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US Marshals find man wanted in Puerto Rico for triple homicide in empty Springfield apartment

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The U.S. Marshals led a multi-agency raid on a School Street apartment Thursday morning to apprehend a man wanted on three homicide warrants out of Puerto Rico.

SPRINGFIELD -- The U.S. Marshals led a multi-agency raid on a School Street apartment Thursday morning to apprehend a man wanted on three homicide warrants out of Puerto Rico.

US Marshals Logo.png
 

According to Dave Milne, public affairs spokesman for the U.S. Marshals out of Springfield, marshals from his office as well as Connecticut were joined by Springfield police and Massachusetts State Police as they descended on an apartment building at 47 School St. early Thursday morning. 

Luis Lebron-Rivera, 27, ran out the back door of the abandoned apartment, according to Milne, but he didn't get far as approximately 20 officers were on the scene. He was subdued and taken into custody. Milne said Lebron-Rivera was found with several fake IDs, and refused to identify himself, while police worked to confirm his identity.  

Milne said Lebron-Rivera was previously a resident of San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he was wanted in connection with a triple-homicide committed in 2011. Milne said the murders were believed to be gang-related. 

The warrants were just signed on Jan. 5 of this year, according to Milne, and he will next be arraigned in Springfield District Court on fugitive from justice charges, relating to his extradition to Puerto Rico on the homicide charges. 


When will it start to snow in Massachusetts?

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Snow is expected again in Massachusetts Friday, with some communities preparing for eight inches of snow.

Snow is expected again in Massachusetts Friday, with some communities preparing for up to eight inches of snow. 

When will it start to fall and where will it hit first in Massachusetts? 

The National Weather Service says the storm will travel north, hitting Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket soon after midnight. 

By 1 a.m., snow is expected to begin falling on the lower Cape, reaching the upper Cape by 4 a.m. Friday morning. Snow fall rates near one-to-two inches an hour are possible in the early morning and up to eight inches of snow may hit Cape Cod and the islands. 

Snow is expected in Boston, Springfield and Worcester shortly after 7 a.m. through much of the morning though only two or three inches is expected in each city. 

It's expected to continue falling in Eastern Massachusetts around Boston, on Cape Cod and the islands through the afternoon with the storm exiting Southeastern Massachusetts early Friday evening. 

See how much snow your area will get

High wind warning issued in Massachusetts as 60 mile per hour gusts possible

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The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for multiple counties in Massachusetts Thursday, cautioning of strong winds with gusts up to 60 miles per hour.

The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for multiple counties in Massachusetts Thursday, cautioning of strong winds with gusts up to 60 miles per hour. 

The high wind warning is in effect until 4 p.m. Thursday for the following counties: Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Worcester. 

"Scattered downed branches and isolated downed trees expected in the advisory area," meteorologists with the National Weather Service wrote in the alert. "Branches and trees falling on power lines could lead to isolated power outages."

When will it start to snow in Massachusetts? 

 

Radioshack declares second bankruptcy, plans to close 200 stores

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Radioshack has filed for bankruptcy for the second time in two years and plans to immediately close 200 of its 1,500 stores, CNN Money reports.

Radioshack has filed for bankruptcy for the second time in two years and plans to immediately close 200 of its 1,500 stores, CNN Money reports.

The electronics chain currently operates 10 stores in Western Mass., and one store in Worcester and over 30 in the eastern part of the state.

It is not immediately clear which locations will be affected, but the Berkshire Eagle reported that stores in Lenox and Pittsfield are expected to close.

The troubled chain, which had shifted from its original focus as a parts supplier to selling mobile phones in recent years, had cut operating costs by 25 percent but was unable to stabilize its finances, according to CNN.

Radioshack last filed for bankruptcy in March of 2015 and closed half its stores at the time.

Several hundred stores will be converted to Sprint stores, CNN reported. The wireless carrier had partnered with Radioshack after its first bankruptcy.

In 2015, Radioshack shuttered stores in Holyoke, Hadley and Springfield.

US Sen. Elizabeth Warren slated to headline progressive conference

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U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, is among a handful of high-profile Democrats expected to speak at the Center for American Progress' upcoming Ideas Conference in Washington -- an event which some are billing as the progressive answer to the Conservative Political Action Conference.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, is among a handful of high-profile Democrats expected to speak at the Center for American Progress' upcoming Ideas Conference in Washington -- an event which some are billing as the progressive answer to the Conservative Political Action Conference.

The Massachusetts Democrat, who has become a favorite among the party's more progressive arm, will join fellow U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut; Cory Booker, D-New Jersey; Kamala Harris, D-California; and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, in delivering remarks at the May 16 event, Politico reported.

The conference, which will offer a preview of sorts of possible Democratic presidential candidates in the 2020 cycle, is expected to be modeled somewhat after CPAC -- a popular stop for Republican leaders.

It comes as the Democratic Party looks to restructure and energize its base after a disappointing 2016 election.

Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders named to U.S. Senate Democratic leadership

With so much of the progressive organization's time focused on fighting President Donald Trump, CAP President Neera Tanden told Politico that it's critical for Democrats to offer a positive alternative of how they will address challenges facing the country.

"Ultimately, for 2018 and beyond we have to provide a positive alternative and we hope that this will be the beginning of that effort," Tanden reportedly said of efforts to make the sporadic symposium a major annual event.

Instead of focusing on political attacks, speakers have been urged to come up with proposals on issues like the economy, climate change, national security, civil rights, reproductive rights and immigration, Politico reported.

Warren, a high-power surrogate for 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, repeatedly sparred with Trump on the campaign trail. 

Despite offering to work with the new president on areas of common interest after the election, the senator has remained outspoken against Trump.

US Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey urge President Donald Trump to resolve conflicts of interest

The CAP Ideas Conference will take place at the St. Regis Hotel in Washington.

Massachusetts adds 13k jobs in January, unemployment rises

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New local jobless numbers won't be out for a few more weeks.

BOSTON -- The Massachusetts unemployment rate rose in January to 3.2 percent from 3.1 percent a month earlier, according to statistics released Thursday by the state the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

Massachusetts added 13,000 jobs in January, according to those same numbers. The Jobless rate increased because the pool of those looking for work also increased.

Updated local jobless numbers won't be available for a few more weeks. 

But in the city of Springfield, unemployment was 5.2 percent in December 2016. That is up from the 4.8 percent unemployment recorded a month earlier in November 2016, but lower than the 8.7 percent unemployment rate recorded a year ago in December 2015.

The national average unemployment rate is 4.8 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. updated national jobs numbers come out Friday, March 10.

"Massachusetts continues to experience low levels of unemployment with the largest year over year percentage gains in jobs in the Construction, Education, and Health Services sectors. We remain focused on fostering an employment environment where businesses can grow and create jobs while having access to workers with the skills and training needed to fill them," Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald L. Walker II said in a prepared statement.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics figures unemployment numbers based on phone interviews with households. Jobs numbers come from interviews with employers double checked later with data from payroll tax records.

Further detail from Thursday's Massachusetts jobs report:

  •  On the year: From January 2016 to January 2017, BLS estimates Massachusetts has added 65,100 jobs.
  • Unemployment rate down for the year: Over the year, the state's s unemployment rate dropped 1.1 percent from 4.3 percent in January 2016. There were 40,400 fewer unemployed people in January 2017 compared with January 2016.
  • The (labor) force strengthens: The labor force increased by 1,600 from 3,561,700 in December, as 9,800 more residents were employed and 8,200 fewer residents were unemployed over the month.
  • Over the past few years: Revisions to the job estimates show growth was higher in 2015 than previously estimated with 56,700 jobs added. In 2016, 56,000 jobs were added over the year. Private sector jobs were up 58,900 in 2015 and 49,400 in 2016. BLS annually updates job estimates for each state with the most up-to-date information supplied by employers.
  • Part-time vs full-time: The Massachusetts unemployment rate is higher at 8.1 percent when those who have stopped looking and those who are working part-time but would rather work full-time are counted, a statistic the Bureau of Labor Statistics calls U-6.

Numbers show that the largest private sector percentage job gains over the year were in Construction; Education and Health Services; Financial Activities; Professional, Scientific and Business Services; and Leisure and Hospitality.

A breakdown by sector of the economy:

  • Trade, Transportation and Utilities added 6,400 (+1.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Trade, Transportation and Utilities gained 6,900 (+1.2%) jobs.
  • Financial Activities added 3,100 (+1.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Financial Activities gained 5,000 (+2.2%) jobs.
  • Construction gained 2,000 (+1.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Construction has added 5,300 (+3.7%) jobs.
  • Leisure and Hospitality gained 1,200 jobs (+0.3%) over the month. Over the year, Leisure and Hospitality added 7,700 (+2.2%) jobs.
  • Education and Health Services added 400 (+0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Education and Health Services gained 19,200 (+2.5%) jobs.
  • Information added 200 (+0.2%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Information added 1,500 (+1.7%) jobs.
  • Professional, Scientific and Business Services lost 2,600 (-0.5%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Professional, Scientific and Business Services added 11,900 (+2.2%) jobs.
  • Other Services lost 500 (-0.4%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Other Services are up 1,300 (+1.0%) jobs.
  • Manufacturing lost 200 (-0.1%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Manufacturing lost 3,200 (-1.3%) jobs.
  • Government added 2,900 (+0.6%) jobs over the month. Over the year, Government gained 9,500 (+2.1%) jobs.

Cause of deadly Warwick fire announced by Massachusetts fire officials

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A woodstove in the kitchen of a Warwick home ignited nearby combustibles, causing the fatal fire that took the lives of five people Saturday.

A woodstove in the kitchen of a Warwick home ignited nearby combustibles, causing the fatal fire that took the lives of five people Saturday, fire officials said Thursday. 

State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, Warwick Fire Chief Ronald P. Gates and Warwick Police Chief David Shoemaker shared the cause of the fire Thursday. 

Lucinda Seago, 42, and four of her children, ages 7, 9, 12, and 15, were killed in the fire. Her husband, Scott, and one child escaped the blaze alive. 

"This is a small community of neighbors helping neighbors and our hearts are heavy with the loss the Seago family has suffered," Gates said. 

The fire at 405 Richmond Rd. in Warwick was reported to the fire department at 12:45 a.m. Saturday. The single family home was fully engulfed in fire by the time firefighters arrived. 

Local firefighters received support from 15 fire departments in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, as well as two emergency medical service companies. 

The home was located on a dirt road too narrow for more than one fire truck, officials said Thursday. Responding firefighters shuttled water in their pumpers from a pond nearby, efforts made more difficult by sub-zero temperatures that froze equipment.  

"I know the men and women of the Warwick Fire Department and the mutual aid companies fought this fire with everything they had," Gates said.

Father and child escaped Warwick blaze that claimed the life of 5 family members

Legislative hearings kick off on $40 billion fiscal 2018 state budget

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The budget hearings began as the state is seeing lower-than-expected revenue growth, and leading lawmakers acknowledged that it could be a difficult budget process.

The state Legislature's consideration of the fiscal 2018 budget officially kicked off Thursday with a first public hearing at the Statehouse -- the beginning of a months-long process that will result in a new budget being signed by Gov. Charlie Baker by the start of the next fiscal year in July.

The budget hearings began as the state is seeing lower-than-expected revenue growth, and leading lawmakers acknowledged that it could be a difficult budget process. Lawmakers have predicted revenue growth of 3.9 percent, or around $1 billion in new taxes out of a $40.5 billion state budget.

Ways and Means Committee House Chairman Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill, said that money must be spread across myriad programs and priorities, "requiring us to make difficult choices and targeted investments."

Although Massachusetts' unemployment rate is low -- 3.2 percent in January -- tax revenues so far have come in $134 million below projections for the current fiscal year.

Dempsey said modest tax growth, rising costs and uncertainty about federal policies in Washington will all make balancing the budget in fiscal 2018 "a difficult task."

Ways and Means Committee Senate Chairwoman Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, said lawmakers "recognize that we have to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars while preserving services and programs for the most vulnerable residents in our state and ensuring we invest in the commonwealth's future -- its resiliency, health and prosperity."

Baker in January proposed a $40.5 billion state budget -- an increase of $1.65 billion, or 4.3 percent, over projected spending in the current fiscal year.

The money will pay for increased spending on local aid, MassHealth, education, substance abuse services, child protection, and homelessness prevention, among other programs.

Baker found the additional money, above projected revenue growth, through several tax changes. For example, one major tax change would gain the state an additional $30 million by requiring certain online retailers who do business in Massachusetts to collect sales taxes, even if they do not have offices here.

Baker is also proposing a $2,000-per-employee fee on employers who do not offer adequate health insurance. Businesses say the way the proposal is structured unfairly penalizes businesses, including some who do offer insurance.

Secretary of Administration and Finance Kristen Lepore said the budget proposal eliminates a structural deficit, by using just $95 million in one-time revenue. It puts money into the state's rainy day fund, slows the rate of spending growth and protects core state services.

"It is essential that we maintain restraint to keep spending in line with recurring revenue growth to ensure the state's long-term fiscal stability," Lepore told the Ways and Means Committee.

But Lepore also stressed the fiscal challenge posed by growing MassHealth caseloads. MassHealth accounts for 40 percent of state spending, is on track to cover 2 million people and "continues to threaten to crowd out spending on other important programs like education and local aid," Lepore said.

She said the assessment on the employers is a way to keep costs under control, by stopping the migration from commercial insurance to state-subsidized insurance.

Lepore said Baker's budget makes investments in improving clinical services at Bridgewater State Hospital, fighting homelessness, treating substance abuse, hiring new caseworkers at the Department of Children and Families, and offering a new tax credit to business that hire unemployed veterans.

The House and Senate will now take Baker's proposal under consideration as they develop their own versions of the state budget.

In addition to Lepore, the state's constitutional officers, including the attorney general, treasurer, auditor, secretary of state and inspector general, are all expected to testify Thursday.

Public hearings on specific sections of the budget will then be held around the state. A hearing on education and local aid at UMass Amherst is scheduled for Wednesday, March 29.


US Rep. Richard Neal to hold Obamacare town hall at Elms College

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As Republican leaders move forward in their efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, will meet with constituents Saturday to discuss how he is working to preserve the contentious health care law.

CHICOPEE -- As Republican leaders move forward in their efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, will meet with constituents Saturday to discuss how he is working to preserve the contentious health care law.

The congressman, who helped author the ACA, will highlight his efforts to protect access to affordable and reliable health care during a 9 a.m. town hall-style event at Elms College's Veritas Auditorium, located in Berchmans Hall.

In addition to discussing his own work to protect the law known as Obamacare, Neal will also field ACA-related questions from attendees. 

Doors for the meeting will open at 8:30 a.m. Due to limited space, constituents are asked to RSVP to the event.

Neal's town hall will come just days after two House panels began work on a GOP health care plan that would dismantle much of Obamacare and scale back the government's role in ensuring Americans have health insurance.

Specifically, it would cancel the law's fines on individuals who don't carry health insurance, overhaul the federal-state Medicaid program and replace income-based subsidies with age-based tax credits.

The House Republicans' plan, however, would retain a handful of more popular ACA provisions, like allowing adults to remain on their parents' health plans until age 26 and barring health insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

US. Rep. Richard Neal, Massachusetts lawmakers condemn House Republicans' ACA repeal bill

The House Ways and Means Committee, on which Neal serves as the top Democrat, voted to advance the GOP proposal early Thursday morning after 18 hours of debate. 

Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, touted his panel's approval of the legislation, which he said "will help Americans finally have access to affordable health care."

"We voted repeatedly to end Obamacare's crushing taxes and mandates and ensure patients have more power over their own health care," he said in a statement. "This legislation reflects President (Donald) Trump's strong commitment to improving health care for all Americans."

Neal, however, cast the proposal as "a plan that creates chaos in the insurance market that directly impacts patients and providers, hurts hospitals, the communities they serve and their regional economies."

Several congressional lawmakers have hosted town hall-style forums on the ACA in recent weeks -- some of which reportedly grew tense as various GOP members faced pushback over efforts to repeal the health care law.

Three Massachusetts cities ranked among top 20 places to celebrate St. Patrick's Day

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Boston, Worcester and Springfield are among the top 20 cities for St. Patrick's Day celebrations, according to WalletHub, a social networking site focused on personal finances.

Boston, Worcester and Springfield are among the top 20 cities for St. Patrick's Day celebrations, according to WalletHub, a social networking site focused on personal finances.

Two cities came in ahead of Boston, home of the Celtics, to nab the No. 1 and No. 2 slots: Buffalo, New York, and Madison, Wisconsin.

Iowa's Cedar Rapids came in between Boston and Worcester, grabbing the No. 4 slot.

Springfield received the No. 15 slot, behind Chicago and ahead of the Missouri city that is also named Springfield. Chicago has 201,530 residents who say they are Irish-American, and the city dyes its river green to celebrate the day.

It shouldn't be a surprise that Massachusetts cities pop up at the top of the rankings: 20.2 percent of Massachusetts residents claimed Irish ancestry in 2015, according to the US Census. In New Hampshire, the number is 20.6 percent.

In Braintree, a community south of Boston, 40.2 percent of the population says it has Irish ancestors, the Census reported. Scituate and Marshfield Hills, also located south of Boston, have high percentages.

Worcester goes green March 12 for annual St. Patrick's parade

WalletHub arrived at the rankings by looking at 200 cities across the country and noting whether they have a St. Patrick's Day parade, the share of the Irish population, Irish pubs and restaurants per capita, the average beer price, DUI-related fatal incidents per capita, and traffic congestion.

Pittsburgh, Akron, Tampa, Philadelphia and Cleveland rounded out the top 10 after Worcester. Grand Rapids, Michigan, came in last at No. 20.

According to WalletHub, revelers across the world will drink 13 million pints of Guinness on St. Patrick's Day, and on average spend $38.

Source: WalletHub

Interfaith vigil set to show solidarity with Springfield Jewish Community Center

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The Interfaith Council of Western Massachusetts is holding an interfaith vigil today at 6 at the Springfield Jewish Community Center, 1160 Dickinson St., in the aftermath of a March 3 threat found in the center's men's locker room that closed the facility for the day.

SPRINGFIELD - The Interfaith Council of Western Massachusetts is holding an interfaith vigil today at 6 at the Springfield Jewish Community Center, 1160 Dickinson St., in the aftermath of a March 3 threat found in the center's men's locker room that closed the facility for the day.

The council also released a statement, "Voices United Against Hate," saying it was "appalled" at such occurrences that have been on the rise nationally against Jews and Muslims, among others, and asks area leaders to "speak out against such actions."

"As members of our diverse faith communities, we are alarmed at the rise in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in our country, and are united in condemning all acts of violence committed against anyone, especially in the name of religion. In the words of one of our members, 'No one deserves to be killed because of who they are," the statement reads.

It asks "all our brothers and sisters in the Greater Springfield community to stand together in mutual respect and honor all of us, protecting any who comes under attack and standing against hate."

"We ask our civic and religious leaders to speak out against such actions and to affirm the diversity of our community as a source of pride and strength," the statement says.

It also states, "We are appalled at extensive desecration of Jewish cemeteries, threats and vandalism against Muslim communities and mosques, and the killing of seven transgender people since the start of 2017, most of them trans women of color."

"Our Muslim friends are newly vulnerable in the wake of our President's updated travel ban from six Muslim-majority countries and full-stop denial of entry to immigrants from Syria and other war-torn countries," said the statement in reference to President Donald Trump's executive order.

The statement notes the council "brings together Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Baha'i, Buddhist, and Unitarian Universalist communities from the Greater Springfield area regularly to learn about each other, to advocate for justice and to respond to life in our shared community together."

The statement is signed by council officers representing their communities of faith: Martin Pion, council president, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield; Rev. Dr. Janet Burdewik, vice-president, United Church of Christ; Atty. Mary E. Johnson, treasurer, of the Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts; Rev. Lauren Holm, scribe, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and Rev. Marisa Brown Ludwig, communications coordinator, the United Church of Christ.

First responders evacuated and searched the JCC March 3, but found nothing. An email sent to Springfield JCC members Jan. 13 noted another incident in which a threatening note was left at the center.

Federal officials have been investigating more than 122 bomb threats called in to Jewish organizations in three dozen states since Jan. 9 as well as a rash of vandalism at Jewish cemeteries, the Associated Press reported.


Radio Shack to close stores in Springfield, West Springfield, Westfield and Chicopee

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Stores on King Street in Northampton and in Great Barrington are the only stores in this part of the state not scheduled to close, but their future certainly remains in doubt.

SPRINGFIELD -- Radio Shack employees in Greater Springfield have been told that stores in West Springfield at Century Plaza, in Chicopee on Memorial Drive, at Springfield Plaza and in the Westgate Shopping Plaza in Westfield will all close by the end of this month.

Stores on King Street in Northampton and in Great Barrington are the  only stores in this part of the state not scheduled to close, but their future certainly remains in doubt. The stores are corporate-owned.



Radio Shack parent General Wireless Operations Inc. field for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week and plans to close 200 of its 1,500 stores.

Stores in Lenox and Pittsfield are also reportedly set to close.

The Westfield location has been conducting a going-out-of-business sale for months but is expected to finally shut down on Sunday.

It's been a long decline for Radio Shack, which had a hard time adjusting to competition from online shopping and relied too heavily on its cellphone business. A 2015 bankruptcy resulted in stores closing in the Holyoke and Hampshire malls and on Cooley Street in Springfield.

Those stores were corporate-owned as well.

Local franchisee Ira Brezinsky rebranded his Radio Shack stores in the Big Y Plaza in Greenfield and in Brattleboro, Vermont as BRW Electronics after signing up with a different distributor.

He took the Radio Shack concept back to its roots by selling all soldering guns, batteries and electronic gear for hobbyists. 

Gallery preview 

Iron Horse responds to Vanessa Carlton's complaints about venue conditions

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A publicist for Northampton's Iron Horse Music Hall expressed disappointment that the singer-songwriter went public instead of reaching out to management.

Management of Northampton's Iron Horse Music Hall has responded to Vanessa Carlton's complaints about venue conditions during her March 7 show at the venue, expressing disappointment that the singer-songwriter went public instead of reaching out to management.

Following her show, Carlton decried the state of the venue's green room on Twitter, posting a photo of its dilapidated chairs and describing the conditions as a "slap in the face." She also tweeted about about cold temperatures on stage, and encouraged fans to voice complaints to Iron Horse Entertainment Group, the club's owner.

In an interview, IHEG marketing director Jim Neill questioned why Carlton took to Twitter with the issues. Carlton never reached out privately to management and had previously performed twice at the Iron Horse without complaint, he said.

"Instead of talking to us, she goes on social media with it. Now it's a pile-on thing," Neill said. "It's all just so blown out of proportion."

IHEG manages four venues -- the Iron Horse, the Calvin Theatre, the Basement and the Pearl Street nightclub -- and is in the process of upgrading its dressing rooms, Neill said.

"We just finished the Calvin green room. Iron Horse is next anyway," he said. "We have a long list of things that we want to get done. And we're getting to them in the order that resources permit."

Neill said Carlton is a popular artist whose show on Tuesday was well-received and successful.

"We'd love to have her back," Neill said. "We have no issues with her."

But he said she had stepped outside normal music business protocols by going public with her complaints, instead of reaching out to management privately to address them.

"If anything goes amiss, we try to address it as best we can," Neill said. "We have all kinds of crazy stuff happen with artists, but we'd never go on social media and say blah blah blah goes on backstage."

Do you know this guy? Ludlow PD seek help identifying suspect in Subway counterfeiting case

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The suspect purchased a sandwich at the Center Street Subway and paid for it with a fake $100 bill.

LUDLOW - Police are seeking the public's help in identifying a man who is a suspect in the investigation of counterfeit money being circulated in town, police said.

Ludlow police Sgt. Daniel Valadas said the man recently used a fake $100 bill to buy a sandwich at the Subway at 477B Center St.

He is described as white, in his late 20s or early 30s, and weighing more than 200 pounds. His most distinctive attribute appears to be a large pentagram tattoo on the front of his neck.

At the time of the bill passing, he was wearing a reddish baseball-style jacket, and he was wearing a black hat turned backwards.

Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call Ludlow police at 413-583-8305.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may text a tip via a cell phone by addressing a text message to "CRIMES," or "274637," and then beginning the body of the message with the word "SOLVE." 

Valadas said people are requested not to approach the man if they see him. Instead they should contact police.

There have been several incidents recently in which area merchants have reported finding fake $100 bills. 

West Springfield police chief joins FBI director Jim Comey at Chelsea event

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West Springfield Police Chief Ron Campurciani was among the Massachusetts law enforcement officials who met this week with FBI director Jim Comey at the federal agency's new regional headquarters in Chelsea.

BOSTON ---- West Springfield Police Chief Ronald Camurciani was among the Massachusetts law enforcement officials who joined FBI director James B. Comey for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday at the federal agency's new regional headquarters in Chelsea.

Campuriciani tweeted a photo of himself and the 6-foot-8 Comey, whose name has been in the headlines after President Donald Trump claimed in a weekend tweet that President Barack Obama ordered a wiretap of his phones during his campaign for president.

Trump's tweet reportedly prompted Comey to have his staff reach out to staff at the Justice Department to ask them to knock down the story.

Roughly 40 law enforcement officials from Massachusetts and other New England states were on hand for Tuesday's ceremony, which also attracted Charlie Baker, our 6-foot-6 governor, who's rarely not the tallest guy in the room, and various shorter politicians.

Knowing that his audience was filled with Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics fans, Comey acknowledged he should probably discuss a controversial issue that's been "on the minds of many," the State House News Service reports.

"I am a New York Giants fan," revealed Comey, who was born in Yonkers, just north of the Bronx, and raised in New Jersey. "And I find it painful to walk around this state-of-the-art facility -- where tremendous work is done for this community and this commonwealth and this nation and this world -- and see reminders of how great the New England Patriots are."

The new $100 million, 220,000-square-foot FBI facility is located on Maple Street, about half a mile north of the Boston city line.



Springfield Police/Community Relations Committee holds first meeting

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Springfield's new police community relations committee held its first meeting on Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD -- Springfield's new Police/Community Relations Committee held its first meeting Wednesday evening, with its members coming together to discuss strategies for strengthening ties and improving the relationship between police and city residents. 

City Council President Orlando Ramos announced the creation of the 15-member group, made up of city councilors, police officials, and community members, in January. The committee was formed in the wake of allegations of police misconduct that led to the City Council's votes last year -- opposed by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno -- to re-establish a citizen Police Commission to oversee the Police Department.

At its inaugural meeting Wednesday at City Hall, committee members offered an array of suggestions about how police might improve their standing with residents. Those suggestions often involved creating more meaningful interactions between officers and citizens.

"We need to take police officers out of their roles as simply authoritative figures, and allow them to be seen as humans first," said Assistant District Attorney Colleen Monroe, who was appointed to the group by Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni. 

Many committee members agreed that with community policing and beat cops largely a thing of the past, establishing trust and lasting relationships between police and community residents has become increasingly difficult.

"When I look outside and see Springfield police I usually see them in patrol cars," said Matthew Forte, representing Ward 6. A former director of police academy training at a police department in New Jersey, Forte noted: "I don't see many of them on walking posts, or doing something where the officers could stop and have a conversation with local residents. I think it would be helpful if we looked into something like that."

The concept of creating community programs to encourage friendly interactions between police and city residents was a popular idea among the committee members. 

Additionally, several members commented on the large number of law enforcement officials who work in Springfield, but live in other communities -- suggesting that efforts needed to be made to encourage officers to live in the city where they work.

"I think we need to have some officials with skin in the game who live in the city that they're serving," said Kelli Moriarty-Finn, representing Ward 2.

Ramos in January pledged to work with Mayor Sarno and his administration in the New Year "to find ways to strengthen" the city's residency ordinance, which calls for city employees to live in Springfield but has been subject to decades of debate, controversy, challenges, and partial enforcement.

While members expressed enthusiasm at the group's first meeting, there was also some ambivalence over what the committee's overall goal should be. Members agreed the committee's mission could be developed after the group took further steps to interact with the public.

One of the group's stated ambitions is to use public input to implement policy proposals. The committee plans to meet in all of the city's wards over the next year, before ultimately providing its findings and recommendations to the mayor and City Council.

Mother bear and 3 cubs, denning on Quabbin Reservoir's Prescott Peninsula, 'doing great,' biologists say

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The team sedated the mother, denning in a hollow at the base of small tree, and weighed all four as part of their ongoing study of 18 collared bears in Western and Central Massachusetts.

NEW SALEM -- All was well on the Quabbin Reservoir's Prescott Penninsula Thursday morning as state wildlife biologists paid a visit to a hibernating mother bear and her three cubs.

The team sedated the mother, denning in a hollow at the base of small tree, and weighed all four and assessed their health as part of an ongoing study of 18 collared bears in central and Western Massachusetts.

The cubs, probably born in late January or early February, were not sedated. Participants held the cubs and tucked them under jackets and coats to keep them warm while the biologists weighed the mother and checked on the fit and condition of her GPS tracking collar.

The cubs, although squalling at times, were mostly quiet as they regarded the humans inhabiting the suddenly bright world around around them with wide eyes. The little bears, which had surprisingly big claws, often yawned and appeared at times to even drift into sleep.

The adult female, known as a sow, weighed in at 222 pounds and her three cubs -- two males and a female -- weighed 4.8, 4.3 and 5 pounds, respectively.

No sling was needed to contain the cubs for their weighings. A winter cap did the job quite nicely.

"She looked great," biologist David Wattles said of the mother. "She had three healthy cubs, the number she produced for her last litter, so she is a nice, mature successful mother."

Wattles, Black Bear Project leader for MassWildlife, said he and wildlife biologist David Fuller quietly approached the den about 9:30 a.m. and Fuller used what's known as a jab pole to administer the drug -- a blend of immobilizer and tranquilizer -- to the sow.

The act serves as kind of a moment of truth for bear biologists because sometimes the startled bear takes off before the drugs kicks in.

In this instance, that's exactly what happened. This particular bear, known as No. 426, wanted nothing to do with the intruding humans and ran about a quarter-mile before the drugs kicked in.

"We found her on the ground with the telemetry," Wattles said.

Team members used a sled to haul the sow back the den and then proceeded with the weighing.

Afterwards, they used the sling to drag the sow, rear-end first, back into the den, removed a blindfold of sorts that had been used to protect her eyes from drying out and laid her head to rest on freshly-cut cushion of evergreen boughs.

The cubs were carefully slid in alongside her and the entrance to the den was blocked with a larger array of boughs and branches.

The entire exercise, from the initial jab to the final placing of the last bough, took about two hours.

Baker administration talking to businesses about changing MassHealth employer fee proposal

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At a budget hearing, lawmakers indicated that while they are sympathetic to the problem of rising MassHealth costs, they have questions about the Baker administration's proposal.

BOSTON -- MassHealth, the publicly subsidized health insurance for poor people, is on track to cover 2 million people next year -- around 30 percent of the Massachusetts population. The program is taking up 40 percent of the state budget, crowding out spending on other expenses, like education.

To help address the rising costs, Gov. Charlie Baker has proposed a controversial new fee on employers who do not offer adequate health insurance.

At a budget hearing before the Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, lawmakers indicated that while they are sympathetic to the problem, they have questions about the Baker administration's proposal. Secretary of Administration and Finance Kristen Lepore said the administration is open to other ideas and is talking to businesses, who currently oppose the proposal.

"We've said all along this is a proposal," Lepore said. "If someone else has a better idea on how to accomplish this, then yes, we're open to any other suggestions that anyone else would have."

When Massachusetts passed universal health care in 2006, it included a $295-per-employee assessment on companies that did not offer adequate health insurance to their workers. That assessment was repealed in 2013 to conform with the federal Affordable Care Act.

But Baker officials say that as a result of the Affordable Care Act, people with access to employer-based coverage for the first time became eligible for MassHealth, if their income qualifies. According to state officials, there are at least 300,000 people working full time in Massachusetts who are enrolled in MassHealth, costing more than $1 billion.

"Clearly, we have an issue, where we're seeing movement of employees from employer-sponsored coverage onto the state's public assistance program," Lepore said.

Baker wants to use the fiscal 2018 budget to reinstate an employer fee -- a $2,000-per-employee assessment on businesses with at least 11 employees that do not offer health insurance. The standards would be higher than in the 2006 law for the amount of the insurance costs businesses must pay and the percentage of workers who must use the coverage. The proposal would require businesses to pay at least $4,950 per full-time employee toward that worker's health insurance. It would require 80 percent of employees to accept the businesses' insurance plan.

Companies say the proposal is unfair. Small business plans are often expensive, so even if a business offers insurance, employees may choose to use their spouse's insurance or buy insurance individually. The business could then be penalized.

At the budget hearing, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Brian Dempsey, D-Haverhill, said the growth in MassHealth costs "is cause for great concern."

Ways and Means Committee Chairwoman Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, said she agrees with Lepore that having MassHealth take up 40 percent of the budget "does not leave us that much left for all the program and services we want to fund."

But some lawmakers had concerns about specifics of Baker's proposal.

State Sen. Eileen Donoghue, D-Lowell, asked if Baker officials would consider applying the assessment only to companies with more than 25 or 50 workers. Donoghue said that could "help very small businesses that may be between a rock and a hard place" where the insurance plans they have access to are expensive and they face a penalty if employees do not take them.

State Sen. Vinny deMacedo, R-Plymouth, wondered if Massachusetts' congressional delegation is working to address the issue as Congress considers repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act.

"With changes we're seeing at the national level, does our federal delegation understand and are they working towards addressing the issue which allowed individuals to leave private insurance and go to MassHealth?" deMacedo asked. "Since change is happening at a federal level, clearly this is a negative aspect of the ACA that's become very real for those of you who have to budget this."

State Sen. John Keenan, D-Quincy, worried about part of Baker's proposal that would put a moratorium on new insurance mandates -- a move intended to keep the cost of insurance down.

Keenan said MassHealth offers better coverage for substance abuse treatment than many private insurance plans, so individuals with drug addiction who are eligible for MassHealth may be inclined to take it even if they have access to a private plan. Keenan worried that, without a new mandate requiring private insurers to cover substance abuse treatment, the migration to MassHealth will worsen.

Lepore said the administration has been talking to businesses in a "collaborative dialogue" to consider adjusting the proposal. Lepore said she hopes the federal government will give Massachusetts flexibility to make the changes it wants.

On the issue of mandates, Lepore said small businesses already find that purchasing insurance is unaffordable, which is one reason they are dropping coverage or offering less generous plans. Mandates could add to those costs.

"Employers want to offer a set of robust benefits to employees," Lepore said. "It's to the point of becoming increasingly difficult for them to do so, because it's cost-prohibitive."

Lepore said the Baker administration is still reviewing the impact of the bill proposed to replace the federal Affordable Care Act. She said she is interested to see the scoring of the Congressional Budget Office when it comes out.

Attorney General Maura Healey, whose office monitors health care cost trends, said her office is looking at the proposal closely and has been talking regularly with insurers, hospitals, community health centers, state officials and the congressional delegation.

"We need to make sure that we don't lose ground, that people have access to health care, and that health care be more affordable than it is currently," Healey said.

Baystate physician warns of impact Obamacare repeal may have on opioid treatment access

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Baystate Health's chief research officer, who has a background in studying the implementation of addiction treatment services, warns in the current article of the New England Journal of Medicine that just about every community in the country "will lose if the Affordable Care Act is repealed and not replaced by a plan with comparable coverage and parity for treatment of opioid use disorders."

SPRINGFIELD - Baystate Health's chief research officer, who has a background in studying the implementation of addiction treatment services, warned in the current article of the New England Journal of Medicine that just about every community in the country "will lose if the Affordable Care Act is repealed and not replaced by a plan with comparable coverage and parity for treatment of opioid use disorders."

friedmannmug.jpgDr. Peter Friedmann 

Dr. Peter Friedmann is lead author of a perspective piece, "How ACA Repeal Would Worsen the Opioid Epidemic," written with Christina M. Andrews and Keith Humphreys.

The piece notes that while ACA "was not designed with the opioid epidemic in mind" its provisions require opioid abuse disorders be covered on a parity with other medical conditions.

Parity protections, the piece notes, help "ensure access to adequate treatment without unfair out-of-pocket costs and limits on the frequency and duration of service."

The piece also notes ACA has increased "access to medication treatment," an important component of care for opioid use disorder, both through Medicaid expansion and the establishment of the state marketplaces for insurance coverage.

"The dramatic rise in opioid use disorders has prompted many states to take a hard look at deficiencies in their current systems of treatment and to leverage opportunities presented by the ACA for addressing them," the piece notes.

If the ACA is repealed and not replaced with something comparable, the piece warns that newly insured Americans "will lose coverage" for opioid use disorder treatment.

"Lifesaving drugs such as buprenorphine and extended-release naltrexone are costly and financially out of reach for many uninsured people," the piece states.

The piece also warns:


    • A total repeal of the ACA could reverse the expansion of parity requirements stipulated in the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act to include all private plans, as well as the Medicaid expansion plans.

    • Rural communities, which have the highest rates of mortality from opioid-related overdoes, would be hardest hit.

    • More than two million American, among the 20 million Americans who now have insured thanks to the ACA, have substance use disorders, and an estimated one-third of these have opioid use disorders.

Poll: Majority of voters say hatred, prejudice levels have risen under President Donald Trump

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Nearly two-thirds of American voters believe levels of hatred and prejudice in the United State have risen since President Donald Trump's 2016 election, according to a new survey.

Nearly two-thirds of American voters believe levels of hatred and prejudice in the United State have risen since President Donald Trump's 2016 election, according to a new survey.

A Quinnipiac University National Poll released Thursday found that 63 percent of respondents, including 84 percent of Democrats, believe the level of hatred has increased in the country since Trump's White House win.

Just 2 percent, by contrast, said the level had decreased, while 32 percent, including 49 percent of Republicans, said they believed hatred and prejudice remained unchanged under the new president.

Although just six in 10 respondents said they believe hatred levels have risen since November, more than three-quarters of voters, or 77 percent, said they believe prejudice against minority groups is a "very" or "somewhat" serious problem.

Seventy percent of voters further called prejudice against Jewish people a "very" or "somewhat" serious problem in the United States today -- up from 49 percent in early February, according to survey results.

The findings come in the wake of recent threats targeting Jewish Community Centers and vandalism of Jewish cemeteries. The Southern Poverty Law Center, meanwhile, reported more than 1,000 bias-related incidents in the month after the November election, alone.

Racist, anti-Semitic and pro-Donald Trump graffiti found on Mount Tom

Trump, who was criticized for his initial response to JCC threats and cemetery vandalism, condemned the acts in his first speech before a joint session of Congress in late-February.

He stressed that while Americans may be divided on issues, "we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all of its very ugly forms."

American voters split 37 to 38 in their approval of the president's handling of JCC threats and cemetery vandalism, according to the survey.

Tim Malloy, the Quinnipiac University Poll assistant director, said the poll's findings suggest "Americans are concerned that the dark forces of prejudice and anti-Semitism are rearing their ugly heads."

"Voters are less than confident with the new administration's response," he added in a statement.

President Donald Trump says Jewish center threats 'very sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate'

The poll surveyed more than 1,300 voters nationwide via telephone from March 2 to 6. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.

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