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Holyoke police investigating possibility that Beech Street homicide victim was killed in drive-by scooter shooting

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Authorities say the pair of suspects was last seen on a scooter speeding away from 104-106 Beech St., the scene of a fatal shooting that claimed the life of a 35-year-old man.

Updates stories posted at 1:20 a.m. Wednesday and 6:10 p.m. Tuesday.

HOLYOKE — Police are investigating the possibility that the city's first homicide victim of the year was killed in a drive-by scooter shooting.

"Initial reports state two subjects on a scooter drove up to the victim and proceeded to shoot him," Holyoke Police Lt. Matthew Moriarty, head of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, said early Wednesday.

The suspects wore motorcycle helmets and hoodies, but further physical descriptions were unavailable, Moriarty said. Police have asked anyone with information about the shooting to call the department at (413) 322-6900 or use the anonymous text-a-tip number: (413) 533-TIPS (533-8477).

Authorities say the alleged shooters were last seen on a scooter speeding away from the Beech Street crime scene, where a 35-year-old man was shot multiple times outside 104-106 Beech St. around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Officer Patrick Leahy, a community policing officer working a bicycle detail, was first to respond to the incident near the corner of Beech and Dwight streets.

Officers administered first aid to the victim until city firefighters and ambulance personnel arrived.

Police Lt. Larry Cournoyer said the victim, whose name will not be released until Moriarty approves formal public identification of the man, died just after 9 p.m. Tuesday at a local hospital.

Authorities have yet to cite a possible motive for the killing, which ended a more than 20-month stretch in which no homicides were committed in Holyoke.

Legal proceedings for a November 2011 fatal shooting ended with an involuntary manslaughter conviction for Damion Johnson, who was found responsible for the accidental death of his brother. The last recorded murder in the city was the August 8, 2011, stabbing death of Miguel Rodriguez. Joshua Reyes has been charged with murder in the killing.

The city ended 2012 with no murders during the calendar year. The last time that happened was about 25 years ago, according to officials.

Police are also investigating a nearby gunpoint home invasion that happened late Monday night. There's no known connection between the incidents.


This is a developing story. More details will be posted on MassLive.com as they become available.


Conn. man dies after struggle with Mass. troopers

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Police say 47-year-old Donald Moskites of Windsor, Conn., was spotted near the Allston-Brighton tolls at about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday.

BOSTON (AP) — Authorities in Massachusetts are investigating the death of a Connecticut man who struggled with two state troopers after he was spotted walking on a ramp on the Massachusetts Turnpike.

Police say 47-year-old Donald Moskites of Windsor, Conn., was spotted near the Allston-Brighton tolls at about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Based on police reports and maintenance workers at the scene, authorities say the man became aggressive, and bit a chunk out of one trooper's arm during a physical altercation.

The troopers used pepper spray.

Moskites, described as a "very large man," apparently went into cardiac arrest during the struggle. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Why he was on the ramp remains unclear.

The Suffolk district attorney's office is investigating. The troopers' names were not released.

Worcester opens spray park for this weekend's heatwave

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With a heatwave expected through the weekend, the city has opened the Greenwood Spray Park for Thursday, May 30 through Sunday, June 2. The park will be open from 12-7 p.m.

WORCESTER - With a heatwave expected through the weekend, the city has opened the Greenwood Spray Park for Thursday, May 30 through Sunday, June 2. The park will be open from 12-7 p.m.

The spray park is located at the corner of Greenwood and Forsberg Streets.

Temperatures are expected to be around 90 degrees all weekend in Worcester.

New York man pleads guilty in U.S. district court to charges related to credit card fraud and creating fake documents

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A New York man caught on the Massachusetts Turnpike with credit-card making equipment in August of 2008 will be sentenced in September after entering guilty pleas in federal court on Thursday to five difference charges related to fraud and the possession of equipment to make fake documents.

WORCESTER - A New York man caught on the Massachusetts Turnpike with credit card-making equipment in August of 2008 will be sentenced in September after entering guilty pleas in federal court on Thursday to five different charges related to fraud and the possession of equipment to make fake documents.

José Rafael Abinader Rodriguez of New York is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 10. He remains in custody.

Luis Manuel Abinader Rodriguez of New York was sentenced to more than 7 years in federal prison in 2011 for similar charges in the same case. He was also ordered to pay $227,900 in restitution.

A third man in the case, Leonardo Bencosme of Lawrence, is apparently still on the run. Bencosme is listed by the U.S Secret Service as a Most Wanted Fugitive and authorities warn he could be armed.

The Case:

According to court documents, Luis and José Rodriguez began producing phony credit cards and identification papers in August of 2007 after purchasing printers and other equipment needed to produce the cards and obtaining real credit card account numbers. They and Bencosme used the fakes to buy electronics, jewelry, clothes and other things.

Court documents reveal the men rented a U-Haul truck in the Bronx and loaded it with forging equipment in August, 2008. The truck drove from New York to Massachusetts, where a state trooper pulled it over for speeding on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Charlton.

According to court documents, the passenger of the U-Haul identified himself as Raul Rodriguez but produced identification under the name Raul Rivera-Cirino. The man would later be identified as Jose Rodriguez. The trooper searched Rodriguez and found $3,000 in cash, two debit cards under the name Raul Rivera, a Social Security card in the name of Raul Rivera Cirino, and scraps of paper listing social security numbers. A search of the driver produced $4,000 in cash and a handwritten ledger of what the trooper determined was expensive jewelry.

Inside the truck the trooper found a box of hologram stickers with Master Card and Visa logos and machines the trooper suspected could be used to make credit cards. Both men claimed they knew nothing about the credit card related items, and Rodriguez claimed he was moving his family's clothing from New York to Massachusetts.

The credit card-making items were taken into custody and the men were fingerprinted but not held.

The trooper later contacted the Secret Service after finding out Rodriguez had an outstanding arrest warrant in Clarkstown, New York for larceny, possession of a forged instrument, identity theft and conspiracy. The next day the Secret Service joined the investigation.

In August 2009, police on a surveillance detail in Yonkers witnessed a man transfer a bag from the back of a BMW to a Honda outside an apartment under investigation in connection to drug trafficking. When stopped and questioned, the drivers of the vehicles each produced false identification, but were identified as Luis and Jose Rodriguez. After a warrant was obtained, a search of the apartment uncovered embossing machines, printers, plastic cards, holograms, credit cards in different stages of production, as well as other identification cards with different aliases for both Jose and Luis Rodriguez.

According to court documents, the two men also have a record that includes an identical shoplifting conviction in New Jersey in 1998. Luis also has a prior case in Miami for using a forged credit card.

Amherst Town Meeting runs out of time before considering conservation restriction for North Amherst property

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Town Meeting will take up the conservation restriction request Monday night after running out of time Wednesday.

RET.JPGSigns like these are all over North Amherst seeking to keep a student housing project from being developed. 

AMHERST -- Town meeting Wednesday night did not take up the issue of purchasing a conservation restriction on property in Cushman as expected because of the late hour at which the article came up.

Instead, the meeting Monday night will be asked to consider taking over the conservation restriction on the 154-acre parcel off Henry Street, Flat Hills and Market Hill roads either by eminent domain or by paying as much as $1.2 million for it. The money would come from grants, gifts and about 30 percent from the town, according Save Historic Cushman, the ad hoc group seeking the restriction.

The town would not be compelled to follow meeting instructions if the body voted to proceed, Town Manager John P. Musante said earlier in the week.

Georgia-based Landmark Properties has an option to buy the 154 acres for $6.5 million and wants to develop and manage a project called "The Retreat", a community of 190 cottage-style units of student housing.

The offer, however -- the second made -- does not yet appear to be a bona fide offer. In an email, Select Board chairwoman Stephanie J. O'Keeffe said that Town Counsel has advised Musante the “revised Purchase & Sale agreement still does not constitute a bona fide offer.”

Town Counsel and attorneys for the property owner “are in consultation about their differing interpretations and how they might be resolved,” O'Keeffe wrote.

The property is now under Chapter 61A development restrictions, which provide a reduced tax rate for the owner. The town has the first right to purchase the land from W.D Cowls but would have to meet the bona fide price.

Cinda Jones from Cowls said she was surprised the measure did not come up at the meeting, the seventh Town Meeting session.

The body earlier by a one-vote margin referred an article that would have authorized the town to buy Echo Village apartments or an affordability restriction, including by eminent domain, for low-income housing. The article was referred to the Housing and Sheltering Committee. The Echo Village Tenants Association was urging the purchase to preserve affordable housing.

Eagle Crest Management recently purchased the apartments and is raising rents. Tenants in 11 of the 24 apartments have vouchers to help pay the rent. But, they have told officials they cannot afford the higher rents that the new company can charge. The Finance Committee recommended against the article.

“We need to craft the best possible solution for the terrible situation at Echo Village,” O’Keefe said in an email. She supported referral. “It will be much better to bring Town Meeting a recommendation for that solution with a specific price tag and a clear funding plan, rather than giving broad powers to the Select Board for an undefined outcome of undefined cost and with undefined funding.”

Nancy Gregg, co-chair of the sheltering committee, supports the article and agreed with the referral. “I don’t think it would have reached the two thirds (vote needed) and it would die,” she said, adding that the approach allows the committee to continue working on it.

“I think it has a lot of potential,” she said.

The eighth session of Town Meeting begins at 7 p.m. Monday at the Amherst Regional Middle School.

Brockton white-supremacist convicted of first-degree murder in two 2009 killings

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Authorities said the killings of a 20-year-old woman and a 72-year-old man in January 2009 were racially-motivated.

BROCKTON — A Brockton man has been convicted of first-degree murder in two killings that authorities said were racially-motivated.

Keith Luke was also found guilty on Thursday on a number of other counts by a Plymouth Superior Court jury.

The 26-year-old Luke displayed no emotion as the verdict was read.

He faces an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole on the two counts of first-degree murder.

Luke, who once showed up in court with a swastika carved into his forehead, was accused of fatally shooting a 20-year-old woman and a 72-year-old man in January 2009. He allegedly told investigators he wanted to kill "nonwhites." His victims were of Cape Verdean descent.

Luke's lawyer said his client had a history of mental illness.

The jury began deliberations on Wednesday

Sewer line collapse creates sinkhole on Federal Street in Springfield

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One lane of Federal Street, now closed to traffic, should reopen by 4 or 5 p.m., officials said.

SPRINGFIELD – A sewer line collapse caused a sinkhole to open up Thursday morning in the area of Federal and Worthington streets.

George Romano Jr., field services director for the Springfield Water & Sewer Commission, said one lane of Federal Street will remain closed to traffic Thursday afternoon while workers fill the hole and make sure that the roadway is safe.

The road should be reopened by 4 or 5 p.m., Romano said, adding that workers will return to the scene later to insert a camera into the pipe to assess the situation.

The line collapse has not disrupted sewer service in the area, Romano said.


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Springfield Fire Department credits Wilfredo Luna with preventing Kensington Avenue porch fire from spreading

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The fire was reported at 42 Kensington Ave. about 1:45 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD -- The Fire Department credits quick-acting Kensington Avenue resident Wilfredo Luna with helping to prevent a porch fire from spreading to the rest of the multi-family home Thursday afternoon.

“He saw the fire and grabbed some buckets and was attempting to put it out upon our arrival,” said Dennis Leger, aide to fire commissioner Joseph Conant. “He did a good job.”

Nobody was home at 42 Kensington Ave. when the blaze was reported about 1:45 p.m., Leger said. No injuries were reported.

The blaze caused under $5,000 in damage to the porch floor, siding and facade, Leger said.

The Springfield Arson & Bomb Squad is investigating the cause of the blaze. The property is owned by Asbel and Ivette Nunez of Agawam, Leger said.


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Livingston Pangburn fatal bicycle accident in Amherst still under investigation

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Pangburn was fatally injured Sunday afternoon in a collision with a truck near Dickinson and College streets.

AMHERST - Investigators continue to probe the bicycle crash that took the life of 22-year-old Newton native Livingston I.H. Pangburn Sunday afternoon.

Pangburn, most recently of Granby, died of injuries suffered in a collision with a truck that was turning onto a campus road near the corner of Dickinson and College streets. He was riding east on College Street (Route 9) when the crash occurred about 4 p.m.

Mary Carey, communications director for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, said Pangburn was bicycling east on College Street (Route 9) at the time of the crash, reported around 4 p.m.

The truck driver, who has not been identified, was not injured and stayed at the scene after the crash. Pangburn was pronounced dead at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Carey said Thursday morning that charges have not been filed.

The accident remains under investigation by the Amherst Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and state police detectives attached to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.

UMass-Amherst professors Max Page and Marla Miller celebrate campus architecture in new book

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UMass professors provide a look at the architectural history of the campus since it opened 150 years ago.

UMass_cover_4.jpgA new book by UMass professors Marla Miller and Max Page offers a look at the UMass architectural history.  

AMHERST — Marla Miller, the director of the Public History program at the University of Massachusetts, did not hold the building in which she worked in high regard.

But once setting upon researching the campus history with architecture professor Max Page, all that changed.

Learning about Herter Hall’s architectural history and place “transformed the building for me (from) rolling my eyes at Herter Hall.”

Miller and Page have written “The Campus Guide: University of Massachusetts Amherst” in time for the university sesquicentennial this year.

The two decided to write the book after a student who took classes with both drafted a proposal to nominate Herter Hall for the National Register of Historic places.

Through student Jayne Bernhard Armington’s research Miller said she understood that Herter “was meant to be humane” making it easy for people to navigate. People can see the inside of the building from the outside. “It changed the way I came to work every day.”

Armington’s work “cultivated a mutual appreciation of the architecture” and inspired them to write the book, which is part of the Princeton Architectural Press series. But rather than focus on the architecture as many of the author’s do, the pair “focused more on the social history side of the campus and ideals through the architecture,” Page said.

In writing the book, both came away with a new appreciation of the campus and they hope those reading it and taking the walking tours they offer will come away with their own as well. Page said he sees the book intended for “anyone interested in the campus and interested in campus architecture in general.” It offers a way to think about “how we value buildings of the '50s, and '60s.”

Miller said she sees it offering “a window into that moment in time (in which the buildings were built.) It heightens people’s awareness.”

She said it also “celebrates the campus and all its quirks. They all tell a story.”

The book features a brief history of the campus as well as five walking tours that examine 71 campus buildings built over three centuries. The book is replete with pictures and maps.

It also offers the buildings’ history, including who the people are for whom the buildings and spaces are named. The Haigis Mall, for example, was named for John William Haigis, Sr., founding editor of the Greenfield Recorder, who was also in the state Legislature and became lieutenant governor in 1929.

Munson Hall was named after Willard Munson, a 1904 football star, who returned to campus to become he Extension Service director. The service was housed in the building erected in 1898.

The campus was designed by some of the finest architects of the time, Miller said.
They admit, however, that the campus is not always appreciated.

In the introduction, they wrote, “Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder. But the beholder’s eye changes over time, and what was once ugly can become beautiful – just as it may become ugly once again.”

The pair also look at some of the campus myths – such as falling bricks from the W.E.B. Dubois Library. Miller said that is not true; Brick chips fell, but not actual bricks. UMass officials closed the library in 1979 fearing the problem was worse than it was and moved 250,000 books back to Goodell, the old library.

Also there was a myth that the Whitmore Adminstration Building was designed to look like a fortress because of the student protests in the late 1960s and 1970s. The building was completed in 1967, pre-dating the student protest era, Miller said.

Both admire the Fine Arts Center.

Page called it the “most important building on campus. It created the gateway we didn’t have.” Designed by Kevin Roche in 1968, the building was considered an “innovation on American campuses,” they wrote. Before then “no campus, public or private had a facility of this scope and ambition.”

Page said, “for me it’s the idea of in the late 60s; this is the biggest arts complex in New England at the time. It created a set of spaces for music, theater and dance for regular citizens.”

Page thought leaving the space empty in the center so visitors could look out through to the campus pond “was a beautiful gesture.” The open passageway, however, was closed in 1997 to create a lobby.

Miller said they used research from the past. “We stood on the shoulders of some original (researchers.)” But they worked through themes when creating the tours.


Hack for Western Mass at UMass-Amherst campus will see 'hackers' collaborate for weekend of community improvement projects

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Developers, data experts, and designers are needed at the event, as well as local advocates, subject matter experts and anyone who desires to improve his or her community.

hack for wmass logo.png 

AMHERST -- Developers, programmers, designers, entrepreneurs, journalists and others will congregate at UMass, Amherst this weekend for an event called Hack for Western Mass, a "civic hackathon" aimed at using technology to solve community problems.

The event runs 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 1 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 2 at the Integrated Sciences Building at UMass, Amherst.

Hack for Western Mass defines a hacker as "someone who uses a minimum of resources and a maximum of brainpower and ingenuity to create, enhance or fix something."

Developers, data experts, and designers are needed at the event, as well as local advocates, subject matter experts and anyone who desires to improve his or her community. Experience is not required for the event.

Though many of these "hackers" will know their way around a computer, they aren't out to steal data. Instead, participants will tackle various "challenges" such as creating a tool to make prison phone data more accessible, spreading awareness of local banking benefits, and creating a database for wells and water quality across the state.

For example, the well and water quality challenge -- which notes that five wells in Leverett show signs of contamination from a former landfill -- asks, "Can we develop an open source database that starts with the public well data from Massachusetts DEP and allows towns to augment that information with information about their private wells?"

Solutions that participants will try to develop may range from designing a web page or mobile application to creating a database or interactive tool.

To sign up to participate this weekend, visit hackforwesternmass.org.

Those who want to help but cannot stay all weekend can volunteer or sponsor the event. Those interested in volunteering or sponsoring should email hackforwesternmass@gmail.com. Members of the public are also encouraged to submit additional project ideas.

Current sponsors include the National Priorities Project, the Sunlight Foundation, UMass Center for Public Policy and Administration, UMass College of Natural Sciences, Amherst College Center for Community Engagement, and Communicate Health.

A detailed event schedule is available on the event website.

Moulton Hill Road in Monson to be closed on Monday

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The work will be done from the Connecticut line to Wales Road.

MONSON — Highway Surveyor John R. Morrell said Moulton Hill Road will be closed on Monday for stone seal work.

He said the project is being made possible through $75,000 in state chapter 90 road repair funds. Motorists should seek alternate routes, as the road will be open only to school buses and residents. The work will be done from the Connecticut line to Wales Road.

In the event of inclement weather, the project will be postponed to Tuesday or Wednesday, he said.

The map below shows the area of Moulton Hill Road (highlighted in blue) scheduled to be closed on Monday:


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National Nurses United, Massachusetts Nurses Association endorse Democrat Ed Markey for U.S. Senate

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In endorsing Markey over Republican Gabriel Gomez, the unions said the longtime representative's work to uphold the Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security programs were deciding factors.

Despite endorsing his opponent in the Democratic primary for the open U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts, two nurses unions announced Thursday that they are throwing their support behind Congressman Edward Markey, D-Malden.

In endorsing Markey over Republican U.S. Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez, the unions said the longtime Massachusetts representative's work to protect the Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security programs were deciding factors.

"We need someone in office who puts patients first. Rep. Markey believes in corporate accountability and in ensuring that our society protects those who are most vulnerable," said Karen Higgins, co-president of National Nurses United in a statement. "Ed Markey stands for nurses and the communities we serve, and so nurses are proud to stand with him."

Markey lauded the nurses in accepting the endorsement, adding that he reaffirms his "commitment to be their steadfast ally in the Senate."

A number of endorsements have been announced on both sides of the race this week. Among those supporting Gomez are the New England Police Benevolent Association's local 911 in Worcester, who also backed Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown in his 2012 campaign.
And although it came as no surprise, President Barack Obama has officially backed Markey, calling him a "passionate and effective champion for middle class and working families."

First lady Michelle Obama also headlined a Boston fundraiser for Markey's campaign, reportedly helping him collect more than $600,000 in a couple of hours.

Late last week, the campaigns agreed to a June 11 debate in Springfield to compliment the already scheduled June 5 debate at WBZ studios in Allston and the June 18 debate at WGBH’s studios in Brighton.

June 5 is the last day to register to vote in the June 25 special election.


Ed Markey and Gabriel Gomez's U.S. Senate campaigns trade shots over abortion rights, birth control and the medical device tax

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Gomez continued to attack Markey on tax policy, while Planned Parenthood, which supports Markey, attacked Gomez for refusing to take a stance on the Blunt amendment.

The U.S. Senate campaigns of Democrat Edward Markey and Republican Gabriel Gomez addressed issues as diverse as taxes and birth control on Thursday as each candidate appealed to their respective voter base.

Gomez aimed to shore up support from business owners, a common Republican constituency, continuing his week-long focus on tax policy. Markey’s campaign enlisted the president of the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund, former State Rep. Marty Walz, to focus on abortion and birth control- key issues for many Democratic women.

Gomez visited Guided Surgery Solutions in Wellesley, a company that created and markets guides that let dentists drill more accurately during dental implant surgery. He zeroed in on a new medical device tax included in the Affordable Care Act, the health reform law promoted and signed by Democratic President Barack Obama.

“This is one that impacts 25,000 jobs with hundreds of companies here in Massachusetts,” Gomez said. “It not only impacts these companies, it increases the cost of health care and it’s going to get pushed onto consumers as well.”

“The last thing we should be doing is increasing taxes on companies and on individuals themselves,” Gomez said.

Markey supports Obama's health care reform, calling it the proudest vote of his congressional career. Gomez opposes it, arguing that it should be up to the states to provide universal access to health care.

However, the medical device tax is hardly a major point of difference between them. With medical device manufacturing a major industry in Massachusetts, Markey has said he opposed the inclusion of the medical device tax in the health care reform bill. Markey says he would support repealing the tax as long as the revenue replacing it did not impact middle-class families or their health care benefits. (Markey did not support two previous repeal bills because of issues relating to the way the repeal would be paid for.)

The Markey campaign on Thursday brought abortion and contraception to the forefront. Markey supports abortion rights; Gomez opposes abortion, though he has said he would not try to overturn Roe v. Wade and would not have a litmus test for judicial nominees.

Gomez’s critics have pointed to a Boston Globe story in which Gomez said he had not read the Blunt Amendment, a bill that would have allowed employers to opt out of paying for insurance coverage for any service to which they had a moral or religious objection – such as contraception. The Globe reported that Gomez also did not take a position on the Stupak Amendment, a proposal that would have restricted federal subsidies from going to private health care plans that cover abortion.

On Thursday, Walz and State Rep. Ruth Balser, a Newton Democrat, delivered a copy of the Blunt Amendment to Gomez’s campaign headquarters.

“Mr. Gomez has repeatedly said that he has not read the amendment and we thought it would be helpful to him to have a copy of the amendment sitting on his desk,” Walz told MassLive.com after the event. “He’s so ill informed that women can’t trust him to be a champion for their health if he should be elected.”

Gomez, asked about the Blunt Amendment on Thursday, said, “I’m not sure how much more clear I can be on both the Blunt and Stupak (amendments).” But in his response, Gomez did not directly address either amendment.

Rather, he reiterated his belief that taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund abortion.

He also said, “I also believe 100 percent contraception should be available over the counter.”

Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal last December arguing that oral contraceptives should be available over the counter, without a prescription. Jindal argued that this would take some of the politics out of the debate over access to birth control. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration mandates that only a doctor can prescribe oral contraceptives.

Gomez said he agreed with Jindal, though he said there should be some age cutoff regarding who can buy contraception over the counter. (Gomez did not specify an age, but the issue recently came up with regards to the “morning-after pill,” when the FDA recommended lowering the age limit for girls allowed to buy that drug over the counter from 17 to 15.)

Walz said Gomez’s statements appear to be “all over the map” when it comes to women’s health. Walz said given the difficulty of getting Congress to overrule the FDA and provide birth control over the counter, Gomez appears to be using that issue to distract from the short-term issue that is most likely to come before Congress again – the Blunt amendment. “He’s continually refused to tell women how he would vote,” Walz said.

In other issues, the Markey campaign and state Democrats this week have been urging Gomez to release his client list from his time working at the private equity firm Advent International. The government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which has generally targeted Republicans, filed a complaint on Wednesday charging that Gomez did not disclose the names of clients who paid him, through Advent, on personal financial disclosure forms.

However, there is no indication that Gomez was paid by specific clients that would need to be disclosed. Gomez has said he was paid only by Advent. The company did not work on behalf of specific clients, but rather invested in companies and reaped profits from those investments.


Citizens Against Casino Gaming demands 3 casino debates with Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, but he declines

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The anti-casino group demanded three debates on a proposed casino agreement in Springfield prior to a July 16 referendum vote.

SPRINGFIELD — Citizens Against Casino Gaming challenged Mayor Domenic J. Sarno this week to personally take part in three casino debates, but Sarno said the group should "take that up with MGM officials."

2006 mark mullan.JPGMark Mullan 

Dr. Mark Mullan, a representative of the anti-casino group, in an emailed challenge dated Wednesday, made a “formal demand” for three debates before a July 16 citywide vote on a proposed casino project in Springfield planned by MGM Resorts International.

“We are proposing public forum debates between you, not a surrogate, and a representative of our group on the following dates: June 10, 2013; June 27, 2013; and July 10, 2013,” Mullan said.

Sarno, in a prepared response, said his administration has been providing all information to the public and will continue that practice “so they can make an educated decision on the facts.”

051611 domenic sarno mug.jpgDomenic Sarno 

“People know where I stand on this issue,” Sarno said. “As always, my administration will continue to participate in discussion panels and forums. As for the request (for three debates), the Citizens Against Casino Gaming needs to take that up with MGM officials.”

MGM is proposing an $800 million casino project in the South End, and a host community agreement with the company has been approved by the mayor and City Council.

The agreement needs approval from voters, and if approved, will be considered for approval by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The commission will consider one casino license in Western Massachusetts, with competing projects proposed in Palmer and West Springfield.

Mullan, on behalf of the anti-casino group, said Sarno has “rushed through” a ballot question on the casino proposal for July 16, rather than wait for a fall referendum.

“In light of your unyielding pressure, both on city officials, elected leaders and the business community, our group believes and demands that you owe the residents and ultimately the voters, your immediate commitment to a minimum of three (3) public debates,” Mullan wrote.



Wall Street: Stocks rise as lackluster reports ease Fed concern

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n economic news, the number of Americans seeking unemployment aid rose last week, a sign layoffs have increased, the Labor Department said Thursday. Claims for unemployment aid rose 10,000 last week to 354,000.

Wall Street Premarket_Gene.jpg Specialist Peter Giacchi, left, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Banks and utility companies led stocks higher on Wall Street as the market bounced back from a decline the day before. AP Photo/Richard Drew, File 
By STEVE ROTHWELL

NEW YORK — The stock market rose Thursday after a pair of lackluster economic reports convinced traders that the U.S. central bank will continue to boost the economy with its stimulus program.

Unemployment claims rose and an initial estimate of first-quarter economic growth was revised slightly lower. That suggests the U.S. economy may still need some time to recover from its funk and that the Fed will keep up its $85 billion in monthly bond purchases.

"The big worry that's been hitting the market lately, that the Fed might step back prematurely, might be fading a little today on the idea that the economy does need a bit more support," Jeff Kleintop, chief market strategist at LPL Financial, said.

The rise in the Standard & Poor's 500 index was led by banking and insurance stocks, which gained 1.1 percent. Among individual bank stocks, Bank of America rose 35 cents, or 2.6 percent, to $13.87. The stock is trading at its highest in more than two years. JPMorgan gained 95 cents, or 1.7 percent, $55.62.

Banks and other stocks that stand to benefit the most from an improving economy have surged this week, a change from earlier in the year when investors favored dividend-rich stocks like utilities. Now investors are selling dividend-rich stocks and buying so-called growth stocks. The S&P's financial index is up 2.1 percent this week, and its utilities index is down 2.5 percent.

Even after that increase, by one measure bank stocks are still less expensive than the broader market. The price-to-earnings ratio for financial companies is still lower than that of S&P 500 average. The so-called P/E ratio is 14.4 for banks and insurers, compared with 16.2 for all companies in the S&P, according to FactSet.

Stocks also got a boost from deal news.

NV Energy surged $4.34, or 23 percent, to $23.62, leading a broad advance in utility companies. Clearwire, a wireless network operator, surged $1.02 cents, or 29 percent, to $4.50 after satellite TV operator Dish Network raised its bid for the company to $6.9 billion.

In economic news, the number of Americans seeking unemployment aid rose last week, a sign layoffs have increased, the Labor Department said Thursday. Claims for unemployment aid rose 10,000 last week to 354,000. The government also lowered its estimate for U.S. economic growth in the first three months of the year to 2.4 percent from 2.5 percent.

Trading has been choppy on Wall Street this week as investors wrestle with the question of whether the Fed will ease its economic stimulus. Minutes released last week from the Fed's last policy meeting showed that some central bank officials favored slowing the purchases as early as next month, if the economy improves enough. The program has been a major factor supporting a rally in stocks by encouraging investors to buy riskier assets.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 106 points Tuesday, then fell by the same amount Wednesday, leading some market watchers to ask whether the rally that has pushed the Dow and S&P 500 index to record levels may be fizzling out.

While the prospect of a change in Fed strategy is unsettling investors, ultimately, they should welcome the end of the Fed's stimulus because it means that the economy is strong enough to stand on its own two feet, JJ Kinahan, chief derivatives strategist at TD Ameritrade, said.

"It's the vote of confidence," Kinahan said. "It should mean that the overall economy is healthy."

The S&P 500 rose in early trading, climbing as much as 13.6 points, or 0.8 percent, by late afternoon. The index then gave up some of the gains in the last hour of trading to end up just 6.05 points, or 0.4 percent, at 1,654.41.

Phone companies and the makers of consumer staples were the biggest decliners, dropping 1 percent and 0.4 percent respectively. These so-called defensive stocks that pay rich dividends have fallen out of favor this month after investors pushed their prices higher at the start of the year.

The Dow closed up 21.73 points, or 0.1 percent, at 15,324.53 points.

In other trading, the Nasdaq composite index rose 23.78 points, or 0.7 percent, to 3,491.30.

Stock investors have had a good year so far. The Dow is 16.9 percent higher and has set record closing highs on nine days in May. The S&P 500 index is up 16 percent and is on track to rise for a seventh straight month, its longest winning streak since 2009.

In commodities trading, oil rose 48 cents to $93.61 a barrel. Gold rose $20.20, or 1.5 percent, to $1,411.50 an ounce. The dollar fell against the euro and the Japanese yen.

In government bond trading, the yield on the 10-year note was unchanged at 2.12 percent.

Among other stocks making big moves:

  • EMC, a data storage equipment maker, rose $1.27, or 5.4 percent, to $24.93 after the company said it will ramp up its stock buyback program and begin paying a quarterly dividend.
  • Big Lots, a discount store chain, fell $3.45, or 9 percent, to $34.93 after the company reported a 21 percent drop in quarterly income and lowered its full-year revenue forecast.
  • First Solar rose $3.39, or 6.5 percent, to $55.15 after the company's stock was upgraded to "buy" from "neutral" by Goldman Sachs. The investment bank says the solar energy's company's earnings may rise more than Wall Street forecasts and that it might buy other companies or its own stock as it generates more cash.

Victim in Holyoke homicide identified as Danny Rodriguez, 35

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Rodriguez was shot multiple times in front of 104-106 Bliss St. near Hampden Street at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. He died later that night at the hospital.


HOLYOKE - The man shot to death on Beech Street Tuesday afternoon has been identified as 35-year-old Danny Rodriguez of 354 Hampden St., Holyoke, according to Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni.

Rodriguez was shot multiple times in front of 104-106 Bliss St., near Hampden Street, at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. He died later that night at the hospital.

Officials delayed releasing his identity until members of his family could be contacted, Mastroianni said.

The homicide is the first in Holyoke in since 2011. It is also the first homicide this year in the Hampden County outside of Springfield.

It is being investigated by Holyoke police Criminal Investigations Bureau and Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to Mastroianni's office.

There have been no arrests. Police have released no information about possible motives.

Holyoke police have said there were reports from the scene that two suspects riding a motorized scooter rode up to Rodriguez, shot him and then sped away. The scooter was last seen heading north on Beech Street.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Holyoke police at (413) 322-6900. Those who wish to remain anonymous may text a tip via a cell phone by addressing a text message to “CRIMES,” or "274637," and then beginning the body of the message with the word "SOLVE."


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White House: Asteroid 1998 QE2 'poses no threat' to Earth

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The White House says an asteroid more than 1 1/2 miles long poses no threat to planet Earth.

By KEN THOMAS, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Have no fear: The White House says an asteroid more than 1 1/2 miles long poses no threat to planet Earth.

The big rock called Asteroid 1998 QE2 was making its closest approach to Earth on Friday, keeping a safe distance of 3.6 million miles, or 15 times the distance between Earth and the moon.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest was asked about the asteroid during a briefing. He says scientists have concluded the asteroid "poses no threat to planet Earth."

He added, to laughter, "I never really thought I'd be standing up here saying that."

The asteroid is believed to be about 1.7 miles long.

The White House was hosting a "We The Geeks" Google+ Hangout Friday, bringing together NASA's deputy administrator and scientists to talk about asteroids.


President Barack Obama likens pending student loan interest rate increase to $1,000 tax hike

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Obama made his case flanked by college students wearing business suits and dresses on a steamy Washington morning in the Rose Garden.

By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Friday urged Congress to prevent student loan rates from doubling in a month, prompting a fight with House Republicans who accused him of playing politics instead of sitting down to work out small differences and avoid an increase.

Interest rates on new subsidized Stafford loans are set to go from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on July 1. Lawmakers from both parties say they want to avoid the increase but are divided over how to do so.

Obama said if Congress doesn't act to stop loan rates from rising, students would rack up an additional $1,000 annually in debt. "That's like a $1,000 tax hike," the president said.

Obama made his case flanked by college students wearing business suits and dresses on a steamy Washington morning in the Rose Garden. The event marked the beginning of a public campaign by the president to extend temporarily current student loan rates or find a long-term compromise to avoid the rate increase.

The event also gave the president a chance to try to move past political controversies that have been dogging his agenda, including investigations into last year's deadly attack in Libya, political targeting at the IRS and secret monitoring of journalists who reported stories based on national security leaks. Obama opened his Rose Garden appearance by touting economic improvements during his presidency.

Obama said rising college debt — more than $26,000 on average for a four-year degree — saddles young adults with debt just as they are starting out and prevents them from buying cars and houses, hurting the economy overall. "That doesn't just hold back our young graduates. It holds back our entire middle class," Obama said.

The White House has proposed linking federal student loan rates to the financial markets. The Republican-controlled House passed a plan last week that would reset student loan rates every year according to financial markets, but Obama has threatened to veto the bill in part because it doesn't lock in current low rates. "The House bill isn't smart and it's not fair," Obama said.

House Speaker John Boehner responded by accusing Obama of practicing "petty partisanship."

"The differences between the House plan and the president's are small, and there's no reason they cannot be overcome quickly," Boehner said in a statement. "But today, rather than working to resolve the issue, the president resorted to a campaign stunt to try to score political points. If the president is truly unhappy with inaction, the only place to look is the Democratic-run Senate, which has taken no action to prevent rates from doubling."

The Senate is scheduled to vote on the issue next week, said Majority Leader Harry Reid. The Senate version would freeze current rates for two years while Congress works on a long-term fix, something the White House says Obama supports.

Obama spoke personally about the power of an advanced degree, saying he and his wife are only in the White House because of their education. "We didn't come from privilege," the president said. He recalled they ended up paying off their student loans only in the past decade, and the payments were higher than their mortgage. "We were lucky. We had more resources than many," he said.

"Higher education cannot be a luxury for a privileged few," Obama said. "It is an economic necessity that every family should be able to afford, every young person with dreams and ambition should be able to access."


Northampton I-91 Exit 19 interchange goes into design phase; work projected to be done by 2019

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Michael Verseckes, a spokesman for the Department of Transportation, said the cost of designing the project has not yet been determined.

Updates a story posted Friday at 11:13 a.m.


NORTHAMPTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is proceeding into the design phase of a plan to reconfigure the Interstate 91 interchange at exit 19.

The plan, called Alternative 13A, features a roundabout at the foot of the ramp coming off the northbound lanes of I-91 and a new, wider entrance ramp off Bridge Street into the southbound lanes. There is no southbound exit in the plan. To get onto I-91 north, motorists will still have to drive down Damon Road to its intersection with King Street.

After a number of public hearings in Northampton, it was determined that a more comprehensive exchange with exits and entrances in both directions would have required too much space and the taking of private property. The Department of Transportation is calling Alterntive 13A “the most cost-efficient, practical and widely supported approach.”

The plan for a new exchange stems from a 1992 study of traffic on Route 9 between Northampton and Amherst. Planners expect a 25 percent increase in that traffic by 2025. The original idea to accommodate the traffic, a second bridge over the Connecticut River, was rejected.

Traffic mitigation in that area is a complicated subject. Currently, cars and trucks must use the entrance ramp on King just north of Damon to get onto I-91 north. That will not change under this plan. Northampton is looking into redesigning the intersection of King and Damon, but has not yet come up with a specific plan. That project would be financed by the state.

In the meantime, a new traffic signal will be installed this year at the point where Industrial Drive intersects with Damon Road. There also are long-term plans to submerge the Norwottuck Rail Trail under Damon Road rather than having trail users cross the road at a signal, which they do now. That features is not part of the Alternative 13A design, however.

Michael Verseckes, a spokesman for the Department of Transportation, said the cost of designing the project has not yet been determined.

“It’s a preliminary step,” he said. “We’re aware that it’s problematical. This is more about the concept.”

The state does not expect the planning and permitting stage to be completed until 2016. Work on the project is currently projected to be done by 2019.

Additional information on the I-91 Interchange 19 project is available on the project website at www.mass.gov/massdot/interchange19.

» Frequently asked questions

» Project documents

I-91 Interchange 19 Improvements, Public Information Meeting With Concept Designs by masslive


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