The company was cited in connection to jobs done on the Holyoke Soldiers' Home and the Jabish Brook Middle School in Belchertown.

CHICOPEE - A roofing company has paid more than $32,000 in restitution and fines after being cited for failing to pay workers the prevailing wage and to pay them on time while the company was working on the Holyoke Soldiers' Home and a school in Belchertown.

Supreme Systems Inc. of Chicopee, which was formerly known as Tri-State Roofing Systems Inc., was cited by Attorney General Maura Healey's office for failing to pay prevailing wages on three different public projects. The workers have now been fairly compensated, officials in Healey's office said.

The Attorney General's office began an examination into the company in March 2016 after a complaint was filed by the Foundation for Fair Contracting of Massachusetts. The Attorney General's Fair Labor Division investigated the issue.

"Employees doing work on public projects in Massachusetts rely on our state wage, hour and prevailing wage laws so they are paid on time and at the proper rate," Healey said in writing. "These workers have now been paid what they are owed."

Along with the Holyoke Soldiers' home, the company was also cited for underpaying employees who did roofing work on Jabish Brook Middle School in Belchertown and Snug Harbor Roofing Works in Quincy.

On all three projects employees were improperly classified and paid as laborers rather than as roofers, who receive a higher hourly wage rate. The investigation further revealed that between January 2015 and June 2016, the company deducted unlawful fees from 15 employees for uniforms, resulting in the employees not being paid their full wages in a timely manner, according officials in the Attorney General's office.

Supreme Systems has now stopped the practice of deducting uniform costs from employees' wages, officials said.

Under the Massachusetts Prevailing Wage Law, contractors and subcontractors engaged in public construction projects must pay their employees a special minimum wage, which is based on the occupational classification for the type of work the employees perform, officials said.

This complaint was handled by Assistant Attorney General Barbara Dillon DeSouza and was investigated by Inspector Joseph W. Drzyzga, both of the Attorney General's Fair Labor Division in the Western Massachusetts Regional Office.

As the temperature drops Tuesday evening, residents in parts of Massachusetts may see freezing rain overnight.

As the temperature drops Tuesday evening, residents in parts of Massachusetts are likely to see freezing rain overnight.

The National Weather Service issued a freezing rain advisory Tuesday afternoon for Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcester Counties. The advisory will remain in effect until 2 a.m. Wednesday for Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire, 4 a.m. for Middlesex and Worcester.

Untreated roads and walkways will be slippery, meteorologists warn and advise caution when traveling.

Temperatures are expected in the upper 20 to lower 30s into Wednesday morning and winds with gusts up to 35 miles per hour are possible.

Pending sales are up 12.4 percent on the year.

SPRINGFIELD -- Home sales across the Pioneer Valley were up 13.1 percent in 2016, according to numbers released this week by the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley.

There were 5,209 homes sold in 2015 and 5,893 sold in 2016.

Sales prices were barely up, however, just 0.8 percent from a median price of $197,425 in 2015 to a median price of $199,000 in 2016.

"I think it looks pretty sound for us in the Valley," said Richard Sawicki of Sawicki Real Estate in Amherst, president of the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley in 2017. "Our prices were up just about 1 percent. That's a nice number. It's up but it is not running away."

He contrasted the Pioneer Valley with real estate markets he characterized as overheated, like metro Boston, where prices are up by double digits on the year.

"We are still a little concerned with inventory," Sawicki said. "There is still a shortage of houses that are in the right price points."

The inventory of homes for sale is down 34.9 percent on the year, from 2,312 homes for sale at the end of December 2015 to just 1,528 at the end of last month.

The Realtors Association collects data on transactions done through the multiple listing service. These home sales are all arms-length transactions, meaning meaning the buyer and seller are not working in concert.

Sawicki said it is too early to tell what impact the Trump administration will have on home sales. He didn't seem to think Trumps cancellation of a proposed cut in FHA mortgage costs -- the cut would have worked out to $500 over the 15-year life of an FHA loan -- would have too large an impact.

But he said the Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates, a move that will make mortgages more expensive.

"Now is a great time for the first-time home buyer. We always knew these low rates wouldn't last forever," he said. "We are at the lowest rate of home ownership since World War II. We need to get back to that to fully recover."

Housing sales by county:

In other statistics:

Nationally, sales are still expected to close out 2016 at a pace of around 5.42 million, according to a blog post on the National Association of Realtors website. That would beat 2015 when 5.25 million homes were sold nationally as the highest since 2006 when there were 6.48 million homes sold across the country.

In 2017, the national Association of Realtors forecasts sales to grow roughly 2 percent to around 5.52 million. The national median existing-home price is expected to increase to around 5 percent this year and 4 percent in 2017.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said:

McDonald's was seeking to build a $3 million-plus new fast food restaurant on Allen Street in Springfield, but a dispute over the hours has led to rejection of its needed special permit. The drive-up hours at the old restaurant remain around-the-clock.

SPRINGFIELD - A plan to tear down an old McDonald's Restaurant on Allen Street and build a new McDonald's in its place went down in defeat Monday night, when the neighborhood council called for reduced hours at the drive-up window and the franchise owner would not agree.

So instead of a new $3 million-plus McDonald's with a 24-hour-a-day drive-up window, the old McDonald's stays -- with the same around-the-clock window service. The old building is more than 40 years old, and the 24-hour service is grandfathered, meaning it preceded special permits and conditions.

The City Council's vote on the special permit failed after a 90-minute contentious public hearing. Under local zoning laws, McDonald's cannot reapply for at least two years.

"I was just shell shocked at what happened and I'm still kind of numb," said Walter Gould on Tuesday, who is president of the Outer Belt Civic Association. "I'm still in disbelief."

Gould said the civic association had reached an agreement on the reduced hours with the applicant, McDonald's, and was expecting a smooth hearing and approval of the new building and special permit.

But the franchise owner, Wes Powell, said during the hearing that he needs the round-the-clock service window to afford his personal investment of more than $3 million, and could not agree to the reduced hours.

The 13-member City Council voted in favor of the special permit by a 7-4 vote, but it needed nine votes to pass (two-thirds majority), under special permit requirements. Councilor Kenneth Shea was absent from the meeting and Councilor Michael Fenton abstained.

Councilors voting for the special permit were Melvin Edwards, Timothy Rooke, Adam Gomez, Henry Twiggs, Justin Hurst, Bud Williams and Orlando Ramos. Councilors opposed to the special permit were Timothy Allen, Kateri Walsh, Marcus Williams, and Thomas Ashe.

Rooke said the end result was that "the neighborhood association did not get what it was looking for, which was a reduction in hours and the business owner did not get what he was looking for which was building a newer and upgraded facility for the neighborhood."'

Bud Williams questioned why the council should reduce hours at the business when the hours already existed and the franchise owner would have a major investment. Why should the hours be reduced, Williams asked.

"For safety councilor," Gould said.

The neighborhood group had initially supported the continued late hours, but then rescinded that vote, concerned about late-night trouble that might happen, and reached agreement with the corporation, he said.

Gould and resident Mary Dionne said that other fast food restaurants and businesses in general in that area do not have such late hour's including an adjacent Wendy's, which keeps its drive-through window open until 1 a.m.

Powell said he chose himself to close the restaurant lobby at midnight, but needs the window open for business revenue.

Gould said he checked for police calls to that location and believes there were two calls for police in the early morning hours during the past two years that McDonald's has been under Powell's ownership.

A Springfield resident speaking during the hearing said that two police calls in two years sounds "minuscule," and he supported the proposed 24-hour window service request.

Councilors said there are McDonald's with 24-hour windows in Springfield either for the full week or on weekends, while other McDonald's close earlier,

Councilors questioned why the McDonald's corporation had agreed with the reduced hours and the franchise owner did not. Gould said that an agreement on the hours was reached in January at a meeting in which Powell did not receive a notice of the meeting because a corporate official said it was not necessary and that a representative for McDonald's would be there.

The nonprofit organization Nuestras Raices in Holyoke, Massachusetts will discuss how it will train 100 people to be professional farmers using an $800,000 federal grant on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017 at 329 Main St.

HOLYOKE -- The nonprofit organization Nuestras Raices will use an $800,000 federal grant to train 100 people over the next two years to be professional farmers.

Nuestras Raices is seeking applicants for the program, which is free and will be taught in English and Spanish, a press release said Tuesday

The first round of training will begin April 4 and the application deadline is March 15. Applicants don't have to be Holyoke residents, the press release said.

Click here to obtain an application or visit nuestras-raices.org

"Upon graduation, students will be ready for careers in all aspects of employment in food production and agriculture, including operating or managing farms, starting seed companies or leading farmers markets," the press release said.

Mayor Alex B. Morse is scheduled to discuss the farmer training program at 1 p.m. Wednesday at a press conference at Nuestras Raices offices at 329 Main St., the press release said.

That will be followed at 2 p.m. by a tour of the Nuestras Raices farm at 24 Jones Ferry Road.

Nuestras Raices ("our roots") seeks to promote economic, human and community development in Holyoke through projects relating to food, agriculture and the environment. The organization began in 1992 in South Holyoke.

The training is a 100-hour program on organic farming and agricultural business planning. Nuestras Raices is working on the program with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That's the department that provided the grant, Margaret Sawyer of Nuestras Raices said in an email.

Students will learn all aspects of farm management for one full growing season, from planting seedlings in April to harvesting crops in October. They will train at the Nuestras Raices farm and get weekly classroom lessons at night at Dean Technical High School, 1045 Main St., the press release said.

Topics will include organic principles and crop planning, organic production techniques, marketing for small farmers, small business management and record-keeping and regulations, the press release said.

Nuestras Raices is seeking individuals or organizations with access to land that could be farmed by a graduate to contact Rafael Herrero at 413-535-1789, Ext. 206.

The accident, reported shortly after 10 a.m., closed the westbound lane of the turnpike while police, firefighters and EMS workers tended to the injured.

Patrick Johnson | pjohnson@repub.com 

This is an update of a story posted at 12:08 p.m.

LUDLOW - Three people were taken to Baystate Medical Center on Tuesday with what are described as serious injuries following a two-car collision on the Massachusetts Turnpike near the Ludlow exit,

The accident, reported shortly after 10 a.m. closed the westbound lane of the turnpike for a short period, according to the Massachusetts State Police.

Two people were trapped in the wreckage and had to be freed by the Ludlow Fire Department, police said.

According to police, the accident occured when one vehicle, a Nissan van driven by a 54-year-old Springfield woman, changed lanes. The driver of a Honda sedan had to swerve to avoid a collision, but in doing so, went out of control.

The Honda struck the Nissan and then went off the road and into a tree in the median strip.

The two occupants of the Honda, a woman and man from Woonsocket, Rhode Island, were trapped in the car.

They were taken by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. Police did not disclose the nature of their injuries but said they were considered serious.

Another woman who was in the car but was not trapped was also taken to Baystate. Police said her injuries were also serious.

The driver of the NIssan was not injured.

Police did not disclose any of their names.

The accident remains under investigation.

Baker is expected to draw implicit contrasts between the collaborative approach of his own administration and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.

Gov. Charlie Baker will deliver his second "State of the Commonwealth" address Tuesday evening.

Baker is expected to draw implicit contrasts between his own administration and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.

Although both are Republicans, Baker is a generally moderate politician who has made a point of working across party lines with the Democratic-controlled state Legislature. Trump is more of a firebrand whose election has resulted in protests by millions of Democrats and liberals nationwide.

"You'll hear us talk a bit about some of the things we've been able to accomplish working collaboratively with our colleagues in the Legislature and our colleagues in local government and people in the commonwealth," Baker told reporters on Monday before the speech.

Baker added, "You'll also hear us talk about how much we appreciated the collaborative approach to governing and to decision-making that we've been able to develop with folks on both sides of the aisle."

As is typical, Baker plans to tout the policies that he believes have worked well so far, while laying out some of his legislative priorities for the coming session.

The speech comes one day before Baker lays out his proposal for a fiscal 2018 state budget, which will also be a statement of Baker's priorities. Some things that will be included in that proposal are a plan to expand the state hotel tax to cover room sharing services like Airbnb, and a plan to reinstate a fine for businesses that do not offer health insurance to employees.

Baker will also propose increases in local aid and education aid.

The next budget will estimate revenue growth of 3.9 percent, for a total budget of around $27 billion.

The "State of the Commonwealth" speech is generally an evening of pomp and circumstance, with music and formal proceedings. It is held in the House chamber, with both the House and the Senate in attendance, along with the state constitutional officers and other dignitaries. The program is expected to kick off at 6:30 p.m., with Baker's speech beginning at 7 p.m.

Watch MassLive.com for further coverage.

Police received three separate complaints alleging Alexander Osher touched them inappropriately during massages at the Winchester Wellness Center.

WINCHESTER - The Middlesex District Attorney's Office has charged a massage therapist with sexually assaulting three clients, and they are asking more potential victims to come forward.

Alexander Osher, 48, of Lynn, was arraigned last week in Woburn District Court. He faces three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over the age of 14.

Between December 2016 and mid-January, police received three separate complaints alleging Osher touched them inappropriately during massages at the Winchester Wellness Center.

"We are extremely grateful to the victims who have come forward," said Winchester Police Chief Peter MacDonnell in a statement. "We believe that there are more victims out there, and it is our hope that the bravery of the three victims who came to the police will empower others to do the same."

A judge set Osher's bail at $1,000 cash and set numerous conditions for his release, including GPS monitoring. Osher also is not allowed to work as a massage therapist, or seek employment at any establishment that offers massage therapy.

Osher is due back in court on Feb. 13.

Anyone who wishes to speak to investigators can call Winchester detectives at (781) 729-0238.

Menck USA shut down Jan. 11, laying off about 30 employees. They were given the pay they were owed and their benefits were paid up until the time of the shutdown.

CHICOPEE -- A state economic development panel that was to have taken up the matter of the the now-shuttered Menck USA window factory took no votes Tuesday because the group failed to draw a quorum.

The Economic Assistance Coordinating Council is next scheduled to meet March 22. The council Tuesday was expected to decertify Menck and formally block it from making use of any more tax incentives.

Menck USA shut down Jan. 11, laying off about 30 employees. They were given the pay they were owed and their benefits were paid up until the time of the shutdown.

But that leaves the question of how to wind down the incentives given to Menck to help it get established.

The state gave Menck $750,000 in investment tax credits back in 2013.

The city of Chicopee gave Menck a five-year special tax assessment valued at $348,933.

And MassDevelopment, the state's finance and development agency, issued a $5 million tax-exempt bond on behalf of Menck USA to fund the project. Boston Private Bank purchased those bonds, which were enhanced by a MassDevelopment guarantee.

The city tax abatement is in its last year and applies not just to Menck but to its rented building. Holden Humphry Co., which rents the other half of the building, remains in business and also benefits from the abatement.

Menck's owners are working with its creditors in hopes of selling the company as a whole so that a new owner could reopen it. If not, it will be liquidated.

New Hampshire-based Sprague is buying two pipeline-supplied terminals and a storage facility with a combined capacity of more than 295,000 barrels.

SPRINGFIELD -- Family-owned Leonard E. Belcher Inc., also known as L.E. Belcher, is selling its Springfield oil and gas terminal to Sprague Operating Resources, part of a New Hampshire-based public company with operations all over the Northeast.

Sprague is paying $20 million, according to a news release issued Tuesday by Sprague. The deal is expected to close in 30 days.

"It's not the whole company," said Edward Hough, president and CEO of L.E. Belcher.

Belcher will keep its convenience stores and gas stations in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont and its wholesale gas business, Hough said. The move puts Belcher in a better position to grow in the business it will retain, he said.

"It was a strategic decision for us," he said. "They are bigger than us -- these guys have 19 terminals and they know that business."

He said Sprague also shares Belcher's values and treats its employees and customers right. L.E. Belcher has a total of 200 employees but it is not known yet how many of them will transition to Sprague

Sprague said it has previously supplied the L.E. Belcher terminals and is well known along the Interstate 91 corridor in Western Massachusetts. Sprauge said it expects the Belcher operations to generate $3 million to $4 million in profit each year.

Founded in the 1920s, Belcher calls itself one of Springfield's largest private companies.

Edward Hough is the son of Charles Hough, who began as a truck driver for founder Leonard Belcher in 1936 and bought the business in the 1950s.

Belcher distributes branded and unbranded gasoline including Shell, Irving and Citgo products.

With the purchase, Sprague said it will own the largest distillate tank storage operation in the area, supplying heating oil, diesel fuel and kerosene into regions not served by its existing network of deep-water terminals on the coast.

Sprague is a publicly traded company with $422.8 million in sales for its most recent quarter. Founded n 1870, it has 600 employees and 19 terminals in the Northeast.

Sprague stock, which trades under the symbol SRLP on the New York Stock Exchange, was at $27.10 at the close of trading Tuesday. that's up 90 cents per share on the day.

According to the release:

"We have long considered L.E. Belcher's business and terminal assets as one of the best in New England, and are pleased to be chosen as the team to carry the Hough family legacy of customer service in the Springfield region into the future," announced David Glendon, president and CEO. "As a supplier to L.E. Belcher for many years, we know the market very well and are looking forward to welcoming new employees to the Sprague team. Our acquisition strategy of pursuing high-quality assets in strategic locations has once again paid off with an attractive bolt-on purchase in one of the few remaining Northeast markets where Sprague did not control a terminal asset."

Top Massachusetts lawmakers voting to raise their own pay could end up costing the state up to $18 million.

BOSTON -Top Massachusetts lawmakers voting to raise their own pay could cost the state up to $18 million.

Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill, told reporters Tuesday that the impact of the raises, which would include pay adjustments for court system employees, would be $6.5 million in fiscal year 2017.

But the State House News Service noted that number could hit between $12 million and $18 million in fiscal year 2018.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, said the increases are "long overdue," and pointed to reports issued by compensation commissions in 2008 and 2014 that called their pay outdated.

The raises, if approved, would come as the state budget struggles to stay in balance.

"There's never a right time to do this," DeLeo said, according to a Facebook Live broadcast of his remarks after he met with other lawmakers in a State House caucus. "No matter what the budget situation is."

Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican who often notes his office functions as a check on a state Legislature dominated by Democrats, has not closed the door on approving the pay raises if a proposal reaches his desk. But Baker, who earns $151,800 a year as the governor, has said he is not interested in a pay increase for himself.

Massachusetts lawmakers poised to raise their own pay

While most proposals often take month to reach the governor's desk, the pay proposal is moving quickly. The pay raise bill emerged on Monday evening, after 5 p.m., and lawmakers are expected to take it up in formal session later this week.

The push for the increase comes weeks after lawmakers saw a base salary increase of 4.19 percent to $62,547. The pay raise bill seeks to make changes to the stipends top lawmakers receive on top of their base salary, which is adjusted through a mechanism outlined in the state constitution.

Several lawmakers slammed the proposal.

"The average Massachusetts family has not enjoyed any tax cuts and now there is a proposal out there to fatten the pockets of those who refuse to provide that relief," Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, said in a statement.

Shira Schoenberg contributed to this report.

Massachusetts state employee salary database 2017

Former Springfield Police detective Steven Vigneault has filed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging a onetime colleague regularly drank on the job before drug raids.

This updates a story filed at 3:04 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD -- A whistleblower lawsuit filed by a former Springfield police detective includes allegations of tarnished Officer Gregg Bigda being intoxicated almost daily while carrying out drug raids.

Steven Vigneault argues he resigned under pressure months after an ugly confrontation among Bigda, himself and Bigda's ex-girlfriend -- Officer Gail Gethins -- after Vigneault began dating Gethins last year.

In a complaint filed Tuesday afternoon in Hampden Superior Court, Vigneault argues higher-ups protected Bigda despite his alleged volatility.

"Plaintiff was often told 'you didn't see anything; that never happened. Keep your f---ing mouth shut," by commanding officers regarding Bigda's on-the-job behavior, according to the lawsuit. "At times, plaintiff feared for his own job and safety due to the camaraderie in 'Bigda's' tight-knit group."

Vigneault names the city, Police Commissioner John Barbieri, Bigda, Patrolman's Union President Joseph Gentile, union lawyer Kevin Coyle and the police union in the complaint. It alleges breach of contract and seeks the protection of a whistleblower lawsuit.

Vigneault, 46, was hired in 2013 after an early career at the county jail and while he was a U.S. Army Reservist who served in combat overseas. After returning from a stint in Afghanistan in 2015, Vigneault earned a coveted spot in the department's narcotics unit. But less than a year in, Vigneault became embroiled in a messy arrest of four juveniles in Palmer.

The boys allegedly stole Vigneault's undercover vehicle left idling outside Primos' Pizza on Feb. 26, according to police reports and court records. Vigneault filed a report and later police received news that a pursuit was underway in Wlibraham that eventually spilled into Palmer, where the boys were arrested.

After the arrest, a Wilbraham patrolman made an allegation of excessive force. He alleged a Springfield detective he was unable to identify kicked a boy in the face while he was already in handcuffs and on the ground. Vigneault became the prime suspect, according to police officials. However, he denied the accusation during interviews with The Republican in October.

On a parallel track, surveillance video from Palmer police holding cells showed Bigda threatening two of the boys. The jarring footage included Bigda threatening violence against both boys, threatening to plant drug evidence on one and boasting about his power to spin police reports to his liking.

The footage was made public in the midst of drug prosecutions in the fall, and did little to help Bigda's career. He was suspended for 60 days, and prosecutors have declined to call him as a witness in dozens of drug cases -- which has been a boon to the defense bar and their clients.

Of the night of the Palmer arrest, Vigneault''s lawyer, Shawn Allyn, wrote in the complaint:

"Defendant Bigda was actively drinking straight Rum at his desk and appeared to be getting visibly intoxicated," according to the complaint, which noted earlier that Bigda switched from drinking beer on the job to hard liquor to cut calories.

Vigneault also contends Bigda spat on one of the teens at the scene and yelled: "Welcome to the white man's world!"

Bigda's lawyer, Thomas Rooke, declined comment for this story. Other parties named in the lawsuit also declined comment or did not respond to requests.

Vigneault granted The Republican a previous interview while he was receiving treatment for combat-related PTSD at a veterans' treatment center in Leeds.

He argued in the complaint that he went to get food at Primo's to "sober Bigda up" in the event they had to go out into the field. The lawsuit adds that Bigda continued to sip from a rum bottle until they received a call about the stolen car at 2:40 a.m. on Feb. 27.

The complaint continues that Vigneault received a verbal warning for leaving the car running outside the pizza shop and later got a "cold shoulder." He contends commanding officers encouraged all to maintain a "code of silence as to the events of Feb 26 and Feb. 27 and the investigation thereafter to protect Defendant Bigda."

"Plaintiff felt uncomfortable and feared for his own job due to the implicit pressure from Defendant Barbieri's office downward as to the Bigda matter," it adds.

The breaking point for Vigneault's career, he argues, was when Bigda discovered Vigneault was dating an old flame. Bigda "ambushed" Vigneault and fellow Officer Gail Gethins at her home on March 11, armed and intoxicated, the complaint states.

Bigda charged into the house similarly later that night, behaving "aggressively," shouting profanities and threatening to kill them both, according to records. Vigneault states in his complaint Bigda threatened him and Gethins.

Rooke has previously denied Bigda was armed.

Both reported the incident to their own department and East Longmeadow police the next day. Gethins sought and received a restraining order she later dropped. The criminal charges also were dropped when she agreed not to testify if Bigda sought treatment, Vigneault said in previous interviews.

Vigneault argues in his complaint that when he reported the dispute to narcotics Lt. Alberto Ayala, the supervisor "dismissed the seriousness of the allegations" and bought Bigda's version -- that he was carrying a cell phone and not a weapon when he entered Gethins' home uninvited.

In texts and voicemail messages, Bigda disparaged the two and threatened to end Vigneault's career, the complaint states. The Republican previously received copies of the texts and one voicemail message. The audio recording features a heavily slurring Bigda telling Gethins:

"Hey, whore! Nice to meet ya! I'll take care of all of you people ... in the future."

Bigda also threatened to "ruin Vigneault's career" in another message.

The complaint states the two received little to no support within the police department. Vigneault said Ayala ordered him to transfer out of his unit while Bigda was allowed to keep a desk job. It also says Deputy Police Chief Mark Anthony told Vigneault he had "pissed a lot of people off" and instructed Vigneault to take a week off after presenting him with a transfer order.

Vigneault was redeployed to Barnes Air Force Base and began receiving overtures from police union President Joseph Gentile over Barbieri's attempts to schedule a "termination hearing" for Vigneault.

Vigneault contends Gentile and Barbieri were "close friends" and Gentile held Barbieri's interests over the "victims'." The complaint states Gentile and Barbieri attended the police academy together.

According to the lawsuit, Gentile told Barbieri the Wilbraham patrolman was ready to identify Vigneault as the detective who kicked the child in the face in Palmer.

"The plaintiff informed defendant Gentile that this cannot be true. Defendant Gentile said it was true and that Barbieri told Gentile to inform the plaintiff 'resign or be fired,'" the complaint reads.

Vigneault was further threatened with criminal prosecution and loss of his pension if he did not resign, the lawsuit states.

Coyle, the union lawyer, reiterated the message, according to the court filing.

Coyle and Gentile both said Barbieri had vowed to "personally meet" with Wilbraham Patrolman Christopher Rogers to talk about the identification of the detective the day of a scheduled Civilian Police Review Board hearing on Aug. 11.

Wilbraham Police Chief Roger Tucker told The Republican during a previous interview that his patrolman was unable to identify the alleged kicker to this day.

Also, according to the complaint, Coyle remarked to Vigneault: "You must have pissed someone off."

Vigneault argues he was coerced into resigning, caving under the pressure of the union and police supervisors.

The complaint states he has been unable to access certain information because of an ongoing U.S. Justice Dept. investigation into this and other Springfield Police Department matters.

He also claims criminal charges in Palmer District Court have "disappeared," and that he has been stymied by other obstacles. He argues the city and other defendants named in the lawsuit "engaged in retaliatory actions only to protect defendant Bigda and the Springfield Police Department's polices of allowing defendant Bigda to drown himself in alcohol within the station and then go out into the field."

The complaint argues city officials have turned a blind eye to the police department's alleged problems and all the parties have engaged in a "civil conspiracy" to violate Vigneault's rights.

Hampden Superior Court Judge Michael Callan has granted an expedited hearing on the matter scheduled for Feb. 3, according to court records.

Iron Duke Brewing opened in the Ludlow Mills complex in November 2014.

LUDLOW -- Attorneys for Iron Duke Brewing and Westmass Area Development Corp. met Tuesday in what the brewers hope is a first step in resolving a landlord-tenant dispute that threatens the future of the popular attraction.

"We are really, really hoping that by having some dialogue we can figure things out. I'm optimistic," said Iron Duke co-owner Nick Morin. "We wouldn't even be at this point if not for the outreach that people did on our behalf."

Last week, fans of the brewery started circulating an online petition calling for Westmass to allow Iron Duke to stay in Ludlow Mills and to expand there. As of Tuesday night, the petition has more than 3,515 signatures.

Westmass didn't respond to calls and emails Tuesday. But on Friday the organization said it hopes Iron Duke will be able to stay. Westmass takes issue with Iron Duke hosting food trucks and live entertainment, things it says are not covered in the lease.

"At issue are the parameters of the lease that allow for a tasting room where the public can sample the popular local brews created by local entrepreneurs," Westmass wrote. "The tasting room has evolved into a taproom with significantly more traffic and occupying additional space in the complex, all operations that are not covered by the current lease."

Westmass has told Iron Duke it can no longer host a food truck or entertainment at the site. Iron Duke says those restrictions cost it too much in sales. Although Iron Duke beer is distributed elsewhere, most of its beer is sold at the Ludlow Mills brewery.

Also on Friday, Iron Duke filed a lawsuit in Hampden Superior Court seeking an injunction that would block an eviction. A court date is set for Jan. 30.

Morin said Tuesday that the lawsuit is a way to protect his business from closing. He hopes an amicable agreement can be reached without it, however.

"We had two options, close or defend ourselves," he said.

Morin and partner Mike Marcoux opened Iron Duke in the Ludlow Mills complex in November 2014. They still have two years and 10 months left on the lease.

According to court papers, the brewery and tasting room cost between $500,000 and $600,000 to build.

Westmass is a nonprofit economic development agency that historically built industrial parks on raw land. It bought the 170-acre Ludlow Mills complex six years ago for $6 million in money borrowed from a consortium of local banks.

In the last six years, Westmass has brought in more than $135 million in public and private investment to the site, including plans for a $60 million project of 100 to 136 market-rate apartments announced last year by WinnDevelopment. WinnDevelopment also has a $24.5 million senior housing project on the property, and there is a new $26 million HealthSouth rehabilitation hospital.

The site also continues to host small businesses and industrial operations like machine shops, welders, counter top fabricators, a company developing firearm silencers and other businesses.

According to court papers, Westmass and Iron Duke have been arguing for months over what constitutes a "microbrewery" under the lease. Westmass seems to want a production facility with a small tasting room, while Iron Duke was pushing for more food and entertainment.

Six months ago, Iron Duke came forth with plans to expand its brewing space and to add a kitchen and more seating. The expansion would have taken the company from four full-time employees to 10 or 12 full-time employees.

Westmass had complained that Iron Duke was storing things in a mill building it had not leased. It's since stopped doing that, according to court papers. Westmass came back threatening eviction if the food trucks and the entertainment didn't stop.

Also at issue, according to court papers, is how much money Iron Duke should pay toward the complex's water bill and how many parking spaces it can use.

Iron Duke's lease called for it to pay for water based on its number of employees. Westmass later installed a meter in May 2015 after realizing that breweries use a lot of water.

Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday used his "State of Commonwealth" speech to make the case for compromise and outline differences between the Bay State and the swamp more than 400 miles away, Washington, D.C.

BOSTON - Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday used his "State of Commonwealth" speech to make the case for bipartisan compromise and outlined differences between the Bay State and the swamp more than 400 miles away, Washington, D.C.

At the tail end of his remarks, Baker, a Republican, thanked members of the state Legislature, dominated by Democrats, for their "goodwill."

"This may seem like a small thing. But it's not," Baker said, according to prepared remarks. "Too much of what passes for political dialogue these days isn't dialogue at all. It's talking points. Character assassination. And deliberate misrepresentation."

In his speech, Baker did not mention President Donald Trump, the controversial Republican businessman who won the White House in November. Trump often takes to Twitter to attack perceived enemies and pass along falsehoods.

But Baker drew a sharp contrast between Massachusetts and the gridlock in Washington, as well as the acidic tone that seems to permeate D.C.

"It's one thing to stand in a corner and shout insults at your opponents," Baker said Tuesday night. "It's quite another to climb into the arena and fight for common ground."

President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)Evan Vucci 

After criticizing Trump's temperament and rival Hillary Clinton's trustworthiness throughout 2016, Baker did not support either candidate and opted to blank the presidential ballot. Baker attended Trump's inauguration last week, but told reporters he would've been there regardless of the winner of the election.

Baker is widely expected to run for another four-year term in 2018, and Democrats like former healthcare executive Jay Gonzalez and Newton Mayor Setti Warren are eyeing runs against him. Baker won in 2014 by roughly 40,300 votes.

Wedge issues can be "great for making headlines, but they do not move this Commonwealth forward," Baker said in the Mass. House chamber on Tuesday. "Success is measured by what we accomplish together."

He added: "Our obligation to the people we serve is too important to place politics and partisanship before progress and results. "The changes in Washington don't change this powerful obligation. Our jobs remain the same. That is to represent Massachusetts to Washington and not Washington to Massachusetts."

Gov. Baker said he supports message of Women's March attendees

Baker said sometimes disagreements break out on Beacon Hill.

"But we listen, we learn, and we make the best decisions we can," he said, citing legislation on pay equity for women, energy, and economic development.

"You've compromised with one another, and with us," Baker said.

New poll shows 51 percent of Mass. voters want to see Gov. Baker re-elected

The bipartisanship between lawmakers and the governor's office come as "we live in a time where what you oppose seems much more interesting than what you support, where compromising is often viewed as an act of weakness," he said.

Compromising is in fact a "sign of strength," according to the governor.

Pointing to the nation's Founding Fathers who feared the tyranny of a majority, "they designed our form of government to provide a loud voice for minority points of view," Baker said. "They hated the idea of unilateral power. And wanted to force advocates and policy makers, through structure and process, to compromise. I'm with them."

Businesses worry about Gov. Baker's proposed $2,000 fine for not offering health insurance

Baker said he will be looking to Springfield schools as a model for how to assist struggling schools around the state.

BOSTON - Gov. Charlie Baker announced in his State of the Commonwealth address Tuesday night that he will be looking to the Springfield schools as a model for how to assist struggling schools around the state.

Baker cited Springfield's use of "empowerment zones" as a policy that can be expanded. Empowerment zones, partnerships between schools, state officials and unions, let schools make their own decisions on things like hiring, scheduling, budgeting and curriculum, rather than having those decisions made at a district level.

"These zones create more flexibility in schools. And allow educators to make the changes necessary to provide a better learning environment for our kids," Baker said in his address. "In Springfield, this model is already making a positive difference for teachers and students." Baker said he will work with State Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, and State Rep. Alice Peisch, D-Wellesley, who have introduced bills to create more empowerment zones around the state.

Baker also said the experiences of school districts like Holyoke show that state takeovers of schools can make a difference.

Baker delivered his second annual State of the Commonwealth speech before a packed House chamber Tuesday evening. Baker spoke for approximately 40 minutes off a teleprompter before an audience that included the Massachusetts House and Senate, cabinet secretaries, the attorney general and other constitutional officers, the Supreme Judicial Court justices, UMass President Marty Meehan, former Gov. William Weld, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and other dignitaries.

Baker took a victory lap on policy successes ranging from the implementation of all-electronic tolling on the Massachusetts Turnpike to reducing the population of homeless families placed in hotels. He laid out new policy initiatives related to education, tax credits for veterans and changes at Bridgewater State Hospital.

Baker also drew an implicit contrast with the divisiveness of U.S. President Donald Trump's new administration in Washington, instead stressing the importance of collegiality and bipartisanship.

"Too much of what passes for political dialogue these days isn't dialogue at all," Baker said. "It's talking points. Character assassination. And deliberate misrepresentation."

"Our obligation to the people we serve is too important to place politics and partisanship before progress and results," Baker said. "The changes in Washington don't change this powerful obligation."

Some Democrats have criticized Baker for not speaking out forcefully against Trump. Baker, a Republican, has expressed willingness to work with the Republican president, even though Baker did not support his election campaign. "Our jobs remain the same," Baker said. "That is to represent Massachusetts to Washington and not Washington to Massachusetts."

Baker's speech came the day before he is set to release his fiscal 2018 budget proposal, and he foreshadowed a handful of new initiatives that he plans to propose.

One is a new $4,000 tax credit for businesses that hire and retain unemployed veterans. "Too many of our returning heroes struggle to find good jobs," Baker said.

Baker said he will also sign an executive order in the coming weeks establishing a Council on Older Adults to make recommendations on improving the lives of seniors.

One of the biggest new initiatives Baker proposed are the changes Baker plans to make to Bridgewater State Hospital. Bridgewater is Massachusetts' secure facility for people who are mentally ill. Some inhabitants have been convicted of crimes, some are awaiting trial and some have been civilly committed because they pose a danger to themselves or others.

Advocates for people with mental illness have long complained about the conditions at the state hospital, which they say is more of a prison than a treatment center. A report released in June blamed the facility for the suicide of an inmate. Advocates have pushed to have Bridgewater run by mental health professionals rather than the Department of Corrections.

Baker, in his speech, acknowledged that over the years, "Little has changed, and the results, in many cases, have been disastrous for all involved."

Baker said he plans to move corrections officers out of the hospital and use them only outside the facility to provide security. He will ask the Legislature for a $37 million increase in funding for clinical services. With that money, the state would significantly expand the size and scale of the clinical program inside the hospital.

"It's the right thing to do," Baker said.

Baker also stressed the investments he plans to make in local aid, which has been a priority since he took office. He has said his fiscal 2018 budget proposal will propose a $130 million increase in local aid, including a $90 million increase in education aid.

While he laid out some new initiatives, most of Baker's speech was dedicated to enumerating the administration's successes in areas including moving a dozen Western Massachusetts towns forward with access to high speed internet, taking steps to address the crisis of opioid addiction, and passing landmark energy legislation that will increase the state's use of renewable energy. He cited improvements at the Department of Children and Families, including the hiring of 270 more social workers than there were a year ago, even as he said the department needs to do more to recruit more foster families.

Baker stressed his continued opposition to any new broad-based taxes.

"With a shared sense of purpose we've made real progress in job creation, fiscal discipline, education, child welfare, public health, transportation, public safety, environmental and energy policy and community building during the past two years," Baker said. "And because of all that, I stand here tonight and say, the state of our Commonwealth is strong."

Stating "too many of our returning heroes struggle to find good jobs," Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday he plans to offer a $4,000 tax credit for businesses hiring and retaining unemployed veterans.

BOSTON - Stating "too many of our returning heroes struggle to find good jobs," Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday he plans to offer a $4,000 tax credit for businesses hiring and retaining unemployed veterans.

Baker singled out the founders of Bellingham-based Heidrea Communications, Jesse Brown and Matt Mastroianni. The company builds and maintains wireless communications towers.

Baker said business is "booming" for the industry, and both Brown and Mastroianni left a bigger company to start Heidrea in 2007.

"The beginning was rocky, but today they employ 70 people," the governor said. "Almost half of whom are veterans like them. And their future is bright."

Baker added: "Like many small businesses, they want to hire and employ our veterans. We should make it easier for them to get it done."

Baker made the remarks as part of his "State of the Commonwealth" address.

In Bellingham, the company has a two-story, 6,500 square foot office, as well as a 6,000 square foot warehouse.

"Some of the services that we offer are: microwave installations and alignments, co-locations, tower erection and upgrades, tower inspections & mapping, structural analysis, mounts and platforms, site lighting and painting," their website says. "Recently, Heidrea has ventured into self-sustainable energy with the construction of solar energy fields."

The company also has locations in Plymouth, Mass., and Oriskany, NY.

Gov. Baker outlines plans for local aid increases

The day before he plans to unveil his version of the state budget, Gov. Charlie Baker said he would oppose "broad-based" tax increases on Massachusetts residents. Watch video

BOSTON - The day before he plans to unveil his version of the state budget, Gov. Charlie Baker said he would oppose "broad-based" tax increases on Massachusetts residents.

In his second annual "State of the Commonwealth" address, Baker said "runaway growth" is under control, the structural deficit in the state budget is "nearly eliminated," and a reduction in government bureaucracy has saved "hundreds of millions of dollars."

He added that his administration has pushed for closing a "tax loophole" on Airbnb, which allows short-term rentals online. The State House News Service reported earlier this month that Baker's proposal calls for apartment or homeowners who seek to rent their places out through online services like Airbnb to pay a 5.7 percent room occupancy tax, similar to hotels.

Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, center, addresses a join session of the Mass. Legislature as House Speaker Robert DeLeo, left, and Senate President Stan Rosenberg, right, look on during his State of the State address in the House chamber at the Statehouse, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)Steven Senne 

"But we will oppose any effort to pass a broad-based tax increase on the hardworking people of the Commonwealth," Baker said in his speech Tuesday.

The line drew a round of applause from the audience, which included members of the Massachusetts Legislature. Asked about the line afterwards, a top lawmaker added a "but."

"As you know I've always been opposed to that, but on the other hand, I think that at this point we have to at least wait for House Ways and Means to start the process of hearings," said House Speaker Robert DeLeo, referring to the budget-writing committee that plans to issue its own spending plan for the state.

"First of all, see what he has in his budget and go from there," DeLeo, D-Winthrop, added.

Senate President Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst, pointed to a measure that is on track for the 2018 ballot and seeks to increase the state income tax on anyone making more than $1 million.

"I think the voters are going to have something to say about that in 2018," Rosenberg said.

Strong support for raising taxes on millionaires in Massachusetts, new poll shows

Supporters say the money pulled in by the ballot question should be funneled towards education and transportation, while opponents say passage of the question will drive out the state's high income earners.

Newton Mayor Setti Warren, a Democrat contemplating a gubernatorial run against Baker in 2018, criticized Baker and Beacon Hill Democrats for their budget maneuvers, saying they lead to the slashing of "vital" programs.

"Some Democrats are unwilling to have an honest discussion about raising sufficient revenue and some Republicans want to avoid the political heat that comes from cutting popular programs," Warren said. "Instead, Beacon Hill 'gets along' and 'compromises' to craft budgets that rely on one-time spending and leave Massachusetts in a perpetual state of contrived economic crisis."

Did Gov. Charlie Baker diss Donald Trump?

Beacon Hill lawmakers largely praised Baker's speech. But Rosenberg said he wants to hear more from the governor on climate change.

"We still have a long distance to go to totally green our energy supply and to address climate change," Rosenberg said. "We're a coastal state, from Essex County to the Cape and the Islands, and what happens with sea rise and increasingly severe weather conditions has a dramatic impact on our economy here in Massachusetts."

Healthcare costs and the implementation of the new law legalizing recreational marijuana went unmentioned in the speech.

Baker proposes tax credit for businesses hiring unemployed veterans

"He outlined his list of accomplishments in trying to move the commonwealth forward by doing a lot of the grunt work of getting agencies to run better, streamline processes and all of that, so I think it was very much in line with how he governs," said Eileen McAnneny, head of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

"I think what was noticeable was there was no mention of health care costs given that that seems to be an increasing focus of the administration and how to deal with the growing costs of Medicaid," she added. "There was no mention of that in state of the state so I found that interesting."

Shira Schoenberg contributed to this report.

Baker says Springfield schools 'empowerment zone' could be model for Mass.

Some said they wish the governor focused more on investments outside Boston.

BOSTON - Western Massachusetts representatives praised Gov. Charlie Baker for his focus on Springfield schools, the opioid crisis, broadband internet and homelessness in his State of the Commonwealth address Tuesday. But some said they wish the governor focused more on investments outside of Boston.

"The governor does a good job talking about teamwork and how we need to work together and that politics are different here in Massachusetts than nationally," said State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield.

But Farley-Bouvier said she was disappointed that Baker did not talk about the need to invest in the entire state. "There's such an issue with population loss in Berkshire County, and people just keep moving and moving to Boston," Farley Bouvier said. "If we can invest in our Gateway Cities, that's really going to make a difference...I'd have liked to hear a little bit more on that."

Baker delivered his annual State of the Commonwealth address Tuesday evening, touting the accomplishments of his administration's first two years while laying out new priorities on topics including veterans, care for mentally ill individuals and education.

Like Farley-Bouvier, State Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, said he agreed with a lot of what Baker talked about - strengthening broadband internet access in Western Massachusetts, ensuring that the region is attracting companies and increasing education funding.

But Hinds also said he would have liked to hear more about the "tales of two states," with Berkshire County losing population and median household income lagging behind the rest of the state. "In Western Massachusetts, we don't necessarily have the infrastructure we need when it comes to transportation and high speed internet," Hinds said.

State Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, was one of only two lawmakers to get a shout-out in the governor's speech for his introduction of a bill to expand school "empowerment zones" from a pilot program in Springfield and Lawrence state-wide. Empowerment zones give individual schools more flexibility.

"A lot of lessons were learned from Springfield, from things that worked well and that did not work as well," Lesser said. "My hope with the legislation is to provide a path for other communities, to get more help for Springfield and also to grow and expand and replicate the thing that are working well here for the rest of the state."

"I'm certainly looking forward to working with (the governor) on this and a variety of other issues," Lesser said.

State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, D-Springfield, said he appreciated the Republican Baker's focus on how Massachusetts politicians work together "as opposed to what we hear in Washington." Particularly in Western Massachusetts, Gonzalez said, "We've tackled some good issues like the opioid crisis, and we will continue to tackle the issues on homelessness."

State Sen. Don Humason, R-Westfield, noted the positive energy in the room among Democrats and Republicans, and the governor's bipartisan tone. "We've got a lot to do, but it's nice we have a governor we actually feel like we can work with, and I hear that reflected commonly from my Democratic friends as well as my Republican friends," Humason said.

Humason said he is happy Baker talked about moving homeless families out of hotels, a major issue in Holyoke and Chicopee, and about opioid addiction, which is a big problem in Westfield.

State Rep. Smitty Pignatelli, D-Lenox, called Baker's speech "one of the best speeches I've heard in my time here." "It was very empowered and impassioned and talked about the entire commonwealth," Pignatelli said.

Pignatelli said although the state continues to battle with low revenues, unemployment is low and the economy is strong. He appreciated that Baker touched on broadband access in Western Massachusetts, which is vital to the Berkshires, as well as the opioid crisis. Although the speech was mostly about "broad general strokes," Pignatelli said he feels positive about it, and appreciates the bipartisan working relationship Democratic lawmakers have with Baker.

Several local officials attended the speech. Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said he appreciated that Baker struck a "very moderate tone." "He talked about economic development, talked about education, talked about a lot of positive things that I think we're all very much concerned about in our roles as public servants," Gulluni said.

Gulluni said he particularly appreciated the governor's focus on opioid addiction, an issue Gulluni has worked on with the administration.

Springfield City Councilor Tim Rooke said he liked Baker's focus on "efficiencies, compromises and accomplishments."

"He gave credit to the unions, he gave credit to the Legislature, he talked about economic development," Rooke said. "I like the fact he talked about Springfield, the empowerment zone and the success of that for students... You would be hard pressed to find anybody who would disagree with the accomplishments and the efficiencies and the progress that he outlined."

The Greater Holyoke Chamber Centennial Foundation Inc. will manage at no cost the disbursement of money collected in a fund to help victims of the Jan. 1 fire at 106 North East St., officials said Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017 at City Hall.

HOLYOKE -- The Greater Holyoke Chamber Centennial Foundation Inc. will manage at no cost the disbursement of money collected in a fund to help victims of the Jan. 1 fire at 106 North East St., officials said Tuesday at City Hall.

The decision was received with some rancor during the meeting of the City Council Ordinance Committee at City Hall.

Some questioned how the chamber foundation was chosen and how many others were considered and emphasized that the priority is to get relief fund money into the hands of the fire victims while avoiding such debate and bureaucracy.

"We're trying to do the right thing and help the families but we're creating a monster," committee member Diosdado Lopez said.

The fire killed three people and displaced 49 tenants.

Mayor Alex B. Morse said in a text message that he chose the charitable arm of the chamber to handle the disbursement. Morse established the Holyoke Mayor's Fire Relief Fund the day of the fire.

As of Tuesday night, $66,070 was collected in the online gofundme.campaign.

Word that the Greater Holyoke Chamber Centennial Foundation Inc. was chosen to disburse the relief fund money was delivered to the Ordinance Committee by City Treasurer Sandra A. Smith and acting City Auditor Bellamy Schmidt.

That came after the City Council last week asked city officials to seek a nonprofit agency willing to disburse the money at no administrative cost instead of establishing an order to create the Holyoke Disaster Relief Trust Fund to handle such functions.

Ward 2 Councilor Nelson R. Roman said among his concerns is that the chamber foundation be aware in distributing the relief fund money that tenants are worried about their government welfare benefits in relation to getting such funds.

"I'm completely upset as a public servant," Roman said.

The Ordinance Committee after hearing about the chamber foundation from Smith and Schmidt voted to withdraw the item regarding establishment of a an ordinance for a relief fund.

"We're elected officials, we're held to a higher standard," Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma said.

INDIANAPOLIS -- A school board member in Hillary Clinton's hometown resigned after making a derogatory reference on Twitter to the female anatomy in describing women marching against President Donald Trump. An Illinois teacher was pulled from the classroom for a tweet deemed sexist. And a freshman Indiana lawmaker was inundated with criticism over a Facebook post mocking "fat women."

These are a handful of examples from across the U.S. of mostly male public officials who have been reprimanded, called out or disciplined over social media postings about the women's marches around the globe last weekend.

The rash of incidents, which range from boorish to downright vulgar, highlight how nasty political discourse has become since the divisive presidential election. But in an era when Trump made lashing out against "political correctness" central to his appeal, the consequences these officials face for unfiltered use of social media once again demonstrate that what you say on the internet still can hurt you.

"Very few people in public life, even today, get away with what Trump was able to get away with," said Michael Cornfield, a George Washington University professor who studies politics in the internet age. "I wonder what these gentlemen were thinking."

It's not the first time rantings on social media have sparked backlash. Public officials for years have found themselves in trouble, and even resigned from office, over comments that were impolitic, distasteful and sometimes even racist. It's also not strictly a partisan issue. A writer for "Saturday Night Live" was suspended this week after writing an offensive tweet about Trump's 10-year-old son Barron. The writer, Katie Rich, deleted the tweet, briefly deactivated her account and then apologized after a social media outcry led to calls for a boycott of the show.

Still, the number of incidents following the women's marches, which packed public squares in blue states and some red as well, has put a few elected officials and supervisors in an awkward spot. And it's not clear where to draw the line.

In Indiana, Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma says he's conducting social media tutorials after posts from at least two state lawmakers.

A weekend Facebook post by Indiana state Rep. Jim Lucas, a Republican, showed a photo of a woman sprayed in the face with pepper spray with a caption that read: "PARTICIPATION TROPHIES. NOW IN LIQUID FORM."

Another post by newly elected Indiana state Sen. Jack Sandlin, also a Republican, credited Donald Trump with getting "more fat women out walking than (former first lady) Michelle Obama did in 8 years."

Sandlin, who says he didn't knowingly make the since-deleted post, was inundated with criticism on his Facebook page and has apologized. He says the incident was a powerful lesson on the "unintended consequences" of opening up "your social media to try to get it out as broadly as you can."

Bosma partially blamed "the Twitter storm created by our president" which he said "makes people feel this is an appropriate vehicle to communicate." He added: "We're elected officials, we're held to a higher standard."

On Monday, Dathan Paterno, a school board member in Park Ridge, Illinois, where Hillary Clinton grew up, abruptly resigned after he called the protests a "farce" by "vagina screechers" on Twitter.

Paterno, who did not respond to a request for comment, later deleted his social media accounts, said district Superintendent Laurie Heinz. He wrote in his letter of resignation that the tweets were "understandably misinterpreted."

In the Quad Cities, along Illinois' western border, a teacher was "removed from the classroom" for posting a view of women that "does not reflect the values" of the school, district officials said in a statement.

The teacher, Mark Kaczmarek, tweeted a photo of a 1950s housewife, and commented that the protesters "all went home to make dinner."

One online petition called his tweet "unacceptable" while a rival petition said there is "no proof" that he "ever engaged in any kind of sexist, racist or even homophobic hate speeches in his classroom."

A person who answered the phone at a number listed to Kaczmarek declined to comment.

In Nebraska, a retweet of an offensive joke may be the final straw for state Sen. Bill Kintner, who admitted last year to having cybersex on a state computer with a woman who later tried to blackmail him. The Republican's colleagues on Wednesday will debate whether to expel him after he retweeted a joke implying that three women's march demonstrators were too unattractive to sexually assault.

Other incidents were reported in Mississippi, Rhode Island and New Mexico.

Cornfield, the political science professor, said that he thought most people learned the lesson about crossing the line in social media posts years ago during the early days of email.

"I guess now that we've elected the real Donald Trump some people need reminders," he said.