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Homeland Security details Trump administration's immigration enforcement, border security efforts

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provided details Tuesday on how it will prosecute unauthorized immigrants under President Donald Trump's recent border security and immigration enforcement executive orders.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provided details Tuesday on how it will prosecute unauthorized immigrants under President Donald Trump's recent border security and immigration enforcement executive orders.

DHS Secretary John Kelly, in a pair of newly released implementation memos, repealed much of the guidance given to immigration enforcement officers under former President Barack Obama.

The first memo, which focused on border security and immigration enforcement improvements, stated that all those in violation of immigration laws may be subject to enforcement proceedings, with a priority focused on those who have committed crimes.

It further established policies regarding the apprehension and detention of unauthorized immigrants, called for the hiring of 5,000 more U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and 500 Air and Marine agents, commissioned a comprehensive study of border security, expanded expedited removal and prioritized criminal prosecutions for immigration offenses committed at the border, among other things.

The memo also implemented accountability measures to protect immigrant children from exploitation by enforcing laws against those who facilitate smuggling or trafficking, as well as called for a standardized review procedure to confirm that children who are initially found to be unaccompanied fall in the statutory definition when being considered for legal protections as they go through the removal process, according to a DHS fact sheet.

The second memo, meanwhile, focused on enhancing public safety in the United States by seeking to ensure that unauthorized immigrants who are ordered to exit the country are promptly removed. It also called for DHS to support the victims of crimes committed by those immigrants.

Specifically, the memo stated that DHS will: strengthen programs to facilitate the efficient and faithful execution of immigration laws; exercise prosecutorial discretion to prioritize removal of unauthorized immigrants who are convicted felons, gang members and drug traffickers; establish the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office to facilitate engagement with victims and their families; and hire 10,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and agents.

It also called for the agency to establish programs to collect civil fines and penalties from unauthorized immigrants and those who facilitate their presence in the U.S., align the agency's privacy policies with the law and collect data on apprehensions and releases, according to a DHS fact sheet.

The memo rescinded "all existing conflicting directives, memoranda or field guidance regarding the enforcement of (the United States') immigration laws and priorities," except those related to deferred action for immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as young children. 

Donald Trump orders construction of US-Mexico border wall

The DHS documents came nearly one month after Trump took executive action enabling construction of a wall along the United States' southern border with Mexico and stripping federal grant funding from so-called sanctuary cities that don't arrest or detain immigrants who live the country illegally.

Homeland security officials said in a Tuesday release that the agency has already identified locations in Texas, Arizona and California where it will initially build a wall to address ineffective fencing.

Border Patrol, however, is assessing the southern border to identify requirements that will inform wall design decisions, DHS noted.

The president made immigration enforcement a major theme of his 2016 presidential campaign. 


Baystate Medical Center in Springfield offers ventricular assist device; 'For me, this is a life saver,' 1st patient says

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Ernest J. Scruse Jr. is the first patient to receive a VAD or ventricular assist device, from Baystate Medical Center.

SPRINGFIELD -- Ernest J. Scruse Jr. once loved walking through the city's Forest Park, often making six or seven laps through the wooded oasis.

But one day four years ago, the stroll left him weak and winded. He didn't know what was going on.

It turns out his heart muscle was weakened, probably from years of high blood pressure, doctors say. Soon he was having trouble just getting around his apartment. His weight ballooned with extra water weight.

His healthy complexion was gone. He looked ashen. His left ventricle was pumping out only 10 percent of the blood that entered it, thus sending only a tenth of the normal life-giving flow to the rest of his body.

Today, he has his color back, he's gotten rid of all the bloat and he has plans to get outside this summer walking in the park, fishing with his dad, spending time with his family and even getting out to a few UConn football games this fall.

But he doesn't have a pulse.

Instead, a mechanical pump implanted in his chest and powered through a cord protruding from his belly does the work of his left ventricle. He is the first patient to have the pump, called a ventricular assist device (VAD), implanted at Baystate Medical Center.

On Tuesday, Scruse and his medical team from Baystate Medical Center met with reporters to discuss his procedure and Baystate's plans to offer it to more heart failure patients.

"For me, this is a life saver," said Scuse, a former building contractor and father of two sons. "If I didn't have this, I would not be here. I feel 100 percent better."

Scruse spent 51 days in the hospital getting the VAD implanted, a process that requires open-heart surgery. Doctors implanted the device in Scruse on Oct. 25. He was discharged Dec. 20.

Scruse has to come back to Baystate's office on Main Street every few weeks for follow-up care. He's on the phone with his care coordinator, nurse Tanya Dwyer, at least once a week.

He has to recharge the batteries, plug himself in at night with a 20-foot cord and clean and change the dressings around the wound where the tube leaves his body.

All that follow-up care plus the time in the hospital to get the device put in is the reason why it is helpful for Baystate to offer the VAD, said Dr. Aaron Kugelmass, chief of cardiology at Baystate. The technology, he said, is eight to 10 years old. The devices are offered at about 150 hospitals around the country, but up until now they were available at only four Massachusetts hospitals, all in Boston.

"The last thing you want to do when you are sick is travel to Boston and stay there for long periods of time," he said. "This is great. Much better for families."

Kugelmass praised the doctors and staff members who worked hard the past few years to get the technology at Baystate.

Dr. David Deaton, a cardiac and thoracic surgeon, said in a news release that the VAD works like a hybrid car. The existing heart muscle works with the VAD to pump the blood just as a gas engine and an electrical engine work together to make a car run.

Dr. Gregory Valania, a cardiologist, said the VAD in Scruse has a tiny screw resting on rubies -- gemstones have very little friction -- and lubricated by blood. It spins at 9,000 RPM, pumping five to six liters of blood a minute. That works out to a gallon and a quart of blood a minute.

Some patients use the VAD as a bridge to keep them alive until they can get a heart transplant.

Kugelmas said this is what doctors did with former Vice President Dick Cheney.

Valania said others, like Scuse, live indefinitely with the VAD, with the device serving as the primary treatment for their disease.

Before getting the VAD, Scruse had a life expectancy of weeks or months, Valania said.

As the program grows, Baystate could ramp up do doing as many as 30 or 40 VAD procedures a year, Valania said.

Scruse said he's just happy the weather is warming up.

"I want to get back outside, moving around, fishing with my dad," he said. "Life is too short."

Michael Hebb ordered held without bail in Peabody double-homicide

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Michael Hebb, 45, plead not guilty at Peabody District Court on Monday.

Michael Hebb was ordered held without bail Tuesday in connection with the gruesome murders of two people in Peabody last Saturday.

Hebb, 45, was arraigned in Peabody District Court Tuesday on two counts of first-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty. 

He is a suspect in the murders of Mark Greenlaw, 37, and Jennifer O'Connor, 39, whose dismembered remains were found in the basement at 19 Farm Ave. in Peabody on Saturday. Greenlaw and O'Connor were in a romantic relationship.

Local and other state officials continue their search for a second suspect. Police reported that the 1992 Acura the suspect believed to have stolen was found this morning.

Acura driven from scene of Peabody double homicide reportedly found

Peabody District Court Judge James Barretto agreed to a request by prosecutor Kate MacDougall to impound Hebb's arrest warrant and case file, citing the ongoing police investigation for another suspect. The prosecution argues that facts in the arrest warrant could contain information that would compromise the search for a second suspect.

Unlike previous photos of Hebb with short, dark hair, the suspect now wore long, gray hair tied into a ponytail and a scruffy beard. He stood silently, with sunken cheeks, while defense attorney Ray Buso, and prosecutor MacDougall made their statements.

Hebb faces two counts of first-degree murder, charges that Buso said his client will not confirm or deny at this time.

"There's good reason not to be talking about it right now," Buso said while talking to media outside the courtroom. He repeated that certain details could not be shared because they were not a matter of public record. "There's clearly a lot more than what's been reported," he added.

Hebb, who court documents say was born in Malden, was arrested at 84 Aborn St. in Peabody with assistance of a SWAT team midday on Monday. 

What we know about the Peabody double homicide

Gallery preview 

The Shops at Marketplace host Women Wine Wednesday in downtown Springfield to promote connections among women

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The three stores at The Shops at Marketplace in downtown Springfield are all owned by women and the owners wanted a way to connect with other working women in downtown Springfield. Watch video

The three stores at The Shops at Marketplace in downtown Springfield are all owned by women and the owners wanted a way to connect with other working women in downtown Springfield.

So, Nancy Feth, founder of Simply Serendipity, took an idea she had seen in other places and started Women Wine Wednesday about a year ago.

Once a month, women are invited to the stores "to pause, browse, shop and experience The Shops at Marketplace." Plus, there's also tapas and wine offered.

"I feel like a lot of us are feeling like we're just not connected as much as we would like," Feth said. "We're doing a lot on our computers, a lot with our jobs, and it's a way to get away from all of that." 

The stores work hard to promote the talents and skills of each other, highlighting one of them each event. This month, Teri Skinner, chef and owner of NOSH, will be teaching attendees how to make fresh pasta. 

The event is Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 5-7 p.m.

Related photos:

Gallery preview 

West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt slated to deliver 'State of the City' address this evening

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The roughly half-hour address, which will be delievered at the town municipal office building and broadcast live on the internet, is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21.

WEST SPRINGFIELD -- A lot has happened since William C. Reichelt, a young, social media-savvy attorney, was sworn in as mayor of West Springfield in January 2016.

Tonight at 7, Reichelt will deliver his State of the City address in the Justin Morgan Auditorium of the J. Edward Christian Municipal Building at 26 Central St. The mayor's address will also be broadcast live on Facebook and on the city's Channel 15.

It's a chance for the 30-year-old independent to share accomplishments from his first year in office and what to expect in his second year running the "Crossroads of New England," as Reichelt sometimes calls his hometown.

Here are a few highlights from his first year:

  • The term of mayor was extended from two to four years, including a salary bump from $110,000 to $125,000 annually;
  • Reichelt led the charge to update and modernize zoning regulations to make West Side an attractive place to live and conduct business;
  • the Business Partnerships Panel, whose members include Reichelt and city department heads, was formed to help streamline the permitting process by improving relationships between regulatory agencies and development agents working on behalf of business interests;
  • the city authorized and secured funding for open space to protect and acquire parkland for recreational uses;
  • the mayor shared his vision of making downtown West Side a destination with more restaurant and entertainment offerings;
  • Reichelt turned a political hot potato into favorable press when he characterized West Side's absorption of more refugees than over 99 percent of the state's 351 cities and towns as a "boon" to his community, not a burden;
  • and, lastly, the mayor's pledge for a more transparent city government has led to the regular release of public information online and through social media.

Reichelt will likely touch on these and other issues during his half-hour address this evening. Check back later for more coverage from MassLive.

UMass Amherst officials say university cannot become 'sanctuary campus,' but will protect all

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University of Massachusetts officials say they are committed to supporting all students, faculty and staff, regardless of their immigration status.

AMHERST -- University of Massachusetts officials say they are committed to supporting all students, faculty and staff, regardless of their immigration status, but cannot declare UMass as a "sanctuary campus."

The statement was "developed in response to calls for a sanctuary campus by concerned members of our community," spokesman Edward Blaguszewski said in an email.  

He wrote that it was created Friday, the day the UMass Sanctuary Campus Movement held a strike and teach-in about immigration issues. The UMass Sanctuary Campus Movement has been demanding that UMass become a sanctuary campus.

"We and the protesters share the same concerns," Blaguszewski said Tuesday. "The UMass Amherst administration is committed to supporting all students, faculty and staff, regardless of their immigration status, and the campus has initiated a number of steps to safeguard members of our community."

He quoted Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy's message stating, "We will do everything within our legal and moral authority to protect our students, faculty and staff whether they be undocumented immigrants, refugees or international students."
 
But, Blaguszewski wrote:

"... declaring UMass Amherst a 'sanctuary campus' is not in the best interests of the university community because the term has no legal definition and would not provide any additional legal protection for students, faculty and staff.
"Such a declaration could unintentionally create a false sense of security for those affected by federal actions. And it would potentially bring unwanted attention to vulnerable members of the campus community, such as students currently studying through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
"It could also jeopardize federal funding to support our mission, including hundreds of millions of dollars for financial aid to students and research support for faculty."

In response to the UMass statement, Anna-Claire Simpson, an organizer of the UMass Sanctuary Campus Movement, said she understood sanctuary is not legal protection. In an email, she said "(Sanctuary is) a commitment by an institution or community to NOT aid federal agents in identifying and capturing people for deportation (amongst other things). This does not make it a 'meaningless' commitment at all, as it is a specific response to unjust laws. We recognize that the UMass administration are not in charge of the law, nor can they guarantee anyone's safety."

"They can only use their resources to try and keep people as safe as possible," she wrote.

"(UMass) should be concerned with securing as much as they can to support those affected/potentially affected by these policies. ... The actual danger lies with anti-immigration sentiments and policies, and the Trump administration's penchant for punitive measures. Sanctuary doesn't threaten UMass Amherst's funding. Congress does," Simpson wrote.  

The UMass statement comes the same day the  U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued new policy statements on how it will implement President Donald Trump's border security and immigration enforcement executive orders.  

Blaguszewski said it will take some time to address the new orders.

Trial pushed back for Michelle Carter, accused of encouraging her boyfriend to commit suicide

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The trial of Michelle Carter has been pushed back to June, more than two and a half years after she allegedly encouraged her boyfriend to kill himself.

The trial of Michelle Carter has been pushed back to June, more than two and a half years after she allegedly encouraged her boyfriend to kill himself.

Carter stands accused of involuntary manslaughter for a series of text messages that authorities say encouraged Mattapoisett native Conrad Roy, with whom she had a romantic but largely online relationship, to kill himself. He did so with carbon monoxide in a Kmart parking lot in 2014. And the case is moving forward in juvenile court in Taunton, after the Supreme Judicial Court upheld the charges in July of 2015.

Following a lengthy legal battle, Carter was scheduled to go on trial on March 6. But her defense attorneys filed for a 90-day continuance in the case, pushing the trial date to June 5, an official with the Bristol County Juvenile Court said.

"Additional evidence and time was needed," Carter's defense attorney Joseph Cataldo wrote in an email.

Both Carter and Roy were teenagers when Roy died. Carter was charged as a "youthful offender," a category that allows for more severe sentencing than a typical juvenile charge.

Carter was charged with involuntary manslaughter in February of 2015. In September Taunton Juvenile Court Judge Bettina Borders rejected Cataldo's motion to dismiss the charge, allowing the case to move forward. Free speech, Borders ruled, does not extend to encouraging suicide.

Cataldo then filed an appeal to a single justice of the state Supreme Judicial Court and the district attorney's office filed a response in November. The full court announced it would hear the case in February, and earlier this month ruled that the charges were proper and the case can proceed.

In the defense's appeal brief, Carter's attorneys wrote that prosecutors had overcharged Carter to compensate for a lack of applicable law against encouraging suicide in Massachusetts.

"Charging her with manslaughter was a transparent effort calculated to circumvent the fact that the legislature has not criminalized words that encourage suicide," the brief argued.

Prosecutors allege that Carter led a campaign of encouragement that directly led to the death of Roy, who had graduated from Old Rochester Regional High School that June.

"Carter assisted Conrad's suicide by counseling him to overcome his doubts," the indictment reads. "Her counsel took the form of positive direction, where she told him he was 'strong' enough to execute the suicide plan and would be happy once he was dead."

The text messages included in court filings show Carter, in between professions of love, advocating for suicide as Roy's best option after an extended period of depression.

"It's painless and quick," she wrote in one text. "Everyone will be sad for a while but they will get over it and move on," she wrote in another. She urged him not to delay the act, and advised him to find alternative methods of producing carbon monoxide when it became clear his truck's diesel engine would not work.

She also allegedly cajoled him back into the truck over the phone after he had second thoughts in the middle of the act, the prosecution said.

The prosecution has portrayed Carter as an active participant in Roy's death -- one who, after the fact, pretended to have no knowledge of the plan. She texted with Roy's relatives, asking where he was in the hours before his body was found in the Kmart parking lot.

US Sen. Ed Markey slams President Donald Trump's proposed border wall after Mexico visit

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U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, criticized President Donald Trump's plans to build a wall along the United States' southern border with Mexico Tuesday, contending that the structure will not properly address immigration and drug trafficking-related issues.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, criticized President Donald Trump's plans to build a wall along the United States' southern border with Mexico Tuesday, contending that the structure will not properly address immigration and drug trafficking-related issues.

The Massachusetts Democrat, who traveled to Mexico City with other congressional lawmakers last weekend, cautioned that the president's rhetoric and remarks regarding immigration could hurt the country's ability to work with its southern neighbor and other international partners.

"Building a wall is not a comprehensive plan to address our nation's opioid crisis, nor does it represent the comprehensive immigration reform that will help put millions on a pathway to citizenship," he said in a Tuesday statement. "President Trump's divisive rhetoric only makes it harder to work with Mexico and our international partners to address these critical cross-border issues."

Markey added that instead of trying to construct barriers, the Trump administration should work with Mexican leaders to stop opioids and other drugs from entering the U.S.

"Instead of building walls, we need to build bridges with Mexico to ensure we stop the deadly flow of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids that is devastating Massachusetts," he said, pledging to help ensure border patrol agents get the resources needed to do their jobs.

Markey, a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Sens. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, and Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, the panel's ranking member, in visiting the U.S.-Mexico border to assess security and counter-narcotics efforts.

The senators also met with Mexican Secretary of the Economy Idelfonso Guajardo on economic and trade-related issues, Attorney General Raul Cervantes Andrade on Mexico's efforts to combat drug trafficking, and various members of the Mexican Senate during the weekend trip.

Markey's criticism of the president's immigration proposals came shortly after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security detailed how it will prosecute unauthorized immigrants under Trump's recent border security and immigration enforcement executive orders.

Homeland Security details Trump administration's immigration enforcement, border security efforts

DHS Secretary John Kelly issued a pair of implementation memos Tuesday repealing much of the guidance given to immigration enforcement officers under former President Barack Obama.

The agency further reported that it has already identified locations in Texas, Arizona and California where DHS will initially build a wall to address ineffective fencing.

Border Patrol, however, is assessing the southern border to identify requirements that will inform wall design decisions, according to officials.


Springfield taking applications for HUD loans to lure downtown restaurants

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Mayor Domenic Sarno announced applications are being solicited for federally funded low-interest loans to open new, full-service restaurants in the downtown dining district.

SPRINGFIELD -- The city, as part of an effort to attract experienced restaurant owners to a downtown dining district, has begun accepting applications for federally funded low-interest loans for those new businesses.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno announced the launch of the application process on Tuesday for the Downtown Dining District Fund loan program.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be funding up to $1.5 million to support full-service restaurants, with individual loans ranging from $50,000 to $200,000.

"This is another piece, building off of the tremendous momentum we are seeing from the nearing completion of Union Station and the rising of MGM Springfield," Sarno said. "This program is all about filling storefronts in the core of our downtown with new restaurants, new jobs and new vitality."

The program is intended for restaurants locating in Springfield's Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) District along Main, Bridge and Worthington streets. The targeted area is just south of Union Station and three blocks north of the MGM casino project.

The $1.5 million loan fund for Springfield was formally announced in October.

The initiative includes the Springfield Innovation Center, Make-It Springfield and planned improvements to public spaces, officials said. TDI is a MassDevelopment initiative that focuses resources in a targeted manner to make the greatest impact.

The loan fund will consider applications "for full service, sit-down restaurants that help bring new variety and new options to the district," according to the city.

The program is funded by the city by ways of its Section 108 loan allocation, provided through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The city will contract with local non-profit Common Capital to provide financial review of applications and loan servicing.

More information on the program can be found at www.springfield-ma.gov/planning/index.php?id=583.

2 vie to be Springfield's municipal golf pro after ouster of Kevin Kennedy Jr.

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Two Springfield natives have submitted bids for the contract that became available after law enforcement raids on two public courses and the ouster of Kevin Kennedy Jr.

SPRINGFIELD -- Two city natives are vying to be Springfield's municipal golf pro in the wake of a scandal that resulted in the ouster of former pro Kevin Kennedy Jr.

The city's Parks and Facilities head confirmed that Ryan Hall, a Cathedral High School graduate who has spent the past several years as a pro of a private course in Avon, Connecticut, and Barton McCarthy, a salesman for a beverage company and former golf pro, submitted bids for the contract.

"We determined both applicants are qualified. We conducted interviews on Friday and will rank them and send our recommendations to the procurement department," said Patrick Sullivan, director of parks, buildings and recreation management.

"We should have a new pro by the end of the week," Sullivan said.

The city put the contract out to bid after killing its prior agreement with Kennedy Jr's company, KGM, on the heels of law enforcement raids at the city-owned Veterans and Franconia golf courses in July. Armed federal agents with the IRS and Treasury Department descended on the courses as play continued around them. They also searched Kennedy Jr.'s homes in East Longmeadow and on Cape Cod.

The search for Kennedy's replacement has run parallel to a federal grand jury investigation into allegations of a cash-skimming scheme at the courses, according to sources familiar with the probe.

The golf pro is not a city employee. The city maintains the grounds while the pro is responsible for managing daily play and tournaments plus private lessons. The contractor also runs the pro shops. Kennedy Jr's contract allowed for a $67,000 base salary plus proceeds from two pro shops, lessons and revenues from pull-carts at the courses. The city was entitled to full revenues from rounds of golf and motorized cart fees, according to the previous contract.

In a letter to inform Kennedy Jr. that his contract was terminated, city officials suggest he cheated the city out of revenues.

"The reasons for termination include, but are not limited to, the following: Based on our preliminary financial review (Kennedy's company) did not properly deposit, account for, report or deposit all city revenues in the city account as required by the contract," it read, adding that they did not intend to honor Kennedy's final two invoices.

David P. Hoose, an attorney for Kennedy, previously countered that his client did not keep any money due to the city.

"He denies stealing anything from the city and disputes owing the city any money," Hoose said on the heels of the city's announcement in November, as the golf season came to a close.

The city put the contract out to bid in late January, advertising the position and setting a Feb. 6 deadline for sealed bids.

The request for proposals calls for an instructor and two assistant golf pros to manage the two 18-hole courses. Candidates were required to have "Class A" membership in the Professional Golfers Association of America and a minimum of three years experience. The contractor will be required to provide standard fare on the links: golf lessons, youth clinics and tournaments, bid documents stated.

The request spent a considerable amount of time on policies around the handling of cash. It detailed how access to the safes should be limited and deposits recorded in a "city-provided" cash register by employees with unique user IDs and passwords.

Kennedy Jr. maintained two cash registers, city officials and others previously confirmed.

He is the son of Kevin E. Kennedy, the city's chief economic development officer and longtime aide to U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, a Springfield Democrat who is now chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

Previous stories on Hall, who bid on the contract under Ryan Hall Golf Shop, LLC, have said he is a 1994 Cathedral graduate and has been an assistant or head pro at the Golf Club of Avon since 2002. Prior to that, he worked as an assistant at Springfield Country Club in West Springfield and Crestview Country Club in Agawam.

McCarthy, of Ludlow, is a sales representative for "Mocktails" beverage company and spent time as a pro at Elmcrest County Club in East Longmeadow and at Renaissance County Club in Haverhill.

Springfield City Solicitor Edward M. Pikula said no additional information would be released before the contract was awarded.

He also said an outside audit of the city's golf courses would not be made public as it is in "draft form" and under review.

"As such, pursuant to (state law's) 'policy deliberation' exemption, the report is exempt under the public records statute at this time. This exemption under the public records statute fosters independent discussions between those responsible for the governmental decision and coordination of the City's activities regarding any determination of whether certain provisions of the City's 2015 and 2016 contracts with KGM were adhered to by KGM. This exemption also helps secure the quality of the decision as we cooperate internally and externally over this matter. I do not have a timetable for the review at this time," Pikula wrote in an email. 

In August, Mayor Domenic Sarno released a statement announcing that the city had hired Wakefield accounting firm Powers and Sullivan to conduct the audit. It was expected to cost up to $33,000 and the audit was slated to be complete by Sept. 30.

Reports: Norwegian Air to start direct Ireland flights out of T.F. Green Airport in Rhode Island

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Aer Lingus flights from Bradley international Airport in Windsor Locks to Dublin began in September.

WINDSOR LOCKS -- Bradley International Airport might be getting some competition when it comes to flying folks to Ireland.

According to published reports, low-cost airline Norwegian Air Express plans to soon fly from Rhode Island's T.F. Green Airport to Shannon and Dublin airports. Fares would start off at the introductory discount rate of $69 one way, but the cost eventually would stabilize at about $300 round trip.

Norwegain Air serves a number of European cities including those in Norway.

The company won FAA approval last week after a protracted fight of more than two years. U.S. labor unions opposed Norwegian's expansion and the Barack Obama administration listened. The new Donald Trump administration approved the flights.

Norwegian Air has already hosted hiring fairs in Rhode Island and expects to have 200 employees locally, according to GoLocalProv.com.

Aer Lingus started flying nonstop transatlantic flights between Dublin and Connecticut's Bradley international Airport in September. The flights marked the return of nonstop service to Europe from Bradley in more than seven years.

Northwest flew a nonstop flight from Bradley to Amsterdam from June 2007 to September 2008.

The state of Connecticut agreed to revenue guarantees of $9 million over two years to Aer Lingus to get the airline into Bradley. That means the state makes up the difference if Aer Lingus ticket revenue doesn't meet benchmarks.

Aer Lingus sells the Bradley-to-Dublin service not just as a trip to Ireland but as a gateway to Europe. Aer Lingus serves 25 cities across the United Kingdom and continental Europe.

Norwegian Air Shuttle also has plans to fly in and out of Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, New York, about 60 miles north of Manhattan. The airline  also considered Portsmouth International in New Hampshire as its first Boston-area airport before choosing Rhode Island.

Prosecution witness says Benjamin Rivera shot an unarmed Angel Llorens in Springfield car racing clubs dispute

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Witness Abinel Zayas had no problem identifying the color of the shirt murder defendant Benjamin Rivera was wearing in court, but he didn't want to point at him. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD — Abinel Zayas had no problem identifying the color of the shirt murder defendant Benjamin Rivera was wearing in Hampden Superior Court on Tuesday and saying where Rivera was sitting.

But when Assistant District Attorney Max Bennett asked Zayas to point to Rivera, Zayas said, "I don't want to. Do I have to?" The identification of Rivera by Zayas was accepted by Judge Daniel A. Ford without any pointing.

Zayas was called by Bennett in the trial of Rivera, accused of fatally shooting 22-year-old Angel Llorens on May 22, 2013, in Springfield in a dispute between two rival illegal car racing clubs.

During opening arguments last week, 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, Bennett said.

When Llorens confronted Rivera about the sticker, Rivera shot Llorens, Bennett said.

Defense lawyer Edward Fogarty said his client fired only after Llorens threatened him with a knife. Fogarty described the victim as armed, angry and possibly affiliated with the Latin Kings street gang.

Zayas, a member of "Backyard Built," said he was drunk on Hennessey and stoned on marijuana that night at around 10:30 p.m. when he was with friends at Lee Hutchins' home on Daytona Street.

He said he didn't know who stole the Team Built sticker from Llorens' car. Llorens came out to the street screaming about the sticker saying he was going to go inside and get a gun, Zayas said.

Under questioning from Fogarty, Zayas acknowledged he told police Llorens had his hand in back of him when he came back outside.

Zayas said he saw Rivera with a gun and told him to put it away.

Zayas said Llorens said to Rivera, "What the f--- are you going to do," referring to the stolen sticker. He said Rivera then shot Llorens.

Zayas said he saw "sparks, shell casings. As soon as he (Rivera) pulled it out it was bang, bang, bang, bang, bang."

Llorens had no knife and was not charging at Rivera, Zayas said.

The trial continues Wednesday, when the prosecution is expected to end its case.

Prior to Zayas' testimony, Ford held a "voir dire," or questioning with the jury out of the room, of Springfield Police Capt. Trent Duda and Detective Kevin Lee.

Fogarty contended Rivera did not give a statement at the city police station voluntarily, arguing police did not tell Rivera he was under arrest for murder until the interview was halfway over.

Lee testified Rivera was given his Miranda warning and opted to talk to police. He said even after Rivera was told he was under arrest for murder, he continued to talk.

Bennett contended Rivera did not say anything incriminating, but Fogarty disagreed with that characterization.

Ford denied Fogarty's motion to exclude Rivera's statement, saying the interview by Rivera was given voluntarily.

Family, friends mourn death in Iraq of Army Pfc. Brian Odiorne of Ware

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Odiorne, a 2014 graduate of Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, was killed in Al Anbar province on Monday.

As word spread of the death of Brian P. Odiorne, of Ware, while stationed in Iraq with the Army, family and friends took to social media to express their grief over the life ended too soon.

Odiorne, a 2014 graduate of Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, was killed in Al Anbar province on Monday. The death, according to the Department of Defense, was not combat related, but details of how he died have not been disclosed.

Odiorne, 21, joined the Army in October 2015, and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, since May 2016. He was trained as a cannon crew member.

His death remains under investigation by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, according to officials.

Odiorne's awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Army Service Medal. He will be posthumously awarded the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal and Overseas Service Ribbon, according to the Department of Defense.

Shortly after news of his death was announced, there was an outpouring of grief on Odioner's Facebook page. Below are some of the posts from people who knew him.

 

 

One dead following crash on I-495; traffic backed up

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One person is dead following a crash on I-495 near Exit 18 in Bellingham this afternoon.

One person is dead following a crash on I-495 near Exit 18 in Bellingham this afternoon, Fox 25 is reporting.

State Police described the crash as "serious" on Twitter around 4:30 p.m.

As of 5:10 p.m. there is about a 2 mile traffic backup on the northbound side of the highway, according to Google Maps traffic data.

This is a developing story.

 

Police sergeant suspended for failing to return to work after scheduled time off, Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse says

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Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse said on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017 that the $410 in campaign contributions from Police Sgt. Charles Monfett didn't influence his decision to suspend Monfett without pay instead of firing him over an attendance incident.

HOLYOKE -- A city police sergeant was suspended for two weeks without pay for failing to return to work after scheduled time off as ordered and failing to cooperate with a subsequent investigation, Mayor Alex B. Morse said Tuesday.

Morse also addressed why he rejected the recommendation of Police Chief James M. Neiswanger and department captains that Sgt. Charles P. Monfett, an eight-year veteran, be fired over the incident.

"Sgt. Monfett was suspended due to a time and attendance matter. Specifically he failed to timely return after scheduled time off as ordered (last year) and then failed to fully cooperate with an investigation," Morse said in a text message.

"After a review of the findings with the (city) Law Department, I became concerned about losing an appeal to civil service and a possible lawsuit for wrongful termination, which would have opened the city to having to pay tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars in legal expenses. It is for this reason I decided the appropriate disciplinary action was a lengthy suspension," Morse said.

Police sergeant suspended 2 weeks without pay in Holyoke

Morse also said that Monfett's support of his reelection campaigns didn't influence his decision to opt for an unpaid suspension over termination. Monfett contributed $410 to Morse campaigns since February 2013 with $100 coming in October as the controversy was playing out.

"Absolutely not. While it is true that Sgt. Monfett donated to my campaign over the years, that would never influence my decision. In fact, prior to the discipline being issued I instructed my campaign treasurer to refund all of Sgt. Monfett's donations," Morse said.

Lawyer Shawn P. Allyn, representing Monfett, said termination was a too-harsh discipline intended also to block Monfett from competing for a promotion to lieutenant.

"Exaggerated discipline to effectuate a (promotion) bypass. The chief requested termination. The mayor made the right decision by declining the chiefs recommmendation. The mayor saves the city thousands of dollars in litigation cost by seeing this for what it was," Allyn said in a text message.

"I think that knowing the city could not win an appeal at civil service and that we would have sued under multiple causes of action had more influence than a campaign donation. For once, the right thing was done for the employee and the tax payers of Holyoke," he said.

Police Chief James M. Neiswanger announced the suspension of Monfett Friday in an internal email obtained by The Republican: "Sergeant Monfett has been suspended from duty without pay for the next two weeks. He is scheduled to return to work on Sunday, March 5, 2017. James M. Neiswanger, Chief of Police."

Until the announcement of the suspension, Monfett had been on paid administrative leave, officials said.

Monfett began working for the Police Department Feb. 1, 2009. He was promoted to sergeant in June 2013 and his yearly salary was $76,142.


Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Joe Kennedy rally against new deportation guidelines

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US Sen. Ed Markey and Congressman Joe Kennedy III on Tuesday rallied with several dozen immigrant advocates and union organizers, protesting an expected repeal of the federal health care law known as Obamacare and President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Watch video

US Sen. Ed Markey and Congressman Joe Kennedy III on Tuesday rallied with several dozen immigrant advocates and union organizers, protesting an expected repeal of the federal health care law known as Obamacare and President Donald Trump's immigration policies.

The two lawmakers, both Massachusetts Democrats, condemned Trump's shift towards stronger immigration enforcement measures.

Kennedy said new federal guidelines target children the same they target "hardened criminals."

Markey added that new immigration policies will rip apart immigrant families.

Homeland Security details Trump administration's immigration enforcement, border security efforts

In a statement after the rally, held outside a downtown Boston memorial remembering the Boston Irish Famine, Markey said new directives from the US Department of Homeland Security will bring about additional raids and mass deportations.

"These directives will only have a chilling effect on communities throughout Massachusetts and the nation, causing immigrants to recede further into the shadows," Markey said.

Calling for Trump to rescind the order, Markey continued, "With these guidelines, President Trump shifts the focus from where it belongs -- undocumented immigrants who have committed serious crimes -- and instead turns his sights on all undocumented immigrants, wrongly turning them suspects in the same way he has sought to turn all Muslims into suspects with his unconstitutional refugee ban."

The "We Will Persist" rally on Tuesday was another gathering pulled together by activists after Trump's inauguration.

Elected officials from Massachusetts, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other members of the Congressional delegation, have emerged as top Trump critics, frequently joining the protests to denounce the president.

Obituaries from The Republican, Feb. 21, 2017

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Obituaries from The Republican.

Justice reform bill would give prisoners route to shorter sentences

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Prisoners would have greater opportunities for early release, even if they received a mandatory minimum sentence, under legislation resulting from the cooperation between all three branches of government on criminal justice reform.

By ANDY METZGER

Prisoners would have greater opportunities for early release, even if they received a mandatory minimum sentence, under legislation resulting from the cooperation between all three branches of government on criminal justice reform.

"One of the things the bill does is allow people who have been incarcerated for mandatory minimums to earn good time," Sen. William Brownsberg, the co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee, told reporters Tuesday. He said the new opportunity to reduce imprisonment through program participation would not be available for mandatory minimums related to opiates or crimes committed in conjunction with violence, illegal gun possession or involvement of a minor.

The broad outlines of the criminal justice reform bill that Gov. Charlie Baker plans to file were announced at an early morning press conference on Tuesday attended by House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Senate President Stan Rosenberg, Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants and other prominent government officials.

Rahsaan Hall, director of the Racial Justice Program for the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, agreed with the speaker and Senate president that the legislation is a positive step, but said granting prisoners a means to earn good time is not a substitute for giving judges discretion to issue lesser sentences.

"I think that's a small step in the right direction. But I think there are a lot of people who end up in the criminal justice system serving lengthier sentences because of guilty pleas that are leveraged by the use of a mandatory minimum," Hall said. He said, "Taking time off and having access to programming is important, and getting good time for that is important. But I think that we have to recognize how everybody's not going to get into those programs or going to avail themselves of those programs. Just because they don't do that though does not mean that they still deserve to serve a lengthy mandatory sentence."

The governor said more than half of people who are released from houses of correction and state prisons "wind up back in the court system at some point after their release," and he said reducing that recidivism rate was the focus of the effort.

"Prison is, as it should be, a punishment, but the people of Massachusetts are better served when more individuals exit the system as law-abiding and productive members of society," Baker said. The governor suggested he sees value in current statutes that require a minimum period of incarceration for those convicted of certain crimes. He said the bill would "set certain parameters for earning good time for certain drug distribution crimes while still honoring the mandatory minimum sentences established by the Legislature."

The chief justice of the state's highest court, on the other hand, sees fundamental problems with mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes. In his 2014 State of the Judiciary address, Gants said those strict sentencing parameters have a "disparate impact upon racial and ethnic minorities," and eliminating those sentencing floors would "free up a considerable amount of money" from the cost of imprisonment for use on programming and increases in the salaries of prosecutors and public defenders.

Mass. Democrats propose criminal justice reforms, including eliminating mandatory minimums

"Why would we require judges to impose sentences that are not informed by the social science evidence regarding what sentences reduce the risk of recidivism and what sentences may increase that risk?" Gants asked in his 2014 address, according to a copy of the speech. "But sadly, in drug cases where the law provides a mandatory minimum sentence, that is precisely the sentencing system we now have."

While not explicitly calling for the repeal of all mandatory minimum sentences, Gants on Tuesday spoke to "the importance of individualized sentencing."

Criminal justice reform advocates have been hungering for a major bill since former Gov. Deval Patrick signed a sentencing reform law in 2012, and those seeking a further rollback of mandatory minimum sentences will likely track the bill through the committees and floor debates, where it may be amended.

DeLeo and Rosenberg both indicated they saw the bill as a starting point, and Rosenberg has been outspoken calling for the elimination of mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders.

"Incarceration should be a last resort when there are other options available to people who have engaged in non-violent activities that may come into conflict with law, but are being driven either by their addiction or their mental illness. So I'm mindful of the fact that we call it the Department of Corrections not the Department of Punishment," Rosenberg said Tuesday.

DeLeo, who has indicated a willingness to "look at" mandatory minimums for particular crimes, deferred to the committee hearing process when asked for his stance on the issue. In January, the speaker said, "Knowing the body as I do know it, I would probably find that to be very difficult to just say dispense with all mandatory minimums."

The state enlisted the Council of State Governments to review the swath of laws and policies that govern Massachusetts's approach to criminal justice. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said there was an "incredible" effort by the CSG, including the review of more than 13 million state records and more than 300 in-person interviews.

Mass. Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz chides Beacon Hill leaders for waiting to pass sentencing reform

In addition to allowing people serving mandatory minimum sentences to reduce their time of incarceration by participation in programing - something Brownsberger said is generally not available now - the bill would also boost the rewards for all prisoners participating in programs.

"The good time availability goes up 50 percent for all prisoners," Brownsberger told reporters. On top of that, Brownsberger said the credit for completing a course would be increased from a maximum of 10 days now to a maximum of 90 days under the bill.

Baker said giving drug offenders a tangible reason to participate in programming would help reduce the recidivism rate.

"The way the system currently works, there really isn't much of an incentive for them to participate in programming, and we think that would be a good thing," Baker said.

As of fiscal 2014, it cost an average $53,040.87 annually to house a Department of Correction inmate.

There were 9,066 people in Department of Correction custody and 10,768 in county facilities as of Feb. 13, according to DOC data. The CSG review found that the state's total incarcerated population fell 12 percent between 23,220 and 20,325, while recidivism rates have hovered around 40 percent.

Brownsberger said the programming is geared toward "cognitive behavior programming, oriented toward changing criminal thinking." The Belmont Democrat said about two thirds of the "drug mandatories would be opened up to earning good time," and said the bill aims to improve programming within correctional facilities and probation and parole supervision outside prison walls at a cost of about $3.5 million for the first year.

The governor's office said the funding was included in the governor's budget bill.

"Three and a half million is certainly a start, but compared to the need, that doesn't go very far," said Lew Finfer, the director of the Massachusetts Communities Action Network.

The governor said the bill would also "allow judges to refer people to pre-trial services instead of holding them on bail."

Katie Lannan contributed reporting.

Massachusetts lawmakers to consider raising juvenile court age from 18 to 21

Boston Symphony Orchestra announces $30 million Tanglewood building project

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The four-building complex is designed to support the performance and rehearsal activities of the Tanglewood Music Center, the BSO's summer music academy.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra has announced a $30 million project for its Berkshires summer home at Tanglewood in Lenox.

The four-building complex is designed to support the performance and rehearsal activities of the Tanglewood Music Center, the BSO's summer music academy.

The new construction will house the planned Tanglewood Learning Institute and includes a multi-use building to accommodate rehearsals and performances with a 200-seat concert hall and a building housing a 150-seat cafe designed to encourage interaction between musicians and audience members that will serve as a hub for visitors.

Two smaller buildings will have more space for rehearsal, performance and educational activities.

The climate-controlled facilities will be available to rent in the off-season.

It is the largest building project at Tanglewood since the 1994 construction of Ozawa Hall. Groundbreaking for the complex near Ozawa Hall on the east side of the Tanglewood campus is set for late summer with an opening planned for 2019.

Additional plans include renovations to the Ozawa Hall Bernstein campus, including a reconfiguration of the entrance gate to integrate the campus with the new building complex, and improved restroom and food service amenities.

The BSO also will implement a new horticultural plan for Tanglewood's 524-acre grounds in Lenox and Stockbridge. 

"Tanglewood's new building complex represents a major milestone for the BSO as it furthers its commitment to the Tanglewood Music Center by providing a new state-of-the-art facility to match the extraordinary level of talent exhibited by the Fellows each summer," Boston Symphony Orchestra Managing Director Mark Volpe said in a press release.

"In addition, the Tanglewood Learning Institute will introduce an exciting new venture by offering patrons an entirely new paradigm of education and enrichment programs, sure to expand the reach of the festival and bring welcome newcomers to the BSO's famed summer home," he said.

The project was designed by William Rawn Associates, which also designed Ozawa Hall.

Tanglewood has been the summer home of the BSO since 1937. The Tanglewood Music Center was founded in 1940.

"Tanglewood's new building project will provide the best possible atmosphere for the talented fellows of the Tanglewood Music Center to learn and grow on their path to becoming the next generation of musicians, earning their spots in the world's great orchestras, concert halls, and opera houses," BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons said.

"The new Tanglewood Learning Institute starts a new chapter in the orchestra's remarkable history by connecting our audience to our music-making in new ways and expanding Tanglewood's reach by welcoming new visitors experiencing the festival's profound and extraordinary musical gifts," Nelsons said.

Springfield audit department review finds misuse of funds for employee parking in city's Elder Affairs office

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Former Elder Affairs Director Janet Rodriguez-Denney recently resigned, saying she would be pursuing other opportunities.

SPRINGFIELD -- The city's Department of Elder Affairs was paying for employee parking with city funds and state and federal grants and from donation accounts in non-permitted ways, a review by the Office of Internal Audit has found.

Yong Ju No, the city's director of internal audit, met with city councilors in executive session Tuesday night to discuss his office's report on a review of the Department of Elder Affairs.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, in a prepared release, said the review was requested by Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Timothy J. Plante, following monthly budget monitoring.

The Internal Audit Office found that "employees of the Elder Affairs (Department) were utilizing the funds under the Parking Authority contract and charged them to various grant funds available to the Department."

Former Elder Affairs Director Janet Rodriguez-Denney recently resigned, saying she would be pursuing other opportunities.

Under a contract with the Springfield Parking Authority, funds are set aside to allow validated parking for visitors to the Elder Affairs office and Senior Center on East Columbus Avenue, known as the the Good Life Center.

However, records show that parking costs rose from $13,000 in fiscal 2015 to approximately $21,000 in fiscal 2016. The annual contract value with the Springfield Parking Authority was not to exceed $21,000, the Internal Audit office reported.

Names were blacked out in the audit report.

The four major findings of the Internal Audit office were:

  • The department paid for employees' parking.
  • The department "misrepresented their parking procedures (to the Internal Audit office), and to the City's Law Department."
  • Elder Affairs has not complied with the terms of its contract with the Springfield Parking Authority.
  • Parking bills from the Springfield Parking Authority are unreconciled.

Regarding the use of grants for employee parking, the report stated: "Because parking costs are personal expenses, they are not allowed to be charged to Federal grants ... unless specifically allowed by the grant."

The report include an exhibit that showed both allowable and unallowable parking costs.

The agenda item of Tuesday night's City Council Audit Committee meeting referencing the Department of Elder Affairs audit noted the executive session's purpose was "discussing attorney-client communications and the strategies with respect to potential litigation ... ."

Department of Elder Affairs Parking Review by The Republican/MassLive.com on Scribd

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