Quantcast
Channel: News
Viewing all 62489 articles
Browse latest View live

Alleged shooter in Fort Lauderdale attack had been seeking mental health treatment, thought government was controlling his mind

0
0

The suspected shooter in the Fort Lauderdale airport attack had a history of mental health problems.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — The alleged shooter in the attack at the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood airport had recently sought mental health treatment and had expressed the belief that U.S. intelligence agencies were attempting to hijack his mind, according to Fox News.

26-year-old Esteban Santiago opened fire on a baggage claim area at the Floria airport on Friday afternoon, killing five people and sending eight others to the hospital, before being arrested by authorities.

Witnesses at the scene allege that Santiago said nothing while he shot a number of victims in the head, then, when he ran out of bullets, simply threw down his gun and laid on the ground to await arrest by encroaching officers.

The mystery of what might have compelled Santiago to commit the act of violence has been complicated by the suspect's lengthy history of mental illness and military service.

Santiago, whose family is originally from Puerto Rico, was born in New Jersey, and spent much of his adult life in the military--serving for six years in the National Guard in Puerto Rico before deploying to Iraq in 2010 with the 130th Engineer Battalion.

Santiago spent a year in Iraq, but after his tour ended he was apparently hospitalized for mental issues. He returned to Puerto Rico, where his mental health issues continued, and he sought more therapy, according to a family member.

Santiago eventually moved to Alaska in 2014, joining the Alaska Army National Guard. However, two years later he was discharged from the unit in August 2016 for unsatisfactory performance. The details of his discharge have not been released.

Esteban's brother, Bryan Santiago, has stated that his sibling continued to seek psychological treatment while living in Alaska.

Towards the end of 2016, law enforcement officials allege that Santiago entered an FBI office in Anchorage and told agents that he'd been hearing voices; he said he believed the CIA wanted him to join the Islamic State and that the agency had been planting videos from the terrorist organization on his computer for him to view.

Sources with knowledge of the meeting allege that Santiago was "agitated and incoherent" during his interview with federal agents, that he was obviously exhibiting signs of mental illness.

Various members of Santiago's family have come forward and talked about the shooting suspect's mental health, including Santiago's aunt Maria Ruiz Rivera. "He lost his mind," Rivera told N.J.com on Friday, referring to her nephew's mental health after he returned from Iraq.


Chicago Judge refuses to release 4 accused of beating disabled youth

0
0

A Chicago judge refused to allow four black people caught on cellphone footage taunting and beating a mentally disabled white man to post bail and leave jail, saying they are accused of such "terrible actions" that they are a danger to society.

CHICAGO (AP) -- A Chicago judge refused to allow four black people caught on cellphone footage taunting and beating a mentally disabled white man to post bail and leave jail, saying they are accused of such "terrible actions" that they are a danger to society.

"Where was your sense of decency?" Cook County Circuit Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil asked them on Friday during their first court appearance, sounding baffled that the suspects could be charged with such cruelty toward the 18-year-old victim.

The beating was captured on cellphone video by one of the assailants and has since been viewed millions of times on social media. The graphic footage shows the suspects taunting the victim with profanities against white people and President-elect Donald Trump.


Prosecutors offered new details of the assault, explaining that one of the suspects demanded $300 from the mother of the victim, who is schizophrenic and has attention-deficit disorder. They also said the beating started in a van when the same attacker became angry that the mother had contacted him asking that her son be allowed to come home.

A prosecutor told the judge that the suspects forced the victim to drink toilet water, kiss the floor and then allegedly stuffed a sock into his mouth and taped it shut as they bound his hands with a belt.

The four are charged with two counts of committing a hate crime -- one because of the victim's race and the other because of his mental disabilities.

On the video, the male suspects use knives to cut the victim's hair and his sweatshirt. One of the females can be seen laughing. A female also laughs as she punches the victim.

One of the men pulls the cord from the victim's sweatshirt around the victim's neck and holds him up while the victim groans in pain, according to a document read in court. The victim can be heard screaming when one of the men walks up to him with a knife and asks if he should "shank" him.

At one point, the prosecutor said, someone on the video can be heard saying that he did not care if the victim was schizophrenic.

The four suspects were identified as Brittany Covington and Tesfaye Cooper, both of Chicago, and Jordan Hill, of suburban Carpentersville. All are 18. A fourth suspect was identified as Covington's 24-year-old sister, Tanishia Covington, also of Chicago.

They stood quietly as the prosecutor read the allegations. Some of their relatives also listened, including a woman who wiped tears from her eyes.

Defense attorneys portrayed the suspects as hardworking, responsible and religious. Cooper, for example, takes care of his twin brother, who is in a wheelchair. Tanishia Covington has two small children. Her sister attends college and has a job. Hill, the judge was told, goes to church with his grandmother.

All four have experienced brushes with the law, some for serious and violent crimes.

Hill, for example, was arrested as a juvenile in 2015 on allegations of armed robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle and residential burglary. Chicago police said they did not know the disposition of those arrests by suburban officers.

Tanishia Covington was arrested in 2007 on attempted armed robbery and aggravated battery charges. Police records do not show any convictions as a juvenile. As an adult, she was arrested on charges of battery and aggravated assault, but those charges were dropped.

The uproar over the beating intensified the glare on Chicago after a bloody year of violent crime and protests against Mayor Rahm Emanuel and a police department that has been accused of using excessive force and hushing-up wrongdoing. The department has also been the subject of a long civil-rights investigation by the Justice Department, which is expected to report its findings soon.

The incident also stirred emotions still raw after a presidential campaign that split the nation. Some conservatives suggested it was linked to the Black Lives Matter movement. Police said there was no indication of any connection.

The incident began New Year's Eve, when the victim and alleged assailant Jordan Hill met at a suburban McDonald's, and then called his parents later to say he was staying with Hill for a sleepover.

Instead, Hill drove the victim around in a stolen van for a couple of days, ending up at a home in Chicago, where two of the other suspects lived, police said.

The victim's parents reported him missing Monday evening, two days after last hearing from him. The victim eventually escaped and a police officer spotted him wandering down a street, bloodied and disoriented.

Yesterday's top stories: A harrowing escape from fire, a fatal punch, and more

Seen@ The 2017 WGBY 'Mystery Masquerade' Masterpiece Ball

0
0

Public television and PBS supporters dressed up, dined, and danced on Friday at the annual WGBY Masterpiece Ball at The Log Cabin on Friday.

HOLYOKE-- Public television and PBS supporters dressed up, dined, and danced on Friday at the annual WGBY Masterpiece Ball at The Log Cabin on Friday. This year's theme was Mystery! Masquerade, inspired in part by three new episodes of the popular Masterpiece Mystery! series Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

The annual Masterpiece Ball is an upscale dress-up ballroom dance soiree, with a jazz cocktail hour, a 12-piece orchestra, and a five-course meal with wine. The event benefits western New England's public television and PBS member station, WGBY.

"The last several Masterpiece Ball events celebrated Downton Abbey and were very successful," said Marie Waechter, WGBY's director of community relations & special events. "This year we decided, 'Let's celebrate the entire history of Mystery!' -- meaning all the shows and characters in the show's 36 years of production, from Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and Poirot to the new Sherlock."

Indeed, the sleuths and suspects descended upon the Log Cabin in Holyoke, as WGBY supporters.

The five courses were prepared by The Log Cabin's Chef Mick Corduff and his team. Live jazz and ballroom dance music was performed by The WGBY Masterpiece Ballroom Orchestra & Classic Jazz Ensemble led by Jeffrey W. Holmes with special guest vocalist Dawning Holmes. In addition, a benefit silent auction was held.

The Log Cabin is the venue partner for this WGBY fundraiser, along with media sponsor The Republican and key event sponsors PeoplesBank and MassLive.

In addition, the event is supported by the generosity of The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust, the Edward Gorey House, Durocher Florist, Mole Hollow Candles, and Humboldt Imports.

Reputed Springfield gang member accused of robbing, threatening to kill ex-girlfriend held on $100,000

0
0

"That's it. This is the day you're going to die. ... I'm going to shoot you," David Beadle told his ex-girlfriend, according to the arrest report.

SPRINGFIELD -- A reputed Springfield gang member is being held on $100,000 bail after allegedly robbing and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend following a fight over Christmas presents.

David Beadle, 21, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Springfield District Court to domestic assault and battery, larceny over $250 and threatening to commit a crime.

davebeadle.jpgDavid Beadle, 21, of Springfield 

Beadle was arrested Dec. 30 after he allegedly showed up outside his ex-girlfriend's house and ordered her to open the door. To emphasize his point, he began making gestures toward his waistband, suggesting that he had a gun, according to the arrest report.

"You need to give me my s---," he told her, the report said.

"You brought a gun to my house?" she asked.

"You have five seconds to give me my s---, I swear on my mother," he said.

After hearing police sirens, Beadle retreated to his car. As he pulled out onto Page Boulevard, the ex-girlfriend's grandmother heard a single gunshot, the report said. No shell casing was found outside and there was no damage to the house, the report said.

Earlier that day, Beadle had gone this ex-girlfriend's house and stolen $300 off her dresser, police said. Before leaving, he grabbed her by the throat and began pushing her around the house, according to the report, which said the pair had been arguing over Christmas presents.

"That's it. This is the day you're going to die. ... I'm going to shoot you," he said, according to the report.

Following the second visit, the ex-girlfriend went to Springfield District Court and obtained an emergency restraining order against him.

Police requested that Beadle be held on $100,000 bail, describing him as a "prolific offender and active Sycamore Gang member" with an extensive criminal record.

Judge William Boyle set bail at $100,000 and continued the case to Jan. 26.

Partnership says no casinos in Hartford, East Hartford and South Windsor

0
0

A Partnership of Native American tribes in Connecticut has eliminated Hartford, East Hartford and South Windsor as possible sites of a casino it wants to build to compete with an MGM resort/casino being built in Springfield. The decision leaves two towns, East Windsor and Windsor Locks as possibel sites.

SPRINGFIELD— A Native American partnership has decided Hartford, East Hartford and South Windsor are not good locations to build a casino it wants to compete with an MGM resort/casino under construction in downtown Springfield.

MMCT Venture, a Mashantucket Pequot-Mohegan partnership, created to build a casino in the northern tier of Connecticut, announced its decision Friday afternoon, The Day reported.

Two sites remain in contention. Both East Windsor and Windsor Locks offer easy access to I-91, the group said. The Windsor Locks location has the added advantage of being close to Bradley International Airport, although the state Airport Authority has withdrawn sites at the airport itself from consideration.

The state's third approved casino is designed to blunt competition from the Springfield complex now under construction in the south end of the city's downtown.

The partnership is made up of the two tribal groups who own the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos operating in Mashantucket and Uncasville in the southeastern corner of the state.

MGM, meanwhile, calls the selection process "a sham." Alan Feldman, an executive vice president for MGM, said allowing the tribes to make the decision among themselves where to build the casino leaves city and state governments out of the process.

The third casino is the first in the state not built on Native American tribally owned reservation land, and is the result of a state law passed by the Connecticut legislature.

The two locations offer easy access from Springfield and northern Connecticut cities and towns, the tribes say they need to compete.

The Windsor Locks location includes sites at Bradley International Airport, while the East Windsor site is a parcel off I-91 currently occupied by a former Showcase Cinema, a vacant Wal-Mart and a Big Y supermarket.

Springfield's most arrested? Man with 54 shoplifting charges jailed after picking up 55th

0
0

While reading Abdul "Silky" Basden's probation record, the judge saw pages and pages of shoplifting charges -- 54 in all, including 50 convictions since he turned 18, court records show.

SPRINGFIELD -- It wasn't the crew socks, body wash or baby powder that got Abdul "Silky" Basden locked up this time.

Basden, 37, of Springfield, was already out on bail in an another shoplifting case when he was arrested Monday for allegedly trying to leave Walgreens with $92.68 in stolen items.

abdul.JPGAbdul Basde, 37, of Springfield 
When Judge William Hadley reviewed his criminal record Tuesday, he saw pages and pages of earlier convictions -- 50 in all, or more than two convictions a year since he turned 18, court records show.

After expressing surprise that anyone could rack up so many convictions in such a short time, the judge jailed Basden for 90 days for violating his bail in a November shoplifting case.

No statistics are kept on the subject, but Basden is surely one of Springfield's most-aggressive and most-arrested shoplifters, court officials said. In addition to 50 cases ending with convictions, four shoplifting charges were dismissed, bringing his total to 54.

Case 55 unfolded Monday when Walgreens staff spotted Basden in the Sumner Avenue store around 4 a.m., according to the arrest report. Several previous shoplifting visits had prompted Walgreens to ban him from the store, the report said.

When the night manager approached, Basden dropped a plastic shopping bag and bolted, leaving behind one pair of crew socks, two containers of baby powder, two tubes of body wash and assorted beauty products. He was gone by the time police arrived, the report said.

Two hours later, he was back -- and so were the police. Around 6 a.m., the same officers called after Basden's first visit handcuffed him and placed him in a cruiser, the report said.

He began kicking in the cruiser, but stopped after being pepper-sprayed. No further problems were encountered, the report said.

In court, he pleaded not guilty to shoplifting, third or subsequent offense - the same charge he faced during his last appearance on Nov. 4.

Basden is due back in Springfield District Court for pretrial hearings in both cases on Feb. 7.

Chicopee adopts tax incentive program to attract housing to downtown

0
0

The agreement would allow the City Council and mayor to negotiate tax breaks to developers.

CHICOPEE - With two large projects to create new housing complexes downtown looming, the City Council has created a special development zone that will allow officials to give tax breaks to residential developers.

The Housing Development Incentive Zone, adopted in a 12-0 vote, is open only to state-designated Gateway cities, which are mainly older mill cities with a high poverty level. Tax breaks can only be given to developers of market-rate housing, City Planner Lee Pouliot said.

"A community has to create a zone they are targeting for market-rate development," he said. "The reason we started with the West End is we had the two mill conversion projects."

SilverBrick, Inc. is currently considering a project to convert the Cabotville Mills into as many as 600 apartments. It will also have about 400,000 square feet of retail space in the project.

At the same time, Mount Holyoke Development, owned by Herbert Berezin, is hoping to purchase the former Lyman Mills building on the corner of Front and Depot streets and convert it into at least 80 market-rate apartments.

The Incentive Zone works like the tax incentive program the city currently uses to encourage job creation and business development. In both cases the City Council and mayor can negotiate with a developer and work out an agreement that will reduce the project's real estate taxes in the early years of the development.

State officials can also offer tax benefits to the developer as well, Pouliot said.
The ordinance will give the City Council and the mayor flexibility to negotiate any tax agreement that they feel is the most appropriate for the project.

The tax agreement could reduce taxes by any amount and can be stretched over any time period, Pouliot said.

"It is up to us to decide how much we want to forgive," City Councilor James K. Tillotson said.

The city is always in competition with other communities to attract development so if a business owner knows a tax agreement can be negotiated, the person may be more interested in considering building in Chicopee, he said.

The Incentive Zone tax program is flexible. The major requirement is it has to be market rate housing and the project must have at least two units. It could be used for rental property, condominiums or a mix of the two, Pouliot said.

The city is also working on creating other zones in Willimansett and in the Chicopee Falls area to encompass the former Facemate and Uniroyal property for the future, he said.


81-year-old parolee tests positive for cocaine 10 times, sent back to jail

0
0

An 81-year-old man was ordered back to jail after probation officials say he tested positive for cocaine at least 10 times over the course of two years. David R. Wilcox was held in lieu of $100,000 cash bail. He served six years in prison in connection with the 2005 truck crash on Avon Mountain that killed four people and injured five others.

HARTFORD— An 81-year-old man was ordered back to jail after probation officials said he tested positive for cocaine use at least 10 times over the course of two years.

David R. Wilcox, who now lists a Newington address, was ordered held pending a hearing on a probation violation Friday afternoon, the Journal Inquirer reported.

Wilcox was convicted in 2005 in connection with a truck crash on Avon Mountain that killed four people and injured five more. At the time he was the owner of the Bloomfield-based American Crushing and Recycling, and in 2005 one of the company's trucks lost its brakes as it drove down Avon Mountain on Route 44 and plowed into a long string of cars. In all 19 vehicles were involved in the crash. The truck's driver and three others were killed and five people were seriously injured.

Wilcox was found criminally guilty of allowing his trucks on the road with bald tires and shoddy repairs, and allowing an inexperienced driver in a large dump truck. He was sentenced to serve six years in prison followed by three years of probation.

A probation official told the court that Wilcox began testing positive for cocaine about three months after he was released from state custody in 2014. He told officials he did not use cocaine but did spend time with people who did.

In an affidavit, Probation Officer Dawn Woscyna said Wilcox went through a relapse prevention program, but again tested positive for drug use after his graduation. He was then sent to another outpatient program for drug use, but that, too, did not stop the positive test results.

Southampton transformer catches fire, no power outages reported

0
0

Eversource has temporarily fixed a transformer box that was damaged by a fire early Saturday, Southampton Police reported.

Eversource has temporarily fixed a transformer box that was damaged by a fire early Saturday, Southampton Police reported.

Crews responded to reports of a transformer fire near the intersection of East Street and County Road around 7:30 a.m., according to Southampton Police.

Although the box was damaged, Eversource was able to temporarily fix the issues until it can replace the unit at a later date, police said.

Eversource reported no power outages as of 9:30 a.m.

Southampton Police are urging area residents to report any changes and notify Eversource of electrical outages.

President-elect Donald Trump officially picks Dan Coats for director of national intelligence

0
0

President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday formally announced his intent to nominate Dan Coats to serve as director of national intelligence, confirming previous reports that the former Indiana senator would join his cabinet.

President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday formally announced his intent to nominate Dan Coats to serve as director of national intelligence, confirming previous reports that the former Indiana senator would join his cabinet.

Trump, in a statement issued by his transition team, said he was confident that Coats is the right choice for the role, which heads the U.S. Intelligence Community and delivers the president's daily briefing.

"Dan has clearly demonstrated the deep subject matter expertise and sound judgment required to lead our intelligence community," he said. "If confirmed as director of national intelligence, he will provide unwavering leadership that the entire intelligence community can respect and will spearhead my administration's ceaseless vigilance against those who seek to do us harm."

The incoming president's team praised Coats' experience and service on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Senate Armed Services Committee, contending that he will bring "profound judgment to the supervision and coordination of America's intelligence efforts."

Coats said it was an honor to be nominated for the position, adding that, if confirmed, he ensure national security officials have all the necessary information they need to protect Americans from threats.

"There is no higher priority than keeping America safe, and I will utilize every tool at my disposal to make that happen," he said in a joint statement.

Who's in Donald Trump's cabinet? Meet the president-elect's nominees

Coats served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968 before earning a law degree from the University of Indiana in 1972.

He represented the state of Indiana in the U.S. House from 1981 to 1989.

Coats served in the U.S. Senate from 1989 until 1999, after which he served as ambassador to Germany. He returned to the Senate in 2011, but decided against running for reelection in 2016.

Farms in Hadley, Leyden, and Amherst win state infrastructure grants

0
0

The projects will improve viability on farms that have protected their land from development.

LEYDEN -- Without successful farms, the New England landscape would be more developed, the region would be importing more food, and the six-state economy would be less resilient.

With that in mind, Massachusetts Department of Agriculture awards annual infrastructure grants to farms that are not only committed to economic success, but to land conservation. The Baker administration on Friday announced $375,000 in such grants.

The grants will fund diverse projects, including orchard development, hay barn construction, farm stands, and improved milking operations -- all capital investments designed to improve viability. 

Cook Farm in Hadley won a $100,000 dairy infrastructure grant. The money will improve the calf barn and farm store, which is popular for its homemade ice cream, lunch restaurant, and raw milk, said Bess Cook. "It's all about diversifying our operation," she said. 

Cook Farm owns about 150 acres, about two-thirds protected under the state's Agricultural Protection Restriction program. 

Bree-Z-Knoll Farm in Leyden, with its 350 acres, was awarded $100,000 to improve its dairy infrastructure. The Facey family in 1997 helped found the Our Family Farms dairy cooperative. 

Owner Warren Facey, 73, has long been committed to land conservation. Facey recently helped protect hundreds of contiguous acres in Leyden, gaining the cooperation of a dozen neighbors, marshaling a state grant, and working with a coalition of stakeholders and conservation experts. 

Small Ones Farm on Bay Road in Amherst will build a new farm stand with its $25,000 grant. The 63-acre farm grows over 40 varieties of apples as well as pumpkins and garlic. The hilltop farm is well-known for its delicious pies. 

Walker Farm in New Braintree won $25,000 for a farmstand; Kip's Christmas Tree Farm in New Braintree gained $25,000 for a livestock barn, Stasinos Farm in Haverhill will use $25,000 to improve its orchard, and Ayrhill Farm in Adams won $50,000 for a hay barn. 

The grants are reserved for farms with land permanently protected through the state's Agricultural Preservation Restriction program. The farmers must also take part in technical and business consultation. 

According to the American Farmland Trust, there are about 4 million acres of farmland in New England, but around 16 million would be needed for the region to become food self-sufficient. The region still imports around 90 percent of its food. 

New England farm operations are challenged by high land prices, development pressures, aging farmers, and federal agricultural policies that favor large operations in the midwestern, western, and southern states. 

"This isn't Iowa," said U.S. Congressman Jim McGovern (D-Worcester) during a recent tour of local farms. "The needs and concerns of New England farmers are very different."

Alleged airport shooter planned the Ft. Lauderdale attack, FBI says

0
0

The FBI, which has not ruled out terrorism as a motive, says Esteban Santiago went to Florida with a plan to carry out the attack.

Union City connection to Ft. Lauderdale shooting suspect Esteban SantiagoEsteban Ruiz Santiago (Broward Sheriff's Office via AP) 

The alleged gunman in the Fort Lauderdale airport fatal shooting went to Florida specifically to launch the attack that killed five and seriously wounded six, FBI officials said Saturday.

After spending hours interrogating the suspect, Esteban Santiago, 26, investigators believe he went to Florida with a plan to carry out the attack, which FBI officials said can't be ruled out as an act of terrorism.

"Indications are that he came here to carry out this horrific attack," George Piro, special agent in charge of the FBI's Miami field office, said during a press conference outside Terminal 2 of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport where the deadly shooting took place Friday afternoon.

Piro said Santiago used a 9mm semi-automatic handgun that he had properly checked with TSA. Authorities have said Santiago had the weapon in his checked luggage and after claiming his baggage, went into a bathroom to retrieve the gun before starting on his rampage.

Piro said investigators haven't ruled out terrorism as a motive.

"We have not ruled out anything. We continue to look at any and all avenues," he said. "We continue to look at terrorism."

Ft. Lauderdale airport massacre: 5 things we now know about N.J. man charged in killings

To questions of reports that Santiago had gone to the FBI in Anchorage claiming he was hearing voices and that the CIA and FBI were forcing him to watch ISIS videos, Piro said Santiago was not placed on the TSA's no-fly list and that it appears he acted alone.

In the aftermath of the shooting, authorities have interviewed 175 witnesses and are looking at all the places Santiago has lived and the locations to which he has traveled, Piro said.

At the news conference Saturday morning, Broward County authorities revised the number of people wounded by gunfire to six rather than eight. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said three are in good condition but three remain in intensive care. 

In the meantime, emerging details about Santiago show a troubled man who struggled with mental illness and who had been ordered to keep away from his girlfriend because of a domestic violence issue.

Santiago, who was charged with killing five people after going on a shooting spree in the baggage claim area of the airport's Terminal 2 on Friday, was being prosecuted on charges he violated the terms of a 2016 restraining order by resuming contact with his girlfriend after she accused him of attacking her, according to Alaska court documents.

The incident, according to the documents obtained by Heavy.com, occurred Jan. 10, 2016, while the girlfriend was in the bathroom of her Anchorage home. She reported to police that she was using the toilet when Santiago, yelling at her, broke down the door. She told police he smacked her on the side of her head and choked her, according to the report.

A month later, Santiago was charged with violating the terms of a restraining order after he was found living with his girlfriend. He was not permitted to be around her unless he was accompanied by a civilian police department representative, the court papers said.

He admitted to police that he went back to her after he was released from custody on the original charges a week after the domestic incident, the documents said.

Santiago, who was born in New Jersey, served stints in the Puerto Rico and the Alaska national guards and spent nearly a year deployed to Iraq. After returning home, his family has said, he began acting strangely.

His military involvement began when he was 17, when he joined the Puerto Rico National Guard in December 2017, according to the Palm Beach Post. He was deployed to Iraq with the National Guard in April 2010 and returned in February 2011, according to the report. After moving to Alaska, he joined the Army Reserves then the Army National Guard in November 2014, the report said. Attaining the rank of private first class and working as a combat engineer, he received a general discharge in August 2016 for unsatisfactory performance, the Post said.  

Outside his girlfriend's house on Friday, neighbors told the Alaska Daily News they first noticed Santiago living there with a woman and two young children about a year ago.

One of those neighbors, Pamela Van Dyke, told the newspaper, that neighborhood children played with the children living in Santiago's home, but she wouldn't allow her grandchildren there because something about him made her feel uncomfortable.

"There was something not right," she told the Alaska Daily News. "I could feel it."

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto.

Chicopee issues winter parking ban through midnight

0
0

With much of Western Massachusetts under a winter weather advisory, city officials have issued a winter parking ban that will remain in effect through Sunday.

CHICOPEE ‒ With much of Western Massachusetts under a winter weather advisory, city officials have issued a winter parking ban that will remain in effect through Sunday.

The ban, which will run from noon on Saturday until midnight on Sunday, limits where motorists can park cars during the 12-hour period, according to the Chicopee Department of Public Works.

Drivers will not be allowed to park their vehicles on main roads, one-way streets or on the even side of side streets, city officials announced.

Chicopee could get up to eight inches of snowfall Saturday as part of a winter storm that's expected to bring blizzard-like conditions and up to two feet of snow to state's southeastern shore, according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.

The eastern part of Massachusetts is expected to see the brunt of the storm with more than a foot of snow possible in communities east of Worcester and Fitchburg, according to National Weather Service data.

Weather officials, meanwhile, predict between zero and six inches to fall in the Berkshires Saturday and between four and eight inches to fall in Springfield.

As snow begins to fall, Gov. Charlie Baker to provide storm update

0
0

The state emergency operations center at the headquarters of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) in Framingham is up and running for the first blast of winter in 2017. Gov. Charlie Baker will provide a storm update in the afternoon.

The state emergency operations center at the headquarters of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) in Framingham is up and running for the first blast of winter in 2017.

Earlier on Saturday, MEMA said they were increasing the "activation level" at noon in order to be ready for local and state storm response.

There is a blizzard warning for parts of southeastern Massachusetts, causing supermarket check-out lines to stretch deep into the aisles.

Gov. Charlie Baker is scheduled to provide a winter storm update at 1:45 p.m. He is visiting the MBTA's control center on High Street in Boston, joined by state highway chief Thomas Tinlin and acting MBTA general manager Brian Shortsleeve.

Winter storm warning extended to Eastern Hampden County


Despite recent snow, drought warning continues in Western and Central Mass.

0
0

People are asked to conserve water until conditions improve.

AMHERST -- A state-issued drought warning will continue throughout January for western, central, and southeastern Massachusetts, including the Connecticut River Valley. 

That's despite recent snow and rain events, which did little to allay the state's long-standing drought, officials said in a press statement. 

A drought warning, one step below a drought emergency, is generally recommended by the state's Drought Management Task Force when groundwater, stream flow, and reservoir levels are below normal for six consecutive months.

The task force, comprised of state, federal and local officials, met Jan. 5 and issued its recommendations for the beginning of 2017. 

A drought warning "indicates a severe situation and the possibility that a drought emergency may be necessary," according to the state's 2013 drought management plan. Under a drought emergency, mandatory water restrictions or use of emergency supplies would be ordered. 

The "warning" level prompts a coordinated response which may include local water restrictions, intensive monitoring, and coordination between government agencies. Standards are described in the state's 2013 drought management plan. 

Conditions apparently improved in the northeastern part of the state, where a drought warning was downgraded in December to a drought watch. The Cape and Islands continue with a drought advisory. 

"While recent precipitation has helped to reduce the severity of the drought in parts of the state, drought conditions continue and the public is urged to take steps to reduce indoor water usage," said Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency director Kurt Schwartz.

"With below average rainfall over the course of the previous month, drought conditions have changed very little as the commonwealth heads into the start of 2017," echoed Matt Beaton, the state's energy and environment secretary. 

Recovery from the state's long-term drought will require continued conservation and above-normal levels of precipitation for the foreseeable future, the two said.

Data from the National Weather Service shows that nearly 33 inches of precipitation was measured in Amherst throughout 2016. The average figure for that site since 2000 is 47 inches.

Data and maps related to drought management can be found on the website of the state's Office of Water Resources.

Connecticut storm causes 30-car pileup; snowfall could reach 8 inches statewide

0
0

No one was seriously injured in the crash involving at least 20 cars, three tractor trailers and a tanker, according to Connecticut State Police.

ROCKY HILL, Conn. - A snowstorm that could bring up to 8 inches of snow to a wide swath of the state began to move in Saturday afternoon, causing a nearly 30-vehicle pileup in the southbound lanes of I-91.

No one was seriously injured in the crash involving at least 20 cars, three tractor trailers and a tanker, according to Connecticut State Police.

The 1 p.m. crash at exit 21 is one of several that have clogged up the highway in that area.

I-91 is closed in both directions from exit 20 to exit 25. State police advise all drivers to check road conditions before traveling in the storm.

The Hartford Courant reports light snow started falling in the city at around 11 a.m. The storm could last until midnight in some parts of the state.

Despite incomplete ethics reviews, Senate moves for quick Cabinet confirmation hearings

0
0

In a letter to Senate leaders, the director of the Office of Government Ethics described the current status of several nominees, some of whom are billionaires and millionaires, in the ethics process and expressed concern about the lack of ethics reviews just days from committee hearings.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Several of President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet choices have not completed a full review to avoid conflicts of interest, the government's ethics office says, even as Republican senators move quickly to hold at least nine confirmation hearings next week.

In a letter to Senate leaders, the director of the Office of Government Ethics described the current status of several nominees, some of whom are billionaires and millionaires, in the ethics process and expressed concern about the lack of ethics reviews just days from committee hearings.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of Walter Shaub's letter.

"During this presidential transition, not all of the nominees presently scheduled for hearings have completed the ethics review process. In fact, OGE has not received even initial draft financial disclosure reports for some of the nominees scheduled for hearings," Shaub wrote to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

A copy of the letter also was provided to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Republicans are intent on getting as many of Trump's choices through the arduous confirmation process as quickly as possible so his team will be in place soon after Trump takes the oath of office on Jan. 20. Democrats have complained that the GOP is moving too fast and that they lack information about some of the wealthiest Americans to serve a president.

Schumer said in a statement Saturday that the letter "makes crystal clear that the transition team's collusion with Senate Republicans to jam through these cabinet nominees before they've been thoroughly vetted is unprecedented."

The forms in question are financial disclosures certified by the ethics office and also written ethics agreements between the nominee and the office that identify potential conflicts of interest and the ways in which the nominee will resolve those conflicts. They are required by the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, passed after the Watergate scandal.

One of the committees that hasn't yet received the forms is the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which has scheduled a hearing next week for Betsy DeVos, Trump's pick to lead the Education Department.

Committee aides said the panel held hearings for former Education Secretary Roderick Paige and former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao before they received the same forms in 2001, and that they received the documents days after each of those hearings. Both were confirmed to serve in President George W. Bush's Cabinet.

That committee's rules state that the committee cannot hold a vote on the nominee without the ethics form. In a statement, the committee chairman, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said the committee is going to "follow the Golden Rule and use the same procedures for these nominees that we did in 2001 for President Bush's nominees and in 2009 for President Obama's nominees."

If confirmed, Exxon will pay Tillerson $180M

Aides to the Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations committees said they had received the ethics forms for Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trump's pick for attorney general, and Rex Tillerson, Trump's choice for secretary of state. A spokeswoman for the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee said they had also received the forms for Chao, whom Trump has picked as his transportation secretary.

Shaub did not list which of Trump's Cabinet choices hadn't turned in their disclosures. But other confirmation hearings next week include Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., for director of the Central Intelligence Agency; Chao for transportation secretary; retired Marine Gen. John Kelly for homeland security secretary; Ben Carson for housing secretary; Wilbur Ross for commerce secretary; and retired Gen. James Mattis for defense secretary.

Committees handling those nominations did not return a request for comment on the records.

In the letter, Shaub said the lack of disclosure has left some of the nominees "with potentially unknown or unresolved ethics issues" just before their scheduled hearings.

He said the intensive process of checking nominees and creating the agreements has been complicated by the packed Senate hearing schedule and Trump's announcements of his future nominees before consulting the office for evaluation of ethics issues. Traditionally, a president or president-elect's picks have not been announced until the office has already cleared the nominees, Shaub said.

"In the past, the ethics work was fully completed prior to the announcement of nominees in the overwhelming majority of cases," Shaub wrote.

Shaub was appointed by President Barack Obama to a five-year term in 2013 to lead the office, which is an independent agency within the government. He had worked at the office for several years before that, including during the Republican Bush administration. The office attracted attention in November when it tweeted congratulations to Trump for a "total divestiture" that he had not promised.

Under divestiture, an incoming federal official can sell off massive investments, defer paying capital gains and house the proceeds in Treasury bonds or diversified mutual funds.

But Trump had not then confirmed -- and still hasn't -- that he will turn over any assets as part of a divestiture.

Trump is expected to discuss the future of his business at a news conference Wednesday, the same day as many of the confirmation hearings.

Winter storm update: Mass. Turnpike speed limit reduced to 40 miles an hour from New York border to Route 128

0
0

Massachusetts transportation officials say there is now a 40 mile an hour speed limit on I-90, to from New York border to Route 128.

Massachusetts transportation officials say there is now a 40 mile an hour speed limit on I-90, to from New York border to Route 128.

Massachusetts transportation officials have been pre-treating roads since the early morning hours and have over 3,100 pieces of equipment on the roads at the moment, according to Thomas Tinlin, the state's highway chief.

Winter storm intensifying then 'clearing out' late tonight, National Weather Service says

"We've also restricted tandem trucks and propane trucks, trucks carrying heavy flammable liquids," Tinlin said.

"Don't crowd the plow," Tinlin added.

Give the plows a minimum of 200 feet, according to Tinlin. "We like to say, if our salt's hitting your windshields, you're too close."

Conn. storm causes 30-car pileup; snowfall could reach 8 inches statewide

Amid winter storm, 'please don't travel on the roads' unless you need to, Gov. Charlie Baker says

0
0

Massachusetts officials are urging residents to stay off the road as the first winter storm of 2017 hits New England, citing potential whiteout conditions.

Massachusetts officials are urging residents to stay off the road as the first winter storm of 2017 hits New England.

"Please don't travel on the roads unless you absolutely need to," Gov. Charlie Baker said during a televised press conference.

"The driving conditions are unsafe," Mass. highway chief Thomas Tinlin said.

"We're talking about the potential for whiteout conditions, and with the types of winds we're going to see later on in this event, the snow that's already fallen, on top of what's coming down, that's going to make for close to zero visibility, especially in the southern part of the state," Tinlin added.

Parts of southeastern Massachusetts are expected to get up to 20 inches of snow, likely around the Cape and the Islands.

Mass. Turnpike speed limit reduced to 40 miles an hour from New York border to Route 128

"If you must travel, please do so safely by minimizing the distractions that you may normally engage in and plan ahead for poor conditions and low visibility," Baker said. "Clear as much of the snow and the ice off of your car as you can before you drive."

Over 550 Massachusetts Department of Transportation employees are working on the roads, according to Baker.

The MBTA is running smoothly so far, the public transit agency's officials said. Plows are attached to many of the subway trains, Baker said after visiting the MBTA's operations center.

Connecticut storm causes 30-car pileup; snowfall could reach 8 inches statewide

Viewing all 62489 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images