Two New Hampshire women were arrested on sex trafficking charges after authorities said they exploited at least a dozen women through an online "escort" service.

Two New Hampshire women were arrested on sex trafficking charges after authorities said they exploited at least a dozen women through an online "escort" service.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said Tuesday that the two women ran the website "Chloe's Companions" and arranged for men to have sex with women in Boston, Braintree, Lexington, Newton and Waltham.

Sonya Palic, 46, of Manchester, New Hampshire, and Charlotte Napolitano, 45, of Derry, New Hampshire, were arrested on Feb. 8. Palic was arrested in Lexington, Massachusetts by Massachusetts State Police assigned to Healey's Human Trafficking Division. Authorities in Derry, New Hampshire, arrested Napolitano.

"We allege that these defendants ran an organized and sophisticated criminal enterprise in which they profited personally from trafficking women to sex buyers in our communities," Healey said. "Demand for commercial sex drives this exploitative industry and we will continue our work to disrupt these operations and prosecute traffickers to protect women from this egregious crime."

Palic, who also went by Chloe, and Napolitano, who went by Red, became the focus of an investigation in September after the attorney general's office was notified by the Waltham Police Department.

The pair allegedly provided escort services from their homes in New Hampshire. The services took place primarily in Massachusetts, but also in New Hampshire and New York, authorities said.

The attorney general's office obtained an order to have the website, chloescompanions.com, taken down during the investigation. The website had profiles of women and a calendar to arrange meetings, Healey said.

"Palic and Napolitano allegedly arranged for women to meet with men, either for 'in-calls' or 'out-calls' at hotels, to provide commercial sexual services in exchange for cash," Healey said. "Authorities allege that a large portion of the money from these encounters went to Palic and Napolitano, which they laundered into the business to perpetuate the daily operations of the criminal enterprise."

Over a dozen women were exploited, according to investigators.

Both women are facing charges of trafficking in persons for sexual servitude, deriving support from prostitution, money laundering and conspiracy to traffic persons for sexual servitude. They were arraigned in Concord District Court on Feb. 8.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Ware Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Feb. 22 for the Taco Bell variance request.

WARE -- The town's Zoning Board of Appeals next week will discuss a request by representatives of Taco Bell restaurants, who plan to operate here in the future, for signs that are larger than current land use regulations allow.

The Taco Bell is planned at 118 West St., across the street from a McDonald's restaurant.

The Feb. 22 ZBA meeting agenda says Charter Foods North, which will operate the Taco Bell, is requesting variances "for a second freestanding sign, a larger-than-allowed primary sign; and a larger-than-allowed secondary wall sign."

The ZBA meeting is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Ware Town Hall, 126 Main St.

The town's Planning Board unanimously granted the business site plan approval in November to allow the company to build. A 2,558-square-foot building is planned to house the Taco Bell on an approximately seven-acre parcel.

The clothing was Sunday by a mother and her young daughter with money that the latter had been given as a Christmas present, police said,

HOLYOKE -- Police are seeking the public's help identifying two females suspected of stealing clothing that had just been purchased from the Old Navy store at the Holyoke Mall.

The clothing was bought Sunday by a mother and her young daughter with money that the latter had been given as a Christmas present.

"They had enjoyed a nice day together shopping and the young lady was very proud and happy with her purchases," Lt. James Albert stated in a release. "The Old Navy shopping bag was placed on the floor at some point while browsing other items in another store and the two suspects stole the bag."

Those with information are asked to call Holyoke detectives at 413-322-6940.

Lux was an early surrealist whose work evolved over the decades.

Poet Thomas Lux, a 1965 graduate of Easthampton High School, died of cancer Feb. 5 in his Atlanta home. 

Lux grew up on an Easthampton dairy farm run by his grandfather and uncle, according to the Boston Globe. His mother, the former Elinor Healey, was a switchboard operator at a Sears store, and his father, Norman, was a milkman. 

A verse from Lux's 1998 "The Man Into Whose Yard You Should Not Hit Your Ball" seems to capture childhood memories: 

Thomas Lux 

Lux published more than a dozen volumes, starting with "Memory's Handgrenade," published in 1972, and concluding with his 2016 "To the Left of Time." His work has appeared in magazines including The New Yorker and The Atlantic.

Upon leaving Western Massachusetts, Lux studied at Emerson College in Boston and the University of Iowa. He taught at various colleges before joining the writing faculty at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, where he taught for 27 years. 

Lux was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Award and received three National Endowment for the Arts grants and a Guggenheim Fellowship.

In 2002, he became Bourne professor of poetry and director of the McEver Visiting Writers Program at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

He leaves his wife Jennifer Holley Lux, who also teaches at Georgia Tech. 

Lester was a staple in Mason Square and was commonly seen panhandling money from drivers stopped at red lights.

SPRINGFIELD - Randolph Lester, a Springfield man known throughout the Mason Square area as "The Preacher," died last week at the Hampden County House of Correction in Ludlow.

Lester, 76, was found unresponsive in his jail cell at 8:10 a.m. Friday during a routine inmate check, according to Sheriff's Department spokesman Stephen O'Neill.

Randolph Lester in a 2010 Springfield police mugshot. He had been arrested about 90 times over the years. Springfield Police photo

Correctional officers and medical staff initiated CPR and cardiac defibrillation until EMTs arrived on the scene to take over lifesaving measures and transport him to the hospital where he was declared dead, O'Neil said.

The death is not considered suspicious, although the jail has not heard from the medical examiner regarding the official cause of death, he said.

Jail staff also notified the office of Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, which is standard policy in all cases where an inmate dies, he said.

Lester had achieved an almost cult status in the city and was known as "The Preacher" or "The Preacher Man" in Mason Square. With his wild white hair and beard, and white collar, Lester would commonly panhandle for money.

He would often approach cars stopped at red lights, tap on the driver's window and ask for cash. Sometimes, he would offer as a trade Keno slips that he said had been blessed by the Lord and had their winning numbers already filled in.

Aggressively panhandling and interfering with the flow of traffic is nearly certain to attract the attention of the police. In Lester's case, he had been arrested around 90 different times.

More often than not, the charges involved panhandling, and, when he declined to follow police commands, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

O'Neil said the jail classified Lester as a "chronic recidivist," which is an in-house term for someone who is frequently arrested and housed at the jail.

"He had been here many, many times over the years," O'Neil said.
He said the jail staff and Sheriff Nick Cocchi offered their condolences to Lester's family.

[enhanced link]

Lester's family has started a GoFundMe account to help affray the costs of his burial. The fund, through Tuesday afternoon, was roughly halfway toward its goal of $2,600.

Several of those donating to the fund expressed regret that it would be the last time they would give Lester some money.

In March, he was arrested after police saw him walking into the road on Oak Street to knock on the windows of cars waiting at light. According to the arrest report from that time, Lt. Thomas Zarelli said that when he was told to stop, Lester shouted that he was a minister.

Although Lester professed to be a minister, he was not known to be affiliated with any church.

His most recent appearance in court was a week before his death on a charge of violating city ordinances of aggressive panhandling and resisting arrest. His bail was revoked and he was ordered held at the jail in Ludlow pending his next date in court.

When his name was called out in court at his arraignment, Lester protested. In a raspy voice, he declared to the bench "I'm the Preacher."

Elaine Chao, who was confirmed as Secretary of Transportation on Jan. 31, also has a Massachusetts connection.

AMHERST -- David Shulkin, confirmed Monday in a unanimous U.S. Senate vote to be secretary of Veterans Affairs, studied science at Hampshire College, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1982.

The 57-year-old Shulkin remained engaged with Hampshire as an alumnus, according to a Facebook post from the college congratulating him on his nomination last month.

Shulkin attended a Hampshire alumni event in New York with President Jonathan Lash in 2013.

He graduated from Drexel University's medical school, known at the time as Medical College of Pennsylvania.

The physician has been the VA's under secretary for health after having been nominated to the post by former President Barack Obama in 2015. 

He secured the backing of Senate Democrats for secretary after pledging at his confirmation hearing to always protect veterans' interests, even if it meant disagreeing at times with President Donald Trump, according to the Associated Press.

The internist is the first non-veteran to lead the VA.

According to the Hampshire College media office, halfway through his studies Shulkin was featured by The New York Times in a 1980 story about the college's model of project-based learning. His project at the time was a self-designed science experiment using his refrigerator to investigate how fish survive in frozen ponds and lakes.

Elaine Chao, who was confirmed as Secretary of Transportation on Jan. 31, also has a local connection. She studied economics at Mount Holyoke in South Hadley graduating in 1975,

She is the wife of Republican Mitch McConnell and was labor secretary under President George W. Bush.

Over 13 schools in the state have MASSPIRG chapters, and already faculty from five of those schools have sent endorsements to MASSPIRG's campaign.

Student members of MASSPIRG are launching a campaign to persuade Massachusetts colleges and universities to power their campuses with 100 percent renewable energy.

MASSPIRG's announcement coincides with the launch of a national renewable energy campaign. Thirteen schools in the state have MASSPIRG chapters, and already faculty from five of those schools have sent endorsements to MASSPIRG's campaign, according to a statement released Tuesday.

The group claims that more than 180 faculty members and 5,500 students have joined their cause.

"Colleges and universities can lead the nation's efforts to transition to 100 percent renewable energy to address our largest environmental challenges," Hannah Pollan, President of MASSPIRG Students Fitchburg State University chapter said.

The group argues that colleges and universities have a special responsibility to lead the charge on climate change as campus facilities are significant energy users.

"Additionally, as influential institutions in our communities their actions can set an example in hundreds of communities across America," said Bronte Payne, Environment America Clean Energy Associate.

Fitchburg University has already made efforts to improve energy efficiency on campus, including replacing their 30-year-old HVAC system and installing nearly 350 solar panels.

MASSPIRG expects more than 150 college and university presidents to join their cause over the next week.

"We are calling for commitments to 100 percent renewable energy and the good news is that 100 percent renewable energy is 100 percent possible," Pollan said. "We are excited to work with the campus administration to move toward a clean and renewable future."

The Randolph Police Department is asking the public to help locate a 19-year-old Brockton man accused of shooting a victim in the face at the Rosemont Square apartment complex last week.

The Randolph Police Department is asking the public to help locate a 19-year-old Brockton man accused of shooting a victim in the face at the Rosemont Square apartment complex last week.

Police on Tuesday released a photo of the suspect, who they identified as Romaine Sanchez. In addition to the alleged shooting, Sanchez is also wanted for an assault police said happened at the same apartment complex earlier that day.

Sanchez is wanted on charges of armed assault with intent to murder; carrying a firearm without a license; threats to kill; discharging a firearm in a building; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (striking a person with a firearm); assault by means of a dangerous weapon (striking a person with a firearm); and threatening to commit a crime, police said in a statement.

Police went to 2 Chestnut West on Feb. 7, where they found a 32-year-old man who had been shot in the face and neck at close range, police said.

The victim was taken to a Boston hospital and is expected to recover.

Randolph police said an investigation identified Sanchez as the shooter.

Police said they believe Sanchez is carrying a firearm and should be considered armed and dangerous. 

Sanchez is also wanted for an alleged assault that occurred earlier that day in the same apartment complex, police said.

Between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on Feb. 7 - about 18 hours before the shooting - Sanchez got into an altercation with another man regarding stolen property, police said. Sanchez is accused of brandishing a handgun and threatening to shoot the man before striking the man over the head with the firearm and running away.

Sanchez was last week in a passenger seat of an older model Mitsubishi Gallant with a temporary "donut" wheel on the rear driver's side tire, the statement said.

Anyone with information about Sanchez's location should call the Randolph Police Department at 781-963-1212.

Police are seeking the public's help in identifying a man suspected of stealing a package of shoes that had been delivered by mail to an address on Taylor Street.

SPRINGFIELD - Police are seeking the public's help in identifying a man suspected of stealing a package of shoes that had been delivered by mail to an address on Taylor Street.

Police spokesman Sgt. John Delaney said the theft apparently occured on Nov.9 at 453 Taylor St.

A woman ordered expensive shoes but thought they had never arrived, he said. She checked with the U.S. Postal Service which confirmed the package was delived on Nov.9.  She then contacted police, Delaney said.

Detective Mark Bacon investigated and found security video from the front of the building that shows an unknown man who is believed to have taken the package, Delaney said.

The photo shows a white or Hispanic man with dark hair, wearing a red shirt and a maroon jacket.

Anyone who recognizes him is asked to call the Springfield Police Major Crime Unit at 413-787-6355.

At the June 3 convention in Lowell, Democrats from across the state will gather to adopt a new party platform.

EASTHAMPTON -- The Easthampton Democratic Committee will caucus March 4 to elect nine delegates and four alternates to the 2017 Massachusetts Democratic Convention.

The caucus is open to all registered city Democrats. Pre-registered Democrats who will turn 18 by Sept. 11, 2018 -- the anticipated date of the primary -- will be able to participate in caucuses and run for delegate.

At the June 3 convention in Lowell, Democrats from across the state will gather to adopt a new party platform.

"People are excited about politics and want to make a difference. Our caucuses are a great opportunity for those who are interested to get involved," said state Democratic party chairman Gus Bickford in a statement. "Delegates will be voting on our party platform in Lowell, and we want to make sure that every Democrat has a voice. This is a time to come together and speak to our shared Democratic values."

Delegates will be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written and secret. Youth, minorities, and people with disabilities who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be add-on delegates, either at their caucus or online at www.massdems.org.

The local caucus will be held on Saturday, March 4 at 10 a.m. at the city's 50 Payson Ave. municipal building.

The Easthampton Democratic Committee normally meets on the first Tuesday of the month. People seeking more information are asked to contact committee chairwoman Laurie Garcia at easthamptondems@gmail.com.

The resolution's first reading will be heard Tuesday night, and a similar discussion will be held Wednesday night at the Amherst School Committee meeting.

AMHERST -- The Amherst Regional School Committee at its meeting Tuesday night will consider a resolution that would protect students and faculty from immigration raids.

According to the resolution, "the safe and inviting environment" created by the schools would be threatened by "Immigration and Naturalization Service employees who come on to district property for the purposes of removing students or their family members, or obtaining information about students and their families. 

"The Committee further believes that students' well-being and ability to achieve is negatively impacted by the removal of their family members during Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office (ICE) raids ..."

Immigration officials will "be refused entry to District property unless the Superintendent and District Counsel are provided with a warrant signed by a judge or magistrate authorizing ICE entry onto the property," the resolution states.

The resolution's first reading will be heard Tuesday night, and a similar discussion will be held Wednesday night at the Amherst School Committee meeting.

In January, Amherst Police Chief Scott P. Livingstone, Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Acting Superintendent of Schools Michael Morris issued a statement in response to President Donald Trump's executive order that banned refugees from entering the United States for 120 days.

The order also bans nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering for 90 days and Syrian refugees indefinitely.

A federal appeals court has put a freeze on that ban while the Trump administration weighs its next steps.

According to the joint statement from police, schools and the town, "Our first and primary mission is the protection and education of the people of every age who live, work, visit, or study in the Town of Amherst. 

"In our diverse community, we strive to maintain partnerships and positive relationships with all members. We believe these positive relationships lead to a safer community, a better educated citizenry and improved quality of life for all members of our Amherst community," the statement reads.

Immigration Resolution Draft (2!15!17) by ledermand on Scribd

UMass representatives say the university is exploring a more broad-based program, but some gun owners see a more ideological intent.

The University of Massachusetts has declined to host a youth shooting sports program run by 4-H.

UMass representatives say the university is exploring a more broad-based program, but some gun owners see an ideological intent.

"It's absolute social bias against gun owners," said Jim Wallace, executive director of Gun Owners' Action League, a Massachusetts gun rights advocacy group. "You're being handed a successful program that's been vetted nationwide, and then handed the funding for the program. What's the problem?"

Currently, every state except Massachusetts and Rhode Island has a shooting sports program as part of its 4-H. The national 4-H organization runs hands-on educational programming in areas like agriculture and science. The shooting sports program teaches kids how to shoot firearms, but also teaches them about safety and responsibility when it comes to shooting, hunting and archery.

Massachusetts' 4-H program is run by the UMass Amherst Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment.

Ed Blaguszewski, a spokesman for UMass Amherst, said the university studied the shooting sports proposal made by the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation and examined the variety of different 4-H shooting programs around the country.

"Rather than focus limited resources on shooting sports only, the university is actively exploring development of a more broadly based program that includes instruction in hunting, fishing and conservation as part of our youth development activities," Blaguszewski said. "The hunting aspect of the program would include the basics of gun safety and the shooting sports."

The push for the shooting sports program began about two years ago, with the advocacy of Mandy Deveno, a 4-H volunteer club leader and licensed shooting instructor from Bellingham.

Deveno begin shooting trap with her father at a young age. Now, her daughter is becoming interested in archery and her son in rifle shooting. Deveno is originally from Wisconsin, and she talked to the directors of 4-H shooting sports programs in Wisconsin and Illinois. "Bringing the shooting sports program into 4-H would offer an activity that we find that youth are really engaged in," Deveno said.

Deveno said after Illinois created a shooting sports program, membership in 4-H grew by 25 percent over four years. She predicted that bringing the program to Massachusetts could grow 4-H membership by 11 or 12 percent, particularly among teenagers, who often lose interest in extracurricular activities.

Laurie Flanagan, executive director of the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation, said Deveno broached the idea, and the foundation supported Deveno's request.

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife was willing to pay $60,000 a year for three years to cover a shooting sports coordinator and training at UMass.

Peter Lorenz, a spokesman for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, said the state agency was approached by 4-H leadership in the spring of 2016 and asked to become a partner in the shooting sports program, which would be conducted by UMass Extension. If the program were implemented, the agency agreed to provide $180,000 over three years through the Inland Fish and Game Fund, which raises money from the sale of hunting, fishing and trapping licenses by hunters, anglers and trappers.

But UMass rejected the idea.

When Deveno asked why, Steve Goodwin, dean of the College of Natural Sciences at UMass Amherst, emailed Deveno that the university was interested in a broader program. "We are working hard to conceptualize a program that would encompass fishing, hunting and environmental conservation," he wrote in the email, a copy of which was provided to The Republican / MassLive. "We believe that such a program would fit well with the mission of the College of Natural Sciences and the University of Massachusetts."

But Wallace said he does not understand the reasoning. "It doesn't make any sense to us," Wallace said. "We have a nationally recognized program in 48 other states, apparently the funding was all set for the first three years, we had a volunteer that was about to take it on and help 4-H launch this program. ... We're trying to figure out why UMass would say no to education, when this is what it's all about."

A community meeting is scheduled in Springfield to discuss a "roundabout" traffic improvement project at Six Corners.

SPRINGFIELD -- There is a community meeting scheduled Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Elias Brookings Elementary School on Walnut Street to discuss a traffic improvement project planned at Six Corners.

The meeting is at 5:30 p.m., at the school cafeteria, 433 Walnut St. Those attending are advised to use the front entrance.

The meeting is about the so-called "roundabout" traffic project, aimed at improving traffic flow at that major intersection in the Six Corners area that includes Allen, Walnut and Hancock streets.

Representatives of the city Department of Public Works are expected to provide details about the design and the measures aimed at bringing traffic flow improvements and improved safety.

Early voting in the 2016 election cost Massachusetts cities and towns an estimated $720,000 in costs mandated by the state.

BOSTON -- Massachusetts cities and towns paid an estimated $720,000 in costs mandated by the state to hold early voting in the 2016 election, and Auditor Suzanne Bump believes the state should pay for those costs.

"The early voting law certainly is to be regarded a success," Bump said in a statement. "It did, however, mandate new procedures for clerks. Some of these should be paid for by the state, not municipalities."

The November general election was the first time Massachusetts allowed early voting, under a law signed by former Gov. Deval Patrick in 2014. More than a million voters cast their ballots before Election Day.

The state required all cities and towns to meet certain minimum standards -- offering early voting by mail and at one location open during business hours for two weeks before the election. Municipalities could choose to offer multiple locations or weekend hours, and Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin offered grant money to help cities and towns open the polls on the weekend.

Under state law, the Legislature and state agencies are not allowed to pass unfunded mandates on to cities and towns. If state officials do pass an unfunded mandate, municipalities can ask the auditor's office to make an official determination. They can then petition to the court to seek an exemption from the law until state funding is provided.

Woburn and Oxford petitioned Bump, who determined that some of the early voting costs should be paid for by the state -- around $5,500 for Woburn and $1,500 for Oxford.

As part of her research, Bump surveyed all the state's cities and towns to determine how much they paid for early voting. She determined that they paid approximately $720,000 in mandated costs and another $1.2 million in other costs -- for optional polling hours, newspaper advertising, police personnel for early voting, etc. Bump did not consider the $1.2 million for purposes of requiring state reimbursement.

Bump wrote in her determination that the $400,000 appropriated by lawmakers for early voting was insufficient and was not used to cover the mandated expenses. "The primary issue in this case is the burden that early voting placed on municipal clerk's offices and the lack of state funding for early voting," Bump wrote.

Based on information from 282 municipalities that responded to her survey, Bump found that city and town clerks did face additional burdens, requiring many of them to work overtime and interfering with their ability to prepare for the regular biennial election and perform other routine duties.

Rachel Lefsky, a spokeswoman for the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said the office is still reviewing the audit. She would not comment on whether lawmakers would appropriate more money to cover last year's expenses or propose changing the law to require the state to cover early voting costs going forward.

A spokesman for the Executive Office of Administration and Finance did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the administration agrees with Bump that the state should pay for those costs.

General Electric is backing away from its deep desire for a publicly funded helipad in Boston.

General Electric is backing away from its deep desire for a helipad in Boston.

The company is in the process of moving to a location next to the Fort Point Channel, from Connecticut. When Massachusetts was attempting to woo GE away from Connecticut, the importance of a helipad frequently surfaced in discussions early on.

But the massive company, which has stated it hopes to complete the move by 2018, now says Logan International Airport is working out for them.

"We agree with the city and state that a helipad should be part of the overall transportation strategy for Boston," GE spokeswoman Sue Bishop said in a statement to the Boston Herald and Globe. "However, we have told the city and state that our experience at Logan has been positive."

State and city officials nearly a month ago announced a working group tasked with finding a location for a proposed public helipad in the city. The concept of the helipad has faced pushback from some neighbors.

General Electric executives really, really want a helipad in Boston

In announcing the working group, officials noted that the city has private heliports, but not one that is publicly owned within the city's center, and their research and outreached indicated there is interest in one from medical organizations, emergency services, law enforcement officials and private companies.

"The Commonwealth of Massachusetts continues to evaluate public feedback which has been received and will continue to work with the City of Boston to explore potential sites for a heliport," a Massachusetts Department of Transportation spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday after GE's new stance was announced.

The push for a helipad has surfaced in the 2017 race for Boston mayor. Incumbent Mayor Marty Walsh had backed GE in its quest.

How Massachusetts officials aggressively courted General Electric to move to Boston

City Councilor Tito Jackson, who has launched a campaign to unseat Walsh, referred to the incentives package used to draw GE to Boston as a "sweetheart deal" and said in a statement he is "thrilled" to hear GE is no longer pursuing a public helipad.

"Google and Microsoft greatly expanded their presence in our metro area because they appreciated Logan Airport's proximity to the center of Boston, as well as the well-trained and hard-working workforce that we have in Boston and beyond," Jackson said. "I commend GE for reaching the same conclusion."

Here's the pitch book that helped convince GE to move to Boston

Neal said Russia's election meddling "was nothing less than a direct assault on our democracy by a foreign government."

Saying "our national security is at stake," U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal is calling for an investigation into the Trump administration's ties to Russia.

In a statement Tuesday, the Springfield Democrat said revelations about now-former national security adviser Michael Flynn's "secret discussions" with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak were "deeply troubling."

Flynn resigned Monday night amid reports that, prior to Trump's inauguration and before he served in any official government role, he discussed U.S. sanctions with Kislyak, a charge the Kremlin denies.

"Even more disturbing is today's disclosure that the Justice Department warned the White House about General Flynn's possibly illegal behavior and nothing was done about it," Neal said.

The sanctions in question were imposed by President Barack Obama's outgoing administration amid reports that the Russian government engaged in cyber attacks to help Trump win the 2016 election.

Neal said Russia's election meddling "was nothing less than a direct assault on our democracy by a foreign government."

"I believe the American people need to know the full extent of the relationship between the Trump administration and the Russian government," said Neal. "And President Trump must finally release his tax returns so the public can learn whether he has any financial or business interest with Russia."

For his part, Flynn said "there were no lines crossed" in his contacts with Kislyak. The White House said Trump asked for his resignation because misstatements he made to administration officials including Vice President Mike Pence eroded the president's trust.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said it's "highly likely" the matter will be investigated by the Intelligence Committee.

Five orders to strengthen building code requirements such as regarding fire alarms will be discussed at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017 by the Holyoke City Council Ordinance Committee at City Hall in relation to a New Year's Day fire that killed three people.

HOLYOKE -- The deadly New Year's Day fire at 106 North East St. will be on the minds of councilors tonight as a committee discusses building code requirements aimed at preventing another tragedy.

The City Council Ordinance Committee meeting is at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

State investigators determined that the alarm system in the five-story apartment building lost the connection to its monitoring company about 32 hours before the Jan. 1 fire that killed three people and destroyed the homes of 49 others.

State investigation of fatal Holyoke fire finds no annual tests of alarm system, failure to fix malfunction

The cause of the fire was an electrical problem in a wall outlet in the living room of a third-floor apartment, state officials said.

The Ordinance Committee will discuss these proposed orders, which are preceded by the names of the councilors who filed them:

• Ward 2 Councilor Nelson R. Roman: that the Ordinances of the City of Holyoke be changed to require all landlords with three or more fire alarms have them in good working condition.

• Ward 1 Councilor Gladys Lebron-Martinez: that buildings sold within the city for residential occupancy be inspected for health and other safety codes before permitted to be in operation in addition to the fire alarms ordinance that already exists, that an additional ordinance require landlords to install systems to alert the Fire Dept. of any fires within the premises.

• Councilor at Large James M. Leahy: that the Council adopt an ordinance which requires when a communication failure is detected by a third party monitoring company in any residential building with 4 or more units, the Fire Department be notified immediately. At the discretion of the Fire Chief a fire watch detail may be assigned until the system is working again. The cost of the detail will be paid for by the property owner.

• Leahy: that the City Council adopt a special act requiring the installation of monitored fire alarm systems in residential buildings with four or more units.

• Leahy: that the city use any legislative mechanism necessary to require the installation of monitored fire alarm systems in residential buildings with four or more units.

Firefighters were called to the fire at 106 North East St. just before 9 a.m. Those killed were Maria Cartagena, 48, and Jorge Munoz, 55, both of Holyoke, and Trevor R. Wadleigh, 34, of Easthampton.

The property at 106 North East St. that included the five-story building, now demolished, is owned by Irshad Sideeka of Naviah Investments of Brookline, Massachusetts.

Tim Randhir, a University of Massaschusetts Amherst hydrologist, said we just need for it to melt very slowly during a cool spring.

AMHERST -- All that snow that fell over the past few days, and threatens to fall in the coming weeks, is made of water.

But it may not be enough by itself to solve Massachusetts' persistent drought, although it will help, especially if it melts slowly.

Problem is, it's been so dry for so long that people in this part of the world have been using up water from underground aquifers and from reservoirs much faster than they usually do, said Christine Hatch, assistant extension professor in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

"That is something that takes a lot longer to even see and observe, and it takes a lot more to recover from," Hatch said. "This drought started back in 2013. If you recall, we had plenty of snow in the winter of 2015. Yet we were back in a drought the following summer."

Last year was a particularly dry one across much of the Northeast, with drought warnings and communities imposing outside water bans.

Westfield was particularly hard-hit because wells there are offline due to contamination. The city has taken its reservoir offline, hoping it refills by spring.

Springfield's reservoirs, Borden Brook Reservoir and Cobble Mountain Reservoir in Westfield, are still 8 percent below normal, said Joyce Mulvaney, spokeswoman for the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission.

So far in 2017, the region is about a inch ahead of normal precipitation levels, according to National Weather Service data from Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee has about 18 inches of accumulated snow on the ground, also according to the National Weather Service.

There really isn't that much water in snow, though, Hatch said. Melt down a foot to 18 inches of snow and you might get an inch of water.

That makes it hard for groundwater to replenish.

"What it is, is the accumulation of too many years of not enough precipitation on an annual basis," Hatch said.  "And last year, not having the rain during the heart of the growing season is when people saw things as really dire."

Making things worse, global climate change has resulted in more precipitation falling as rain and less as snow in the late spring and early fall, Hatch said. Climate change also means there is less rain during the growing season, forcing farmers to irrigate more than they have in the past.

Snowpack is a good place to store water at least temporarily, Hatch said.

Tim Randhir, a UMass hydrologist, said we just need for it to melt very slowly during a cool spring.

"We need more snowpack like this," Randhir said. "If it melts away quickly, we will lose it. This has to slowly melt until we see some ground surface thawing and then we will see groundwater replenishment."

If snow melts too fast, the water just runs off. Even if that runoff gets captured in a reservoir, it might fill the reservoir too fast and have to be sent downstream to avoid overfilling.

Adam Rei of Springfield died Tuesday of injuries suffered in a beating last week in Holyoke.

HOLYOKE - Three brothers who were arrested last week and charged with beating a 25-year-old Springfield man during a robbery are now facing murder charges as a result of the man's death on Tuesday.

The victim, identified as Adam Rei, died of injuries suffered in the Feb. 8. assault, said District Attorney Anthony Gulluni. The death is being classified as a homicide.

The three suspects Joseph Rivera, 22, of Holyoke; Roberto Rivera, 31, of Holyoke; and Edwin Rivera, 32, of Marshill, N.C. They were arrested on Saturday at an apartment at 123 Cabot St.

Initially they were charged with assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, and unarmed robbery. Edwin Rivera was also charged with intimidating a witness.

Each is being held on $25,000 cash bail for the assault and robbery charges. Each will likely be arraigned on the murder charge in Holyoke District Court as soon as Wednesday.

According to Gulluni's office, police were called to the area of 591 High St. in Holyoke on Feb. 8 at around 8 p.m. for a report of a man unconscious on the sidewalk.

Rei was taken to Holyoke Medical Center for treatment of what initially was thought to be a medical issue. He was later transferred to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield when it was determined he had suffered serious injuries that had not been apparent when he was found.

Gulluni said that at about the same time police learned that Rei had been the victim of an assault.

 Holyoke police and state police detectives assigned to Gulluni's office began investigating the case as an assault and robbery and were able to identify two of three suspects in the assault. On Saturday, police learned that two of the suspects were staying at 123 Cabot St. and obtained arrest warrants, Gulluni said.

While executing those warrants, they found the third suspect who was arrested as he attempted to flee, he said. He did not specify which of the three that was.

Gulluni expressed his condolences to Rei's family and friends. He also thanked Holyoke Police and state police for their quick work in bringing about arrests.

The death is the first homicide in Holyoke since 31-year-old Carmen Rosario was shot to death on June 25.

Twenty-three people are facing charges of distributing heroin and fentanyl after a round of raids in Fall River, New Bedford, Bridgewater, Boston, Brighton and Providence, R.I.

BOSTON - Twenty-three people are facing charges of distributing heroin and fentanyl after a series of raids in Fall River, New Bedford, Bridgewater, Boston, Brighton and Providence, R.I.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, along with state and local law enforcement, carried out 12 searches on Tuesday, arresting the alleged leaders of two drug trafficking organizations in Boston and Taunton, plus nearly two dozen lower-level associates.

Fernando Rivera-Rodriguez, 31, of Boston, and Fernando Hernandez, 42, of Providence, R.I., were held following an initial appearance in federal court.

"Today's arrests will help stem the flow of heroin and fentanyl into our communities," said acting U.S. Attorney William D. Weinreb in a statement. "The defendants in this case knew the drugs that they were distributing were potent and potentially lethal, yet they continued to brazenly ignore the dangers and even expand their reach into Maine."

"Those that are suffering from a fentanyl and heroin substance use disorder need treatment and recovery but those that distribute and profit from spreading this poison need to be held accountable," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson.

The following are charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl:

Fernando Rivera-Rodriguez, a/k/a Alex, a/k/a Antonio Moraima, 31, of Boston;
Glendalee Rodriguez, 33, of Fall River;
Juan Morales-Ortiz, a/k/a Josiel, 27, of Boston;
Jancer Soto, 25, of Boston;
Jose Camacho, a/k/a Traga, 37, of Boston;
Wilmi Hernandez-Diaz, 21, of Boston;
Yeurys Tejeda, a/k/a Santos, 28, of Boston;
Jose R. Narvaez-Arroyo, a/k/a Pacha, 35, of Boston;
Jeffrey Freitas, 31, of Bridgewater;
Isis Y. Lugo-Guerrero, a/k/a Izzy, 44, of Boston;
Jose Negron, a/k/a Edwin Padilla, a/k/a Luisito Bulto, 36, of Boston;
Malvin Berrios, a/k/a Bori, 34, of Boston;
Roger Longmire, 34, of Taunton;
Stephanie O'Sullivan, 30, of Taunton;
Omar Guzman, 39, of Taunton;
Marisa Ruiz, 32, of Taunton;
John Paul Tanguay, 33, of Taunton;
Daniel Wren, 31, of Taunton;
David Tejeda, 34, of New Bedford;
Fernando Hernandez, a/k/a Mora, 42, of Providence, RI;
Jose Arias, 21, of Providence, RI;
Carlos Miguel Gonzalez-Figueroa, 32, of Providence, RI; and
Crystal Rivera, 30, of Providence, RI.

Yeurvs Tejeda and Carlos Gonzalez-Figueroa remain fugitives at large.

"The greater Taunton area has been one of the regions hardest hit by opioid trafficking and overdose deaths," said Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, adding that such operations are "frontal attacks on the hot zones of heroin and fentanyl trafficking."

Prosecutors said a court-approved wiretap revealed the defendants talking about the deadly effects of the drugs they were selling. Fernando Rivera-Rodriguez allegedly told a distributor that "when you see those people being knocked over ... you are going to call me back."

The wiretap also caught Rivera-Rodriguez boasting about robbing two houses and stealing $20,000 in cash, plus valuable jewelry.

Each defendant faces between three and 20 years in prison plus a $1 million fine.