The Historical Commission in Holyoke, Massachusetts will hold a public hearing on March 7, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Center at 291 Pine St. on a proposal to demolish the closed Mater Dolorosa Church.

While more than a foot of snow fell on some Massachusetts communities this week, such totals seem small compared to snow on the ground further north.

While more than a foot of snow fell on some Massachusetts communities this week, such totals seem small compared to snow on the ground further north.

Andover, a tiny town in western Maine, has recorded 79 inches of snowfall so far this month.

While high, the Associated Press reports the snow depth is not one for the record books - at least not yet. More than 100 inches of snow buried parts of the state in 2015.

Bruce Simmons, a resident in Andover, spoke with WMTW News 8 in Maine on camera about the tunnels he has dug to create a path between his home and street.

The local school district has called nine snow days so far this year.

Moments before the shooting, Llorens' hands were empty and by his side, a witness testified.

SPRINGFIELD -- On May 22, 2013, Jonathan Padilla's dog pulled him across the street and into the middle of a murder investigation, he told jurors Thursday.

Walking along Belmont Avenue around 10:45 p.m., Padilla let his dog tug him toward the opposite sidewalk and past four men arguing by a mailbox. Looking back, Padilla saw one man point a gun "and heard like four or five shots," he testified in Hamdpen Superior Court.

Taking the stand as a prosecution witness, Padilla identified the shooter as Benjamin Rivera, who is standing trial for allegedly gunning down Angel Llorens, 22, of Springfield, following a prank involving members of two competing car racing clubs.

Questioned by Assistant District Attorney Max Bennett, the 26-year-old Springfield man said Llorens' hands were empty and down by his side moments before the shooting. He fell face down into the street and was struggling to breathe when Padilla approached to help, he testified.

"He was trying to say something, but was having trouble talking," Padilla said.

When police arrived about two minutes later, Padilla "just walked away and started crying," he told jurors.

During opening arguments Wednesday, Bennett said the events leading to the shooting began when a member of a rival street racing team peeled the "Team Built" sticker from Llorens' car outside his Hollywood Street home. The sticker theft was part of a previously harmless "prank war" between Llorens' team and members of "Backyard Built," several of whom were attending a house party on nearby Daytona Street.

When Llorens confronted Rivera, Lee Hutchins Jr. and a third partygoer later that night, Hutchins agreed to buy another sticker and left to get the money. Moments later, Rivera shot Llorens four times with a 9-mm pistol, the prosecutor said.

Hutchins, who also testified Thursday for the prosecution, summed up the killing to his father by saying, "Dad, he shot him ... he shot him over nothing," Bennett said.

But defense lawyer Edward Fogarty said his client only fired after Llorens threatened  him with a knife.

Fogarty described the victim as armed, angry and possibly affiliated with the Latin Kings street gang. Hutchins owned the 9-mm pistol and handed it to Rivera as they saw Llorens walking toward them on Belmont Avenue.

Under questioning from Fogarty, Hutchins said he purchased the pistol from an unidentified person about six months before the shooting. In exchange for his testimony against Rivera, Springfield police never filed charges against him in connection with Lloren's death or for possessing an illegal gun, Hutchins said.

As the host of the Daytona Street party, Hutchins invited several members of the Backyard Built club. His guests spent several hours drinking cognac and smoking marijuana on the porch before one of them decided to steal the "Team Built" sticker from Llorens' car.

Later, when they saw Llorens approaching the house, Hutchins, Rivera and a third man walked to meet him in an attempt to defuse the situation, Hutchins said.

Responding to questions from the prosecutor, Hutchins said he did not see the shooting, but heard Llorens tell the defendant he was not afraid of the 9-mm pistol. Moments later, he heard four shots and saw Llorens on the ground, Hutchins said.

Rivera called out the words "Puerto Rico" and then fled with the gun, Hutchins said.

Testimony will resume Tuesday. Judge Daniel Ford is presiding over the trial.

Associated Industries of Massachusetts remains determined to articulate a positive agenda for economic growth here in Massachusetts.

Richard C. Lord, President & CEO, Associated Industries of Massachusetts. 

By Richard C. Lord, president and CEO of Associated Industries of Massachusetts

As President Donald J. Trump makes good on promise to shake Washington to its core, it's clear that the next four years will bring change to a thriving Massachusetts economy that sometimes seems worlds away from the middle-class disaffection that led to Mr. Trump's election.

Unemployment in Massachusetts remains at a 17-year low of 2.8 percent. Bay State employers created more than 72,000 jobs last year, economic output grew 27 percent faster than the nation as a whole and Bloomberg News again ranked Massachusetts as the most innovative state in the country.

Sure, we face a persistent shortage of skilled labor. Yes, we face a dearth of housing that those workers can afford. And yes, business costs remain unacceptably high. But overall, we're the kind of state for which Red Sox general manager Dave Dombrowski would gleefully trade four minor leaguers in an effort to win the World Series this season.

So the question is whether the tidal wave of change promised by the Trump administration will help or harm employers here in Massachusetts. No one really knows, of course, especially in a year in which conventional wisdom has been repeatedly turned on its head and almost nothing the experts predicted has come to pass.

But we can certainly look at three important policy initiatives that may be coming down the road from Washington to Massachusetts:

Number one, health-care reform. The Republican Congress and the new president appear ready to roll back major provisions of the Affordable Care Act and replace it with - well, no one seems to know yet.

Massachusetts created its own successful health care reform 11 years ago. It worked because everyone - from AIM to doctors and hospitals to insurance companies to consumers to elected officials from both parties - rolled up their sleeves and hammered out a plan that allowed 97 percent of Massachusetts residents to have health insurance, the highest figure in the nation.

Right now, the future is murky. One thing we know for sure is that repeal and replace raises the prospect that billions of federal dollars that made the Massachusetts experiment successful might be placed at risk or changed into block grants.

Number two, trade. Candidate Trump campaigned on a strong anti-trade platform targeting China, Mexico, the North American Free Trade agreement and the proposed Trans-Pacific Trade Pact (TPP). President Trump followed through on his promise to scotch TPP by signing an executive order on Jan. 23, withdrawing the United States from the proposed dozen-nation Pacific trade territory.

Trade is like oxygen to the Massachusetts economy. Bay State companies export more than $25 billion worth of goods, and probably at least that much in services, each year. Approximately 9,700 small and medium-sized Massachusetts companies support 112,000 jobs with export sales. And, 7 percent of Massachusetts residents work for a foreign-owned employer.

One expert noted that Mr. Trump is perhaps less anti-trade and more pro "good trade deals." We certainly hope so because trade wars would cause broad collateral damage here in Massachusetts.

Number three, lower taxes. Mr. Trump has proposed to reduce the corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 15 percent while eliminating deductions and simplifying the tax code. It's fair to say that such a change would benefit economic growth in Massachusetts. At the same time, the proposed tax reduction poses obvious issues for a federal deficit that reached $590 billion, or 3.2 percent of Gross Domestic Product, in the most recent fiscal year.

Associated Industries of Massachusetts remains determined to articulate a positive agenda for economic growth here in Massachusetts. We have done that through our Blueprint for the Next Century, which we developed during our centennial in 2015 and now update on an annual basis.

The Blueprint makes four primary recommendations:

• Government and business must develop the best system in the world for educating and training workers with the skills to allow Massachusetts companies to succeed in the global economy;
• Massachusetts must create a uniformly competitive economic structure, including an efficient transportation infrastructure, across all industries, geographic regions and populations;
• Massachusetts must establish a world-class state regulatory system that meets the highest standards for efficiency, predictability, transparency, and responsiveness; and
• Massachusetts must find a way to moderate the substantial burden that health care and energy costs place on business growth.

In an age when the only certainty is uncertainty, the 4,000 members of Associated Industries of Massachusetts stand ready to work with all levels of government, from the Baker Administration to the Legislature to the Congress, to ensure that the thriving economy all of you have created is preserved for future generations and extended to every corner of the commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Richard C. Lord is president and CEO of Associated Industries of Massachusetts; to learn more about AIM and its work, go online to aimnet.org.

With new business come new jobs. With new ideas comes new opportunity. With commitment to our principles comes smart, strong development.

By William F. Martin, mayor of Greenfield

The small city known as the town of Greenfield is strategically situated at the intersection of Interstate 91 and cross-state Route 2 in the upper Pioneer Valley at the base of the Mohawk Trail.

Settled in 1686, Greenfield has been the crossroads for commercial, cultural, governmental, judicial, entertainment, health and transportation activities for over 200 years.

To succeed in the 21st century, Greenfield must be relevant to the requirements of economic development while providing for the residents. We must recognize and be true to our responsibility as the capital of Franklin County, and we must share in the same vision as our citizens.

We hold to two basic principles. First, we are working to increase the density of people at the core of the city. Second, we are developing strategies to accommodate and facilitate human service and invention.

An increased density strategy to reinforce its shire town status and provide services is to create opportunity for what people need. Residents need access to education, government, courts, banking, health care, housing, basic goods and opportunity while feeling safe, secure and valued. We work to attract businesses that provide that. And, those entities will contribute to the vibrancy of downtown and the local economy, assuring success and stability.

Greenfield has already completed an impressive array of developments to support our goals. We recently built a state-of-the-art, 21st century high school that includes both the most modern STEM facilities available and the largest auditorium for arts and culture in the upper Pioneer Valley.

Also opened in 2016, a 65-bed residential medical treatment facility, cardiology clinic and holistic health center that continue to meet the community's needs.
In the permitting process are two manufacturing firms that will create 70 new jobs and further expand the tax base.

The town has invested as well, with the development of Greenfield Light & Power providing 100 percent green electricity for residents and business at a discount, and a capped landfill 2.5MW solar farm, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
Our infrastructure improvement programs have led to the revitalization of storefronts and office buildings downtown and increased traffic in the core of Greenfield.

We have ambitious projects in place for development for the year ahead. We will finalize the opening of our brand-new Franklin County Courthouse, bringing hundreds of employees to our downtown business area.

In addition, we are constructing a 40,000-square-foot medical, dental and behavior science clinic to provide service for 4000 clients monthly.

We will break ground this year on a new municipal garage to service our bustling downtown business district, and we will also begin construction of our new Senior Community Center to service our valued seniors.

We will take advantage of our recently conferred Cultural District status to continue the development of our burgeoning arts, culture and culinary community, further boosting our local creative economy.

Finally, we will roll out the first services from our innovative Greenfield Community Energy and Technology organization to provide town-owned, affordable and reliable high speed Internet and telecommunications for all.

The economic benefit of this effort is to lay a fertile commercial field for start-ups and locally owned businesses that will service the "wants" created by all this vibrant activity, and therefore, add to stability via diverse business ventures coupled with new jobs and an expanded tax base and support existing merchants.

With new business come new jobs. With new ideas comes new opportunity. With commitment to our principles comes smart, strong development. That is the path for Greenfield's success in 2017 and beyond.

William F. Martin is mayor of Greenfield. To learn more, visit greenfield-ma.gov.

Economic development continues to be a priority in this community of about 28,700 residents.

WEST SPRINGFIELD -- Last year was a big year for West Springfield, which marked the 100th anniversary of The Big E and the arrival of Will Reichelt, a new mayor who pledged allegiance to the Three A's of local government: approachability, accessibility and accountability.

Considering Reichelt's legal background -- he was formerly a municipal attorney for both Agawam and West Springfield -- and his penchant for getting things done, this year promises to be equally busy for this community of around 28,700 residents.

The mayor and the Town Council will continue to focus on economic development and quality-of-life issues in West Side, a vibrant community that's home to residential neighborhoods, major shopping districts and the Eastern States Exposition, the famous Memorial Avenue fairgrounds that host The Big E each fall.

"A target we have made significant progress on is Memorial Avenue, one of our gateways into West Springfield and home to the Big E," Reichelt said.

Last year's improvements to the busy commercial district included a major overhaul to a local McDonald's restaurant and construction of a $6 million auto dealership and showroom for Fathers & Sons Audi and Volkswagen. This year, a Chipotle restaurant, the West Springfield Sportsmen Center, and a plaza anchored by Florence Bank are slated to debut along Memorial Avenue or just off the main drag.

Within the next few years, the redesign and reconstruction of Memorial Avenue is expected to give a shot in the arm to the commercial thoroughfare, which extends from the base of the Memorial Bridge linking West Springfield to Springfield to the Morgan-Sullivan Bridge linking West Springfield to Agawam.

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The $15 million-plus project is expected to break ground some time in 2020 or 2021 -- after the state rebuilds the Morgan-Sullivan Bridge -- and will help breathe new life into West Springfield's oldest commercial and residential neighborhood, according to Reichelt.

Meanwhile, the Sportsmen Center project is an ambitious undertaking in its own right. The 10,000-square-foot building would combine a retail sporting goods store with a 17-lane recreational archery and shooting range.

"The project is an example of how the town is working closely with entrepreneurs to bring their concept through to a fully permitted project," Reichelt said.

The city recently completed demolition and cleanup of the former Standard Plating Co. site at 974 Main St., which is about two blocks north of Memorial Avenue. The planned reuse of the site is good news for the Merrick and Memorial neighborhoods, according to city officials.

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Local leaders are also focused on Riverdale Street (Route 5), the city's other major commercial corridor. Riverdale is home to loads of big box stores, national retailers, a 15-screen movie theater, and such popular local businesses as Table & Vine.

The district is about to get even busier with the addition of at least one new hotel along Route 5, home to many retail businesses that are in the process of overhauling their operations.

To help facilitate business and growth, Reichelt has made revamping the city's zoning regulations a priority. Some of the past rigid standards that were adopted decades ago have put West Side businesses at "a competitive disadvantage in the regional economy and the marketplace of the 21st century," he said.

With that, the city is launching a review and rewrite of its zoning ordinances. The goal is to take a "fresh look at the role that town government can play to help business thrive in the city," Reichelt said.

According to the mayor, other positive developments include:

• The long-stalled Connecticut River Bikeway Walkway project is scheduled to begin this spring;
• the establishment of a Complete Streets ordinance;
• West Side has received over $1.6 million in grant assistance for new community opportunities;
• the Blight Task Force returned 17 properties to viability and removed four unsalvageable structures;
• and the Public Partnership Panel, which includes the mayor, department heads and others who meet regularly with residents and business owners to discuss local plans and regulations.

Since Reichelt became mayor in January 2016, the city's government has earned a reputation for being accessible and responsive to the public. For example, West Side's embrace of social media, particularly Facebook and Twitter, has put it in a class of its own in the Pioneer Valley.

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Instant push notifications are sent to people's inboxes, alerting them about meetings or events scheduled to take place on Livestream, an Internet video-streaming platform that broadcasts live content on a regular basis. The technology allows citizens to watch Town Council sessions, or any number of other public board meetings, from the comfort of their own living rooms.

Press conferences, ceremonies and other live events are also broadcast through Livestream, which can be accessed from West Springfield's website, townofwestspringfield.org, or Facebook page.

"We are trying to hold on to the important things of the past that shaped our community and made it a good place to raise a family, while at the same time looking at the future by re-imagining it in a way that takes advantage of the innovation and technological changes happening all around us," Reichelt said.

Girls and boys in the Safe Sitter babysitting class will learn how to handle emergencies and get safety tips such as CPR instruction on Feb. 25, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Greater Holyoke YMCA, 171 Pine St.

HOLYOKE -- A Safe Sitter class is being offered to girls and boys of ages 11 to 14 to teach them how to handle emergencies when caring for younger children on Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Greater Holyoke YMCA, 171 Pine St.

The students will be instructed in infant and child CPR, get safety tips, learn how to understand children of different ages and get familiar with the business of babysitting, a press release said.

The cost of the class is $55, the press release said.

The YMCA uses the Safe Sitter technique based on a program that began in 1980 by Indianapolis pediatrician Patricia A. Keener, said safesitter.org.

Registration for the Safe Sitter course began Tuesday and girls and boys can be registered for the class by calling 413-534-5631.

Antoine Harris, 43, was held on $1,000 bail Tuesday and is scheduled to reappear in Middlesex Superior Court on March 7.

A Wareham man has been arraigned and charged with human trafficking after authorities say they uncovered a prostitution operation he ran out of a hotel in Woburn. 

Antoine Harris, 43, was held on $1,000 bail Tuesday and is scheduled to reappear in Middlesex Superior Court on March 7.

Last August, officers from the Woburn Vice and Narcotics Unit were conducting undercover investigations into online prostitution, attempting to set up meetings with sex workers. 

An officer ended up connecting with a female on the site, and following a series of texts and calls, she agreed to meet with him at a hotel room.

"This is an example of a disturbing and growing trend of websites that use classified advertisements to solicit sexual services," Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said.

When the officer and surveillance team arrived, they witnessed a female being escorted by Harris, police said. 

Authorities noticed that Harris had set up counter-surveillance outside the room the officer and the woman were supposed to meet in. When Harris spotted the officer, he attempted to flee the scene and drive away in his car. 

Police stopped Harris in the hotel parking lot and arrested him. They later discovered that the hotel room was reserved in Harris' name. 

"This case highlights the importance of online vigilance by law enforcement officials as human trafficking cases are not always easy to identify and they may often present as incidents of prostitution or sexual assault." Ryan said. 

Springfield Police Lt. Richard LaBelle told WWLP the man was shot about 2 a.m. Police found the victim at St. James Circle near Exit 3.

George Graham | ggraham@repub.com 

Springfield Police Lt. Richard LaBelle told WWLP the man was shot about 2 a.m. Police found the victim at St. James Circle near Exit 4.

LaBelle said the victim was not able to give a description of the shooter.

Western Mass News reported the victim was shot near Exit 3. State police closed down that side of the interstate for about an hour while they investigated.

City police have since reported that Massachusetts State Police are investigating the case. State police deferred comment to the Hampden District Attorney's office.

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

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

Police, after stopping the vehicle on Main Street by Athens Pizza, found 67 bags of heroin, according to post on the department's Facebook page.

George Graham | ggraham@repub.com 

Officer Jay Butynski, watching a blue Chevrolet SUV travelling directly in front of him shortly after 7:30 p.m., saw the passenger toss the cigarette, which then bounced in the roadway, according to a post on the department's Facebook page.

Such an act is a violation of state littering laws, police said. Butynski stopped the vehicle on Main Street by Athens Pizza.

Officer Corey Greene, who arrived to assist, found suspected heroin and and what police described as a "users kit" on the passenger after a short investigation.

The driver, Jennifer Tatro, told Butynski that she had heroin in her wallet and showed him where it was. Tatro, 28, of 4 Chapman Court, Apt. C, Greenfield, was charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug law.

Nathan Young, 31, of 68 Lakeview Road, Shutesbury, was charged with possession of heroin, littering from a motor vehicle (cigarette), conspiracy to violate drug law, failure to wear a seat belt.

Police ultimately recovered 67 bags of heroin.

The delivery of coffee mugs, donuts and gift cards to all of the fire stations in the City of Springfield was a part of the National Acts of Kindness Day. Garry's day started at Station 5 on Odessa Street.

SPRINGFIELD- Dunkin' Donuts representative Alie Garry got an early start Friday morning, spreading the company's coffee and treats to members of the Springfield Fire Department.

The delivery of coffee mugs, donuts and gift cards to all of the fire stations in the City of Springfield was a part of the National Acts of Kindness Day. Garry's day started at Station 5 on Odessa Street where firefighters were just starting their shift.

Dunkin' also delivered donuts and coffee to police and fire departments throughout Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties.

Random Acts of Kindness Day is a nationally observed day where people, groups, and organizations are encouraged to perform acts of kindness.

"Dunkin' Donuts is committed to the communities we serve," said Derek Salema, a Dunkin' Donuts franchisee, in a press release. "And we are proud to help spread kindness by serving those who serve others, like our local police and fire departments. This is a small way for us to show how much we appreciate their service every day."

In addition to facing a dozen criminal charges in connection with the fatal crash on Union Street in Springfield last month, 18-year-old Aaron Thorne must deal with the deaths of several family members in the crash. Watch video

In addition to facing a dozen criminal charges in connection with the fatal crash on Union Street in Springfield last month, 18-year-old Aaron Thorne must deal with the fact the crash resulted in the deaths of two of his cousins. 

The New Haven, Connecticut teen was identified as the driver in the crash Thursday, the day he was arraigned from his hospital bed at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, where he is being treated for injuries sustained in the crash. He is facing four counts of manslaughter, four counts of homicide by reckless operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, receiving a stolen vehicle, reckless operation of a motor vehicle; and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Aaron Thorne arraigned from hospital bed at Baystate

Authorities say Thorne was driving a Jeep Cherokee on Jan. 17, 2017 on Union Street in Springfield when he allegedly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The crash took the lives of the four occupants in the vehicle and left Thorne in critical condition for several weeks. 

The victims include: Andrew Savage, of Springfield, and three Central High School seniors -- Katrina Maisonet Jones, Adrianna Hernandez and Cassidy Spence. 

Savage and 17-year-old Spence were cousins of Thorne, family confirmed to Western Mass News following the arraignment.  

Beverly Savage, the mother of 20-year-old Andrew, called it an "an unfathomable tragedy," and said the family is grieving all aspects of the crash. 

What we know about the fatal Springfield crash

Federal agents say they disrupted a $2.5 million international cocaine smuggling ring by detaining a 33-year-old Israeli suspect who allegedly conspired on three continents to move massive amounts of the drug.

Federal agents say they disrupted a $2.5 million international cocaine smuggling ring by detaining a 33-year-old Israeli suspect who allegedly conspired on three continents to move massive amounts of the drug. 

"Today, we have made progress in the fight against international drug trafficking by charging a Middle Eastern national with conspiring to transport millions of dollars in cocaine from Colombia through Boston to the Middle East," acting U.S. Attorney William D. Weinreb said during an afternoon press conference at the U.S. District Court in Boston, according to The Boston Globe.  

The suspect, Israeli national Jalal Altarabeen, appeared in court for the first time Thursday after being extradited from Poland. He will face charges of one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and six counts of international money laundering.

According to the Justice Department, Altarabeen and a co-conspirator negotiated a 50-kilogram cocaine buy in Columbia with an undercover federal agent in October 2015.

Buying at $50,000 a kilogram, Altarabeen allegedly sought to see the drug shipped through Boston on the way to Beersheba, Israel.

Authorities identified Altarabeen's co-conspirator only as a Jordanian national who was still at large. 

Altarabeen and his co-conspirator were to receive the drug in Israel, and to get the shipment moving, the former sent wire transfers from Turkey totaling $999,972 to an undercover bank account in Boston. 

The balance of $1.5 million would be paid once the cocaine arrived, according to court documents. 

Federal agents arrested Altarabeen in Warsaw, where he had traveled to meet the undercover agent and several others involved in the deal.

"This case exemplifies the importance of disrupting large-scale, international drug trafficking before the drugs can be distributed. I cannot overstate how important it is that we interdict these large drug shipments, where and when we can," Weinreb said in a press release. 

Former Secretary of State John Kerry will head a new Yale University program that aims to address important global challenges through teaching, research and international dialogue, school officials announced this week.

Former Secretary of State John Kerry will head a new Yale program that aims to address important global challenges through teaching, research and international dialogue, school officials announced this week.

Kerry, having recently ended his tenure at the State Department, will return to his alma mater to oversee the new Kerry Initiative and serve as Yale's first ever distinguished fellow for global affairs.

Yale University President Peter Salovey said he was honored to have Kerry, "with his vast insights and experience on global affairs," lead the new initiative.

"The Kerry Initiative will allow Yale students and faculty to engage with leaders from around the world to discuss, analyze and understand today's most vital challenges," he said in a statement. "By bringing together scholars, practitioners and leaders, the Kerry Initiative will elevate the discourse around these divisive issues and develop promising new ideas in public policy that are so desperately needed."

Kerry, who graduated from the New Haven, Connecticut school in 1966, said he's excited to help "empower the next generation of idealists and diplomats and activists to be a part of public service and a cause bigger than themselves."

Chicopee Democrat looks to 'Draft John Kerry' for governor in 2018

In his new role, the former Massachusetts senator will share his insights and experiences, as well as collaborate with students and faculty from across the university by leading a seminar in the 2017-2018 academic year and engaging with students across various schools and programs, Yale officials said.

Through the Kerry Fellows Program, meanwhile, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, will work with undergraduate, graduate and professional students on "leading edge research and high profile publications for a global audience."

Kerry will further partner with Yale scholars and apply their expertise to global issues, like the global economic opportunity and climate change, and lead conversations with global stakeholders on solving these challenges, officials announced.

The Kerry Initiative will work in partnership with the Yale Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, which seeks to prepare students for global leadership and service.

The suspect, Robert Jackson, of 51 Reed St., had been under surveillance, Sgt. John Delaney said. Police arrested him Thursday morning following a felony motor vehicle stop on Cottage Street.

George Graham | ggraham@repub.com 

SPRINGFIELD -- Narcotics detectives arrested a 40-year-old Reed Street man and seized heroin, a handgun and a sawed-off shotgun following a felony stop Thursday morning on Cottage Street, police said.

The suspect, Robert Jackson, of 51 Reed St., had been under surveillance, Sgt. John Delaney said.

The incident began about 11:50 a.m. when detectives, under the command of Lt. Steven Kent, began surveilling the first floor of 51 Reed St.

Police saw the suspect leave his home and get into a vehicle. They followed him to Cottage Street, stopped the vehicle and confiscated a handgun and bags of heroin, Delaney, public information officer for the department, said.

Police, armed with a search warrant, then went to 51 Reed St. and recovered a 20 gauge double-barreled sawed-off shotgun along with money and drug paraphernalia.

Jackson was charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, operation of a motor vehicle without a license, possession of a sawed-off shotgun and possession of ammunition.

Wiggins is one of three men wanted for the shooting death of an 18-year-old man during an armed break-in, police said.

SPRINGFIELD - An 18-year-old New Jersey man, wanted in connection with the Jan. 24 homicide of a man in Hoboken, was arrested Friday morning at a home in the McKnight neighborhood, officials said.

Keyshaun Wiggins
 

Keyshaun Wiggins was arrested by U.S. Marshals and local and state law enforcement after he was trailed to an apartment at 43 Bowdoin St. He had been staying at the apartment of his girlfriend, according to Marshals spokesman Dave Milne.

He was charged with being a fugitive from justice.

Wiggens is one of three suspects wanted in connection with the shooting death of  18-year-old Adrian Rivera in his family's apartment at the Andrew Jackson Gardens public housing complex in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Rivera was shot during an armed break-in at his home.

The two other suspects are in custody.

According to Milne, marshals in New Jersey and New York were able to track Wiggins to Springfield, and notified officials here of his whereabouts.

Marshals, members of the State Police Violent Fugitive Apprhension Team, the Hampden County Sheriff's Department, and Springfield and West Springfield police were involved in the arrest.

Milne said when the team moved in on the apartment, Wiggins was found asleep. He was taken into custody without a struggle.

He is scheduled to appear in Hampden District Court on the charges. He being held without bail pending a rendition hearing to determine his transfer back to New Jersey.

President Donald Trump's administration is reportedly considering deploying up to 100,000 National Guard troops to round up immigrants who entered the country illegally, according to a draft memo obtained by the Associated Press.

President Donald Trump's administration is reportedly considering deploying up to 100,000 National Guard troops to round up immigrants who entered the country illegally, according to a draft memo obtained by the Associated Press.

The memo calls for militarized immigration enforcement as far north as Portland, Oregon and as far east at New Orleans, Louisiana, the AP reported.

The unprecedented proposal includes four states that border Mexico: California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, as well as Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, according to the news outlet. 

If put into place, governors in the 11 states would decide whether to have their National Guard troops participate, according to the memo reportedly written by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. 

Such a policy could impact millions, as about half of the 11.1 million people living in the U.S. without authorization reside in the 11 states, according to the Pew Research Center estimates.

The draft document, which is addressed to the then-acting heads of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, would serve as guidance to implement Trump's Jan. 25 executive order on immigration and border security, the AP reported. 

It states that participating troopers would be authorized "to perform the functions of an immigration officer in relation to the investigation, apprehension and detention of aliens in the United States." 

The memo further describes how troops, who would remain under state control, would be activated under a state-federal partnership program and notes that they would be authorized to conduct searches, identify and arrest any unauthorized immigrants, AP reported.

Under current rules, immediate mass deportations would not occur even if the proposal is implemented, the news outlet noted. Those who have existing deportation orders, however, could be sent back to countries of origin without further court proceedings. 

The draft document has reportedly circulated for two weeks with staffers in various DHS offices saying discussions are underway, according to AP. The White House and DHS did not respond to requests for comment on the proposal.

This is a breaking news story and will updated as more information becomes available.

Ludlow officials say the proposed location for a Chapter 40B housing project is all wrong and are asking the nonprofit developer to consider another site.

LUDLOW -- The Town of Ludlow is seeking expert legal advice on how to fight low-income housing proposed for a parcel that's not the right fit for the project, according to town officials and citizens who have voiced opposition to the site.

Springfield-based HAPHousing, the region's largest nonprofit developer of affordable housing, plans to use the state's Chapter 40B comprehensive permit to build 43 low-income rental units on a 5-acre parcel at 188 Fuller St. The proposal has elicited strong opinions in this town of over 21,000 residents, some of whom have spoken against the project at public meetings.

After discussing the proposal by HAP, which has yet to formalize its plans, Ludlow officials decided to seek legal advice from an attorney with expertise on Chapter 40B, the state's so-called antisnob zoning law. The law sets a 10 percent affordable housing goal for Massachusetts municipalities and permits developers to override certain aspects of local zoning bylaws to help communities reach that goal.

"I'm going to contact town counsel to come up with some names of experts in 40B and coordinate a meeting just between the Board of Selectmen and the ZBA with this expert," said Ludlow Town Administrator Ellie Villano, acting at the behest of selectmen.

That meeting is tentatively scheduled for March 2. Selectmen and ZBA members will then meet with all other town departments that have raised concerns about a housing project potentially bordering an elementary school and wetlands area near busy Fuller and Chapin streets. The intersection is already congested, according to public safety officials, who have questioned how fire trucks and emergency vehicles will access the housing complex.

"They (HAP) haven't finalized what their plans are," Brian M. Mannix, chairman of the Board of selectmen, said at a recent meeting. "We should have more than enough time to bring everybody together and start working together."

But time is of the essence, according to Selectman William E. Rooney, vice chairman of the board, who suggested lining up a 40B expert as quickly as possible. "The sooner we reach out to try to get some advice, the better," he said.

Only around 2.2 percent of Ludlow's housing is considered affordable, according to the Chapter 40B Subsidized Housing Inventory maintained by the state Department of Housing and Community Development.

The Ludlow Board of Selectmen voted in December to issue a letter of opposition to the project.

As officials in Lowell battled a large house fire, they pulled a 3-year-old child from the flames, according to multiple news reports.

A 3-year-old boy has died after being pulled from a large house fire in Lowell on Friday morning, according to multiple news reports.

Lowell police said the fire broke out at the intersection of Parker Street and Bradstreet Avenue.

The Lowell Sun reported that the boy died after being pulled from the three-alarm blaze at 55-57 Parker St.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announces a 3-year-old boy died in a fire on Parker Street in Lowell this morning: pic.twitter.com/3rH41xOM7Y

-- Chris Lisinski (@ChrisLisinski) February 17, 2017

Lowell Fire Chief Jeffrey Winward told Fox 25 News that the 3-year-old was pulled from the fire.

It was not yet clear what caused the fire at the multi-family home.

The blaze appeared to be under control by 7:30 a.m., according to the Lowell Sun.

The Red Cross is assisting residents. 

Lowell fire chief just told me they pulled a 3 year old out of the burning home, doesn't know condition. @fox25news pic.twitter.com/IrQ1jaucPE

-- Jason Law (@JasonLawNews) February 17, 2017

Fire at Parker St multi family home Lowell; reports one person pulled from home #NBCBoston pic.twitter.com/dab2HgF3Vv

-- Monica Madeja (@MonicaNBCBoston) February 17, 2017

A new Gallup poll showed that while 62 percent of Americans believed the president keeps his promises, only 42 percent said he was honest.

A Gallup poll released this week shows an overall upward trend in Americans' faith in President Donald Trump since September, as well as a stark contrast between attitudes of Republicans and Democrats toward the president. Sixty-two percent of Americans polled said Trump kept his promises while only 42 percent said he was honest and trustworthy.

Trust and honesty continue to be contentious topics at the White House as the president continues to call out various media outlets as reporting fake news. The administration has experienced many internal leaks to news outlets, such as the revealing reports that prompted national security adviser Michael Flynn to resign this week. 

Michael Flynn resigns as national security adviser

The Gallup poll shows that overall, people on both sides of the aisle feel more confident in President Trump's ability to bring about change and that he cares about problems important to them.

When asked if Trump could "bring about changes the country needs," 93 percent of Republicans polled said yes in February, compared to 75 percent in September. Comparatively, 20 percent of Democrats polled said yes, compared to only nine percent in September.

That 11-percent increase is the only statistically significant change for Democrats, poll authors say, despite 1-2 percent increases in the number of Democrats who believe the president "cares about the needs of people like you" and "is honest and trustworthy."

Poll: President Donald Trump would beat US Sen. Elizabeth Warren in possible 2020 matchup

A little less than half of all Americans thought the president was "honest and trustworthy" and "could manage government effectively." Only nine percent of Democratic participants thought President Trump was honest, compared to 81 percent of Republicans polled. 

Poll authors used phone interviews to survey a random sample of 1,035 adults in all 50 states at the start of February to determine how the general population perceives the new president. They refer to Democrats and Republicans as "leaners," which means they may not have to register with that particular party.