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Groups spend $28 million on nurse staffing ballot question

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Supporters of requiring specific nurse to patient ratios in hospitals have spent $10.4 million, and opponents have spent $17.5 million.

With two weeks to go before Election Day, nearly $28 million has been spent to sway voters on the issue of mandated nurse staffing ratios.

Supporters of the question, which would require specific nurse to patient ratios in hospitals, have spent $10.4 million, according to campaign finance reports.

Opponents of the ballot question have spent $17.5 million.

The latest campaign finance reports, which were due Monday to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, illustrate the high stakes of the campaign for Massachusetts' health care professionals. 

The Committee to Ensure Safe Patient Care, which supports the ballot question, has raised $11.6 million so far. Nearly all of that -- $11.3 million -- comes from the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the union that spearheaded the ballot question campaign. Some additional money has come from individual nurses.

The biggest expenses have been for mailings and media buys.

The Coalition to Protect Patient Safety, which opposes the ballot question, has raised $19.4 million so far.

Most of that -- $18.4 million -- has come from the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association. Much of the rest of the money has come from individual hospitals and health care providers and some health care-related trade associations.

The money has gone toward staff, polling, consulting, mailings and ad buys.


Sandy Hook shooting survivor to speak at school safety forum in Lee

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The "Safe and Sound Schools" forum will be held at 7 p.m. and will be open to parents of area school districts.

A survivor of the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting and a parent of one of the victims will be attending a school safety talk at the Lee High School Auditorium Wednesday, according to the Berkshire Eagle.

The "Safe and Sound Schools" forum will be held at 7 p.m. and will be open to parents of area school districts.

Michelle Gay, who co-founded Safe and Sound Schools, will be speaking. Her daughter was killed in the shooting on Dec. 14, 2012.

Also speaking is Natalie Hammond, who was teaching at the Newtown, Connecticut school when she was shot multiple times by Adam Lanza.

Lanza opened fire and then committed suicide at the school.

Dan Jewiss, a Connecticut state trooper, will also be speaking. He was the lead police investigator following the shooting.

In total, 20 children and six adult staff members died in the shooting.

Strange powder that evacuated Springfield's Social Security office determined to be not harmful

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The powder, though not harmful, did cause an evacuation of the office and a response from the regional hazardous materials team. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD - Officials have determined that the strange white powder that triggered a hazardous materials emergency Tuesday morning at the Springfield office of the Social Security Administration has been identified as an amount of ordinary onion salt.

Dennis Leger, aide to Fire Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi, said the unknown substance was mailed to the office on Main Street in a package.

It caused the evacuation of the building and triggered a response from the Western Massachusetts Regional Haz-Mat Team.

Three employees who were exposed to the powder were kept in observation while every other employee was sent home for the day. 

Once it was determined to be not harmful, those employees were sent home too.

The office was closed for the remainder of the day.

The powder was deliberately sent to the office, and it is not considered an accident, he said.

The incident remains under investigation.

Because it involves a federal government facility, the FBI will in charge of the investigation.

Legalize marijuana, most Americans say in 2 new polls

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More than half the states in America have legalized marijuana for medicinal use.

Most Americans want marijuana use to be legalized, according to two new polls.

"The latest figure marks the third consecutive year that support on the measure has increased and established a new record," according to news.gallup.com.

"About six-in-ten Americans (62 percent) say the use of marijuana should be legalized, reflecting a steady increase over the past decade," according to the Pew Research Center of Washington D.C.

The results come as more than half the states, 31, plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam, have legalized marijuana for medicinal use and nine states and Washington D.C. have legalized marijuana for recreational purposes.

But marijuana remains illegal in the eyes of the federal government. At the federal level, marijuana is still a Schedule 1 substance in the categorization of controlled substances. That means such drugs as heroin, LSD and marijuana have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Massachusetts voters legalized marijuana for recreational use in 2016 and legalized pot for medicinal purposes in 2012.

The Gallup poll was based on telephone interviews done from Oct. 1 to 10 with 1,019 adults 18 and older in all 50 states and Washington D.C. (see below)

The Gallup poll found that 66 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana.

"Support is strongest among adults aged 18 to 34, at 78 percent, while nearly two in three adults aged 35 to 54 (65 percent) approve of legalizing marijuana, Gallup said.

Support for marijuana legalization has increased in all parts of the country. From 2009-2010 to 2017-2018, Gallup found support to make pot legal rose:

  • in the East, from 46 percent to 67 percent
  • in the Midwest, from 40 percent to 65 percent
  • in the South, from 41 percent to 65 percent
  • in the West, from 56 percent to 65 percent.

"Like support for gay marriage -- and in prior years, interracial marriage -- support for marijuana legalization has generally only expanded, even if slowly, over the course of multiple decades -- raising the question of where the ceiling in support might be," Gallup said.

The Pew poll was based on telephone interviews done from Sept. 18 to 24 of 1,754 adults 18 or older living in all 50 states and Washington D.C., according to pewresearch.org. (see below)

The share of U.S. adults who support marijuana legalization has doubled from 2000, when it was 31 percent, Pew said.

Younger people and Democrats are more likely to support marijuana legalization than those who are older or Republican, Pew said.

"Nearly seven-in-ten Democrats (69 percent) say marijuana use should be legal, as do 75 percent of independents who lean toward the Democratic Party," Pew said.

"Republicans are divided, with 45 percent in favor of legalizing marijuana and 51 percent opposed. Still, the share of Republicans saying marijuana should be legal has increased from 39 percent in 2015. Independents who lean toward the Republican Party are far more likely than Republicans to favor marijuana legalization (59 percent vs. 45 percent)," Pew said.

Methodology of Gallup poll on marijuana legalization: by Mike Plaisance on Scribd

Methodology of Pew poll on marijuana legalization: by Mike Plaisance on Scribd

Toasted Owl Gives A Hoot Halloween Fun Run in Northampton gets upgrades for 2018

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Northampton's Toasted Owl Tavern will be hosting their ninth annual Halloween Fun Run.

NORTHAMPTON -- Northampton's Toasted Owl Tavern will be hosting it's ninth annual Halloween Fun Run on Sunday, with proceeds st to benefit the Dakin Human Society.

"The race is not just for the community to give back, but for individuals and their pets to give back too," said Stacey Prince, director of Development & Marketing for Dakin Humane Society.

This year, runners/walkers can wear Halloween costumes. A complimentary grill, beverages, and dessert provided by Toasted Owl owner Fred Gohr will be at the end of the run, as well as prizes for each age bracket and for best costume.

According to organizers, there have been some notable enhancements to race this year to attract new participants. This includes team building activities for fundraising, virtual participation, chip timing for accuracy, and finish line photographs.

The 5K run/2K walk is set for Sunday Oct. 28 at 10:30 a.m. in downtown Northampton.

For more information, visit the official website here

Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet in Paris after November election

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President Donald Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Paris just days after the November general election, White House officials announced Tuesday.

President Donald Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Paris just days after the November general election, White House officials announced Tuesday.

White House National Security Adviser John Bolton, following a meeting with Putin in Moscow, told reporters that Trump and will sit down with his Russian counterpart on Nov. 11 in Paris. 

"We will make the precise arrangements on that. But it will happen in connection with the 100th anniversary and the celebration of the armistice that the French are hosting on Nov. 11," he said at a news conference. 

Trump is scheduled to be in Paris next month for Armistice Day, which marks the end of World War I. 

The trip will come just days after the Nov. 6 midterm elections.

Trump faced widespread criticism following his July 2018 summit with Putin in Helsinki, Finland. 

Despite such pushback, the president said  he looked forward to the prospect of a second meeting with the Russian leader, and reportedly invited Putin to a fall Washington D.C. summit.

Bolton, however, announced in late July that the White House would not host Putin until 2019, noting that Trump wanted to hold such a meeting after the completion of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

This story will be updated.

Springfield seeks lower bids, later start for major culvert repair project at Forest Park

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The city, after rejecting bids this summer for a major culvert repair project at Forest Park, deemed too expensive, will open bids again in hope the prices will be lower.

SPRINGFIELD -- The city, after rejecting bids deemed too expensive in the summer for a major culvert repair project at Forest Park, will open bids again on Friday with the hope that prices will come in lower.

Patrick J. Sullivan, the city's director of parks, buildings and recreation management, said the estimated $2.2 million project, which was expected to begin this summer, is now slated to begin in March of 2019.

The culvert had collapsed in July of 2017, forcing temporary repairs and a month-long closure of Main Greeting Road, the main entrance to Forest Park off Sumner Avenue.

The repairs will include the rehabilitation of the Main Greeting Road embankment and Swan Pond outlet.

City officials said they have made some changes in the specifications that should encourage lower bids after the prior bids in June were rejected. The June bids ranged from approximately $3.3 million to $7.9 million.

"The bids came in over budget for the initial solicitation and were all rejected as a result," said Theo G. Theocles, deputy director of procurement.

With the work now scheduled to begin in March, the culvert project will not disrupt plans for the 2018 Bright Nights holiday lighting display at Forest Park, Sullivan said.

The new bids will be opened at opened at 2 p.m., on Friday, at the Office of Procurement at City Hall.

Gov. Charles Baker announced a year ago that the state would pay for the culvert project. Baker authorized $3 million, later upped to $3.5 million for construction, design and other costs.

Some factors should reduce the cost including that timetable for the work will be longer -- from March to November of 2019 -- rather than the prior city mandate for the project to be substantially completed within a four-month expedited timetable, Sullivan said.

The four-month timetable was intended to start on July 1, to ensure the project did not interrupt Bright Nights this year.

The city had intended to close the entrance to Forest Park on Sumner Avenue this summer and fall, but it was not necessary due to the postponement, Sullivan said.

The city is also moving the staging area for the selected contractor to a site closer to the culvert area, that should reduce costs, Sullivan said. The site is moving to an open area to the left of Cyr Arena, rather than the tree nursery area near Trafton Road, he said.

In addition, the specifications call for a more gentle slope in the culvert area, that should result in better pricing, Sullivan said.

Pending the completion of the culvert repair project, however, a city-hired contractor will monitor the water level at Swan Pond, pumping when necessary, to safeguard the culvert area, Sullivan said. The monthly cost is expected to range from $5,000 to $10,000, he said.

With the closing of Sumner Avenue during the project, there will still be two major entrances to the park from Trafton Road and Route 5, Sullivan said.

Victims shocked, confused by random assaults allegedly committed by Devon Williams

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Devon Williams, 27, of Springfield, is accused of assaults on five people, including an attack at the MGM Springfield casino.

SPRINGFIELD -- Police reports included in the case against Devon Williams detail unprovoked and random assaults on three men around the city shortly before he allegedly launched a brutal attack on a patron at MGM Springfield.

Police reports detail the victims' shock at being randomly assaulted by a man they did not know.

Williams, 27, of Springfield, is accused of punching and kicking a 55-year-old man Sept. 9 at the casino. He is charged in Springfield District Court with assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (shod foot), and has pleaded not guilty. 

He is currently at Bridgewater State Hospital for mental health evaluations and is held without right to bail. He was committed to Bridgewater Oct. 4, according to court filing.

On Oct. 16 Williams denied multiple charges in a second case involving assaults on four men, three of which happened on Sept. 9 right before Williams went to the casino.

Those assaults include: 

  • an attack on a 30-year-old Springfield man doing yard work at his Grenada Terrace home; 
  • an attack on a 46-year-old Springfield man who was with his 10-year-old son at the 560 Sumner Ave. Subway restaurant;
  • an attack on a 45-year-old man from New York who was outside his grandmother's home on Kimberly Avenue. 

Williams is also accused in a Sept. 1 attack on Main Street.

'Shocked and confused'

On Grenada Terrace, the first victim was mowing his lawn when a car pulled up and a man, who police say was later identified as Williams, got out.

The victim had briefly stopped mowing so a woman could pass without being hit by debris. Williams said something along the lines of "spray her" or "spit her" and hit the victim with a closed fist, the police report said.

The victim fell to the ground. When he began to stand back up, Williams tried to hit him again before getting in his car and driving away.

The victim "described feeling shocked and confused over what had occurred," and was "unaware of any motive" behind the attack, the police report said.

The assault at the Sumner Avenue Subway was captured in video footage around 3:30 p.m., where the second victim went with his son after church.

The victim said he opened the first of two entrance doors for a man later identified as Williams. Williams opened the second entrance door for the victim and his son. 

As the victim approached the counter to order food, he told police, he felt a severe pain around his head and neck as though he'd been hit with an object.

He turned around and saw Williams, whom he described as a complete stranger. Williams allegedly said, "Don't you put your hands on that boy!"

The police report said the victim "was utterly confused and unaware of what Mr. Williams was referring to," and "was then forced to brace for impact."

Williams began striking him several times in the head, neck and ribs with a closed fist, the police report said, and the video showed "a violent, unprovoked attack with closed fist strikes" and kicks.

Williams knocked the man's cell phone out of his hands, causing it to fall to the ground and crack -- leading to a charge of malicious damage to property in addition to assault and battery.

The victim was able to bite his assailant's hand, causing Williams to flee the restaurant.

The victim was taken to Baystate Medical Center. He had immense pain, bruising, swelling and discomfort in his head, neck and ribs, according to the report.

The man's son "has been affected emotionally after witnessing such a violent attack on his father," the report said.

Around 4 p.m. on Kimberly Avenue, the third victim was loading his vehicle outside his grandmother's house when he saw a man approaching him. The victim's wife and two young children were in the vehicle, the police report said.

The victim was taken aback when the man, later identified as Williams, walked up to him without saying anything and punched him in the face.

The victim fell to the ground on the tree belt. When he tried to get up, Williams punched him again. According to the report, the man's wife got out and began yelling at Williams, who said, "We're just having a disagreement."

Williams got into his vehicle and left, the police report said.

The victim suffered swelling, bruising, cuts, scrapes and soreness. His glasses were also damaged in the attack, leading to another charge of malicious damage to property as well as assault and battery.

The man's "wife and two young children were forced to endure watching their father get viciously assaulted by Mr. Williams for no apparent reason," the report said. 

In the Sept. 1 assault -- for which Williams is charged with assault and battery causing serious bodily injury -- the victim suffered a concussion, a broken orbital bone and loose teeth. His injuries required four stitches on his lip and five staples to his head.

The victim said he was waiting for a ride near a gas station at 2221 Main St. when he was attacked by a man who'd just pumped and paid for gas at the station.

The man said Williams, who he did not know, approached him and said, "I got all day" and made reference to fighting, according to the police report.

The man told Williams he didn't want a problem. He thought Williams was leaving -- but Williams came back and punched him in the face, the police report said.

The victim picked Williams out of a police photo array after the assault at the casino.

At the casino, police said, Williams walked in a Main Street entrance near at about 4:40 p.m. and attacked the man, who was with his girlfriend.

The victim was treated at Baystate Medical Center for serious injuries that included a broken jaw and right and left eye orbital fractures. 

Police arrested Williams at his Chestnut Street apartment within two hours of the assault. 

Nicholas Raring, Williams' lawyer, has asked for all reports from the court forensic mental health clinic and all reports generated by Bridgewater State Hospital.


Thomas Aquinas College earns state approval to operate branch campus in Massachusetts

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California-based four-year private college founded by Catholic lay people is accepting applicants for its Northfield campus.

NORTHFIELD - California-based Thomas Aquinas College has received approval from the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education to operate a branch campus here and award a bachelor of arts degree in liberal education.

The approval is subject to stipulations, including that the college submit annual status reports during its initial five years of operation.

In an Oct. 23 press release announcing the approval, the private, four-year institution founded by Catholic lay people in 1969, said its admissions office "is accepting applications to the New England campus" as the college seeks to extend its accreditation to that campus.

"This is a great accomplishment for the college and we are grateful to the board for its thoughtful review," said Michael F. McLean, president of the college located in Santa Paula.

"Starting today, while the accreditation process goes forward, our admissions office is accepting applications to the New England campus."

He added he anticipated a "favorable conclusion to the accreditation process in the next few months" through the regional accrediting agency, WASC Senior College and University Commission.

The New England campus is located on what was originally the campus of a girls' school here established in 1879 by the 19th century evangelist Dwight Moody. Moody also founded the Mount Hermon school for boys in Gill in 1881. The two merged in 1971, and consolidated to the Gill campus in 2005.

The shuttered Northfield Mount Hermon property was gifted to Thomas Aquinas by the National Christian Foundation, the country's biggest charitable Christian organization, which also helped the college establish a $5 million matching grant fund for its New England branch.

The foundation had been given the several-hundred acre property with nearly two dozen buildings and the responsibility of gifting it by Steve Green, president of the arts and crafts retailer Hobby Lobby.

Green bought the campus for $100,000 in 2009, intending to transfer it to a Christian educational institution with the financial means to accept and maintain it.

He reportedly spent more than $5 million in upgrades to the Northfield campus before turning it over to the foundation after failing to find an economically viable arrangement with an interested party.

Thomas Aquinas College signed for transfer of ownership of the campus from the foundation on May 2, 2017.

The college is devoted to Catholic values and practices and the teaching of analytical, rhetorical and critical thinking skills through the study of theology, philosophy and mathematics.

It was founded after the Second Vatican Council amid concerned that its reforms too secularized Catholic identity and teachings.

The college has said previously that 36 freshmen will be accepted at its New England branch in each of the first four years, allowing the study body to slowly increase to between 350 to 400 students.

Some members of the faculty, who are called tutors, are expected to relocated to the Northfield campus where, according to the statement, the residential and spiritual life of the California campus will be replicated.

The Most Rev. Mitchell T. Rozanski, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, whose diocese also includes Our Lady of Elms College founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, has visited the campus.

New budget law pushes state savings account balance past $2 billion

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Gov. Charlie Baker signed the bulk of a $541 million budget bill approved by the Legislature last week that would push the state's reserves above $2 billion for the first time in a decade and put millions of dollars into school safety.

By Matt Murphy
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, OCT. 23, 2018.....Gov. Charlie Baker signed the bulk of a $541 million budget bill approved by the Legislature last week that would push the state's reserves above $2 billion for the first time in a decade and put millions of dollars into school safety, but the governor on Tuesday also proposed several amendment that will keep the state from fully turning the page on fiscal 2018.

Baker's office announced late Tuesday afternoon that the governor had signed off on $70 million in infrastructure spending, including $40 million for roads and bridges and $10 for clean water projects.

The bill also included $33 million to pay for snow and ice removal done last winter, $5 million for transitional housing assistance for hurricane evacuees from Puerto Rico, $10 million for life science investments and $700,000 for tuition and fee waivers for children who turned 18 while in the custody of the state and are headed to college.

"This bill helps close the books on fiscal 2018, and provides targeted funding for important initiatives including improved security and mental health counseling in schools, as well as money for local roads, bridges, and clean drinking water project," Baker said in a letter to House and Senate leaders.

Lawmakers last week finally got around to considering a close-out budget that both paid the state's outstanding bills from fiscal 2018, which ended on July 1, and decided how to allocate a surplus from last year.

The actions taken by Baker, however, are unlikely to fully satisfy Comptroller Thomas Shack, who had been urging lawmakers to act sooner so that he could meet his legal obligation to file the annual Statutory Basis Financial Report by Oct. 31.

The administration said Baker signed all spending authorizations in the bill and 66 of the 70 outside sections, but Baker did return four sections to the House with proposed amendments that "are necessary to close the FY18 books completely."

The amendments Baker returned include one sought by the attorney general and district attorneys concerning access to prescription monitoring program data from the Department of Public Health, which was part of the opioid abuse prevention bill completed at the end of the session.

Attorney General Maura Healey told the administration, according to Baker, that while personnel in the Medicaid fraud control unit can access prescription monitoring information, she cannot access the same data in conjunction with civil investigations. District attorneys have made similar complaints about not being able to access prescription monitoring information in connection to fatal drug overdose investigations.

The governor's amendment gives law enforcement access in both cases.

The governor also proposed a technical change related to the way a 2018 housing bond bill was written, and is proposing to give the Regional Transit Authority Performance and Funding Task Force until Feb. 15 to complete its work, or an extra two-and-a-half months.

While the Legislature will have to consider each of those four amendments in the coming weeks, the spending authorized in the bill takes effect immediately.

The bulk of the funding was approved to pay bills accrued over the course of fiscal 2018, but it also made tax law changes that Baker described as "necessitated by the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act," and made statutory changes needed to implement the new paid family leave and sales tax holiday laws.

The bill also included funding for a new class of state troopers and a class of correction officers, and authorized a transfer of capital gains tax revenues that will push the amount saved in fiscal 2018 to more than $700 million.

"By doing so, we build a cushion we are able to draw on in the event of a future recession, and at the same time we protect the Commonwealth from over-reliance on volatile sources of revenue," Baker wrote.

The "rainy day" fund, according to the administration, will eclipse the $2 billion mark for the first time since 2008, just prior to the Great Recession when state leaders had to lean heavily on the stabilization fund and federal stimulus dollars to avoid even deeper cuts to state services.

The bill also increased the state's contribution to its non-pension, post-employment benefit liability from 10 percent to 30 percent tobacco settlement funds.

Massive recall amid salmonella, listeria concerns affects meats and salads at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods

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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the vegetables, including corn and onions, were all produced by McCain Foods.

 

A massive recall of a wide variety of foods, including meats and salads, has been placed amid concerns that vegetables contaminated with salmonella and listeria may be among the ingredients, and stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods are impacted

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the vegetables, including corn and onions, were all produced by McCain Foods. The recall was announced around Oct. 18 and more details can be found here.

The following recalls are in place:

Bakkavor Foods USA 

* 16-oz. plastic-wrapped with paperboard sleeve packages containing HARRIS TEETER FRESH FOODS MARKET DELI-BAKERY brand "BBQ STYLE CHICKEN ARTISAN PIZZA," with "Use By" dates from 01/07/19 through 04/11/19 (inclusive) printed on the case packaging.

* 8-oz. butcher-paper wrapped packages containing HARRIS TEETER FRESH FOODS MARKET DELI-BAKERY brand "CHICKEN SAUSAGE, EGG WHITE and CHEESE BREAKFAST BURRITO," with "Use By" dates from 01/24/18 through 10/25/18 (inclusive) printed on the case packaging.

* 8-oz. butcher-paper wrapped packages containing HARRIS TEETER FRESH FOODS MARKET DELI-BAKERY brand "BACON, EGG and CHEESE BURRITO," with "Use By" dates from 01/24/18 through 10/25/18 (inclusive) printed on the case packaging.

* 10-oz. butcher-paper wrapped packages containing "TRADER JOE'S CARNITAS WITH SALSA VERDE Burrito," with "Use By" dates from 10/08/17 through 10/24/18 (inclusive) printed on the retail packaging.

The products subject to recall bear establishment numbers "EST. 19198," "P-19198," "EST. 46937" or "EST. 45335," inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

SK Food Group 

* 4.5-oz. plastic packages containing "jenny CRAIG CHICKEN WRAP WITH BBQ SAUCE," with lot codes WO0096753S10, WO0097880S10, WO0098216S10, WO0098565S10, WO0098923S10, WO0100691S10, WO0100692S10, WO0101746S10, WO0101861S10, WO0102176S10, WO0102469S10, WO0102758S10, WO0103920S10, WO0104247S10, WO0104353S10, WO0104615S10, WO0104995S10, WO0106312, WO0106312S10, WO0106945S10, WO0107556S10, WO0108694S10, WO0108695S10, WO0096753S02, WO0097880S02, WO0098216S02, WO00982416S02, WO0098565S02, WO0098923S02, WO0100691S02, WO0100692S02 and WO0101746S02.

Buddy's Kitchen, Inc. 

* 7.95-lb. bulk cases containing 16 pieces of "Provolone and Roasted Peppers Omelet with Sicilian Potatoes & Italian Chicken Sausage (Bulk Pack)," with lot codes 01/02/18, 01/15/18 and 05/09/18, and case code 70578.

* 11.02-lb. bulk cases containing 24 pieces of "Chicken Chorizo & Montamore Scramble," with lot codes 04/30/18 and 07/09/18, and case code 70658.

* 9.52-lb. bulk cases containing 24 pieces of "Chicken Chorizo & Montamore Scramble," with lot codes 10/30/17, 11/04/17, 12/05/17, 12/19/17, 01/16/18, 02/22/18 and 04/24/18, and case code 70630.

* 9.75-lb. bulk cases containing 24 pieces of "PANCETTA STYLE CRUMBLE & SMOKED FONTINA SCRAMBLE," with lot codes 10/19/17, 10/31/17, 11/20/17, 12/04/17, 01/03/18, 01/10/18, 02/12/18, 02/27/18, 03/30/18, 04/09/18, 05/07/18, 05/29/18, 06/13/18, 07/09/18, 08/06/18 and 09/07/18, and case code 70620.

* 11.93-lb. bulk cases containing 24 pieces of "Provolone and Roasted Peppers Omelet with Sicilian Potatoes & Italian Chicken Sausage (Pop-Put)," with lot codes 01/02/18, 01/05/18, 01/15/18, 01/25/18, 04/30/18, 05/08/18, 05/09/18, 05/16/18, 05/17/18, 05/24/18, 05/31/18, 07/24/18, 08/01/18, 08/06/18, 08/27/18, 09/05/18, 09/18/18 and 10/09/18, and case code 70577.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number "P-4226" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to institutional locations in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and New Jersey.

Envolve Foods 

* 22-oz. plastic bags containing "simple truth, Chicken Bibimbap" and a case code number of 011110890108 on the label and use by/sell by dates of 11/2/18 through 3/12/20.

* 22-oz. plastic bags containing "simple truth, Thai Style Green Curry" and a case code number of 011110816382 on the label and use by/sell by dates of 3/13/19 through 1/24/20.

* 22-oz. plastic bags containing "simple truth, Chicken Tikka Masala" and a case code of 011110890092 on the label and use by/sell by dates of 3/22/19 through 4/12/19.

* 10-lb. cases containing "CADENCE GOURMET, Steak Fajitas," with an item number of SS00024, and an expiration dates of  11/1/2018 through 01/18/19, on the label.

* 10-lb. cases containing "CADENCE GOURMET, Tuscan Tomato Basil Chicken & Sausage," with an item number of SS00032, and an expiration dates of 10/20/18 through 01/09/19 on the label.

* 10-lb. cases containing "CADENCE GOURMET, Rustic Toasted Tomato Basil Chicken & Vegetables," with an item number of SS00047, and an expiration dates of 2/05/19 through 10/12/19 on the label.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number "EST. 44857" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distribution warehouses nationwide.

Caito Foods, LLC 

- 11.5-oz. plastic clamshell packages containing "good & deLISH sante fe style salad with chicken," with "ENJOY BY" dates of 10/13/18 through 10/21/18 (inclusive).
- 8.75-oz. plastic clamshell packages containing "Santa Fe Style Salad with Chicken," with "Sell By" date of 10/13/18 through 10/21/18 (inclusive).
- 11.25-oz. plastic clamshell packages containing "FRESH Garden HIGHWAY SALADS SANTA FE STYLE SALAD WITH CHICKEN," with "Best If Sold By" dates of 10/12/18 through 10/20/18 (inclusive).
12-oz. plastic bowl packages containing "good to go! Chipotle Chicken Bowl," with "Sell By" dates of 10/11/18 through 10/19/18 (inclusive).
- 8.75-oz. plastic clamshell packages containing "FRESH Garden HIGHWAY Santa Fe Style Salad with Chicken," with "Best if Sold By" dates of 10/13/18 through 10/21/18 (inclusive).

The products subject to recall bear establishment number "P-39985" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Missouri.     

Ruiz Food Products, Inc. 

- 4.5-lbs. cardboard cases containing 24-count Go-Go Taquitos "Beef Taco & Cheese Taquitos" with a case code 86183 printed on the label.
- 4.5-lbs. cardboard cases containing 24-count Go-Go Taquitos "Buffalo Style Cooked Glazed Chicken Taquitos" with a case code 86006 printed on the label.
- 4.5-lbs. cardboard cases containing 24-count Go-Go Taquitos "Chipotle Chicken Wrapped in A Battered Flour Tortilla" with a case code 86019 printed on the label.

The products subject to recall bear establishment numbers "17523A or P-17523A" and "45694 or P-45694" in the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distributors nationwide.          

GHSW, LLC 

- 10-oz. plastic tray packages containing "365 BY WHOLE FOODS MARKET BBQ STYLE CHOPPED SALAD WITH CHICKEN" with "Best if Sold By" dates of 10/18/18 through 10/21/18 (inclusive).
- 8-oz. plastic tray packages containing "365 BY WHOLE FOODS MARKET CHICKEN FAJITA SALAD" with "Best if Sold By" dates of 10/18/18 through 10/21/18 (inclusive).
- 13-oz. plastic tray packages containing "TRADER JOE'S BBQ SEASONED WHITE CHICKEN SALAD" with "Best By" dates of 10/18/18, 10/19/18 and 10/20/18.
- 10.7-oz. plastic tray packages containing "TRADER JOE'S FIELD FRESH CHOPPED SALAD WITH GRILLED WHITE CHICKEN" with "Best By" dates of 10/18/18, 10/19/18 and 10/20/18.
- 10.7-oz. plastic tray packages containing "TRADER JOSE'S MEXICALI INSPIRED SALAD WITH CHILI SEASONED CHICKEN" with "Best By" dates of 10/18/18, 10/19/18 and 10/20/18.

GHSE, LLC 

* 15.25-oz. clear plastic clamshell packages containing "Marketside FIESTA SALAD WITH STEAK" and use by date from 10/17/2018 through 10/20/2018.
 
The products subject to recall bear establishment number "EST. 45781" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Taylor Farms Northwest LLC

- 11-oz. clear plastic wrapped bowls of "PORK CARNITAS BOWL" packages with a sell by dates of 10/15/18 through 10/19/18.

 
The products subject to recall bear establishment number "EST. 34834" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Oregon and Washington.

Mary's Harvest Fresh Foods, Inc. 

* 7-oz. clear plastic wrapped packages containing "MARY'S HARVEST Southwest Chicken Wrap w/ Rib Meat" and "Use By" dates from 10/15/18 through 10/23/18.

* 11-oz. clear plastic clamshell packages containing "TRADER JOSE'S MEXICALI INSPIRED SALAD WITH CHILI SEASONED CHICKEN" and "BEST BY" dates from 10/15/18 through 10/19/18.
 
The products subject to recall bear establishment number "P-39928" or "40310-M" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

GH Foods CA, LLC 

* 9.75-oz. clear plastic clamshell packages containing "Santa Fe Style Salad with Chicken" and Best If Sold By dates from 10/17/18 to 10/18/18.

* 10-oz. clear plastic clamshell packages containing "365 BY WHOLE FOODS MARKET BBQ STYLE CHOPPED SALAD WITH CHICKEN" and Best If Sold By dates from 10/17/18 to 10/20/18.

* 6-lbs. bagged kit containing "BBQ Style Salad Kit with White Chicken" and Use By dates from 10/17/18 to 10/22/18.

* 8-oz. clear plastic clamshell packages containing "365 BY WHOLE FOODS MARKET CHICKEN FAJITA SALAD" and Best If Sold By dates from 10/17/18 to 10/20/18.
 
The products subject to recall bear establishment number "EST. P-39994" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in California.

Prime Deli Corporation 

- 11.2-oz. clear plastic clamshell packages containing "7-ELEVEN BISTRO SOUTHWEST STYLE SALAD WITH BACON" and best by date of "Tuesday 1016".
- 9.6-oz. clear plastic clamshell packages containing "7-ELEVEN BISTRO SOUTHWEST STYLE SALAD WITH BACON" and best by date of "Tuesday 1016".

The products subject to recall bear establishment number "EST. 13553" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Texas.     

According to the USDA, "Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial food-borne illnesses."

In addition, "Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms."

Those who have purchased any of the recalled foods are urged to throw them away or return them to their store.

Section of St. James Avenue over I-291 to be closed for up to 4 weeks

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Only the northbound lanes on St. James Avenue will be closed. Southbound lanes will remain open.

 SPRINGFIELD - The northbound lanes of the St. James Avenue bridge spanning Interstate 291 will be closed for the next 3 to 4 weeks while emergency repairs are made, according to officials.

Just the two northbound lanes, heading from the McKnight neighborhood toward St. James Boulevard, were closed suddenly on Monday by the state Department of Transportation for emergency repairs to the bridge's concrete deck.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno issued a statement Tuesday afternoon that he has been told by the MassDOT work to repair the bridge will begin Wednesday and will not be finished until mid to late November.

MassDOT has hired a contractor, NEL Corporation of Middleton, to conduct full depth deck repairs on the Saint James Avenue Bridge, according to an agency spokeswoman.

MassDOT will be working with NEL Corporation to determine the full scope of work and timeline for repairs, the spokeswoman said. In addition, the state will confer with CSX Railroad as the owner of the rail under the St. James Avenue Bridge.

Work is expected to cost around $200,000.

Both northbound lanes will be closed while work is ongoing.

The southbound lanes will not be affected and will remain open.

With the work going on, motorists heading north from McKnight will need to take detours to reach the nearest entrance of I-291.

Springfield man sentenced to 8 years for unlawful firearm possession

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Hector Navarro, who was banned from owing any guns following a previous conviction, pleaded guilty to owning two shotguns and 2 handguns.

SPRINGFIELD - Hector Navarro, 29, of Springfield, who was arrested two years ago for unlawfully possessing several firearms, was sentenced on Tuesday to up to 8 years in federal prison, according to the office of the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts.

Judge Mark Mastroianni also ordered him to serve three years of supervised release once he completes his sentence.

Navarro had completed an earlier prison sentence and was prohibited for prohibited from owning any firearms.

According to prosecutors, Navarro was seen in possession of multiple firearms and ammunition in two occasions in September and October 2016.

These included two 12-gauge shotguns, and a 9 mm handgun and .30 caliber handgun.model Cougar 8000, 9mm pistol; an Irwindale Arms Inc., model Automag III, .30 caliber pistol; a Coast to Coast, model CC660, 12 gauge shotgun; 

32 kilos of fentanyl, valued at nearly $29 million, seized in Methuen raid

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The arrests were part of an investigation that had been active since June.

BOSTON - Law enforcement arrested two men Monday and seized 32 kilos of fentanyl -- more than 70 pounds -- valued at an estimated $28.8 million during a narcotics raid on a residence in Methuen.

The two men, Angel Javier Morell-Oneill, 33, and Jose A. Rodriguez, 41, are each charged with trafficking fentanyl, according to the office of U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew E. Lelling.

Morell-Oneill is also charged with possession of more than 400 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute while Rodriguez is charged with conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute.

Each man is a Dominican national.

According to prosecutors, Morell-Oneill had been under investigation for drug trafficking since June. The investigation led to his car being stopped in Methuen, and found found two kilos of fentanyl in the car.

This led to obtaining a search warrant for Morell-Oneill's home, where officials found 30 more kilos of fentanyl, along with drug materials and a loaded gun.

Rodriguez was arrested at the residence when he arrived to pay money owed for the transportation of a drug shipment that had been delivered to Morello-Oneill, officials said. Investigators found $20,000 in cash hidden in a secret compartment in Rodriguez's car.

If convicted Rodriguez could be sentenced to up to 20 years in federal prison. Morell-Oneill could be sentenced to between 10 years and life in prison.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 100 times more potent than heroin. It is commonly mixed with heroin or cocaine to make them more potent. Fentanyl is widely blamed as contributing to the epidemic of fatal opioid overdoses nationally.

Should we remove religious symbols from public spaces?

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Despite the separation of church and state, religious symbols can be found in schools, hospitals and public and state-sponsored spaces of all kinds.

Despite the separation of church and state, religious symbols can be found in schools, hospitals and public and state-sponsored spaces of all kinds. Some argue that these symbols are bold-face violations of the separation of church and state, and eliminating them would increase equality among religious groups. Others feel that, like it or not, some religious symbols are part of our history, and should remain in-tact as a result. What do you think? 

PERSPECTIVES

In the early 1990s, Roy Moore, former Alabama Chief Justice and alleged child molester, famously erected a wood carving of the 10 commandments in his courtroom (courthouses are government property). Chaos ensued when lawsuits and counter suits were filed by then-Governor Fob James, Moore himself and the ACLU of Alabama. 

The carving was ruled unconstitutional by Montgomery Judge Charles Price. According to WSFA12 News:

In November, 1997, Price said the Commandments would have to come down unless Moore included other historical documents in the display. Moore appealed the decision to the state Supreme Court, which allowed the Commandments to remain on display until the case was heard.

The Alabama Supreme Court eventually threw the case out, and the Commandments were allowed to stay on display as a result, stirring both support and indignation on the national level. Things changed in 2000:

In November 2000, Moore rode the wave of support for his position to political victory and was elected chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. A statement from the Christian Family Association issued before another rally in support of the judge proclaimed, 'Now that Judge Moore has been elected we will be focusing on our next statewide project involving the public display of the Ten Commandments.'

Moore's new position prompted a new wave of protests against the Ten Commandments monument. In 2002, Judge Myron Thompson ruled the monument unconstitutional, saying it was a violation of the separation of church and state. Moore refused to follow the court order, resulting in action from his fellow justices: they had the monument removed themselves. Moore was then suspended from his position. 

The nearly decade-long drama stirred the public and acted as a landmark moment in the history of public displays of religion in the U.S.

Putting up new religious monuments in public spaces is one thing, but monuments that have been around for decades or longer should remain untouched. If they have historical significance, there is no need to remove these displays from public areas. According to the Oxford University Press blog

So far the conclusion the Supreme Court seems to have come to is -- if the religious display has been there for a long time then it's fine to stay, but if it is not a historical object that has been there a long time, then this type of display in public places is unconstitutional.

If these monuments were to be removed, that would be a form of religious discrimination, regardless of the religion the statue is attributed to. Oxford reported that between 1995 and 2009, 33 state-level laws were passed that provided "overt support for displays of religious symbols in public settings." In other words, the majority of Americans want these symbols to stay, no matter where they're placed:

Two different Pew Center studies conducted in 2005 found that 83% of Americans said displays of Christmas symbols should be allowed on government property and 74% of Americans said they believe it is proper to display the Ten Commandments in government buildings.

Religious displays and the gray area between church and state

In the United States, most religious monuments relate in some way to Christianity. As the Freedom Forum Institute puts it: 

Few church-state issues spark more argument in 21st century America than crosses, Ten Commandments and other religious symbols on public property.

And it's not just in the U.S. In 2016, French courts ruled that a statue of the Virgin Mary be removed from a public park in order to comply with the country's ban on religious symbolism. France is known as one of the world's most secular countries. Proponents of the separation of church and state claim that by eliminating all religious symbols in public and state-owned spaces (like courthouses), governments will be limiting discrimination. If no religious symbols exist in public, all religions will be on equal footing. 

Citing ban on religious symbols, French court orders park to remove Virgin Mary

There's a line at which separation of church and state becomes discrimination itself. France is the perfect example. In 2010, France became the first country in Europe to ban the Muslim veil in public spaces. Under the premise of "freedom of religion and freedom from religion," the country: 

...stated that all religious images and attire were henceforth forbidden in public schools, and in doing so placed French schoolchildren under what you might call the protective custody of a theologically neutral classroom.

In doing so, France barred many of its citizens from their freedom of expression, clearly targeting specific groups -- in this case, Muslims -- over others. 

In the U.S., the first amendment states: 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The freedom of religious expression is a imperative precedent in America. By silencing public religious expression, whether its in the form of monuments or clothing, the government would be in direct violation of such precedent. 

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

 

Victim in fatal Greenfield pedestrian crash ID'ed as 66-year-old resident

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The man was struck and killed by a vehicle on Elm Street Monday night.

GREENFIELD - The pedestrian killed Monday night when struck by a vehicle on Elm Street has been identified as Ivan Doncev, 66, of Greenfield, according to the Northwestern District Attorney's Office.

Doncev was struck at about 7:15 p.m. on Elm Street near Oak Courts. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police blocked off Elm Street for several hours Monday night as they investigated the scene.

The accident remains under investigation. Police have not released information about the crash.

Tennessee Gas seeks federal OK for Agawam pipeline, compressor

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TGP projects in Agawam and Longmeadow will benefit Columbia Gas of Massachusetts.

Tennessee Gas Pipeline LLC on Friday petitioned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for permission to expand its natural gas infrastructure in Agawam.

The Kinder Morgan subsidiary applied for a "certificate of public convenience and necessity" from the FERC to build a new 2.1-mile pipeline loop, and a more powerful compressor station in that town.

Tennessee Gas also plans a new "city gate," or meter station, in Longmeadow, that will proceed whether or not the Agawam project is approved, the company stated.

Because the Tennessee Gas project is part of an interstate pipeline, it is federally regulated. The company hopes for a FERC certificate by November of 2019, and an in-service date of November 2020.

A related project by Columbia Gas, the Greater Springfield Reliability Project, needs Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities approval. That project is undergoing state environmental review.

The projects by Tennessee Gas and Columbia Gas are interdependent.

Columbia Gas hopes to send new pipelines up both sides of the Connecticut River to create a redundant supply to Springfield, lift service moratoriums in Northampton and Easthampton, and in other ways increase natural gas capacity in the Pioneer Valley.

Tennessee Gas says its Agawam upgrades will create an additional 72,400 dekatherms per day of "firm transportation capacity," meaning natural gas that is tied up in long-term contracts. Most of the gas will go to Columbia Gas of Massachusetts -- technically known as Bay State Gas -- and a smaller portion to Holyoke Gas & Electric.

As for the new capacity, Columbia Gas has subscribed to 40,400 dekatherms, and Holyoke Gas & Electric 5,000 dekatherms. That leaves around 27,000 dekatherms for Tennessee Gas to sell on the spot market. The new capacity will be sourced from a natural gas hub in Dracut that connects to a greater transmission network.

A dekatherm equals 1 million British BTUs, or 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas. To put things in perspective, Columbia Gas heating customers in Northampton and Easthampton now have contractual access to 12,000 daily dekatherms.

The Northampton City Council has taken a stand against the Greater Springfield Reliability Project, saying the city does not want any more natural gas because it is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change. The project is also opposed by groups such as Climate Action Now.

It's not known what Tennessee Gas will do if the expansion plans by Columbia are somehow scuttled.

Columbia Gas is under federal investigation after a series of fires and explosions on Sept. 13 devastated the Merrimack Valley communities of Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover. State regulators last week ordered Columbia to cease all of its pipeline work across the state until at least Dec. 1.

Columbia's Springfield service territory includes Northampton, Easthampton, South Hadley, Chicopee, Ludlow, Palmer, West Springfield, Springfield, Wilbraham, Monson, Southwick, Agawam, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow and Hampden.

Agawam's Conservation Commission, when it meets Thursday, will consider a "request for determination of applicability" from Tennessee Gas.

The project would alter 25 acres, widen an existing right-of-way, cross five streams, affect wetlands, convert farmland, and impact habitat for two rare reptiles, according to environmental documents.

TGP FERC application for Agawam 261 project by Mary Serreze on Scribd

Obituaries from The Republican, Oct. 23, 2018

At Mount Holyoke College, students rally for #metoo in light of sexual assault allegations

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At a rally at Mount Holyoke College Tuesday students shared their sexual assault stories.

SOUTH HADLEY -- Although Margaret Golden attended Mount Holyoke College decades ago, she says she still carries emotional scars from a sexual assault at the hands of one of her professors.

Golden flew from her current home in Idaho back to Massachusetts Tuesday to attend a rally at the school to address sexual harassment and assault on campus. 

The student-led rally was spurred by the publication of a recent Washington Post article in which another alum, Ruth D'Eredita, claimed she had been sexually assaulted at the school.

D'Eredita said she sent a letter to administrators in October of last year detailing her experience. The school hired an outside firm to investigate her allegations but didn't find enough evidence to pursue action against the professor, who still worked at the school, the Post reported.

The article, according to many present at Tuesday's rally, engendered shock, outrage and a feeling of betrayal. Students said they were never informed about the allegations against the professor, and that they felt they should have been.

The person at the center of the allegations is a tenured professor, said Keely Savoie, the college's interim director of media relations. His classes have been canceled and he has taken leave of the school, she said.

Despite rain, around a hundred people turned out to the college's Skinner Green to protest the school's handling of the allegations, as well as to share stories of sexual violence -- some of which students claimed had happened at the school.

When it was her turn to speak, Golden explained that her sexual assault occurred when she was a freshman in 1982. She said a professor called her into his office "closed the door and proceeded to sexually assault" her. 

The experience was so traumatic, Golden said, that she dropped out of Mount Holyoke later that year. "It wasn't until 1995 that I found the courage to return to my beloved campus," she said.

Before dropping out she sent a letter to then-President Elizabeth Kennan about the incident, but says it was ignored. "I was silenced, I was dismissed, I was erased," Golden said.  

Then, last year, after the #MeToo movement exploded across the country, Golden says she was encouraged to share her experiences about the assault with other alumnae that had had similar experiences. 

"What unfolded was countless stories of sexual harassment and sexual assault -- even rape -- by professors on this campus going back decades," Golden said.  

As Tuesday's event continued, a number of students stepped up to share their experiences of sexual violence. Many shared experiences that had happened earlier in life, while others shared claims of experiences that they said had happened at the school involving other students.

Casey Roepke, 19, one of the rally organizers, said in an interview that she felt what was happening at Mount Holyoke was an important result of the #MeToo movement.

"I think that it's really important that we get to voice our concerns and our experiences and our ideas," Roepke said, adding that for too long women have not been able to give voice to experiences of sexual violence.

A sophomore, Roepke said that many students did not feel the questions and concerns of students "were not really being addressed" by administrators.  

"What is the administration currently doing now to ensure the support and safety of students on campus?" she asked. Roepke said she felt there had been a lack of transparency on the part of the school. "The (Washington Post) article did come out before the college reached out about this," she said.

"Mount Holyoke is a historically women's college," Roepke said. "The fact that even in this space where so many of us -- myself included -- came to try to avoid all of this sexual harassment and assault stuff ... I just feel like my trust has been broken." 

The school said it has taken a number of steps to address the allegations. 

"We continue to focus on ways to ensure that we hold to the highest standards of safety and care for the community," President Sonya Stephens said in a statement Sunday. "Our goal is for every Mount Holyoke student to have the opportunity to excel and contribute to the common good in an environment that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and women's education and leadership."

Stephens also pointed to steps the school has taken since 2016, including hiring a vice president for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer to work with the Title IX coordinator.

Mega Millions numbers: Did you win Tuesday's $1.6 billion lottery jackpot?

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Mega Millions numbers: Did you win Tuesday's $1.6B lottery jackpot?

Lottery excitement reached a fever pitch after the jackpot in the latest Mega Millions drawing climbed this week to a record $1.6 billion.

megamillions.jpg

Here are the winning numbers in Tuesday's drawing:

05-28-62-65-70; Mega Ball: 05; Megaplier: 3X

The estimated jackpot for the drawing is $1.6 billion. The cash option is about $913 million. If no one wins, the Mega Millions jackpot will get even bigger for the next drawing.

According to the game's official website, the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350.

Players pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers -- five different numbers from 1 to 70 and one number from 1 to 25 -- or select Easy Pick. A player wins the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in a drawing.

Jackpot winners choose whether to receive 30 annual payments, each five percent higher than the last, or a lump-sum payment.

Mega Millions drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays and are offered in 44 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets cost $2 each.

Mega Millions and Powerball winners should do these 5 things

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