Holyoke Medical Center Weight Management Program is screening candidates for Allurion Technologies U.S. study of its Elipse Gastric Balloon.

Natick-based Allurion Technologies has developed a swallowable gastric balloon and is seeking patients for a clinical study of the device.

Holyoke Medical Center Weight Management Program is screening candidates in this area of the country to try the device, which is marketed under the trademark "Elipse."

Those interested in the study must have a Body Mass Index of 30 or over, which is consider in the obesity range.

Allurion hopes the device, which is temporarily placed in the stomach to take up space and expelled naturally after four months, will be approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States. The system, which differs from other gastric balloon devices as it does not involve endoscopy surgery for placement or removal, and is not permanent as some forms of bariatric surgery are for weight loss, was approved for marketing in Europe in 2015.

A board certified bariatric surgeon who founded HMC's weight management program in 2016, Dr. Yannis Raftopoulos said his program is one of 12 sites involved in the U.S. study, what he said is a randomized controlled one, and the only site in the Northeast.

Raftopoulos has already placed the device in patients in Greece, and participated in a European study for it funded by Allurion.

He was one of two lead investigators in that 2015 study, involving some 34 patients in the Czech Republic and Greece, and whose results he presented at a number of conferences both in this country and abroad.

Raftopoulos said that study, which was not randomized controlled, showed the device to be "safe and effective" and resulted in "no serious complications."

"We only observed usual and expected side effects after placement such as nausea, occasional vomiting, reflux and cramps which usually resolved in three to four days," Raftopoulos said.

He said the device's novelty is that it "requires no anesthesia, sedation, endoscopy or surgery."

"The balloon is packaged into a small capsule and is swallowed with some water under Xray. It is filled with water (through a thin delivery catheter that is then removed). The placement takes 10 to 14 minutes. It works by occupying a space in the stomach resulting in less appetite and increased satiety," Raftopoulos said.

"The balloon has a release valve with is programmed to open at 16 weeks allowing the balloon to empty from the water and pass in the stool. If required it can be punctured endoscopically and be removed without difficulty. I had to remove it prematurely and electively in one patient who was not able to take enough fluids and nutrition three weeks after placement."

Raftopoulos described what the balloon is made from as a "patented multi-layer material strong enough not to dissolve from the gastric acidity and flexible enough to be able to be packaged within a small capsule. It's 85 percent thinner than existing balloons," Raftopoulos said.

The FDA approved a system from Obalon Theurapeutics, which uses a gas-filled balloon and does not require endoscopy for placement in September 2016.

ReShape Medical's Integrated Dual Balloon System and ORBERA Intragastric Balloon System, manufactured by Apollo Endo Surgery, received FDA approval, in 2015, for their gastric balloon systems that require endoscopy for placement and removal. Both were subjects of recent FDA alerts.

Raftopoulos said there is an "extensive list of inclusion and exclusion criteria."

"A patient must be between 22 to 65 years old and have a Body Mass Index of 30-40," he said.

"They will be monitored by me and the (weight management) program's nutritionists once a month for a year. They must be committed to follow."

He sees this type of ingestible gastric balloon system as "beneficial for patients who are not qualifying for bariatric surgery, patients who do not want surgery, patients who need to lose substantial weight before surgery" and the fact this type of temporary surgery "can be repeated."

"I have three patients in Greece who repeated the treatment and one of them reached a normal weight already," Raftopoulos said.

Criticisms that such therapy is a temporary fix is why, Raftopoulos said, that he constructs it in Greece "to include an intensive followup for 12 months with me and in a form of a group with a nutritionist and psychologist."

"In addition each patient is provided with a special scale/body composition analyzer connected through an app with their smartphone and can send me measurements weekly. This remote followup has been very successful," Raftopoulos said.

"So far I have patients who are over a year out and all have maintained all weight lost. Don't forget also that weight gain can occur with surgery also if there is no proper and structured follow up."

Allurion also conducted a small trial led by Roberta Ienca, a researcher in experimental medicine at Sapienza University in Rome, that involved 42 patients -- 29 men and 13 women.

The findings were presented at the 217 European Congress on Obesity in Porto, Portugal.

The system has received press in some of Europe's larger media outlets.

Anyone interested in participating in Allurion's U.S. study and seeing if they may qualify, needs to visit balloontrial.com.

Malek Bosmond and Akieli Brown are charged in connection with Dec. 20 shooting that sent one man to the hospital with a wound to his leg.

BELCHERTOWN -- The case against two 24-year-old Amherst men charged in a shooting in Amherst last month has been continued to Feb. 23 after the prosecutor told the judge the case would be presented to a Hampshire Superior Court grand jury within two weeks.

Malek Bosmond is charged with assault and battery with a firearm, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm within 50 feet of a building following a Dec. 20 shooting that sent one man to the hospital with a wound to his leg.

Co-defendant Akieli Brown faces a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (metal pipe) in connection with the alleged attack.

At a hearing last month, Bosmond's lawyer, attorney Alfred Chamberland, questioned whether his client was even at the Mill Valley complex at the time of the attack. The victim said the shooter was about 5-foo-4-inches tall -- but Bosmond is over 6-feet tall.

At Thursday's bind-over hearing, Chamberland reiterated that fact and asked that the charge of assault and battery with a firearm be dismissed.

He said that while his client was released from custody after a dangerousness hearing, and a GPS monitoring bracelet is preventing him from visiting his children in New York among other restrictions.

"There are very significant restrictions on his life," he said.  He opposed the continuance and wanted the hearing held as planned Thursday.

Katherine Callaghan, Brown's lawyer, said her client was not charged with the shooting and asked that the charge against her client be dismissed as well.

Judge Patricia Poehler denied the motions to dismiss and told Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Matt Russo this would be the only continuance.

The victim, who was visiting his stepson at the apartment complex, told police he did not know either man.

Russo told the court last month that both men had visited the apartment before and hung out.

On Dec. 20, he said the two men had gone there to fight the victim's stepson, who was there visiting his girlfriend.

"Mr. Brown and Mr. Bosmond were looking for a fight," he said.

A Leominster woman accused of stealing $325,000 in Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits was arrested Wednesday and charged in a Boston federal court.

A Leominster woman accused of stealing $325,000 in Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits was arrested Wednesday and charged in a Boston federal court.

Joyce Progin, 70, was indicted on two counts of theft of public funds and released after appearing in federal court.

Authorities said from November 2009 through March 2017, Progin stole approximately $55,267 in Social Security benefits. She is accused of stealing $269,978 in benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs from November 2009 through November 2017, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The U.S. Attorney's Office did not describe how Progin allegedly stole the funds. Court records also do not detail how the alleged thefts occurred.

James Avila will be arraigned on the charge Feb. 15 in Eastern Hampshire District Court.

NORTHAMPTON - A Hardwick man is being charged with vehicular homicide in connection with an incident last summer in Ware in which a trash truck went off the road and killed a man doing yard work.

The office of Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan said on Thursday that James Avila, 48, is charged with negligent motor vehicle homicide in the death of Stephen F. Peters on July 20. 

Peters, 62, of Hardwick, was working in the yard on Church Street in Ware when the trash truck that Avila went off the road and hit him.

Avila is due to be arraigned Feb. 15 in Eastern Hampshire District Court.

The crash was investigated by Ware Police, Massachusetts State Police Detectives Unit assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney's Office, the state police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and Crime Services and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section.

Peters worked for 27 years as the school psychologist at the Shepherd Hill Regional High School in Dudley, according to his obituary. The obituary also mentions that in his free time, he enjoyed landscaping in his yard.

The Carando building at Worthington and Taylor streets in downtown Springfield is being demolished in phases. In 2012, it was among numerous buildings damaged by a natural gas explosion. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD -- Demolition work is advancing at the Carando Building at Worthington and Taylor Street, which had been damaged in a downtown gas explosion more than five years ago.

Peter Carando III, a family representative, said that demolition is occurring in phases and one section of the building on Taylor Street is not being razed at this time.

The owners, who are listed as Dino, Ramon and Peter F. Carando Jr., expect to seek a tenant for the remaining building, and the demolished area will be cleared and used for parking, Carando III said.

Charlie Arment Trucking was hired for the demolition work.

A natural gas explosion occurred on Worthington Street in November of 2012, injuring 21 people including 13 firefighters and two police officers, and causing millions of dollars in damage. It was triggered when a Columbia Gas employee accidentally punctured a gas line while probing a leak.

One building, Scores Gentlemen's Club on Worthington Street, was leveled by the explosion shortly after it was evacuated. Several other buildings were severely damaged and some still sit vacant a half-decade later. 

But some developments in the blast zone have shown promise for that section of downtown Springfield. Davenport Companies of Boston, purchased the former Willys-Overland Motor Co. building at 151 Chestnut St. and plans 60 apartments renting at about $1,000 a month along with around 6,000 square feet of retail space.

The SilverBrick Group also recently purchased the former Springfield YMCA at 122 Chestnut St. for $4.8 million, which currently houses 99 apartments. The Manhattan-based company already owns 280 apartments at SilverBrick Lofts in downtown Springfield, having bought the former Morgan Square Apartments on Main Street in 2014 for $9 million.

Michael Alan Crooker, 64, of Southwick, is suing TSA, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI to get taken off the 'Terror No Fly List.'

SPRINGFIELD -- A hearing is set in U.S. District Court today for a Southwick man suing three federal government agencies over his firing from a job as an airport shuttle driver because of his placement on the "Terror No Fly List."

Michael Alan Crooker has filed three lawsuits in connection with his firing as a curbside shuttle driver for LAZ Fly in September.

Crooker, 64, was charged in connection with weapons of mass destruction-related offenses in 2007. He later pleaded guilty to lesser charges including threatening a federal prosecutor and possession of a toxin, ricin, without registration. 

He was released from prison in 2017 and went job hunting. Over the summer, he landed a job as a shuttle driver with the private company to bring travelers from satellite lots outside Bradley International Airport in Connecticut to the curbsides outside various airlines.

Crooker has argued in voluminous court filings that a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) official green-lighted his employment when a U.S. Probation officer inquired about its appropriateness. But, he says, an administrator with the Connecticut Airport Authority later banned him from the property altogether, alerting all employees of the airport to Crooker's spot on the "Terror No Fly List" maintained by the FBI.

Crooker argues this is a violation of his constitutional rights and has asked a federal judge to order an immediate erasure of his name from the list to restore his job. To complicate matters, no one will confirm whether Crooker is even on the list, which is supposed to be classified.

He is suing TSA, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. 

Thursday's hearing will take place before U.S. District Judge William G. Young, who typically sits in Boston.

The hearing was initially set for last week until assistant U.S. attorneys asked for more time to respond to Crooker's motion, arguing they were understaffed and hobbled by the government shutdown.

The request drew a stringing response from Young in the public court record.

"The hearing will be continued to Thursday, February 1, 2018. There will be no further continuances. This motion ought embarrass the Office of United States Attorney," Young wrote.

He continued: "Consider: A citizen commences an action against federal officials seeking immediate equitable relief. Citing staffing shortages, the Office says it cannot respond. More embarrassing, the office seeks to take refuge in the government shutdown. Even in Puerto Rico which is in a form of bankruptcy, equitable actions proceed timely against Commonwealth officials."

The Republican will be in the courtroom and provide updates on the proceedings.

After a lengthy discussion about the proposed spending plan for fiscal year 2019, the Board of Selectmen has approved budget parameters established by town financial officials that call for a 2 percent increase in personnel salaries and no increase in general fund expenditures.

LUDLOW -- After a lengthy discussion about the proposed spending plan for fiscal year 2019, the Board of Selectmen has approved budget parameters established by town financial officials that reflect a contractually obligated 2 percent increase in salaries and no increase in general fund expenditures.

The fiscal 2019 budget isn't expected to change much from the $66.3 million fiscal 2018 budget approved at town meeting in May 2017. The proposal represents less than a 1 percent increase over the current general fund budget and a 1.5 percent increase in the school budget, according to Town Accountant Kimberly Collins, who said the goal is to minimize the use of free cash.

"The effort is to lessen our reliance on free cash as a budgeting source of funds," she told selectmen during a recent discussion on setting budget parameters.

As town officials prepare to finalize the plan, awaiting state and insurance numbers, this year's budget-making process has been tweaked a bit, according to Town Administrator Ellie Villano.

"We are, for the first time ever, preparing the budget for the departments and handing them the budget based on what the parameters are," she said during the discussion. "They then have to put their budget into the system, review it, make the changes that they feel are necessary, and go in front of the Finance Committee to justify any changes that need to be made to their budget."

In essence, it comes down to giving department heads a sense of "where we think their budgets should be," Villano said, adding that the town has been "cutting back as much as we can."

That includes "taking a hard stance on no new positions, no changes, no increases, no extraordinary expenses unless it's of an emergent nature," she said.

Funded positions that become vacant will be filled, but otherwise the town will not be hiring any new employees, according to finance officials.

Selectman Brian M. Mannix, known for being a fiscal watchdog, said he believes the town is "going in a terrible direction" and needs to learn how to do more with less.

"We need to tighten things up. We need to change things. We may need not to do so many things at one time," he said.

Maureen K. Downing, chairwoman of the Ludlow Finance Committee, defended the spending plan, calling it a "lean and tight" budget that creates parameters to avoid cutting labor costs. 

"I think this is a fair and moderate budget," Downing said. "It is doable. I truly believe that anything less than this, we are looking at layoffs."

The students have been studying the history and philosophy of democratic government with teacher Kelley Brown.

BOSTON -- "Greek and Roman history has revealed that thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero thought that although democracies may begin well, they tend to end in tyranny. What was Aristotle's thinking about different forms of government? Which did he prefer, and how might his ideas have influenced the Framers of the Constitution?"

No cheating. Go. Your classmates are depending upon you, and a team of judges are listening and taking notes.

An academic team from Easthampton High School fielded a series of such questions Saturday to win the statewide "We the People" competition, prevailing over top schools across Massachusetts.

The event at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston tested knowledge and understanding of the history, evolution, and philosophy of constitutional government -- or as Abraham Lincoln put it, government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

The 21 students, under the guidance of history and government teacher Kelley Brown, will head to Washington, D.C. at the end of April to compete on the national level, and are now raising money to help pay for the trip.

"These young people are so incredibly knowledgeable about government and the Constitution," said Brown. "It makes me hopeful for the future."

Many had taken advanced placement American history with Brown before enrolling in her class on the U.S. Constitution. "We the People" is a project of the California-based Center for Civic Education, and offers a challenging, in-depth curriculum. 

"We knew that the class was going to be hard," said student Chantel Duda. "But Ms. Brown is an incredible teacher."

Students debate core issues of constitutional democracy

In Boston, students from around the state responded to questions about First Amendment rights, immigration, the powers of the judiciary, and enlightenment political philosophy. Federalism, the Bill of Rights, English common law, the Declaration of Independence, and the Articles of Confederation were all on the docket.

Back in Easthampton, Brown's students were hard at work on Wednesday and said they were preparing for the nationals.

Duda said debates held at the 1787 Constitutional Convention led to the government structure that we know today. Should the powers of the chief executive be invested in a three-person panel, or a president? How should "proportional representation" be defined? Should there be one branch of Congress, or two?

"William Patterson introduced the New Jersey Plan, which called for a single representative body, but Edmund Randolph's Virginia Plan for a bicameral legislature was adopted by the Philadelphia convention, and then modified," Duda said.

Student Carlie Raucher chimed in. "The Connecticut Compromise led to the creation of our modern House and Senate. It's interesting that Randolph proposed the Virginia Plan, but then declined to sign the constitution."

Students were eager to discuss a range of issues.

Shane O'Donnell spoke of Aristotle's philosophy of government and how it informed the 18th-century debates over federalism.

"Aristotle believed that small, homogeneous communities were ideal for democracy," he said. "That view was expressed by the anti-federalists. The federalists, on the other hand, believed in the importance of a strong central government."

"I understand the desire to create a safe learning environment," she said. "But restricting speech teaches students to block out points of view that they don't agree with. It detracts from the educational mission, it shelters students too much, and does nothing to strengthen civil discourse."

Student Ryan Bragg concurred. "We see efforts to block hate speech," he said. "But speech restrictions can lead to concentrated power in the hands of government," he said. "For instance, look at what's happening in Turkey."

Brown said the "We the People" competition gives a much-needed venue for hard-working students to shine. "It's been a major commitment for them," she said. "You should have seen their faces when the winners were announced in Boston."

In order to travel to Washington and stay in a hotel, the 21 students must raise around $35,000, said Brown.

"I know we can do it," she said. "That's $35 from a thousand people. And I want people to know -- If we're going to ask the community for financial support, we must take our responsibility to represent Massachusetts and Easthampton very seriously."

Over the course of the semester, two local lawyers -- Nancy Sikes and Steve Linsky -- helped students with their coursework. Tim Wood, a student teacher from Springfield College, provided classroom support. State Rep. John Scibak, D-South Hadley, met with the class, as Sen. Donald Humason, R-Westfield.

"We've been given an incredible foundation," said Raucher. "Regardless of where I go with my education, I'll be a better citizen for having taken this class."

Those who wish to help finance the Washington trip may make a check out to Easthampton High School and send it to EHS, c/o Kelley Brown We The People, 70 Williston Ave., Easthampton MA 01027.

A live bullet was found inside the boys locker room at Hopkinton High School on Thursday, prompting school officials to end classes for the day and dismiss the student body.

A live bullet was found inside the boys locker room at Hopkinton High School on Thursday, prompting school officials to end classes for the day and dismiss the student body. 

"We were notified this morning that a single round of ammunition was found in the boys team room," wrote school Principal Evan Bishop, in a message to staff and parents. "Immediately, local Police and fire were contacted and our Crisis Response Team was convened."

No weapons were found in the building, Hopkinton Police Department said in a press statement on the events. 

"We have no reason to believe that a weapon was actually on school grounds," the statement added. 

A variety of Massachusetts State Police and investigators responded to the school Thursday after the find. No further information was immediately available, and school is expected to resume as normally scheduled Friday. 

Pelosi said in Cambridge that releasing the memo would be "dangerous and reckless for our country."

CAMBRIDGE -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, on Thursday called for the removal of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-California, over a controversial Republican memo.

Pelosi said releasing the memo would be "dangerous and reckless for our country."

Nunes and his staff wrote and are planning to release a memo alleging abuses by the FBI and Justice Department in obtaining a warrant on a former foreign policy advisor to President Donald Trump.

Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee voted to release the memo, but Trump has the final say. The FBI and Justice Department oppose the release, and the FBI has raised concerns about its accuracy.

Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, have both called on House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, to remove Nunes.

Democrats oppose the memo's release, saying it is misleading and meant to undermine the independent investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Trump and alleged Russian interference in the election.

Pelosi, speaking to reporters in Cambridge after an event related to tax policy, said the memo is false, but contains enough facts to damage U.S. intelligence sources.

"They're putting out a bogus memo that is not true but alluding to certain facts that are damaging," Pelosi said. "That's why the Justice Department and FBI have said this is dangerous and reckless and should not be done."

"It's not based on fact, but it does reference highly classified intelligence matters," Pelosi said. "Now we see it's altered to make matters worse."

Democrats have produced their own classified memo, but the Republicans who control the Intelligence Committee voted to only release the Republican one. Pelosi said Democrats should have a chance to clarify what the Republicans are misrepresenting.

"How can you say Republicans should release their memo but Democrats can't release theirs?" Pelosi said. "It doesn't make any sense. It makes sense only if you understand this is a cover-up by the Republicans to protect President Trump in this investigation."

Pelosi said she sent the letter to Ryan because she believes Nunes should no longer be in his post, and she hopes Congress will not release the memos.

"They should let the Mueller investigation proceed based on facts and law," Pelosi said.

Spanish is the first language for 17 percent of families with children in Amherst schools. "That doesn't capture (the numbers) who don't have children in the schools," said Health Director Julie Federman.

AMHERST - While 73 percent of the town is white, the number of Spanish speakers is growing, said Health Director Julie Federman.

Amherst "is an international community. (There are) so many different types of people," she said. There is a large group from El Salvador as well as Puerto Rico.

Spanish is the first language for 17 percent of families with children in Amherst schools. "That doesn't capture (those) who don't have children in the schools," she said.

And many of those people who speak little or no English don't know where to get services they might need that are already available to help them, she said.

With $54,000 of a $60,000 Town Meeting appropriation for social services, the town is looking to establish a Latino community food program. The town has issued a request for proposals with a deadline of Feb. 13.

"When we look at food access (it) is a real issue, getting to a grocery store, getting to an affordable grocery store can be really challenging," Federman said.

The program would give people that access. In some cases, people might not know where to go, an issue that could be addressed by making more information available in Spanish or other languages, she said.

Part of the grant is to help assess the need and to look at why people aren't using available programs, such as meals at the Amherst Survival Center, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as food stamps, and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. Federman said people might feel there's a stigma attached to asking about services, but may be more responsive to information in their own language.

The town won't create new programs but look at "how we move forward to expand what we already have," she said.

Officials want to "come up with materials that aren't time-sensitive," she said. They want them to be "culturally appropriate, making our community more accessible for folks whose English is not their first language."

Federman said Amherst is a caring community but a bifurcated one. She said about 50 percent of the population is highly educated with access to housing and health care and unaware of those who don't have it. The other half isn't sure how government works and is less visible.

About 44 percent of the Amherst schools population receives free or reduced lunch.

Authorities are investigating a Cape Cod wellness studio for sex crimes after police say there have been repeated reports of illegal sex acts.

Authorities are investigating a Cape Cod wellness studio for sex crimes after police say there have been repeated reports of illegal sex acts. 

Yarmouth police said the Zen Wellness Studio, located at 1247 Route 28 at the corner of Pond Street in South Yarmouth, is currently under investigation by police and several local and state officials for operating without an occupancy permit and "repeated reports of illegal sexual acts." 

No arrests have been announced.

A grand opening announcement for the studio was listed on Backpage.com on Dec. 21. The advertisement offered "Best Asian Style Session offered for your relaxation and therapeutic need." 

"There are several of these types of locations in other communities on Cape Cod and throughout Massachusetts," police said. "According to state and federal officials, there are over 7,000 of these type of business located all across America which try to remain hidden in the community and accessed by people using the Internet."

Bruce Jenks hasn't come up with the flavor yet he wants Bassetts Ice Cream in Philadelphia to make with a Patriots' victory over Philadelphia in Super Bowl LII Sunday. Watch video

HADLEY -- Maple Valley Creamery owner Bruce Jenks hasn't yet come up with the flavor he wants Bassetts Ice Cream in Philadelphia to make if the New England Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII on Sunday.

He wants that company to work a little bit, and he and his Maple Valley Creamery staff are still thinking.

Jenks has made a friendly Super Bowl wager with Alex Bassett Strange, who runs Bassett Ice Cream.

Jenks said if the Eagles top the Patriots, he will make a green mint Oreo at Strange's request to honor Philadelphia's green jerseys. Maple Valley Creamery staff also will wear Bassetts jerseys.

A Patriots win means Bassetts staff will wear Maple Valley jerseys in addition to scooping the to-be-determined Patriots-themed ice cream.

Last year, when the Patriots took on the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI, Jenks searched the internet for ice cream makers in that city and engaged Morelli's Gourmet Ice Cream in a bet. He said that had a good outcome -- the Patriots' 34-28 overtime victory -- so he decided to try it again this year.

Two weeks ago, after the Eagles won, he found Bassetts.

Strange said that after Jenks reached out to him, he knew the bet was going to be a success. "Of course the Eagles will win, did you see our game against the Vikings?" he wrote in an email.

The Eagles beat the Minnesota Vikings, 38-7, in the NFC Championship game Jan. 21.

Morelli's, at Jenks' request, made a vanilla raspberry swirl with blueberries for a red, white and blue Patriots-themed ice cream. He doesn't want the same celebratory flavor this year.

Whoever has to make the ice cream will get to work first thing Monday morning so the special flavors will be in the stores that day and be on the shelves or being scooped for two weeks, Jenks said. 

NBC 10 in Philadelphia, meanwhile, lists this wager as one of the six goofiest bets involving the two regions over the game.

"Ultimately this was a fantastic opportunity to connect with another ice cream company and have some fun," Strange said. "After all, that's what this business is about. I hope you are ready for Eagles Oreo Mint!"

The ceremony will be inside the newly completed building, which is located behind the Blunt Park pool.

SPRINGFIELD -- The public is invited to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday morning at the new Raymond A. Jordan Senior Center at Blunt Park.

The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. at the park at 1780 Roosevelt Ave.

Those expected to attend include: Mayor Domenic J. Sarno; U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield; Helen R. Cauton, commissioner of health and human services; Peter J. Garvey, director of capital asset construction; Patrick J. Sullivan, the director of parks, buildings and recreation management; and retired former state Rep. Raymond A. Jordan, after whom the building is named.

The ceremony will be inside the newly completed building, which is located behind the Blunt Park pool.

Upon returning to work from a five-day unpaid suspension, Lt. Alan Borowski was stripped of his previous job directly supervising the detective bureau. His is presently the day supervisor of the patrol division and retains his rank of lieutenant.

NORTHAMPTON -- A high-ranking Northampton police officer found to have violated department policies has filed a grievance after he was placed on unpaid leave for five days.

Lt. Alan Borowski came under scrutiny last year after he improperly accessed the police department's public drug drop off box, officials said previously. Borowski, who had been in charge of the detective bureau, was placed on paid leave during the investigation. After its conclusion he was docked five days pay and reassigned as day shift supervisor.

Borowski's attorney, Thomas Kokonowski, confirmed the grievance but declined to comment further. "I will have plenty to say after the grievance process is resolved," he said Thursday.

Meanwhile, recently released internal affairs investigation documents show Borowski violated other department policies by, among other things, calling in sick to take his girlfriend for a boat ride and driving her to dinner in his cruiser.

Chief Jody Kasper previously refused to release the documents, saying they were exempt from public records laws and citing "negative consequences to the successful operations of our police department and ultimately our ability to serve the public."

The state's Supervisor of Public Records, Rebecca S. Murray, recently ordered the chief to release the reports.

One internal affairs investigation was headed by Northampton Police Capt. Dorothy Clayton, who found that Borowski provided false records and disparaged a commanding officer in front of other staff.

Borowski's negative "comments revolved around the supervisor not being competent ... as well as having poor decision making skills. ... Borowski was encouraging people to write negative comments about this supervisor on the department climate survey," the Clayton report said.

It does not specify who Borowski was speaking about, but the lieutenant has only three superior officers: Clayton, Kasper and Capt. John Cartledge.

"Several employees relayed that Borowski would drive his girlfriend to dinner in his cruiser, while off duty. When interviewed, Borowski stated one time he drove his girlfriend to dinner in his cruiser while off duty," the Clayton report said.

"It was reported that Borowski had gone out on his boat after calling in sick and that a picture was taken showing his truck parked at the Oxbow and his boat slip being empty," the report said. Borowski said "he did go out on his boat one time while on a sick day when his girlfriend got out of work at 3 p.m."

Staff accused Borowski of ill-treatment, of losing his temper and raising his voice. Borowski said he did not recall raising his voice.

"During interviews conducted with past and present employees several instances were reported where Lt. Borowski lost his temper and made inappropriate comments and interactions that caused undue stress to affected department members," the report said.

Through a spokesperson, Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz declined to comment on the report's findings.

Clayton's investigation was in addition to one conducted by an outside firm. It began after the police department received an anonymous letter in August.

"Since you don't have a freaking clue about what actually goes on inside these 4 walls, here is a hint for you," the letter said, according to the newly released documents. "Check the camera that eyes the drug drop box around the time that the overdose occurred" involving someone whose name is redacted.

The drug box investigation was conducted by a private firme, APD Management Inc., of Tewskbury, and focused on the drug box matter. APD is owned by former Tewskbury Police Chief Alfred P. Donovan. Donovan was paid $3,130.

Kasper in November provided a written summary of the APD report's findings.

Some of the APD documents themselves, which were also released recently, show Borowski removed narcotics that had been given to him by a friend or acquaintance, who had gotten them from another friend or acquaintance who at the time was being investigated by the regional drug task force. Their names were redacted.

Borowski placed 11 oxycodone pills in the drop box, the documents show, then removed and placed them in the department's evidence room with a note saying they were to be destroyed.

The report says Borowski failed to fill out a written log that would have shown he removed the pills, and that he failed to inform his superiors about the drug investigation.

Borowski's actions "may have provided the appearance of preferential treatment," the Donovan report said.

"Furthermore, had criminal proceedings resulted from the investigation a credible challenge to the chain of custody of the Oxycodone pills may have been presented which could have prevented their admission as evidence," the report said.

According to city records, Borowski was Northampton's second highest paid employee for the fiscal year that ended June 30, at $138,686.90.

Clayton report on Lt. Alan Borowski by The Republican/MassLive.com on Scribd

APD report on Lt. Alan Borowski by The Republican/MassLive.com on Scribd

Adam Bartlett, 39, was convicted of armed robbery and other charges from a 2015 robbery of a Chicopee pharmacy.

SPRINGFIELD -- A former Hadley police officer told a Hampden Superior Court judge Thursday that his 2015 arrest for a drug store robbery and 60-mile high-speed chase saved his life.

Judge Daniel A. Ford sentenced Adam Bartlett, 39, to a total of three and one half years in jail and three years probation. Ford agreed at the defense's request to recommend Bartlett serve the sentence at the Hampshire County Correctional Center.

A jury convicted Bartlett Monday of armed robbery, attempt to commit a crime, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest and failure to stop for police.

Bartlett worked as a Hadley patrolman from 2005 until he resigned for personal reasons in 2013. 

Both Bartlett and his lawyer David G. Mintz detailed for the judge Bartlett's struggle with addiction to opioids, which began with prescribed painkillers. Bartlett demanded opioids when he went into the Rite Aid pharmacy on Sept. 25, 2015.

Now, he credits his arrest with saving his life.

That arrest came after he and his wife at the time, Rebecca Bartlett, led police on a chase from Chicopee to Framingham that ended when the couple ran out of gas.

Adam Bartlett went into the pharmacy while Rebecca Bartlett waited in the car outside. She drove during the chase.

A pharmacy employee unlocked the safe and grabbed three bottles. Each contained a tracking device and about 25 placebo pills rather than real opioids.

Rebecca Bartlett, 42, pleaded guilty in November and was sentenced by Judge Mary-Lou Rup to two and a half years in the Western Massachusetts Regional Women's Correctional Center in Chicopee, plus three years probation.

Adam Bartlett, who cried through some of the sentencing hearing, said he has been amazed by the support from his family, the Phoenix House treatment program and other addiction recovery groups.

In the courtroom were about two dozen people including family, Phoenix House staff and others who Bartlett said have helped him in recovery. He is also sponsoring others now in their recovery, Mintz said.

"If I'm not sober I can't be there for anyone else," Bartlett told Ford.

Ford said he respected Bartlett and agreed with Mintz that Bartlett is not the same person he was when he was arrested. He said although Bartlett indicated to the employee he was armed, he was going to sentence him in keeping with guidelines for a person who was an unarmed robber. 

But, the judge said, he has seen a lot of drug addicted defendants and "most of them don't pull stunts like this."

Ford said as serious as the robbery was, the most serious crime was the high-speed chase on the Massachusetts Turnpike which endangered law enforcement and the public.

Mintz asked for a sentence of probation on some counts and time served -- 281 days in jail awaiting trial -- on other counts for Bartlett.

"I don't agree with the defense that he should walk out of here today," Ford said.

Assistant District Attorney Nina A. Vivenzio asked for a sentence of five years in state prison and three years probation.

She said the pharmacy employee was "a very, very brave young woman" who appeared to stay cool and collected.

Vivenzio said the woman said she was traumatized but had tried to compartmentalize that fear. According to Vivenzio, the woman said when she was told the trial was coming up she felt the trauma come back.

Vivenzio said the chase involved 19 state police cruisers and speeds exceeded 120 miles per hour.

Mintz said Adam Bartlett and Rebecca Bartlett "were in what I would call a pitt of despair" when they committed the crimes.

"He was a good cop. The was a good police officer," Mintz said. The drugs ruined that, he said.

Pelosi also said on Thursday that it is spending, not immigration, that is holding up negotiations over the federal budget.

CAMBRIDGE -- U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Thursday said it is spending, not immigration, that is holding up negotiations over the federal budget.

"If there never were one Dreamer on the face of the Earth ... we would still not have an agreement in the budget debate," Pelosi said, referring to children brought into the country illegally.

Pelosi spoke at a town hall event at Cambridge Public Library as part of a 100-day tour by the progressive Tax March group criticizing the tax overhaul passed by Republicans in Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in December.

State government shut down for three days in late January after a failure to reach a budget compromise, largely over the issue of what to do with immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children and given temporary legal status under former President Barack Obama, referred to as DACA recipients or Dreamers. Democrats agreed to reopen the government with an agreement to open negotiations on immigration.

Government faces another spending deadline next week.

Pelosi said she hopes there is no shutdown, but it will be up to Republicans. She said the sticking point is that Democrats are demanding to raise domestic spending by the same amount as defense spending. "If they're not afraid of their own shadow, their own caucus, they will recognize that they have to cooperate and lift the domestic spending in the same proportion they're lifting defense," Pelosi said.

Pelosi said the passage of the tax overhaul is a "dark cloud" hanging over budget negotiations. Democrats worry that Republicans will use the deficit created by the tax law to justify domestic spending cuts.

"There's a dark cloud hanging over the capital. It's the GOP tax scam bill," Pelosi said. "It's a total rip-off of the American people."

Pelosi said the bill gives "banquets" to corporations and wealthy taxpayers and "crumbs" to middle- and lower-class families. She said the additional $1.5 trillion that will be added to the deficit is "robbing from our children's future."

Most Americans will see a tax cut from the Republican tax overhaul, with the biggest tax cuts going to corporations. The politics of that have put Democrats in the traditionally Republican position of acting as deficit hawks. They warn that adding to the deficit will be used by Republicans in the future to justify cuts to programs like Medicaid and Medicare.

"This is an intentional action to be able to cut spending on programs we care about," said U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass., who spoke as part of a panel discussion with Pelosi and U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass. "It's a first step, not a last step."

Center for American Progress senior fellow Seth Hanlon, a former Obama economic adviser, said the problems Democrats have with the bill are that it gives the biggest breaks to corporations and wealthy Americans, while adding to the deficit and eliminating the mandate that people buy health insurance - which could drive up premiums. Middle-class families will get smaller tax cuts and could get hurt by future spending reductions.

Clark said people may see small bumps to their paycheck, balanced out by increases in health insurance premiums. "It codifies in the tax code income inequality in this country," Clark said.

Capuano also acknowledged that families will "see a few more bucks in your pocket." But he said that is not the most important value.

"Sure, we all want to live a comfortable life, a few more bucks helps. But we are part of a greater society," he said. "It's important we have good libraries, roads, schools, housing, health care, and we are willing to pay for that. The only way to do that is through taxes."

Pelosi said while Democrats are often derided as the "tax and spend" party, "That's exactly what government does - it acquires revenue to invest in the future."

Some companies have announced they are giving workers one-time bonuses due to the corporate tax cuts. Hanlon called that "a well-funded PR campaign to convince the American people the tax cuts are trickling down to workers."

He noted that these are not permanent salary raises, and most of the money from the tax cuts is going to shareholders. "For the last decades, corporate profits after tax were going up to record levels, but wages stagnated," Hanlon said.

Pelosi added that the economy will improve when workers' paychecks grow, not the paychecks of top managers.

Pelosi faced a friendly audience in Cambridge, which is one of the most liberal cities in Massachusetts. But not everyone agreed with her.

Joseph Distasio, an arborist from Braintree, held a sign thanking Trump for the bill and criticizing Pelosi for calling the tax break "crumbs."

"When I heard Nancy Pelosi was coming here to complain about the president's tax plan, I just wanted to let everyone know it's working for me and my family," Distasio said. "I'm sure it's working for hundreds of thousands of other families throughout the country and throughout Massachusetts."

Distasio said his wife got a $1,000 bonus from her job at American Airlines due to the tax break, and they plan to take advantage of an increased tax credit for children, since they have four kids. Distasio estimates he will get an extra $4,000 or $5,000 from the tax changes.

State Rep. Geoff Diehl, who is running against U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., for U.S. Senate, took the opportunity to criticize Pelosi and Warren for opposing the tax bill.

"How can Sen. Warren and her Democrat ally Nancy Pelosi continue to bash the tax package that is helping increase so many paychecks for working families?" Diehl said.

SWAT teams and a bomb squad were called to an apartment complex in Norton Thursday morning after a man barricaded himself in an apartment.

SWAT teams and a bomb squad were called to an apartment complex in Norton Thursday morning after a man barricaded himself in an apartment, the Enterprise reports. 

The newspaper said law enforcement officials were called to the Norton Glen apartments around 11:22 a.m. 

Bomb squad called to Norton housing complex. Barricaded suspect said to be inside: https://t.co/HVZhReEZfn #7News pic.twitter.com/g4UfbMljaQ

-- 7News Boston WHDH (@7News) February 1, 2018

"There is police activity at Norton Glen Road," Norton police said in a tweet. "We ask residents to please stay inside."

Police blocked off the area.

Former Massachusetts Gov. W. Mitt Romney will reveal whether he will run for the U.S. Senate seat in two weeks.

Former Massachusetts Gov. W. Mitt Romney will reveal whether he will run for the U.S. Senate seat in two weeks.

Romney tweeted on Thursday afternoon that he was "Looking forward to making an announcement on February 15th about the Utah Senate race."

Those close to the 70-year-old former presidential candidate have said he is  interested in running for the Utah Senate seat being vacated by Republican Orrin Hatch.

Kem Gardner, a Utah developer and close friend of Romney's, reportedly shared a Romney text message with Utah Gov. Gary Herbert saying, "I'm running."

President Donald Trump had urged Hatch, 83, to seek re-election in November -- a move some saw as a means of keeping Romney out of the Senate.

Romney was a key member of the group of moderate Republicans that organized a last-ditch effort to prevent Trump from clinching the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

"Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud," Romney said at the time. "His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University," Romney said in a March 2016 speech. "He's playing the American public for suckers: He gets a free ride to the White House and all we get is a lousy hat."

Looking forward to making an announcement on February 15th about the Utah Senate race. https://t.co/OLXWZWREEK

-- Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) February 1, 2018

Lee Rios, 24, of Springfield, is charged with murder in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Kenneth Lopez in Springfield on March 24, 2015. Watch video

Update: 4:20 p.m. - Jurors will resume deliberations Friday.

SPRINGFIELD -- Defense lawyer Mary Anne Stamm told jurors Thursday the prosecution's only evidence against murder suspect Lee Rios is the testimony of people seeking to get help on their own charges.

She said the witnesses are conspiring to pin the killing of Kenneth Lopez on Rios to help the prosecution and to avoid the wrath of the Latin Kings. Jonathan Guevera is the person who had the most motive to kill Lopez, she said.

Rios, 24, of Springfield, is charged with murder in Lopez's slaying. Both Lopez and Rios were Latin Kings members but had a falling out, according to testimony in the trial before Hampden Superior Court Judge Mark D. Mason.

Jurors began deliberations about 2 p.m. Thursday.

Lopez's body was found around 11 a.m. on March 25, 2015. The shooting was in the early morning hours of March 24.

Assistant District Attorney Max Bennett told jurors in his closing argument the conspiracy theory presented by the defense is not believable. He said numerous prosecution witnesses have testified Rios told them he killed Lopez.

Bennett asked if the defense's theory makes any sense "or is this case just as simple as it appears. That Lee Rios killed Kenneth Lopez and just told way too many people about it."

Jonathan Guevera, who is not testifying at Rios' trial, also is charged with Lopez's  killing, but Rios' trial is being held first.

"Jonathan helped but didn't pull the trigger here," Bennett said. He has said Jonathan Guevera helped lure Lopez out of his house.