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Obituaries from The Republican, Jan. 1, 2019


Westfield council names new city treasurer

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Matthew Barnes replaces Meghan Kane, who resigned last month. He is expected to start by the end of January.

WESTFIELD - Matthew Barnes will take office next month as the city's new treasurer and tax collector, succeeding Meghan Kane, who resigned last month.

Barnes' appointment was approved by a unanimous vote of the City Council on Dec. 20. His annual salary will be about $88,000.

Barnes, a Westfield resident, is a certified public accountant who has worked for private firms.

Councilor Cindy Harris, chair of the Personnel Action Committee that recommended the appointment, said Barnes has expertise in multiple areas of accounting, including taxes, estates and trusts. Barnes also maintained the computer systems in his current firm and prepared budgets.

Barnes is co-chair of the finance council at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield and served the city as a water commissioner for 10 years. He is a Little League manager and coach and is active in Boy Scouts.

Harris said his skills include "great time management" and "maintains good relationships with coworkers." Harris also cited Barnes for an ability to complete tasks within deadlines and prioritize projects.

"He believes he would be an asset to our city," said Harris, adding that she concurs.

A committee composed of three councilors, Kane, city auditor May Daley and personnel director Jane Sakiewicz received 15 applications and interviewed five candidates.

"He's an excellent candidate," said Councilor Dave Flaherty. "I want to thank everyone on that committee."

Councilor Andrew K. Surprise said Barnes was one of the "best candidates we interviewed."

Councilor Michael Burns, a former water commissioner, also touted Barnes' abilities. "I had the privilege to work with Matt on the Water Commission," he said. "He was an absolute voice of reason on the commission. He's absolutely the best."

Councilor Nicholas J. Morganelli Jr. said that in addition to his resume and experience, Barnes is "a person of integrity."

Ware By-Law Review Committee begins meeting a decade after its creation

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The town's most recent charter, adopted in 2007, called for a By-Law Review Committee to begin meeting right away. The committee met for the first time on Dec. 6, 2018, the town manager's office confirmed.

WARE - The town's most recent charter, adopted in 2007, called for a By-Law Review Committee to begin meeting right away.

The committee met for the first time on Dec. 6, 2018, the town manager's office confirmed.

The By-Law Review Committee will meet again on Thursday afternoon to discuss the municipal bylaws.

A five-person panel was supposed to be named, and was supposed to begin meeting "Not later than thirty days following the election at which this Charter is adopted," the town charter says.

Minutes from the Dec. 6 meeting says selectmen approved "the formation of this committee on February 7, 2017."

Francis Cote, who was a member of the Charter Review Commission in 2007, was appointed to the review committee in August 2017 by selectmen.

Town Clerk Nancy Talbot, who also was on the commission, is on the review committee, as is Mary Midura, the administrative assistant to Town Manger Stuart Beckley.

Beckley, although not a member of review panel, is the committee's facilitator.

The charter states the committee is supposed "to begin a review of the Town by-laws for the purpose of preparing such revisions and amendments as may be needed or necessary to bring them into conformity with the provisions of this Charter and to fully implement the provisions of this Charter. At least two of the persons appointed to the committee shall have been members of the Ware Charter Commission. The committee shall submit a report with recommendations to the Board of Selectmen forthwith following the election held in the year in which this Charter is adopted. The review shall be conducted under the supervision of the Town Counsel, or by special counsel appointed for that express purpose."

Thursday's meeting at Town Hall begins at 4 p.m.

WWE announcer 'Mean' Gene Okerlund dead at 76

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World Wrestling Entertainment announcer "Mean" Gene Okerlund has died

World Wrestling Entertainment announcer "Mean" Gene Okerlund has died. He was 76.

WWE announced his passing on Wednesday.

"Mean Gene," as he was dubbed by fellow Minnesotan, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, first came to prominence as an interviewer in the American Wrestling Association. In 1984, Okerlund made the move to WWE where he became as recognizable as the Superstars he asked the tough questions to, including "Macho Man" Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior and, perhaps Okerlund's greatest guest, Hulk Hogan. Countless Hulkster interviews included the indelible phrase, "Well you know something 'Mean' Gene!"

Okerlund branched out from interviewing and provided ringside commentary and hosted several shows, including All-American Wrestling, Tuesday Night Titans, Wrestling Challenge and Prime Time Wrestling.

Is it okay to eat in an Uber or Lyft?

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It's no big deal to eat in your own car, but would you do the same if you were in a friend's vehicle?

It's no big deal to eat in your own car, but would you do the same if you were in a friend's vehicle? Most people argue that proper etiquette is to ask the owner or driver of a car whether or not it is okay to eat, and obviously, this rule transfers to riding in an Uber or Lyft. Others feel that it's acceptable to eat food anywhere, so long as they don't make a mess. If you're paying for the ride, whether or not you eat shouldn't matter. What do you think?

PERSPECTIVES

You would never whip out a hamburger in your friend's car without asking if it was okay, right? The same goes for Ubers and Lyfts. Your food stinks up the car for the rest of the day, affecting drivers' business and ratings. Eating in a ride-share vehicle is not a "ask for forgiveness" type of situation -- you just shouldn't do it. Uber even says so on its own blog. 

Business Insider's Rachel Gillett interviewed Uber and Lyft drivers to find out what they believe passengers should change. According to a driver for both ride-share programs:

'I wish passengers would stop eating food in my car without asking. In order to drive for Uber or Lyft, you have to have a new car. Therefore, your nachos in my new car causes undue stress.'

There's a reason you're self-conscious about how loud your chewing is in a quiet car; it's a sign you shouldn't be chewing at all!

Ride-share programs are a form of new-age public transportation. Meaning, if you need to eat while riding, nothing should stop you. Certainly you should abstain from the cheeseburgers, pizza and nachos -- if it's smelly or messy, it doesn't belong in a car -- but what's the harm in whipping out a granola bar during your ride? 

As long as you are treating the vehicle with respect, there's nothing wrong with taking a snack break in an Uber or Lyft. Everyone has had that day where there is simply no other time to eat except for when you're in the car; sometimes you don't have a choice. 

Plus, if your driver is doing it too, what's the harm?

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.

 

Holyoke City Councilor Jossie Valentin is Elizabeth Warren campaign's 'top dog' in Massachusetts

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Holyoke Ward 4 Councilor Jossie Valentin will join U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren's Massachusetts presidential campaign team as a senior staff member. Warren formed a presidential exploratory campaign team in the last few days.

HOLYOKE - Days after U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren created a committee to explore a White House bid, she dubbed Holyoke City Councilor Jossie Valentin the organization's "top dog" in Massachusetts.

Valentine announced on Facebook that she will keep her council seat but resign as a senior academic counselor at Holyoke Community College, a position she has held for 12 years.

Valentin will serve as a senior staffer for Warren. "I'm looking forward to this new chapter and I'm extremely honored and excited about this opportunity," she said.

In a video posted on Facebook, Warren introduced Valentin to her campaign staff and supporters and praised Valentin's work ethic. "We want everybody to know that if you got a problem go to Jossie," Warren joked.

Valentin previously supported U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential bid, introducing the candidate during a campaign rally at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in February 2016. Sanders has not announced if he will run again in 2020.

Former Vice President Joe Biden has yet to announce his candidacy, but he is expected to do so in the coming weeks. Biden did not run in 2016, sidelining himself after the death of his son Beau Biden, the two-term attorney general for Delaware.

The Democratic field will only thicken in the next few months, with as many as 20 potential candidates.

Warren plans to visit Iowa over the weekend and said she hopes to visit New Hampshire soon. The Iowa caucus, scheduled for Feb. 3, 2020, remains a crucial launchpad for candidates who seek their party's nomination. New Hampshire has the nation's first primary.

Valentin first got elected to the Ward 4 City Council seat in Holyoke in 2013 and easily won re-election in her last two races. While she plans to finish her current term, Valentin has not indicated whether she will run again.

According to Valentin's City Council bio, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Puerto Rico, followed by a master's degree in forensic psychology from American International College in Springfield.

In April, the Holyoke Democratic Committee named Valentin Democrat of the Year.

She told the committee during a reception held in her honor, "Dems have had some rough patches, especially since the 2016 presidential primary, but at the end of the day, we stand together as a community to fight the disaster we have witnessed every day in the White House since January of last year."

Valentin added, "This change in administration has woken a lot of people up and I'm optimistic about what we can accomplish at all levels of government."

Daryl Dragon of The Captain & Tennille dead at 76

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Dragon was a keyboardist with the Beach Boys from 1967 to 1972 before forming a duo with Tennille in 1974. Watch video

Daryl Dragon -- one half of the 1970s pop duo The Captain & Tennille -- died in Prescott, Arizona, on Wednesday. He was 76.

Dragon died of renal failure at a hospice in Prescott with former wife Toni Tennille by his side, according to The Arizona Republic.

He was the son of Academy Award winning composer Carmen Dragon ("Cover Girl") and singer Eloise Rawitzer. His godfather was actor Danny Thomas.

Dragon was a keyboardist with the Beach Boys from 1967 to 1972 before forming a duo with Tennille in 1974. (It was Beach Boys lead singer Mike Love who nicknamed Dragon "Captain Keyboard.")

The Captain & Tennille recorded the biggest-selling record of 1975, "Love Will Keep Us Together"and hosted an ABC variety series the following year. Their other singles included "Do That to Me One More Time" and "Muskrat Love."

In 2010, Dragon was diagnosed with a neurological condition that impacted his ability to perform.

The couple divorced after 39 years of marriage in 2014. However, Tennille moved back to Prescott to care for Dragon in 2017. 

"He was a brilliant musician with many friends who loved him greatly. I was at my most creative in my life, when I was with him," Tennille told The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday.

His death was mourned by his peers on social media.

Northampton City Council President Ryan O'Donnell won't seek 4th term

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Council President Ryan O'Donnell said Wednesday he won't be seeking re-election after his term expires in January 2020.

NORTHAMPTON -- City Council President Ryan O'Donnell will not seek re-election when his third and current term expires a year from now.

O'Donnell was first elected as Ward 3 councilor in 2013. He won a special election for councilor at-large in 2016 and was unanimously elected council president in 2018. He said he's "known for a while" that he only wanted to serve three terms.

"I decided that the beginning of a new year would be a good time to let everyone know my plans," O'Donnell said in a statement Wednesday. "I am proud of what I have done on the City Council and look forward to the year ahead."

Council Vice President Gina-Louse Sciarra said in a statement that O'Donnell has served "with honor and compassion" and that he's "made Northampton a better place."

"We began our service on the City Council together and have long worked closely on several critical issues, such as affordable housing, campaign finance reform and transportation and parking matters," Sciarra said. "In his time as president, he has led the council admirably and thoughtfully, allowing for open debate and maximum input, always with an eye toward principled consensus and compromise. He never wavered from his progressive values and his commitment to clean, transparent government. As his partner in Council leadership, I'll miss his creativity, his wit and his dedication to our city."

On the council, O'Donnell wrote ordinances to create local campaign finance rules, extend the state minimum wage law to municipal employees, regulate surveillance technology, and prohibit the privatization of the city's water resources, in addition to modernizing the council's rules and committees, according to the statement.

O'Donnell also authored a home rule petition to reform the city's housing authority and add more tenant representation, which the council approved last month and will be sent to the state Legislature. 

He did not indicate whether or not he would consider running for another public office in the future. O'Donnell last year mounted an unsuccessful write-in campaign for state Senate.


Western Mass. Baseball Hall of Fame to honor Candy and his curveball

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(Second in a series of articles on the Western Mass. Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2019, to be inducted Jan. 31 at La Quinta Hotel & Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield). At every level, baseball players know the importance of the curveball. Pitchers love to throw it, hitters hate to swing at it. No question about it, the...

(Second in a series of articles on the Western Mass. Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2019, to be inducted Jan. 31 at La Quinta Hotel & Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield).

At every level, baseball players know the importance of the curveball.

Pitchers love to throw it, hitters hate to swing at it. No question about it, the curve and all its variations have a profound effect on how the game is played.

Over the years, the curveball has been known by many nicknames: Bender, hook, roundhouse, Uncle Charley, yellow hammer, yakker. Because catchers generally put down two fingers when signalling for a curve, it's also known as the deuce, or No. 2.

This revered pitch led to a famous line in baseball lore, in a letter from a rookie player to his mother: "I'm coming home, Ma, they're starting to curve 'em."

So who dreamed up this pitch in the first place? Well, although there has been some debate about it, it's generally agreed that one William Arthur "Candy" Cummings of Ware invented the curveball, and perfected it somewhere around 1866.

Although he pitched at the major league level for only six seasons and retired at 28, he gained election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York, in 1939. Why? Because of that infernal invention of his - the good old curveball.

By the way, the curveball also changed catching. Before Cummings came along, catchers would set up 20 to 25 feet behind the batter. To handle the curveball, they had to set up right behind the batter - and it has been that way ever since.

It's only fitting, then, that Cummings also should have a place in the Western Mass. Baseball Hall of Fame. He will be part of its Class of 2019, with induction set for Jan. 31 at La Quinta Inn & Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield. The other inductees: Major leaguers Dana LeVangie, Mark Belanger and Mike Laga; Karl Oliveira, a Tri-County League veteran; Jim Jachym, one of Westfield's finest; Justine Siegal, a pioneer among women in baseball; and Pittsfield's Little League state champions of 2018. Seagal also will serve as keynote speaker.

In his brief career, Cummings posted a 145-94 record for a winning percentage of .607. In 1872, his first season with the New York Mutuals of the National Association, he went 33-20 and worked an astounding total of 497 innings. He made 55 starts, completed 53.

According to a post on the National Baseball Hall of Fame's web site, Cummings' interest in making a baseball curve began on a Brooklyn beach one day in 1863, when, at age 14, he was throwing sea shells into the Atlantic Ocean. Cummings and his friends found that they could make flat, circular shells curve in the air.

"We became interested in the mechanics of it and experimented for an hour or more," Cummings is quoted as saying. "All of a sudden, it came to me that it would be a good joke on the boys if I could make a baseball curve the same way."

As he constantly tinkered with his grip and release, Cummings saw his curveball get better. In 1865, when he was 17, he posted a remarkable 37-2 record for the Brooklyn Stars junior team.

The following season, his curveball finally developed the break he was looking for in a game against Harvard. Again, as reported on the Baseball Hall of Fame web site, Cummings is quoted:

"When a Harvard batter struck at the ball it seemed to go about a foot beyond the end of his stick. I tried again with the same result, and then I realized that I had succeeded at last."

In 1876, he joined the Hartford Dark Blues, in what would be the first season of the National League. On Sept. 9 of that season, he became the first to pitch two complete victories in the same day, beating the Cincinnati Reds 14-4, 9-4.

Cummings pitched for the Reds in 1877, then ended his major league career that winter when he accepted an offer to become president of the new International Association. It lasted until 1880, then was revived in 1888 for two more seasons. The International Association is regarded as baseball's first minor league.

After baseball, Cummings owned a paint and wallpaper shop in Athol. He passed away May 16, 1924, at the age of 75 and was buried at Aspen Grove Cemetery, Ware.

The Valley Blue Sox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, and Westfield Bank, will co-sponsor the WMass Baseball Hall of Fame induction banquet, which is set for 7 p.m. at La Quinta. Tickets for the banquet are $50, or $450 for a table of 10. Dinner is included, and each guest will receive a pair of tickets to a 2019 Blue Sox home game at Mackenzie Stadium, Holyoke. To purchase induction tickets, call 413-533-1100 or visit https://valley-blue-sox.ticketleap.com/2019-hof/

Garry Brown can be reached at geebrown1918@gmail.com

Should Japan be forced to stop whaling?

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Japan's decision to withdraw from the moratorium on commercial whaling comes as a disappointment to much of the international community.

In early 2019, Japan announced it would withdraw from the moratorium on commercial whaling set by the International Whaling Commission in 1986.  Whaling is a long-standing tradition in countries like Japan, Norway and Iceland, and proponents of Japan's decision point out the country will now limit hunting to its own waters. Meanwhile, some countries and environmental groups mourn Japan's decision, maintaining that whale species still need protection. What do you think?

PERSPECTIVES

The international ban on commercial whaling hasn't stopped Japan from hunting whales. The country participates in hunting season annually, claiming that the whales are used for scientific research. By now openly defying the international ban on commercial whaling, Japan will at least limit its hunting to its own waters. According to The Guardian's Justin McCurry and Matthew Weaver: 

[The Japanese government's chief spokesman, Yoshihide Suga] told reporters the country's fleet would confine its hunts to Japanese territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, adding that its controversial annual expeditions to the Southern Ocean-a major source of diplomatic friction between Tokyo and Canberra-would end.

Plus, many people see the ban on commercial whaling as an implementation of Western values on an international level:

Japan argues that the moratorium was supposed to be a temporary measure and has accused a 'dysfunctional' [International Whaling Commission] of abandoning its original purpose-managing the sustainable use of global whale stocks.

Japan's decision comes as a disappointment to much of the international community. According to the New York Times' Daniel Victor, Australia's government is "extremely disappointed" with Japan's announcement. Victor reports:

Australia maintains a sanctuary for whales, dolphins and porpoises that includes parts of the Antarctic, and it has clashed with Japan over its annual hunts there.
'Australia remains resolutely opposed to all forms of commercial and so-called "scientific" whaling,' the ministers said. 'We will continue to work within the commission to uphold the global moratorium on commercial whaling.'

The U.K. environment secretary, Michael Gove, shares the sentiment: 

Victor continues by pointing out that, for Japan, commercial whaling is more than an economic stimulus, it's a long-standing tradition. 

'In its long history, Japan has used whales not only as a source of protein but also for a variety of other purposes,' Mr. Suga said in a statement. 'Engagement in whaling has been supporting local communities, and thereby developed the life and culture of using whales.'

Although demand for whale meat has declined sharply in Japan, the country maintains publicly that the tradition lives on. The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports that according to the Japanese government: 

...whaling is an ancient part of Japanese culture, that fishermen have caught whales for centuries, and that Japan will never allow foreigners to tell its people what they can and cannot eat.
One Japanese official once said to me: 'Japanese people never eat rabbits, but we don't tell British people that they shouldn't.' 

But given the Japanese population's declining interest in whale meat, many are wondering why the country is pushing so hard to maintain a tradition that is no longer lucrative. 

The BBC's Wingfield-Hayes discovered that it might not be-at least not for long. During a private conversation with a high-ranking member of the Japanese government, Wingfield-Hayes explained why he believed resuming commercial whaling was illogical, the official replied: 

'I agree with you,' he said. 'Antarctic whaling is not part of Japanese culture. It is terrible for our international image and there is no commercial demand for the meat. I think in another 10 years there will be no deep sea whaling in Japan.'
'There are some important political reasons why it is difficult to stop now.' he said. He would say no more.
But [Greenpeace worker, Junko Sakuma] thinks the answer lies in the fact that Japan's whaling is government-run, a large bureaucracy with research budgets, annual plans, promotions and pensions.

According to Sakuma, the pride of some government officials is more important to Japan than the survival of various whale species. 

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.

State police investigating after 2 found dead inside Northampton apartment

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Two people were found dead inside a Northampton apartment Thursday.

NORTHAMPTON -- State and local police are investigating after two people were found dead inside a Northampton apartment Thursday morning. 

The bodies were found inside a residence on Village Hill Road, said Mary Carey, spokesperson for the Northwestern District Attorney's Office. 

Carey said there is no threat to public safety. 

In a Facebook post, Northampton Police Chief Jody Kasper said her department is "not able to provide additional information at this time."

A resident of the building, who asked that his name not be published, said the building -- known as Hilltop West -- is home to a number of families. 

"This is the first time I've ever seen something like this," he said. "My building has always been safe. It's always been safe."

This is a breaking news post. More information will be added as our reporting continues

 

Elizabeth Warren urges new Congress to make 'structural change'

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U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren called on federal lawmakers Thursday to use the newly convened 116th Congress to pursue "structural changes" to American politics and support economic policies that ensure the government works for the people and not just wealthy -- themes that will likely dominate her expected 2020 presidential bid.

WASHINGTON D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren called on federal lawmakers Thursday to use the newly convened 116th Congress to pursue "structural changes" to American politics and support economic policies that ensure the government works for the people and not just wealthy -- themes that will likely dominate her expected 2020 presidential bid.

The Massachusetts Democrat, who has formed a committee to explore a White House run, made her pitch to supporters who gathered at the U.S. Senate's Dirksen Office Building as lawmakers returned to Washington to begin the new legislative session.

Elizabeth Warren announces plans for 2020 White House bid, forms exploratory committee

Offering a preview of her presidential stump speech, Warren touted her work as a member of the U.S. Senate, including her efforts to make hearing aids more affordable, help students hurt by for-profit colleges and reduce the number of opioids in circulation.

The senator, however, stressed that her work is not done yet.

"Our country needs structural change, and that structural change needs to start right here in Washington," she said.

Warren called for "a big anti-corruption bill" to keep money out of Washington politics, end lobbying in its current form and and force elected officials to publish their tax returns online.

The senator further urged lawmakers to support "structural change in our economy" that strengthens unions, workers and consumers "so that they have the ability to negotiate to get some fairness back into the system;" and brings down costs for working families.

"That's what we need to be out there fighting for," she said.

Contending that there needs to be a change in politics, Warren offered that it's time for the country to pass a constitutional amendment to protect voter rights and to ensure that elections are decided by grassroots -- not wealthy donors.

"It's been a lot of work to get here and it's going to be a lot of work going forward. But this is a fight that is worth it," she said. "Because ultimately the fundamental question is: Who does this government work for? Is it just going to work for the rich and the powerful, or is it going to work for everyone else? We are in this fight because we believe in a government that works for everyone, and we're going to stay in that fight until that happens."

Warren, who was first sent to Congress after defeating Republican incumbent Scott Brown in 2012, won re-election over GOP challenger Geoff Diehl in November's mid-term election.

The senator's victory came despite questions raised about whether she would serve her full six-year term if returned to Capitol Hill.

Warren stressed Monday -- hours after announcing her presidential exploratory committee -- that while she is eyeing a 2020 White House bid, she is not turning her back on the Massachusetts voters who recently re-elected her to U.S. Senate.

"I'm in the fight for all of our families. It's the same fight that drew me into elected politics to begin with," she said. "I want to see an America that works not just for some people, but an America that works for all of us."

Elizabeth Warren says she's in 2020 'fight' for all Americans, already received donations from all 50 states

The senator later told reporters that she will travel this weekend to Des Moines, Sioux City, Storm Lake and Council Bluffs, Iowa "to get out there and talk to people about what's happening in this country."

She added that she also hopes to soon visit New Hampshire -- another must-stop state for presidential contenders.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker sworn in for 2nd term, says 'good public policy is about perseverance and collaboration'

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Amid pomp, circumstance and celebration, Baker laid out his priorities for the next four years, including education, transportation and housing.

BOSTON -- Charlie Baker was sworn in on Thursday to a second term as Massachusetts governor.

The day was filled with pomp, circumstance and celebration, with the popular Republican governor surrounded by family, friends and political allies. Baker shook hand after hand, and chatted and joked with a sea of well-wishers as he prepared to be sworn in.

Baker used his inaugural address to call for the collaborative approach to government that he has stressed throughout his administration. "In this era of snapchats, tweets, Facebook and Instagram posts, putdowns and smack-downs, I'd ask you all to remember that good public policy is about perseverance and collaboration," Baker said. "Let others engage in cheap shots and low blows. Let's make our brand of politics positive and optimistic, instead of cruel and dark."

Baker laid out a list of priorities for the next four years, which include updating the education funding formula, investing in core transportation infrastructure, increasing housing production and lowering health care costs.

Baker arrived at the Statehouse at 10:45 a.m. and walked up a red carpet through the ceremonial main doors after a ceremony honoring Massachusetts' police officers, firefighters and National Guard members. 

Baker walked with his wife, Lauren Baker, and with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and her husband, Stephan Rodolakis.

As Baker arrived, the Statehouse steps were lined with first responders, and Baker spoke to each unit.

At his formal swearing-in ceremony in the House Chamber at noon, officers from the Weymouth and Yarmouth police departments and the Worcester Fire Department carried the U.S. and Massachusetts flags as a tribute to fallen police officers Sean Gannon, of Yarmouth, and Michael Chesna, of Weymouth, and firefighter Christopher Roy, of Worcester, who died in the line of duty last year.

The chamber was filled with state senators and representatives, the Supreme Judicial Court justices, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, and a host of local officials. 

Senate President Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, administered the oath of office to Baker, as the governor's father held the Bible and Lauren Baker stood by his side.

Polito's husband held the Bible as she took the oath, with their two children standing next to them.

Baker enters his second term with a huge amount of political capital. He was re-elected with 67 percent of the vote in November and has repeatedly been ranked the most popular governor in America.

In his inaugural speech, Baker laid out some of his plans to use his political clout.

On education, Baker noted that Massachusetts continues to have a gap in achievement between urban and suburban schools. Last year, after much negotiation, lawmakers failed to reach an agreement to update the state's outdated education funding formula.

Baker said he will make his own suggestions on how to update the funding formula when he releases his state budget proposal later this month. The budget will also include money for the state to partner with underperforming school districts to invest in things like professional development and after-school programs.

Another area where last-minute negotiations between the House and Senate fell apart last year was in reducing health care costs and helping fiscally strapped community hospitals.

Baker said he will file a health care bill later this year that would expand the use of telemedicine, address some of the issues that make it hard to access mental health care and expand the type of work certain medical professionals are allowed to do.

Transportation has been a focus for Baker since 2015, when a tough winter crippled the MBTA. 

Baker pledged to spend $8 billion over the next five years updating MBTA infrastructure. He said moving to an automated fare collection system on the MBTA in 2020 will provide new opportunities "to think differently about fares, routes and pricing and to modernize operations to better serve customers."

The governor said the state will work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in transportation, through investing in new technology and joining a regional "cap and investment" system that puts a price on transportation emissions.

Some of his priorities were ideas Baker has been pushing for some time, which he was unable to complete in his first term. 

Baker introduced a bill last legislative session to make it easier for cities and towns to increase their housing production and create incentives for communities that build more housing. But lawmakers did not pass the bill. 

Baker urged lawmakers to pass legislation this year. "We shouldn't let the perfect become the enemy of the good," Baker said.

Baker also urged lawmakers to pass a bill he proposed last year to change how judges decide when someone should be held as dangerous. 

Polito, in her address, talked about the administration's work assisting cities and towns, addressing opioid addiction and domestic violence and improving education and public safety.

She hit some of the same policy themes as Baker, talking about the need to invest in education, including vocational and technical schools; build more housing; modernize transportation infrastructure; and make state infrastructure less vulnerable to climate change.

"We will resist the temptations to react to the headlines coming from Washington, D.C., and won't regress to partisan bickering," Polito said.

Baker attended an interfaith inaugural service Wednesday evening at Morningstar Baptist Church in Mattapan. He will hold an inaugural celebration Thursday evening at the Museum of Science in Boston. He will hold additional celebrations Friday afternoon at the Student Prince in Springfield and Friday evening at Union Station in Worcester.

Baker is also visiting sites that spotlight accomplishments of his administration. On Thursday, he plans to highlight his focus on addressing opioid addiction and treatment with a visit to East Boston Neighborhood Health Center. On Wednesday, he emphasized vocational training in a visit to Whittier Technical High School in Haverhill.

Baker raised $2.5 million in donations to pay for his inauguration celebrations. Because his inaugural committee is not subject to the same campaign finance limits as a candidate's PAC, Baker was able to accept donations of up to $25,000 from individuals and corporations.

US Rep. Lori Trahan says federal shutdown is 'inexcusable,' urges Senate to support House spending measure

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Hours after officially taking her seat as one of Massachusetts' newest congresswoman, Lori Trahan lent her voice to the chorus of House Democrats calling for an end to the current federal government shutdown.

WASHINGTON D.C. -- Hours after officially taking her seat as one of Massachusetts' newest congresswoman, Lori Trahan lent her voice to the chorus of House Democrats calling for an end to the current federal government shutdown. 

The Westford Democrat, who was elected to retiring U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas' seat in November, told The Republican that while she was excited to be a part of the new 116th Congress, the funding lapse created by its GOP-led predecessor is "inexcusable."

US Rep.-elect Lori Trahan optimistic about bipartisanship in new Congress, focused on areas of common ground

"Our first order of business - and we will have a long day today - (is) we have to reopen the government," she said in an interview. "It is inexcusable to use so many employees, hardworking men and women as a pawn in a negotiation and that's happened time and time again these last two years."

Trahan noted that the federal shutdown, which is entering its second week, impacts workers across the country, including about 7,500 in Massachusetts who are either furloughed or working without pay. The timing of the shutdown -- during the holiday season -- further compounds its impact, she argued. 

"Think about that anxiety after Christmas: You're paying your bills, it's the end of the year and you're not getting your paycheck," she said. "It is the role of government, it is the responsibility of Congress to make sure that we do our first and foremost duty, which is to make sure the government runs."

Some 800,000 workers impacted by government shutdown

With the Democrat-led House set to vote Thursday on legislation to fund the government and end the shutdown, Trahan urged the Republican-led Senate and President Donald Trump to support such a measure. 

Offering that the Democrat-backed proposal doesn't include any "poison pill" language or call for anything more than restoring the government, the congresswoman is essentially the same as one that passed the Senate in December.

"I think that is what the Senate needs to soul search on right now, is whether they are going to come to the table and accept the deal that they already passed - in some cases unanimously - to put people back to work and do what's right for people," she said.

House Democrats reportedly plan to vote on a bipartisan package of Senate spending bills and a stopgap proposal to reopen the Department of Homeland Security at its current funding levels until early February, according to CNN. It would include $1.3 billion for border security.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, however, is not expected to take up the measure, news outlets have reported.

Government shutdown: President Donald Trump signals no end, says 'You have to have a wall'

The shutdown began late last month when funding ran out for nine Cabinet-level departments and various agencies after Congress and the White House failed to reach an agreement on a spending measure.

The Associated Press noted that about 420,000 workers were deemed essential would work unpaid, while an additional 380,000 were furloughed.

Springfield city councilors create committee to address environmental issues

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The Springfield City Council will start 2019 with a new committee to address environmental and energy issues, including implementation of the city's climate action plan.

SPRINGFIELD -- Two city councilors have announced the creation of a permanent committee to address environmental and energy issues, including implementation of the city's climate action plan.

Incoming Council President Justin Hurst and Councilor Jesse Lederman announced the new Council Committee on Sustainability and Environment.

"Recent studies, such as the Fourth National Climate Assessment, have shown that it is vital for all of us to do our part to preserve our environment and address climate change," Hurst said in a statement. "This is the City Council's next step in ensuring that the City Council does our part."

The committee will focus on issues including improving air quality, reducing pollution, increasing energy efficiency, energy savings and renewable energy, the councilors said.

It will also work to implement the Springfield Climate Action and Resilience Plan, which was announced in 2017 "to reduce pollution in Springfield by 80 percent by 2050 and ensure preparedness for extreme weather events associated with climate change," the councilors said.

Hurst said he will appoint Lederman as chairman of the committee once it is formally adopted Monday at the council's annual organizational meeting. Other members will be Councilors Adam Gomez and Melvin Edwards, he said.

The new committee will have more legislative powers than an existing ad hoc Green Committee in effect since 2009. The Green Committee has served as an advisory committee and consists of councilors and residents.

Lederman said the council recognizes the impacts that issues such as pollution and climate change have and will have on the city.

"Not only is addressing these issues the right and necessary thing to do -- it is also beneficial to our economy and residents' quality of life," Lederman said.

The council approved a resolution in 2014 urging the administration to create a climate action plan, with the formal plan adopted in 2017. In 2018, city officials announced plans to hire a sustainability coordinator and facilities engineer to oversee implementation of the action plan.


Pope Francis tells U.S. bishops their mishandling of sex abuse crisis undercut church's credibility

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Pope Francis criticized U.S. Catholic bishops for their mishandling of the church's sexual abuse crisis

Pope Francis criticized U.S. Catholic bishops for their mishandling of the church's sexual abuse crisis, writing in an eight-page letter released Thursday that it has undermined the church's credibility.

"The Church's credibility has been seriously undercut and diminished by these sins and crimes, but even more by the efforts made to conceal and deny them," the pontiff wrote to bishops in a 3,600-word letter released by the Vatican

Covering up "sins and crimes," he stated, "enabled them to fester and cause even greater harm."

The pope also made a case that the crisis required more than just "stern decrees" or "improving flow charts, as if we were in charge of a department of human resources."

"That kind of vision ends up reducing the mission of the bishop and that of the Church to a mere administrative or organizational function in the 'evangelization business,'" he wrote.

The pope's letter, dated Jan. 1, came as U.S. bishops gathered for a week-long retreat at a seminary outside of Chicago. That retreat, which is closed to the media, was suggested by the pontiff after he met in September with several U.S. Catholic leaders.

In his letter, the pope noted divisions within the U.S. ranks, and called on the bishops to "break the vicious circle of recrimination, undercutting and discrediting, by avoiding gossip and slander in the pursuit of a path of prayerful and contrite acceptance of our limitations and sins." 

President Donald Trump mocks Warren's 2020 ambitions

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President Donald Trump turned his focus to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren Thursday, offering his latest criticism of the Massachusetts Democrat, who recently unveiled her 2020 presidential ambitions.

President Donald Trump turned his focus to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren Thursday, offering his latest criticism of the Massachusetts Democrat, who recently unveiled her 2020 presidential ambitions. 

The president, who has repeatedly sparred with the senator in recent years, tweeted an image depicting a fake presidential campaign logo stating "Warren, 1/2020th" -- an apparent reference to the Democrat's potential White House run, as well as her claims of Native American ancestry. 

Warren, who announced Monday that she had formed an exploratory committee to look at a 2020 presidential bid, has faced criticism from Trump and others over her October decision to release the results of DNA test backing up her claims of Native American heritage.

The test results suggested that Warren had a Native American ancestor in her family six to 10 generations back.

Elizabeth Warren releases DNA test results with 'strong evidence' of Native American ancestry

Trump and his supporters, who had mocked Warren's ancestry claims and referred to her as "Pochahontas," jumped on the DNA test's findings, arguing that it shows she has between 1/64 and 1/1,024 Native American genes.

The president's tweet came just hours after Warren offered supporters a preview of her 2020 stump speech during a swearing-in ceremony gathering on Capitol Hill.

The senator called on federal lawmakers Thursday to use the newly convened 116th Congress to pursue "structural changes" to American politics and support economic policies that ensure the government works for the people and not just wealthy.

Elizabeth Warren urges new Congress to make 'structural change'

In response to the president's tweet, Warren told NBC News Thursday that she believes Trump should focus more of ending the government shutdown.

"We're now in the 13th day of the shutdown, we have hundreds of thousands of federal employees not getting their paychecks and work that's not being done all around this country," she reportedly said. "Those are the issues we need to worry about, and that's where we need to focus."

Unknown white powder evacuates fuel assistance program office in Holyoke

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One employee has been taken to the hospital, officials said.

HOLYOKE - An envelope containing an unknown white powder mailed to the fuel assistance program at the Valley Opportunity Council on High Street has triggered a hazardous materials emergency Thursday afternoon, according to the Fire Department.

One council worker was exposed to the power and brought to Holyoke Hospital before for police and fire arrived on the scene, said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Kevin Cavagnac.

The person's condition is unknown.

The building at 300 High St. has been evacuated and a Haz-Mat team is on scene, Cavagnac said.

SilverBrick Group believes it has 'cured' plumbing violations to protect tax incentives

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Springfield's city solicitor said more evidence is needed before there is any change considered in the "Notice of Default" on the tax incentives.

SPRINGFIELD -- A development group that was twice accused of substandard and unlicensed plumbing work at its SilverBrick Square housing project on Chestnut Street has passed recent inspections and believes it has "cured" issues that threaten its city tax incentives.

But City Solicitor Edward M. Pikula said Thursday there is more evidence needed before there is any change considered in the "Notice of Default" on the tax incentives.

"No final determinations will be made until all of the evidence is received," said Pikula. The developer, SilverBrick Group, did obtain proper permits and use licensed plumbers after two stop orders on the project, he said.

A. Craig Brown, a lawyer representing SilverBrick's corporate entity, 3 Chestnut Street LLC, said in a letter dated Nov. 30 that issues raised by the city have been successfully addressed at the 122 Chestnut St. building. 

"Based on the foregoing, 3 Chestnut believes that the Default that was the subject of Ed Pikula's Notice has been cured," Brown said. "3 Chestnut is committed to complete cooperation with the Code Enforcement Department."

Steven Desilets, the city's commissioner of Code Enforcement said just minor work remains, and that a certificate of occupancy/completion should be issued soon.

The second stop order was issued Nov. 7, and lifted two days later.

Desilets also said the developers took out proper permits after the stop orders and that appropriately licensed contractors were doing the work. The city had issued fines totaling $16,775 related to the alleged plumbing violations.

Under the notice of default, issued Nov. 16, the company was given 30 days to fix the alleged substandard and unlicensed plumbing work at Silverbrick Square or face a default on its local property tax incentives.

The incentives are expected to result in a tax savings totaling $150,000 over 10 years.

In October, the city said its inspectors fond unlicensed workers doing plumbing in the building. The city also said inspectors found workers using substandard materials on bathroom and kitchen plumbing, and sanding the colors off pipe to hide that fact. The colors indicate the pipe grades.

The city said there were also venting problems and pipes left uncapped.

SilverBrick purchased the building, once the city's YMCA, in February 2018 for $4.8 million, and launched a $6.2 million, 99-apartment renovation project. Some of the apartments have been occupied during the renovations.

Holyoke man pleads guilty in laundromat stabbing and robbery

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Noe Rodriguez-Santos, 30, of Holyoke, was sentenced to five to seven years in state prison in connection with a 2017 robbery and assault at a Holyoke laudromat.

SPRINGFIELD -- Noe Rodriguez-Santos has been sentenced to five to seven years in state prison after pleading guilty in Hampden Superior Court to charges from an armed robbery and stabbing at a Holyoke laundromat in July 2017.

Rodriguez-Santos pleaded guilty Wednesday to armed robbery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person over 60 years old, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury and resisting arrest.

Judge Michael Callan sentenced Rodriguez-Santos, 30, of Holyoke, to the prison sentence followed by three years probation.

According to Assistant District Attorney Janine Simonian, Rodriguez-Santos went into Laundromagic at 209B South St. in Holyoke on July 23, 2017, and demanded money from the owner, who was 74 years old at the time.

The owner gave Rodriguez-Santos cash, but Rodriguez-Santos told the owner he wanted more. Rodriguez-Santos hit the owner in the head with a metal box, then stabbed him with a pocket knife.

Rodriguez-Santos, who was represented by Joe Smith III in the case, took the owner's cellphone and cash and fled. Police tracked him to a nearby building.

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