on behalf of police departments and municipal governments.

Mandatory supervised release and a lack of consideration of past crimes are among the changes being considered by the Massachusetts Sentencing Commission.

Should Massachusetts impose a period of mandatory supervised release on all criminals who are released from jail? Or would mandatory supervised release be useless since there are not enough services to help released inmates return to society?

"It's set up for failure unless you set up the infrastructure and put services in place to help people succeed," Anthony Benedetti, chief counsel of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, told the Massachusetts Sentencing Commission.

The Sentencing Commission, comprised of defense lawyers, prosecutors, public safety officials, judges and others in the justice system, is considering ideas to change sentencing practices in Massachusetts, including mandatory supervised release. While state policymakers have had discussions about abolishing mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenses, the sentencing commission is considering broad changes to sentencing guidelines that could include both changing mandatory minimums but also a wide range of other shifts.

For example, the commission is considering instructing judges who must determine a sentence not to consider past convictions if a person has gone for eight or 10 years since the end of their last sentence without a new conviction. It is considering adopting guidelines telling judges not to consider misdemeanors committed by juveniles as part of the criminal history used to determine an adult sentence.

One proposal would create an offense level of zero - essentially, labeling something a crime but not recommending a sentence of incarceration, probation or fines. Other proposals under consideration would limit the length of probation supervision and limit the length of sentences for probation violations.

On mandatory minimums, the commission will consider creating a "safety valve," certain circumstances in which a judge can give someone a sentence that is below the mandatory minimum.

Boston Municipal Court Associate Justice Kenneth Fiandaca stressed that the policies are not commission "proposals" but "discussion points" that the commission wants input on.

A public hearing on Wednesday revealed widespread agreement that there are problems with the criminal justice system, resulting in high recidivism rates as released prisoners have trouble reintegrating into society. But there is little consensus on how to change that - whether the answer is shorter sentences, more supervision, better programs or all of the above.

"Leniency is not rehabilitation," said Berkshire County District Attorney David Capeless, president of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association, arguing against lessening sentence lengths.

Boston Police Commissioner William Evans and Boston's director of public safety Daniel Mulhern told the commission that Boston police and prosecutors are "overwhelmed" by criminal cases related to addiction and mental health problems. "We must include real alternatives to incarceration for residents battling addiction," Mulhern said, urging investment in long-term treatment beds and in non-profits focused on prevention and outreach related to drug abuse.

Mulhern said Boston Mayor Martin Walsh supports programs that would divert first-time offenders with substance abuse problems out of the criminal justice system before their arraignments and instead give them treatment.

"We can't arrest our way out of the issues we face, especially when talking about a subject as significant as the public health crisis of substance abuse," Evans said.

The provision directing judges to ignore past convictions if a defendant had years of good behavior generated some disagreement.

Benedetti said public defenders would support it. "What this...provision would allow for is for people to escape their past, for prior convictions not to continually follow them around and haunt them for the rest of their lives," Benedetti said.

Rahsaan Hall, Director of the racial justice program for the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, said provisions like that would particularly benefit minority communities, who are most likely to get caught up in the criminal justice system. "Past behavior is not always an indicator of future conduct," Hall said. "If that's not the case, many of us should be concerned about what we were doing in college."

But Capeless said past offenses can indicate future behavior - particularly for crimes like domestic violence and sexual assault - and should be considered in sentencing. The proposal, Capeless said, "would treat a true first-time offender the same as one with a serious violent past."

Benedetti said defense lawyers would also support going further than the proposals and decriminalizing minor offenses, like shoplifting, trespassing or driving after a license suspension. He argued that there is a problem of over criminalization and over incarceration.

But Capeless responded that the problem is a lack of services to help people who are released avoid reoffending. Capeless said prosecutors would support changing sentencing practices to ensure that more people get supervised release. He wants to discourage judges from giving people sentences where the minimum and maximum sentence is a day apart - which ensures that the offender serves his entire sentence without parole but also that he is not placed under supervision upon release.

One of the few points of agreement among several speakers was the lack of effective support for released inmates.

"A lot of people are being set up to fail," Hall said. He argued that the state must invest more in job training, education and treatment for substance abuse and mental health issues for former convicts.

The incident took place in the area of Northwest 23rd Avenue and Glisan Street.

A massive explosion, apparently ignited by a natural gas leak, ripped through a building Wednesday along the popular Northwest 23rd Avenue shopping district, causing destruction and injuring eight people, including three firefighters, authorities said.

NW Natural employees along with Portland firefighters responded to a natural gas leak reported at 8:55 a.m. PT in or near the 500 block of Northwest 23^rd Ave., said spokeswoman Melissa Moore.

"When we got there (at 9:10 a.m.), we evacuated the building," Moore said. "There was an ignition. We don't know the source."

The time of the explosion -- one witness said there were two blasts, separated by no more than 20 seconds -- had not been pinpointed Wednesday morning.

At least two buildings sustained massive damage, Portland Fire & Rescue spokesman Lt. Rich Chatman said, adding that firefighters were inside the building when the explosion occurred. More than 100 firefighters responded to the incident.

One of the buildings is listed on the Historical Registry of Buildings; the other was designed by well-known Portland architect Brad Cloepfil and is owned by Robert and Ann Sacks, whose eponymous company is well known for its tiles.  

(Explosion destroys 110-year-old building in Northwest Portland)

Chatman said Northwest 23rd Avenue will be closed for several hours, though it appeared the area near the blast had been opened to nearby residents by 1 p.m.

No one received life-threatening injuries; two of the firefighters sustained broken legs and the other underwent surgery for an undisclosed injury. One police officer and three civilians were also hurt.

Portland Bagelworks was in one building that sustained significant damage, though it was unconfirmed whether the explosion occurred in the restaurant. The Dosha building next door also sustained major damage.

Portland firefighters responded rapidly after the explosion. An ominous, billowing, black cloud hovered over the Northwest 23rd area, known for its bustling scene of trendy shops and restaurants.

Moore said there was construction underway at or near the address. She did not know the identity of the people involved in construction.

"A third party was digging," Moore said, adding, "That's why we want people to call before they dig."

Explosion in Northwest Portland: Timeline of events

Brittany Hughes, manager of the Portland Bagelworks, said a construction worker came into the shop and said crews had hit a gas line. He left before Hughes could say anything.

"The next thing I know my baker is telling me he smells gas," she said.

She called shop owner Richard Bartel, who contacted NW Natural. Firefighters arrived quickly and evacuated the area.

"And about 20 minutes or so after they evacuated our shop, it exploded," he said.

In a late afternoon news conference at the site of the explosion, Portland Fire Chief Mike Myers said, "I have not seen devastation like this in my entire career." He said the work of firefighters prevented people from dying.

Myers said the firefighter in surgery was Lt. Peter St. Johns. Myers said St. Johns made the decisions to pull fire alarms, evacuate buildings and have firefighters put on air masks.

"This man saved a lot of lives today singlehandedly," Myers said.

Not long after Sara Johnson arrived at Dosha about 8 a.m., the construction worker rushed over and told them about the gas leak across the street.

The worker said to alert him if they smelled anything. It wasn't long before Johnson, assistant manager of the salon, sensed something amiss.

"A few moments later we started to smell some gas," Johnson said. "It didn't smell right."

She alerted the construction workers, who were also working on her side of the street, she said. It wasn't clear what they were doing.

Northwest Natural employees showed up about 10 minutes later and monitored the air, Johnson said. They didn't find a trace.

But then firefighters showed up and told everyone to evacuate. The six people at Dosha - all employees, including one who was there for an appointment -- walked onto Glisan toward Northwest 22^nd Avenue.

"They kept pushing us farther back," Johnson said. "Maybe 15 minutes after we evacuated, it exploded. It exploded twice, and you saw glass shattering and smoke. The smoke was getting thicker and thicker. It was scary. "

She said no residents or pets were home in the apartments above the salon.

But the explosion destroyed the building, said Kimberly Johnson, chief operating officer for Aveda Institute. The institute and salon have the same owners.

"It looks like it blew from within our building," Kimberly Johnson said. "There is glass everywhere, and the building is pretty much gone."

Legacy Emanuel Medical Center was treating and evaluating two firefighters, the police officer and a civilian, spokeswoman Vicki Guinn said at about 11:15 a.m.

By early afternoon, all but one firefighter had been released.

Four ancillary buildings of Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center were without power after the explosion, Legacy spokesperson Megan Deisler said. She said power briefly flickered at the main hospital but continued. Deisler said most patients were being sent to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center but Good Samaritan also was prepared to accept patients.

Rubble was strewn on the sidewalks and into the intersection of Northwest 23rd Avenue and Glisan Street. At noon, smoke continued to pour out of the charred rubble, as firefighters continue to spray it down.

Safety and reliability program staff from the Oregon Public Utility Commission were sent to the scene Wednesday morning to begin evaluating the utility and fire department response and procedures for keeping people safe at the scene.

The commission filed a report with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and inspectors from that agency are likely to be involved in the investigation of the incident, which would be led by the Portland Fire Marshall's Office.
 
The commission "is going to look at NW Natural's policies and procedures to see if they were in any way negligent" in terms of what could have prevented this, said Lori Koho, who administers Oregon's pipeline safety and reliability program.
 
She said NW Natural has an active public awareness and damage prevention program, including its Call Before You Dig campaign. But there is so much construction underway, with so many contractors looking to get things done quickly, that third party line breaches are not infrequent, she said.  
 
"There are line hits way too often, but they usually don't explode," Koho said.  

A NW Natural official said at the afternoon news conference that gas to about 115 customers has been shut off. PGE has also shut off power for about 2,000 in the area.

Residents and others in the area described feeling the percussion and their power going out. Authorities were evacuating people from the immediate area.

Dylan Short, a 28-year-old worker at Pizzicato across from the site of the explosion, said he was going about his business Wednesday morning when firefighters arrived and told him there was a gas leak.

Asked if he and his coworkers should leave, Short said firefighters told them to "stay put" while crews established a perimeter.

Within minutes, however, Short said he was hit with multiple shockwaves as the business across the street exploded.

Thankfully, Short said, he and his coworker were protected by a wall.

"If we had been in any other part of the restaurant we would have been injured by shrapnel for sure," Short said.

Immediately after the blast, Short said he saw flames spewing from what was left of what used to be a multistory building.

"It was three stories before, and now it's just a pile of rubble," he said.

In the aftermath of the explosion, Short was shaken but unhurt. He said he saw one woman being helped from the scene and a firefighter with blood streaming down his face.

Still, Short felt fortunate.

"It was lucky for us we were behind that wall," he said. "But its unfortunate for the store and the firefighters. Hopefully not too many people were injured."

Nick McAnally, staying in an Airbnb near the explosion site, said he and his girlfriend felt two explosion, separated by 10 to 20 seconds.

"All of a sudden we felt this huge explosion. It shook the whole house" in the 2200 block of Northwest Glisan, McAnally said. "We froze and looked at each other, and that's when the second explosion happened. It still shook the house, but it was maybe half the intensity of the first explosion."

Before the blasts, McAnally said he and his girlfriend, vacationing from Wichita, Kansas, noticed something was amiss when a fire truck arrived about 9 a.m. in front of the Airbnb. A firefighter emerged from the truck and immediately began attaching a hose to a nearby hydrant. 

"We thought that was odd," he said.

The first blast happened moments later, he said.

McAnally saw people running from the area. He also took photos of the scene, including an image of a bloodied firefighter.

"I don't know why they would be inside the building if there's a gas leak," McAnally said.

After the blast, a NW Natural employee walked through the neighborhood. McAnally asked what he and his girlfriend should do.

The employee replied, "If I was you I'd get out of here."

McAnally headed to a Starbucks closer to the Pearl District and plotted the next part of their day: a Segway tour of downtown.

Kumar Naharaja, 50, said he was settling into breakfast about 9:40 a.m. when he felt a jolt, "like an earthquake."
 
"It shook my apartment," he said.
 
Naharaja lives on the fourth floor of an apartment building near Northwest Lovejoy and Northwest 25th Avenue. He peered out his window and saw smoke that he mistook for morning fog.
 
"I heard a loud explosion and someone cried, 'Wow!'" he said.

"It sounded and felt like a bomb," said an employee of Westover Dental Clinic, 419 N.W. 23^rd Ave., who did not want to be named. "It was that loud. It shook the whole building."

Cameron Oxenham lives in an apartment building across Northwest 23^rd Avenue from the explosion site.

"It looked like a bomb had gone off," Oxenham said before leaving the area.

Eric Ohman was home in his 24th floor apartment in the 735 St. Clair Building, which is at West Burnside Street about four blocks from explosion. He said it shook his building and sounded like a "Dumpster being dropped off a roof, like a kind of hollow 'whoompf.'"

Firetrucks, ambulances and police cars converged on the popular business district as a plume of acrid smoke billowed from the damage, darkening an unusually sunlit Portland autumn sky.

Portland Commissioner Dan Saltzman, who oversees Portland Fire & Rescue, left Wednesday's City Council meeting at about 10:15 a.m. and was on the explosion scene shortly afterward.

Saltzman said the explosion destroyed the entire building at the northeast corner of Glisan Street and 23rd Avenue, and perhaps part of a northern building along 23rd.

Firefighters had been inside the building -- either investigating the leak or ensuring the building had been fully evacuated -- at the time of the explosion, Saltzman said.

"That northeast corner is totally gone, and possibly something to the north. It's pretty surprising, given what looks like a large-magnitude explosion, not having more injuries," he said.

Students and faculty at Metropolitan Learning Center, a citywide magnet school for students in kindergarten through grade 12, were evacuated from the building two blocks from the explosion site on Northwest Glisan Street. They were bused to Portland Public Schools headquarters, near the Rose Quarter. School officials provided lunches for the 425 students and notified parents they could pick them up early. 

An initial report the students would be sent to Lincoln High School was incorrect.

TriMet also is providing buses to support first responders in evacuating a school near the explosion scene in Northwest Portland, spokesperson Roberta Altstadt, said. TriMet's Line 15-Belmont/NW 23rd buses are detoured around the closed streets, and lines 15 and 77 have been delayed.

Fruit & Flower Childcare Center is located less than two blocks from the scene, near Northwest 24th Avenue and Hoyt Street, and children were seen being evacuated from the center, some in cribs.

The Multnomah County Health Department advised Wednesday morning that people take precautions to not breathe the explosion's heavy smoke, noting that high concentrations of smoke can cause trouble breathing, irritation of eyes, throat and lungs, and skin irritation. 

Lena Cottrell was at the nearby Fresh Skin Studio when she heard a loud boom, shaking the entire building and knocking wall hangings to the floor. At first, Cottrell thought a car had hit the building.

One of the studio's employees, Haley Atterbury, ran outside. She saw flames and smoke coming from the Bagelworks building.

"I was panicked," she said. "It was a chaotic moment of not knowing what to do.

Shaddie Yazd, a hair stylist at Dosha, said, "It's all kind of a blur right now."

And Quintae McKinney, operations manager at Dosha, added, "It happened within 30 minutes of our business being open," McKinney said.  "We had some managers and some retail staff there. Our full staff hadn't shown up yet.

This is not the first time the building's been struck.

"Unfortunately, we had a dry run of this last year," Kimberly Johnson said. A water leak about the same time last year destroyed the inside of the building.

"It happened overnight," Kimberly Johnson said. "There was 2 inches on every floor."

It took three months to restore the salon. And now the company is again scrambling, trying to figure out how to accommodate clients and staff. 

"It was beautiful," Johnson said.

Dosha is trying to figure out what to do about people who had booked appointments and the employees who depend on the salon for their livelihood.

"We're pulling together to get it figured out," Sara Johnson said. "I'm just happy everyone's safe."

At the news conference, a Fire Bureau spokesman said any residents displaced by the explosion can get assistance through the Red Cross, which has set up an assistance center. The bureau also plans to release on Twitter the names of buildings that are safe for residents to return to.

Explosion at scene of natural gas leak at NE 23rd & Glisan. Multiple firefighter injuries. Avoid area. pic.twitter.com/X8lNS7bNWE

-- Portland Fire&Rescue (@PDXFire) October 19, 2016

3rd Alarm Gas Incident taking place at NW 23rd and Glisan. Avoid area. PIO enroute, media staging info tba. @PBOTinfo

-- Portland Fire&Rescue (@PDXFire) October 19, 2016

Huge explosion at 23rd and Glisan in Portland. My son took this. pic.twitter.com/XbOYkjEnY4

-- Jack Ohman (@JACKOHMAN) October 19, 2016

Alert: Avoid NW 23rd & Glisan this morning as @PDXFire incident. Expect road, lane closures & traffic delays. #pdxtraffic #pdxbikes https://t.co/5hRfJOtqgT

-- PDX Transportation (@PBOTinfo) October 19, 2016

LIVE on #Periscope: explosion in nw Portland. My mom who lives nearby said it felt like a semi truck hit her buildi... https://t.co/w5jBaLqgUP

-- Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) October 19, 2016

Biden is leading the Obama administration's Cancer Moonshot Initiative — a national effort to double the rate of progress in cancer research and treatment.

BOSTON -- For Vice President Joe Biden, the fight against cancer is personal.

His son Beau Biden died of brain cancer last year at 46.

"You go out and try to learn as much as you possibly can when someone you adore and love is in trouble," Biden said Wednesday. "We strived, and learned as much as we could."

"What we learned from the best nurses, physicians and researchers was even if we couldn't save our son, science, medicine and technology were progressing ... and there was possibility for countless others of our daughters and sons," Biden said.

Biden spoke at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Boston about the administration's Cancer Moonshot Initiative, which he leads -- a national effort to double the rate of progress in cancer research and treatment.

Massachusetts is home to some of the country's top hospitals and cancer centers, and Biden spoke to an audience that included doctors and researchers.

Biden sounded a mostly hopeful note, talking about the progress that has been made so far and next steps that must be taken.

Although President Richard Nixon declared war on cancer in 1971, Biden said a lot more progress has been made in recent years. Supercomputing, for example, enables researchers to aggregate huge amounts of data about cancer patients, which previously would have been impossible.

"The culture of medicine was very different (in 1971)," Biden said. "The idea of sharing data, there was no data to share."

Biden cited advances that have been made in areas like immunotherapy, using a patient's immune system to attack cancer cells.

"At its core, the moonshot is about two things," Biden said. "One is injecting the urgency of now into everything we do. And two is changing the system and culture of medicine that existed in 1971 to accommodate the immense opportunity that exists in 2016 in order to be able to win this fight."

Biden earlier this week released a report on the Moonshot efforts. Accomplishments include developing new technology to share data among agencies and researchers, making efforts to reduce the use of the carcinogen radon in construction, and launching an easy-to-use website to tell people about the availability of clinical trials near where they live.

Part of Biden's effort has been creating public-private partnerships to accelerate research and development of cancer-related technologies.

For example, Biden spoke about launching a partnership between the University of Chicago and the National Cancer Institute, where the institute gave the university access to all its data about cancer genome sequencing in exchange for the university making the data public to any researcher who wants it.

The government helped negotiate pre-licensing agreements with drug companies to make certain drugs available to researchers working on the impacts of different drugs taken in combination. And recently, Microsoft and Amazon agreed to partner with the National Cancer Institute to use cloud computing powers to store genomic information for easy access by researchers.

Biden has also been working within government to break down barriers to research and collaboration. He talked about trying to simplify processes at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration so cancer therapies can be approved more quickly.

Going forward, Biden said more needs to be done to prevent cancer -- for example, by ensuring that disadvantaged populations are better able to access existing technology to detect breast or lung cancer.

Biden said he hopes new technology will also result in significant advances, such as a noninvasive blood test being developed to identify certain markers of cancer.

The vice president said he is confident that "we're on the cusp of enormous progress."

Biden did not directly address the current presidential election, but he said he is bothered by the loss of the attitude from decades ago "that there wasn't anything we couldn't do if we set our mind to it."

"Today, we're talking about woe is me, what can we do, how can we get our arms around our problems," Biden said.

Biden said if the Moonshot initiative is successful in discovering new cures for cancer, "it's going to reinforce the minds of the American people that we can do anything."

Biden quipped that, in a way, his Moonshot is harder than the late President John F. Kennedy's goal of reaching the moon through space travel. "There was only one moon," Biden said. "There are 200 distinct cancers."

Nearly 1,000 new voters have registered to vote in Holyoke, Massachusetts since the state primary election on Sept. 8 and with Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016 the last day to register to participate in Nov. 8 Election Day balloting, the Holyoke Registrar of Voters office at City Hall was busy with in-person and online registrations.

HOLYOKE -- Visitors lined up at the Registrar of Voters office. Online registration increases. Phones ringing and ringing.

Interest here appears high in the Nov. 8 election, with today the last day to register to vote.

Nearly 1,000 new voters have registered in Holyoke to cast ballots on Election Day since the Massachusetts primary election Sept. 8, said Suzanne Mead, assistant registrar of voters.

"They just keep coming," she said.

The number of new registered voters since the primary election was 981, and the number of Holyoke registered voters was at 26,522, as of late afternoon, she said.

The Registrar of Voters office is open today until 8 p.m.

"I just want to see a good president," said Maria Caban, of Ward 1, explaining her decision to register to vote.

Daniel Rios, of Ward 4, was already registered but had to fill out paperwork at City Hall to note his change of address. He made sure to do so because choosing a president and deciding ballot questions make differences in people's lives, he said.

"These are important questions that affect our community," Rios said.

Generating interest is the presidential contest between major party candidates Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party nominee, and Donald Trump, the Republican Party nominee, along with four statewide ballot questions and a local question.

"There is a huge interest in the upcoming presidential election," City Clerk Brenna Murphy McGee said. "Holyoke has seen a large push in voter registration since the September primary and we are expecting a large turnout of registered voters to cast their vote. Massachusetts can now vote at their convenience starting on Monday for early voting, as well."

For example, Mead said she signed onto her work computer this morning to find that 194 voters had registered to vote here overnight online through the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.

"That's a lot," Mead said.

For the first time, early voting will be available in Massachusetts from Oct. 24 to Nov. 4 for the Nov. 8 election, with a calendar of locations such as City Hall, the Senior Center and the Holyoke Soldiers' Home (see below).

Massachusetts voters on Election Day will decide ballot questions on:

Holyoke voters also will be asked if they want the city to adopt the state Community Preservation Act. Specifically, the question would ask voters if they are agreeable to the city adopting the CPA that would impose a surcharge on property taxpayers of 1.5 percent of the tax bill they pay to the city.

Voters have shown more interest in the Clinton-Trump race than in the ballot questions, Murphy McGee said.

"We actually have not been receiving very many calls on the questions," she said.

Holyoke early voting calendar: by Mike Plaisance on Scribd

Men kicked off their shoes and socks, women shed their sandals and kids jumped into large puddles of water as king tides rolled onto the Boston waterfront, flooding the Long Wharf area on a sunny Wednesday.

BOSTON - Men kicked off their shoes and socks, women shed their sandals and kids jumped into large puddles of water as king tides rolled onto the Boston waterfront, flooding the Long Wharf area on a sunny Wednesday.

According to Weather.com, "The king tide occurs when the earth, moon, and sun align. Gravity pulls the oceans to their highest tides."

In Boston, that means water that rises two feet higher than average.

Morrissey Boulevard, in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, became a small lake, just in time for Vice President Joe Biden's visit to the Edward Kennedy Institute nearby.

WHOA - @UMassBoston ordered up a #kingtide for @VP visit to the @emkinstitute https://t.co/ztujkSOm10

-- Susan Crandall, PhD (@WorkResults) October 19, 2016

This water on #morrisseyblvd came up through the gutters #kingtide #sealevelrise #boston pic.twitter.com/DOmVNeCYzv

-- SustainableSolutions (@SSL_UMB) October 19, 2016

Researchers with MyCoast, a project of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, are seeking pictures people have taken of the tides.

"Massachusetts needs your help to capture photographs of king tide events," MyCoast says on its website. "Your photographs will be used in the long-term analysis of coastal vulnerability and planning initiatives with municipalities."

Here's how the #KingTide looks out @ThompsonIsland. pic.twitter.com/eNIDQyA9un

-- Giles Parker (@YourIslandPark) October 19, 2016

Three people were arrested in Chicopee on Wednesday morning after an incident involving a pellet gun.

CHICOPEE — Three people were taken into custody in Chicopee on Wednesday morning after an altercation involving a pellet gun, according to Officer Mike Wilk of the Chicopee Police Department.

Matthew Brennan, 30, of South Hadley, Ashley Orr, 32, and Carlos Hickey, 37, both of Chicopee, were arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, causing a disturbance while carrying a dangerous weapon, and disruption of a public assembly.

Wilk said Chicopee police were called to the vicinity of 628 Center Street--the address of the Community Substance Abuse Center of Chicopee--at approximately 8 a.m. Wednesday, where several "upset" and shaken people alleged that Brennan, Orr, and Hickey had been involved in an argument with several people inside the establishment, after which one of them produced a handgun and brandished it as they left.

The trio then drove away from the scene, but one of the people who witnessed the incident followed their vehicle and was able to acquire their license plate number. While the person was in pursuit, they allege that one of the suspects again pointed the gun out the window of their car.

Using the license plate number acquired by the witness, police were able to locate and arrest the three suspects.

Police confiscated a "very realistic" looking pellet handgun from the suspects' car, which police believe was the weapon used during the incident.

A potentially deadly cat virus has broken out in a Boston neighborhood.

BOSTON — An outbreak of panleukopenia--a potentially fatal virus that only cats are susceptible to--broke out in a Boston neighborhood recently, according to The Boston Globe.

The virus--also known as "feline distemper"--can cause fever, a decline in appetite, diarrhea and vomiting in cats, and was discovered in Mattapan after reports of several sick cats came in.

The Animal Rescue League of Boston reports that the young cats and kittens are most vulnerable to the virus.

As a result of the outbreak, the League has announced that it will be holding a free feline distemper vaccine clinic on Saturday. The clinic will be held at the corner of Harvard Street and Walk Hill Street from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

WESTFIELD - Westfield State University's Division of Graduate and Continuing Education will host open houses for three of its graduate programs. An open house is scheduled Thursday at 6 p.m. for the Master of Social Work program. That will be held in Scanlon Banquet Hall. Also, a joint open house is scheduled for Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. for the...

WESTFIELD - Westfield State University's Division of Graduate and Continuing Education will host open houses for three of its graduate programs.

An open house is scheduled Thursday at 6 p.m. for the Master of Social Work program. That will be held in Scanlon Banquet Hall.

Also, a joint open house is scheduled for Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. for the Master of Education and Master of Arts in English programs. That event will be held in the Loughman Living room at Scanlon Hall.

Both events are open to the public free of charge.

Graduate programs offer flexible scheduled including late afternoon and evening classes and two summer sessions in an effort to accommodate as many students as possible.

Program coordinators and faculty will be available to talk with individuals who attend the open houses.

Also a $50 application fee for graduate programs will be waived in the event open house attendees wish to register for classes.

Graduate programs offered at WSU through DGCE include Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Moderate Disabilities, Biology, Mathematics, HIstory, Reading Specialist and English.