Quantcast
Channel: News
Viewing all 62489 articles
Browse latest View live

U.S. Rep. Neal calls Pope Francis 'uplifting' in his address

$
0
0

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, is unsure what lasting impact Pope Francis' address will have on Capitol Hill legislators but says the pope received a 'warm" reception and delivered a "substantial" talk.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, is unsure what lasting impact Pope Francis' address will have on Capitol Hill legislators but says the pope received a "warm" reception and delivered a "substantial" talk.

"It was substantial, but not incendiary. I thought the reception was very warm and he pointed out America's strengths," said Neal who hosted Springfield Bishop Mitchell Rozanski as his guest for the talk, and provided tickets for more than two dozen area students to hear the speech from the West Lawn of the Capitol.

All of whom, joined by Rozanski, had pizza in Neal's office after the address.

"I certainly liked the tone," Neal said of Francis' address.

" It was very welcoming. I liked his argument that science very clearly states that the Earth is warming and he highlighted the need for America to lead the way to renewable energies. I liked that he emphasized the idea of young people coming along. That certainly resonated with the group we sponsored.

Neal was he was also "very pleased that he mentioned Lincoln since Lincoln once served in the House. I also like Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day and Martin Luther King Jr."

"I was very pleased with the four references. He is a skilled craftsman at making sure his speech was uplifting. "

Neal said he was within 10 feet of Francis who is the first pope to address Congress.

"I am hard pressed to say that it will soften the tone of deliberations," Neal said of Francis' 60-minute talk, "but I heard enough in the speech to challenge us to address some of the issues that plague the national agenda."

Neal added, "We have come along way from JFK having to explain his Catholicism to a skeptical nation."

"It is hard to believe it was 50 plus years ago that a presidential candidate had to point out that his baptism should not disqualify him to become president and today we certainly gave pause to the idea that America is unity without uniformity as far as religious pluralism," Neal said.

Neal is Catholic as are about 30 percent of the members of Congress. He feels religious views are private, but added that Francis appears to be a good leader for the Church in his pastoral approach.

"I am always careful that religious beliefs are private expression, but not to miss the point that he has put a large sign outside of the Catholic Church that says welcome," Neal said.




News Links: Man gets 'the cooler' after putting child in dryer, 2 arrested after samurai sword video goes online, and more

$
0
0

A 96-year-old woman who was surrounded by trash and lived in near darkness, was recently removed from her Webster home, which has been condemned.

A digest of news stories from around New England.


Warning: Disturbing scenes, foul language


Adam Morton 92415.jpgAdam Morton 
  • New Hampshire man gets 3 years in prison after admitting he put 2-year-old in active dryer [WCSH-TV, NBC6, Portland, Maine] Photo at left


  • 2 arrested after Providence fight video featuring samurai sword goes online [Providence Journal] Explicit video containing foul language above


  • 96-year-old woman removed from trash filled house in Webster [Telegram & Gazette] Video below




  • North Attleboro man, 66, on bike ride to Florida, found dead in North Carolina [Sun Chronicle]


  • Charlestown man, 83, charged with resisting arrest after driving Mercedes-Benz into unoccupied state police cruiser at 2 a.m. on Interstate 95 [Boston Globe] Related video below


  • Melrose man held after police say he kidnapped woman, led state troopers on high-speed chase to Needham while on crack [CBS Boston.com] Video below


  • New Hampshire police search for man who made "chicken noises" when Sears employees say they tried to stop him from stealing 4 drills [Union Leader]


    WFXT-TV, Fox25, Dedham


  • Connecticut couple charged with locking 3 children in trunk of car [NBC Connecticut]


  • Rhode Island teacher suspended with pay after police say he sexually assaulted woman in bar [WPRI-TV, CBS12, Providence ]


  • Maine county sheriff apologizes to 2 lawyers who were asked to remove underwire bras that activated metal detectors in county jail [Bangor Daily News]






  • Springfield police respond to Forest Park shooting with victim

    $
    0
    0

    Police were called to the area of 133 Dickinson St. for a ShotSpotter activation at about 5:55 p.m. Thursday. A male gunshot victim reportedly sustained a wound to the "buttocks area," according to preliminary police reports.

    SPRINGFIELD — Police were called to the area of 133 Dickinson St. for a ShotSpotter activation at about 5:55 p.m. Thursday.

    A male gunshot victim reportedly sustained a wound to the "buttocks area," according to preliminary police reports.

    Multiple patrol units responded to the area to search for the shooter, gather evidence and talk to witnesses. The Dickinson Street location of the shooting is between Euclid Avenue and Keith Street.

    Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call detectives in the Springfield Police Major Crimes Unit at 413-787-6355.


    MAP showing approximate location of shooting:


     

    Medical check ends Fed Chair Janet Yellen's UMass talk

    $
    0
    0

    Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet Yellen Thursday talked about interest and inflation rates in a University of Massachusetts address that ended with her seeking medical attention.

    Yellen's remarks before she ended her speech are reported here.

    AMHERST - Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet Yellen Thursday talked about interest and inflation rates in a University of Massachusetts address that ended abruptly with her seeking medical attention.

    A spokesman for the university said the 69-year-old was fine after being checked out by EMTs and was to continue her schedule which included a faculty dinner at the home of the Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy.

    Yellen was delivering the annual Philip Gamble Memorial Lecture at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall.

    Yellen appeared to lose her place in her speech and said, "I think I'll stop here." As faculty thanked her EMTs rushed up to her and walked with her into a waiting room where she was checked out.

    A statement from the Federal Reserve Board spokesman said: "Chair Yellen felt dehydrated at the end of a long speech under bright lights. As a precaution, she was seen by EMT staff on-site at U-Mass Amherst. She felt fine afterward and has continued with her schedule Thursday evening."

    North Adams solar landfill now powering city buildings, streetlights, skating rink

    $
    0
    0

    The 3.5 MW facility is one of the largest capped-landfill-based solar fields in the state.

    NORTH ADAMS -- This small city in Berkshire County is the latest to install a solar farm on its capped, former landfill.

    At a Sept. 8 celebration, Mayor Richard Alcombright cut an electric cord, instead of a ribbon, on the 3.5 MW solar array. The array, along with two other 650 kilowatt systems, is expected to save local taxpayers $400,000 a year.

    The three systems will offset all the power used by the city's municipal buildings and infrastructure, including City Hall, the library, street lights, schools, and a state-owned, city-operated skating rink, according to the online news site iBerkshires.

    "This will, hopefully, make this city 100 percent solar powered," Alcombright said.

    The city will buy power at a low, set cost through a 20-year agreement with Syncarpha Capital. Borrego Solar will pay $12,000 a year to lease the land for the facility, which covers 14 acres.

    Dan Burgess, deputy commissioner of the Dept. of Energy Resources, was on hand for the event. Massachusetts now has around 900 megawatts of solar, said Burgess, and is aiming for 1,600 megawatts by 2020.

    Sen. Benjamin Downing (D-Pittsfield) said policies begun under former Governor Deval Patrick helped bring the project to fruition. Downing in July introduced an amendment that would lift the cap on net metering; the House will now take up its own energy bill. Net metering allows solar arrays to sell electricity back to the grid.

    Governor Charlie Baker introduced solar legislation in August that would ease the net metering cap by 2 percent, allowing more solar arrays to come on line.  Baker has said he wants to protect ratepayers as well as provide long-term stability to the maturing solar industry.

    The North Adams solar array, one of the largest on a Massachusetts capped landfill, took years to come to fruition, iBerkshires reports.

    Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com

    Fed Chair Janet Yellen 'dehydrated,' abruptly ends UMass talk on interest, inflation

    $
    0
    0

    Yellen's talk came a week after the Fed decided not to raise interest rates in the face of a cooling world economy and lack of inflation at home. The Fed did leave open the possibility of an interest rate hike in a few weeks or months.

    This updates a story first published at 6:57 p.m.

    _________________________________

    AMHERST - Federal Reserve Board Chair Janet Yellen said Thursday that she expects the Fed to raise interest rates later this year and then continue gradual increases thereafter during a University of Massachusetts address that ended with her seeking medical attention.

    A spokesman for the university said the 69-year-old was fine after being checked out by EMTs and was to continue her schedule which included a faculty dinner at the home of Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy.

    A spokesman for the Federal Reserve Board said, "Chair Yellen felt dehydrated at the end of a long speech under bright lights. As a precaution, she was seen by EMT staff on-site at U-Mass Amherst." He confirmed that she planned to continue with her schedule.

    Yellen was delivering the annual Philip Gamble Memorial Lecture at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall. 

    Yellen appeared to lose her place in her speech and said, "I think I'll stop here." As faculty thanked her EMTs rushed up to her and walked with her into a waiting room where she was checked out.

    During her address she said inflation will go from near zero to the Fed's target of 2 percent in a few years.

    Changes in the economy might change her thinking, however.

    "But if the economy surprises us, our judgments about appropriate monetary policy will change," Yellen said during her lecture on inflation.

    Yellen said the time will come soon to raise rates and put the brakes back on the economy before too much money starts chasing too few goods leading to rising prices and inflation.

    "Given the highly uncertain nature of the outlook, one might ask 'Why not hold off raising the federal funds rate until the economy has reached full employment and inflation is back at 2 percent?' The difficulty with this strategy is that monetary policy affects real activity and inflation with a substantial lag," she said.

    That means the real economy is probably changing faster than economists can measure it. If the Fed doesn't raise rates there could be inflation, she said.

    Yellen said inflation is now running at a very low level and it is much more stable than it used to be.

    She also said the labor market has improved despite there still being some slack.

    "The labor market is no longer far away from full employment," she said.

    But the unemployment rate is not a perfect measure. She said businesses still find it easy to hire workers for part-time jobs despite those employees wanting to work full-time. As the labor market improves, companies will have a hard time hiring those folks part-time because they will be able to find full-time work.

    Yellen added context Thursday to the Fed's decision to allow interest rates to stay at historic lows for the time being.

    Financial markets all over the world turned their attention to Yellen's remarks. The event drew financial media from all over the county.

    The talk, rare for a sitting Fed chairwoman, drew 2,000 to the Fine Arts Center Auditorium.

    She also predicted that inflation will hit 2 percent in the next few years as the country returns to full employment and absence price shocks in energy and food. Inflation has been negligible for years since the economic crisis.

    Keeping inflation low, and keeping it stable, is important because rising inflation costs consumers and businesses, Yellen said. In a series of slides, Yellen explained how core inflation,  not counting food and energy, hit nearly 8 percent in the 1970s. It was driven by psychology, oil and food price shocks and overheated labor markets.

    Today, the Fed shoots to keep inflation at about 2 percent. Even during the recovery from the Great Recession, the U.S. economy has not hit 2 percent inflation rate.

    It's averaged 1.25 percent since 2008 and is now essentially zero, she said.

    She said the factors now keeping inflation below 2 percent -- factors like import prices, underemployment and unemployment and falling energy prices -- will not last.

    Yellen doesn't really see that changing soon.

    "Some slack remains in labor markets and the effects of this slack and the influence of lower energy prices and past dollar appreciation have been significant factors keeping inflation below our goal," she said.

    Yellen said the Federal Reserve has a dual mandate from Congress to both foster growth and deliver high employment and keep inflation under check and the buying power of the dollar strong.

    High inflation makes it hard for households, especially people living off savings or pensions. But low inflation makes it hard for central banks like the Fed to battle recessions.

    The Fed can't cut rates below zero. And cutting interest rates to stimulate borrowing and investing is how central banks like the Fed in order to step on the economies' gas pedal.

    Low inflation also makes it harder on debtors, like a couple with a 30-year mortgage finding it harder to make the payments as salaries don't grow.

    Yellen serves as chair of the Federal Open Market Committee, the system's principal monetary policy making body. She took office last year.

    The Gamble lectures have attracted the heavy hitters of the economics world since the lectures were founded in 1995.

    Last year's Gamble speaker was Thomas Piketty, professor of economics at the Paris School of Economics and bestselling author of "Capital in the 21st Century"

    Other speakers have included former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, former U.S. Ambassador to India and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient John Kenneth Galbraith and eight recipients of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, including Elinor Ostrom, the only woman to have won the award.

    Yellen is professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, where she was the Eugene E. and Catherine M. Trefethen Professor of Business and professor of economics and has been a faculty member since 1980.

    Alumnus Israel Rogosa and other family and friends established the lecture series in memory of Philip Gamble, a member of the UMass Amherst economics faculty from 1935-71 and department chair from 1942-65.

    Seen@: Balise celebrates grand opening of new Hyundai dealership in Springfield

    $
    0
    0

    Owner Mike Balise welcomed visitors including elected city officials, business partners and customers.

    With $10 million spent in a few blocks in Springfield's South End, Balise Motor Sales has made a statement. The company is here to do business and invest in the city of Springfield.

    Touching on the legacy of almost a century of commerce in Springfield, Balise Motor Sales held a grand opening of its new Hyundai dealership at 683 East Columbus Ave, in the heart of the city's South End neighborhood.

    The event featured food from popular South End establishments such as Frigo Gourmet Foods and La Fiorentina Pastry Shop. Owner Mike Balise welcomed visitors including elected city officials, business partners and customers. Also in attendance was David Zuchowski, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America.

    The $10 million investment includes the Hyundai dealership, Ready Credit dealership and a new Balise car wash.

    "The city of Springfield is thrilled that Balise chose to make such a significant reinvestment in the South End," Mayor Domenic Sarno said. "They are part of the fabric of this community and we look forward to having them continue doing business here for a long time to come".

    Wall Street drops for 3rd day on concerns about global economic growth slowing

    $
    0
    0

    The Dow Jones industrial average lost nearly 79 points and closed at 16,201.

    By STEVE ROTHWELL

    NEW YORK -- More evidence that global economic growth is slowing pushed the U.S. stock market down for a third straight day on Thursday.

    The market fell sharply at the open, pushing stocks close to their lowest levels of the month, before rebounding during afternoon trading to close with only slight losses.

    Caterpillar, a bellwether for industrial companies, fell sharply after cutting its sales outlook for this year and announcing that it would eliminate as many as 10,000 jobs to cut costs.

    Also, the government reported that orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods dropped in August. A key category that tracks business investment plans was especially weak.

    "We're looking for that good news and we're not getting any," said John Toohey, vice president of equity investments at USAA.

    The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 6.52 points, or 0.3 percent, to 1,932.24. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 78.57 points, or 0.5 percent, to 16,201.32. The Nasdaq composite fell 18.27 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,734.48.

    The market has been in a funk for the past month as investors worry that slowing growth overseas, particularly in China, will hurt U.S. companies. A decision by the Federal Reserve to hold its benchmark interest rate close to zero last week also made investors uneasy.

    Policymakers held the Fed's benchmark interest rate despite an improving job market and a steady economy. Fed Chair Janet Yellen told reporters after the meeting that worries about China and emerging markets were a factor in their decision. Many economists expected that the central bank would instead focus on the health of the U.S. economy.

    Yellen said in a speech late Thursday that she expects the Fed to begin raising interest rates by the end of the year. She also suggested that global economic weakness will not be significant enough to alter the central bank's plan to raise its key short-term rate from zero by December. Her remarks came after the market had closed.

    On Thursday, Caterpillar was the biggest decliner in the S&P 500.

    The company slumped after cutting its 2015 revenue forecast by $1 billion to about $48 billion. Caterpillar also said sales would fall another 5 percent next year. The company said it may eliminate as many as 10,000 jobs between now and 2018. The maker of mining and construction equipment is suffering as a global slump in commodity prices hurts mining companies. The stock dropped $4.40, or 6.3 percent, to $65.80.

    European markets also fell. Germany's DAX dropped 1.9 percent, Britain's FTSE 100 declined 1.2 percent and France's CAC 40 lost 1.9 percent.

    Automakers in Europe are still suffering in the wake of Volkswagen's emissions scandal. While VW's stock closed flat on the day, fellow German carmaker BMW fell 5.2 percent after a report said one of its models had failed a test in Europe. Fiat Chrysler fell 7.5 percent.

    There was some strong earnings news from Nike after the close of trading.

    The sportswear company reported earnings that surpassed analysts' expectations as sales grew. Its stock climbed $8.61, or 7.5 percent, to $123.35 in after-hours trading.

    In commodities trading, benchmark U.S. crude rose 43 cents to $44.91 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, a benchmark for many international oils imported by U.S. refineries, rose 42 cents to $48.17 a barrel.

    Bond prices rose, pushing the yield on the 10-year Treasury note down to 2.12 percent from 2.15 percent a day earlier. The dollar slipped to 120.06 yen. The euro ticked higher to $1.1221.

    The price of gold rose $22.30 to $1,153.80 an ounce. Silver climbed 34 cents to $15.13 an ounce and copper rose 0.7 cents to $2.30 a pound.

    In other futures trading on the NYMEX:

    1. Wholesale gasoline fell 1.6 cents to close at $1.365 a gallon.
    2. Heating oil rose 1.8 cents to close at $1.524 a gallon.
    3. Natural gas rose 2.2 cents to close at $2.591 per 1,000 cubic feet.
    Gallery preview 

    Springfield police: Forest Park shooting victim shot in buttocks

    $
    0
    0

    The shooter was described as a young Hispanic male who was armed with a revolver. He was wearing a black T-shirt and gray shorts and had some type of line on the left side of his head, according to preliminary police reports.

    Updates story posted at 6:40 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24.



    SPRINGFIELD — A teenage victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries after being shot in the buttocks in the city's Forest Park neighborhood Thursday evening, according to authorities, who continue to investigate.

    A 5:55 p.m. ShotSpotter activation brought multiple police units to the neighborhood, where the young male was reportedly shot in the lower back/buttocks region after two groups of teenagers clashed near the corner of Dickinson and Keith streets.

    "Everybody ran off, but one guy was shot," Springfield Police Capt. Robert Strempek told Western Mass News, TV partner of MassLive/The Republican.

    The shooter was described as a young Hispanic male who was armed with a revolver. He was wearing a black T-shirt and gray shorts and had some type of line on the left side of his head, according to preliminary police reports.

    At one point during the investigation, officers went to a Keith Street residence after the suspect was reportedly seen entering that address, but it was unclear if anyone was taken into custody. Ranking police officials did not immediately respond to an email request for information.

    Meanwhile, detectives checked for possible video surveillance of the crime to see if they could get a better ID on the shooter. Investigators were seen exiting a bodega at Keith and Dickinson streets and interviewing potential witnesses outside the store.

    Anyone with information about the shooting can reach detectives in the Major Crimes Unit at 413-787-6355. Anonymous tips may be texted to CRIMES (274637).


    MAP showing approximate shooting location:


    Pope Francis makes first remarks in NYC, tells nuns 'I love you'

    $
    0
    0

    Over 40 hours in New York, the pope will address world leaders at the United Nations, participate in an interfaith service at the Sept. 11 memorial and celebrate Mass at Madison Square Garden. Watch video

    NEW YORK (AP) -- Pope Francis plunged into the melting pot of New York on Thursday after reminding the country of its immigrant origins in the first papal speech before Congress. At an evening prayer service in St. Patrick's Cathedral, he thanked American nuns for their strength and courage in a deeply meaningful acknowledgement of their service following a yearslong Vatican crackdown.

    Over 40 hours in New York, the pope will address world leaders at the United Nations, participate in an interfaith service at the Sept. 11 memorial and celebrate Mass at Madison Square Garden. He will visit a school in Harlem and take a drive through Central Park, part of a whirlwind tour of the Big Apple that got off to a quintessential welcome with a high school brass band serenading him with "New York, New York," on the airport tarmac.

    The popular pontiff received raucous cheers upon his arrival in Manhattan. Thousands of people lined the streets leading to St. Patrick's to greet him, cheering, waving flags and adoringly chanting his name as he gestured toward them from his popemobile. On the steps of the recently spruced up cathedral, dignitaries including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer welcomed him for an evening vespers service.

    Once inside, the pews full of U.S. priests and sisters erupted in applause when Francis told American nuns he wanted to thank them for their strength, spirit and courage and to "tell you that I love you very much."

    It was the strongest expression yet of his gratitude after the Vatican under his predecessor ordered an overhaul of the largest umbrella group of U.S. sisters, accusing them of straying from church teaching. The nuns denied the charge and received an outpouring of support from American Catholics, and the crackdown ended this year, two years early, with no major changes.


    In Washington earlier Thursday, the pope waded into bitter disputes while speaking to Congress, entreating the nation to share its immense wealth with those less fortunate. He urged Congress and the nation to abolish the death penalty, fight global warming and embrace immigrants. Lawmakers gave rousing ovations to the leader of the world's Catholics despite obvious disagreements over some of his pleas.

    After Francis addressed Congress, the first pontiff to do so, he underscored his message by traveling to a downtown Washington church, where he mingled with needy and homeless people, blessed their noontime meal and walked among them while they ate.

    Francis wraps up his visit this weekend in Philadelphia, where he speaks in front of Independence Hall and celebrates Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to close out a big Catholic families rally.

    At the Capitol, the remarkable sight of the pope speaking in the House chamber seemed to delight lawmakers of all persuasions, though he offered an agenda more to Democrats' liking. Besides his focus on climate change and immigration, he denounced arms sales and seemed to allude approvingly to the Iran nuclear deal and recent actions by President Barack Obama's administration to open relations with Cuba, done with his urging.


    MORE: Pope Francis's full address to Congress



    Republicans heard something to like in his references to the sanctity of life and family relations, reminders that even the more open Catholic Church over which Francis presides still condemns abortion and gay marriage.

    For all the spectacle, it seemed unlikely the pope's visit would break congressional inertia on the issues dear to him, with no action in sight from the Republican majority on global warming or immigration.

    But Francis, in his historic speech, appeared determined to remind the United States of its foundations as a country made up of foreigners, addressing the chamber and the American people in personal terms as a son of immigrants to "this great continent."

    "Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated," he said. "Let us seek for others the same possibilities which we seek for ourselves."

    After the address, Francis appeared high on a Capitol balcony and addressed a cheering crowd of thousands of people below.

    "Buenos dias," he called out in the language of his native Argentina and millions of U.S. immigrants, legal and not. "God bless America!"

    The pope's jam-packed tour began last weekend in Cuba and included a White House meeting and a ceremony to canonize America's first Hispanic saint. On Friday, at the United Nations, the pope is sure to make many of the points emphasized in Washington. At the Capitol, the packed House chamber included Supreme Court justices, Cabinet officials and lawmakers of both major political parties, some of whom bowed their heads in deference as Francis walked down the center aisle to approach the dais where presidents deliver their State of the Union speeches.

    "Mr. Speaker, the pope of the Holy See," bellowed the sergeant at arms.

    Behind the pope sat Democratic Vice President Joe Biden and Republican House Speaker John Boehner, the first and second in line to the presidency, both Catholics.

    Francis, in deliberate and accented English, noted that many lawmakers descended from immigrants and the U.S. was founded by foreigners "who came to this land to pursue their dream of building a future in freedom."

    His appeal comes amid the worst refugee crisis since World War II: Europe has been overwhelmed by hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war in Syria and Iraq and widespread conflicts and poverty in Africa. In the U.S., tens of thousands of families and unaccompanied minors from Central America have surged across the southern U.S. border as violence has flared at home.

    For now, Congress has deadlocked on immigration legislation, and the chances for progress have only grown more remote amid the hardline rhetoric of the U.S. presidential campaign.

    Donald TrumpDonald Trump gestures to the crowd gathered in front of the Trump Tower ahead of the passing of pope's motorcade Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Kevin Hagen) 
    Republican front-runner Donald Trump, who watched the pope's New York motorcade from the Trump Tower balcony, has painted Mexican immigrants as criminals and has said he would build a wall along the border and force Mexico to pay for it.

    Francis has called for a more welcoming attitude toward migrants everywhere and has backed that up with a modest welcome of his own: The Vatican recently took in two refugee families and has committed to care for them while they await their asylum applications.

    On another contentious subject, Francis advocated abolition of the death penalty in the U.S., an idea that enjoys support from lawmakers of both parties at the federal level. He spoke out against fundamentalism of all kinds while urging care in combating it.


    RELATED: Pope Francis' wardrobe: From the hat to the shoes



    In calling for action on the climate and to combat poverty, he took care to insist he was not anti-business, as some conservatives have suggested.

    His mention of climate change drew standing cheers from Democrats while Republicans stood to applaud the reference to opposing abortion. Republicans in particular also loudly applauded as he asserted the importance of family life and bemoaned that "fundamental relationships are being called into question as is the very basis of marriage and the family." The Catholic Church opposes gay marriage, recently legalized by the Supreme Court.

    Fordham, Marquette universities rescind honorary degrees they gave Bill Cosby in wake of sexual assault allegations

    $
    0
    0

    Both Jesuit schools said it is the first time they have rescinded an honorary degree.

    By MARK KENNEDY

    NEW YORK -- Fordham and Marquette universities on Thursday rescinded from Bill Cosby honorary degrees amid allegations from women accusing the comedian of sexual assault.

    In Milwaukee, Marquette's Board of Trustees approved a resolution rescinding an honorary degree presented to Cosby in 2013. The degree was immediately rescinded, the school said.

    Fordham's Board of Trustees also voted to take back an honorary doctor of fine arts degree given to him in 2001.

    Both Jesuit schools said it is the first time they have rescinded an honorary degree.

    Cosby admitted having extramarital relationships with several women, including some who now accuse him of sexual assault. He has never been charged with a crime.

    "As a Jesuit university, Fordham could no longer stand behind the degree it had bestowed upon Mr. Cosby, hence this unprecedented action," the New York City university said.

    Marquette President Michael Lovell and Provost Daniel Myers issued a letter to the university community after the vote that said, "By his own admission, Mr. Cosby engaged in behaviors that go entirely against our university's mission and the Guiding Values we have worked so hard to instill on our campus."

    Fordham and Marquette are the latest schools to distance themselves from the comedian, joining Central State University, Temple University and Spelman College.

    Kentucky clerk Kim Davis blames Gov. Steve Beshear for gay marriage woes

    $
    0
    0

    The day the Supreme Court effectively legalized gay marriage in June, Beshear sent a letter to the state's 120 county clerks directing them to issue licenses - a fact that Davis contends meant the "commandeered" county clerk's offices,

    LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, hauled to jail for defying a series of federal court orders and refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, filed a 40-page court document Thursday, blaming Kentucky governor Steve Beshear for all her legal woes.

    The day the Supreme Court effectively legalized gay marriage in June, Beshear sent a letter to the state's 120 county clerks directing them to issue licenses. Davis on Thursday complained that in doing so he "commandeered" county clerk's offices and "usurped control of Kentucky marriage law."

    Davis stopped issuing licenses altogether. Four couples sued Davis, elected clerk as a Democrat, and she filed a counter-suit against Beshear, also a Democrat, alleging that his refusal to exempt religious clerks from authorizing same-sex marriage violated her right to religious freedom.

    Meanwhile, Davis continued to refuse court orders and U.S. District Judge David Bunning found her in contempt earlier this month and ordered her to jail for five days, propelling her to folk hero status among some on the religious right. Davis made the rounds on television news shows this week, pledging to continue her fight against gay marriage.

    Shortly after the Supreme Court's ruling, she and a handful of other clerks asked the governor to call the legislature in for a special session to find a way to accommodate religious conviction. But the governor refused. He told the clerks to either issue licenses or resign.

    "The courts and the voters will deal appropriately with the rest," the governor said.

    Davis' lawyers with the Liberty Counsel, a firm that opposes gay rights, wrote Thursday that warning was "ominous" and suggested that Beshear's directive for clerks to abide by the Supreme Court's decision forced Davis to defy the court and wind up in jail.

    Beshear has asked a judge to dismiss the suit against him.

    Photos: The Big E Midway on a cool Autumn night after the sun goes down

    $
    0
    0

    The Big E Midway is a blur of twisting, turning colored lights on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015 in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

    WEST SPRINGFIELD - The Big E Midway, on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition takes on a different appearance after the sun goes down. Photographs shot Thursday night, Sept. 24, 2015 will attest to that.

    At night, the temperatures get cooler with Autumn here and the crowds get a little smaller. The Midway rides are a blur of twisting, turning colored lights.

    The Big E runs through Sunday, Oct 4, day and night.

    Holyoke police arrest Springfield man for allegedly breaking into bar and cafe

    $
    0
    0

    Samuel Velez, 45, was taken into custody early Thursday morning, Sept. 24, 2015, for allegedly breaking into Susan's Cafe and Elizur's pub, Holyoke Police Lt. Jim Albert said.

    HOLYOKE — A Springfield man was arrested early Thursday morning for allegedly burglarizing a Holyoke cafe and bar.

    Samuel Velez, 45, whose street address was unavailable, was taken into custody shortly after police responded to a 3:07 a.m. burglary report at Susan's Cafe on Hampden Street.

    Officers arrived to find Velez holding a bottle and a pair of gloves near the corner of Thorpe and Hampden streets, according to Holyoke police Lt. Jim Albert. Velez fled the scene but was later apprehended, Albert said.

    Further investigation revealed that Velez stole the cafe's cash register and left it in the rear parking lot after smashing it open, Albert said. Officers also located a broken window and blood stains at nearby Elizur's Pub. Investigators determined that Velez had also broken into the bar, where he broke the cash register drawer and stole a bottle of liquor, Albert said.

    Velez was charged with one count of resisting arrest and two counts of larceny from a building, two counts of nighttime breaking and entering, and two counts of malicious destruction of property over $250. He was held on $5,000 bail and arraigned Thursday in Holyoke District Court.


    China to announce national cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gases

    $
    0
    0

    China is preparing to announce plans to launch a national system to limit greenhouse gases and force industries to purchase pollution credits.

    WASHINGTON (AP) -- China is preparing to announce plans to launch a national system to limit greenhouse gases and force industries to purchase pollution credits, Obama administration officials said Thursday.

    Beijing plans to put the system known as cap-and-trade into place in 2017 as part of measures aimed to address climate change in cooperation with the U.S. and others.

    A joint statement to be released following Friday's summit between President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping aims to flesh out how their two countries plan to achieve targets for cutting emissions set at a bilateral summit in Beijing last year.

    The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity so they wouldn't pre-empt China's official announcement, said it's hoped the announcement will give impetus to a broader global treaty on climate change at a Paris conference in December.

    The announcement will also cover components of the cap-and-trade strategy, including the individual sectors covered under the plan, which range from power production to papermaking, the officials said. Those sectors produce "a substantial percentage of China's climate pollution," one official said.

    Cap-and-trade sets an annual limit on the amount of pollution that can be produced, then requires firms to obtain permission to pollute by purchasing credits from less polluting industries.

    Other parts of China's announcement will include prioritizing low-carbon and efficient electricity production.

    Under last year's groundbreaking agreement, Obama set a goal to cut U.S. emissions between 26 percent and 28 percent by 2025, compared with 2005 levels.

    China, the world's biggest polluter, relies heavily on coal for power generation. It will set a target for its emissions to peak by about 2030 or earlier, after which they would then start falling. That marks an unprecedented step for Beijing, which has been reluctant to be boxed in on climate by the global community.

    The European Union has also said it would cut its emissions 40 percent by 2030, compared with 1990 levels. Taken together, the U.S, China and the EU account for more than half of global emissions.

    Friday's announcement will also commit Beijing and Washington to aligning their views on key negotiating positions at Paris, along with providing greater funding for research and development on low-carbon technologies and financial assistance to help poor countries build low-pollution infrastructure.

    China, one of the world's biggest builders of infrastructure, will also offer a "very substantial financial commitment" to help poor nations transition to low-pollution technologies, the U.S. officials said, without releasing the exact figure.

    Three decades of breakneck economic growth have left China's cities clogged in dense smog and sent cancer rates soaring. That's prompted it to drop its insistence that developed nations bear most of the responsibility for reducing carbon emissions, producing a rare area of cooperation with Washington.

    Lu Kong, the spokesman for Xi's delegation, declined to discuss the joint statement, but said climate change was "an area where China and the U.S. could work together and we did make some good progress in our joint efforts.

    "Maybe this time we could make further progress in demonstrating to the outside world at large that China and the U.S. are committed to further efforts in dealing with climate change in a comprehensive way," Lu said.


    Hillary Clinton to visit Boston for substance abuse discussion

    $
    0
    0

    Clinton will appear with Attorney General Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh.

    BOSTON - Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate and former secretary of state and first lady, will visit Boston next week for a discussion on substance abuse.

    Clinton will appear with Attorney General Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh for "a conversation with the community on substance abuse and its tragic effects on individuals and families," according to a Clinton campaign official.

    Clinton will visit on Thursday, Oct. 1, the same day she attends a Holyoke fundraiser for her presidential campaign, being hosted by Nicole LaChapelle, treasurer for the Massachusetts Democratic Party. The location and time of her Boston visit have not yet been announced.

    Substance abuse has become a major problem in Massachusetts. State statistics show that more than 1,200 people died of opioid overdoses in Massachusetts in 2014. State lawmakers and Gov. Charlie Baker have recently proposed numerous changes to the state's drug laws in order to prevent and treat opioid addiction. Healey has made combatting drug abuse a priority for her, as has Walsh, who has talked openly about his struggle to overcome alcoholism.

    Healey has been an early supporter of Clinton's presidential campaign. Walsh has not yet endorsed a presidential candidate. Healey and Walsh are both Democrats.

    Clinton released a $10 billion plan to combat drug addiction nationally through school-based education programs, increased access to the anti-overdose drug Narcan, expansion of treatment options, training for prescribers, and prioritization of treatment over incarceration for non-violent drug offenders.

    Clinton's most formidable primary opponent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, is planning his own campaign stop in Boston on Oct. 3.

    AG Maura Healey on WMass heroin epidemic: 'We can't arrest our way out of this crisis'

    $
    0
    0

    Attorney General Maura Healey detailed possible solutions to the state heroin epidemic, including preventative education in schools; best practices being used uniformly among painkiller prescribers; and prosecuting the trafficking of Fentanyl, which is now often mixed with the powder form of heroin and is much more lethal. Watch video

    HOLYOKE -- Attorney General Maura Healey promoted a holistic, compassionate approach to heroin addiction treatment at the first Safe Prescribing and Opioid Abuse Conference in Holyoke Friday.

    "Whether you identify a patient who is struggling, or a parent is looking for resources for their child, we need to increase the availability of addiction recovery services in this state and build a true continuum of care," she told the crowd of physicians, social workers, academics and officials at The Log Cabin.

    Healey drove home the link between pain medication use and heroin addiction during her speech. When people get hooked, she said, they often turn to heroin because it's just a fraction of the cost.

    "Studies show that four out of five heroin users started with prescription drugs," she said. "People addicted to prescription painkillers are 40 times more likely to use heroin."

    Last year alone, Healey said, heroin and prescription opioids overdoses were linked to 1,200 deaths in Massachusetts. But those numbers don't paint a full picture, Healey added.

    "They don't tell the story of the family members who have to miss work or quit their jobs to care for a loved one struggling with addiction," she said. "The don't tell the story of the strain on our system - for our first responders, our emergency departments and treatment facilities, our cities and towns."

    "We're all here today because we know we have to do more."

    Healey detailed possible solutions to the state heroin epidemic, including preventative education in schools; best practices being used consistently among painkiller prescribers; and prosecuting the trafficking of Fentanyl, which is now often mixed with the powder form of heroin and is much more lethal.

    She also identified the challenges, including the access of addiction treatment for heroin and painkiller users, and making the Prescription Monitoring Program -- a system in which physicians are now required to log when and to whom they prescribed painkiller prescriptions -- an easier and more useful tool to use.

    The state Health Department is working on a severe lag time in the system, which can be used to prevent patients from "doctor shopping." Some doctors report it takes two weeks before information is updated.

    "But as the Department of Public Health continues its hard work to improve the PMP, we need prescribers to use it," she said. "Why? Because, while it's not perfect, it's the best option we have right now for you to help identify dependence and addiction, prevent doctor- shopping and diversion, and save lives."

    Healey reported that when New York required prescribers to check the state's PMP before prescribing painkillers, the state saw a 75 percent drop in patients who were seeing multiple prescribers to obtain the same drugs. Similarly, Tenessee saw a 36 percent decline.

    Also according to her estimates, 76 percent of Massachusetts prescribers are enrolled in the PMP, but only about half of them have ever logged into the system. Just 25 have even used the over the past year, she said. Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan spoke on the same issue earlier in the day.

    Healey said she's meeting with U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and the Mass Medical Society next week to work on solutions to help prescribers and patients.

    The General Attorney briefly took questions after her speech, although her first answer was interrupted by a fire alarm -- although, it should be noted, there was no fire in the building.

    Cheryl L. Dukes, director of healthcare outreach and community engagement for the University of Massachusetts College of Nursing in Amherst, asked Healey if any resources would be directed toward the end of recovery: jobs and housing included.

    "I think that is something that hasn't been part of this conversation that needs to be addressed," she said. "If you can't afford to feed your family, clothe your family, house your family, you're just having really hard time being in the world and having a good quality of life."

    Healey said Western Massachusetts and Sullivan's office have been ahead of the curve in responding to the heroin epidemic.

    DA Sullivan and I share the view that we can't arrest our way out of this crisis," she said. "We need a holistic approach to addiction that addresses every prong: prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery."

     

    Obituaries today: Caitlyn Powers, 32, formerly of Palmer; tax investigator, killed in New York motorcycle crash

    $
    0
    0

    Obituaries from The Republican

    Caitlyn Powers obit .jpgCaitlyn C. Powers 

    CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. - Caitlyn C. Powers, 32, of Clifton Park, New York, formerly of Palmer, Massachusetts, was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident on Sunday in New York. Born in Boston on June 3, 1983, she grew up in Palmer. She was a diversion investigator for the Drug Enforcement Administration and most recently worked as a criminal investigator for the state of New York's tax department.

    To view all obituaries from
    The Republican:


    » Click here

    Gov. Charlie Baker to attend Saturday dedication ceremony for First Sergeant Kevin A. Dupont Memorial Middle School in Chicopee

    $
    0
    0

    The Saturday, Sept. 26, ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the school, which is at 650 Front St. Dupont, a Chicopee native, died in 2009 from wounds suffered in the Afghanistan conflict.

    CHICOPEE — Gov. Charlie Baker is scheduled to attend a dedication ceremony for the First Sergeant Kevin A. Dupont Memorial Middle School at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26.

    The public is invited to attend the ceremony and afterward tour the Chicopee school at 650 Front St. Baker is expected to arrive around 9:45 a.m., according to his office.

    In May, the Chicopee School Committee voted to name the school after Dupont, a city native and 1976 graduate of Chicopee High School.

    Army Sgt. 1st Class Dupont, 52, died June 17, 2009, from third-degree burns and other injuries from an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan on March 8, 2009. He was a member of the Massachusetts Army National Guard.


    Philly Congressman swipes, sips from Pope's water glass, report says

    $
    0
    0

    U.S. Rep. Bob Brady took Pope Francis' water glass from the podium after he spoke to Congress and took it back to his office to sip.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A Philadelphia Congressman is making headlines after reports came in Friday that he grabbed a water glass used by Pope Francis during his remarks to the Joint Session on Thursday, and took it back to his office to take a sip. 

    IMG_4808.JPGPhiladelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, left, Congressman Bob Brady address the media during an evening press conference in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, Wednesday, May 13, 2015. Brady is making news for taking a sip from Pope Francis' water glass after he spoke to Congress on Sept. 24, 2015. (Joe Warner | For NJ.com)
     

    According to an ABC News report, U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, a devout Catholic, approached the podium while the Pope was walking out after he spoke, and took the glass of water. 


    MORE: 5 things you need to know about getting around Philly during Pope Francis' visit


    Brady, a Democrat who represented Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District, then brought it back to his office, where he, his wife and members of his staff took sips from it. 

    A representative for Brady told ABC that Brady has "immense respect" for Pope Francis and will be attending his events in Philadelphia on Saturday and Sunday. 

    Michelle Caffrey may be reached at mcaffrey@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @ShellyCaffrey. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

    Viewing all 62489 articles
    Browse latest View live


    Latest Images

    <script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>