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Held for the holidays: For 3rd straight year, Saint C. Johnson spending Christmas in custody

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It took five officers - and one Taser - to take Johnson into custody, Springfield police spokesman Sgt. John Delaney said. It was Johnson's third arrest in 25 months.

SPRINGFIELD -- With each new arrest, Saint C. Johnson seems to be mocking his own name.

Johnson, 35, of Springfield, pleaded not guilty in Springfield District Court to seven new charges following a violent encounter with city police on Dec. 8..

Along with an accomplice, he allegedly broke into a Mill Street appliance store and stole a laptop computer. It took five officers -- and one Taser -- to take him into custody at a Fort Pleasant Avenue apartment building, according to Springfield police spokesman Sgt. John Delaney, who said Johnson fought with the officers and tried to grab the Taser during the struggle.

The arrest, his third in 25 months, came as Johnson was awaiting trial in an armed robbery case. After setting bail at $10,000 on the new charges last week, a judge revoked his bail in the upcoming case and jailed him for 90 days.

For Johnson, a Mississippi native, it will be the third consecutive Christmas in custody.



In 2014, he spent the holiday in jail following his arrest for allegedly vandalizing his girlfriend's car and satellite dish. He fled before police arrived, and was arrested hiding on a neighbor's porch, police said.

In January, 2015, he pleaded guilty and was given a six-month sentence, with credit for 47 days served and the balance suspended, court records show. He was also ordered to serve 12 months probation.

He was still on probation when he picked up nine new charges in November 2015 after allegedly forcing a woman from her car on Walnut Street and then driving away. During the ensuing police chase, he slammed the vehicle into a tree, fled and was arrested hiding under a nearby porch, police said.

At his arraignment, a prosecutor said Johnson had a criminal record in Mississippi, but did not elaborate.

He was out on bail in that case, and wearing a GPS tracking bracelet, when he was arrested last week.

At his arraignment, Johnson pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault and battery on a police officer and single counts of breaking and entering in the nighttime for the commission of a felony, larceny of more than $250, resisting arrest, attempting to disarm a police officer and giving a false name to a police officer.

A co-defendant, Maria Rivera, 52, of Springfield, pleaded not guilty to one count of receiving stolen property.

Johnson is due back in court on the new charges on Feb. 5.


Chicopee veterans raising money for memorial to honor 6 soldiers killed in terrorist attacks

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The veterans are hoping to raise most of the money by the end of this year so they can install the monument by Memorial Day.

CHICOPEE -- Veterans and other volunteers are stepping up efforts this month to raise money in hopes of installing a monument to six soldiers with local ties who were killed in terrorist attacks.

The city's 11 veterans' organizations are focusing on raising money for the monument, which would be erected on Veterans Plaza on Front Street. It will stand with other monuments that honor veterans of the Civil War through the Vietnam War.

The memorial is one of two monuments that will be installed in Chicopee to honor veterans who were killed in war. The second, which will later be put up near the base, will honor all veterans statewide who were killed in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The city's Veterans Services and the Veterans Memorial and Patriotic Committee initially planned to install a monument to honor Western Massachusetts residents killed in Iraq, Afghanistan and related military actions. State officials heard about the plan and asked the groups to include all people killed statewide.

"It got too big so we decided we are doing a small one with the Chicopee veterans," said Kimberly Babin, Veterans Services director.

The six men who will be honored are either Chicopee natives or spent most of their youth in the city. Anyone serving in the military who lost their lives as a result of a terrorist attack, including those killed before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, will be listed on the monument, Babin said.

The six to be honored are:

  • Marine Gunnery Sgt. John S. Fredette, who was shot in the back in May 1990 while on assignment in Olongapo City in the Philippines
  • Marine Sgt. Steven B. LaRiviere, who was one of 241 servicemen killed in a suicide truck bombing in Beirut on Oct. 23, 1983
  • Marine Capt. John W. Maloney, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq on June 16, 2005
  • Army Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Newsome, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq on June 27, 2007
  • Army Sgt. Christopher M. Wilson, who was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade while on patrol in Afghanistan on March 29, 2007
  • Army 1st Sgt. Kevin A. Dupont, who died on June 17, 2009, three months after he was seriously injured when his Humvee ran over an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.

The monument will depict a female soldier kneeling before a battlefield cross. Six dog tags that hang from a rifle will have the names and other information about each veteran on them.

The monument will cost about $50,000 to complete. The group has raised $20,000 and is pushing to raise most of the needed $30,000 by the end of the year. If the group can raise enough money for the down payment by the end of the year, the statue can be ordered in time to be installed for Memorial Day.

Currently veterans are selling raffle tickets for a wheelbarrow full of "cheer," or 40 bottles of different types of alcohol, which were donated by a veterans group. The wheelbarrow was donated by Home Depot.

The raffle tickets are available from area veterans and veterans organizations and the drawing will be held in City Hall at 11 a.m. on Friday.

The organization is also accepting donations. Checks or money orders can be made out to "War on Terror" and sent to the city's Veterans Services office, 36 Center St., Chicopee, MA 01013. If people wish to make a donation as a gift on someone's behalf, the organization will be happy to send a thank-you card to that person, Babin said.

The organizations also have a GoFundMe page called "Chicopee War on Terror Memorial" where people can donate, she said.

A number of businesses have also donated toward the effort, she said.

The veterans' organizations have already received quite a bit of help from students in the Career and Technical division of Chicopee Comprehensive High School as well, Babin said.

"Chicopee's students have wrapped their arms around our War on Terror Monument and for that we are extremely grateful," Babin said.

Students in design and visual communications made the large sign with a thermometer that stands in front of City Hall and other smaller posters to publicize the fundraising campaign. Students in the computer-assisted drafting class created a small 3-D model of the monument and horticulture students have cut down overgrown bushes in Veterans Plaza to prepare the area for the new monument, Babin said.

A number of businesses have also donated toward the effort.

Bobcat, injured by vehicle in Southampton last month, released back into wild

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The bobcat, hit on Nov. 2, suffered head trauma, and was found lying in the middle of the Brickyard Road

SOUTHAMPTON - A female bobcat, injured by a vehicle on Brickyard Road early last month, was released back into the wild Monday.

The bobcat, hit on Nov. 2, suffered head trauma, and was found lying in the middle of the road.

"She was able to recover from her head trauma thanks to the great help and care by a local wildlife vet, the staff at Berkshire Wildlife Services and Westfield Animal Control," Southampton police stated in a post Monday on their Facebook page.

The animal was released near the area where it was hit, police said.

Grad students to unveil plans to make Chicopee more bike and pedestrian friendly

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The 10 graduate students from the University of Massachusetts Amherst have been studying ways to create a network of bicycle and pedestrian routes.

CHICOPEE - A group of University of Massachusetts at Amherst graduate students will discuss the results of a study they completed to find ways to improve pedestrian and bicycle access in the city.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m., Dec. 15 in the Chicopee Comprehensive High School auditorium. The public is encouraged to attend and there will be time for residents to ask questions and give their input.

The 10 students from the University's Regional Planning Studio have been working the city's Planning Department to come up with a city-wide bicycle and pedestrian path network.

The city currently has mostly fragmented routes for pedestrians, the student group said in writing.

"(The students) have created a draft vision plan (assisted by MassBike) with the primary goal of improving pedestrian and bicycle access to destinations including city schools throughout Chicopee," the group said in writing.

The city currently has one short bike path that runs along the Chicopee River near Front Street. A second path has been proposed for the banks of the Connecticut River in the Willimansett section of the city.


Gov. Charlie Baker budget cuts hit Springfield's Basketball Hall of Fame, Dr. Seuss Museum

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The Basketball Hall of Fame and Dr. Seuss Museum in Springfield will take financial hits worth hundreds of thousands after Gov. Charlie Baker cut $67 million in earmarked spending from the upcoming state budget last week.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Dr. Seuss Museum in Springfield will take financial hits worth hundreds of thousands after Gov. Charlie Baker cut $67 million in earmarked spending from the upcoming state budget last week.

The targeted earmarks included more than $850,000 from the combined budgets of the professional basketball museum on Hall of Fame Avenue, the Boston Regional Intelligence Center and North Shore crab trapping, according to The State House News Service.

A Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism budget cut stripped $200,000 from the Dr. Seuss Museum. The museum is scheduled to open in June 2017.

A $200,000 state budget appropriation announced in September was intended to help establish a bilingual exhibit at the new museum. It's unclear if these were the same funds Baker removed from the Office of Travel and Tourism.

The earmark cuts announced Tuesday came as part of $98 million in unilateral spending cuts by Baker, who said in a press release, "We are required to balance the budget."

Pharmaceutical executives accused of bribing doctors to 'unnecessarily prescribe' fentanyl

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More than a half dozen pharmaceutical executives and managers were taken into custody by federal officials this month on charges that they "led a nationwide conspiracy to bribe medical practitioners to unnecessarily prescribe a fentanyl-based pain medication and defraud healthcare insurers," federal prosecutors based in Massachusetts said in a statement.

More than a half dozen pharmaceutical executives and managers were taken into custody by federal officials this month on charges that they "led a nationwide conspiracy to bribe medical practitioners to unnecessarily prescribe a fentanyl-based pain medication and defraud healthcare insurers," federal prosecutors based in Massachusetts said in a statement.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Carmen Ortiz alleges that several former employees of Insys Therapeutics, Inc. - including the once CEO and president of the company - conspired to bribe medical staff in several states to get them to prescribe a specific pain medication. 

The medication, "Subsys," is a sublingual spray intended to treat cancer patients experiencing intense moments of paint. The powerful narcotic is a highly addictive substance that can cause respiratory distress and death when taken in high doses or when combined with other substances. 

Federal officials allege doctors prescribed the drug to many patients - the majority of whom were not diagnosed with cancer - in exchange for bribes and kickbacks. 

The indictment alleges the company paid doctors at a rate connected to the number of Subsys prescriptions written, masquerading as speaking fees. A doctor in Florida is said by federal prosecutors to have received $275,000 over three years from the company. 

Insys is alleged to have continued to provide their medications to pain clinics considered "pill mills" - easy locations for people to get prescriptions. An Insys employee wrote in an email obtained by prosecutors, of an Illinois doctor, "He is extremely moody, lazy and inattentive. He basically just shows up to sign his name on the prescription pad, if he shows up at all." The indictment alleges this doctor was another that received speaking fees from the company. 

"They contributed to the growing opioid epidemic and placed profit before patient safety," said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division. 

Seven former executives and managers employed by Insys were taken into custody by law enforcement Thursday. 

On the day of their arrests, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention released a report showing that the rate of overdose deaths caused by synthetic opioids like fentanyl increased by close to 75 percent last year. The number of opioid deaths in the U.S. surpassed 30,000 for the first time in recorded history, rising above the number of gun homicides in 2015. 

Massachusetts opioid deaths continue to rise as fentanyl takes center stage

Close to a decade ago, the number of gun homicides was five times higher than fatal opioid overdoses, the Washington Post reports

The fentanyl pipeline: How a potent painkiller made in China and shipped to Mexico is causing drug overdose deaths in Hampden County

Michael L. Babich, the former CEO and president of the company, is charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Law. Former vice president of sales Alec Burlakoff, former director of sales Richard M. Simon, and former regional sales directors Sunrise Lee and Joseph A. Rowan face RICO conspiracy, mail fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Law. Michael J. Gurry, the former vice president of managed markets, is charged with RICO conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy. 

Insys said in a statement that the company is "committed to complying with laws and regulations that govern our products and business practices." The statement said the company is cooperating with "all relevant authorities" in ongoing investigations. 

Truck on fire closes lane, causes multi-mile backup on Interstate 95

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Emergency officials were called to Interstate 95 Tuesday morning for a report of a vehicle on fire.

Emergency officials were called to Interstate 95 Tuesday morning for a report of a vehicle on fire.

A truck began smoking while heading south on I-95 near Exit 45 in Peabody, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said.

The right lane of 95 and the breakdown lane are closed as emergency officials work at the scene. A multi-mile backup has formed following the lane closure.

No information is currently available regarding if there were injuries connected to the fire.

Teens smoking and drinking less, marijuana preferred over tobacco, study says

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Teens are smoking and drinking less, though teens in states that legalized marijuana for medical use report a higher use of marijuana-infused edibles, according to the latest results of an annual study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Teens are smoking and drinking less, though teens in states that legalized marijuana for medical use report a higher use of marijuana-infused edibles, according to the latest results of an annual study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Six percent of high school seniors use marijuana daily, said the long-running study, which surveyed eighth, 10th and 12th graders in public and private schools. Just under 23 percent of high school seniors said they had used marijuana in the past month.

Among eighth graders, marijuana use in the past month dropped to 5.4 percent from 6.5 percent in 2015. Daily usage dropped to 0.7 percent from 1.1 percent in 2015, and past year marijuana use among eighth graders dropped to 9.4 percent from 11.8 percent in 2015.

"Similarly, rates of marijuana use in the past year among 10th graders also remained stable compared to 2015, but are at their lowest levels in over two decades," a release on the survey from the National Institute on Drug Abuse said.

Massachusetts legalized medical marijuana in 2012, and last month voters approved marijuana for recreational use. The new law goes into effect on Dec. 15, allowing adults over the age of 21 to possess and grow marijuana. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law.

Among teens in states with medical marijuana, 40.2 percent of seniors said they ate marijuana-infused food in the past year. In states without medical marijuana, the number was 28.1 percent of seniors.

The institute noted a "large drop" in teens using tobacco cigarettes across the three grades. Among high school seniors, 1.8 percent said they smoked a half pack or more a day, down from 10.7 percent in 1991.

Usage of alcohol has also dropped, with the rate of teens saying they've been drunk in the last year dropping to the survey's "lowest rates ever," the institute said. In 2001, 53.2 percent of seniors said they'd been drunk at least once; now the number is 37.3 percent.

The survey included 45,473 students from 372 public and private schools.

"The declining use of many drugs by youth is certainly encouraging and important," Dr. Lloyd Johnston, who has worked on the survey of teens at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, said in a statement.

"But we need to remember that future cohorts of young people entering adolescence also will need to know why using drugs is not a smart choice," he added. "Otherwise we risk having another resurgence of use as was seen in the 90s."


Springfield man arrested after he attempts to rob store with toy gun, police say

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The incident occurred shortly before 3:15 a.m. at the Cumberland Farms at 514 Belmont Ave.

SPRINGFIELD -- Police said they arrested a city man early Tuesday after he attempted to rob a Forest Park neighborhood convenience store with a toy gun.

The incident occurred shortly before 3:15 a.m. at the Cumberland Farms at 514 Belmont Ave., Sgt. John Delaney said.

The two clerks told police that the suspect entered the store, started acting strangely and then pulled a toy gun from his pocket and stated he was holding up the store, Delaney, public information officer for the department, said.

A male customer entered the store, however, and the suspect fled.

The clerks gave officers Anthony Cicero and Angel Monserrate a good description of the suspect and the officers spotted him while they were patrolling lower Belmont Ave.

A clerk, brought to the scene, identified the suspect and he was arrested and charged with unarmed robbery.

Orlando Melendez, 19, of 58 Burr St., is slated to be arraigned in District Court Tuesday morning. He was also arrested on Nov. 23 for stealing a vehicle and that charge is pending, Delaney said.

Judge Rotenberg Educational Center employees charged with assaulting and spitting on student with disabilities

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Police say video surveillance footage from the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center shows two employees beating and spitting on one of school's students, according to The Patriot Ledger.

Police say video surveillance footage from the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center (JRC) shows two employees beating and spitting on one of the school's students, according to The Patriot Ledger.

Police arrested Mohamed Tarawally, 36, of Boston and Claude Guerrier, 24, of Brockton and charged them with multiple accounts of assault and battery on a disabled person. Tarawally also faces a dangerous weapon charge for repeatedly whipping the student with his belt.

The men are accused of attacking and threatening a student with disabilities at various times in October and November, the Ledger reported. 

Authorities were alerted to the trouble at the facility after the company that monitors the center's surveillance footage tipped off JRC staff, who then called Randolph police.

Police said both men admitted to the assaults, saying they didn't intend to cause pain but were worried that the student, who has a tendency to lash out, could hurt them.

However, Randolph police wrote in their report that the footage does not seem to show the two men acting out of fear or self-defense, the Ledger reported.

A JRC spokesman said they contacted local authorities as soon as the content of the surveillance footage came to light. The two men were immediately fired. 

Bail was set at $250 and they will both be back in court in March. 

Earlier this year, the FDA confirmed JRC is the only institution in the U.S. that still uses aversive electric shock therapy and proposed a ban on these devices in April.

This controversial Massachusetts facility is the last in the country to use electric shock on students

Owner of Hangar Pub and Grill, Wings Over franchise seeking to open new spot in Berkshires

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Chicken wing guru Harold Tramazzo -- owner of Hangar Pub and Grill and Wings Over Amherst -- has submitted an offer on a former Pittsfield nightclub, where he intends to open a new bar and restaurant.

Chicken wing guru Harold Tramazzo -- owner of Hangar Pub and Grill and the Wings Over franchise -- has submitted an offer to buy a former Pittsfield nightclub, where he intends to open a new bar and restaurant.

Tramazzo called the 4,300-square-foot space, located at 1350 East St. and formerly Chameleons, "a great spot."

"I made an offer on the building and I'd love for it to go through," Tramazzo told MassLive on Tuesday. "It would be a full Hangar Pub and Grill."

He added, "It's no secret, I've been saying for years I wanted to open up a spot (in the Berkshires)."

A search of the Massachusetts Corporations Division reveals Tramazzo filed articles of organization papers on Nov. 23 for a business called "Hangar of Pittsfield."

Best Of Mass: A walk through The Hangar Pub & Grill in Amherst (photos)

Voted among America's best college bars by BuzzFeed's readers in October, Hangar Pub and Grill features aviation-themed decorations and a "Flight School" where customers can select and pour their own beers from among a wall of 16 different styles.

"We didn't realize how popular until we put the wall in," Hangar Manager Mike Stone told MassLive. "The range of ages from people who just turned 21 to, really, grandparents." 

Over the summer, Tramazzo opened a Hangar Pub and Grill and Wings Over in Greenfield. There's a third Hangar location in Westfield and Tramazzo manages Amherst Brewing Company as well.

Tramazzo, of Westfield, has been in the food business many years. He opened Hangar Pub and Grill and Wings Over Amherst with his partner Patrick Daly in 1999.

The business proliferated, opening "Wings Over" locations in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and eight more states -- a total of three dozen locations. Its chief innovation was delivering chicken wings to people's doorsteps. Tramazzo now operates the business alone.

Chameleons closed in May 2014 after the Pittsfield Licensing Board responded to an April 5 parking lot shooting by stripping its liquor license, dressing down the owner and manager for not having having her "act together," according to The Berkshire Eagle.

The building has been vacant since then. Owner Pamela Rice originally sought another tenant for the space but put it on the market when no promising applicants presented themselves.

Rice's attorney, Anthony Doyle of Pittsfield, said the building has "been on the market for about a year."

"(Rice) is glad," Doyle said on Tuesday. "It's been a drain, an empty building for a year-and-a-half and it's nice to see it finally turning around to become a productive space again."

Tramazzo goes before the Pittsfield Licensing Board at 3:30 p.m. next Monday seeking a liquor license for the business. 

Doyle said he expects to close on the sale of the building soon after Tramazzo obtains the license. 

"If it goes through -- and I have no doubt it will -- we're looking at completing the sale of the property by Feb. 1," he said.

Senate President Stan Rosenberg says energy and climate change to remain on Beacon Hill front burner

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Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst, the president of the Massachusetts Senate, said lobbyists for utilities have had 'undue influence' over state energy policy.

NORTHAMPTON -- Energy will remain a top priority in the upcoming legislative session in Massachusetts, and any bill should "push the envelope" on climate change and push back against the influence of lobbyists, state Senate President Stan Rosenberg told a roomful of civic leaders gathered at a middle school cafeteria here.

"We should be focusing our efforts on a robust energy debate, as early in the new term as possible," Rosenberg said at a Dec. 3 Western Massachusetts Legislative Summit sponsored by the Hampshire Council of Governments.

As for climate change, "we can't afford to wait," he said. "I anticipate a robust discussion in the Legislature."

Rosenberg said the "hook" for assembling a comprehensive energy and climate bill would be the nearly immediate need to lift the cap on solar net metering.

"The solar net metering cap is going to be reached, and that will give us the opportunity we need to get everybody pushing harder for a much more aggressive approach," Rosenberg said.

The cap limits how much solar energy utilities must buy. Last April, with solar projects stalled across the state, the Legislature passed a compromise to lift the cap by 3 percent. Lawmakers acknowledged that the bill was a short-term solution, because the cap would be hit again in 2017.

"If you want to put solar on your roof, your business, your farm, you have to hook up to the utilities, and there's a formula that dictates how much the utilities have to accept at any one time," Rosenberg said. "They are not entirely happy with that idea. So we have to revisit it from time to time. So that would be the entree, the hook that we would use to rejoin the climate change debate in Massachusetts."

Many in the room, including local officials, had actively fought Northeast Energy Direct, a now-defunct natural gas pipeline plan that would have crossed dozens of rural towns in the region. The Texas-based Kinder Morgan withdrew plans for the pipeline in May, citing inadequate financial commitments.

At the Northampton conference, Rosenberg rebuffed a request from anti-fossil fuel activists to immediately head back to Boston and convene an emergency legislative session on climate change.

"There's literally only five weeks left in this two-year legislative term," he said. "It is impractical to think we'll call a special session of (the) Legislature in the middle of the holiday season and get anything productive done."

Rosenberg: Lobbyists had 'undue influence' over energy policy

However, in response to an audience question referencing "the undue influence of Associated Industries of Massachusetts" in shaping state energy policy, Rosenberg did not hold back.

"I think Associated Industries of Massachusetts is having an undue influence on the conversation around energy, in part because among their biggest supporters and members are the utilities," he said. Registered lobbyists represent the the trade group's interests on Beacon Hill.

Rosenberg said a number of clean energy provisions pushed by the Senate "were left on the cutting room floor" in a rush to forge a compromise with the House of Representatives and produce a bill on windpower and hydropower by the end of the term.

"We lost a lot with the conference process this year," said Rosenberg. "And we were a little disappointed. But we are patient, and we are persistent. And we'll have another opportunity this year to open the debate."

Utilities are struggling with the transition from centralized power plants to a distributed electrical grid based upon renewables, smart technology, storage and energy efficiency, Rosenberg said.

Reached by telephone, a spokesman for Associated Industries of Massachusetts rejected Rosenberg's characterization of their efforts to shape legislation.

"We represent the interests of 4,000 businesses across the state," said Christopher Geehern, AIM's vice president of marketing and communications. "They pay some of the highest electricity rates in the country. If advocating for small businesses constitutes 'undue influence,' then so be it."

Geehern noted that AIM supported the energy bill signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in August. "We think it was a good compromise," he said. "We didn't get everything we wanted, and neither did they. That's how democracy works."

The final bill, celebrated by environmentalists and panned by large power generators, requires utilities to procure 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind and 1,200 megawatts of hydropower and other renewables through contracts spanning 15 or 20 years.

In a telephone interview, Rosenberg told The Republican that AIM "worked hand-in-hand" with the state's utilities to "limit the scope and scale" of the more ambitious Senate energy bill passed in June.

The Senate bill would have beefed up clean energy benchmarks, incentivized energy storage technologies, backed a slew of new efficiency measures, studied grid modernization, rejected ratepayer financing for fossil fuel pipelines, looked at new ways to finance renewable energy projects and more.

The competing bill from the House of Representatives had drawn criticism from environmentalists, who called the measure "timid."

2016 energy bill 'a good start'

The bill signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in August jettisoned many items on the Senate wish list, yet still represented landmark support for large renewable energy projects, including the state's growing offshore wind industry.

The final bill, in addition to its procurement requirements, addressed the issue of natural gas leaks, included support for energy storage, gave a boost to small hydropower projects, created a panel to guide the decommissioning of Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth and offered tax incentives for energy upgrades at commercial and industrial properties.

Rosenberg last week called the 2016 energy bill "a good start," but said more needs to be done.

As for lobbyists who might try to fight clean energy and climate policy, Rosenberg said they "have their heads in the sand" and are not looking down the road.

"Yes, there are costs associated with transitioning to a clean energy future," he said. "But they're looking at short-term costs. If you think the short-term costs are going to hurt, wait until you see the long-term costs associated with not changing our energy mix. We have to deal with climate change, which means reducing our use of fossil fuels."

Rosenberg said Massachusetts' aggressive approach to energy efficiency has helped lower utility bills for businesses and homeowners alike. "We are number one in the country in our effort to reduce our carbon footprint and fight climate change," he said. "And energy efficiency makes sense economically."

The Senate president said he hopes the Legislature will lift the cap on solar net metering, significantly increase the state's clean energy procurement goals and review and revise MassSave, the 30-year-old conservation program run by utilities and funded by ratepayers.

In addition, Rosenberg said an innovative program for financing energy upgrades should be made available to homeowners, and not just businesses. The "property assessed clean energy" program, or PACE, allows such capital investments to be funded through a voluntary property tax assessment instead of through borrowing.

And finally, he said the state must increase its capacity for resiliency and adaptation in the face of climate change. "We're looking at a potential for significant sea rise," he said. "What will that mean for our coastal cities?"

Severe weather and flooding will impact interior regions of the state as well, he said. "Look at the destruction brought by Tropical Storm Irene," he said. "How are we going to adapt? How are we going to prepare? We need to look at infrastructure, and we need to look at policy."

The Western Massachusetts Legislative Summit highlighted issues relevant to the four western counties. Others on the wrap-up panel were Rep. Peter Kocot, D-Northampton, and Sen. Anne Gobi, D-Spencer.

The three fielded questions about education funding, agriculture, water quality and rural broadband in addition to comments about energy and climate change.

Rosenberg said he would prioritize education funding reform, criminal justice reform, transportation projects, and support a "kids first" initiative in the Senate. Gobi said that water quality issues would be at the top of her list, with various towns in her district facing drinking water problems.

Kocot agreed that energy should be a top priority. "There are no technical obstacles to having 100 percent clean energy by 2050," he said. "We can do this. But individuals need to make up their minds that this is a worthwhile cause."

The House and Senate reconvene at the State House in Boston on Jan. 4, when members-elect will be sworn in by Baker.

Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com

Lowell man who sent Ariana Grande a 42-pound pumpkin and other gifts pleads guilty to stalking her

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Authorities said Timothy Normandin sent the pop star a 42-pound pumpkin, eight Yankee candles, a $200 anklet, dog and cat calendars and a rock from the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

A Lowell man pleaded guilty in Lowell District Court Tuesday to stalking Ariana Grande after authorities discovered his three-year obsession with the pop star, The Lowell Sun reported.

In addition to serving three years of probation, Timothy Normandin, 31, of Lowell, was ordered to continue mental health counseling after it was revealed in court that he has been diagnosed with delusional disorder and paranoia. 

Prior to his arrest, Normandin was sending text messages, using social media and even traveled to New York and Connecticut to try and talk to Grande. Authorities said Normandin sent the pop star a 42-pound pumpkin, eight Yankee candles, a $200 anklet, dog and cat calendars and a rock from the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Lowell Sun reported. 

Lowell police intervened after Normandin reportedly tried intercepting Grande at the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut. Police said Normandin tried getting past the singer's guards, and during questioning Normandin screamed, "It's love, not threats," The Lowell Sun reports. 

Normandin is ordered to stay away from drugs and alcohol and to remain in the state. If Normandin attempts to reach out to Grande or her family, he will face possible jail time.

Normandin's Facebook page is riddled with lewd, obsessive poems about the artist. There are also a number of videos Normandin has posted featuring poems, some about the pop singer. 

'I must have committed ... 20 crimes in the last 7 hours,' robbery suspect tells Springfield police

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Orlando Melendez's alleged demand for money -- "run your (vulgarity)" -- could have been a rebuke to the clerks for pointing out his less-than-sober state, defense lawyer John Greenwood said. "He had been at a party and had a lot to drink," he added.

SPRINGFIELD — If nothing else, Orlando Melendez deserves credit for candor.

Arrested for allegedly attempting to rob a convenience store with a toy gun, Melendez wanted Springfield police to know he had a busy night, according to the arrest report.

"I must have committed at least about 20 crimes in the last seven hours," said Menlendez, who pleaded not guilty to two during his arraignment Tuesday in Springfield District Court.

Melendez, 19, allegedly walked into a Cumberland Farms on Belmont Avenue Tuesday around 3:15 a.m. as two clerks were counting the register receipts, the report said. He was wearing a paint-spattered leather jacket and appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the clerks later told police.

Approaching the counter, he pulled a green toy gun from his pocket and said "run you (vulgarity)," the report said. The phrase, as understood by the clerks, was a variation of "run your pockets," or a demand to hand over the money, police said.

A customer then walked into the store and Melendez pointed the toy gun at him. Moments later, Melendez left without pocketing any of the store's receipts, the report said.

He was arrested a few blocks away by officers responding to a 911 call from the store. Both employees later identified Melendez as the visitor with the toy gun, the report said.

Nine hours later, Melendez pleaded not guilty to attempted unarmed robbery and possession of a deceptive device during the commission of a crime.

Assistant District Attorney Cary Szafranski asked for $5,000 bail on the charges. She also asked Judge William Boyle to revoke his bail in an open case and find probable cause that he violated his probation in a 2015 case.

Melendez is also on probation in Superior Court in a third case, the prosecutor said.

Defense lawyer John Greenwood asked for his client's release on $5,000 personal surety.

Nobody was harmed during the incident, and Melendez's intentions -- and perhaps his state of mind -- were far from clear, Greenwood said.

"He had been at a party and had a lot to drink," the lawyer explained.

The alleged demand for money -- "run your (vulgarity)" -- could have been a rebuke to the clerks for pointing out his less-than-sober state, Greenwood said.

"He didn't even take anything from the counter, much less rob the store," the lawyer said.

At 19, Melendez has a steady job and already has a GED, the lawyer said. Greenwood urged the judge not to detain his client in the three earlier cases.

"He's a young man who has made some mistakes, but he's looking to improve his life and move on and upward if he can," he said.

During the hearing, Melendez listened to his lawyer and volunteered nothing further about his possible criminal exploits.

Boyle set bail at $5,000 in Melendez's new case, revoked his bail in the open case and found probable cause that he violated his probation in the 2015 case.

He ordered Melendez held for a full probation violation hearing, and scheduled a pretrial conference in the new case for next month.

Seen@ Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan's first year in office celebration

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More than 100 supporters gathered at the Tavern Restaurant in Westfield last night to listen and support Westfield Mayor Brian P. Sullivan after his first year as mayor.

WESTFIELD - More than 100 supporters gathered at the Tavern Restaurant in Westfield Tuesday night to listen and support Westfield Mayor Brian P. Sullivan after his first year as mayor.

He said the year flew by and he couldn't have been happier with the department heads and staff members for their hard work. Sullivan announced this week that taxes would not be raised and he's confident that he can justify where every dollar is going.

"I can wait to get started" said Sullivan as he was questioned about the upcoming year. Sullivan added his thanks to union leaders for coming to the table, noting everyone had to give a little to go forward.

Supporters applauded as Sullivan formally announced his plans to run for re-election.

Sullivan concluded his speech with a reference to his favorite Christmas movie, "It's A Wonderful Life," adding "I feel like Jimmy Stewart. I'm the luckiest man in Westfield."


AIC Yellowjackets come up short against the Arizona State Sun Devils (Photos)

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SPRINGFIELD - The American International College mens hockey team had high hopes for a win when they stepped on the ice at the Massmutual Center on Tuesday night for a bout with the Arizona State University Sun Devils.

SPRINGFIELD - The American International College mens hockey team had high hopes for a win when they stepped on the ice at the Massmutual Center on Tuesday night for a bout with the Arizona State University Sun Devils.

Coming up with only three wins so far this season out of the 18 games they've played, it seemed like the team would be due for another win, and the team played like they knew it.

The Devils came out strong, with forward Jack Rowe closing out the first period with a goal, answered late in the second period by an unassisted goal from Yellowjackets defenseman Johnny Mueller on a breakaway.

The third period started with a point to the Devils from forward Wade Murphy, followed by another power play goal scored by forward David Norris. The Yellowjackets would fire back at the end of the power play with a goal from forward Blake Christensen, but would not have an answer for the third goal from the Devils, and would move on to pull their goalie for the last two minutes of play in hopes that the extra man would gain them the upper hand on the visiting Devils.

For their next bout, AIC will take a short trip up interstate 91 on Jan. 3, where they are paired against pioneer valley rival UMASS Amherst at the Mullins Center.

Novi Cantori choir to perform a Chicopee to benefit the Boys & Girls Club

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Donations will be requested at the door of the church.

CHICOPEE - The chamber choir Novi Cantori will perform a concert to benefit the Boys & Girls Club on Sunday.

The professional choir, which performs through Western Massachusetts, has partnered with the club for several years to offer the event. This year club members will also show off some of their art projects so audience members can examine them while listening to some of the selections.

The Concert for a Cause is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the St. Rose de Lima Parish, 600 Grattan St.

The ensemble's holiday concert is not ticketed. People will be asked to make donations at the entrance.

Marijuana becomes legal in Massachusetts on Thursday -- but don't go walking down the street smoking it

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Anyone over 21 can legally possess up to an ounce of marijuana in Massachusetts come Thursday -- but they shouldn't go walking down the street smoking it. Watch video

Any Massachusetts resident over 21 can legally possess up to an ounce of marijuana outside their home Thursday -- but don't go walking down the street smoking it.

Though the ballot question approved by voters Nov. 8 is scheduled to go into effect, the law doesn't allow using pot in public places, nor selling it.

And so Massachusetts enters a legal "gray period," Jim Borghesani, spokesman for the group RegulateMass, which sponsored the ballot initiative, told the Associated Press.

"It is legal to possess," Borghesani said. "It is illegal to sell without a retail license and retail licenses won't be available for quite a while."

Selling marijuana without a license before the regulated market is established will remain a crime punishable by up to two years of incarceration and up to a $5,000 fine.

Borghesani told the AP Colorado, Washington and other places which previously legalized marijuana went through similar transition periods without major problems.

But, John Suthers, the attorney general of Colorado during the 13-month gray zone between a retail market and the end of prohibition, did not offer so optimistic an outlook. He told the Boston Globe: "It will be a mess for law enforcement."

Suthers said "the unenforceability of the limitation on 12 plants per house" will prove a "nightmare" and lead to the establishment of a "significant" black market before regulated stores open their doors.

See inside the first medical marijuana dispensary to open in Boston (photos)

On the other side of the argument, advocates for legalization say fears of huge black markets never came true in other states that legalized, according to the Globe.

Despite the drug becoming legal, noted The Globe article, those who "want to purchase some pot" are "going to need to do it the old-fashioned way: from a guy who knows a guy."

The law does permit a single individual to cultivate up to 6 marijuana plants for personal use. Up to 12 plants per household are allowed if more than one adult lives on the premises.

People over 21 can also give another adult up to an ounce of pot or marijuana seeds under the law, but not for money.

In addition to public use and sale, the law does not permit people to carry marijuana on school grounds, operate a vehicle under the influence of marijuana, give pot to someone under 21, keep an open containers of marijuana inside a vehicle, grow pot in a plainly visibly place, or bring it across state lines.

Also, tenants may not grow marijuana in places where the landlord has forbidden such activities.

If you rent an apartment in Massachusetts, you may not be able to use marijuana at home

The lag time in the law was intended by its authors to prioritize the ending of prohibition even at the expense of creating the legal "gray period."

"People who want to use marijuana are going to have to get it from the same sources they were getting it from before Dec. 15," Borghesani told the Globe. "The gray zone is not ideal, but there's really no other way around it."

Massachusetts' law will also not change the fact that the substance remains strictly forbidden under federal law, which classifies it as a Schedule 1 drug, in the same category as ecstasy, LSD and heroin.

Marijuana attorney Adam Fine sat down with MassLive to talk about legal marijuana in Massachusetts, starting on Dec. 15, 2016.

48-year-old facing 'sextortion' charges after allegedly threatening to publish pictures of underage teen

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A Bristol County resident faces federal charges after allegedly threatening to send explicit photos of a teenage girl to her friends and family if she didn't do what he wanted.

A Bristol County resident faces federal charges after allegedly threatening to send explicit photos of a teenage girl to her friends and family if she didn't do what he wanted, WPRI reported.

David Ackell, 48, is accused of coercing a 16-year-old girl he met on social media into sending him explicit photos. Ackell told the girl he was a 21-year-old pilot while they sent sexual messages to each other. 

Things took a turn when the girl tried to cease conversations with Ackell because she felt uncomfortable. Ackell allegedly told the girl that she was his slave and threatened to reveal the photos to her entire Instagram friends list if she didn't do what he said, WPRI reported. 

For two years, the girl was forced to stay in communication with Ackell, until her father discovered what was happening and told the police. During this time, the girl told investigators she became depressed and suicidal. 

Ackell referred to the back and forth as "consensual role-playing" and motioned to dismiss the case. Authorities have tracked down other women who are prepared to testify that Ackell blackmailed them as well.

One woman said she attempted to sell her pictures to Ackell, who never ended up paying for them, WPRI reported. Ackell then demanded she send him pictures of her wearing her school outfit, or else he'd publish the first set of photos 

The Department of Justice recently released a report that talked about the growing dangers of "sextortion," which adversely affects children. 

Ackell was originally indicted in July 2015. His case starts this week in New Hampshire, where the victims live. 

Monson K-9 unit, state police helicopter search for suspect who fled after crash

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The driver fled on foot after crashing into two parked tractor trailers on Bethany Road.

MONSON -- A male driver who fled on foot after crashing into two parked tractor trailers on Bethany Road Tuesday night prompted a search by the police department's K-9 unit and a Massachusetts State Police helicopter.

Police reported on the department's Facebook page that multiple witnesses said the suspect, dressed in a black coat and black beanie cap, was last seen running southbound along the railroad tracks in the area of Bethany and Beebe roads.

Western Mass News reported police have identified the suspect and that charges are pending.

Western Mass News is television partner to The Republican and MassLive.com

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


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