The Bay State's economy is expected to grow at a moderately robust pace during the next six months or so with a rate of growth of 3.3 percent expected in the fourth quarter of 2017 and 3 percent in expected the first quarter of 2018.

Robert J. Barre will remain in the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow until a November court date, a judge decided on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017 after a dangerousness hearing on the man who prompted a lockdown of City Hall on Oct. 13.

HOLYOKE -- Robert J. Barre will remain in the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow until a November court date, a judge decided Friday after a  dangerousness hearing on the man who prompted a lockdown of City Hall.

A pre-trial conference will be held on Nov. 21 for Barre, 25, of an apartment at 21 Davis St., Assistant District Attorney Joan O'Brien said.

Barre was arrested on Oct. 13 at his home on gun, explosive and vandalism charges after City Hall staff reported he had been acting suspiciously earlier that day. He had phoned the mayor's office twice that day and then entered City Hall and requested names and addresses of political candidates and entered, left and re-entered offices, according to police reports.

A check of his Facebook page showed images of bullets, Confederate flags, "skinhead" and "white boy," and after police ordered staff to remain in City Hall offices and searched City Hall and City Hall Annex with no sign of Barre, they visited his home.

Barre consented to a police search of his upstairs apartment. Police found an unlicensed pistol sitting on the arm of a couch, two Molotov cocktails and the floor littered with needles and hundreds of small empty plastic bags like those used to carry heroin, according to police reports obtained at Holyoke District Court.

An open can of white paint with a brush dipped in was found on the front porch of Barre's home and he admitted painting white graffiti at Roberts Field at Holyoke High School and Fitzpatrick Skating Rink, according to police reports.

The dangerousness hearing was held in Holyoke District Court before Judge Maureen E. Walsh, O'Brien said. Documents related to the hearing were unavailable from the court clerk's office late Friday afternoon.

Barre denied the following charges at his arraignment in Holyoke District Court on Oct. 16: two counts of tagging property; two counts of malicious destruction of property of over $250; being in possession of a firearm without a license; two counts of possession, transportation, use or placement of incendiary devices; and weapons stored or kept by owner -- inoperable by any person other than owner or lawfully authorized user.

Under work to rule, school staff will limit their workdays to the hours required by contracts that expired in July.

CHICOPEE -- Over 1,000 city educators on Monday will begin limiting their workdays to the hours required by contracts that expired in July, in a "work to rule" protest aimed at moving labor talks forward.

Charles Clark, president of the Chicopee Education Association, said Friday the organization had polled its members, who agreed to the work-to-rule action.

"We're hoping that by working to rule the absence of all the extra things teachers do will be apparent," Clark said.

Those extras, Clark has said, include arriving early to do extra planning, staying late to tutor students, attending meetings outside regular work hours and spending out-of-pocket money on classroom supplies. 

"Nobody wants to disrupt services to students," Clark said. "That is not our intent."

Under work to rule, high school and middle school staff will restrict their hours to 7:26 a.m. to 2:18 p.m. Elementary school staff will work only from 8:30 a.m. to 2:48 p.m.

The Chicopee Education Association represents bargaining units that include teachers, guidance counselors, speech, occupational and physical therapists, paraprofessionals, secretaries and other education professionals.

Negotiations stalled in February, when the city's School Committee and school administrators called for mediation. 

Clark said sticking points in the talks include his organization's calls for "art, music and play" for all elementary school students; updated textbooks; better work conditions, including air conditioning in school buildings; and wages that keep pace with inflation.

The School Committee has offered teachers a 2 percent raise over a four-year contract.

The East Longmeadow Police Department will participate in a national drug take-back day on Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

EAST LONGMEADOW -- The East Longmeadow Police Department will participate in a national drug take-back program for people looking to get rid of unused pills.

The take-back will be held at the East Longmeadow Police Department, 160 Somers Road, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is sponsoring the event.

Only pills will be accepted. The disposal program does not include service for liquids, needles, syringes, lancets or chemotherapy drugs.

Past events have garnered as much as 1,000 pounds of expired and unused medication collected for proper disposal, according to the Police Department.

Three other Hampden County police departments will also take part in the drug take-back program, according to the DEA. Those include the Springfield Police Department, the Ludlow Police Department and the Holland Police Department.

View obituaries from The Republican newspaper in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The defendant made no attempt to avoid the cruiser, making the ensuing crash the result of "malicious intent," Assistant District Attorney Cary Szafranski said.

SPRINGFIELD -- A Springfield motorist is being held on $10,000 bail after allegedly ramming a police cruiser and injuring two officers Thursday.

Robert Hernandez, 20, pleaded not guilty Friday in Springfield District Court to two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (vehicle) and five related charges after allegedly crashing head-on into a cruiser around 5:30 p.m.

Hampden Assistant District Attorney Cary Szafranski said police pursued Hernandez for about 15 minutes as he ran red lights and stop signs in the Old Hill neighborhood.

City narcotics detectives conducting surveillance on Fort Pleasant Avenue spotted Hernandez driving away in an unregistered and uninsured vehicle, the prosecutor said. He refused to stop for police, and a passenger who later bailed out of the vehicle was seen throwing a bag of white powder out the window, Szafranski said.

The chase ended when the defendant's Lexus SUV crashed into an oncoming cruiser, leaving two officers with minor injuries. Hernandez jumped from his vehicle and was captured minutes later, Szafranski said.

Hernandez made no attempt to avoid the cruiser, making the crash the result of "malicious intent," she said. Both officers were treated at Baystate Medical Center and released.

Szafranski asked for $20,000 bail, citing the new charges and Hernandez's criminal record, which includes arrests in two cases of armed robbery with a firearm. He also has charges pending in Florida, the prosecutor said.

Defense lawyer Meredith Ryan asked for $2,000 bail, with GPS monitoring and a curfew.

"That ($2,000) is all he can afford," Ryan said.

Hernandez was born in the Springfield area and lived here most of his life, according to Ryan, who said he works for a construction company.

Judge John Payne set bail at $10,000 and continued the case to Nov. 17.

A Northampton area activist group will hold a farewell celebration next week, as it prepares to close its doors after 49 years of operations.

NORTHAMPTON - The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) of Western Massachusetts in Northampton is closing after 49 years of area activism, and will be holding a farewell ceremony next week, the group stated Friday.

The celebration will be held next Wednesday at the First Churches of Northampton on Main Street. 

"For almost five decades, AFSC's Western Massachusetts program has been fostering a culture of resistance and striving for justice," said Jeff Napolitano, former director of AFSC. "We're coming together to celebrate its past work, and look forward to an era of new work." 

The AFSC was founded in 1917 as a quaker organization. It consisted of conscientious objectors working to alleviate the violence of WWI. After the war, AFSC soon grew into a national organization with chapters throughout the country. 

Local activist Frances Crowe founded the local AFSC chapter in 1968 as a response to the Vietnam War.

Crowe, who is now 98-years-old, is still an active protester. She was arrested in June during a protest against the Kinder Morgan pipeline being constructed in Otis State forest in Sandisfield. She was also the recipient of an honorary degree from Smith College in 2015 for her years of activism. 

Throughout its history as an organization, AFSC has continued to be active in local protests and organizing. This year its member participated in a number of staged protests throughout the valley, many of which have targeted the Trump administration and its approach to 

Though it may be shutting its doors, the work of AFSC will live on in a new organization.  

Napolitano will continue the work of AFSC as director of a new organization called The Resistance Center for Peace and Justice, the group announced earlier this year.

The Resistance Center plans to act as a resource for activists, and hopes to continue the work of addressing the "ills perpetuated by a culture of militarism and economic oppression in the United States," according to its website.  

Speakers at Sunday's event will include a number of local activist and organization members, including Crowe and Napolitano, Maya Winfrey, Jo Comerford, Doug Renick, Raul Matta, Rev. Dr. Adele Smith-Penniman, and a umber of others others.

The ceremony will also include live music from a number of local bands, including the the Raging Grannies, Khalif Neville, Peter Blood and a number of others. 

Refreshments will also be served. 

The event will occur from 2-3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the First Churches of Northampton located at 129 Main Street.    

The nine fighters were credited with saving the lives of seven residents.

HOLYOKE - The Holyoke Fire Department on Friday held an awards ceremony, celebrating 10 firefighters exemplary actions over the past year, including nine who were involved combatting the three-alarm apartment building on New Years Day.

The fire, reported that day at just before 9 a.m., destroyed the 4-story apartment building. It was caused by an electrical malfunction.

Three people died and 49 were left homeless. 

The nine firefighters recognized were credited with seven people.

I've very proud of the Holyoke Fire Department," said Chief John Pond. " As citizens, you don't understand what you have in this city. The fire department is very professional, very well trained, and ready to respond 24/7, seven days a week."

The awards given out in response to actions battling the fire at 106 North East St. included two Walter Scott Awards, two medals of valor, two medals of merit, and three medals of commendation.

Mayor Alex Morse presented each firefighter with their awards.

"None of you were looking for special recognition or honors, and that is why it is important for us as a community to come together to recognize your service," Morse said. 

"What happened on Jan. 1 was a tragic day for many in our community, and if it weren't for the men and women in the Holyoke Fire Department, it would have been worse," he said.

The Walter Scott Award is the highest honor awarded by the department, and is given to firefighters who display heroism in saving lives while at great risk of their own."

The ceremony, inside the truck bay of fire department headquarters, was attended by more than 200 people. In addition to awards, the ceremony also including pinning ceremonies for recent promotions and the swearing in of 10 firefighter recruits.

Pond noted at the start of the award ceremony that any commendations are not given out by him, but by the department's award committee.

The committee, made up of fire personnel, reviews incident reports and conducts interviews of those involved to determine if awards should be given.

"They are selected by their peers. It's they who determine who receives the awards," Pond said.  "In essence, this is respect shown from within the ranks of the fire department."

Selected for the Walter Scott Medal were firefighters Philip  Brian Kraus and Anthony Deroy. The two firefighters, assigned to Ladder 1, were credited with using the truck's aerial ladder to rescue seven people from the 3^rd and 4^th floors as the fire raged.

Each was praised for quick thinking, professionalism and taking a great risk "without regard for your own safety," Pond said.

"If you've seen the video, you've seen a firefighter on the very tip of a ladder rescue seven people," Pond said. "That is a true act of heroism."

Receiving the Medal of Valor were Capt. James Cadigan and firefighter Lawrence Jackson. Members of Engine 1 entered the burning building with a water line in search of anyone inside. The act was called outside the performance of duty and at great risk of life.

Firefighters Daniel Spafford and James Tourigny were awarded the medal of merit for their work in as the engine operators for Ladder 1 and Engine 1.  Each was cited for an "exceptional response, proficiency and composure."

 Selected for Medals of  Commendation were Deputy Chief David O' Connor, alarm room operator William Dziok.

O'Connor was the incident commander for the Jan. 1 fire, and was credited with calling in second and third alarms while heading to the scene because he could see the heavy smoke. He was also cited for his command and leadership at the scene.

Dziok was honored his work as the fire department dispatcher during the fire and for the calm demeanor and communication skills on the radio.

A third Medal of Commendation was awarded to firefighter James Lapointe for his quick thinking and EMT proficiency in saving the life of a citizen who was stricken at fire headquarters. Lapointe was off duty at the time and was visiting the station at the time and swung into action when needed.

Firefighter David Rex was given the distinguished service medal.

Promoted:

Deputy Chief - Anthony Cerrutti

Captain - Kevin Cavagnac

Lieutenant - Luis Izquierdo, Matthew Wolanczyk, Michael Boucher, Raymond Ortiz, Philip Briand Kraus

Superintendent  - Joseph O'Connor

Assistant Superintendent - William Dziok.

Sworn in as firefighting recruits:
Dennis Gobeil, Sean Kelly, Brennan Struthers, Kevin Dansereau, Francisco Medina, Travis Wells, Thomas Spafford, Christopher Brackett, Joshua Jimenez, and Jose Fernandez. 

Dozens of businesses gave out candy and welcomed families to celebrate Halloween together in an effort organized by the Westfield Boys & Girls Club.

WESTFIELD - Monsters lurked, creatures creeped and bite-sized superheroes saved the city from evil Friday night at the annual Downtown Trick or Treating, now in its 24th year.

Dozens of businesses gave out candy and welcomed families to celebrate Halloween together in an effort organized by the Westfield Boys & Girls Club.

Kimberly Hatch and Alex Liptak took 18-month-old Tristan Liptak for his first official trick-or-treat experience. The family dressed in matching panda costumes with face paint.

"I'm huge on Halloween. I look forward to it all year," said Kimberly Hatch, a photographer trying to find time for family fun as the busy holiday season approaches. "This is convenient. It worked out with our schedules, so we were able to make it happen."

Organizers said the free 4 p.m. event was for everyone in the city, but it's great for families with young children because it creates lifelong memories.

Business owners love the festivities, as well. This year's participants included several shops on Elm Street and at Westgate Plaza, numerous banks, restaurants, churches and community groups like Westfield on Weekends.

From left: Kimberly Hatch, Tristan Liptak and Alex Liptak of Westfield.Brian Steele, The Republican 

Basia Belz, owner of Vivid Hair Salon & Spa at 99 Elm St., kept the doors open far past the usual Friday closing time of 3 p.m. She said she was excited to spend some time with her neighbors, and to see all the costumes.

"Today I saw so many faces that I knew, and I get to meet their kids. Maybe I only saw pictures (before)," she said. "I've given out six huge bags of Costco candy, and we're down to our special reserves."

Vivid had the good stuff, too: full size candy bars.

Belz said she seizes any opportunity to interact with the community. That's not hard, considering how many events happen downtown.

"If you think about it, our street is blocked off quite a bit," said Belz. "I love being involved."

The Westfield Police Department got involved, too. Officers at the Community Police Resource Center introduced themselves to families as part of their mission to get to know the people they serve.

Patrolman Stephen Gonglik said the center at 71 Elm St. is "basically an outlet that allows people to speak with us without having to go to the station."

"We're all about establishing a bond with the people of the community. We're here for them," said Gonglik. "That's why the door's open."

The center is typically open Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The officers can help connect people with social services if necessary.

Halloween is next Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Find out where unneeded prescription medication can be dropped off Saturday.

NORTHAMPTON - The city of Northampton will participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, said Mary Carey, spokesperson for the Northwestern District Attorney's Office. 

States have viewed prescription take-back days as a possible alleviating measure in the fight against the opioid crisis.

Saturday will allow residents of Hampshire and Franklin counties to dispose of unwanted or unneeded household drugs. 

"If by having unsecured drugs in our homes we could inadvertently be contributing to the current opioids crisis, we can be part of the solution by  locking drugs up at home and properly disposing of unwanted ones," Carey said. 

Over half of people age 12 or older who have misused pain medication have stated they received it from either a friend or relative, according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services administration. 

"Let's get these drugs out of circulation and help prevent addiction from taking hold in our communities," said Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan.

The take-back is scheduled to occur from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28. 

Anyone in Northampton wanting to dispose of unwanted prescription medication can bring the drugs to Smith Voke at 80 Locust Street. 

Other locations for Hampshire County include: 

Amherst: Wildwood Elementary. 

Belchertown: Town Common, Park Street. 

Cummington: Police Department, 8 Fairgrounds Rd.  

Easthampton: Public Safety Complex, 32 Payson. 

Goshen: Police Department, 40A Main Street. 

South Hadley: Police Department, 41 Bridge Street.  

Southampton: Town Hall, 210 College Highway. 

Williamsburg: 49 Main Street.  

Worthington: Transfer Station, 64 Huntington Road.  

Drop boxes for disposal will be available at each location. 

Kim Lee, a spokeswoman for CHD, said more than 500 registered for "Through Her Eyes," an annual human services conference focused on issues pertinent to girls and young women including a workshop centering on sexual harassment prevention.

SPRINGFIELD -- Although it was scheduled months before a series of high-profile sexual harassment scandals exploded in the media, a workshop on prevention offered as part of a human services conference Friday couldn't have been more timely.

The workshop was one of more than 20 focusing on girls and young women offered during "Through Her Eyes," an annual conference hosted by CHD, the area's largest human services provider, and Cambridge College.

The event drew hundreds of social services workers to the MassMutual Center and other nearby office space, melding networking, vendors and workshops on a variety of topics centering around the mental, physical and social well-being of girls.

Presenter Gemini Murray, a former corrections worker, teacher and consultant, led a 90-minute discussion on the myriad personas sexual harassment can take on, including unwanted advances, groping, catcalling and outright assault. Despite the intense focus on movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, political commentator Bill O'Reilly and others as of late, sexual harassment of both males and females has proliferated, thanks in part to technology, Murray said.

"Texting, sexting, tweeting, emails ... (have become as common) as jokes, taunting, whistling and jeering," she told her audience.

An avalanche of actresses and former employees have gone public in the wake of parallel New York Times and New Yorker stories featuring a handful of accusers detailing harrowing but consistent tales of harassment by Weinstein. The fallout caused Weinstein's own company to fire him. Meanwhile, accusations of outright rape in New York and London prompted the mogul to retreat to "sex addiction" treatment.

The scandals have sparked millions of "#metoo" social media posts catching fire internationally.

Murray argued that sexual harassment is less about sex and more about power and dominance. Many attendees agreed.

Murray cited statistics about college students including that 82 percent in one poll reported either experiencing or witnessing sexual harassment. Another poll by a Brandeis University researcher produced estimates that 400,000 part-time high school-age employees are sexually harassed annually.

"I don't feel terribly optimistic about the landscape right now," one attendee remarked. "But I think these discussions are important so we can think about it from the ground up."

During the discussion, many offered troubling anecdotes about children in grade school and middle school -- including "boys will be boys" examples such as bra-snapping and instances of girls threatening boys with "gay rumors" if they were simply unresponsive to their advances.

Ruinous outcomes from school and workplace sexual harassment are widespread, including fear, anxiety, decreased productivity, avoidance of responsibilities, plummeting self-esteem and psychosomatic physical symptoms.

In a corporate setting, fallout from sexual harassment also can be costly. Aside from the Weinstein scandal, complaints against ousted American Apparel founder Dov Charney helped to bankrupt the once-successful trendy clothing company.

Sitting presidents also have not been immune to sex scandals. The Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal nearly cost Clinton the White House.

The day-long conference also included workshops on self-care, family counseling, substance abuse, supporting LGBTQ youth and reproductive health care.

The keynote speaker was Linda Edgecombe, a noted motivational speaker billed as having a "non-BS approach" and author of "Breaking Busy: Finding Peace in the Chaos."

CHD spokeswoman Kim Lee said more than 500 registered for the event.

A 32-year-old man was found unresponsive in his crashed car in Arlington Friday afternoon. Police believe he had overdosed on opioids while driving.

ARLINGTON -- Arlington police and firefighters resuscitated a man they believe overdosed on opioids while he was driving Friday.

In a written statement, Arlington police said officers and firefighters responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Mystic Valley Parkway and River Street just after 1 p.m. Friday to find a crashed car and the 32-year-old male driver not breathing and unresponsive.

Police administered Narcan, an anti-overdose drug, and with firefighters used an automatic defibrillation unit and CPR. After a second dose of Narcan, the man regained consciousness and was sent to a local hospital breathing on his own.

A change would let the hospital go before the Planning Board instead of the Zoning Board of Appeals, a less cumbersome and often friendlier process to applicants.

WESTFIELD - The City Council has set a date for the final public hearing on the proposed medical zoning district around Baystate Noble Hospital.

The council will hear public comment on the plan on Thursday, Nov. 2, at 5:45 p.m. The special meeting will take place in City Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall, 59 Court St., prior to the regularly scheduled meeting.

The hospital on West Silver Street is in a residential zone, and it is considered a non-conforming use. Any proposed modifications must be approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

A zone change would let the hospital go before the Planning Board instead, a less cumbersome and often friendlier process for applicants. Neighbors are worried, though, that permitting could become too lenient, and they want the hospital on a shorter leash.

Last week, the council voted to correct an error in the public hearing process. The hearing was inadvertently left often for several weeks too long, making Thursday's final hearing necessary.

After public comment, the hearing will close and the council will be free to vote.

The Holyoke, Massachusetts Parks and Recreation Department's "Halloween Monster Bash 2017" takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017 at Holyoke Heritage State Park, 221 Appleton St.

HOLYOKE -- "Monster Bash" -- it is coming.

On Saturday, the Holyoke Parks and Recreation Department's "Halloween Monster Bash 2017" takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. at Holyoke Heritage State Park.

"This family friendly event includes: Haunted House at Heritage visitors center, crafts, music, dancing, photo booth (bring camera), parade and costume contest," a press release said Friday.

The cost is $3 a child.

The event takes place rain or shine.

The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round and Children's Museum, which are located in the park between Appleton and Dwight streets, both will be open, the press release said.

On Tuesday, the annual trick-or-treating will be held in City Hall and City Hall Annex from 10 a.m. to  4 p.m., the press release said.

SPRINGFIELD -- For the third year, the Springfield Police C3 Forest Park Unit hosted a Halloween party and "trunk or treat" at the Holy Name Social Center Friday night. Hundreds of kids took part in the trunk or treat, filing past cars parked in the parking lot with their trunks or hatches open and receiving candy from the owners...

SPRINGFIELD -- For the third year, the Springfield Police C3 Forest Park Unit hosted a Halloween party and "trunk or treat" at the Holy Name Social Center Friday night.

Hundreds of kids took part in the trunk or treat, filing past cars parked in the parking lot with their trunks or hatches open and receiving candy from the owners of the vehicles.

The C3 unit has hosted a variety of community events including National Night Out, holiday parties as well as Easter events along with this Halloween tradition.

Inside the gymnasium at the social center, the ghosts and goblins were treated to pizza, popcorn, cake and of course more candy. A disc jockey kept the party moving, as awards were given out for the best costumes.

It is the efforts like this that give members of the C3 unit a chance to interact with the public, especially the younger members of the community, as they attempt to forge a bond that will remain in place as the years go by.

An assistant district attorney for the Cape and Islands district was issued a public reprimand for misconduct after the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers found she violated ethical standards in one case.

BOSTON -- An assistant district attorney for the Cape and Islands district has been issued a public reprimand after the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers found she violated ethical standards, the Cape Cod Times reported. 

Laura Marshard has been a prosecutor on Martha's Vineyard for many years, the board noted at its hearing in May and June of this year.

In September 2016, the Office of the Bar Counsel filed a complaint with the BBO charging Marchard with three separate ethical offenses.

After an eight-day hearing, the BBO found Marshard responsible for one complaint, meeting with a represented witness to discuss immunity from prosecution without informing his court-appointment attorney. 

The court-appointed attorney was specifically charged with advising the witness on his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.  

To the other charges, that Marshard failed to disclose exculpatory evidence to an opposing defense attorney and that she failed to correct false testimony before a grand jury, the BBO found that even though Marshard questioned a witness and never informed the defense attorney of the conversation or its contents, no new evidence was gleaned from the interview. The BBO felt that Marshard's failure to correct false testimony to a grand jury was simply a mistake, that she didn't know the testimony was incorrect.

Normally, such reprimands are issued privately, but the BBO stated in its finding that  Marshard's misconduct was "willful and intentional, not accidental or peripheral," and that she  showed a "lack of candor" during her testimony before the hearing.

Plans were prepared Friday for anyone charged to be taken into custody as soon as Monday,

A federal grand jury in Washington, DC, on Friday approved the first charges in the investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller. 

Plans were prepared Friday for anyone charged to be taken into custody as soon as Monday, CNN reported.

It is unclear what the charges are since the charges are still sealed under orders from a federal judge. 

Mueller's office declined to comment on the CNN report.

After President Donald Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey, Mueller was appointed in May by the Justice Department to lead the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Sen. Richard Burr, R-North Carolina, and vice chairman Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, recently endorsed the conclusions of American intelligence agencies that Russian President Vladimir Putin directed a campaign of hacking and propaganda to disrupt the 2016 presidential election.

In July, the FBI conducted an early morning raid at former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort's northern Virginia home, and later subpoenaed his spokesman and one of his former lawyers.

In recent days, Mueller has faced calls from conservative critics for his resignation from the Russia collusion probe, citing  his ties to FBI and Comey.

However, other Republicans have sought to protect Mueller from interference.

Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., back legislation hat would ensure a judicial check on the executive branch's ability to remove a special counsel.  

A New Bedford man, being held as a dangerous person in two arson cases, saw seven more arson charges filed after investigators found evidence of he set fires dating back three months. Jose DeBrito will be arraigned in New Bedford District Court.

NEW BEDFORD - A New Bedford man being held as a dangerous person on two arson charges, will see seven more arson charges leveled in New Bedford District Court.

Jose DeBrito, 30, was ordered held without the right to bail October 19 after he was charged with setting two occupied homes on fire.  No one was injured in either fire.

After a joint investigation conducted by New Bedford Police and Fire departments and the state Fire Marshal's Office, sufficient evidence was developed to charge DeBrito with setting seven additional fires over the course of three months. 

Investigators said the suspect poured gasoline on the doors or windows of buildings, then set them on fire. In many of the incidents, the targets were occupied homes set ablaze in the late night or early morning hours.

DeBrito would many times stay near the fire to watch it burn, investigators alleged.   

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Saturday the threat of nuclear missile attack by North Korea is accelerating. Watch video

SEOUL, South Korea -- U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Saturday the threat of nuclear missile attack by North Korea is accelerating.

In remarks in Seoul with South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo at his side, Mattis accused the North of illegal and unnecessary missile and nuclear programs -- and vowed to defeat any attack.

Mattis said the North engages in "outlaw" behavior and that the U.S. will never accept a nuclear North.

He added that regardless of what the North might try, it is overmatched by the firepower and cohesiveness of the decades-old U.S.-South Korean alliance.

"North Korea has accelerated the threat that it poses to its neighbors and the world through its illegal and unnecessary missile and nuclear weapons programs," he said, adding that U.S.-South Korean military and diplomatic collaboration thus has taken on "a new urgency."

"I cannot imagine a condition under which the United States would accept North Korea as a nuclear power," he said,

As he emphasized throughout his weeklong Asia trip, which included stops in Thailand and the Philippines, Mattis said diplomacy remains the preferred way to deal with the North.

"With that said," he added, "make no mistake -- any attack on the United States or our allies will be defeated, and any use of nuclear weapons by the North will be met with a massive military response that is effective and overwhelming."

Mattis's comments in Seoul did not go beyond his recent statements of concern about North Korea, although he appeared to inject a stronger note about the urgency of resolving the crisis.

While he accused the North of "outlaw" behavior, he did not mention that President Donald Trump has ratcheted up his own rhetoric. In August, Trump warned the North not to make any more threats against the United States, and said that if it did, it would be met with "fire and fury like the world has never seen."

Song, the South Korean minister, told the news conference that he and Mattis agreed that limits on South Korea conventional missile warhead payloads would be lifted. He offered no specifics.

Also discussed were the conditions under which South Korea would be given wartime operational control of its forces. Currently, if war with the North broke out, the South's forces would operate under the U.S.-led U.N. Command.

White House debates presidential visit to demilitarized zone along North Korean border

Trump entered office declaring his commitment to solving the North Korea problem, asserting that he would succeed where his predecessors had failed. His administration has sought to increase pressure on Pyongyang through U.N. Security Council sanctions and other diplomatic efforts, but the North hasn't budged from its goal of building a full-fledged nuclear arsenal, including missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland.

If Trump sticks to his pledge to stop the North from being able to threaten the U.S. with a nuclear attack, something will have to give - either a negotiated tempering of the North's ambitions or a U.S. acceptance of the North as a nuclear power.

The other alternative would be U.S. military action to attempt to neutralize or eliminate the North's nuclear assets - a move fraught with risk for South Korea, Japan and the United States.

At his Seoul news conference, Mattis said the North is, in effect, shooting itself in the foot.

"If it remains on its current path of ballistic missiles and atomic bombs, it will be counterproductive, in effect reducing its security," he said.

The North says it needs nuclear weapons to counter what it believes is a U.S. effort to strangle its economy and overthrow the Kim government.

This was Mattis's second visit to South Korea since taking office in January. He made a point of going to Seoul and Tokyo on his first overseas trip in February, saying he wanted to emphasis the importance he places on strengthening alliances and partnerships.

On Friday he visited the Demilitarized Zone that forms an official buffer between the two Koreas. He appeared there with Song in what they both called a show of solidarity.

U.S. government officials for decades have confidently but mistakenly predicted the approaching collapse of North Korea, given its economic and political isolation.

Twenty years ago, Mattis's predecessor five times removed, William Cohen, said as he peered into North Korea from inside the DMZ that its communist system was "decaying and dying." His view was widely shared in Washington, but, like others, he underestimated the resilience of Pyongyang's family dynasty, which began with Kim Il Sung. The current ruler assumed control of the country shortly after his father, Kim Jong-Il, died in December 2011, and has accelerated the country's nuclear and missile programs.

-- By Robert Burns, AP national security writer

A debate is raging between Massachusetts optometrists and ophthalmologists over a bill that would let optometrists offer more care to patients.

BOSTON -- Is there a better way to provide access to eye care, particularly in places where eye doctors are scarce?

A debate is raging between Massachusetts optometrists and ophthalmologists over a bill that would let optometrists offer more care to patients.

The current system, says Matthew Forgues, president of the Massachusetts Society of Optometrists, "reduces access for patients and increases costs for the whole system."

The proposed change, responds Mitchell Strominger, vice president of the Massachusetts Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, would be "extremely dangerous."

Several bills were introduced in the state Legislature this session to expand the scope of practice for optometrists. A version was included in Gov. Charlie Baker's budget proposal, but not in the final version of the state budget. A version is also included in the state Senate's health care cost containment bill, which is still pending.

Optometrists go to optometry school and are trained to do vision exams, prescribe glasses and contact lenses and detect certain eye diseases. Ophthalmologists are doctors who have been through medical school and are trained to diagnose and treat eye diseases.

The bill would let optometrists treat glaucoma and other eye abnormalities by prescribing eye and oral medications.

The optometrists say they are asking for permission to treat glaucoma using eye drops and to treat sties or other issues with oral antibiotics. The bill would not let optometrists do invasive surgical procedures, prescribe opioids or administer certain types of injections.

Every other state except Massachusetts allows optometrists to treat glaucoma, supporters of the legislation say.

The Department of Justice's Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission issued a statement in 2016, in response to a request from Massachusetts House Minority Leader Bradley Jones, R-North Reading, encouraging Massachusetts lawmakers to consider expanding the services that optometrists can provide to glaucoma patients. 

Forgues said in places like Western Massachusetts there are fewer ophthalmologists than in the Boston area, which means longer wait times and delayed treatment. He argued that letting optometrists prescribe eye drops would ensure more timely treatment.

He said optometry schools, including the two in Massachusetts, already teach students to recognize and treat glaucoma.

The optometrists estimate that the cost to Massachusetts Medicaid of requiring a patient who is already seeing an optometrist to then be referred to an ophthalmologist for treatment is $20 million a year.

Michael Purdy, chief clinical and community service officer for the Hilltown Community Health Center in Huntington and Worthington, is an optometrist who previously worked in New Orleans and Arizona.

"In those states, treating glaucoma was part of our everyday routine," Purdy said. "It seems very restrictive and inconvenient for our patients when they come into clinics here in Massachusetts."

Purdy said in places like the hilltowns, patients do not like to travel too far and finding transportation can be a challenge. There are not always ophthalmologists who treat glaucoma near where someone lives.

"Passing the bill would break down barriers to care for marginalized communities," Purdy said. He added that it would also help any state resident who does not want to take time off work and pay a co-pay to go to a second appointment.

But ophthalmologists say the language of the bill is overly broad. For example, it could allow optometrists to do injections into the eye, to conduct laser procedures or prescribe antibiotics.

Strominger, an ophthalmologist and professor of ophthalmology, said these procedures could be dangerous to a patient and could cause vision loss if done incorrectly. Someone prescribing oral medication needs to understand the underlying disease and know how the medicine would interact with other medications a patient is on. He said optometrists are not trained in any of these areas.

"The extent of what optometrists can do in the other 49 states is not what this bill is about," Strominger said. "This bill is much more extensive."

Ophthalmologists have far more training in all of these areas, and have the expertise to know how to treat glaucoma, which can be a complicated disease, he said.

Asked whether ophthalmologists would support a bill that was written more narrowly, to bring Massachusetts in line with other states that let optometrists prescribe eye drops for glaucoma, Strominger said, "We'd have to look at it and see exactly what they wanted."

So far, Strominger said, the optometrists have not approached the ophthalmologists to work out a compromise bill.

The bill has passed the Senate multiple times but never made it through the House.