Inspectors had informally suggested a 20 percent, across-the-board increase on inspections, which raised objections.

Most retail stores in both states will be open on Independence Day.

These were the most-read stories on MassLive.com yesterday. If you missed any of them, click on the links below to read them now.

1) Taylor Swift joins James Taylor at Tanglewood [Donnie Moorhouse]

2) Springfield sidewalk collapses beneath forklift, injuring driver [George Graham] Photo gallery at right.

3) What's open on the Fourth of July in Massachusetts and Connecticut? [The Republican Newsroom]

4) Massachusetts State Police release names of victims in deadly I-90 crash [Conor Berry]

5) Fireworks 2012 schedule [Ray Kelly]

6) Teenager hospitalized after Springfield car crash [Conor Berry]

7) East Longmeadow police arrest Aaron Bodley, 22, of Springfield, after he allegedly threatened person with knife at carnival [George Graham]

Driver Rosemarie Finnessey, 54, of Gardner, was cited for failing to yield for pedestrian Ilene Lorow, 71, of Easthampton, who was struck and injured while crossing near her Main Street home.

EASTHAMPTON — Police have cited a driver from Worcester County for failing to yield for a pedestrian, who was struck by the motorist while crossing the road near 173 Main St. Monday afternoon.

Driver Rosemarie Finnessey, 54, of Gardner, was cited for running into walker Ilene Lorow, 71, who was using the crosswalk in front of her Main Street home at about 2 p.m. when she was struck by Finnessey's vehicle, according to a Daily Hampshire Gazette report.

Lorow sustained leg and other injuries and was taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital for treatment. She was in fair condition Tuesday at the Northampton hospital, the Gazette reports.

A car stopped to let Lorow cross at the crosswalk. But Finnessey, who was trying to make a left turn from Center to Main streets, told authorities she thought the other motorist was stopping to let her pull onto Main Street. That's when the accident occurred, the Gazette reports, with Finnessey telling police she didn't see Lorow in the crosswalk.

The male suspect, armed with a handgun and last seen driving a blue minivan, had at least three run-ins with people who reported being assaulted by the man, according to police.

SPRINGFIELD — Police are searching for a suspect who flashed a gun during at least one of three assault incidents reported early Wednesday in the city's Sixteen Acres neighborhood.

The suspect, described as a light-skinned male wearing a dark shirt and driving a blue minivan, was last seen near the McDonald's restaurant at 1402 Allen St. shortly before 5 a.m. Officers had yet to locate him as of 7 a.m., according to Springfield Police Capt. Cheryl Clapprood.

Police received three separate reports from people, all of whom claimed they were assaulted by the same man in the vicinities of Allen Street, Bicentennial Highway and Cooley Street. Reports indicated the man showed a gun in at least one of the run-ins.

"There may, or may not, have been some road rage" tied to the incidents, Clapprood said.

MAP of alleged crime-scene area:

View Larger Map

A showery start to the Fourth of July, but looking to quiet down for the fireworks tonight.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms start off our Fourth of July here in western Massachusetts. An approaching frontal system will be cutting into this hot and humid airmass, which will also allow the possibility of a few thunderstorms to develop today as well. It will be very mild and muggy today with highs in the upper-80s for the Springfield area.

Fortunately, the best chance of rain will be in the first half of the day. A stray thunderstorm is still possible as we close out the afternoon, but conditions will be quieting down as we head into the evening, which would be good news for the fireworks shows for Springfield, UMass, and Six Flags tonight.

After the 4th, we could be faced with another heat wave across the region. High temperatures return to the 90s for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday...with humidity a bit on the high side. A cold front will be coming into the region Saturday night, which will bring a quick chance of rain showers and thunderstorms Saturday evening...followed by a refreshing cool down for early next week.

Independence Day: Periods of showers and thunderstorms, most widespread early in the day, a few storms may be strong, humid, high 88.

Wednesday night: Skies clearing, mild and muggy, low 64.

Thursday: Hazy, hot, and humid, high 91.

Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid, high 90.

Police have yet to publicly identify the 33-year-old victim, who was shot multiple times at close range as he watched fireworks honoring Independence Day.

WORCESTER — A fatal point-blank shooting during a fireworks display Tuesday night in Worcester sparked pandemonium, as holiday revelers ran and ducked for cover.

After the dust had settled, a 33-year-old man was dead in the parking lot of a Walgreen's drugstore, where a crowd had gathered to watch fireworks shortly before 10 p.m.
Witnesses provided different accounts of what happened, but preliminary reports indicate multiple gunshots rang out as fireworks exploded in the sky after a gunman approached the victim from behind and shot him at close range in the head and upper torso.

According to Worcester police, "numerous children" were present at the time of the shooting, the city's 7th homicide this year. No other injuries were reported. Police said the incident happened at about 9:42 p.m. in the parking lot of Walgreens, 220 Grafton St.

Detectives and crime-scene officers secured the shooting site and began combing the the area for cluses. Numerous people were interviewed at the crime scene and at police headquarters.

"A male suspect walked up from behind the victim and fired at the victim. Many people nearby began to panic and run from the scene," police said in a statement Tuesday night. The victim fell to the ground and died shortly thereafter, police said.

Investigators have yet to get a good description of the gunman, due to conflicting reports about his physical characteristics. Police said they are probing the circumstances leading up to the homicide, the city's seventh this year.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Worcester Police Department at (508) 799-8651. Anonymous tips may be sent via text message to 274637 TIPWPD, followed by the sender's message.

MAP of crime-scene area:


View Larger Map

The road work is scheduled to begin this week, Petrolati said.

LUDLOW - State Rep. Thomas Petrolati, D-Ludlow, said he included $1,035,000 in the House transportation bill for improvements to Center, East and Sewall streets which are needed for the Ludlow Mills reconstruction project.

Petrolati said the project will include road widening and turn lanes and new sidewalks, needed to alleviate traffic for the new development.

The road work is scheduled to begin this week, Petrolati said.

Petrolati said state Sen. Gale Candaras, D-Wilbraham, has assured him that she will support approval of the funding for Ludlow when the bill is taken up by the state Senate.

“Once you make a right turn after coming over the Indian Orchard bridge, the widening will take place,” Petrolati said.

He said no road closing is anticipated during construction.

The Ludlow Mills project is one of the biggest development projects in Western Massachusetts and will result in jobs for the region, Petrolati said.

As part of the $70 million redevelopment project, HealthSouth plans to relocate to the Ludlow Mills.

HealthSouth is investing $27 million to build a new rehabilitation hospital to relocate its hospital and 240 employees to the Ludlow Mills site by the end of 2013.

A site plan for the new rehabilitative hospital was approved June 6 by an administrative review committee appointed by the Planning Board, Town Planner Douglas Stefancik said.

A comprehensive permit for the entire Ludlow Mills project already has been approved by the Planning Board, Stefancik said.

Individual projects will continue to need approval of site plans by the town’s administrative review committee, Stefancik said.

HealthSouth has purchased 10 acres along State Street from Westmass. Demolition of some existing buildings on the site will take place in July.

HealthSouth is planning to expand its 53-bed hospital to 70 beds.

WinnDevelopment is planning a $20 million 83-unit senior housing complex on four floors of Building 10 in the Ludlow Mills.

The state spends about $1.3 billion a year on road, bridge and highway projects.

File photo by John Suchocki / The RepublicanBrian Miserka of Northern Construction of Palmer positions a sign in May closing the Davitt Memorial Bridge in Chicopee for the next two years.

Municipal leaders in Western Massachusetts are preparing for some important street improvements, after the state delivered another $200 million in aid for work on local roads.

The so-called Chapter 90 money, approved later than usual, could provide a further boost to a busy road construction season.

Click here to see how much your community received.

While the road work can be an annoyance for people, it can also improve the ride for motorists in the long haul, enhance neighborhoods and inject some money into the economy. Most of the Chapter 90 money is used for badly-needed road pavings on both residential and major streets, local officials said.

Gov. Deval L. Patrick last week signed a bill approved by the state Legislature to provide the $200 million in Chapter 90 money, the same as last year, for cities and towns. Patrick had written to communities in April, letting them know how much they could expect to receive for this fiscal year.

While the $200 million still is short of what is needed and eroded by inflation, the annual financing is twice the amount from a decade ago, when the massive central artery project in Boston was eating up most state transportation money. The money is an increase of 29 percent from two years ago and an increase of 66 percent from six years ago.

Stanley W. Kulig, superintendent of the Chicopee Department of Public Works, said the city's $1.2 million in Chapter 90 money is "absolutely needed" but costs are also up dramatically for fuel, asphalt and materials. Chicopee could also probably use about double that amount to keep up with a backlog of paving, Kulig said.

"In a city like Chicopee, all the state funding we get is used up and then some," he said.

Kulig said the city will spend some of Chicopee's money on paving streets in the Chicopee Falls area, one of multiple sections of the city undergoing major sewer work. Other work in Chicopee includes replacement of the Davitt Bridge and final paving of Newbury Street. The bridge is not a Chapter 90 project.

Palmer Town Manager Charles T. Blanchard said the town will receive $494,094 in Chapter 90 money.

"The needs that we have always far exceed what we've been able to receive through Chapter 90, so it's certainly welcomed. We hope the state will continue to recognize the needs the communities have," Blanchard said.

Palmer Public Works Director Craig Dolan said a list of possible repaving projects includes a section of Sykes Street, from the Palmer Street bridge to the bridge near the Swift River, along with Breckenridge and Flynt streets.

Allan R. Chwalek, director of public works in Springfield, said the city will use money from the program to repave about 28 streets, including 22 residential and six arterial, or main, roads.

Some of the work will begin this summer and continue through July of next year, he said.

"We are very happy that Chapter 90 was fully funded and there were no cuts to that program," Chwalek said. "It's very good news for all the communities."

Legislators were about three months later than usual in approving this fiscal year's money, meaning the construction season will likely be extended next year, he said.

The Springfield public works department will also use Chapter 90 funds to build a new traffic signal at the intersection of Main, Front and Myrtle Streets in the Indian Orchard section of the city.

The six main roads set for paving are: Springfield Street from Shefford Street to the Chicopee city line; Tiffany Street, from Dickinson Street to Dwight Road; Holly Street from Worcester Street to Berkshire Avenue; Goodwin Street from Parker Street to Pinevale Street; Jefferson Avenue, from Chestnut Street to Main Street; and Orange Street from Oakland Street to Allen Street.

The residential roads set for pavings, in full or in part, are: Waverly, Marble, West Elmwood, Langdon, Stockman, College, Bolton, Edgemont, Waldorf, Verge, Alert, Belle, Foster, Woodside Terrace, Lang, Newhouse Road, Fiberloid, Grochmal, Indian Leap, Kenilworth, Stebbins, and Lexington.

Northampton is still weighing plans for this year's money, but used the bulk of last year's share for the North Street reconstruction project, set to start next week. The project, also funded with other sources, includes the replacement of sewer, water, and drainage utilities, sidewalks, curbing, driveway entrances, roadway surface, signs, pavement markings and the installation of three to four raised crosswalks.

Click here for the blog for Northampton public works.

Edward S. Huntley, director of the Northampton Department of Public Works, said the city's $1 million will be welcome. "We're glad it didn't go down," he said.

Agawam Department of Public Works Superintendent Christopher Golba said his department wants to use its $822,000 in Chapter 90 funds this year to repave seven streets including Adams Street, Briar Hill Road, Carr Avenue, Nile Avenue, Clover Hill Drive, Leonard Street and Wagon Wheel Drive. The project could start in August.

Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik said a portion of this year's $1.2 million in funding will be used to repave Elm Street from Church Street to Depot Square. The paving work will come after installation of new water lines.

Knapik said it might also be possible to continue repaving another section of East Mountain Road, a project that started several years ago. "I would like to complete that stretch and then take another look as some downtown streets for paving upgrades," Knapik said.

The funds are divided based on a community's population, roads miles and number of people who work.

Holyoke plans to divide its $1 million among different sections of the city. Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse said he and William D. Fuqua, general superintendent of the Department of Public Works, this month will make a list of roads that need work, divide the money the city has received by seven, for each of the wards, and talk to ward councilors about areas that need work.

According to the governor's press office, the Western Massachusetts counties of Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden will receive a combined $28.4 million in Chapter 90 funds. Communities in Franklin will receive $7 million; Hampshire communities, about $7 million and Hampden, $14.4 million.

In addition to the $200 million in Chapter 90 money, the state will spend about $1.12 billion over the next year on all road, bridge and highway projects including an accelerated program to repair certain bridges, said a spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

The state Legislature is also in the process of approving a more comprehensive bill to borrow money for transportation projects. Rep. Cheryl Coakley-Rivera said she has secured $10 million in that bill for design, reconstruction and safety improvements to Riverside Road, Plainfield Street, Fisk Avenue and West Street in the Brightwood area of Springfield.

Coakley-Rivera said the work would be a final phase of an effort to overhaul gateway areas to the city in her district.

Staff writers Sandra E. Constantine, Jack Flynn, Peter Goonan, Ted LaBorde, Mike Plaisance and Lori Stabile contributed to this report.

His dissent in the Arizona immigration case contained a harsh assessment of the Obama administration's immigration policy and prompted a public rebuke from a fellow Republican-appointed judge.

FILE - In this March 8, 2012 file phoo, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia speaks at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. Scalia drew unusually critical attention during this past Supreme Court term for comments he made in court and in his writing that seemed to some more political than judicial. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Antonin Scalia drew unusually critical attention during this past Supreme Court term for comments he made in court and in his writing that seemed to some more political than judicial.

His dissent in the Arizona immigration case contained a harsh assessment of the Obama administration's immigration policy and prompted a public rebuke from a fellow Republican-appointed judge.

Scalia's aggressive demeanor during argument sessions even earned him some gentle teasing from his closest personal friend on the court. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, speaking at a Washington convention, said the term's high-profile cases may explain why Scalia "called counsel's argument 'extraordinary' no fewer than 10 times."

The 76-year-old Scalia is a gifted writer with a razor wit and willingness to do battle with those on the other side of an issue. Those qualities have made him a powerful voice, an entertaining presence and a magnet for criticism on the court for more than 25 years. Even with that vivid background, some of Scalia's recent remarks stood out in the eyes of court observers.

Ten lawyers who appear regularly before the Supreme Court, including two former Scalia law clerks, were interviewed for this story and said they too had taken note of Scalia's recent comments. But mindful that they might appear before the high court or be in a position to submit legal briefs, they all declined to be identified by name.

Measured by wins and losses, the court term did not end well for Scalia. He was on the losing end of the court's biggest cases involving health care, immigration, lying about military medals and prison sentences, both for crack cocaine offenders and juvenile killers.

The last words Scalia uttered in court this term dealt with his disagreement with the court's majority in a decision that watered down Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigrants.

Summarizing his views in court, Scalia commented on President Barack Obama's recent announcement changing the deportation rules for some children of illegal immigrants. And in his written opinion, he referenced anti-free-black laws of slave states as a precedent for state action on immigration. Both drew critical notice.

"The president said at a news conference that the new program is 'the right thing to do' in light of Congress' failure to pass the administration's proposed revision of the Immigration Act. Perhaps it is, though Arizona may not think so. But to say, as the court does, that Arizona contradicts federal law by enforcing applications of the Immigration Act that the president declines to enforce boggles the mind," Scalia said.

The outcry over his reference to Obama's announcement was immediate and included a call by liberal Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne for Scalia to resign. Conservative Judge Richard Posner of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, contributed this passage to Slate magazine's annual end-of-term discussion:

"These are fighting words. The nation is in the midst of a hard-fought presidential election campaign; the outcome is in doubt. Illegal immigration is a campaign issue. It wouldn't surprise me if Justice Scalia's opinion were quoted in campaign ads. The program that appalls Justice Scalia was announced almost two months after the oral argument in the Arizona case. It seems rather a belated development to figure in an opinion in the case," wrote Posner, who had taken Scalia to task in the past.

Doug Kmiec, a conservative legal scholar who backed Obama's election in 2008 and served as his ambassador to Malta, said, "To broadly assert, as Justice Scalia seems to do in his Arizona dissent, that the Obama administration's enforcement priorities are 'too lax,' substitutes the unelected Antonin Scalia for the elected Barack Obama."

Scalia's defenders say the criticism is misplaced. They say the justice was doing something much more familiar and common, attacking the majority opinion by Justice Anthony Kennedy. "He really wasn't criticizing the Obama administration's position. He was just using it as a timely example of why he thought his position was the better one in the Arizona case," said Brian Fitzpatrick, a Vanderbilt University law professor who once served as a law clerk to Scalia.

Separately, in defending the tough Arizona law, Scalia's written dissent refers to the laws of Southern slave states that excluded freed blacks to support the notion that states had control over immigration in the era before Congress enacted national legislation. Liberal commentators seized on that reference as a particularly bizarre twist in an otherwise angry opinion.

But Scalia's supporters say the justice is held to a different standard in the media than other justices. Ginsburg, for instance, won wide praise when she used her dissent in a sex discrimination case in 2007 to urge Congress to take action to undo the court's decision.

During the three days of health care arguments in March, Scalia spoke more than anyone else, mainly posing hostile questions to defenders of the law, according to a study of the arguments.

In an exchange with Solicitor General Donald Verrilli Jr., he left little doubt about what he thought of the eventual winning argument that the individual insurance requirement could be found constitutional under Congress' taxing powers.

"You're saying that all the discussion we had earlier about how this is one big uniform scheme and the Commerce Clause, blah, blah, blah, it really doesn't matter. This is a tax and the Federal Government could simply have said, without all of the rest of this legislation, could simply have said, everybody who doesn't buy health insurance at a certain age will be taxed so much money, right?" Scalia asked.

Eventually, Verrilli said, "It is justifiable under its tax power."

"Okay. Extraordinary," Scalia said.

The next day, he said the court should not have to go through each and every page of the massive law to sort out what stays and what goes should the justices invalidate the requirement that people carry insurance.

"What happened to the Eighth Amendment?" Scalia asked, referring to the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. "You really expect us to go through 2,700 pages?"

State Rep. Stephen Kulik and his wife moved to Worthington in 1983 and both have been active in the community.

CHESTERFIELD – David Kielson is still by some standards a newcomer to Chesterfield, but the town finally saluted the long-time selectman as one of its own Wednesday at its annual July 4 bash.

Kielson, who has served in the Chesterfield Board of Selectmen for 22 years, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 65th annual Independence Day parade. The little hilltown also celebrated a milestone of its own: the 250th anniversary of its founding in 1762.

With blue skies and fair weather clouds up above, crowds from Chesterfield and vicinity packed the usual quiet crossroads at the heart of town for the parade that has often been cited as the epitome of small town America at its best. Veterans, scouts and local dignitaries led an hour-long parade that also included bands, ox-carts, a children’s bicycle contingent and just about every fire truck and ambulance in the hilltowns.

State Rep. Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington, has come faithfully to the event for close to 30 years.

“It’s put on by such a small community and it just gets bigger every year,” Kulik said. “It epitomizes what small town New England life is all about.”

A former Worthington selectman, Kulik has known Kielson for decades, working with him on many projects, and said Kielson is well deserving of the honor.

“He’s given an enormous amount to the town over many years,” he said.

Kulik and his wife, Gail Kielson, moved to Worthington in 1983 and both have been active in the community. Kulik acknowledged that negotiating the mix of newcomers and old-time families in towns like Chesterfield can be “complicated,” though it is also rewarding.

“You have to work to get things to happen,” he said.

When he was announced to the crowd, Kulik took the microphone to praise the community.

“There just couldn’t be a better place to live and to make a contribution,” he said to applause.

The parade was sandwiched between the annual pancake breakfast at the firehouse and the chicken barbecue at the First Congregational Church. There was also an exhibit of photographs and memorabilia in Town Hall commemorating the town’s 250-year history.

The Republican | Don Treeger4-month-old Tristin Recore of Chesterfield enjoys his first parade.

Three of the victims were slashed with a sharp object, one was struck by a gun.

ENFIELD – Police arrested two suspects Tuesday night after an assault on Asnuntuck Street left four people injured.

The Hartford Courant reported three people were injured with a sharp object and the fourth was struck with a firearm.

Police charged Jesse Noyes, 27, of 39 Asnuntuck St. with second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, unlawful discharge of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, breach of peace and two counts of possession of a dangerous weapon, according to the Courant.

Police also arrested Leonard Hill, 30, of Remington Road, Windsor and charged him with third-degree assault and breach of peace.

Those with information are asked to call Enfield police at (860)-763-8938.

About 20 guidance counselors from Puerto who recently toured the Bay Path campus as part of a recruitment trip run by Autopista Americas.

Photo by Lucila SantanaLongmeadow- Puerto Rican counselors visit Bay Path College.

LONGMEADOW – After touring the Bay Path College campus, guidance counselor Richie Delgado-Ortega had some students in mind who would like the school.

Delgado-Ortega was one of about 20 guidance counselors from Puerto Rico who recently toured the college campus as part of a recruitment trip run by Autopista Americas.

“We specialize in recruitment of students from the Caribbean, particularly Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said Edward La Vigne, president of Autopista, based in West Boylston.

For more than 30 years La Vigne has been connecting students with U.S. universities.

“We provide tours of more than 150 colleges and universities and try to match students who are particularly strong in academics and athletics with the right schools,” he said.

Many baseball, basketball and volleyball athletes end up moving to the U.S. to study, La Vigne said.

The guidance counselors came from mostly private schools, but several public schools on the island also participated.

“This is my second year participating in the program,” said Delgado-Ortega, who is a counselor at Jose Gautier Benitez, a public high school in Caguas, Puerto Rico. “Basically, I’m looking at what each school offers and which students would fit with a particular school.”

In Puerto Rico there are no all female colleges, so Delgado-Ortega said this was a unique tour.

“There is definitely some interest in a school like this,” he said

Mary Gervais, the director of annual giving at Bay Path, learned about Autopista after spending some time in Puerto Rico and helped bring the company and the school together.

“I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to bring some highly qualified students to the college,” she said.

Roberto Rampolla coordinates the efforts for Autopista in Puerto Rico.

He said students who decided to come to school on the continent have a high retention rate and tend to stay.

“About 80 percent of the students who attend schools here end up living and working in the United States,” he said.

The counselors got a chance to meet college president Carol Leary as well as professors and students. They toured the grounds of the school and were treated to a reception dinner.

“The campus is beautiful, and everyone was so inviting and welcoming. I think a student would be nurtured here and could really develop into a professional and educated young woman,” Delgado-Ortega said. 

Kicking off the parade was the East Longmeadow Fire Department including Fire Chief Richard Brady who will retire later this month after 36 years with the department.

EAST LONGMEADOW - Walking down Mapleshade Avenue wearing bright red and blue hats David and Carolyn Daniels, of Springfield, were excited to see the annual 4th of July Parade.

"We come every year and it's always a great time," Carolyn Daniels said.

The couple met up with some friends on North Main Street to watch the parade which this year started at East Longmeadow High School on Maple Street instead of Birchland Park Middle School on Hanward Hill.

"We reversed the route because it is much more convenient to assemble the units in a larger space," said Carl Ohlin, organizer of the parade.

The Daniels said the change was not an issue for them, however there were some spectators who were not supportive of the change.

Holding a sign reading "Curse the reverse" Stephanie Lynn of Springfield made her sentiments known regarding the change.

"I've been coming to this parade every year for many years and I can't believe they changed the route," she said.

Lynn said she will still come and enjoy the parade every year.

Kicking off the parade was the East Longmeadow Fire Department including Fire Chief Richard Brady who will retire July 27 after 36 years with the department.

"I was worried that it might rain, but the sun came out and I was able to enjoy walking the parade my last year as chief," he said.

Ohlin said the threat of rain had them worried overnight and early this morning, but the sun came out and stayed put throughout the parade.

"I just hoe everyone who came had a wonderful time," he said.

Selectmen Enrico Villamaino and Paul Federici walked in the parade wearing red and white shirts respectively.

"I marched in the parade when I was a kid and I have always attended as an adult," Villamaino said. "It's a great family event and a wonderful way to celebrate."

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno was accompanied by several council members and Springfield Fire Commissioner Jospeh Conant.

"I lived in East Longmeadow for many years and have always enjoyed watching the parade," he said. This year he got to march in it.

Besides politicians there were more than 100 floats, marching bands and other units marching in the parade.

The Springfield Elks Lodge proudly displayed their float which had a theme remembering the War of 1812.

"We have a group of men and women who get togetherevery Saturday starting in January to create the float," said Steve Bournique.

The colorful float featured a replica of the U.S.S Constitution with moving cannons.

"We love participating in the parade every year," he said.

Members of the East Longmeadow Bark Park Association, both human and canine, participated in the parade as well. The group recently opened a dog park at Heritage Park.

“We have received wonderful feedback from residents who use the park. They love the shade and having a fence so their dogs can plat safely,“ said Bill Couzelis, president of the association.

“Today we had plenty of water, treats and shade so the dogs could participate in the parade with us,“ he said.

Kristein Simon has visited the parade every year since she was a child. Now she brings her daughter Makayla Simon, 10, every year.

“My parents grew up down the street from the parade route and we always used to come,“ she said. “I really enjoy seeing all of the servicemen and women, the EMR staff, fire and police departments who serve us everyday. “

For Makayla Simon the highlight are the Melha Shriners Clowns riding around in the go carts.

"The parade is really for families to come out and just have a wonderful time and I hope we achieve that every year," Ohlin said.

Mitt Romney said that President Obama’s signature health-care law amounts to a tax increase for middle-income Americans, directly contradicting one of his senior advisers who said earlier this week that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee believed it was a penalty and not a tax.

Photo by Michael Dwyer / Associated PressJennifer Hudson performs during the Boston Pops Fourth of July concert rehearsal at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston Tuesday. Click on the link, below, for a report from the Boston Herald on tonight's Boston Pops that will be televised locally on CBS 3 Springfield at 10 p.m.

• Storm predictions force cancellation of fireworks in Connecticut [Hartford Courant]


• Human toes found near New Hampshire horse farm may lead to homicide probe [Union Leader of Manchester]


• Mitt Romney contradicts aide, calls health-care mandate a tax [Washington Post]


• Former Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Christy Mihos accused of assaulting wife [Cape Cod Times]


• 800,000 residents expected to pack Boston Pops' Fourth of July concert [Boston Herald]


Photo by Evan Vucci / Associated PressPresident Barack Obama says the Pledge of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony for active duty service members in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday. Click on the link, above right for a report from the Christian Science Monitor.
• 2 charged in Connecticut with illegal possession of fireworks [New Haven Register]


• President Obama presides over naturalization of 25 United States servicemen [Christian Science Monitor]


• Apple appears near to launching smaller tablet [Wall Street Journal]


• Twitter posts tagged #westernma in Western Mass. [MassLive.com]


• Read more News Links »


• Do you have News Links? Send them our way or tweet them to @masslivenews

NOTE: Users of modern browsers can open each link in a new tab by holding 'control' ('command' on a Mac) and clicking each link.

The injury is said to be unrelated to a previous thumb injury.

APBoston Red Sox's Dustin Pedroia was out of Wednesday's lineup with a thumb injury.

This was not a day for star-spangled celebration for the Red Sox.

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia was held out of Wednesday's lineup at Oakland with a right thumb injury. He had jammed it earlier in the series while diving for a ball, but as usual, Pedroia tried to downplay its impact.

He indicated he would be available to pinch-hit, but he is understandably frustrated.

"I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but I don't know,'' he told media. in Oakland.

Pedroia said the injury is in a different part of the thumb from the injury that kept him out of the lineup more than a month ago, and seemed to dog him after his return.

The Red Sox hope a day off Wednesday, and the team's scheduled day off Thursday, will allow Pedroia to be ready for the four-game series against the Yankees starting Friday at Fenway Park.

After that comes the four-day All-Star break. The persistent problems with Pedroia's right thumb is still cause for concern, especially with Will Middlebrooks hobbled by a hamstring injury.

Nick Punto was in the starting lineup at Oakland Wednesday. The third baseman was Mauro Gomez, a career minor leaguer who was called up briefly earlier this year.

He was recalled again Tuesday when Daisuke Matsuzaka went on the disabled list. Gomez has been a first baseman, though he played third base from 2004-09 in the minors, when his propensity for errors led to a shift to first.

A dry Fourth of July so far, but a thunderstorm can still potentially develop before the day is done.

The day has been dry with a fair amount of sunshine so far, but an isolated thunderstorm will still try developing as we close out the afternoon. Temperatures are in the upper-80s and the humidity is still pretty high, giving us a juicy atmosphere for thunderstorm development. A cold front back across the Great Lakes has still yet to cross through Western Massachusetts, which could provide that spark to trigger a thunderstorms over the next few hours.

Conditions will be quieting down as we head into the evening, as the best opportunity for a thunderstorm will be before sunset. This will be good news for the fireworks shows for Springfield, UMass, and Six Flags tonight. Mainly clear skies will dominate overnight, but it remains mild and muggy with lows in the mid-60s

After the 4th, we could be faced with another hot stretch of weather across the region. High temperatures stay in the upper-80s for Thursday, followed by 90s for Friday and Saturday ... with humidity a bit on the high side. A cold front will be coming into the region Saturday night, which will bring a quick chance of rain showers and thunderstorms Saturday evening ... followed by a refreshing cool down for early next week.

Wednesday night: A stray thunderstorm early, skies clearing, mild and muggy, low 64.

Thursday: Hazy, hot, and humid, high 88.

Friday: Mostly sunny, hot and humid, high 90.

Saturday: Hazy, hot, and humid, a few late-day showers and thunderstorms, high 92.

New York picked McDonald off waivers less than a week after Boston cut him.

Associated PressBoston Red Sox' Darnell McDonald (left) and Kevin Youkilis (right) were teammates in Boston two weeks ago, but now both are gone. The Yankees claimed McDonald off waivers Wednesday.

The newest New York Yankees outfielder is a familiar face in Boston.

Darnell McDonald was a popular reserve player until last weekend, when the Red Sox designated him for assignment. The Yankees picked him up on waivers Wednesday as they deal with the extended absence of injured outfielder Brett Gardner.

McDonald, 33, was placed on New York's 40-man roster. He is expected to be added to the 25-man roster Friday, joining his new team when the Yankees come to Fenway Park.

It will be interesting to see how he is greeted by Red Sox fans. It is hard to see them booing McDonald, since his switch of allegiances - unlike Johnny Damon's - was not his idea.

But would Red Sox fans cheer anyone wearing Yankee colors? That's hard to believe, too.

McDonald's last contribution to the Red Sox was a highlight-film grab that robbed Toronto's Kelly Johnson of a home run last Wednesday. Playing in Boston since 2010, he was one of the most popular of the players within the clubhouse.

He hit .214 in 38 games this year. McDonald did not play much in June, but the Red Sox were reluctant to cut him, and dumped Marlon Byrd instead of McDonald last month.

With a glut of outfielders and hard roster choices facing them, they chose to let McDonald go when Josh Beckett came off the disabled list last Saturday.

New citizens hail from Bangladesh to Venezuela.

Photo by Diane Lederman / The RepublicanKwasi E. Cudjoe of Ghana receives his citizenship certificate from U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor at naturalization ceremonies in Northampton Wednesday.

NORTHAMPTON –Kwasi E. Cudjoe of Ghana came to this country for love.
Eltoma Kodi of Sudan came to this country to be safe.

These are just two of the 50 from 30 countries from Bangladesh to Venezuela who became new citizens on July 4th at the fourth annual Center for New Americans naturalization ceremony on the grounds of the Hampshire County Superior Court.

U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor returned for the ceremonies and the oath of citizenship.

Cudjoe was working in Ghana when he met the then Dorothy Verheyen, a history teacher from the Quabbin Regional High School who was there on a Fulbright in 2006. They continued writing after she left and phoning and in November of 2008 they married.

Photo by Diane Lederman / The Republican Mike Kelly, the voice of the Springfield Falcons, and his wife Suzanne Kelly take the Oath of Allegiance Wednesday at the naturalization ceremonies on the Hampshire Superior Court House lawn.

“It’s a very wonderful country. It is my dream to be part of the country,” Cudjoe who lives in Orange now said.

“It’s a special day.” Cudjoe is a student at Greenfield Community College and wants to become a nurse. He said he loves everything about America. “The only problem I have is the winter.”

Kodi came to Springfield seven years ago after living in Egypt for four years waiting for the opportunity to come to this country. She and her husband and four children fled the Sudan “because of war.” Her country was involved in civil war and rebel militia was kidnapping young boys. “I want my kids to be safe,” she said.

Lauren Kessler, a citizenship instructor with Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts in Springfield, said Kodi knew no English. She couldn’t read or write.

“It’s really exciting, especially today,” Kodi said while waiting for ceremonies to begin. “This (ceremony) is part of Independence Day. It’s my blessing day.”

Suzanne and Mike Kelly came to this country from Canada 12 years ago. For the last five years, Mike Kelly has been the voice of the Springfield Falcons.

“We love the country, we love the people,” he said, explaining why they wanted to become citizens. They both love living in Springfield with their son Gregory who’s 7.

Suzanne Kelly said she loves “the freedom, the people, the generosity. We’re very honored and grateful,” she said. “It’s wonderful to be official.”

Mila Janeiko had trouble holding back tears as she talked about her journey to this day. The 44 year-old came to this country when she was 29 from Lithuania. She always wanted to live here. She had a son back home who later joined her. “I just fell in love with this country,” the home health aide said.

Photo by Diane Lederman / The RepublicanEltoma Kodi of Sudan came to this country seven years ago. She holds her five-year-old son Miles who was born here. She, her husband and four other children, fled Sudan in 2001, taking refuge first in Egypt.

“I love the sky, I love the air, it’s hard to explain,” she said why she loves the country so much. She worked in New York City as a florist and later became manager of the shop. She also married.

But after September 11, her husband, who was from Moscow, lost his job as a travel agent. They had friends in this area and moved to Wilbraham. They thought they would return to New York but they had Lucca, 9, and said she likes the schools here. And she said Wilbraham is a better place to raise him.

“This is a very, very special day.” She said her tears were happy tears.

Molina was charged with unarmed robbery following a chase.

Michael Molina

SPRINGFIELD - Police Wednesday charged a Springfield man with unarmed robbery, assault and battery, resisting arrest, giving a false name to a police officer and possession of cocaine after a parking attendant was robbed Wednesday just past noon while working at the Knights of Columbus lake front at 1207 Page Boulevard near Lake Lorraine.

Police said Michael Molina, 25, of 85 School Street, also known as Carlos Rodriguez, was being held and will be arraigned Thursday in Springfield District Court.

Police said Molina approached the victim from behind, demanding that he give him all the money in the blue bag collected from parking fees.

When the parking attendant denied the request, Molina then rushed and jumped on the victim and began punching him around his face and body until the victim lost control of the bag, police said.

Police said Molina then took off running toward a wooded area. The victim chased Molina and grabbed his shirt, ripping it off him. The parking attendant chased Molina for a few hundred yards and called 9-1-1 when he failed to overtake him.

Following a pursuit by officers, Officer Reggie Miller found Molina hiding in a shed on Minchon Street. He chased Molina down Minchon Street and tackled him to the ground.

The victim positively identified Molina, police said. Police recovered $600 in stolen money from Molina.

Police said Molina gave police a false name when he was arrested, but he was later correctly identified by his fingerprints.

The blast came at Oakland and put Ortiz 49th on the all-time home run list.

The Associated PressBoston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz gestures after hitting his 400th career home run off Oakland Athletics' A.J. Griffin in the fourth inning Wednesday at Oakland, Calif.

OAKLAND, Calif. – Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz hit his 400th career home run, a leadoff drive to right in the fourth inning Wednesday against Oakland’s A.J. Griffin.

The 36-year-old Big Papi’s home runs rank eighth among active players and 49th on the all-time list. Next up for him to catch: Hall of Famer Duke Snider with 407.

His 22nd home run of the season for Boston tied the game 1-all Wednesday. Ortiz’s 352 home runs and 1,142 RBIs as a designated hitter are most all-time.

The A’s also allowed Paul Konerko’s milestone 400th home run for the White Sox when he did it April 25 against Grant Balfour in the Coliseum.