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Police: Springfield man captured on video stealing video security camera

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"Your honor, he would not like to take a drug test today," defense lawyer Erin O'Connor said. "Even if he's in the Roca program?" the judge asked.

SPRINGFIELD -- The irony was priceless.

A Springfield man was captured by police Wednesday after allegedly being captured on video stealing a security camera from Walmart.

Ruben Santiago, 24, pleaded not guilty Thursday in Springfield District Court to larceny over $250 following his arrest Wednesday afternoon.

Santiago and another man were spotted just before noon entering Walmart on Boston Road and walking to the electronics department. There, Santiago picked up a $379 Night Owl Video Security DVR/Camera system while the accomplice grabbed a Nest Net Cam valued at $199, according to the arrest report.

roobin.pngReuben Santiago, 24, of Springfield 

The suspects then headed for the grocery department and ducked out an emergency exit, the report said.

Police chased the pair down Contessa Street, eventually arresting Santiago after finding him hiding under a porch. The other suspect got away, the report said.

Assistant District Attorney Jill O'Connor requested $5,000 bail on the new charge, and asked for Santiago's bail to be revoked in an open cocaine distribution case.

Defense lawyer Erin O'Connor opposed revoking her client's release in the drug case. She asked Judge William Boyle to set bail at $500 in the new case and require Santiago to wear a GPS monitoring bracelet.

Santiago has overcome struggles with substance abuse and is enrolled in Roca, a highly regarded anti-recidivism program operating in Springfield, Erin O'Connor said.

Boyle asked Santiago if he wanted to take a drug test and said he would receive "every consideration" if he passed. Santiago huddled with his lawyer for nearly a minute.

"Your honor, he would not like to take a drug test today," Erin O'Connor said.

"Even if he's in the Roca program?" the judge asked.

Boyle set bail at $5,000 and revoked the defendant's release in the drug case. Santiago is due back in court on Jan. 30.


Suspect in Springfield double shooting held on $250,000 bail

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Bullets struck a woman in the buttocks and a 10-year-old girl in the calf, police said.

SPRINGFIELD -- A Springfield man is being held on $250,000 bail in connection with a shooting last year that injured two people, including a 10-year-old girl getting off a school bus.

Wilson Garcia, 24, pleaded not guilty to six charges, including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm without a permit, during his appearance in Springfield District Court.

wil.garcia.jpgWilson Garcia, 24, of Springfield 

At the request of Assistant District Attorney Cary Szafranski, Judge William Boyle set bail at $250,000 and continued the case for a pretrial hearing next month. There was no bail argument so details of the investigation and Garcia background were not disclosed in court.

Garcia was arrested Tuesday at his Allen Street apartment for his alleged role in the June 9 shooting on Belmont Avenue. He is accused of firing several shots at a 22-year-old woman on Belmont Avenue at around 4:30 p.m.

The woman was struck in the buttocks, and the 10-year-old girl was struck in the calf, police said. Neither victim was seriously injured, police said.

Garcia is charged with discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, assault with a dangerous weapon, attempted assault and battery with a firearm, malicious damage to a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm without a permit, and possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card.

He was arrested by detectives Bobby Bohl and Robert Mancini of the Warrant Apprehension Unit, Springfield police spokesman Sgt. John Delaney said.

House fire reported on Rockrimmon Street in Belchertown

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The fire department is on the scene of a house fire on Rockrimmon Street , and police are advising people to avoid the area.

BELCHERTOWN - The fire department is on the scene of a house fire on Rockrimmon Street , and police are advising people to avoid the area.

Police report the fire is in the area of 200 Rockrimmon St. The road is blocked off due to fire vehicles at the scene, according to police.

People who use that route as part of their communte will need to find another route, police said.

Little information of the fire is available as yet. Photos from the scene show a house set back from the road with heavy smoke coming from the attic and roof.

This is a developing story and more information will be posted as it is known.


Police: Tuesday was bad day for 'Black Friday' heroin dealer in Springfield

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When an undercover police officer asked to buy a bundle, or 10-pack of heroin, Melvin Rodriguez replied "I got you," according to the arrest report.

SPRINGFIELD — If Melvin Rodriguez's arrest report is any indication, Tuesday was a bad day to sell "Black Friday" heroin at the Peter Pan bus terminal in Springfield.

Rodriguez, 31, of Springfield, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Springfield District Court to two counts of heroin distribution following his arrest Tuesday morning.

He allegedly sold 11 packets of "Black Friday" heroin to an undercover police officer who approached him outside the station around 10:30 a.m. When the officer asked to buy a bundle, or 10-pack, Rodriguez replied "I got you," according to the arrest report.

A few minutes later, police had Rodriguez in custody for allegedly selling 11 packets for $30, or less than $3 per packet, the report said.

In court, a prosecutor said Rodriguez had a history of drug convictions and violations of probation. In addition, he was wanted on a default warrant from a 2016 probation case, the prosecutor said.

At the prosecutor's request, Judge Patrick Sabbs set bail at $5,000 on the new charges and found probable cause that Rodriguez violated his probation in the 2016 case.

Rodriguez is divorced, unemployed and homeless, according to court records. He is due back in court next month for a pretrial hearing in the new drug case.

Chicopee police arrest South Hadley man for 2nd drunken driving offense after he fought officers

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Robert McKenna was charged with drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident and resisting arrest.

CHICOPEE - A South Hadley man was arrested for his second drunken driving arrest after he tried to flee from an accident and battled with and swore at police Thursday.

Kevin McKenna, 50, of 8 Priestly Farms Road, was arrested at about 2:35 p.m. and charged with operating while intoxicated second offense, leaving the scene of a property damage crash, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, Michael Wilk, public information officer for Chicopee Police, said.

The arrest happened after Officer Robert Kalisz responded to a two-car accident near 1885 Memorial Drive. He instructed the two drivers to pull off the road and into a nearby parking lot.

While he was speaking to one driver, McKenna allegedly drove away in his pickup truck, heading down Britton Street. Kalisz followed the truck and was able to pull over the driver, Wilk said.

When he started to talk to, McKenna was uncooperative and the officer said he smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from him. The driver refused to turn off his car, step out of the vehicle and swore at the officer and threatened him with: "I will bury you," Wilk said.

McKenna continued to refuse to comply with orders and was allegedly becoming more combative. Concerned he may drive away again, Kalisz used his pepper spray on McKenna. "It had no effect on the driver," Wilk said.

With the help of a second officer, who responded for a call for backup, Kalisz was able to handcuff the man. The officers then determined he should be brought to the hospital for a medical evaluation, he said.

"Officers had to ride in the ambulance, as the driver continue to scream obscenities, racial slurs, and threats, and try to resist any assistance. At the hospital, he continued to struggle, and fight the medical personnel who tried to evaluate him," Wilk said.

McKenna was eventually brought back to the Police Department where he was booked. He was released on $100 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Chicopee District Court Friday, he said.

Chicopee police arrest South Hadley man for drunken driving, 2nd offense after he fought officers

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Robert McKenna was charged with drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident and resisting arrest.

CHICOPEE - A South Hadley man was arrested for his second drunken driving arrest after he tried to flee from an accident and battled with police Thursday.

Kevin McKenna, 50, of 8 Priestly Farms Road, was arrested at about 2:35 p.m. and charged with operating while intoxicated, second offense, leaving the scene of a property damage crash, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, Michael Wilk, public information officer for Chicopee Police, said.

The arrest happened after Officer Robert Kalisz responded to a two-car accident near 1885 Memorial Drive. He instructed the two drivers to pull off the road and into a nearby parking lot.

While he was speaking to one driver, McKenna allegedly drove away in his pickup truck, heading down Britton Street. Kalisz followed the truck and was able to pull over McKenna, Wilk said.

When he started to talk to, McKenna was uncooperative and the officer said he smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from him. The driver then refused to turn off his car, step out of the vehicle and swore at the officer and threatened him with "I will bury you," Wilk said.

McKenna again refused to comply with orders and was allegedly becoming more combative. "Kalisz deployed his pepper spray. It had no effect on the driver," Wilk said.

With the help of a second officer, who responded for a call for backup, Kalisz was able to handcuff the man. The officers then determined he should be brought to the hospital for a medical evaluation, he said.

"Officers had to ride in the ambulance, as the driver continue to scream obscenities, racial slurs, and threats, and try to resist any assistance. At the hospital, he continued to struggle, and fight the medical personnel who tried to evaluate him," Wilk said.

McKenna was eventually brought back to the Police Department where he was booked. He was released on $100 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Chicopee District Court Friday, he said.

Gang violence contributed to slight increase in Massachusetts homicides last year

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Two more people died in homicides in Massachusetts in 2016 than did in 2015, according to statewide data collected by The Boston Globe, but the slight growth occurred amid a general decline, ongoing for years, in the murder rate.

Two more people died in homicides in Massachusetts in 2016 than did in 2015, according to statewide data collected by The Boston Globe, but the slight growth occurred amid a general decline, ongoing for years, in the murder rate.

Massachusetts police investigated a total of 135 killings in 2016, up from 133 in 2015.

In Springfield, the number of homicides actually fell, from 13 to 18. Springfield police solved seven of these homicides.

Boston, meanwhile, experienced a fairly steep increase in killings even as overall crime fell. Forty-seven people were murdered in the city last year, versus 38 in 2015, WBUR reports.

Worcester saw 8 homicides in 2016, the same number as in 2015. Three of these murders were solved. 

Experts told the Globe gang feuds contributed significantly to the violence in 2016.

However, 135 total homicides in Massachusetts still represents a nearly 40 percent dip from the 220 recorded in 2010.

Members of Massachusetts State Police told the Globe several tactics have contributed to the achievement of reducing the murder rate. 

They included targeting gun traffickers, prevention and intervention programs for young people, targeting drug enterprises, gangs and multiple offenders.

State Police -- automatically the lead investigators on all killings outside Boston, Pittsfield, Springfield and Worcester -- solved 85 percent of their 2016 murder investigations, 57 of 67.


Blues guitarist Art Steele of Western Massachusetts dead at 65

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The cause of death was not immediately known. Watch video

Western Massachusetts blues artist Art Steele, who picked up his first guitar at the age of 12, has died. He was 65.

The cause of death was not immediately known.

"Art was my colleague, my support, my beloved friend. He as was a genuine human being in the deepest sense," said Penny Sabin Burke, executive director of the Northampton Center for the Arts.

As a performer, Steele was known throughout the Pioneer Valley, whether it was a gig at Theodores' in downtown Springfield or entertaining at the Paradise City Arts Festival in Northampton.

His indoctrination to the blues began in the 1960s after listening to Savoy Brown and John Mayall. After seeking out the source of that music he found himself enraptured with the likes of Albert King and Earl Hooker.

"I like the stuff with a little more edge," Steele told Donnie Moorhouse in an interview for Blueswire magazine in 1996. "But I don't believe in patterning myself after someone else. I think the highest praise you can give to the music is what part of yourself that you bring to it."

Steele has long been one of the treasures of the area's rich blues legacy. Along with his performing schedule, Steele has worked as a sound engineer and dabbled in speaker design.

He began working as sound man and technical director for Sweet Honey in the Rock in 1978 and toured the world with the group.

He also contributed a chapter to the group's biography "We Who Believe in Freedom."

In November 2012, local musicians and fans pitched to raise money to assist Steele after a serious car accident.

On Steele's Facebook page, drummer Joe Fitzpatrick wrote, "Art Steele, you took me under your wing when I was a young kid, probably too young. You later taught me courage, honesty, modesty. My world is smaller again today. I miss you man."

Singer Susan Angeletti posted, "Oh this is heartbreaking to read about Art Steele. What a kind person and a super fine guitarist."

Guitarist Brian DiMartino posted, "Rest in peace my friend. You were one of the most intelligent people I've ever met. Your perspective and the detail you put into your work and music has had a huge influence on how so many people approach so many aspects of music. I remember helping out on sound jobs when I first moved to western Massachusetts. Even working for you moving sound equipment and seeing how you have mastered your business was a gift."


Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito's car spotted in handicap parking space during Cape Cod visit

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A state police spokesman said the trooper who chauffered Polito has apologized for unknowingly violating a "cardinal rule."


BARNSTABLE, Mass. (AP) -- The Massachusetts State Police driver who chauffeured Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito to Cape Cod is apologizing for parking in a spot reserved for the disabled.

A reporter for the Cape Cod Times photographed the black Ford Explorer in the space outside an office building in Hyannis on Thursday. There was no disabled parking placard or license plate visible on the vehicle.



The Republican lieutenant governor was on the Cape to attend several events.

State police spokesman David Procopio tells the newspaper the trooper made an honest mistake and has apologized for unknowingly violating a "cardinal rule."

Procopio says the unnamed trooper was directed into the space, and neither he nor Polito knew it was a restricted spot.

Parking in a disabled spot usually carries a $25 fine in Barnstable.

Tree down blocking I-91 ramp, responders on scene

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Responders were on scene to remove a fallen tree blocking the exit 17 ramp off Interstate 91 south Friday, according to state police.

HOLYOKE -- Responders were on scene to remove a fallen tree blocking the exit 17 ramp off Interstate 91 south Friday, according to state police.

The tree bridged the roadway when it fell, preventing drivers from being able to exit there.

Massachusetts State Police reported the incident on Twitter at 9:50 a.m.


A trooper at the state police barracks in Northampton said Massachusetts Department of Transportation responders were on scene removing the tree at 10:15 a.m.

Google Maps showed minor traffic backups in the area of exit 17.

President-elect Donald Trump slams intelligence community over dossier, Hillary Clinton email probe

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President-elect Donald Trump continued to take aim at U.S. intelligence officials Friday, contending that they leaked an alleged Russian dossier and were "very nice" to his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

President-elect Donald Trump continued to take aim at U.S. intelligence officials Friday, contending that they leaked an alleged Russian dossier and were "very nice" to his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

The incoming president, who has repeatedly butt heads with the intelligence community over reported Russian hacks throughout his transition, blasted officials in a series of morning tweets.

Rejecting allegations that Russia may have collected personal information about the him, Trump called claims included in a reported dossier "made up facts by sleazebag political operatives."

An addendum to the classified intelligence report on alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election, which was presented to just President Barack Obama, Trump and top members of Congress, contained unverified claims of possibly compromising information gathered on the incoming president, according to CBS News.

The president-elect reiterated his suggestion that the dossier was likely released by intelligence officials despite being unsubstantiated.

"It now turns out that the phony allegations against me were put together by my political opponents and a failed spy afraid of being sued ... Totally made up facts by sleazebag political operatives, both Democrats and Republicans - FAKE NEWS!" he tweeted. "Russia says nothing exists. Probably ... released by 'Intelligence' even knowing there is no proof, and never will be."

Trump added that his administration "will have a full report on hacking within 90 days!"

U.S. intelligence officials are in the process of corroborating details of the information, which reportedly came from a former British intelligence official, CBS News reported this week.

Taking aim at Clinton, meanwhile, Trump questioned why her supporters have complained about the FBI's handling of an investigation into her use of an alleged email server as secretary of state.

The president-elect, whose tweets followed reports that the Department of Justice inspector general will review alleged misconduct related to the DOJ and FBI's Clinton probe, argued that the agencies "were very nice to her."

"What are Hillary Clinton's people complaining about with respect to the F.B.I. Based on the information they had she should never ... have been allowed to run - guilty as hell," he tweeted. "They were VERY nice to her. She lost because she campaigned in the wrong states - no enthusiasm!"

FBI Director James Comey, who had previously closed the FBI's investigation into Clinton's controversial use of a private email server without recommending charges, wrote in an Oct. 28 letter to congressional leaders that his agency would probe additional evidence relating to the case.

Clinton campaign officials slammed Comey following the late-December unsealing of court filings related to the agency's renewed probe into the Democratic presidential nominee's emails.

Former Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon argued that the documents show "Comey's intrusion on the election was as utterly unjustified as we suspected at time."

Former Clinton campaign officials rip FBI Director James Comey after email search warrant unsealed

East Longmeadow revokes permit for massage parlor allegedly involved in human trafficking

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East Longmeadow's Planning Board last week revoked a special permit for Feng Health Center, a massage parlor at which owners are accused of human trafficking.

EAST LONGMEADOW -- Planning Board members last week unanimously voted to revoke a special permit for a massage parlor embroiled in allegations of human trafficking.

Revocation of the permit that allowed Feng Health Center to operate out of 611 North Main St. came less than a month after owner Feng Ling Liu, her husband Jian Song -- both of Sunderland -- and their daughter, Ting Ting Yin, were arrested in connection with businesses across Massachusetts and in New York.

Criminal allegations aside, Planning Board members cited Liu's failure to provide the board with updated information on information such as the number of employees, their mailing address and other required information.

"For two years they haven't updated any of their information," Chairman Ralph Page said at the Jan. 3 meeting. "That alone, to me, should be reason for revocation ... they're in direct violation."

Liu did not attend the meeting, as she remains in custody at Western Massachusetts Regional Women's Correctional Center in Chicopee, according to the Eastern Hampshire District Court clerk's office.

A judge ordered her held on $500,000 bail on Dec. 15, when she pleaded not guilty to charges of trafficking of persons for sexual servitude, deriving support from prostitution, money laundering and conspiracy.

Planning Board members said they had sent a certified letter notifying her of the hearing, but it was sent back, because her mailing address had changed unbeknownst them.

Liu and her family members were taken into custody following a months-long investigation headed up by the office of state Attorney General Maura Healy.

Authorities allege the defendants transported women from New York to Massachusetts to provide sexual services at their businesses in East Longmeadow, Agawam, Framingham, Hadley and Northampton.

Liu "managed the financial and day-to-day aspects of the operations including recruiting women, advertising sexual services online, setting up appointments for sexual encounters, and transporting women," a statement released by Healey's office said.

Video: Spacewalking astronauts upgrade International Space Station's power grid

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Commander Shane Kimbrough and French crew member Thomas Pesquet plugged in three new lithium-ion batteries, adding to the three hooked up last week.

By MARCIA DUNN ,  AP Aerospace Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- The International Space Station's solar power grid got three more top-of-the-line batteries Friday during the second spacewalk in a week.

Commander Shane Kimbrough and French crew member Thomas Pesquet plugged in three new lithium-ion batteries, adding to the three hooked up last week.

Just like before, the station's robotic handyman saved the spacewalkers considerable time -- and risk -- by removing the decade-old nickel-hydrogen batteries and positioning the new ones for wiring. The robot is named Dextre, short for dexterous, with 11-foot-long arms that were operated remotely by flight controllers in Houston.

Kimbrough and Pesquet hustled through the job. Within three hours, the men successfully wrapped up the battery work.

Pesquet, a rookie astronaut, became France's first spacewalker in 15 years. He called it "a big day."

"Better bring our A-game," Pesquet said in a tweet Thursday evening, "to be safe & efficient."

NASA describes the lithium-ion batteries as critical upgrades to the space station's solar power system. Eighteen more need to be installed over the next two to three years, for a total of 24. The next batch will arrive late this year or early next.

The batteries store electrical power generated by the massive solar wings and are used to run equipment when the 250-mile-high lab is on the nighttime side of Earth.

Both the new and old batteries are the same size: about 3 feet long and wide, and 1 1/2 feet tall, or about as big as half a refrigerator. But the new lithium-ion batteries can hold more charge and keep it longer, and so only half as many are needed -- 24 instead of 48.

Nine of these old batteries will be trashed at the beginning of February, burning up in the atmosphere along with the trash-filled Japanese cargo ship that delivered them last month.

For the Jan. 6 spacewalk, Kimbrough paired up with the other American on board, Peggy Whitson, the world's oldest and most experienced spacewoman. The lab is also home for three Russians.

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Online:  NASA: 

Legal Sea Foods clam chowder off the menu for Donald Trump's inauguration, breaking tradition

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A tradition dating back to the Reagan years appears as though it will be broken.

A tradition dating back to the administration of President Ronald Reagan may be in for a doubtful future in the age of Donald Trump.

Every presidential inauguration since President Reagan's first in 1981 has included New England clam chowder, made by Legal Sea Foods.

It appears President-elect Trump's will not, although the company is fishing for a way in, reports The Boston Globe.

Roger Berkowitz, CEO of the company, told The Globe he hasn't "heard from anybody yet," while acknowledging the order has sometimes come in last-minute.

But a spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies told the Globe that Berkowitz's famous chowder won't be on the menu this year.

In August, Legal Sea Foods ran a parody advertisement coinciding with the start of the Republican National Convention -- also a tradition -- in which Berkowitz made hay out of the size of Trump's hands, an issue discussed during the campaign with surprising frequency. 

"I can assure you, it's not the size of your hands that are important," Berkowitz said in the ad, "but rather, the size of your shrimp."

The company also ran a parody ad on Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, featuring a photograph of her captioned, "We have a term for cold fish. Sushi."

The possible exclusion, The Globe speculated, could be related to the way Massachusetts voted or the aforementioned ad. 

However, Berkowitz told the Globe he's still hoping to hear from the inaugural committee.

"It's not partisan chowder," he said in a Globe interview. "This has nothing to do with politics. . . . Maybe this is the chowder that brings America together -- who knows?" It often comes down to the last minute, he said.

Berkowitz attended Bill Clinton's second inauguration in 1997 and personally ladled out 40 gallons of the chowder, according to the Globe

The paper also said a company representative in Washington, D.C., has attempted to make inroads with Republicans to get the item back on the inauguration menu. 


Damage from Ludlow house makes finding cause of fire difficult

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With the exception of one wall to the garage, the home burned to the ground.


LUDLOW - Investigators with the office of the state Fire Marshal have begun investigating the Thursday fire that destroyed a home on Center Street, but have so far not yet determined what caused it, an official said.

The fire ripped through the home at 1400 Center St early Thursday. A neighbor reported the fire at about 2:30 a.m., the house was fully involved when firefighters arrived. By the time the fire was extinguished hours later, just one wall of the garage was still standing.

No one was apparently home at the time of the fire.


Jennifer Meith, spokeswoman for Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, said the amount of damage to the scene may make finding a determination of the exact cause difficult for investigators.

"That always makes it harder to find the cause, but they are working on it," she said.

The property is owned by Randy R. Robare and had a total assessed value of $308,000.


Feds release scathing report on Chicago police abuse

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By MICHAEL TARM and DON BABWIN ,  Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) -- Institutional problems within the Chicago Police Department have led to serious civil rights violations for years, including racial bias against blacks and a tendency to use excessive force, according to a U.S. Department of Justice report released Friday. The Justice Department launched its investigation of the 12,000-officer force...

By MICHAEL TARM and DON BABWIN ,  Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) -- Institutional problems within the Chicago Police Department have led to serious civil rights violations for years, including racial bias against blacks and a tendency to use excessive force, according to a U.S. Department of Justice report released Friday.

The Justice Department launched its investigation of the 12,000-officer force -- one of the nation's largest -- in December 2015 following the release of dashcam video showing a white police officer shoot a black teenager, Laquan McDonald, 16 times as he walked away holding a small, folded knife. The video of the 2014 shooting, which the city fought to keep from being released, inspired large protests and cost the city's police commissioner his job.

Among other findings, the report found city police used excessive and that "this pattern is largely attributable to systemic deficiencies within CPD and the City." It also cited insufficient training and a failure to hold bad officers accountable.

Under President Barack Obama, the Justice Department has conducted 25 civil rights investigations of police departments, including those of Cleveland, Baltimore and Seattle, among others. The release of a report is one step in a long process that, in recent years, has typically led to bilateral talks between the Justice Department and a city, followed by an agreed upon police-reform plan that's enforceable by a federal judge.

Chicago's case is unique in that the report comes just days before a change from an administration that strongly backed the process to President-elect Donald Trump's, whose commitment to such federal scrutiny is unclear.

The perception that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel badly mishandled the Laquan McDonald shooting hurt the former Obama chief of staff politically and he may feel pressure to address all, or nearly all, of the Justice Department's findings to restore his political fortunes.

Chicago's police department has long had a reputation for brutality, particularly in minority communities. The most notorious example was Jon Burge, a commander of a detective unit on Chicago's South Side. Burge and his men beat, suffocated and used electric shock for decades starting in the 1970s to get black men to confess to crimes they didn't commit.

The McDonald video, which showed Officer Jason Van Dyke continuing to shoot the teen even as he slumped to the ground, unmoving, provoked widespread outrage. It wasn't until the day the video was released, which was more than a year after the shooting, that Van Dyke was charged with murder. He has pleaded not guilty. Police reports of the shooting later suggested a possible cover-up by other officers who were at the scene.

Poll: President-elect Donald Trump's transition historically unpopular

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Although President-elect Donald Trump is set to take the oath of office in just one week, more than half of Americans disapprove of his transition performance -- a historic low for Gallup.

Although President-elect Donald Trump is set to take the oath of office in just one week, more than half of Americans disapprove of his transition performance -- a historic low for Gallup.

A Gallup survey released Friday found growing unpopularity for Trump's handling of his presidential transition, with 51 percent of respondents saying they disapproved of it, up from 48 percent in early December.

Forty-four percent, meanwhile, said they approved of the incoming president's transition performance, down from 48 percent last month, according to the poll.

Disapproval of Trump's transition is more than four times higher than that seen for President Barack Obama in early 2009 and double that of George W. Bush in 2001, Gallup found.

Just 12 percent of respondents disapproved of Obama's transition performance in the final weeks before his inauguration and 25 percent disapproved of Bush's, according to survey data.

Bill Clinton, the first president for whom Gallup began tracking transition performance approval, meanwhile, saw just an 18 percent disapproval rating before taking office in January 1993.

Although Trump remained popular among Republicans, with 87 percent approving of his transition performance in January, he struggled to see support from Democrats, 13 percent, and saw approval among independents drop from 46 percent in December to 33 percent in the new survey.

Gallup contended that Trump's low transition approval is not necessarily reflective of his popular vote loss, noting that Bush, who also lost the popular vote, saw 61 percent approval in mid-January 2001.

Despite the incoming president's transition disapproval rating, the poll found that more than half of respondents believe his cabinet choices are "average" or better -- 32 percent of which rate them as "outstanding" or "above average."

Forty-four percent, by contrast, said Trump's cabinet picks are "below average" or "poor," according to survey results.

The results come despite things Trump has done to win public support, like reaching out to former political opponents and selecting generals for his cabinet, Gallup noted. He, however, has also continued to criticize the press and challenged U.S. intelligence officials -- moves that may have undercut such support.

"Whatever the reasons, Trump's approach since Nov. 8 has not softened Americans' concerns about him, as a slight majority now disapprove of how he is handling the presidential transition," it stated. "Americans give Trump marginally positive reviews for his cabinet appointments, with a majority rating them 'average' or better, but a record-high percentage of Americans view them negatively."

Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration speech, the survey noted, gives the incoming president a major opportunity to change how Americans' view him.

The poll, which surveyed more than 1,000 adults nationwide via telephone from Jan. 4 to 8, has a major of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

Conn. State Police say body of missing dirt biker Todd Allen found; police searching for 'person of interest'

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State Police said they are in the process of recovering Allen's body.

Connecticut State Police announced Friday that the body of Todd Allen, the 18-year-old Sterling man who was last seen Dec. 26 riding off on a dirt bike, has been found.

According to a statement issued by state police, detectives with the Eastern District Major Crimes Unit developed information on Allen's whereabouts and are in the process of recovering his remains.

There was no disclosure of the cause of death or where the body was found. Bbut police said an investigation is ongoing and police have identified "a person of interest in this case."

There have been no arrests but the investigation is ongoing.

WTNH News 8 in New Haven is reporting the body was found in Sterling.

It reports police have an active crime scene on on Laiho Road in that town.

Allen has been the subject of a missing persons search since he disappeared the day after Christmas.

According to reports, he told family he was going out for a ride on his off-road motorcycle.

About 2 hours later, he sent texts to that indicated he had crashed and injured his leg, state police said. His last cellphone activity came at approximately 2:30 p.m. in the general area of Margaret Henry Road in Killingly.

Behind the Scenes: A look inside the soon-to-open 'Amazing World of Dr. Seuss' museum in Springfield

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The former space is being converted into a 3,200-square-foot exhibition, "The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss", as well as a recreation of Ted Geisel's studio, an exhibition about the making of the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden and other related displays. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD-Taking a look behind the scenes at the former Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, it looks like Theodor Geisel, widely known as Dr. Seuss, may have been right.

"And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed," he once said, in an unintended allusion to the progress on the new "Amazing World of Dr. Seuss" museum at The Quadrangle in Springfield.

The space is being converted into a 3,200-square-foot exhibition, as well as a recreation of Geisel's studio, an exhibition about the making of the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden and other related displays.

Slated to open in June of 2017, the building's mechanical infrastructure of plumbing, electrical and climate control systems are now being upgraded. Murals from the various Seuss stories and publications are also being hand painted on the walls.

According to the Springfield Museums, "The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss" is a permanent, bilingual exhibition designed to introduce children and their families to the stories of Geisel, promote joy in reading, and nurture specific literacy skills.

The hands-on exhibition will provide opportunities to explore new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, invent stories, and engage in activities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking.

The museum will also be filled with personal memorabilia belonging to Geisel, including original oil paintings, a collection of zany hats and bow ties, the original Geisel Grove sign which used to hang in Forest Park, and furniture from the author's sitting room and studio, including his drawing board, breakfast table, sofa, and armchair.

Hadley Planning Board to hear proposal for former Pizza Hut location on Route 9

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In an email, spokeswoman Anne Jamieson said final details are being worked out, but the business hopes to open in the fall.

HADLEY — Pizza Hut will not return to its Route 9 site in town, but national health care chain MedExpress hopes to open an office at the 424 Russell St. site instead.

The Hadley Planning Board is holding a public hearing on the proposal Tuesday night. According to Planning Board minutes, MedExpress wants to build a 4,825-square foot structure, similar in size to a proposed reconstruction of Pizza Hut.

The board had approved the plans for the restaurant on May 20, 2014. Pizza Hut received an extension for that approval, but it expired in June 2016, requiring MedExpress to apply for a new site plan approval.

MedExpress is a chain based in Morgantown, West Virginia, and Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. It has offices in in Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. It recently opened a clinic on Boston Road in Springfield.

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In an email, spokeswoman Anne Jamieson said final details are being worked out, but the business hopes to open in the fall. She said all the express centers are open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with no appointments needed.

The centers offer walk-in treatment for everyday illness and injury through its urgent care services, which include more advanced offerings such as X-rays, IVs, labs, minor surgery, stitches and treatment for sprains and broken bones, she wrote.

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Pizza Hut closed on Route 9 in 2010, and the building was razed in late summer of 2015.

Ben Ravelson, who had been trying to market the property, said at the time the project was on hold while the company was looking for another tenant for the 2,100 square feet of adjacent space before building.

Ravelson could not be reached for comment.

AEIOU operates urgent care facilities in Amherst and Greenfield.

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