Today's poll: Do you expect a government shutdown to directly impact your life?
04.06.2011 | CHICOPEE - Gary Lareau and Norman Rivet (in the background) of the Chicopee Parks Department prepare the grounds of the Danny Dulchinos Baseball Field for a high school baseball game later in the day.The Forecast
Skipping ahead to Monday, temperatures may approach 80 degrees. Crazy, right?
Well, as abc40 / Fox 6 meteorologist Mike Masco pointed out yesterday, it's not uncommon for early April to flirt with summer-like temperatures. And, indeed, look at some of the highs for April 2010:
- April 5: 75
- April 6: 72
- April 7: 91 (!)
- April 8: 80
... and then the high on April 9 was 55.
The National Weather Service is still calling for a fine Saturday -- sunny and in the mid-60s -- but Sunday could bring some clouds and rain.
Today's Poll
With a potential government shutdown looming, President Barack Obama said he did not have "wild optimism" that lawmakers will reach an agreement Friday.
A temporary federal spending measure expires at midnight; after that, it's lights out, resulting in furloughs of hundreds of thousands of workers and the services they provide. Of the latest efforts to avert the shutdown, the AP reports:
The aides were trying to cobble together a deal on how much federal spending to slash, where to cut it and what caveats to attach as part of a bill to fund the government through Sept. 30. A temporary federal spending measure expires at midnight Friday.
This morning, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said talks have progressed "70 percent of the way on the numbers."
What do you think -- do you expect a government shutdown to directly impact your life? Check out the AP's "How would a government shutdown affect you?", and vote in our poll.
Thursday's results: Yesterday, we asked, "Do you agree with Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni's decision to end prosecution against Melvin Jones III on drug and resisting arrest charges?" 28 people voted. 67.86% chose "no," and 32.14% chose "yes."
Thursday's Top 5
The top 5 headlines on MassLive.com on April 7 were:
- 'Glee': Jonathan Groff discusses return of Jesse St. James, new film
- 'American Idol': Pia Toscano eliminated in shocking results show
- Springfield school bus drivers fed up with student harassment, violence and lack of action by administrators
- Western Massachusetts on tap for burst of 'gorgeous' weather
- Fox News drops Glenn Beck show; cites low ratings, advertiser boycott
Quote of the Day
"Tony's been the chief in Holyoke for 10 years and everyone in the country knows who he is. I've been the police chief in Chicopee for 20 years and half the people in the city don't know who I am."
— Chicopee Chief of Police John Ferraro, speaking at Thursday's retirement roast for Holyoke Chief of Police Anthony R. Scott. Read a "What They Said" recap of the event here.