Melissa Paradysz, 37, was charged with drunken driving 2nd offense and other motor vehicle infractions.

CHICOPEE - A woman accused of drunken driving slammed into a police cruiser, injuring the officer who was on a traffic stop, and causing her car to catch fire Wednesday night.

Officer Ryan Moran had stopped a driver near 1091 Chicopee St. and was sitting on the side of the road with his emergency lights on when a car slammed into the cruiser from behind at about 9:40 p.m.

"Officer Moran did have injuries but his focus was on the vehicle he had stopped, as he was concerned it was struck and he knew there were young children in the car," said Michael Wilk police public information officer.

When he exited the cruiser he saw the car which had struck him had caught fire. He was quickly able to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher, Wilk said.

The other car had not been hit so he then turned his attention to the driver who struck him, he said.

The driver first responded "Oh my God, how did this happen?" She then explained she was trying to pass another car and clipped it, but Moran said there were no other cars on the road at the time of the crash. She then argued that she "barely hit anything," he said.

The driver allegedly showed signs of drinking. She stumbled and nearly fell when exiting the car, her speech was slurred, and she could not answer simple questions and smelled of alcohol. Police later found a water bottle about half-full of alcohol in her car, he said.

Sgt. Patrick Hurst, who arrived to assist Moran, then placed the woman under arrest after conducting sobriety tests, he said.

Melissa Paradysz, 37, of 102 Skeele St., was charged with drunken driving second offense, negligent operation, marked lanes violation and possession of an open container of alcohol, he said.

She took a breathalyzer while at the police station and police said results showed she was three times above the legal limit to drive. Paradysz was held on $540 bail and is to be arraigned in Chicopee District Court Thursday.

Moran suffered some injuries but is recovering and will be OK, Wilk said.

The cruiser and Paradysz's Nissan Altima were badly damaged in the crash, he said.

Columbia Gas parent company NiSource is under federal criminal investigation following the gas disaster in the Merrimack Valley.

NiSource, the parent company of Columbia Gas, is facing a criminal investigation tied to the Merrimack Valley gas disaster in September.

In a federal filing on Thursday NiSource disclosed that the U.S. Attorney's Office served grand jury subpoenas on Sept. 24, and said the company is cooperating with the investigation.

The over-pressurized gas incident in Greater Lawrence on Sept. 13 caused one death, multiple injuries and sparked more than 60 fires and several explosions. The gas company initially said the thousands of impacted customers across Lawrence, Andover and North Andover woudl have gas returned by Nov. 19, but last week they pushed that date back to Dec. 16. 

NiSource said in a press release shared Thursday that its third quarter report included $461.9 million related to third-party claims and other expenses tied to the Merrimack Valley damages. 

Columbia Gas pushes restoration dates back to December, nearly 3 months after explosions

The suspects are believed to have robbed the Chicopee Shell Station on Grove Street on Oct. 25.

HOLYOKE - Two armed suspects have robbed three Dairy Mart stores in the city and are believed to have robbed a gas station in Chicopee in the past 10 days.

The most recent crime happened at about 10:30 p.m., Wednesday, at the Dairy Mart at the corner of Maple and Lyman Streets. The suspects showed a gun and took cash and possibly other items, Police Lt. James Albert said.

The same two people are believed to have robbed the Dairy Mart on Upper Dwight Street twice. Because of computer problems, Albert could not say the exact dates of the robberies.

Police also believe the same two people robbed the Shell Gas Station in Chicopee, Albert said.

That robbery occurred at about 10:35 p.m., Oct. 25, on 167 Grove St. In that case the suspect was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, red hat and jeans, said Michael Wilk, Chicopee police public information officer.

In every case a man threatened the clerk with a gun and left with cash. They have also taken cigarettes, Albert said.

Holyoke Police and Chicopee Police are working together to investigate the robberies, Albert said.

One suspect was caught on camera in Holyoke and in Chicopee, although his face is covered in the pictures from Chicopee. Anyone who can identify the suspects or has any information about the crimes is asked to call Holyoke Police Detectives at 413-322-6940, Albert said.

MBTA Transit Police say an "unruly" and intoxicated passenger riding a commuter rail train to Salem on Halloween threatened other passengers.

MBTA Transit Police say an "unruly" and intoxicated passenger riding a commuter rail train to Salem on Halloween threatened other passengers and challenged them to fist fights, eventually pulling a knife on another rider.

Christopher Leclerc, 25, of Salem, was riding the train around 6:45 p.m. and consuming alcohol while invading other riders' personal space "in an aggressive manner" and challenging them to fist fights, Transit Police said in a statement.

"A male passenger requested Leclerc cease bothering passengers and to calm down," the statement read. "Leclerc responded by producing a knife, taking a fighting position and threatening harm to the victim."

Transit Police officers who were on assignment at the Salem Commuter Rail station for Halloween festivities waited as the commuter rail train arrived. Passengers identified Leclerc as the man threatening passengers, the statement said. 

Officers found a knife in Leclerc's possession, Transit Police said, as well as prescription narcotics in someone else's name.

Leclerc was arrested and charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon and drug possession.

The LOX Foundation will provide scholarships to at-risk young people in Springfield.

It has been 18 months since the life of Springfield native Ivery Downie was cut short in a shooting outside a city gas station.

Now, his family members are taking a step to create something meaningful out of their pain. On Friday, they will launch their new scholarship charity with a fundraiser banquet at the Castle of Nights in Chicopee.

"We wanted to basically turn this tragedy into a triumph - to do something positive in his honor," Downie's sister Katrina Banks said.

The LOX Foundation -- titled after one of Downie's nicknames -- will provide scholarships to at-risk young people in Springfield, focusing on those who have financial needs, troubled family lives, poor health or a history of incarceration.

"There's so many young people in Springfield who are losing their lives. And we want to get these young people to doing positive things," Banks said.

Downie, a 36-year-old home healthcare worker, was killed in the early morning hours of May 11, 2017 at a Mobil gas station in Springfield. He had exited his car to buy gas and cigarettes when an assailant emerged from the darkness and fatally shot him, members of his family told MassLive last year.

The crime remains unsolved. Springfield Police are continuing to pursue all leads in the investigation, police spokesman Ryan Walsh told MassLive.

The family hopes to raise $50,000 for the foundation, which was created as a 501(c)(3) charity. They plan to award the inaugural round of scholarships in May of 2019, Banks said.

To kickstart those ambitions, the foundation is holding a fundraiser banquet and launch party. Tickets for the event are no longer available, but the charity is soliciting donations through its web site.

Downie had a generous spirit and a flashy fashion sense, Darryl Denson, Downie's older brother and the coach of Central High School's boy's basketball team, told MassLive last year.

Downie was a graduate of Springfield Public Schools and a family man. He had three children, one a college student and two attending Chicopee Comprehensive High School, and was engaged to be married at the time of his death.

His death inspired members of his family to become advocates for public safety, pushing for improved security at the city's gas stations. The Springfield Police Department will soon launch a pilot program to network surveillance cameras at Pride gas stations into its real-time crime analysis center, modeled on a similar initiative pioneered in Detroit

Both the Downie family and the police department hope to improve lighting and expand the camera program to gas stations and convenience stores around Springfield.

Police in a Massachusetts community are investigating a report of a needle found in a piece of candy.

Police in a Massachusetts community are investigating a report of a needle found in a piece of candy. 

Marshfield police posted a warning message on Twitter with a photograph of a package of Twizzlers Twists. A needle was visible, sticking out of the candy. 

"The candy was received last night in the Brant Rock Area," police wrote. "Advised to throw away Twizzlers and inspect all other candy."

The matter is under investigation. 

Spicer's speech, coordinated by the University of Massachusetts College Republicans, is free and open to the public.

AMHERST - Former White House press secretary and communications director Sean Spicer will speak at the University of Massachusetts Fine Arts Center Concert Hall on Nov. 27. 

His speech, coordinated by the University of Massachusetts College Republicans, is free and open to the public. Tickets should be reserved ahead of time online or at the Fine Arts Center box office.

Spicer will talk about his time in the administration of President Donald Trump and discuss his new book, "The Briefing: Politics, the Press, and the President," according to a UMass College Republicans Facebook post.

Spicer was White House press secretary for 182 days.

The 13 completed the academy's program for on-call and volunteer training program.

SPRINGFIELD -  Thirteen men and women representing nine fire departments from small towns in Western Massachusetts completed their training this week at the Massachusetts Fire Academy in Springfield and are now ready to report at their local fire houses.

They were celebrated Tuesday in a ceremony at the Western Massachusetts campus of the fire academy. The graduates successfully completed the academy's Call-Volunteer Firefighter Recruit Training program as part of Class  #72.

The training program specializes in providing the skills necessary to work as an on-call or volunteer firefighter in their home communities. Graduates must successfully complete 240 hours on training, which is a combination of classroom and hands-on instruction.

Graduates represented the towns of Dalton, Granville, Great Barrington, Hampden, Lee, New Braintree, Palmer, Sturbridge, and South Hadley - District 1.  There were 12 men and 1 woman in the graduating class.

The graduates and the towns the represent are:

• Dalton - Christopher Doyle
• Granville - Peter Sorrajja
• Great Barrington - Michael Bissaillon, Iovan deRis
• Hampden - Joseph Rosa
• Lee - Dakota Schaefer
• New Braintree - Joshua Gagnon
• Palmer - Grace Sizer, Nicholas Warren
• South Hadley District 1 - Trevor McKenna
• Sturbridge - Michael Ashe, Anthony Messina, James Towns

The ballot question, if it passes in the general election Nov. 6, would set ratios of between one nurse to one patient in complicated or high-risk situations and one nurse to six patients in less acute cases. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD -- Warning of a loss of decision-making power -- both in business and at the bedside -- hospital executives, nurses and business leaders opposed to Massachusetts ballot Question 1  rallied Thursday in Springfield.

"You should vote no because we want to be able to maintain making decisions as a nurse for our patients for the highest quality patient care," said Jennifer Silvestri of East Longmeadow, a Baystate Medical Center registered nurse with a master's degree and more than 25 years in nursing.

Kate Phelon, executive director of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, predicted that the added cost of implementing Question 1 would hurt community hospitals, like Baystate Noble in Westfield. But she also made an argument against the nurse staffing ratios called for in Question 1 on principle.

"How would you like the government to tell you how many staff you should have in your place of business?" she said.

Thursday's rally at Springfield Symphony Hall came just five days before voters go to the polls. Early voting has already begun in Massachusetts. Springfield City Hall, part of the same complex as Symphony Hall, is an early voting location.

Question 1 supporters plan their own rallies over the next few days.

The ballot question, if it passes in the general election Nov. 6, would set ratios of between one registered nurse to one patient in complicated or high-risk situations and one nurse to six patients in less acute cases.

Advocates, including the Massachusetts Nurses Association, a union, say the new rules are needed to prevent nurses from being overworked and overwhelmed by too many patients.

Opponents, including some in the nursing profession, hospital management and business groups, say the new rules are too inflexible and would cost too much to implement, and that there aren't enough nurses to fill the positions that would be required.

Steve Walsh, president of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, said to expect a lot of get-out-the-vote efforts from both sides in the coming days. He feels confident that he and his industry group are getting their case against Question 1 out there. But it's all about turnout.

"People have responded really well to concerns around access," he said, referring to the industry's prediction that patients won't get care because there won't be enough nurses to meet the new ratios.

"We don't need a rigid staffing ratio to get the job done," said Spiros Hatiras, Holyoke Medical Center's president and CEO.

Hatiras said the cost to implement Question 1 at Holyoke Medical Center would be about $6 million a year. He warned of cuts to programs and staff.

"With our bottom line," he said, "we can't make that."

There is considerable disagreement over how much it will could cost to meet the requirements in Question 1.

Hospitals say implementation would cost $1.31 billion in the first year, and $900 million in subsequent years.

The MNA has a different set of estimates, pegging the cost of compliance much lower: $35 million to $47 million statewide.

The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission estimates the statewide cost to all hospitals at $676 million to $949 million a year once Question 1 is fully implemented. There would be another $57.9 million in one-time costs for implementation, according to the Health Policy Commission.

DeLeo declined to criticize Baker, but said he is voting for the Democratic nominee for governor.

As five Democrats in the Massachusetts House said that they will vote for Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, Beacon Hill's top Democrat said he is sticking with Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jay Gonzalez.

"As a member of the Democratic party, being obviously a Democratic speaker, I'm pleased to join with the Democratic nominee for governor," said House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, speaking after an event on gun control.

But DeLeo declined to criticize Baker, with whom he has met regularly and appears to have a good working relationship.

"I have worked great with the governor. I can't deny it. We've worked well the last four years," DeLeo said. "But as the Democratic speaker, I'm endorsing our Democratic nominee."

The Democratic state representatives who endorsed Baker include Ludlow Rep. Thomas Petrolati, Dracut Rep. Colleen Garry, Clinton Rep. Hank Naughton, Lowell Rep. David Nangle and Dartmouth Rep. Christopher Markey.

CNN reported that Bulger's tongue was almost cut out on Thursday, citing a federal law enforcement official.

The prisoners who attacked and killed notorious Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger tried to cut out his tongue, according to CNN.

Attacks of that nature are typically performed within organized crime as a punishment to those who have cooperated with police investigations or provided information to authorities.

Bulger, who was 89, worked for years as an FBI informant while committing crimes in Boston. He was found severely injured in his cell at the Hazelton federal penitentiary in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, on Tuesday morning, less than 24 hours after being transferred to the high-security facility. 

CNN reported that Bulger's tongue was almost cut out on Thursday, citing a federal law enforcement official. Previous media reports have indicated that Bulger was beaten with a lock placed inside a sock.

Convicted mob hitman Freddy Geas, a 51-year-old formerly of West Springfield, is reportedly being eyed for Bulger's killing, which authorities are investigating as a homicide.

Geas was among suspects convicted of the 2003 murders of Springfield mob boss Adolfo "Big Al" Bruno and low-level associate Gary Westerman in 2003, as well as the near-fatal shooting of a New York union boss the same year.

He has been serving a life sentence at the Hazelton prison since at least 2015.

Bulger was serving a life sentence for 11 murders. He was captured in California in 2011 after years on the lam. 

Investigators have released few details about the nature and circumstances of Bulger's death. 

"The United States Attorney's Office and the FBI are investigating the death of James Bulger as a homicide," read a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office, released earlier this week. "To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further details will be released at this time."

Dustin Rogers, 36, of West Springfield, is charged with 17 crimes related to detonating homemade bombs in Agawam in August 2018.

SPRINGFIELD -- A judge is considering whether a man accused of detonating three homemade bombs at an Agawam woman's home is too dangerous to be released on bail.

Kathleen A. Cavanaugh, lawyer for Dustin O. Rogers, on Thursday asked for her client to be released with GPS monitoring and provisions to keep him away from the alleged victim.

Assistant District Attorney James M. Forsyth argued Rogers, 36, should be held without right to bail. He said even though Rogers doesn't have much of a criminal record, his alleged "pattern of behavior" means he is too dangerous to be released under any conditions.

Hampden Superior Court Judge William J. Ritter took the matter under advisement and will issue a ruling later.

Rogers, of West Springfield, has been held without bail since shortly after his arrest in late August.

He was subsequently indicted on three counts of using explosives, two counts of malicious damage to property, three counts of malicious explosion, six counts of possession of an incendiary device, and a count each of illegal possession of ammunition, sale or possession of explosive substances, and driving after his license was suspended.

The first incident was Aug. 3, when a homemade bomb blew out a bedroom window about 3:30 a.m. A second explosion, on Aug. 17, blew out another bedroom window around 5 a.m., the report said.

On both occasions the woman was sleeping and the explosive devices were placed in windows with air conditioners. "The (victim) states that she was covered with glass" after the first explosion, the report said.

A third explosion took place on Aug. 25 in the front yard of the Cooper Street home.

Forsyth said a car registered to Rogers' family member was seen on surveillance video on the street, and six seconds later a bomb went off. He said Rogers was seen driving that car several days later near the woman's house.

Investigators said they seized six explosive devices, 70 fireworks and 47 rounds of 9 mm ammunition from Rogers' apartment, according to the arrest report. Forsyth said distinctive orange paper found in Rogers' bedroom matched paper used in the explosives.

Cavanaugh said the police reports on the incidents show any evidence against her client is "circumstantial at best."

She said in the first two incidents there is no surveillance footage of any car related to Rogers driving by the woman's home. She said Cooper Street is a main thoroughfare and many cars use it.

The surveillance footage of the car the prosecution says Rogers' was driving Aug. 25 does not show who was driving and there are no distinctive marks on it, Cavanaugh said.

Cavanaugh said police questioned "several other suspects."

She said there are reasons the police search of Rogers' house can be legally challenged.

The target opening date of a proposed recreational marijuana business in Ware is January 2020, a consultant said.

WARE -- The best way to keep the marijuana black market thriving is to ban its legal availability.

The best way to cut through the fear and inaccuracies around marijuana is to educate.

These topics and others such as concerns about marijuana's effects on the developing brains of young people were discussed Thursday at a community meeting held by the mother-daughter team proposing a recreational marijuana dispensary at 60 Main St.

A dozen people showed up to the storefront site of the proposed B'leaf Wellness Centre LLC located beside the Nat Falk clothing store.

Lori Sinclair is planning the business with daughter Megan Sinclair. Both are Ware residents and natives.

Consultants Ezra Parzybok and Mark Jarvis did most of the talking during the hour-long session.

It's doubtful the business would open before January 2020, Parzybok said. B'leaf Wellness Centre still needs final approval from the town and a license from the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission before it could open.

The business would be less than 1,000 square feet and have five to eight employees. A security vestibule would be installed with customers having to be buzzed in in order to enter, Parzybok said.

The Board of Selectmen Oct. 16 voted 4-1 at Town Hall to approve a host community agreement between B'leaf Wellness Centre and the town. 

The host community agreement calls for the dispensary to pay the town of Ware quarterly over five years 3 percent of gross sales of marijuana and marijuana products.

Check back with The Republican and MassLive.com for more coverage, including video, of the community meeting held in Ware about a proposed marijuana business.

"Many people are craving a concise message on how to be an antiracist at this time, in this very moment," Kendi said.

AMHERST -- In these days when hate speech and racist tweets are part of the daily fabric of society, New York Times best-selling author Ibram X. Kendi will speak about how to fight against hate in the inaugural "Stand United, Fight Hate" lecture at the University of Massachusetts Nov. 7. 

Kendi, who won the National Book Award for nonfiction for "Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America," is basing his talk on his forthcoming book "How to Be an Antiracist," according to a Facebook posting. 

"Many people are craving a concise message on how to be an antiracist at this time, in this very moment," Kendi said. "People are searching for candid directions about how to pour their passion into building an antiracist society."

According to The Guardian, "Kendi's unusually original and groundbreaking analysis is the product of an almost clinical modus operandi. First, he formulates a clear and simple definition of what constitutes a racist idea ('any concept that regards one racial group as inferior or superior to another racial group in any way'). 

"He then unflinchingly applies that definition to the work of individual historical figures and to the ideas on race, slavery, segregation and integration that prevailed at various stages in US history. Like a laboratory scientist, he then interprets the results." 

This event is sponsored by the UMass Amherst Office of Equity & Inclusion and Five Colleges Inc. It is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Attendees may reserve tickets through the Fine Arts Center box office or by contacting the Five Colleges at 413-542-4000.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey said Trump needs a 'remedial constitutional law course.'

Massachusetts' top lawyer said Thursday that President Donald Trump does not have authority to overturn birthright citizenship by executive order.

"Of course he doesn't," said Attorney General Maura Healey, when asked if Trump has that ability.

Healey, a Democrat, has been a strong critic of Trump, a Republican.

Trump told "Axios" on HBO, in a report published Tuesday, that he is considering signing an executive order to eliminate the right to automatic citizenship for anyone born in the United States to parents without legal status.

Experts say that would likely violate the 14^th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Healey has frequently sued the Trump administration over policies ranging from immigration to the environment. Speaking after a Boston event related to gun control, Healey declined to say whether she would take an active role if Trump goes ahead with trying to change citizenship.

"It's just more of the same for the administration," Healey said, adding that she is focused right now on getting out the vote before Tuesday's election.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., joined many of the state's congressional representatives earlier this week in criticizing Trump's comments.

Speaking after the Boston event, Markey said, "Unfortunately, we have to keep President Trump in a remedial constitutional law course on a daily basis."

Markey said Trump cannot overturn birthright citizenship unilaterally. "If he wants to change the law, he should initiate a debate to amend the United States Constitution, because he will lose that debate," Markey said.

Funding is not available to convert space above the current Wells homeless shelter because the pace needs to be converted from commercial to residential, said M.J. Adams of the town's economic development office.

GREENFIELD - Sufficient funding is not available to expand the Wells Street homeless shelter because the available space needs to be converted from commercial to residential, said M.J. Adams of the town's economic development office.

Town officials had hoped the addition of 12 to 14 beds would have been possible this winter. Adams said while the town had a $50,000 block grant to use for the renovations, the cost is more like $100,000.

"The challenge of conversion of commercial space into residential -- the code issues are much more profound," she said. There are more stringent building and fire codes for housing, she said.

ServiceNet, which runs the 20-bed shelter, was hoping to renovate the second floor in time to add the beds this month. The beds would have been an overflow for when the shelter is full. But even in the summer the shelter has had waiting lists of at least double its capacity.

After nearly two dozen people camped for months on the Town Common this summer, town officials and human services groups started looking for ways to expand homeless shelter capacity.

Since the common was cleared Aug. 24, many who had been staying there have found other housing, Adams said.

"I was really disappointed," Adams said of the setback at the Wells Street shelter. "But we don't have any spare money floating around."

Town officials contacted the state and there's no additional funding available. "We're looking at other options," Adams said.

She said the town is hoping to get single-room occupancy units. Earlier this summer town officials talked with Clinical & Support Options Inc. about opening a shelter on High Street, where the organization previously ran a respite and crisis facility. That was before ServiceNet began pursuing expansion of its shelter. 

The town then talked with CSO about potentially building single room occupancy housing on High Street. But CSO spokeswoman Sarah Tanner in an email wrote, "We are not pursuing an SRO at that site at this time. The costs associated with converting the space for that purpose were just not feasible for us to take on."

Adams said Sage House is building sober housing for eight women, which could free up some beds at the Wells Street shelter in the future.

Frederick Pinney, 47, is charged with murder for the March 2014 death of TayClair Moore in Springfield.

SPRINGFIELD -- Frederick Pinney's retrial for the death of TayClair Moore has been delayed while the prosecution pursues an appeal.

The trial been set to begin Nov. 8 in Hampden Superior Court. But Assistant District Attorney Matthew W. Green told a judge on Thursday he has submitted a notice of appeal, seeking to overturn a judge's decision saying the prosecution can't use a statement Pinney gave to police on the day Moore's body was found in his room.

Pinney's first murder trial ended in a mistrial in February 2016 because of juror misconduct.

Judge Michael K. Callan previously ruled that Pinney, 47, should have been read his Miranda rights when police questioned him. Pinney's statement to police, which was recorded on video, was used in the first trial but now cannot be used in the upcoming trial because of Callan's decision.

Judge Daniel M. Wrenn on Thursday allowed the prosecution's motion to delay the trial while pursuing the appeal. A status hearing was scheduled for Dec. 12.

Moore, 29, was found dead on the floor in Pinney's room at 48 Agnes St. in Springfield on March 23, 2014. Moore died of strangulation by ligature. Her boyfriend, Christopher Podgurski, discovered her body around noon.

Pinney began renting the home in January 2014. Moore and Podgurski, who had been together 10 years, rented a room from Pinney, whom Podgurski knew through construction work.

In the March 23 police interview, Pinney told Springfield police Detective Timothy Kenney, "I wanted to die last night. That's all I wanted to do."

He said he took 10 lorazepam pills at 1 a.m. after drinking and doing cocaine with Moore. He said he cut himself in an attempt to kill himself, and he had cuts on his arms and neck when police arrived at the home. 

He said he brought a compressor and nail gun into his bedroom "because the knives weren't working" and he planned to shoot himself in the head with the nail gun. Pinney said he passed out at 3:15 a.m. or 3:30 a.m.

Pinney's lawyers filed a motion to suppress Pinney's statement because he was not given Miranda warnings. They also argued his statements were tainted as the result of an illegal arrest, and that the statements were involuntary due to intoxication from drug use.

Because he ruled Pinney's statement should be suppressed due to lack of Miranda warnings, Callan did not address the additional arguments raised by the defense.

During the interview in a small room at the police station, officers removed Pinney's handcuffs and told him he was not under arrest and was free to leave, Callan said.

Pinney was involuntarily transported to the interview room in the locked back seat of a police cruiser and had remained handcuffed for more than an hour and a half until questioning began, Callan said.

He said despite officers telling Pinney he was not under arrest, "all other indicators at that point being firmly to the contrary, (that) could not have sufficiently negated his reasonable belief that he was in custody."

"Under the totality of these circumstances, Mr. Pinney would have reasonably believed that he was effectively still in custody, and, accordingly, Miranda warnings were required," Callan said.

Pinney is represented by David Rountree, with Linda Thompson and her law firm.

Bradley International Airport will be the 18th airport in the Travelers Aid Transportation Network.

WINDSOR LOCKS -- Travelers Aid volunteers began serving passengers at Bradley International Airport last month, the airport said Thursday in a news release.

Travelers Aid, an organization dedicated to helping today's "stranded traveler," operates the information center in Terminal A on the lower level, which is the baggage claim level, with 45 volunteers.

With the motto "A helping hand along the way," Travelers Aid says it helps stranded travelers, provides shelter for the homeless, and helps with transitional housing, job training, counseling, local transportation assistance and other programs for people who encounter crises as they journey through life. Its volunteers also provide information and referral services at airports, train stations and bus depots.

Bradley International Airport will be the 18th airport in the Travelers Aid Transportation Network, which also includes four North American railroad stations and a cruise terminal.

Mary Kate Doherty, an experienced volunteer manager, runs Travelers Aid at Bradley.

"We are excited about this opportunity to serve Bradley's travelers, and we will work with the airport to improve guest relations. We are grateful for this contract with the Connecticut Airport Authority," Doherty said in a news release.

The information center is open form 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week, but hours might expand and passengers might see a greater presence of volunteers elsewhere in the terminal.

"We value our passengers and we are always looking for ways to enhance their travel experience at Bradley International Airport," said Kevin A. Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority. "Travelers Aid brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Bradley Airport and we look forward to bringing an even higher level of customer service to Bradley passengers together."

Travelers Aid International operates similar guest service volunteer programs at four other airports: New York JFK, Newark Liberty, Washington Dulles and Washington Reagan. In addition, it operates the information booth at Washington Union Station. At these five locations, more than 750 Travelers Aid volunteers assisted more than 4.2 million passengers in 2017, according to the organization.

The Bradley Travelers Aid group is looking for more volunteers. Those interested are asked to contact Doherty at 860-500-8582 or at marykate@travelersaid.org.

For more information visit travelersaid.org.

Mary Hurley, a Democrat, and Mike Franco, an independent, will be on the ballot in most of the cities and towns in Western Massachusetts.

SPRINGFIELD -- Voters in the four Western Massachusetts counties will see two familiar names on their ballot for the Governor's Council.

One is well-known Democratic political figure Mary Hurley, an incumbent on the council from East Longmeadow. The other is independent Mike Franco of Holyoke, a perennial candidate in area races.

The Governor's Council, also known as the Executive Council, is composed of eight councilors and the lieutenant governor, who serves ex officio. The eight councilors are elected from their districts every two years. The 8th District includes most cities and towns in Western Massachusetts.

The council vets for confirmation nominees for gubernatorial appointments such as judges, clerk magistrates, public administrators, members of the Parole Board, Appellate Tax Board, Industrial Accident Board and Industrial Accident Reviewing Board, as well as notaries and justices of the peace.

The Republican asked Hurley, a retired district court judge, to outline why she ran for the Governor's Council two years ago and why she wants to continue on that body.

"The reason I ran for Governors Council in the 8th District was because I was aware of the serious shortage of judges in every department of the trial court in western Massachusetts because as a judge, I live it daily. To put it bluntly, we were seriously neglected for a significant period of time," Hurley said.

"What this meant for every citizen of western Massachusetts with a trial in district or superior court was instead of having one trial date, it could be postponed three, four, or five times. In a criminal case, for the tax payer, this meant the police officer would be summoned multiple times and be paid for hours of court time, straining already tight municipal budgets. For the courts, it was a waste of resources having to reschedule cases over and over again. For the District Attorney's office, it meant the Assistant District Attorneys couldn't get on to the next case and added to their already burdened caseload," Hurley said.

She said civil litigants would take a back seat to criminal cases. Probate court cases -- like custody battles and child support and visitation issues that need resolution for the sake of families -- couldn't be heard in a timely fashion, she said.

"Additionally, parties, victims or witnesses would have to take extra days off from work to repeatedly go to court to have a matter heard," Hurley said.

"As a judge, I experienced this firsthand and made up my mind to do something about it. So, I ran for Governors Council in the 8th district to alleviate these serious shortages and presented our case in western Massachusetts to the Baker-Polito administration. They were very receptive, and as a result were able to significantly shorten the amount of time it took from posting vacancy to appointment by creating a pool of candidates for appointment to positions in the various courts," Hurley said.

She said in less than two years there were appointments of six District Court judges, three Superior Court judges, three Probate Court judges, two Juvenile Court judges, one Appeals Court judge and two District Court clerks.

Hurley said, "What this means is the District, Superior, Probate, Juvenile and Appeal Court judges are able to serve all of the courts of western Massachusetts, which greatly shortens the time it takes to get a matter heard to completion in that court because we have the judges to do the job. Even now, there are more vacancies that are going to occur over the next two years that need to be filled in a timely manner. I believe that no one should wait for justice to be done, because justice delayed is justice denied."

Hurley served as associate district court justice in Chicopee from 1995 to 2014. She was a lawyer in private practice before and after the judgeship. She was mayor of Springfield from 1989-91.

Franco has run for a number of offices over the years, including a run as a Republican against Democrat Michael Albano for the Governor's Council in 2012.

The Republican was unable to contact Franco. He has no current listed phone number. Request sent via his Facebook and meetup.com websites were not answered.

Franco has been commenting regularly on the meetup.com site, which has the headline "Mike Franco for MA Governor's Council 2018." Voters can glean Franco's politics from his message board posts, which accuse current members of the Governor's Council, judges and others of corruption.

A recent post from his meetup discussion section: "The preponderance of lawyers in our political system is the most significant plague on American society."

The two men are wearing baseball hats and have their hoods pulled up in an effort to conceal their faces.

This is an update of a story posted at 11:12 a.m. Thursday.

HOLYOKE -- Police have released additional photos of two suspects involved in four robberies in Holyoke and Chicopee over the past two weeks, including one on Wednesday night.

The two men are suspected in robberies at the Dairy Mart in Upper Dwight Street in Holyoke last week, and the Dairy Mart at Main and Lyman streets in Holyoke on Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. They are also suspects in an Oct. 25 robbery at the Shell gas station on Grove Street in Chicopee.

In each incident, one of the two men pulled a gun on the clerk, and demanded cash from the register and cigarettes, police said.

Holyoke and Chicopee police are working together with the investigation.

In photos provided by Holyoke police, the two men are each wearing baseball caps and have the hoods on their jackets pulled up, but their faces are still visible in some photos.

In the Chicopee robbery and at least one of the Holyoke robberies, one of the suspects is wearing a red hooded jacket.

Anyone who can identify the suspects or has any information about the crimes is asked to call Holyoke Police detectives at 413-322-6940, said Lt. Jim Albert. People may also call Chicopee police at 413-594-1740.