Did Rob Gronkowski set unattainable expectations for himself with his performance last season?

AP fileWhat will Rob Gronkowski do for an encore?

Rob Gronkowski lit the world on fire and bullied his way into the record books by piecing together the best season ever by a tight end last year.

Now he has to figure what to do for an encore.

That could be a problem.

Gronkowski racked up a ridiculous 1,327 receiving yards and 18 total touchdowns last year, and fans will likely expect him to check back in somewhere around those figures this season.

That probably isn't going happen. In fact, those numbers may be completely out of reach.

So, to better gauge expectations, I set the line at 1,100 yards and asked a pair of respected bloggers if they expected Gronkowski to finish over or under that figure in 2012.

I was a little surprised by the results.

Erik Frenz, AFC East Lead Blogger: UNDER

It's sad that if Gronkowski doesn't light it up, people will attribute it to his wild offseason and not focusing hard enough. Really, a dip in production could be any number of things, from defenses keying in on him after his breakout season to the Patriots offense simply becoming much more versatile and wide-open than it was last year. He could still be a force at tight end without being a record-setting tight end.

Mike Dussault, Pats Propaganda: UNDER

With Brandon Lloyd and a blossoming Aaron Hernandez, the Patriots won't rely on Gronk as much for big chunks of yardage. He'll do most of his damage on third down and in the red zone. Lots of catches and touchdowns. Not a lot of yards.

Nick Underhill, MassLive.com: UNDER

Last year was a fun and wild ride. It was historical, brutishly beautiful, and likely won’t ever be repeated. And that’s OK. Gronk doesn’t have to record 1,300 yards for his season to be considered a success. Opposing defensive coordinators are going to find better ways to defend him, and, if all goes to plan, Tom Brady should have more weapons to throw the ball to this year. I think 1,000 yards is a good number here.

Stay tuned as we roll out a new over/under each morning for the next nine days.

The second of the two storms swept through the region sometime after 6 p.m., prompting the National Weather Service to issue its second severe thunderstorm warning of the day.

The Republican | Greg Saulmon08.15.2012 | SPRINGFIELD -- A city firefighter and a utility worker on Old Farm Road early Wednesday, where emergency workers received a report of a lightning strike that brought down wires.

Two thunderstorms, roughly 12 hours apart Wednesday, rolled through Western Massachusetts, bringing heavy rain, lighting and hail in some places, and causing street flooding and power outages.

The second of the two storms swept through the region sometime after 6 p.m., prompting the National Weather Service to issue its second severel thunderstorm warning of the day.

The first was issued early Wednesday morning as a storm swept through depositing heavy rain over Western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut. Even before the afternoon storm, Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks recorded a record amount of rainfall of 1.3 inches, breaking the previous mark of 1.18 inches in 2004. 

In between the two storms was a day of sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 80s.

In Springfield Wednesday night, there were reports of heavy rain and strong winds. There were reports of hail in Sixteen Acres.

A high-voltage power line pole on Breckwood Circle in Pine Point was struck by lighting, and several live power lines were knocked down onto the road.

Police to block off the road at both ends until crews from Western Massachusetts Electric Co. could arrive on scene.

Also in Springfield, firefighters were called to 14 Ionia St., also in Pine Point, for a report of a house struck by lightning. Firefighters found the house had not been damaged directly by lighting, said Dennis Leger, aide to Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant.

Leger said lightning did strike the ground in the front of the property, and the charge sent a large chunk of concrete to go flying into the house. The homeowner heard the noise and mistakenly thought lighting struck the house.

In Westfield, the underpass at the bottom of East Mountain Road and Route 20 became impassable by flooding. The intersection has since reopened, police said.

The afternoon storm caused some outages, primarily in Springfield and Southampton, although there were also scattered outages in Whately, Hatfield and West Springfield.

In Southampton, nearly 175 customers were without power, roughly 6 percent of the town. Springfield had nearly 850 customers without power at 8 p.m., roughly 1 percent of the total.

The early storm produced heavy rainfall beginning at 5 a.m., and caused some flooding throughout the Connecticut River Valley.

In Springfield and Holyoke, some intersections were flooded by police reported few problems other than some inconvenienced motorists.

In Chicopee, police reported some minor flooding as well.

Chicopee Police Lt. Holly Davis said “We had some flooding because the rain came down so fast, but everything’s passable now.”

In Holyoke, police blocked off the intersection of Lyman and Canal streets.

In Springfield, police reported flooding at various locations, including Main and Berkshire streets in Indian Orchard.

According to the National Weather Service, the storm came through with 60-plus-mph winds and the possibility of quarter-sized hail in some parts of the region. The storm was moving at about 20 mph along a northeastern path from around Windsor Locks into Massachusetts.

At its peak, the a.m. storm knocked out power for more than 1,000

A powerful storm that rolled through the region Wednesday morning, producing high winds and flooding, knocked out power to more than 1,100 customers in Springfield. Power was restored to most within two hours, according to Western Massachusetts Electric Company officials.

There were also reports of scattered outages throughout Hampshire and Franklin counties, but power was restored within a few hours. 

Republican reporter Conor Berry contributed to this report.

The special report will raise awareness about West Nile virus and Lyme disease.

Associated Press fileThis undated photo provided by the Northwest Mosquito Abatement District shows a Culex pipiens, left, the primary mosquito that can transmit West Nile virus to humans, birds and other animals. It is produced from stagnant water. The bite of this mosquito is very gentle and usually unnoticed by people. At right is an Aedes vexans, primarily a nuisance mosquito produced from freshwater. It is a very aggressive biting mosquito but not an important transmitter of disease.

As residents of the state face continued high threats from Eastern Equine Encephalitis, West Nile virus and Lyme disease, the Massachusetts Medical Society, Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Hopkinton Community Television have collaborated in producing a special television report to raise awareness about mosquito and tick-borne diseases.

Mosquito and Tick-Borne Diseases is a special episode of the Medical Society’s monthly patient education show, Physician Focus.

It is being distributed to public access television stations that reach more than 260 communities in the state. The program also is available online at www.physicianfocus.org/mosquitotick.

Running back Stevan Ridley and safety Tavon Wilson had their days cut short Thursday at New England Patriots practice.

(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley (22) finds some running room as New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Casillas (52) pursues during their first NFL preseason football game in Foxborough, Mass., Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012.

Running back Stevan Ridley and safety Tavon Wilson had their days cut short Thursday after suffering injuries during the New England Patriots' practice.

According to ESPN Boston, Ridley's pain seemed to be located in his right knee or leg, while Wilson was seen icing his left ankle or foot. No word has been given yet on either players' status, but Mike Reiss reported that neither injury appeared serious.

In other news, Logan Mankins participated in full pads for the first time since returning from offseason ACL surgery. Aaron Hernandez limped off the field at one point, but returned to practice and looked "fine," according to Field Yates.

Elizabeth Warren already has more support in New Hampshire than Gov. Deval Patrick in a hypothetical 2016 Democratic primary for president.

Democratic U.S Senate hopeful Elizabeth Warren was favored over Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick in a recent poll surveying New Hampshire voters about who would potentially win a 2016 Democratic presidential primary election. (Republican staff photo by Don Treeger)

More politics news

Elizabeth Warren, Richard Neal, Michael Knapik among the many politicians to attend Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe's annual clambake in Springfield

Politicians and political hopefuls from Across Massachusetts mingled with voters, colleagues and even rivals at the 35 annual clambake. Check out the photo gallery from the event here.

• Sen. Scott Brown says Israel has a right to defend itself from Iran
• Western Massachusetts Senate race debate between Scott Brown, Elizabeth Warren to take place in Springfield
• Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani takes aim at Elizabeth Warren, calls VP Joe Biden 'dumb'

By Matt Murphy, STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

Elizabeth Warren hasn’t even won an election in her career, but already has more support in New Hampshire than Gov. Deval Patrick in a hypothetical 2016 Democratic primary for president.

In a Public Policy Polling survey taken earlier this month, the North Carolina-based polling group tested potential Democratic and Republican candidates for president in 2016.

Among those surveyed, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the overwhelming favorite among Democratic primary voters, while New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie came out on top on the GOP side of the ticket.

With Clinton in the race, the former First Lady was favored by 55 percent of those polled, followed by Vice President Joe Biden at 9 percent; Warren, the Harvard law professor running for U.S. Senate against Sen. Scott Brown, with 8 percent; New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo with 6 percent; and Patrick with 3 percent.

But Patrick wasn’t at the bottom. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley was the choice for just 1 percent of Granite State Democrats and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner didn’t register support.

Without Clinton in the race, Biden was the preferred candidate for Democrats with 19 percent followed by Warren with 17 percent, Cuomo at 15 percent and Patrick at 7 percent.

Patrick's favorability rating in New Hampshire is strong with 53 percent indicating they have a favorable opinion of the governor, compared to just 15 percent with a negative opinion of the Massachusetts Democrat.

Warren's numbers stacked up similarly with a 56-12 favorable-unfavorable split.

In the race she’s actually competing in, Warren has been deadlocked with Brown in numerous polls. Western New England University Polling Institute and Public Policy Polling surveys taken in June showed a very tight race.

Christie, who has been tapped by former Gov. Mitt Romney to deliver the keynote address at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida later this month, led among all-important New Hampshire GOP primary voters with 24 percent.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush polled behind Christie at 15 percent, followed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio at 12 percent, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul at 10 percent, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan at 8 percent, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum at 7 percent, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker 3 percent.

The survey was taken between Aug. 9 and Aug. 12 before Romney selected Ryan as his running mate. Public Policy Polling sampled 400 usual New Hampshire Democratic primary voters and 547 Republican primary voters, with a margin of error for the Democrats of 4.9 percent, and 4.2 percent for the GOP portion.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Chang trust must provide alternative housing in a hotel, motel or apartment for all residents of the two buildings.

View full sizeThis is a screen grab of the Chang family farms' website on the Internet.

DEERFIELD – The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office has ordered the Chang family of Amherst to shut down substandard living quarters on their farms in Deerfield and Whately and relocate some 21 people.

As part of an Aug. 8 agreement between the Chang Family Trust and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health endorsed by Attorney General Martha Coakley, the Changs must also pay their workers daily meal money, provide transportation to and from the farms and hire local firefighters to perform a “fire watch” on the Deerfield property, which has been condemned by the town’s building inspector. Rose C. and Tso-Cheng Chang are listed as co-trustees.

According to a petition filed by the Department of Public Health in state Housing Court, nearly all the occupants of 23 Sugarloaf St. in Deerfield and 299 River Road in Whately are laborers who work on Chang family farms at those locations. The others are their children.

On July 31, the State Fire Marshal and other officials inspected both premises and found a slew of violations, including the lack of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, poorly maintained electrical systems, exits secured with padlocks or blocked by vegetation, windowless bedrooms and, at one location, an improperly installed wood stove. A packet of photographs included in the case file shows rotting walls and ceilings, water damage, deteriorating roofs, electrical fixtures hanging on loose wires, exposed pipes, rooms full of junk and other health and fire code violations.

Tso-cheng Chang, who earned a doctorate in plant and soil sciences at the University of Massachusetts, owns Amherst Chinese Restaurant in Amherst. Representatives of the family were required to meet with health officials at the sites on August 14 for a walk-through to inspect conditions. The parties appeared in Housing Court in Northampton on Monday.

The Whately farm grows beans and organic vegetables and is one of the biggest distributers of bean sprouts in the Northeast. In 2008, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health recalled the sprouts from that farm because of possible contamination. Farm work continued at the site on Thursday, but the rambling house where many workers had been living was closed by inspectors. Beneath the 299 street numerals on the front of the house is an older placard with the numbers “1804,” which apparently refers to the date of construction.

Javier Flores, who has worked for Chang for 2 ½ years, said many of the farm workers are Mexican like himself. Flores said he did not consider the living conditions inside the house to be so bad but noted that the roof leaked. The residents paid Chang $20 a week for board, he said.

When one of the workers contacted a man who identified himself as Chang by cell phone, he asked a reporter to leave the property.

Deerfield Health Agent Richard Calisewski said he has condemned the building at 23 Sugarloaf St. and that Chang has applied for a demolition permit.

“It doesn’t look so bad from the outside,” Calisewski said.

The inside, however, is a different story. When Calisewski and other officials inspected the interior with a search warrant from Housing Court Clerk Magistrate Peter Q. Montori, they found the quarters uninhabitable, Calisewski said.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Chang trust must provide alternative housing in a hotel, motel or apartment for all residents of the two buildings. Calisewski said the Changs have complied, moving workers into Red Roof Inn and other motels. Flores said he is now living in a Red Rood.

The Changs must also pay $75 a day to each family and $50 a day to each individual in advance for meals.

For the second time this week, Brown landed an endorsement from a business-related organization in his Senate bid against Democrat Elizabeth Warren.

U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., pays for bottles of Gatorade at a 7-Eleven store in Quincy in late July, where he campaigned with store owner Dennis Lane. (Staff Photo by Shira Schoenberg)

More politics news

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Politicians and political hopefuls from Across Massachusetts mingled with voters, colleagues and even rivals at the 35 annual clambake. Check out the photo gallery from the event here.

• Sen. Scott Brown says Israel has a right to defend itself from Iran
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Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown was endorsed by the second commerce-related organization in a week on Thursday as the National Federation of Independent Business gave him a nod of support in his effort to defeat Democrat Elizabeth Warren and win a full six-year Senate term.

Brown, who won his seat in a 2010 special election following the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy, was also endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday at an event in Roxbury.

"We are very proud to offer our endorsement of U.S. Senator Scott Brown," said Diane Giblin, a member of the NFIB/MA Leadership Council, in a statement. "Scott Brown has been an exceptional advocate for small businesses and entrepreneurs. He understands the challenges we face and we can always count on him to listen to our concerns and not demonize or belittle our achievements. In this bad economy, we need friends of job creators in Washington D.C., and that person is Scott Brown."

Among the viewpoints the NFIB and Brown share is their opposition to the federal health care law. The NFIB was the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court case challenging the president's Affordable Care Act and more recently, the group took a vocal stand against legally-mandated paid sick time in Massachusetts.

When Brown was endorsed by the chamber, Rob Engstrom, the group's political director, said “No other candidate in 2012 represents a greater threat to free enterprise than Professor Warren."

When asked for her reaction, Warren laughed and shrugged off the characterization while reiterating her campaign's promise to be a champion for the middle class.

After Brown delivered a speech on taxes Tuesday, the two candidates have been battling over tax policy throughout the week, echoing the debate taking place in the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

While Brown has charged that Warren wants to raise taxes that will hurt small businesses, Warren has argued that Brown, Romney and the former Mass. governor's running mate Congressman Paul Ryan, are aiming to continue tax breaks for the wealthiest individuals and corporations while doing nothing for the middle class.

Brown, in accepting the NFIB's endorsement on Thursday, reiterated previously delivered attacks on Warren, saying she wants to raise taxes that will harm small businesses.

"This is exactly the wrong approach. I will continue to work for Massachusetts job creators and fostering an environment where they can flourish and grow," Brown said in a statement. "I'm extremely grateful to the NFIB for their endorsement."

According to his campaign, the senator will officially launch the Small Business Owners for Brown Coalition during an event on Friday morning at C.N. Wood Co. Inc. in Woburn. Prior to the announcement, the coalition's Facebook page already had more than 430 members.

Later in the day Brown will visit Essential Salon Products in Westborough before heading to the family-owned Polar Beverages Inc. in Auburn where he will lead a roundtable discussion with business people from the greater Worcester area.

The new commander will demand State Police to become critical thinkers and problem solvers. Watch video

WESTFIELD - Urban crime will be the priority focus of state police under the leadership of new superintendent Col. Timothy P. Alben.

Citing recent killings in Boston and Springfield, Alben said the Massachusetts State Police will devote time and resources towards urban crime.

But, the Holyoke native and East Longmeadow resident, said, "We will not arrest our way out of this. It needs expanded partnership with communities," citing on-going efforts by Springfield's Northend Community Council and State Police.

Alben, a 30-year state police veteran, was officially sworn in as the state's top trooper, by Gov. Deval L. Patrick at Westfield State University Thursday. The governor called Alben "a fabulous new colonel and an example to the young people who join State Police and to everyone else."

Referring back to urban crime, Alben said "30 years ago firearms seizures during arrests were rare. But, in 2011 there were 162 arrests by state police that involved guns and in just eight months this year 117 state police arrests have involved guns. This is now an everyday occurrence."

With Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Hampden County District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni in attendance, Alben said the C-3 Police Initiative in place in Springfield was a "test bed" for the state police and said more partnerships with community leaders across the state are needed. That group consists of State Police working with community volunteers and organizations to thwart crime.

He said he will demand that his staff "become critical thinkers and problem solvers."

Alben will also devote his attention to new technology and replacement of the department's records system "that will serve this department for the next 20 years." Another priority in Alben's administration will be additional education and professional development for middle management personnel.

About 200 colleagues, family members and state and community leaders attended Thursday's ceremony, the formal swearing it that followed Alben's initial appointment July 13. Attendance included the last three superintendents, Thomas Foley, Mark Delaney and Marian McGovern, who he succeeds. U.S. Marshal John Gibbons and Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe also attended.

Alben's wife Maryann and his three grown children Jennifer, Caitlin and Timothy Jr, a corporal in the Marine Corps Reserve and his parents also attended. Caitlin cited her father's work ethic "success is the direct result of effort" while introducing him to the audience.

Alben joined the state police in 1983 Troop B in Northampton. In 1987 he became an investigator in the office of the Hampden County District Attorney. Alben was promoted to captain in 2004 and was assigned to state police Headquarters in Framingham in the Division of Field Servics and Tactical Operations. During that assignment he directed security and crowd control for the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

Alben's most recent assignment was commander of the Division of Field Services.

He holds a bachelor degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University and a master's degree in criminal justice administration from Western New England University. Alben also holds a master's degree in homeland defense and security from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Natiuonal Preparednbess Leadership Initiative at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

The Ameristar official said the city would improve its chances for winning a casino if it could send multiple proposals to the gaming commission.

A leader of a Las Vegas-based casino company is disputing the Springfield mayor’s plan to select only one casino proposal to put before voters, saying the decision amounts to an “extreme amount of power” for local officials and takes important authority away from state gaming regulators.

“It has kind of given us a little bit of a pause,” said Troy Stremming, a senior vice president for Ameristar Casinos, which purchased land in East Springfield for a casino resort. “It doesn't appear the city has the ability to select just one applicant.”

Domenic J. Sarno

Ameristar Casinos paid $16 million for 41 acres off Interstate 291 and Page Boulevard for a planned casino resort, unveiling the deal in November, shortly before Gov. Deval L. Patrick signed the state’s casino law. Ameristar has the only formal casino proposal for Springfield, but as many as three other companies -- Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, MGM Resorts and Penn National Gaming – may be planning casinos for the city’s downtown.

Ameristar lacks the social, political and business connections of a possible couple of competitors for a casino in Springfield, Peter A. Picknelly, chairman and CEO of Peter Pan Buslines, who is planning a casino for the North End of the downtown and is involved in seeking an option to buy property of The Republican, and his brother Paul C. Picknelly, a hotel owner who is apparently working with MGM Resorts for a possible casino in the downtown’s South End.

“Time will tell,” Stremming said. “I have no reason to think we would not get a fair chance but I'm also an extreme optimist.”

In an interview in his office at City Hall on Thursday, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said that the city offers a level playing field for all companies proposing a casino for Springfield.

Sarno and the city’s chief development officer, Kevin E. Kennedy, said there are no favorites and there will be complete objectivity in considering proposals.

“Of course, I will be objective,” Sarno said. “It is all about what is the best, most viable economic development proposal and location for the city. That is the horse we will ride to the Gaming Commission after we put it to the people, to the ballot.”

In a separate development, George Arwady, publisher and CEO of The Republican, said the newspaper has reached “the framework” of an agreement involving an option to buy The Republican’s Main Street building and property, but there is no signed agreement and details still need to be resolved. An actual sale would hinge on the whether the potential buyer receives a license to build a casino, he said. Arwady declined to identify the casino company involved with seeking the option.

“We're still very much going back and forth on the details and trying to put it in legalese,” the publisher said, adding The Republican might sell its properties but would not be involved in the casino business.

Stremming said Ameristar remains “100 percent” committed to Springfield and the state. He said the company intends to eventually submit $400,000 non refundable application fee for a casino license to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. But before Ameristar pays the non refundable fee, Stremming said, the company will wait for more clarity about whether the city can pick just one casino plan and send only that one plan to the gaming commission if approved by voters. The gaming commission is in charge of awarding licenses for casinos.

“It totally takes the decision making power away from the commission and places it in the hands of the mayor or the city,” Stremming said. “That does not seem to be consistent with the spirit of the legislation.”

Stremming said the city would improve its chances for winning a casino if it could send multiple proposals to the gaming commission.

"Would you rather have one ticket in the lottery or would you rather have three, four or five?" he asked.

In the interview at City Hall, Kennedy scoffed at the idea that Ameristar is pausing on filing a $400,000 non-refundable application with the state.

“They've got 16 million reasons to put their $400,000 down,” Kennedy said, referring to the price Ameristar paid for its land in East Springfield.

Sarno and Kennedy said they currently favor signing the best deal offered by a company and bringing that proposal to the ballot, but they have not ruled out changing their minds. And it is too soon to say if another proposal would be forwarded if one fails at the ballot, they said.

The casino law says that companies will need agreements with communities where casinos would locate and with "surrounding" communities. Once that agreement is reached, people in the so-called “host community” would vote in a referendum on a proposed casino deal before a company applies for a state license.

Sarno said he will make a series of announcements on Aug. 27 about the process for selecting a casino. He said he will be meeting on that date with all four casino operators known to be interested in Springfield as a possible location.

Kennedy said the process will be open and transparent. Kennedy said he and Sarno will be dealing with casino operators, not the local developers.

Ameristar’s land – cleared and prime for development -- is also about four of five miles from the downtown. The location raises questions about whether a casino on the site would help much in reviving the downtown.

Stremming said it would be easy for Ameristar to connect the planned casino with the downtown. He said the company could cross market and work in partnership with attractions such as City Stage, Symphony Hall, the MassMutual Center and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Sarno’s decision to sign only one deal is backed by two Western Massachusetts legislators who helped write the casino law. A member of the state Gaming Commission also appeared to support Sarno’s plan.

Sen. Stanley C. Rosenberg, an Amherst Democrat, said a municipality effectively controls when and how many casino proposals go to the ballot.

“The Legislature’s intention was to ensure communities didn't get rolled over by potential licensees,” Rosenberg said.

According to Rep. Joseph F. Wagner, a Chicopee Democrat and key author of the state’s expanded gambling law, the law gives a mayor a choice on the issue.

“The mayor is not obligated to do a deal with each operator,” said Wagner, who is co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. “He can move on multiple fronts, but he is not required to.”

However Springfield proceeds, the city is attempting to position itself strategically to compete against Palmer or other possible proposals, according to Wagner.

“They've got to determine what process makes the most sense in order that Springfield has the best opportunity,” Wagner said.

An Ameristar official has said that if the company fails to win a casino license, it would likely sell its property in Springfield, formerly the site of a Westinghouse Electric Corp. manufacturing business.

“I was stunned when the did the deal to buy Westinghouse,” said Chicopee Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette. “Who would own it before you have no deal?”

Stremming said an option would have been the way to go if the owner agreed. Stremming said Ameristar did not believe municipal leaders in Springfield would narrow the pool of applicants that would be sent to the gaming commission.

In the only other formal proposal for Western Massachusetts, the company that owns the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. is planning a casino resort for Palmer near Exit 8 of the Massachusetts Turnpike.

The state’s casino law authorizes up to three casino resorts in different regions. It also authorizes a slot parlor that could be anywhere in the state.

James F. McHugh, a retired Massachusetts Appeals Court judge and commission member, said the law says the commission must take a proposal that includes a city vote in favor and that municipal authorities decide on the vote.

“I assume that the municipal authorities will decide on what the vote is going to be and send us the results,” McHugh said.

Reached by phone on Wednesday, Paul Picknelly said he would not comment on any casino matter. Peter Picknelly was unavailable for comment, said Robert Schwarz, executive vice president of OPAL Real Estate Group, which is owned by Peter Picknelly.

Springfield City Council President James J. Ferrera III, a member of the city’s 15-member Casino Site Committee, said the selection process for a casino must be devoid of politics.

“The integrity of the process can't be questioned at any point in time,” he said.

Stremming, Ameristar vice president Matthew Block and director of government relations Jonathan Little are set to discuss the company’s casino plan during a meeting of the site committee at 5 p.m. Monday in the council chambers at City Hall. The public will be allowed to speak at the start of the meeting.

While the mayor would be in charge of negotiating a casino agreement, the city council would need to ratify any agreement, Ferrera said.

Kennedy said he is concerned that it could be confusing to place more than one casino plan on the ballot.

Sarno said it makes sense to require casino operators to compete, “sharpen their pencils,” and present the strongest proposal.

“We are not ruling anything out,” Sarno said. “Everybody has an equal opportunity here. Whether it is Ameristar, or MGM, or Penn National, or Hard Rock, we're all ears.”

Stremming said Ameristar is confident it is offering the premier site and the best proposal for a casino in Massachusetts. He said the company will remain focused on demonstrating that its site will generate the most jobs and the most tax dollars for the state and the city.

“All we are asking for is a level playing field that allows us to prove ourselves and to prove the location,” he said.

Staff writer Peter Goonan contributed to this report.

Brown said the issue will be subjected to additional review that will involve business owners, residents and city officials before a renewed effort is presented for adoption.

This is an updated version of a story posted at 11:45 this morning.

James E. Brown Jr.

WESTFIELD – As expected, a proposal to restrict types of future business development along Elm Street was withdrawn from City Council consideration Thursday night for further review.

Ward 2 City Councilor James E. Brown Jr. said the issue will be subjected to additional review that will involve business owners, residents and city officials before a renewed effort is presented for adoption. Brown asked to withdraw the request at the start of a scheduled public hearing. One person, Andrew Porter, an Elm Street resident was present to question the proposal but did not have the chance.

Brown, chairman of the council’s Legislative and Ordinance Committee, said proposed development restrictions are aimed at ensuring the city has the necessary tools in place to bring famiuly friendly business and opportunities to the on-going redevelopment of the city’s core district. That district extends from Big Y Supermarket on Broad Street to Depot Square on North Elm Street.

The withdraw of the proposal was made because Brown said he recently learned that some restrictions are already in place or governed by different zoning regulations and ordinances. The councilor said he wants a full review of all measures in place and to ensure that any new restrictions will survive challenges.

He said meetings will be scheduled shortly “with all interested parties” and that a new proposal will be brought before the City Council later this year.

The initial proposal would ban new nightclubs, pawn shops, smoking lounges, adult book and video stores, check cashing shops and tattoo anbd body piercing parlors. Existing business within the core district would be exempt from any new zoning regulations or ordinance changes.

The state Legislature and governor have exempted the two school projects from an 80 percent cap on state aid.

This is an updated version of a story published Wednesday.

The Republican | Michael S. GordonState Treasurer Steven Grossman, second from right, announces Wednesday at Springfield City Hall the state will pay costs not covered by the federal government to replace one city school and renovate a second. Both schools were hit by a tornado last year. Attending the announcement are state Sen. Gale D. Candaras, D-Wilbraham; left, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno; Jack McCarthy, executive director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority; Grossman, and state Sen. James T. Welch, D-West Springfield.

SPRINGFIELD – State officials led by Treasurer Steven Grossman announced Wednesday the state will cover the gap in reimbursement for the construction of a new Elias Brookings Elementary School and the renovation-expansion of the Mary A. Dryden Veterans Memorial School.

Both were heavily damaged by last year's tornado.

Grossman, who serves as chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, and joined by Executive Director Jack McCarthy, said during a press conference at City Hall that the state will strive to cover all costs not covered by federal disaster aid. The federal reimbursement will cover only tornado-related costs.

The exemption is permitted by a new state law passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Deval L. Patrick, they said.

“The MSBA is proud to stand with the city of Springfield and its children as we commit to fund and rebuild these two schools,” Grossman said.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said Grossman had pledged to do everything he could to help Springfield following last year’s tornado, and is showing he “is a man of his word.” Grossman had toured Springfield shortly after the tornado, including the two school sites, and promised to work with legislators to pursue up to 100 percent funding, excluding the federal disaster aid.

Under state law, the authority reimburses school projects up to an 80 percent cap, but that cap has been removed for the Brookings and Dryden projects, Grossman said. The exemption was approved under a state amendment sponsored by Sen. James T. Welch, D-West Springfield, and pushed also by Sen. Gale D. Candaras, D-Wilbraham, he said.

The goal is to relieve the city of its 20 percent share of costs, a move that will save millions of dollars, Grossman said.

Sarno praised Grossman and the state authority, and local legislators for their efforts.

Grossman timed the announcement with his visit to Springfield for the grand opening of the new Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy on State Street.

The specific amount of state funds that will be allocated for Brookings and Dryden is not yet determined as the city continues to pursue additional federal disaster aid for those projects from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The city is planning a $28 million project to build a new Brookings school at a nearby location on Walnut Street in Six Corners. The school was severely damaged in last year’s tornado, contributing to the state authority’s decision to fund a new building rather than renovations.

The city is planning a $14.3 million project to renovate and to build an addition at Dryden School The tornado caused significant damage including the roof and destruction of one wing, set to be replaced.

The Dryden project is hoped to begin by the end of this year, McCarthy said. The groundbreaking at Dryden is hoped to begin by late spring, he said.

The federal government funds up to 75 percent of costs that are directly related to the tornado, which the eligible costs still being negotiated with the city, officials said.

Welch said the additional state aid for the two school projects was “entirely a team effort” by local and state officials, understanding the need to provide the city with the resources to rebuild in the aftermath of the tornado.

Staying quiet into Friday morning, scattered thunderstorms return tomorrow afternoon.

Skies remain partly cloudy tonight as an area of high pressure maintains control of the region. It will also be pretty comfortable with overnight lows falling to a refreshing mid-50s.

Friday will start off okay in the morning, but clouds will be increasing going into the afternoon. An approaching cold front is causing thunderstorms back across the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley today...that system will be with us by Friday afternoon. The best chance of thunderstorms tomorrow will be out towards the Berkshires after 1 p.m. This initial line will try to fall apart as it heads further into New England, but scattered thunderstorms are still in the forecast for the rest of western Massachusetts tomorrow afternoon/evening.

Rain showers will be developing again for Saturday morning...especially along the coast. This is expected to clear out by the afternoon as the cold front pushes through. We finish out the weekend on a pleasant note with partly cloudy skies for Sunday. A pleasant cool down comes to western Massachusetts as well...high temperatures will only be in the upper-70s this weekend. A majority of next week looks dry as well.

Tonight: Mainly clear, comfortable, low 56.

Friday: Increasing clouds, scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m., high 86.

Saturday: Showers, mainly in the morning, decreasing afternoon clouds, cooler, high 78.

Sunday: Partly cloudy, comfortably cool, high 78.

The order for each side to choose one person to speak for them was only imperfectly obeyed.

The Republican file | Dave RobackThis is the view on Cold Hill that would be blocked if the homeowners were allowed to build a 30-foot addition.

GRANBY – New residents Jonathan and Laurie Conly can build a one-story addition to the home they have bought on Bittersweet Lane, the Board of Appeals ruled Tuesday.

The issue had become an emotional one, since the proposed addition will block off a scenic view on Cold Hill. Boos were heard in the meeting room as soon as the words passed the lips of Zoning Board of Appeals chairman Don Zebrowski.

Afterwards, board member Brian Kennedy told the group that he had to abide by the bylaws of the town. “Right now we’re just following what they say,” he said.

Jeffrey Casson, an abutter who opposes the addition, said he has not given up and will find another way to appeal the building project.

In anticipation of a larger-than-usual crowd, the Board of Appeals met in the Senior Center rather than their usual, more restrictive meeting space.

Zebrowski told the assembly that, because this was a public meeting rather than a public hearing, each side would have to choose only one person to speak for them – an order that was only imperfectly obeyed.

Laurie Conly, who did not speak, sat in a row with supporters. Her husband, Jonathan Conly, is in the Foreign Service. When Zebrowski asked her side for comments, builder Ken LeBlanc replied, “We have no other things to say.”

Across the aisle sat 10 opponents of the plan, who had plenty to say. Ben Haley, grandson of a Cold Hill resident, had come up from New York to argue against the addition from a historian’s point of view.

The group were represented by attorney Harold Brunault. He disputed the Conlys’ claim that the nonconforming change they were seeking would not substantially change a pre-existing nonconforming structure, saying it was just a way to get around asking for a variance.

Brunault told the board that 62 people had signed a petition against the project. He said the addition would cause traffic problems and lower house values on Cold Hill.

In the end, the board went with the bylaws and the recommendation of Town Counsel, whom they had consulted. Said board member Kennedy: “We see both sides.”

The selectmen also interviewed Brian Fitzgerald for a position on the Open Space and Recreation Committee.

WILBRAHAM - The Board of Selectmen Monday interviewed three candidates for two positions on the town’s Historical Commission, and will make a decision at a future meeting.

The candidates interviewed were Timothy Symington, Arthur Wolf and Martha Damon.

Symington is a social studies teacher in Longmeadow and said he has an interest in history. When asked by selectmen, he said he would also be interested in an appointment to the position of town archivist.

The second candidate interviewed was Arthur Wolf, husband of State Sen. Gale D. Candaras, D-Wilbraham.

Wolf, a professor at the Western New England College Law School, said he has an appreciation for the history of Wilbraham which next year will celebrate its 250th anniversary.

“There are many historical sites in Wilbraham,” Wolf said.

“We are thrilled that you are willing to step forward,” Selectman Robert Russell said.

“I hope you see fit to appoint me,” Wolf said. “I will serve with vigor and energy.”

The third candidate was Martha Damon, a retired teacher, who said she has been attending meetings of the Historical Commission for the past year.

She said she would like to see the commission do an inventory of the historically important buildings in town.

Damon said she would like to see the Historical Commission raise awareness of the town’s history.

One way to increase historical awareness in the town would be through displays in the library and in the showcases in the Town Hall, she said.

She said she visited the Historical Commission in West Brookfield which has an entire room in the Town Hall devoted to the town’s history.

Also on Monday the selectmen interviewed Brian Fitzgerald for a position on the Open Space and Recreation Committee.

Fitzgerald said he is interested in preserving and publicizing the great open spaces in the community. He said his hobbies are mountain biking and hiking.

A three-justice panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal agreed with attorneys for ABC and Touchstone Television that Sheridan left the show when her contract was not renewed.

AP file photoNicollette Sheridan

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nicollette Sheridan was not wrongfully fired from TV's "Desperate Housewives," an appeals court ruled Thursday, but the actress should be allowed to pursue claims that she was retaliated against for complaining that the show's creator struck her.

A three-justice panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal agreed with attorneys for ABC and Touchstone Television that Sheridan left the show when her contract was not renewed after the show's fifth season, and that barred the actress from receiving a new trial of her wrongful termination lawsuit.

"Sheridan cannot pursue a cause of action for wrongful termination in violation of public policy because, contrary to what she claims, she was not fired, discharged or terminated," the court wrote in a 10-page ruling.

The court, however, ruled that Sheridan should be allowed to file an amended lawsuit claiming retaliation, although her damages would be limited to her salary losses.

Adam Levin, an attorney for ABC and Touchstone, wrote in an email that he expects the companies would win again if Sheridan kept pursuing the case. Sheridan's attorney Mark Baute did not return a phone message seeking comment.

The ruling was the latest twist in Sheridan's case, which was first filed in April 2010. She later claimed she was fired after complaining that series creator Marc Cherry struck in the head during an on-set argument.

Cherry and ABC denied the claims, and a judge threw out the battery claim against Cherry. In March, jurors deadlocked after a two-week trial on her wrongful termination allegations, with the panel siding 8-4 in favor of the actress.

"Desperate Housewives" concluded its eight-season run this year.

Sheridan received $4.2 million on her last season of the series, and the studio had options to renew her contract to play the character Edie Britt through the seventh season.

Baute argued that she had recently received a raise and a share of the show's profits but fell out of favor with Cherry and other show executives after complaining about his conduct.

The two victims were part of a family visiting from Southern California that was hiking near the Vernal Fall Footbridge. Group members were cooling off in the river Wednesday when a current carried the boys away.

FILE - In this July 20, 2011 file photo, a hiker takes a photo from the top of Vernal Falls in Yosemite Wednesday July 20, 2011. Yosemite National Park officials say one boy is dead and another is missing after they were swept away Wednesday Aug. 15, 2012 in the Merced River. Park officials say the two were part of a family visiting from Southern California that had been hiking near the Vernal Fall Footbridge. (AP Photo/GosiaWozniacka, File)

FRESNO, Calif. — A 10-year-old boy died and his 6-year-old brother was missing after they were swept away along a popular but treacherous boulder-strewn stretch of the Merced River, Yosemite National Park officials said Thursday.

The two victims were part of a family visiting from Southern California that was hiking near the Vernal Fall Footbridge. Group members were cooling off in the river Wednesday when a current carried the boys away.

The older boy was pronounced dead around 3 p.m. Wednesday. Park visitors were able to pull him from the river about 150 yards downstream, but efforts to resuscitate him failed.

Authorities were still searching for the younger boy, who is presumed dead. Their mother was hospitalized after being pulled from the river with a back injury, park spokeswoman Kari Cobb said.

"She went into the river but made it out," Cobb said.

The names of the boys were not immediately released.

The bridge is a vantage point on the Mist Trail where Vernal Fall first comes into view. The location was the site of tragedy last summer when three Central California friends cooling off in a pool above the fall were swept to their deaths.

Two of their bodies were discovered months later lodged under boulders near the site where the 10-year-old was found.

The Merced River runs through the heart of Yosemite Valley, and the Mist Trail to the fall is one of the most popular and sometimes perilous hikes in the park. The river falls 317 feet straight down to a narrow gorge filled with boulders the size of cars then descends another 400 feet by the time it reaches the bridge. Even when the rest of the river is moving slowly, the drop in elevation and narrow channel cause the water to move swiftly.

The boys were part of a group of about 15 extended family members who made the short hike to the bridge, park spokesman Scott Gediman said. While signs at the trailhead warn that the river can be dangerous, people often are drawn to the water's edge.

"We've got a low water year this year, and around the banks it's only 8 to 10 inches deep, but once you get out further, we have a swift current and it gets deeper," Gediman said. "They both got swept away by the current."

The Mist Trail remained open during the search but portions might be closed depending upon developments.

A 57-year-old man drowned two weeks ago in the Merced River when he was pinned under a rock, and another person died in June on the south fork of the river near the Wawona area on the south end of the park.

The Wisconsin congressman said he had forgotten that his office sent letters — with his signature — to the Energy and Labor departments asking for money from the stimulus program on behalf of two companies in his home state.

Republican vice presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan speaks at Walsh University's Alumni Arena during a campaign stop in North Canton, Ohio on Thursday morning. Ryan is campaigning in the battleground state of Ohio after being named as the vice presidential candidate last week by Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Justin Merriman | Tribune-Review OUT PITTSBURGH POST GAZETTE

WASHINGTON — Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan on Thursday reversed course and acknowledged lobbying the government for millions of dollars in economic stimulus money after twice denying he had done so.

The Wisconsin congressman said he had forgotten that his office sent letters — with his signature — to the Energy and Labor departments asking for money from the stimulus program on behalf of two companies in his home state.

"They should have been handled differently, and I take responsibility for that," Ryan said in a written statement released only after he again denied requesting stimulus funds Thursday in an Ohio television interview.

Ryan's denial in an interview with Cincinnati's WCPO-TV contradicted letters he wrote in 2009 to Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis seeking stimulus grant money for two Wisconsin energy conservation companies. One of them, the nonprofit Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp., later received $20.3 million from the Energy Department to help homes and businesses improve energy efficiency, according to federal records.

"After having these letters called to my attention I checked into them, and they were treated as constituent service requests in the same way matters involving Social Security or Veterans Affairs are handled," Ryan said in a statement late Thursday. "This is why I didn't recall the letters earlier."

The congressman's denial came as new audio surfaced of Ryan telling Boston's WBZ Radio two years ago that he "did not ask for stimulus money" in response to a caller's question about the recovery program. "I'm not one who votes for something and then writes to the government to ask them to send us money," Ryan said. The exchange was first reported Thursday by The Boston Globe.

But a year earlier in his request to Chu for funds for the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp. Ryan said the stimulus cash would help his state create thousands of new jobs, save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The apparent contradiction underscores Ryan's conflicts with his larger federal budget proposal as the House Budget Committee chairman. That plan would slash Energy Department programs aimed at creating green jobs and calls for "getting Washington out of the business of picking winners and losers in the economy — and that includes our energy sector."

Ryan's actions in Congress have been drawing fresh scrutiny since he was named last weekend as Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's running mate.

The vice presidential contender is not alone among Republicans who criticized the stimulus plan only to seek money later. Georgia's Republican senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson, for example, blasted the bill as a bloated government giveaway yet asked then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates to steer $50 million in stimulus money to a constituent's bio-energy project.

Ryan's views are also consistent with Romney's long-held position that the stimulus was a flawed idea that did not create private sector jobs.

"That stimulus didn't work," Romney said at an Ohio speech in June. "That stimulus didn't put more private-sector people to work."

Yet in Ryan's letter to the Labor Department in October 2009, he backed the Energy Center of Wisconsin's grant application for stimulus money "to develop an industry-driven training and placement agenda that intends to place 1,000 workers in green jobs." The company did not win the Labor Department grant, federal records show.

Despite the letter, Ryan echoed Romney's position on Thursday.

"Regardless, it's clear that the Obama stimulus did nothing to stimulate the economy, and now the president is asking to do it all over again," he said.

___

Associated Press writer Steve Peoples contributed to this report.

Villamaino has refused requests for comment referring inquiries by a reporter previous to attorney William Bennett who responded that he had no plans to represent Villamaino.

Enrico P. Villamaino III

EAST LONGMEADOW – An employee of the town’s community access television station has been placed on paid leave and state and local police sifted through records at Town Hall Thursday in the wake of a voter fraud investigation.

Enrico P. Villamaino III

A law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said search warrants also were executed at on the homes of East Longmeadow selectman Enrico J. Villamaino III and special projects coordinator for the town-funded public access television station Courtney Llewellyn Thursday.

A day after Secretary of State William Galvin said his office would supervise the Sept. 6 primary election in East Longmeadow, a spokesman for his office said they do not yet know how many staffers the office will send to supervise balloting on that day. The town has a single polling site broken down into four precincts with 24 employees manning the polls, according to Town Clerk Thomas Florence.

The investigation, which now encompasses Galvin’s office, local and state police and the Hampden District Attorney’s office, was triggered when 445 applications for absentee ballots poured in – four times that of the last election - and political affiliations changed without voters' consent.

The primary will feature races for the 1st Congressional District, Superior Court Clerk’s post and the Governor’s Council. The only local contest pits Villamaino against Longmeadow Selectwoman and lawyer Marie Angelides in the Republican contest for state representative of the 2nd Hampden District.

The race has been closely watched as Angelides beat Villamaino in the 2010 primary by just 284 votes; she was ultimately defeated by Democratic state Rep. Brian Ashe of Longmeadow.

James Driscoll

Villamaino has refused or ignored requests for comment, previously referring inquiries by a reporter to lawyer, William M. Bennett, the former Hampden District Attorney, who responded that he had no plans to represent Villamaino.

An email obtained by The Republican states that Selectman James D. Driscoll ordered that Llewellyn be placed on paid leave “pending further development in an ongoing investigation.”

The suspension occurred on Monday according to the email.

“Please work with IT to suspend all means of the employee’s access,” Driscoll wrote, referring to the town's information technology department.

Llewellyn, a former assistant editor for Reminder Publications, did not return a call for comment.

Driscoll declined to comment on the email.

While he would not discuss the alleged role of any town employee in the ballot scandal, Florence said an employee who was placed on paid leave from another department often volunteered during lunch hours and when he was short-staffed in his office.

Florence, who has not been implicated in the probe, said he did not know how anyone gained access to the voting records.

“How anyone got in after hours, I don’t know,” he said. “I have been here for nine-and-a-half years and covered almost 30 elections. I’ve never had a problem, so I can’t help but feel angry. My job here is to protect voters’ rights,” Florence said.

Villamaino did not respond to a fresh request for comment Thursday evening.

Hampden County District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni said the investigation is active, but he is not necessarily working toward a primary election deadline to resolve the matter.

“I know it would be a really neat tied-up package if we can do it that way, but their deadline is not our deadline. We’re going to follow it where it leads, but I can say it is a fully active investigation,” Mastroianni said.

In addition to the swell of absentee ballots, many voters discovered their party affiliation had been switched without their knowledge – including Democratic Town Committee member Kevin B. Coyle. He said he was surprise to learn he had turned GOP, according to new voting records, and had not changed his alliance.

Under state law, there are statutes prohibiting unlawful distribution of absentee voter ballots, illegal voting, election-related forgery, and aiding and abetting. Some are felonies and carry possible prison penalties.

To open a roster spot for the recently acquired Pedro Beato, the Boston Red Sox's Triple-A affiliate has reportedly waived Mark Prior.

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola) Youngsters sit in and look out from the Green Monster seats during "open house" at Fenway Park in Boston, Thursday, April 19, 2012, part of the Boston Red Sox's celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first regular-season baseball game at Fenway Park.

To open a roster spot for the recently acquired Pedro Beato, the Boston Red Sox's Triple-A affiliate has released Mark Prior.

Brendan McGair of the Pawtucket Times reported the transaction Friday afternoon.

Prior, 31, possessed one of the most promising arms in baseball until his career was derailed by injuries. Attempting to reach the major leagues for the first time since 2006, he signed with the Red Sox in May.

In 19 appearances with Pawtucket this season, Prior was 1-0 with a 3.96 ERA. He posted an impressive 13.7 strikeout/nine innings ratio over 25.0 innings pitched but struggled with his command, walking 23 batters.

During the 2003 season with the Chicago Cubs, Prior finished third in the National League Cy Young Award voting after going 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA. At the time, he was just 23 years old.

A look at the Patriots' final training camp practice.

AP fileNew England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throws during NFL football training camp in Foxborough, Mass., Friday, Aug. 17, 2012.

FOXBOROUGH – New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Brandon Lloyd may not see much action Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The trio spent Friday’s practice, the final training camp session that will be open to the public, on a separate field while the rest of their teammates ran through full-team drills.

Wide receiver Wes Welker also took off midway through the session for undisclosed reasons. He stopped to chat with some kids on the way to the locker room, so his departure wasn’t likely for any serious reason.

Those not participating in practice: wide receiver Jabar Gaffney; running back Stevan Ridley; safeties Tavon Wilson and James Ihedigbo; fullback Spencer Larsen; offensive linemen Brian Waters, Markus Zusevics, Sebastian Vollmer, Matt Kopa and Kyle Hicks; linebacker Tracy White; cornerback Alfronzo Dennard; tight ends Visanthe Shiancoe, Daniel Fells and Jake Ballard; and defensive linemen Jonathan Fanene, Myron Pryor and Gerrard Warren.