U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts
BOSTON – A former member and Enforcer of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) was sentenced yesterday on racketeering charges.

Orlando Santiago-Torres, a/k/a “King Landy,” 27, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 151 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On June 28, 2022, Santiago-Torres pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy, and conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances.  

“The amount of teamwork required to indict and prosecute 62 individuals under racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges is hard to fathom. I commend my predecessor U.S. Attorney Lelling for spearheading this effort and I am proud to finish the job he started.  Keeping the people of Massachusetts safe is my highest priority and the rampant violence and drug dealing spearheaded by criminal enterprises is a clear and present danger to our communities.

Mr. Santiago Torres was the enforcer of this particular criminal enterprise.  He actively led and promoted violence in order to instill fear among his adversaries and further the illicit influence of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Mr. Santiago Torres not only engaged in multiple racketeering incidents, including shootings and gang beatings, he then proudly boasted about his actions online while threatening future violence. This has become commonplace and we are watching.  Today’s sentence marks a critical step toward ensuring peace throughout our Commonwealth.”

“Guns and drugs take far too many lives in our communities, and Orlando Santiago Torres was contributing to the devastating impact of both. As a leader of the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings, Santiago-Torres engaged in at least three shootings, two brutal gang beatings, and dealt drugs, destroying any sense of safety on this city’s streets,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Turf war gang violence is a serious threat to our communities, and the FBI is leveraging our law enforcement partnerships to thwart that threat. The lengthy prison sentence Mr. Santiago Torres received today sends a strong message that we will not tolerate criminal enterprises using violence to further their insidious needs.”

The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. The gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf. 

As Enforcer, Santiago-Torres was an officer in the New Bedford Chapter of the Latin Kings and was responsible for organizing violence against rival gang members and instilling discipline among Latin Kings members in the commission of violence. Santiago-Torres also organized security for the Latin Kings’ apartment buildings, or “trap houses,” from which the gang members distributed cocaine and cocaine base.

Santiago-Torres participated in a series of violent acts and shootings that were committed in New Bedford in furtherance of the Latin Kings enterprise. In February 2019, Santiago-Torres assaulted a rival gang member and was captured on video chasing the rival gang member down, pushing him to the ground and kicking him. In May 2019, Santiago-Torres participated in the assault and shooting of a rival gang member and was captured on video surveillance with other Latin King members, one of whom engaged in a fight with the rival member and fired a handgun at him. In July 2019, Santiago-Torres fired multiple rounds of ammunition on a New Bedford street at rival gang members as they fled a fight with the Latin Kings. Later, in September 2019, Santiago-Torres participated in a shooting with other Latin Kings members in which a victim was struck with gunfire and casings from the scene were linked to a firearm recovered from Santiago-Torres’ apartment. Lastly, in November 2019, Santiago-Torres and other Latin Kings members assaulted a rival gang member, in which Santiago-Torres dragged the victim out of a vehicle to beat and kick him on the street. 

In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. In total, 60 defendants in the case have pleaded guilty. Of the 62 charged defendants in the indictment, two remain in warrant status. All of the remaining 60 defendants have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing. Santiago-Torres is the 59th defendant to be sentenced. 

U.S. Attorney Rollins; FBI SAC Bonavolonta; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira made the announcement. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol Head, Chief of Rollins’ Asset Forfeiture Unit, prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The two remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law

Updated April 28, 2023

New Bedford, Massachusetts – Mayor Jon Mitchell and the union representing municipal employees, AFSCME Local 851, have successfully negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement.

 The total estimated cost of the agreement is $4.2 million over the contract’s three-year term.  The contract applies to 364 positions across city government.

The union membership ratified the agreement earlier this week, and, as required by law, Mayor Jon Mitchell submitted a funding request with the City Council to cover an estimated $92,000 in Fiscal Year 2023 costs.  Savings in the City’s current operating budget will be used to cover approximately $80,000 in additional Fiscal Year 2023 costs.  The Mayor’s funding request will be considered at a Special Meeting of the City Council scheduled for Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

“I wish to thank the City’s and the Union’s negotiating teams and their work to secure an agreement that fairly compensates our hard-working municipal employees while protecting the interests of taxpayers.  The agreement will help the City address staffing shortages, especially among our emergency dispatchers, who have had to work long hours to maintain a reliable level of service,” said Mayor Mitchell.

Key Contract Terms

Effective April 24, 2023, the contract eliminates “step 1” on the employee step scale and adds a new step at the top of the step scale at 3% more than the step before it; and provides a 1% COLA.  These changes combined result in an increase of 4.75% per hour for the average employee.

Effective July 1, 2023, the contract eliminates the new “step 1” and adds a new step at the top of the step scale at 3% more than the step before it; and provides a 2% COLA.  These changes combined result in an increase of 5.78% per hour for the average employee.

Effective July 1, 2024, the contract leaves the new step structure in place and provid

es a 2% COLA.  These changes combined result in an increase of 5.47% per hour for the average employee.

Dispatcher-Specific Terms

The City committed to significant compensation increases to address a staffing shortage in the 911 Dispatch Center, and to incentivize the retention of existing dispatch staff.  Effective April 24, 2023, in addition to the COLA and step changes listed above, dispatchers are moved from the current “Grade G” pay range ($19.21-26.82) to “Grade K” pay range ($22.06-30.78) on the compensation schedule.

This change immediately shifts the dispatcher pay range upwards by nearly 15%, which is provided in addition to the percentage increases in hourly pay rates described earlier.  Effective July 1, 2023, the Grade K pay range becomes $23.17-32.34, and effective July 1, 2024, the Grade K range becomes $23.63-32.99.

Other Contract Terms

The City is committed to conducting a reclassification exercise for AFSCME positions that will be completed by the end of the contract.  Eligible employees will also qualify for a Commercial Drivers License stipend, reimbursement annually for work boots, and an increased longevity incentive.

This first appeared on The Hill. com

Senators unveil bipartisan cannabis banking legislation
BY JULIA MUELLER - 04/27/23 12:24 PM ET

Senators on Thursday unveiled bipartisan cannabis banking legislation, pushing forward an initiative that’s cleared the House several times but hasn’t yet made it through the Senate.

Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced a bill aimed at protecting financial institutions that provide services to marijuana businesses and service providers for those businesses in states where it’s been legalized, according to bill text shared by Punchbowl News.

“Right now, legal cannabis businesses are forced to operate entirely in cash. It’s a dangerous system—ripe for robbery, assaults, tax fraud, and money laundering. If you care about public safety, cash is a terrible system,” said Merkley, a leading advocate for the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking reform.

“I introduced the SAFE Banking Act to help make sure all legal cannabis businesses have access to the financial services they need to help keep their employees and their communities safe. We need to finally pass it in 2023, and we have a path to do it,” he said.

Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Dave Joyce (R-Ohio) on Thursday introduced the bill in the House.

Previous versions of the SAFE bill have been approved by the House seven times over the past two congressional sessions, but it hasn’t cleared the Senate. Merkley says the latest introduction is the first time senators have created a path to get the bill to a floor vote in the upper chamber.

“It is past time that Congress addresses the irrational, unfair, and unsafe prohibition of basic banking services to state-legal cannabis businesses,” said Blumenauer, founder of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus. 

By The Editorial Board of the Boston Globe 
Updated April 28, 2023, 4:00 a.m.

Months before the recent disturbance at the Bristol County jail in Dartmouth, there was a plan — a plan by the county’s newly elected sheriff to retrofit the facility to make it more humane, more secure, and less likely to provide the means for suicides, which were a too-frequent event under the previous administration.

In addition, Sheriff Paul Heroux proposed to close a separate facility in New Bedford that dates back to 1888 — and, yes, had once housed the accused ax murderer Lizzie Borden.

Today Heroux is looking at more than $200,000 in damage caused by some 20 pre-trial detainees — a situation touched off precisely because inmates objected to being moved to accommodate the renovations aimed at reducing suicide risks.

So, yes, it appears in the world of corrections no good deed goes unpunished.

Heroux took over the county’s correctional facilities this year after defeating Republican Sheriff Thomas Hodgson, best known for volunteering to send inmates to help build then-President Donald Trump’s border wall. Under Hodgson, the facility had the highest suicide rate in the state. Although it houses about 12 percent of the state’s inmates, it accounted for about 25 percent of inmate suicides

.

That was something Heroux was committed to doing something about.

A study he commissioned earlier this year that concluded in April pointed in some useful directions. Among them “the replacement or retrofitting of metal bunk frames, replacement of ventilation grates on walls and ceilings and holes with grates that are no more than 3/16 inches in diameter” and “covering of exposed conduit piping.” The bunk frames and piping had too often become deadly for suicidal inmates.

That’s part of the renovation that was scheduled when the standoff began April 21. That and the long overdue installation of plumbing for toilets in cells. Because that particular building, built in the 1980s, had been constructed without toilets in each cell, a 1998 class action lawsuit prohibited inmates from being locked in those cells.

By all accounts, the disturbance was in the end well-managed by correction officers with no injuries to staff or inmates — and with a level of transparency on the part of the sheriff’s office that certainly surpasses anything his predecessor offered.

But Heroux in an interview also conceded, “We got lucky.”

Help arrived in time and the leaders of the disturbance — a group, the sheriff said, that included three men facing murder charges and nine facing assault and battery charges — were fairly quickly dispatched to other facilities.

“But this isn’t a new problem,” he added. “Not having locks on doors goes back to that 1998 court ruling. We had 75 people who were not locked behind doors.

“We need help. We can’t do this by ourselves. And this needs to be done now.”

Heroux has been attempting to jump-start the renovations with some $1.5 million in canteen funds. But adding in-cell toilets to 11 housing units currently without them on the Dartmouth campus is about a $5.5 million item and locks for the doors (again, impossible without the installation of toilets) another $2 million or so.

The added benefit — beyond security for a facility badly in need of it — would be the closure of the old Ash Street Jail — a costly site to operate and one that Heroux told lawmakers in a letter earlier this year “does not fit the needs of a modern corrections system.”

The New Bedford facility, which is capable of housing some 226 inmates, usually houses about half that. But it still needs to be heated all winter — at a cost of about $10,000 a month for utilities. Meals for inmates are brought in three times a day from a central kitchen in Dartmouth — accounting for another 438 hours of labor a year.

Heroux also points to the fact that most of the programming options for prisoners are in Dartmouth, with a mere handful available at Ash Street. And consolidating operations at one site would help relieve staffing shortages and cut down on overtime.

“If we put locks on the doors in just two housing units, we can close Ash Street,” Heroux added.

That would certainly be a win-win for corrections in Bristol County. And with the state budget still a work in progress, it would also be a good time to acknowledge what a huge difference a relatively small amount of money can make — in the lives of inmates and in the safety of those assigned to watch over them.

Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us on Twitter at @GlobeOpinion.
 

President of the Senate Dominick J. Ruggerio and Rep. Gregory J. Costantino are submitting legislation (2023-S 0948) today to permit online casino gaming.

The legislation, requested by Bally’s Corporation, seeks to enhance state revenue and better position the state’s casinos in the competitive New England gaming market.

“This legislation is a first step in the public review process around potential iGaming in Rhode Island,” said President Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) and Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick). “Our state casinos provide an important source of revenue to fund vital programs and investments that benefit all Rhode Islanders. The companies that manage casino operations on behalf of the state have made significant investments to ensure they are well positioned to thrive in the years ahead, much of which was required under legislation we sponsored known as the Marc A. Crisafulli Act. It is imperative that we continue to explore all avenues to protect and bolster our competitive position, including the potential for iGaming.”

As with all gaming operations, the state would retain complete regulatory control of iGaming if it were to be enacted.

A recent study commissioned by Bally’s Corporation estimates that the state could generate an additional $93.3 million of gross gaming revenue in its first year, and as much as $130.6 million in its fifth year of operation, or a potential $210 million in gaming taxes for the state over a five-year period.  They anticipate little to no switching of play from in-person at retail casinos to online gaming.
“The Senate and House Finance Committees will now begin a rigorous public review process during which all aspects of the proposal will be thoroughly examined, including proper protections,” noted the President and Speaker.

Representative Costantino (D-Dist. 44, Lincoln, Smithfield, Johnston), represents the district where Bally’s Twin River is located in Lincoln.
 

Charlestown - Governor Maura T. Healey today announced that her administration is creating a new Clean Energy Innovation Career Pathway to allow high school students to get applied, hands-on learning opportunities in the renewable energy sector, a growing high-demand industry across Massachusetts.

Governor Healey made this announcement at Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) Wind Technology Testing Center, the only facility in North America capable of testing the latest in blade technology, and one of the many clean energy employers in Massachusetts. 

“This new Clean Energy Innovation Career Pathway will open pathways for students to explore a future in the critical renewable energy sector by allowing them to work with cutting-edge employers in the field like the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and their Wind Technology Testing Center,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Together, we’ll train the next generation of clean energy leaders and meet the workforce needs of the growing renewable energy sector – powering our efforts to remain a global leader in this industry. This new pathway is a win for students, a win for clean energy, and a win for the state.” 

“As we look to increase career and college readiness opportunities for every student in Massachusetts, we want to strategically target high-demand industries like clean energy,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “As co-chair of the STEM Advisory Council, I’m thrilled that we can expand learning opportunities in clean energy, a vital STEM sector.” 

The Executive Office of Education and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education partnered with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to design the new Clean Energy Innovation Pathway to inspire the next generation of clean energy experts in Massachusetts by providing students experiential learning opportunities in the field. This will help meet the workforce needs of the Commonwealth’s booming clean energy economy – since 2010, the clean energy industry has grown by 73%, which accounted for more than 14% of all net jobs created in the state during that time. Currently, there are over 104,000 clean energy workers in Massachusetts today, all of whom play a crucial role in Massachusetts’ current economy and future health and prosperity. 
 

Dartmouth, MA – UMass Dartmouth will confer degrees on nearly 1800 graduates on May 11 and May 12, 2023, during its Class of 2023 Commencement Ceremonies.

The Ceremony schedule is as follows:

Bachelor and Master's Ceremony I on Cressy Field at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023
•    School for Marine Science & Technology
•    College of Engineering
•    Charlton College of Business

Doctoral Ceremony in the Campus Center Auditorium at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023
•    All Doctoral students

Bachelor and Master's Ceremony II on Cressy Field at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 12, 2023
•    College of Visual & Performing Arts
•    College of Nursing & Health Sciences
•    College of Arts & Sciences

UMass Law Ceremony in the Main Campus Auditorium at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 12, 2023
•    All Law students

Each Commencement Ceremony will feature a student speaker to address their peers, guests, and university officials. The Class of 2023 will be represented by Capri McLucas (Accounting) at Bachelor and Master's Ceremony I, Marilyn Naeem (Chemistry Doctoral Candidate) at the Doctoral Ceremony, Anne Jean (Nursing) at Bachelor and Master's Ceremony II, and Natalie Peters (Juris Doctorate Candidate) at the UMass Law Ceremony.

Learn more about the 2023 Student Commencement Speakers.

During the 2023 Doctoral Commencement Ceremony, UMass Dartmouth will award honorary degrees—the highest award the University can bestow—to Jessie Little Doe Baird, Loretta "Lee" Blake, and Mark Dion. These individuals were chosen because of their outstanding contributions to their community and the landscape of higher education through their work.

Learn more about the 2023 Honorary Degree Recipients.

The Ceremonies will also feature remarks from Chancellor Mark A. Fuller, UMass Trustees, and other University officials.
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CONTACT

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is raising awareness for motorcyclist safety and urging drivers to be mindful that as the weather becomes warmer, more motorcyclists will begin traveling on roadways throughout the Commonwealth.

Roadway safety is a shared responsibility, and vehicle drivers play an essential role in motorcyclist safety by looking twice for motorcycles when pulling out onto roads and changing lanes.  In addition, motorcyclists are encouraged to wear visible clothing, drive with caution, and obey all rules of the road.  Motorcyclists are also encouraged to only allow qualified and experienced individuals to use their motorcycles.

“Tragically, on average, about four motorcyclists were killed each month last year in crashes on Massachusetts roads,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Gina Fiandaca.  “Crashes are preventable.  It is imperative that vehicle drivers pay attention to the road ahead and be cautious when pulling out of side streets and when making turns.  It is essential that motorcyclists obey traffic laws, stay in marked lanes, and use turn signals.  Lives can be saved if all drivers travel at or below the speed limit, drive sober, and drive hands-free.  Life is precious and all of us at MassDOT want travelers to make it to their destinations safely.”

Recent data collected of roadway crashes in Massachusetts and nationwide have shown an alarming rate of roadway fatalities involving motorcycles. The total number of motorcycle fatalities in Massachusetts was 42 deaths in the calendar year 2022.  Additionally, preliminary data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests that nationwide there was a nine percent increase in motorcycle fatalities in traffic crashes from 2020 to 2021.  

“The RMV underscores the importance of motorcycle safety, and the critical need for motorcyclists to be properly educated, trained and licensed to be able to safely and cautiously operate motorcycles, and navigate all types of roadway conditions in various weather conditions,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie. “Riding a motorcycle can be exhilarating and fun but can also be dangerous as there is a higher risk for severe injury or fatality, so we encourage motorcyclists to be prepared, wear appropriate safety gear and helmets and always try to be bright and visible.”

Motorcyclists face an increased risk of severe injury and death when crashes occur. The two most common roadway fatality crashes are single-vehicle crashes that involve a motorcycle driver failing to negotiate a curve in the road, and crashes involving a left-turning vehicle striking a motorcycle. 

Motorcyclists are encouraged to be prepared and participate in educational training courses that are offered through the state-sponsored Rider Education Program (MREP). The program seeks to increase rider skills and safety on the road by providing quality rider education and training to both novice and experienced motorcycle riders. The program is specifically designed to assist riders of all levels and to promote the safe operation of motorcycles.

 
 
License waiver courses include Basic Rider Course, Basic Rider Course 2, Returning Rider - Basic Rider Course, and 3 Wheel - Basic Rider Course.  MREP also offers additional non-licensing courses for motorcyclists that already have their motorcycle license. In 2022, approximately 6,782 individuals participated in MREP and out-of-state rider training education programs.  
 
Additionally, the RMV has posted a series of PSA “At Home” motorcycle safety videos which highlight 14 licensed motorcyclists who are MassDOT employees sharing their riding experiences and discussing common safety problems facing motorcyclists on roadways. The interviews have safe driving tips, suggestions for motorcycle training, mention the dangers posed by vehicles making unsafe left turns, and include the slogan: “RIDE SMART.”  The motorcyclists say riding smart includes taking your time, being bright and visible, anticipating, and riding cautiously.  One interviewee states that motorcyclists are not “invincible.”  The videos can be found on MassDOT’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzBxrvXzs-5EU2BHxbDXa12eSUJxcskZB. 
 
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One local area is saying their goal is to increase patrols. According to ABC 6 in Providence, Raynham Police Department are increasing their patrols in recognition of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The department said they received a grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research to increase the number of patrols watching for distracted drivers. The Raynham Police Department offered tips to stay free of distractions when driving for local and traveling individuals such as if you Are expecting a text or need to send one, pull over and park in a safe location off the roadway. For more information on Distracted Driving Awareness Month and additional safety tips, visit the NHTSA’s webpage.

According to NBC 10 in Providence, a MBTA train and car collided on the tracks killing one person on Wednesday afternoon. MBTA Transit police said their investigation suggests the car passed another one that was stopped in Abington, Massachusetts driving around the gate arm and onto the tracks, where it then hit by the train ultimately killing the driver. No other passengers were inside of the car and no other injuries were reported as well.

The legislation, S. 8 filed by Senator Liz Miranda and Adam Gomez and H. 26 filed by Representative Erika Uyterhoeven, will return voting rights to those incarcerated in prisons in Massachusetts.

Today’s vote follows a historic committee hearing on April 6th that included testimony from both formerly and currently incarcerated advocates. 

BOSTON — Since it was first filed in 2019, legislation to return the right to vote to all those incarcerated in Massachusetts failed to advance out of committee.

That changed today: The committee, now chaired by Senator John Keenan and Representative Dan Ryan, reported re-enfranchisement bills S.8 and H.26 out favorably. In doing so, they sent a clear message that it is time for the legislature to re-evaluate Massachusetts’ punitive, regressive decision to strip the right to vote from incarcerated people in 2000. 

Advocates in the Democracy Behind Bars Coalition (DBBC), which is led by organizers in the MCI-Norfolk-based African American Coalition Committee (AACC), praise the committee for their bold leadership on this issue and its implications for racial justice, equity, and democratic rights.
“I was thrilled to hear the news of this vote,” says Sean ‘Truth’ Evelyn, DBBC Organizer, former AACC member, and Founder of the Explanations from Exile Project. “This decision offers a meaningful sense of hope for this vulnerable demographic to actually advocate for themselves and their families. I see the Commonwealth placing a higher valuation on democracy and redemption, and I’m heartened by that.”

“Today, the Election Laws Committee made an unequivocal statement: Massachusetts must tear down barriers to the ballot that disproportionately keep Black, Latinx, and low-income communities from the ballot,” says Pastor Hobbs, Executive Director of Healing Our Land, Inc. “Today’s vote was a bold, courageous step — and one that Massachusetts voters are ready for.”

"For many years,” he continues, “I have organized voter access and turnout in the Suffolk County House of Corrections. I have witnessed over and over again the positive impact of voting for our brothers and sisters behind the wall. There is no reason to keep that experience from those in prison — and I'm thrilled that we are headed to giving the right to vote back."

The DBBC and AACC especially thank Senator Liz Miranda, Senator Adam Gomez, and Representative Erika Uyterhoeven, who filed and have championed the legislation. Today’s vote also follows a historic April 6th committee hearing, during which incarcerated advocates including Corey ‘Al-Ameen’ Patterson, former Chairman of the AACC, testified remotely. He and others stressed the substantive and symbolic importance of being able to participate in elections. 

“We have to get it out of our minds that blanket disenfranchisement is an appropriate consequence for incarcerated citizens,” says Corey ‘Al-Ameen’ Patterson, AACC former Chairman and longtime champion of the issue. “It’s not a deterrent to crime, nor does it provide any recognizable benefit to the Commonwealth. Its impact serves to perpetuate the narrative that Massachusetts is not serious about eliminating racial disparities; and it undermines the value Massachusetts places on freedom of speech. Without freedom of speech at the ballot box, incarcerated people have little to no means of holding accountable our far from perfect criminal legal system.”

Voting rights for all incarcerated people were in place until 2000.

They were stripped away — disenfranchising 1.5% of Black adults in Massachusetts — as retaliation for civic engagement initiatives by incarcerated organizers in MCI-Norfolk working to redress deleterious prison conditions. Ever since, organizers in MCI-Norfolk have continued working to strengthen political representation for incarcerated people, and to regain the right to vote. In 2018, the AACC drafted and filed the first jail-based voting bill. It was re-filed in 2019 by Representative Russel Holmes, and ultimately championed by now-Senator Liz Miranda and Representative Chynah Tyler. The bill was enacted into law in summer 2022 as part of the VOTES Act. 

“Our country was fought for freedom and liberty,” says Raphael Martinez, AACC Member. “For me, this is not about letting criminals get away with anything. It’s about our fundamental rights and beliefs that are being threatened even on the national level…plus our families and our communities suffer from this neglect of our fundamental rights. Today is not just about my voice: it’s about the many voices from behind these walls being heard.”

“Today, I am optimistic that the public and our elected lawmakers are decidedly ready to re-evaluate and reform the punitive, purposeless, and harmful policies of the tough-on-crime era,” said Kristina Mensik, organizer with the DBBC. “Last session, the legislature took action to end the de-facto disenfranchisement of eligible incarcerated and formerly incarcerated voters. Now the natural and just next step is to substantively re-evaluate whether the disenfranchisement of any incarcerated person makes our communities safer or our criminal legal system more just. I strongly believe it does not”

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 The Democracy Behind Bars Coalition (DBBC) is a coalition of advocacy and community organizations, direct service and religious groups, and individuals committed to ensuring that democracy does not stop at prisons and jails in Massachusetts. 

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BOURNE - The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing it will be hosting an in-person Open House for the Cape Cod Bridges Program on Wednesday, May 17, at the Bourne Veteran’s Memorial Community Center in Bourne.  The Open House event will take place between the hours of 12:00 p.m., through 3:00 p.m. and then from 5:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m.

The purpose of this event is to provide the public with opportunity to discuss the alternatives presented in the Environmental Notification Form (ENF) that is scheduled for publication in the May 10, 2023, edition of the MEPA Environmental Monitor.

The program team will be available to discuss information presented in the ENF, the status of the Program, interchange alternatives, potential bridge locations and lane configurations, maps of the program area, and next steps. The event will not include a formal presentation, but will include informational graphics, displays and materials for viewing and discussion.

All comments will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible. Registration for this event is not required. The Community Center is an ADA-compliant location. Translation services will be provided in Spanish, Portuguese and ASL, by request. 

The Cape Cod Bridges Program will include the replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges, new connections to the local roadway network and improve multimodal accommodations within the Cape Cod Canal area. 

For more information on the Open House, please click here: https://www.mass.gov/event/cape-bridges-program-bourne-open-house-51723-2023-05-17t120000-0400-2023-05-17t150000-0400.

For more information on the Cape Cod Bridges Program, please visit the website: https://www.mass.gov/cape-bridges.

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The writer alleges that Trump defamed her when he denied her rape claim.

ByAaron Katersky
April 26, 2023, 1:33 PM

Former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll, testifying in her defamation and battery case against former President Donald Trump, described being "almost too frightened to think" during what she alleges was an attack by Trump in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the 1990s.

Carroll, who brought the lawsuit in November, alleges that Trump defamed her in a 2022 Truth Social post by calling her allegations "a Hoax and a lie" and saying "This woman is not my type!" when he denied her claim that Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room.

She added a charge of battery under a recently adopted New York law that allows adult survivors of sexual abuse to sue their alleged attacker regardless of the statute of limitations.

"'Hey you're that advice lady,'" Carroll said Trump told her when the two ran into each other near the store entrance. "I said, 'You're that real estate tycoon,'" Carroll recalled.

"I'm an advice columnist and here's Donald Trump asking for advice helping to buy a present," Carroll said. "I was delighted to go to [look at] lingerie with him."

At that point, the tone of their conversation was "very joshing," Carroll said. "He was having a good time and so was I."

Carroll told the jury that Trump led her into a dressing room under the guise of trying on some lingerie.

"That door has plagued me for years because I just walked into it," she said. "He immediately shut the door and shoved me up against the wall and shoved me so hard my head banged."

"Were you afraid while all this was happening?" Ferrara asked.

"I was almost too frightened to think if I was afraid or not. My whole reason for being alive at that moment was to get out of that room," answered Carroll, who said that Trump then raped her.

Asked later in her testimony how she felt about entering the dressing room, Carroll answered, "It was very stupid. I know people have been through a lot worse than this, but it left me, it left me unable to have a romantic life again."

Trump has denied all allegations that he raped Carroll or defamed her.

Carroll told the jury that she first met Trump in 1987 -- but she struggled to pinpoint the year that she alleges he raped her in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store.

"When do you believe Donald Trump assaulted you?" her attorney, Mike Ferrara, asked Carroll during her testimony Wednesday.

"This question, the when, the when, the date, has been something I've constantly trying to pin down," Carroll said.

Recent Stories from ABC News
At first she said she thought it was 1994 or 1995, but she said her friend Lisa Birnbach published an article about Trump for New York magazine in February 1996.

"Lisa never would have gone down to Mar-a-Lago ... if she knew what Donald Trump had done to me," Carroll said, leading her to believe the alleged attack occurred in 1996.

In her opening statement, Carroll attorney Shawn Crowley suggested the lack of specificity doesn't matter.

"While Ms. Carroll doesn't remember exactly when this happened, she remembers almost every detail of what happened, and her testimony alone will be enough for you to find Donald Trump liable in this case," Crowley said.

The defense told the jury those details matter.

"She can't tell you the date that she claims to have been raped. She can't tell you the month that she claims to have been raped. She can't tell you the season. She can't even tell you the year that she claims to have been raped by Donald Trump," defense attorney Joe Tacopina said during his opening statement.

"I'm here because Donald Trump raped me," Carroll said at the start of her testimony. "And when I wrote about it, he said it didn't happen. He lied and shattered my reputation. And I'm here to try and get my life back."

MORE: Trump calls E. Jean Carroll 'whack job' in newly released deposition transcript
Earlier Wednesday, the jury heard from the former general manager at the Bergdorf Goodman women's store.

Cheryl Beal, who worked for the department store in the mid-1990s, testified regarding the store's layout, including the sixth floor where lingerie, couture brands and designer sportswear were sold, and where Carroll said Trump raped her in a dressing room while few, if any, people were around.

"It wasn't one of our busiest floors," Beal said.

Before the jury entered the courtroom, Carroll's attorney read aloud parts of two social media posts by Trump that she said violated the judge's orders.

On Truth Social Wednesday morning, Trump posted that Carroll's legal team is being "financed by a big political donor that they said didn't exist, only to get caught lying about that."

He also posted regarding Carroll, "She said there was a dress, using the ol' Monica Lewinsky 'stuff,' then she didn't want to produce it."

Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said the posts violated the court's orders against "comments about lawyers and one about DNA."

"These are out-of-court comments obviously," said defense attorney Joe Tacopina, but Judge Lewis Kaplan cut him off, saying, "...where for two years he refused to give a DNA sample, and now wants it in the case."

"What you're trying to do is to get away from a statement by your client, a public statement, that on the face of it seems entirely inappropriate," Kaplan told Tacopina.

Tacopina said he would address the posts with Trump.

"I will speak to my client and ask him to refrain from any posts about this case," Tacopina said.

Kaplan said he hoped the lawyer was successful.

"We're getting into an area in which your client may or may not be tampering with a new source of potential liability, and I think you know what I mean," Kaplan said.

It remains unclear if Trump will testify himself at any point. The judge demanded to know this week whether Trump will appear, telling the defense that it was time to "fish or cut bait."

The trial is expected to last about five days. The nine-member jury of six men and three women is weighing Carroll's defamation and battery claims and deciding potential monetary damages.

This week's trial is taking place as Trump seeks the White House for a third time, while facing numerous legal challenges related to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, his handling of classified material after leaving the White House, and possible attempts to interfere in the Georgia's 2020 vote. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said Monday she would decide whether to file criminal charges against Trump or his allies this summer.

Carroll's lawsuit is her second against Trump related to her rape allegation.

Carroll previously sued Trump in 2019 after the then-president denied her rape claim by telling The Hill that Carroll was "totally lying," saying, "I'll say it with great respect: No. 1, she's not my type. No. 2, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" That defamation suit has been caught in a procedural back-and-forth over the question of whether Trump, as president, was acting in his official capacity as an employee of the federal government when he made those remarks.

If Trump is determined to have been acting as a government employee, the U.S. government would substitute as the defendant in that suit -- which means that case would go away, since the government cannot be sued for defamation.

ABC News

BOSTON – A Taunton man and Boston woman have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to fraudulently rent two apartments under stolen identities to be utilized for drug trafficking activities. 

Terrence Pyrtle, a/k/a “Big T,” a/k/a “T,” a/k/a “big_t558,” 40, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, 400 grams and more of fentanyl, 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue, and methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, 400 grams and more of fentanyl, 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue, and methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl and 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue; one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft; four counts of access device fraud; and four counts of aggravated identity theft. Following an initial appearance on April 20, 2023 before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal, Pyrtle was detained pending a hearing set for April 27, 2023.

Ashley Roostaie, a/k/a “Lola,” a/k/a “dropdeadlola,” 36, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft; four counts of access device fraud; and four counts of aggravated identity theft. Roostaie was released on conditions following an initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Boal on April 20, 2023.

According to the charging document, Pyrtle and Roostaie utilized the personal identification information (including Social Security number) of another individual to apply for and enter into lease agreements for two apartments in Braintree and Somerville, respectively.

As part of their conspiracy, Pyrtle and Roostaie allegedly created an email account under the name of the individual’s identity that they had submitted in connection with the apartments as well as transmitted a purported driver’s license containing the individual’s name and some of their personal identification information, but depicting a different individual’s photograph.

By placing the apartment leases under another individual’s personal identification information, Roostaie and Pyrtle were able to conceal their connection to and use of the apartments, which Pyrtle allegedly used to participate in a drug conspiracy involving distribution quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and methamphetamine.

It is further alleged that Pyrtle and Roostaie used another individual’s personal identification information (including Social Security number) to obtain and use a prepaid debit card to make certain payments associated with each of the apartments. 

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, 400 grams and more of fentanyl, 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue, and methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charges of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, 400 grams and more of fentanyl, 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue, and methamphetamine each provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of access device fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory two-year prison term consecutive to any term of imprisonment received on a predicate, substantive count, up to a one-year term of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Bridgewater and Westport Police Departments and the Bristol County and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Boston, MA – Today, the Massachusetts House of Representatives honored UMass Dartmouth Men's Basketball Coach Brian Baptiste with a Citation for his impressive coaching career.

Baptiste, who State Representative Chris Markey nominated, was recognized for his recent 700th career win and his impact on the SouthCoast region during his 40th season as head coach of the Corsairs.

"I am honored to be recognized for my coaching achievements. This would not have been possible without the help of all my assistant coaches over the years and the hard work put in by many student-athletes," said Baptiste. "I feel blessed to be able to work at something I love."

Baptiste became the most winningest active coach in Division III basketball when he won his 700th game on January 14, 2023.

"Coach Baptiste embodies the best of college athletics. He not only ranks 68th among all NCAA coaches for wins with 700. He has done so while graduating the overwhelming majority of his players. He is very deserving of this honor as he contributed so much to so many over his 40 years as the Head Coach of the UMass Dartmouth Men's Basketball Program," said Representative Chris Markey.

"Congratulations to Coach Brian Baptiste for his lifetime of athletic achievement and this latest honor," said Chancellor Mark A. Fuller, PhD. "Brian's dedication to the athletic, academic and personal development of our student-athletes is unparalleled, and he is most deserving of this recognition from the Commonwealth for his impact."

"I am grateful to Representative Chris Markey for recognizing the extraordinary achievements of Coach Brian Baptiste," shared UMass Dartmouth Director of Athletics, Lori Hendricks. "Coach Baptiste's positive impact on our program and on the footprint of college basketball is undeniable. As the winningest active coach in NCAA Division III, we celebrate this milestone and thank Coach Baptiste for his continued contributions to the young people across the state and throughout New England."

Baptiste achieved his first win for UMass Dartmouth (then known as Southeastern Massachusetts University) against Anna Maria College on November 19, 1983. Over his career, Baptiste has won 12 Little East Conference Championships and made 14 Division III National Tournament appearances. Baptiste accrued 17 tournament wins, making five Sweet Sixteen appearances while also reaching the Final Four.  
 

New Bedford, Massachusetts – The City of New Bedford Veterans’ Advisory Board will honor the 749 United States sailors and soldiers who lost their lives during the devastating April 28, 1944 attack on the United States military training operation, Exercise Tiger. 

Exercise Tiger was a D-Day dry run that was ambushed by a German E-boat flotilla and resulted in America’s costliest incident of World War II, second only to Pearl Harbor. The surprise attack sank two American vessels and severely damaged a third. This year marks the 79th anniversary of Exercise Tiger. 

A memorial ceremony is planned to honor the service members who perished in this incident on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the Exercise Tiger Memorial at Fort Taber Park, 1000 Rodney French Boulevard in New Bedford. In case of inclement weather, the indoor ceremony will be held inside the Fort Taber Military Museum, also located at Fort Taber Park immediately adjacent to the Exercise Tiger Memorial. 

The ceremony will include remarks by Mayor Jon Mitchell and guest speakers from the New Bedford Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. Families of the late Louis Souza, Vincent Ricciardi, and William O’Connor, Exercise Tiger participants, will be recognized. Presenting the memorial wreath will be the family of PFC Justin Kirby. PFC Kirby was a native of New Bedford who was killed in a vehicle accident while conducting a large-scale military training exercise at Fort Irwin National Training Center in California on March 9, 2020. PFC Kirby was assigned to the Regimental Headquarters and Regimental support squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Irwin. 

Additional participants will include the United States Army Brotherhood of Tankers, WWII reenactors, and local veterans’ organizations. All veterans are invited to attend and are asked to proudly display their service insignia. 

Refreshments will be available inside the Fort Taber Military Museum following the service. For more information about the ceremony, contact Peter Clark, Chairman of the Exercise Tiger Service, at peter.clark@newbedford-ma.gov. 
 

BOSTON – A Taunton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for sexually exploiting an 18-month-old toddler in his care and for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Cody Mercure, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 25 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release. In January 2023, Mercure pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of distribution of child pornography.  

“It is challenging to find the words that capture just how abhorrent and destructive this conduct was. This man sexually exploited an innocent 18-month-old child – a defenseless toddler who, at the time, was still in diapers – and recorded the abuse to watch again and again for his own sick gratification,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Cases of child exploitation are among the most difficult yet most important prosecutions our office handles. My office remains relentless in our work to ensure the safety of our children, remove dangerous predators like Mr. Mercure from our communities, and seek justice for victims.”

“Mercure committed monstruous acts against a child and caused irrevocable pain in the lives of so many. We hope that today’s sentence offers resolution and peace for the victim and their family in this incredibly difficult time,” said Michael Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “HSI works every day to uncover the abuse and exploitation of children and seek justice for those who cannot advocate for themselves.”

On Feb. 19, 2021, Mercure sexually abused a toddler in his care and video-recorded the abuse. Mercure also distributed numerous files of CSAM over the internet using a messaging application. On Jan. 16, 2021, Mercure distributed CSAM depicting the sexual abuse of a prepubescent child to another user of the messaging application. Hundreds of images and videos depicting child pornography were stored on both of Mercure’s phones which were seized at the time of his arrest and in a cloud storage account. In April 2021, Mercure was arrested on related state charges, and he has been in custody since.

U.S. Attorney Rollins and HSI Acting SAC Krol made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Rhode Island State Police and the Taunton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

This content first appeared on The Hill.com

BY ALEXANDER BOLTON - 04/25/23 4:50 PM ET

Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R) on Tuesday blocked a request by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) to allow 184 military promotions to move forward over his objection to the Pentagon’s recently enacted abortion policy.

Tuberville’s protest of the Defense Department’s policy of providing leave and reimbursing some expenses for service members who must travel to obtain abortions has held up a range of military promotions for months, and the first-term senator is vowing not to back down anytime soon.  

“One senator is personally standing in the way of promotions for 184 of our top-level military leaders. One senator is holding up pay raises for men and women in uniform. One senator is blocking key senior military leaders from taking their posts. One senator is jeopardizing America’s national security,” Warren said on the floor.  

Warren tried to break the logjam by requesting unanimous consent for the Senate to proceed immediately to the consideration of Shoshana Chatfield to be confirmed to serve as vice admiral and serve as the nation’s military representative to the NATO military committee.

“At this critical juncture of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, we need her leadership in NATO now more than ever,” Warren argued.  

But Tuberville stood up to slap down Warren’s request, asserting that the Pentagon’s policy is a violation of federal law.  

“I warned Secretary Austin that if he did this and changed this, I would put a hold on his highest-level nominees. Secretary Austin went through with the policy anyway in February of this year, so I am keeping my word,” he said. 

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), the conservative chairman of the Senate Republican Steering Committee, joined Tuberville on the floor to object to Warren’s efforts to seek unanimous consent to advance the stalled military promotions.  

Asked about Tuberville’s blockade of military promotions, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday, “This political showmanship could have a serious impact on our military readiness, on our military force

Westwood, MA, April 24, 2023 — The average gas price in Massachusetts is up 9 cents from last week ($3.39), averaging $3.48 per gallon. Today’s price is 22 cents higher than a month ago ($3.26), and 65 cents lower than April 24, 2022 ($4.13). Massachusetts’ average gas price is 18 cents lower than the national average.

“The recent surge in oil costs took a break last week, with the price of oil tumbling back into the upper $70s per barrel,” said Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast Vice President of Public and Government Affairs. "If this oil price trend continues, drivers may see falling gas prices sooner rather than later."

AAA Northeast’s April 24 survey of fuel prices found the current national average to be 1 cent lower than last week ($3.67), averaging $3.66 a gallon. Today’s national average price is 22 cents higher than a month ago ($3.44), and is 46 cents lower than this day last year ($4.12).
 

This content first appeared on ABC News' Website 

This TV host Tucker Carlson and Fox News have "agreed to part ways," Fox said in a statement Monday.

"We thank him for his service to the network," Fox said in the statement about the top-rated host, which noted that Carlson's last show was on Friday.

The news comes nearly one week after a $787.5 million settlement agreement between the network and Dominion Voting Systems, which had accused Fox of knowingly pushing false conspiracy theories that the voting machine company rigged the 2020 presidential election in Joe Biden's favor, in what Dominion claims was an effort to combat concerns over declining ratings and viewer retention.

Fox defended its coverage, dismissing the suit as a "political crusade in search of a financial windfall."

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A Dominion spokesperson declined to comment on Carlson's departure when contacted by ABC News.

As part of its discovery process, Dominion in February filed court documents containing emails, texts, testimony, and other private communications from Fox News personnel, including Carlson, in which they appeared to cast doubt on claims involving Dominion -- versus what they said on-air to their viewers.

On Nov. 8, Carlson privately texted his producer that the allegations about Dominion were "absurd," according to the Dominion filing. Also that day, Carlson's producer texted him about his own doubts.

"I don't think there is evidence of voter fraud that swung the election," producer Alex Pfeiffer texted to Carlson, per the lawsuit. "The software s--t is absurd," Carlson allegedly responded.

On his show just one night later, Carlson pushed more suggestions of fraud, though he said that "we don't know anything about the software."

"We don't know how many votes were stolen on Tuesday night. We don't know anything about the software that many say was rigged. We don't know. We ought to find out," he said. "But here's what we do know. On a larger level, at the highest levels, actually, our system isn't what we thought it was. It's not as fair as it should be. Not even close."

Carlson during this show also said that "false claims of fraud can be every bit as destructive as the fraud itself," according to the filing, and that "the fraud that we can confirm does not seem to be enough to alter the election results. We should be honest and tell you that..."

In mid-November Carlson also texted one of his producers that "there wasn't enough fraud to change the outcome" of the election, according to the filings, and later said that Sidney Powell, one of then-President Donald Trump's attorneys and a vocal promulgator of election denialism, "is lying."

Months later, on the day of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capital, Carlson called Trump "a demonic force, a destroyer" in a text message to the same producer.

This Content Appeared on ABC News' Website

CNN tweeted that the network and Lemon "have parted ways."

"Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years," CNN said in a statement. "We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors."

The news came hours after Lemon co-hosted "CNN This Morning" alongside Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins.

Lemon wrote on Twitter, "At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network. It is clear that there are some larger issues at play."

CNN CEO Chris Licht told employees the network is "committed" to the "success" of "CNN This Morning."

BOSTON – Not keeping track of how many hours employees under age 16 worked and allowing some to operate a dangerous machine has proved costly for the Berkley, Massachusetts-based operator of 18 Dunkin’ franchise locations in Bristol, Norfolk and Plymouth counties after a U.S. Department Labor investigation.

The department’s Wage and Hour Division learned that Fernando Sardinha, the Dunkin’ franchisee, and his businesses allowed 21 workers, ages 14- and 15-years-old, to work more hours than federal law allows at 12 locations in Assonet, Berkley, Hanover, Marion, Mattapoisett, Middleboro and Weymouth. The division also determined that the employer permitted three employees under age 16 at the Wareham Street location in Middleboro to operate an oven used to make sandwiches, which is a hazardous occupation for young workers.

The division assessed Sardinha and his businesses with $20,121 in civil money penalties to resolve their  violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s child labor provisions. As part of a settlement agreement, the employers agreed to the following to ensure future FLSA compliance at all of their businesses’ locations:

?    Not employ minors under 14 years of age.
?    Create an internal policy to comply with child labor hours standards.
?    Provide color-coded stickers for name tags to identify minor-aged employees.
?    Conduct child labor training sessions with supervisors and managers upon hire and provide them with child labor publications.
?    Provide all employees under the age of 18 with child labor publications.
?    Instruct workers under 18 to adhere to child labor laws.
?    Institute a disciplinary procedure for supervisors and managers who allow federal child labor violations.
?    Appoint a child labor compliance director.
?    Spot-check timesheets to ensure that stores are compliant with child labor laws.
?    Post Regulation 3 Child Labor Hours Standards in a conspicuous place at each location.

“The Fair Labor Standard Act’s child labor provisions limit the employment of 14- and 15-year-olds to those jobs and time periods that the Secretary of Labor has determined will not interfere with their schooling and to conditions which will not pose hazards to their health and well-being,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Carlos Matos in Boston. 

“We encourage employers and young workers and their parents and caregivers to review federal child labor laws to understand employers’ legal obligations and minor-aged workers’ rights and protections,” added Matos. “The Wage and Hour Division offers many online tools and is ready to answer questions to ensure young workers are kept safe and paid fully and assist employers in avoiding the costly consequences that often follow violations.”

Federal labor law prohibits the employment of workers under the age of 14 in non-agricultural settings. At ages 14 and 15, workers must be employed outside of school hours and cannot work:
–    More than 3 hours on a school day, including Friday.
–    More than 18 hours per week when school is in session.
–    More than 8 hours per day when school is not in session.
–    More than 40 hours per week when school is not in session.
–    Before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on any day, except from June 1 through Labor Day, when nighttime work hours are extended to 9 p.m.

This investigation identified numerous instances where 14- and 15-year-old employees worked more than three hours on a school day and past 7 p.m. during the school year. At the Wareham Street store in Middleboro, the investigation found youths working more than 8 hours per day and more than 40 hours per week during a non-school week. 

The Wage and Hour Division found more than 3,800 minors employed in violation of child labor laws in fiscal year 2022, an increase of 37 percent over the previous year. The rise follows the addition of more young workers to the workforce during and after the pandemic. To help employers avoid child labor violations, the Wage and Hour Division has published Seven Child Labor Best Practices for Employers. Learn more about the Fair Labor Standards Act’s child labor provisions.

According to NBC 10 in Providence, roughly 10 million gallons of partially treated wastewater were released into Mount Hope Bay yesterday as a circuit breaker failed at the city's regional wastewater treatment facility early in the morning. The water bypassed the pumps at Fall River's regional wastewater treatment facility after a circuit breaker failed during Saturday night's storm. The plant was back up and running but between the spill and the heavy rain, the Rhode Island DEM closed a section of Mount Hope Bay to quahoggers for the next seven days. The area closed is known as 'Growing Area 17' in Bristol nearby Roger Williams University.

– Following a Supreme Court order staying a Texas federal court judge’s decision that had blocked FDA approval of the medication abortion drug mifepristone, Governor Healey issued a statement emphasizing that mifepristone remains safe, legal and available.

Last week, Governor Healey announced that Massachusetts had stockpiled thousands of doses of mifepristone and signed an Executive Order confirming protections for medication abortion under existing state law. 
 
"Mifepristone remains safe, legal and available in the United States. Today’s Supreme Court order is a victory for patients and providers across the country – a victory for science, medicine and the law.

However, we never should have gotten to this point. Mifepristone has been used safely and effectively for decades and it is the gold standard in medication abortion.

Its approval from the FDA never should have been called into question by one extreme, Trump-appointed judge in Texas,” said Governor Maura Healey. “While today’s ruling ensures that mifepristone continues to remain legal and accessible across the country, we know that the next attack on reproductive freedom is just around the corner.

Patients and providers should know that, in Massachusetts, we have their backs. We’ll continue to stand for civil rights and freedom, and we will always protect access to reproductive health care, including medication abortion.” 

The owners of seven Dunkin' locations in Somerset, Fall River and Dartmouth have been issued four citations totaling $150,000 for failing to obtain valid work permits, employing minors, after 8pm without adult supervision, having 16 and 17-year-olds work over nine hours a day, and the employment of minors before 6am, according to the Massachusetts A-Gs office. 

NBC 10 in Boston is reporting that Somerset Donuts Express and a suburban Boston Dunkin Ownership Group combined for over $350,000 for fines for numerous Massachusetts Child Labor Violations. 

Since January of 2022, The A-Gs office says it issued 32 citations against the owners of several Dunkin Franchises. 

On April 21, 2023, 22-year-old Jeremias Cabral received a two-year sentence, to be served in the House of Correction as a result of his actions on November 4, 2022.

On that day, a 17-year-veteran of the Fall River Police Department was dragged several hundred feet by Cabral as he attempted to flee a traffic stop on his ATV.

After a lengthy and thorough investigation by the Major Crimes Division, Cabral was identified as the operator of the ATV. He was arrested on December 5, 2022 by members of the Major Crimes Division.

Cabral was convicted on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery on a police officer, and negligent operation of a recreational vehicle causing serious bodily injury, and operating a recreational vehicle on a public way.

This is the most recent list of potential contenders, in terms of those who secured nomination documents,  for a possible September Preliminary in Fall River:

Mayor
Paul E. Coogan
C. Samuel Sutter
Michael J. Vandal
Jordan James Silvia
Gabriel Amaral

The number of possible Mayoral Contenders remains at five--three or more would necessitate a September Preliminary. 
 
City Council

Linda M. Pereira
Paul B. Hart
David B. Sullivan
Bradford (Brad) L. Kilby
Bob Pearson
Jordan James Silvia
Gabriel Amaral
Andrew J. Raposo
Gloria Saddler
Joseph Salvador
Ricky T. Tith
Matthew B. Springer
Michelle M. Dionne
Paulo J. Amaral
Joshua Teixeira

Michelle Dionne becomes the latest incumbent to seek re election to the 9 member council. 

Silvia and Gabe Amaral must still decide if they will run for the office of the Executive Branch or a seat on the Legislative Branch under the language of the current city charter.

Nineteen contenders must return valid voter signatures to certification for a September Preliminary. 

 
School Committee

Collin R. Dias
Shelli-Ann Pereira
Charles M. Chase, Jr.
Sara O. Rodrigues
Warren R. Alves

This number of contenders remains unchanged from the last update. 
 

New Bedford, Massachusetts – On April 14, Superior Court Judge Thomas F. McGuire, Jr. granted the City’s request to demolish a mill building located at 1 Rear Coffin Avenue after City inspectors deemed the building “unused, uninhabited, and/or abandoned, and constitutes a danger to life or limb.” The City has sought to secure the building for several years.

On April 20, 2016, the City’s Commissioner of Buildings issued a written order to the property’s owner, Beit Medrash, who acquired the property as a donation in 2015. He was ordered to “begin to secure and/or board up said building or structure and make it safe in accordance with the enclosed Board up Procedures by 12 p.m.” on the day the letter was served. Three years later, on April 11, 2019, the same order was sent to Medrash, with the additional warning of Final Notice of Court Proceedings to Follow.

On April 23, 2019, the City’s Department of Inspectional Services issued a report signed by the City engineer and two others certifying that they had inspected the property and found the structure to be dangerous, unused, uninhabited or abandoned, and open to the weather. On May 14, 2019, Alan R. Clunie of Clunie Engineering, Inc. sent a letter to the City’s Department of Inspectional Services, noting that he had participated in the inspection of the building on April 23rd as part of a Survey Board convened by the City of New Bedford officials, and described the mill building in poor condition.

On June 3, 2019, the City’s Commissioner of Buildings sent a written order requiring Medrash to remove the mill building no later than 12 p.m. on the 10th day after receiving the order, describing the condition of the mill as structural components in ruin and in a state of collapse, and rendering a fire hazard due to the water, power, and sprinkler system being inoperative. The order warned that if Medrash did not comply, the City would either cause the structure to be removed at his expense or seek an order from the Superior Court.

On June 11, 2019, a deputy sheriff served the report of the board of survey and the building commissioner’s order to remove the mill building to Medrash, and on September 4, 2019, the City of New Bedford commenced this action against him seeking an order requiring him to demolish and remove the mill building and if failure to do so, authorized the City to demolish the building.

Medrash was unable to demolish and remove the building ordered by the court due to a lack of financial resources. After filing a lawsuit against Medrash, Judge McGuire ruled in the City’s favor for the removal of the mill building.

“I applaud our legal team led by City Solicitor Eric Jaikes, along with former Housing and Community Development Director Patrick Sullivan, and our Commissioner of Inspectional Services Danny Romanowicz, for their persistence over the past eight years to bring the City’s legal efforts to conclusion,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell. “The building was beyond repair and its removal ultimately will allow for the construction of the long-planned Riverwalk in the Northend.”

“I am very happy by the Superior Court’s decision. Both the neighborhood and I have been very concerned with this dilapidated building, which has been not only a blight in the community, but a possible danger to the residents,” said Maria Giesta, Ward 2 City Councilor.

“I am happy that after significant litigation the Court has ruled in favor of New Bedford, granting the City the authority to demolish this dilapidated structure,” said City Solicitor Eric Jaikes. “It has been open to the elements, a fire hazard, and a danger to the adjoining residential complex for far too long due to the owner’s failure to maintain its property."

CONCORD, Mass. (April 21, 2023) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District announced today that work on the Cape Cod Canal Vertical Lift Railroad Bridge in Bourne, Mass., near Buzzards Bay, will result in the closure of the Cape Cod Canal to all marine traffic April 24 to 28 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

For workers to complete the rehabilitation and replacement of critical bridge components, the Railroad Bridge will be lowered each day and the Canal will be closed to all marine traffic when the bridge is being worked on. 

USACE officials stated the Canal will be re-opened as early as safely possible each work day. The schedule is weather dependent and the number of days with scheduled closures will be reduced if work progresses faster than predicted. 

USACE safety boats will be stationed at both ends of the Canal to warn approaching vessels. Maritime questions should be directed to the Duty Marine Traffic Controller at the Cape Cod Canal Field Office by calling (978) 318-8500 or utilizing VHF Channel 14. 

All U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District news releases are available online at https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/.
 

A Spokesperson for the Bristol County Shierff's Office is confirming what is being termed as ''an incident'' that happened this morning, as a group of prisoners were being moved from one unit to another, will be addressed later this afternoon by Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux. 

In a series of statements released today, the Bristol County Sheriff's office is contending that its trying to make the Dartmouth House of Corrections ''more suicide-resistent''.

A report issued this Spring by a leading expert on jail suicides was commissioned after critics of the Bristol Jail System contended that suicides were happening too often in Dartmouth and the Ash Street Jail in New Bedford. 

As immaturity and hate brew online, Congress should move to protect children by raising, and enforcing, the age of Internet use to 16 and adopting the Massachusetts model of gun-safety legislation. Society can contribute by more openly discussing healthy masculinity.

Last week, federal officials descended on a small town that I represent in Congress to arrest Jack Teixeira, 21, an Air National Guard member, for allegedly leaking classified national defense information. If convicted, he rightfully faces stiff punishment.

Outside the courtroom, the United States has to repair trust with allies, and the Pentagon has pointed questions to answer on Capitol Hill about why junior enlisted personnel can print out top-secret US intelligence about the war in Ukraine. 

Here’s another tough question, though — not one for defense attorneys, diplomats, or generals, but for all of us: Is this young man an outlier, or an emblem? The Washington Post reported Teixeira recorded himself firing weapons while spouting antisemitic comments. His Discord group chat was allegedly riddled with misogyny and racism. And, it seems from early reporting, he dumped classified documents more to impress members of the group chat than to disrupt US foreign policy.

Immaturity and hate, brewing online. I’ve spent the past year speaking with experts and parents about the state of young men in this country, and I’m concerned that what’s unique about this situation is only that this individual had top-secret clearance. Over the last decade, too many young men have retreated from work, education, and family obligations while exhibiting antisocial behaviors. Instead, they are forging their identities online. Their avatars veer into perversity and extremism, with women and minority groups often the target of their conspiracies and bile.

As a father and a policy maker, I feel increasing urgency to address this issue head-on. I spent last summer on the road and on the phone throughout my district to listen and learn. I saw boys thrive in loosely structured after-school dodgeball games that impart self-efficacy.

I heard about how many languished during the COVID-19 pandemic, turning to multiplayer online gaming, which cultivates the opposite qualities from that dodgeball game. Instead of gaining confidence and learning how to set and enforce healthy norms with peers, they are playing at pretend war while keyboarding anonymized vitriol in the associated chats. 

I don’t want this for my son, and after meeting with constituents, I’m confident they agree. But parents feel helpless in the face of social media and video game behemoths that are turning their children into products for advertisers. 

Congress must protect children online. As Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has advised, the United States should raise the age of Internet adulthood from 13 to at least 16. Further, as social psychologist Jonathan Haidt recommended in testimony to the Senate, Congress should adopt the United Kingdom’s Age Appropriate Design Code, a set of 15 standards that includes verifying age, protecting children’s privacy, and using positive behavioral nudges. To lay the groundwork for more evidence-based policy, Congress should also fund research on social media and video games’ effects on children’s mental health and compel companies to share the relevant data.

To prevent disturbed online behavior from morphing into violence, Congress also needs to adopt the Massachusetts model of gun-safety legislation: background checks, safe-storage laws, an assault weapons ban, and more.

Society must also build a positive image of masculinity, something to guide boys and young men toward. What does healthy masculinity look like in 2023? Every parent of sons whom I know is thinking about this.

And yet it’s a fraught topic, often discussed quietly in the din of the culture wars. That’s beginning to change, with important contributions from scholars like Richard Reeves, who has explored education and workforce reforms. We should elevate the discussion, approaching different perspectives with curiosity.

Attention to the well-being of Gen Z men should not detract from equally vital work on the mental health of young women, people of color, and the LGBTQ community, who have been even more negatively affected by the compare-and-despair element of online culture than have young men. All of Gen Z, and the generations that follow, should get the best of technology while being spared its ills. 

The Gen Zer who allegedly leaked classified information will have to own his mistakes if found guilty. But a thoughtful response would not just be punishment for an individual; it would be a call to action for all of us. Too many young men are failing online, and we must help them succeed in the real world.

US Representative Jake Auchincloss represents the Massachusetts 4th Congressional District.
 

According to CBS 12 in Providence, the Attleboro City Council has voted to use hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID relief funds to assist the city’s struggling zoo. The Capron Park Zoo is home to over 120 animals and has been operating with low funds where the pandemic only made matters worse. Capron Park still had to care for its animals during the traveling virus as costs piled up. The zoo stated they rely on a revolving fund to pay employees and cover expenses.

The city council decided to allocate $470,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to the zoo to temporarily save it that is expected to hold them over until the Capron Zoo Task Force, which consists of city and zoo leaders, comes up with a long-term solution.

According to ABC 6 in Providence, students on University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s campus have crafted jewelry and garden tools out of broken-down metals from guns taken off the streets.Swords to Plowshares Northeast has been molding metals from firearms into useful tools for surrounding communities since 2017 and has also partnered with the New Bedford Police Department, who are offering two dozen firearms they bought off city residents. Students and faith leaders stated this felt as a way to symbolize a small step towards peace and the end of gun violence in light of recent school shootings.

The tools will be given to community groups in need.

BOSTON — The owner and operators of a former Somerset scrap metal facility have agreed to pay a total of $300,000 to settle allegations that they illegally discharged industrial stormwater into Mount Hope Bay and emitted dust and noise pollution into the surrounding environment, disrupting the lives of residents in Somerset’s Brayton Point neighborhood,

Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced today. If approved, the majority of the settlement will fund projects to improve the area’s access to and enhance the water quality of Mount Hope Bay.

Pending approval by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the consent decree will settle allegations that the facility’s operators, Eastern Metal Recycling Terminal, LLC and Patriot Stevedoring and Logistics, LLC, and the property’s owner, Brayton Point, LLC, violated the federal Clean Water Act, the federal Clean Air Act, and the Massachusetts Clean Air Act by discharging industrial stormwater into Mount Hope Bay without complying with a federal stormwater discharge permit and by regularly emitting excessive dust and noise from the facility.

“I along with the team are proud of this settlement and grateful for the continued advocacy of the residents and their partnership,” said AG Campbell. “This settlement will improve the water quality in Mount Hope Bay and provide the impacted communities with a cleaner and healthier environment. We will continue to take on companies that put the safety and health of our residents at risk”

“The actions of these entities at Brayton Point put the public’s health in jeopardy and contaminated natural resources in Mount Hope Bay and the Taunton River,” said Commissioner Bonnie Heiple of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). “Today’s announcement underscores our commitment to continue to work closely with residents and with Attorney General Campbell’s office to ensure that our environmental laws are applied in a way that puts our environment and our neighborhoods first.”

“I am grateful to Attorney General Campbell and her team for holding the owners and operators of Brayton Point accountable for the massive disruption they caused to the neighborhood and surrounding communities,” said Representative Pat Haddad (D-5th Bristol). “I am pleased that the AG’s proposed remedy will direct critical funds to projects that will increase access to and enhance the water quality in Mount Hope Bay.”

The scrap metal facility, which ceased operating on March 21, 2022, was located on a peninsula in Mount Hope Bay within 500 yards of a residential community, known as the Brayton Point neighborhood, and was once home to one of New England’s largest coal-fired power plants. After a successful challenge by the Brayton Point neighborhood, the operations shut down after the Massachusetts Land Court held that Brayton Point, LLC was in violation of a town bylaw.

According to the AG’s Office, the defendants’ former operations – including transporting scrap metal materials around the facility with heavy equipment, storing scrap metal piles at the facility, and loading the scrap metal materials onto ships – caused clouds of dust, known as particulate matter, to regularly blow from the facility over Mount Hope Bay and in the direction of the Brayton Point

neighborhood. The AG’s Office alleges that the dust from the facility landed on residents’ homes, windows, plants, cars, and other property. According to the AG’s Office the dust disturbed the residents’ everyday lives, causing them in some cases to lose sleep, change plans, stay indoors, and close their windows. The AG’s Office further alleges that several residents, including children, experienced new or exacerbated respiratory problems since the scrap metal facility began operating.

“I am hopeful that this is closure of a really difficult time,” said Kathy Souza, a Brayton Point resident, who successfully advocated for the plant’s closure. “I am very thankful for the residents of the region who fought daily for years for our fundamental rights for clean air and water, and for the Attorney General’s Office for their unwavering support.”

The AG’s Office also alleges in its lawsuit that the defendants’ discharge of polluted industrial stormwater into Mount Hope Bay poses a threat to aquatic ecosystems and was in violation of industrial stormwater permits issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Stormwater pollution is regulated under a variety of federal Clean Water Act permits and is recognized as the largest threat to water quality in the state. Certain industrial facilities in Massachusetts like this one must obtain specific authorization for stormwater discharges, properly monitor and control stormwater discharges, and comply with state water protection laws.

Under the terms of the consent decree, if approved, defendants are required to comply with the federal Clean Water Act and pay $150,000 to the Town of Somerset, $25,000 to the Town of Swansea, and $25,000 to Greater Fall River Re-Creation, a non-profit organization that provides recreation and other programs to the residents in the Greater Fall River area, emphasizing economically disadvantaged youths.

 The payments are to be used to fund projects that increase access to and enhance the water quality in Mount Hope Bay in the vicinity of the former facility. The settlement also requires the company to pay the state $100,000 to offset the costs of the AG’s multi-year enforcement effort and for future monitoring of the companies’ compliance with the consent decree. The AG’s Office sought and incorporated input from the Brayton Point community on the best use of the settlement funds.

Today’s announcement is part of a civil enforcement initiative out of AG Campbell’s Environmental Protection Division that combats pollution by enforcing the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act and the federal Clean Air Act in Massachusetts, along with applicable state environmental laws. Under this initiative, the AG’s Office has reached 18 settlements with companies and has recovered more than $1.2 million for local environmental improvement projects. The office has also prioritized directing settlement funds from appropriate enforcement actions to support communities that have been historically overburdened by environmental harm.

In her inaugural address earlier this year, AG Campbell pledged to create safer and healthier communities across Massachusetts by fighting to protect the environment and ensuring all residents have clean air, water and land. She also pledged to include the community in the work of the AG’s Office.

This case was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Nora Chorover and Emily Mitchell Field, of the AG Office’s Environmental Protection Division, with assistance from MassDEP Environmental Strike Force Inspectors Steve Spencer and Tim Dame, as well as Michael Whiteside of MassDEP’s Southeast Regional Office in Lakeville.
 

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey and Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper today announced a new pilot program to support cities and towns across Massachusetts in updating and putting their climate change resiliency plans and projects into action. The Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Planning 2.0 (MVP 2.0) expands the MVP grant program, which provides communities with funding and technical support to identify climate hazards, develop strategies to improve resilience, and implement priority actions to adapt to climate change. After a year of reviewing the initial MVP Planning Grant program and conducting extensive stakeholder input, EEA developed MVP 2.0 to include new methods, tools, and resources for updating MVP plans and actions. 
 
“The climate crisis is one of our greatest challenges, but there is enormous opportunity in our response. We have the science, data, tools and commitment to help communities understand how climate change impacts them and take action to advance resiliency and preparedness,” said Governor Maura Healey. “With the next phase of the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, we will harness the incredible resources at our disposal and bring people together to protect our environment, grow our economy and build a more resilient future.” 
 
“As a former mayor, I’ve seen firsthand the impact of the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program on local communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.?“Our administration is about action – this new iteration of the project will take these resiliency plans and put them into action so our cities and towns are better prepared to withstand changing temperatures, flooding, and other climate impacts.” 
 
MVP 2.0 provides communities with guidance and funding to center residents most impacted by climate change in the update process. Cities and towns will also receive innovative training on climate resilience best practices, equity, and environmental justice, revisit priorities in their current MVP plans based on this new knowledge and engagement and receive technical assistance and $50,000 of guaranteed funding to develop and implement an?action project. A new web tool called Guides for Equitable and Actionable Resilience (GEAR) will launch with the program in the next few weeks and aid communities in understanding how local climate impacts may intersect with topics like housing and public health through data explorations, case studies, and key actions communities can take to build resilience. 
 
“As we transition to clean energy, we also need strong protections against the climate impacts already burdening our residents,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. ?“We are excited to keep growing and evolving this program to meet the needs of our communities while achieving our climate goals.” 
 
EEA will award funding to a maximum of 30 communities, five in each region, to undergo the two-year pilot program. Pilot communities will hire a vendor with skills in climate resilience, facilitation, and equity and build a community team with community liaisons, or community members who are from and/or have strong relationships with environmental justice and other priority populations who will be the most impacted by climate change. These community liaisons will be compensated for their time through grant funding. 
 
“The emphasis on engaging environmental justice communities and organizations most impacted by climate change and requiring climate justice training for participants are exciting parts of this new pilot program,” said Undersecretary of Environmental Justice and Equity María Belén Power. “I look forward to working with the MVP program and other Commonwealth grant programs to ensure our funding supports our environmental justice and equity goals.” 
 
Currently, 99 percent, or 349, of municipalities in Massachusetts have completed or are currently completing the original MVP Planning Grant process. Dunstable, Florida, Gill, Oakham, Peru, Russell, Shelburne, and Wales received awards this year. Communities that completed the initial MVP Planning Grant program are eligible to apply to implement their climate resilience priorities through the MVP Action Grant program. 
 
Communities are encouraged to apply to MVP 2.0 as regional groups where feasible, and communities with MVP plans that are five years old are particularly encouraged to apply for the MVP 2.0 pilot to update their plans with the new process, tools, and data that are incorporated into the program. Federally-recognized and state-acknowledged Tribes and Regional Planning Agencies applying on behalf of a municipality or group of municipalities are also able to apply. 
 
“We look forward to providing resources for community-based planning and climate resilience projects through the MVP 2.0 pilot and using this work to inform a full rollout to all communities anticipated next year,” said Undersecretary of Decarbonization & Resilience Katherine Antos. “We will also provide opportunities for communities to network, share lessons learned, and provide feedback to EEA as we continue to improve the program.” 
 
The FY24 round of MVP Action Grant funding is also currently open for applications through May 4, 2023. MVP Action Grants provide funding for communities’ climate resilience priority projects focused on proactive strategies to address climate change impacts. This may include actions to invest in and protect environmental justice neighborhoods and improve public health, nature-based solutions to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and flooding, and climate resilience-focused regulatory updates, among others.  
 
Communities participating in the MVP 2.0 pilot round will still be able to apply for and implement MVP Action Grants at the same time. After the pilot round, EEA intends to require all communities to undergo MVP 2.0 to maintain eligibility in applying for MVP Action Grants, starting with those with the earliest MVP plans. 
 
 

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass.  — The Air Force has selected the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing based in Westfield for transition to the F-35A Lightning II fighter beginning in 2026. The decision means the unit will retire its 18 aging F-15C and D-model aircraft in favor of stationing the Air Force’s latest and most-capable fifth-generation fighter at Barnes Air National Guard Base.
 
The basing decision announced today becomes final when the Secretary of the Air Force signs a Record of Decision (ROD) upon favorable completion of an Environmental Impact Statement on the proposal now underway.

“I’m thrilled that Massachusetts 104th Fighter Wing was selected by the U.S. Department of Defense to receive the F-35A fighter jets. This is great news for Barnes and Massachusetts,” said Gov. Maura Healey, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. “It will keep good jobs in Western Mass, create new jobs, and spur economic development. This is a testament to Massachusetts’ strong support for our military, our economic competitiveness, our unmatched education system and our bright future. I’m grateful for the hard work of Senator Warren, Chairman Neal and the Massachusetts Congressional delegation as well as the Massachusetts National Guard to secure this result.”

“This is a just a good fit,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe, adjutant general of Massachusetts. “The 104th has years of experience with the fighter mission at home and abroad, the community is used to fighter operations and provides tremendous support, and the base is perfectly located for defense of the homeland.”
 
The F-35A guarantees the long-term viability of the 104th and continuation of its vital air dominance mission for many years to come.
 
“This decision validates the Wing’s exceptional performance,” said Air Force Col. David L. “Moon” Halasikun, 104th commander. “We’ve provided air defense for 40 million Americans in New England and New York, a population that produces roughly 30% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, through the 24/7/365 no-fail Aerospace Control Alert mission, and our stellar performance was a big factor.”
 
As part of the selection process, the Air Force looked at F-15C units located in the continental United States. The single-seat F-15C and two-seat F-15D models entered the inventory beginning in 1979. The service wants to replace the legacy fighters with state-of-the-art aircraft to better address future mission requirements and provide life-cycle cost savings when compared to continued operation of the F-15C/D, which it determined is not economically feasible to retain beyond 2026. The Air Force has already begun retiring older F-15s.
 
“The Air Force is looking out to 2040 and beyond as it builds its future fighter force,” said Air Force Brig. Gen. Virginia I. Gaglio, commander of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. “We’re very happy the 104th will figure prominently in that mix.”
 
The F-35A beddown includes 18 aircraft. The total number of personnel would increase by approximately 80 people including 15 officers and 65 enlisted military members.
 
In terms of new construction or remodeling of existing facilities, because the 104th has flown the F-15C, Barnes Air National Guard Base and Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport already offer much of the infrastructure needed to beddown the F-35A. Any construction would begin after the Secretary of the Air Force approves the ROD, expected in the summer of 2024.
 
Also announced today, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans and Fresno Air National Guard Base, California, will replace their F-15C/D Eagles with F-15EX Strike Eagles.
 
For information on the EIS, visit the project website at https://www.angf15ex-f35a-eis.com.

 
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ABOUT THE 104TH FIGHTER WING:The 104th Fighter Wing is made up of highly-trained personnel ready to provide Air Superiority on-demand anywhere in the world with 21 assigned F-15C Eagle Aircraft. The 104th is trained to provide 24/7 Aerospace Control Alert, providing armed F-15 fighters ready to scramble in a moment’s notice to protect the Northeast United States from any airborne threat, security for one-quarter of the nation’s population and over one-third of the Gross Domestic Product. The Wing is always on call for emergency response to include security, logistics, communications, explosive ordnance disposal, firefighting, and medical support to the nation and Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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STATE HOUSE – Rep. Susan R. Donovan is sponsoring legislation that would require packaging for all cannabis products sold in Rhode Island to use packaging that is child- and tamper-resistant, and that does employ imagery that typically appeals to children.

The legislation also prohibits such packaging from mimicking the look of non-cannabis products that appeal to children and requires packaging to contain, among other things, a label reminding purchasers to keep the product out of the reach of children. 

“Cannabis products must be sold responsibly, in a way that protects children. To the degree that it is possible, packaging should be hard for young children to open

. Under no circumstances should we allow cannabis products to be sold in packages that appeal to kids, or worse, lead children to believe the product is something like cookies or candy that they like to eat,” said Representative Donovan (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth), who is chairwoman of the House Health and Human Services Committee. “Having a legal recreational cannabis industry in our state means we can and should use the state’s regulatory power to protect kids from these products.”
The legislation (2023-H 5486) requires cannabis products to be sold in packaging that is certified tamper- or child-resistant and resealable if intended for multiple uses, and in compliance with the poison-prevention packaging regulations of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. All packaging would be required to include a label, in all-capitals, that reads KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

If compliance with tamper or child-resistant packaging is deemed unreasonable for a product, the bill would require it be placed in a plain or opaque exit bag that is capable of being resealed and made tamper- or child-resistant resistant again after it has been opened.

The bill further stipulates that all packaging should not be attractive to minors, and explicitly prohibits packaging from using neon colors, cartoons, images of minors or of celebrities that appeal to children, featuring words or brands commonly associated with or marketed to minors or from imitating or having a resemblance to any existing branded consumer products that do not contain marijuana.

As such products have proliferated and more states including Rhode Island have legalized recreational cannabis use, there has been an increase in the number of children nationwide who have accidentally ingested cannabis products. According to a study in the journal Pediatrics, 3,054 U.S. children under six accidentally consumed cannabis edibles in 2021, almost 15 times as many who did so in 2017, which was 207.

“Cannabis is allowed for adults only, and the packaging needs to be reflective of that fact. Of course it should be child-resistant, and it also should be extremely distinct from packaging of treats that kids want to eat. There’s too much risk in allowing these products to be packaged in ways that make them so appealing and accessible to children,” said Representative Donovan.
 

FALL RIVER/SOMERSET - The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing it will be conducting routine bridge inspection operations on the Braga Bridge carrying I-195 over the Taunton River in Fall River and Somerset.

The work is expected to be conducted daily from Monday, April 24, through Friday, April 28, during daytime hours from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Single lane closures of the right travel lane in the eastbound and westbound directions on I-195 will be required to perform the work.  Lane closures will be performed in only one direction at a time as needed.  

Traffic management will consist of standard temporary traffic control operations utilizing police details.

Drivers who are traveling through the affected areas should expect delays, reduce speed, and use caution.  

All scheduled work is weather dependent and/or may be impacted due to an emergency situation.

For more information on traffic conditions, travelers are encouraged to: 
•    Download the Mass511 mobile app or visit www.mass511.com to view live cameras, travel times, real-time traffic conditions, and project information before setting out on the road. Users can subscribe to receive text and email alerts for traffic conditions.
•    Dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions.
•    Follow MassDOT on Twitter @MassDOT to receive regular updates on road and traffic conditions.
 

The private universities hosted in the City of Providence include Brown University, the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Providence College, and Johnson and Wales University, all of which collectively own property assessed at almost $2.5 billion according to a 2022 report from the City of Providence.

If the schools paid the same property tax rate as private businesses, they would collectively contribute over $90 million each year to the city’s tax revenue. 

But under current state law, 501(c)(3) nonprofits such as colleges and universities, do not pay property taxes. In 2012, the four schools agreed to voluntary contributions to city coffers through a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement. These contributions are strictly voluntary and amount to a small fraction of what they would be if they paid the same tax rate as most property owners.

When a student living in a dorm at Brown University or Providence College calls 911, employees of the City of Providence respond, just like they would for any other resident. But because these private universities only pay a fraction in taxes, compared to most Providence residents and small businesses, providing these services can be a drain on city finances.

Separate from the PILOT agreement, Senator Tiara Mack (D-Dist. 6, Providence) and Rep. David Morales (D-Dist. 7, Providence) have introduced legislation (2023-S 0859, 2023-H 5603) that would enable cities and towns to tax private college and university endowments up to 2% of the school’s endowment, with money directed to that city’s public schools. The city or town would have to proactively pass an ordinance to levy the tax.

“While our Providence public schools have continued to struggle in terms of academic outcomes, a growing staffing crisis among educators, and crumbling infrastructure, most of our private universities, located just miles away from our public schools, have been financially thriving.

Year after year, these private universities continue to rapidly grow in terms of property ownership, institutional wealth, the hiring of six-figure administrators and the massive size of their endowments. During a time where our city’s property tax base is limited, given that more than 40% of our land is exempt from taxation, and we continue to have a state education funding formula that does not adequately fund urban school districts, cities like Providence need to demand more accountability from the universities that we host,” said Representative Morales, a Brown University graduate. “In many ways, Brown University operates like an investment bank with a school attached. Meanwhile, Providence residents, business owners and students are struggling to get ahead. Therefore, we should allow the city of Providence and other municipalities the freedom to tax these enormous assets, separate from just negotiated PILOT agreements.”

Brown’s endowment has more than doubled since the last time the PILOT was negotiated and peer institutions have dramatically increased their PILOT payments recently. Yale, for example, now pays over $23 million to the city of New Haven each year compared to the $4.5 million Brown paid Providence. Under New Hampshire law, Dartmouth College pays property taxes on much of its real estate.

“Brown was founded in 1764, more than a decade before the United States declared independence,” said Senator Mack. “It is a staple of the city and while current law may exclude its endowment from being fully taxed, we must acknowledge the costs for taxpayers. The city of Providence and Mayor Smiley will start negotiations this year with Brown and other private institutions to update their financial payments.

Brown’s endowment has more than doubled since the last negotiation, and we hope to see the conversation around PILOT payments reflect this increase. Similar institutions Harvard and Yale pay their local municipalities $15 million and $23 million respectively and have increased their commitments in recent years. I am a proud 2016 Brown alum, and my time on campus as an undergrad was defined by serving the community and a commitment to equity and justice.

The conversations ahead of Brown and the mayor, and the other institutions, will test if the ethos of Brown—to serve the community, nation and world— is embodied in full by its students and leadership alike.”

Advocates say colleges are quick to discuss the benefits they bring but slower to acknowledge the harms. Students can drive up housing costs and price out long-term residents. And as schools grow, they take more and more land off the tax rolls, putting a bigger burden on private property owners.
“As students, many of us are here thanks to key educational supports, and we know that a well-funded education system is a cornerstone to personal success and community growth,” said Carina Sandoval from the Coalition for University Accountability. “When there are such prosperous universities with growing endowments in the same neighborhoods as underfunded or closing schools, the apparent disparities demand action in the form of greater financial contribution. The Coalition for University Accountability is in support of the endowment tax because we recognize universities’ responsibility to support the communities that they call home and the people they call neighbors.”

“It’s true these colleges bring a lot of benefits to our city,” said Senator Mack. “But they bring costs, too. They drive up housing prices and use city resources. They should contribute just like the rest of us do.”
 

Three men and a teenage boy were arrested over the weekend for reportedly shooting paintballs at another car while driving in Swansea. According to CBS 12 in Providence, officers responded to Route 6 early Saturday morning after a caller claimed a car full of men was shooting at another vehicle. Police searched the vehicle, and found several paintball guns. The suspects, identified  as 18-year-old Corey Dechaine, 19-year-old Derek Raposo, 21-year-old Austin Hobbs and a 17-year-old boy, were arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct and conspiracy.

The driver of the vehicle the suspects were shooting at was reported to not have been seriously injured.

Demolition work begins this week at the South Attleboro MBTA station. According to CBS 12 in Providence, the work is expected to continue through June and will include the removal of the pedestrian bridge, along with the ramps and stairs around the station area. Construction crews will complete the demolition work during the overnight hours from Sunday through Thursday and tell commuters and residents to expect noise from heavy machinery between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., alongside light towers and generators. State Rep. Jim Hawkins estimates the construction will be completed in a few years, noting the project is not yet fully funded.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission Releases March 2023 Casino and Sports Wagering Revenue? 
 
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission reported today that the month of March 2023 at Plainridge Park Casino (PPC), MGM Springfield (MGM) and Encore Boston Harbor (EBH) generated approximately $105 million in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR).?? 
? 
Additionally, March saw the launch of online and mobile sports wagering at six Category 3 licensees on March 10, 2023. Approximately $47.06 million in taxable sports wagering revenue (TSWR) was generated across the six mobile/online licensees and the three in-person licensees for the month of March.  
?? 
Gross Gaming Revenue (casino gaming)? 
PPC, a category 2 slots facility, is taxed on 49% of GGR. Of that total taxed amount, 82% is paid to Local Aid and 18% is allotted to the Race Horse Development Fund. MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor, category 1 resort-casinos, are taxed on 25% of GGR; those monies are allocated to several specific state funds as determined by the gaming statute.??? 
?? 
To date, the Commonwealth has collected approximately $1.374 billion in total taxes and assessments from the casino operations of PPC, MGM and Encore since the respective openings of each gaming facility.???? 
?? 
View comprehensive revenue reports for each gaming licensee here. MGC issues monthly revenue reports on the 15th of each month or next business day.? 
 
  

Sports Wagering Revenue? 
EBH, MGM, and PPC are licensed as Category 1 Sports Wagering Operators, which allows them to operate a retail sportsbook at their respective property. Category 1 operators are taxed on 15% of TSWR.? 
 
Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, and WynnBet are licensed as Category 3 Sports Wagering Operators, which allows them to operate a mobile or online sportsbook. Category 3 operators are taxed on 20% of TWSR. 
 
Of the total taxed amount for all operators, 45% is allotted to the General Fund, 17.5% to the Workforce Investment Trust Fund, 27.5% to the Gaming Local Aid Fund, 1% to the Youth Development and Achievement Fund, and 9% to the Public Health Trust Fund. ? 
? 
To date, the Commonwealth has collected approximately $9.65 million in total taxes and assessments from the sports wagering operations of licensed operators since sports wagering began in person on January 31, 2023 and online on March 10, 2023.?? 
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A settlement has been reached in Dominion Voting Systems' defamation lawsuit against Fox News, Judge Eric Davis has announced in the courtroom.

"The parties have resolved their case," the judge said.

ABC News and CNBC are reporting that Fox Corp will pay Dominion Voting Systems $787 million 

"We wish to express our deepest appreciation" to the court, a Dominion attorney told the judge.

Davis commended both teams, saying, "I've been on the bench since 2010 ... and I think this is the best lawyering I've had, ever."

Police are asking the public for help after they say they found evidence of a hate crime in Dartmouth. According to CBS 12 in Providence, Dartmouth police say they responded to the Burgo Basketball Association facility on Slocum Road on Saturday where they located a dumpster with a derogatory term spray-painted on it. Dartmouth police said they have not identified any suspects yet and that if Anyone with information or video relating to the vandalism is asked to contact the Dartmouth Police Department or leave Anonymous tips by using the Dartmouth Police Department Tip 411 system. 

The man who died following a crash involving a student driver over the weekend was a retired teacher and coach. According to CBS 12 in Providence, 80 year old John Masciarelli suffered a medical emergency Saturday morning after the car he was riding collided with another vehicle near Mansfield High School. Masciarelli was in the backseat of the car, which was being driven by a student with the Teachers Driving Academy. He was rushed to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The student driver and road test instructor, as well as the driver of the other car involved, were all transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

The student driver was cited for failing to yield to oncoming traffic as the crash remains under investigation at this time.

April 17: OF Jarren Duran recalled from Triple-A Worcester; INF Bobby Dalbec optioned; RHP Brayan Bello activated off IL; RHP Jake Faria designated for assignment

In time for the annual Patriots' Day game, Bello was activated for his first start of the season. Boston's 23-year-old righty, who possesses electric stuff, will face off against Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani in a compelling matchup.

Of course, Bello will also be faced with the challenge of having to pitch to Ohtani, one of the most dangerous hitters in the game.

Bello is starting the season a couple of weeks late due to some right forearm tightness he experienced early in Spring Training.

In his final Minor League rehab start with Triple-A Worcester, Bello allowed one run over six innings, walking none and striking out four.

With Bello's return, Faria, who was called up Sunday, was designated for assignment.

In four games with the Red Sox after his callup on April 10, Dalbec went 2-for-9 with two walks while making one start each at first base, third base and shortstop.

Duran is up with Boston for the first time this season. The 26-year-old has batted .219/.269/.354 in 91 career games with the Red Sox.

The Red Sox lost the final game of the series with the L-A Angeles of Anaheim, by a final of 5-4. 

The contest was marked by a pair of one hour rain delays, one that delayed the start of the game, and the other halting the game for an hour in the second inning. 

The Sox meet Minnesota in Fenway Park starting at 6-10pm Tuesday with a 7-10 first pitch on 95.9 and 1480 WSAR. 

Westwood, MA, April 17, 2023 — The average gas price in Massachusetts is up 5 cents from last week ($3.34), averaging $3.39 per gallon.

Today’s price is 11 cents higher than a month ago ($3.28), and 68 cents lower than April 17, 2022 ($4.07). Massachusetts’ average gas price is 28 cents lower than the national average.

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline rose seven cents since last week to hit $3.67. The main culprit is the high cost of oil, gasoline's main ingredient, which is hovering in the low $80s per barrel. The national average has risen daily since March 29. 

“When the cost of crude oil crosses the $80 a barrel mark, that puts a lot of upward pressure on what we pay at the pump,” said Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast Vice President of Public and Government Affairs, "and as long as oil costs remain at the current level, drivers will likely see incremental price increases for now."

AAA Northeast’s April 17 survey of fuel prices found the current national average to be 7 cents higher than last week ($3.60), averaging $3.67 a gallon. Today’s national average price is 22 cents higher than a month ago ($3.45), and is 41 cents lower than this day last year ($4.08).

The 21-year-old arrested in connection with the leaked documents probe has been charged with unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information and willful retention of classified documents, which collectively carry a maximum of 15 years in prison.

Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air Force National Guard, made his initial appearance before a federal magistrate in Boston on Friday morning.

Teixeira walked into court in a beige smock and pants with a black T-shirt underneath. He entered in handcuffs, which were removed before he sat at the defense table with his attorney. Teixeira appeared to briefly scan the crowd while in his seat.

Three people sat on a bench in the front row reserved for relatives of the defendant.

As Teixeira was re-handcuffed and led from court, someone in the front row called out, "Love you, Jack." The 21-year-old responded, "Love you, too, dad."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadine Pellegrini sought pretrial detention, which was granted pending the outcome of a hearing on Wednesday.

Teixeira was taken into custody in Massachusetts on Thursday "in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information," Attorney General Merrick Garland announced.

Media reports have described the U.S. intelligence documents -- which seem to contain top-secret information about the Ukraine war and other parts of the world -- as being shared among a small group of users on Discord before getting wider notice.

The criminal complaint alleges Teixeira "improperly and unlawfully retained and transmitted national defense information to people not authorized to receive it."

On Monday, the FBI interviewed an unidentified member of the Discord chatroom where Teixeira allegedly posted classified documents, according to the charging documents. That individual provided the FBI with information that the alleged leaker went by "Jack," appeared to live in Massachusetts and had claimed he was a member of the Air National Guard. He also said he'd chatted with him on video and that the suspect was "a white male who was clean-cut in appearance and between 20 and 30 years old," according to the charging documents.

While Discord is not mentioned by name, the complaint indicates the platform helped the FBI by providing the credentials behind the account associated with the leak.

According to the complaint, Teixeira accessed a government document on Feb. 23 and posted it the following day. It’s the disclosure of that document that forms the basis of the initial charges.

President Joe Biden in a statement Friday said he commended "the rapid action taken by law enforcement to investigate and respond to the recent dissemination of classified U.S. government documents."

"While we are still determining the validity of those documents, I have directed our military and intelligence community to take steps to further secure and limit distribution of sensitive information, and our national security team is closely coordinating with our partners and allies," Biden said.

ABC News' Emily Shapiro and Ben Gittleson contributed to this report.

Taylor Snow
Taylor Snow?@taylorcsnow
Sr. Writer
April 12, 20235:07 PM EDT

After defeating Atlanta in Sunday’s regular-season finale, the Boston Celtics will welcome back the Hawks to TD Garden for Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Boston finished with the second-best record in both the NBA and the Eastern Conference at 57-25, while Atlanta closed out the regular season in eighth place at 41-41, but moved up to the seventh seed after an upset victory over the seventh-place Miami Heat in Tuesday night’s 7-8 play-in game.

The Celtics and Hawks share a storied postseason history, dating all the way back to the 1957 NBA Finals when rookies Bill Russell and Tom Heinsohn led Boston to its first NBA championship.

Boston holds a 10-2 playoff series advantage over the Hawks all-time; however, their most recent meeting in 2016 featured one of those two losses to an Al Horford-led Atlanta squad.

As they set to face off for their 11th postseason matchup, let’s take a look at some of the key stats and storylines pertaining to the series.

C's Have Dominated in Recent History
Much like with their postseason history, the Celtics have had Atlanta’s number in its recent regular-season matchups. Boston has won five straight head-to-head battles dating back to last season, three of which were decided by double-digits.

The Hawks had more trouble against the Celtics than any other opponent this season, as Boston outscored them by a total of 40 points in their three matchups. No other team outscored Atlanta by more than 29 points.

Boston’s average scoring margin of 13.33 points was more than twice as high as any other East opponent of the Hawks (Toronto at 5.67 PPG).

The first two matchups took place in Atlanta, resulting in a 126-101 Celtics win on Nov. 16 followed by a 134-125 C’s win on March 11. Boston then beat the Hawks, 120-114 at home during the last game of the regular season during which both teams rested all of their regular starters.

Elite Offenses Going Toe-to-Toe
As you can see in the results listed above, Celtics-Hawks matchups tend to be high-scoring affairs. That’s just what happens when two elite offenses face off.

Atlanta and Boston were the highest-scoring teams in the East this season, with the Hawks leading the conference with 118.4 points per game and the Celtics right behind at 117.9 PPG.

However, Atlanta’s scoring was somewhat skewed by the fact that it played at the second-fastest pace in the conference compared to Boston, which played at the ninth-fastest pace. Thus, the Celtics actually had the No. 1 offensive rating in the East at 117.3 points per 100 possessions compared to Atlanta’s fourth-place mark of 115.5.

Boston’s offensive success was a result of its elite ball movement, as it ranked second in the conference in assists per game at 27.6. Atlanta’s mark of 25.0 APG ranked eighth despite having the league’s individual leader in total assists, Trae Young, for the second straight year.

Key Matchup: Trae Young vs. Derrick White
Atlanta’s entire offense revolves around Young (26.2 PPG and 10.2 APG) and it’s going to take a group effort to slow him down. Marcus Smart and Derrick White will share a large portion of that responsibility, but we’re going to focus on the matchup that we saw the most of during the regular season, and that was White vs. Young.

White’s defense suffocated guards all over the league this season, which has made him a primary candidate for the All-Defense Team. However, Young gave him more trouble than anyone.

White gave up 9.5 points per game to Young during the possessions in which he guarded him, which was the highest average of any player defended by White all season. Young scored a total of 19 points during his 45.4 offensive possessions against White, all while shooting 50 percent from the field and 60.0 percent from 3-point range.

With that being noted, White should still be up for the task. He led all guards in blocked shots this season, which could be used to his advantage against a driving threat such as Young. Plus, White should get plenty of help from Smart, who only played in one game against Young this season.

As much success as Young had scoring against White, the same could be said on the other side of the ball. White’s 7.0 points per game while being guarded by Young were the most of any player who faced off against Young in multiple games this season. In his 65.3 offensive possessions while being guarded by Young, White scored 14 points on 66.7 percent shooting from the field and 100 percent shooting from 3-point range, while also only turning the ball over just once.

Battle of the Boards
Atlanta’s key to success in its play-in win over the Heat Tuesday night was its dominance on the offensive boards. The Hawks grabbed 22 rebounds on the offensive glass, eight of which were corralled by Clint Capela who finished with two more such rebounds than Miami’s entire roster.

Where it gets interesting is that the Celtics were the best defensive rebounding team in the league this season with a defensive rebounding percentage of 74.6 percent. However, Atlanta’s 14.3 offensive rebounds per game against the Celtics were the most corralled by any of their Eastern Conference foes.

Capela wasn’t the main issue for Boston in this case, as he grabbed just six offensive boards in two matchups. Instead, it was Onyeka Okongwu causing most of the trouble, as he corralled 14 offensive rebounds in three games.

There is an explanation for Boston’s unique struggles in this area against the Hawks: Robert Williams was not on the floor for any of the three matchups. Having the All-Defensive center back in the lineup should totally change the rebounding landscape and help keep guys like Capela and Okonwu off the glass.

Clean Bills of Health

It’s a rarity for two teams to head into a playoff series with clean bills of health, but that is exactly how it’s shaping up for the Celtics and Hawks as they prepare for Saturday’s opener. With the exception of former Hawk, Danilo Gallinari, who has missed the entire season recovering from ACL surgery, Boston expects to have all hands on deck for Game 1.

Two Celtics of note were dealing with minor injuries last week: Jaylen Brown with a lacerated finger and Marcus Smart with neck spasms. Brown was unable to practice Tuesday morning, but head coach Joe Mazzulla anticipates he’ll be back on the court by Thursday or Friday before heading into Saturday’s game without any restrictions.

Meanwhile, Smart was a full go at practice. “He's good, he's ramped up,” said Mazzulla. “He was great today in practice, went live, he said he felt good, so he'll be ready to go.”

The Hawks had no players on their injury report as of Wednesday morning, so it appears as though we’ll get two fully healthy teams to start off the series.

Atlanta’s Struggles Against Boston’s Bench
One of the greatest advantages that the Celtics have going for them in this series is depth. Atlanta has struggled tremendously against Boston’s second-unit players this season, and that may continue to be an issue throughout this series.

Sam Hauser was a thorn in the Hawks’ wing in all three matchups and surprisingly tied Jayson Tatum for the team-high in total points against Atlanta with 53 points on 66.7 percent shooting from the field and 68.0 percent shooting from long range.

Payton Pritchard averaged 22.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in two matchups against the Hawks while shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 59.1 percent from deep.

Former Hawk Mike Muscala scored a career-high 27 points against Atlanta in the season finale and Malcolm Brogdon scored 18 points in his lone matchup against the Hawks.

In all, 10 different Celtics averaged double digits in scoring against Atlanta this season, including five players who typically come off the bench. Some of those numbers were skewed during the regular-season finale, but there's value in the fact that every Celtics player who will see the court in this series has had some sort of offensive success against the opponent.

by National Hockey League @NHL / NHL.com
 April 14, 2023

NEW YORK (April 13, 2023) - The Boston Bruins tandem of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman have won the 2022-23 William M. Jennings Trophy, presented annually to the goaltenders who play a minimum of 25 games for the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season.

Boston, which concluded its regular-season schedule tonight, yielded a League-low 177 goals (including shootout-deciding goals) to finish ahead of its nearest competition, the Carolina Hurricanes (213), by 36 goals - the largest gap between the top two teams in goals against since 1990-91, when the Chicago Blackhawks (211) allowed 38 fewer goals than the Montreal Canadiens (249).

Ullmark (40) and Swayman (24) combined for 64 of the Bruins' record-setting 65 victories to help the team earn its fourth Jennings Trophy, adding to wins in 2019-20 (Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak), 2008-09 (Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez) and 1989-90 (Andy Moog and Rejean Lemelin). Boston became the fourth team to claim the Jennings Trophy, which first was awarded in 1981-82, at least four times, joining the Canadiens (6x), Blackhawks (5x) and New Jersey Devils (5x).

Ullmark (40-6-1 in 49 GP) currently paces the NHL in wins (40), goals-against average (1.89) and save percentage (.938). He can become the sixth different goaltender in League history to outright lead the NHL in all three categories and the fifth to do so in the expansion era (since 1967-68), following Carey Price (2014-15 w/ MTL), Ed Belfour (1990-91 w/ CHI), Bernie Parent (1973-74 w/ PHI) and Ken Dryden (1972-73 w/ MTL). Jacques Plante also achieved the feat three times in the pre-expansion era (1961-62, 1958-59 and 1955-56, all w/ MTL).

Among his 2022-23 highlights, Ullmark became the fastest goaltender in NHL history to reach the 40-win milestone, doing so in his 49th and final game of the season (three fewer than Braden Holtby in 2015-16 w/ WSH); tied a Bruins record for wins in one season (Pete Peeters: 63 GP in 1982-83); allowed two or fewer goals in 36 of his 49 total appearances (73.5%); made a career-high and franchise-record 54 saves Feb. 28 at CGY; and became the 13th different netminder in League history - and first with the Bruins - to score a regular-season goal (Feb. 25 at VAN).

Swayman played in 37 games, going 24-6-4 while yielding two or fewer goals 23 times (62.2%). Entering tonight's schedule, he placed third in the League in goals-against average (2.21), fourth in save percentage (.922) and tied for fourth in shutouts (4).

The Bruins became the first team in NHL history to feature both a 40-win and a 20-win goaltender. The 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning (Andrei Vasilevskiy: 39, Louis Domingue: 21) and 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings (Chris Osgood: 39, Mike Vernon: 21) - who previously shared the single-season wins record - were the closest prior teams to achieving the feat.

BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox have  reinstated right-handed pitcher Garrett Whitlock from the 15-Day Injured List. To make room for Whitlock on the active roster, the club optioned right-handed pitcher Kutter Crawford to Triple-A Worcester following last night’s game.

Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the announcement.

Whitlock, 26, began the season on the Injured List due to recovery from a successful right hip arthroscopy performed on September 26, 2022, by Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

The right-hander appeared in two Grapefruit League games for the Red Sox during 2023 Spring Training and made rehab starts with Triple-A Worcester on March 31 and Double-A Portland on April 6.

Over the two rehab starts, Whitlock allowed two runs, seven hits, and two walks with 14 strikeouts in 10.0 innings. Selected by the Red Sox in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft, he is 12-6 with a 2.73 ERA (46 ER/151.2 IP) in 77 career appearances (nine starts) with the Red Sox (2021-22).

Crawford, 27, has gone 1-1 with an 8.00 ERA (8 ER/9.0 IP) over two starts this season, most recently allowing only one run in 5.0 innings Sunday in Detroit. Selected by the Red Sox in the 16th round of the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Florida Gulf Coast University, Crawford owns a 6.11 ERA (62 ER/88.1 IP) over 25 career appearances (15 starts) with Boston (2021-23).

Ferreira will be working on Monday (Patriots Day) saw cutting Rodman St. at the intersection of 5^th and heading west on Rodman towards S. Main St.

1. Judson Street – Rodman St. to York St. – gas main Installation. (Tuesday – Friday)
2. Rodman St – Heading west towards South Main St – road saw cutting (Monday – Friday)

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu have laid a wreath at the Memorial for those murdered and injured during the Boston Marathon Bombing early this morning on Boylston Street in Boston. 

Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll will dedicate the Boston Marathon  Finish Line in the Six Hunderd Block of Boylston Avenue later this afternoon. 

On Monday, Governor Healey will visit the Marathon Command Center at MEMA Headquarters in Framingham, and will be at the Finish Line Monday Afternoon. 

Mayor

Paul E. Coogan
C. Samuel Sutter
Michael J. Vandal
Jordan James Silvia
Gabriel Amaral

Silvia and Amaral must decide which office they wish to run for in the end, as both have taken out documents for Mayor and one of the nine City Council Seats. 
 
City Council

Linda M. Pereira
Paul B. Hart
David B. Sullivan
Bradford (Brad) L. Kilby
Bob Pearson
Jordan James Silvia
Gabriel Amaral
Andrew J. Raposo
Gloria Saddler
Joseph Salvador
Ricky T. Tith
Matthew B. Springer

Three City Council Incumbents--Andrew Raposo, Brad Kilby and Linda Pereria--have taken out documents, while Tith and Springer have appreared on Prior Ballots...Hart is a former City Council Member who was selected to the School Committee, while Sullivan is a former State Rep, Mayoral Finalist and City Council Member. 
 
School Committee

Shelli-Ann Pereira
Charles M. Chase, Jr.
Collin R. Dias
Sara O. Rodrigues
Warren R. Alves

Pereria and Rodriques are incumbents while Dias ran in the last Fall River Election Cycle 
 

The Boston Red Sox come back to Fenway Park Friday 8 games out of first in the A-L East to open a homestand with the Los Angels of Anaheim for four games, and three with Minnesota. 

Coverage on WSAR Friday at 6:10, Saturday at 6:10, Saturday at 3:10 and Sunday at 12:35, with the Patriots Day Monday Morning Game at 10:10 with the Mass Mutual Pre Game on the Red Sox Radio Network on 95.9 and 1480. 

The Sox are 3-7 over their last 10 and were swept in Tropicana Field by the Rays. 

The Sox then head back out on the road next week for games in Milwaukee and Baltimore. 

The FBI on Thursday made a probable cause arrest in North Dighton, Massachusetts, in connection with the leaked documents probe.

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Jack Teixeira was taken into custody in relation to the investigation into "alleged authorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information."

Teixeira, 21, is a member of the Massachusetts Air Force National Guard.

"FBI agents took Teixeira into custody earlier this afternoon without incident," the attorney general said. "He will have an initial appearance at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts."

Garland continued: "I want to thank the FBI, Justice Department prosecutors and our colleagues at the Department of Defense for the diligent work on this case. This investigation is ongoing. We will share more information at the appropriate time."

The FBI said it was continuing to conduct law enforcement activity at the residence where Teixeira was arrested.

"Since late last week the FBI has aggressively pursued investigative leads and today's arrest exemplifies our continued commitment to identifying, pursuing, and holding accountable those who betray our country's trust and put our national security at risk," the FBI said in a statement.

Earlier, at the Pentagon, spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, said, "It is important to understand that we do have stringent guidelines in place for safeguarding classified and sensitive information. This was a deliberate, criminal act -- a violation of those guidelines."

Media reports have described the documents as being shared among a small group of users on Discord before getting wider notice. The Washington Post interviewed one person, who said he was part of the group, who believes the alleged leaker, who he said goes by the moniker "OG," worked on a military base.

.
President Joe Biden broke his silence earlier Thursday on the leak of apparently highly classified documents after the Washington Post report.

Biden told reporters in Dublin that the Justice Department was "getting close" in its criminal investigation into how the U.S. intelligence documents -- which seem to contain top-secret information about the Ukraine war and other parts of the world -- ended up online.

"Right now there's a full-blown investigation going on and, you know, with the intelligence community and the Justice Department, and they're getting close," Biden said when asked if he could provide an update on the probe. "But I don't have an answer."

The disclosure has raised diplomatic issues over the apparent revelation that U.S. intelligence has been spying on its allies as well as on its adversaries. Asked whether he was concerned about the leak, Biden played down its potential impact.

"I'm concerned that it happened," Biden said. "But there is nothing contemporaneous that I'm aware of that is of great consequence."

The Washington Post characterized the alleged leaker as a "young, charismatic gun enthusiast" who began disseminating the documents in a private server group on Discord last fall.

The Washington Post cited an interview with a teenager who said he was part of the group, which he said he joined at the start of the pandemic and contained roughly two dozen members, some from foreign countries.

The teen referred to the leaker as "OG" and said he was in his early to mid-20s, though the minor denied to share his real name, where he lived or the military base where he said the person worked. The minor said "OG" had dubious views of law enforcement and the intelligence community, and would rant about "government overreach."

Washington Post reporter Shane Harris described the leaker as someone who was "trying to impress his friends," and the newspaper said it was unlikely he intended for the documents to spread across the internet.

ABC News has not independently confirmed the report.

A Pentagon spokesman, when asked for comment on the Washington Post report, referred ABC News to comments made by Department of Defense spokesman Chris Meagher during a press briefing on Monday.

Meagher said at the time that the department was "working around the clock to look at the scope and scale of the distribution, the assessed impact and our mitigation measures."

A senior U.S. official told ABC News Thursday highly sensitive material has been shared too widely within the government for some time. The official had no information on the source of this leak but called it "a massive betrayal" by whoever is responsible.

After reports surfaced that authorities wanted to speak with a member of the Air National Guard, the National Guard Bureau issued a statement, saying, "We are aware of the investigation into the alleged role a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman may have played in the recent leak of highly-classified documents.

"The National Guard takes this issue very seriously and will support investigators. National security is our foremost priority and any attempt to undermine it compromises our values and degrades trust among our members, the public, allies and partners," the statement said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in his first public comments on the leak Tuesday, also said he was limited in what he could say about the matter amid the DOJ's investigation.

He told reporters he was first informed of the apparent leak on April 6, after some documents were posted on popular social media sites, and that investigators were focusing on documents dated Feb. 28 and March 1.

"We take this very seriously and we will continue to investigate and turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it," Austin said.

One of the largest brush fires in Rhode Island’s history continues to be active. According to ABC 6 in Providence, the fire in West Greenwich started just before 1 p.m. Wednesday as more than 150 acres of land has burned making it the largest area for a brush fire since the 1940s. The Rhode Island National Guard continues to assist by bringing a helicopter to dump water on the flames in the harder to reach areas. 

No homes were damaged as firefighters from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, parts of Connecticut provided mutual aid.

Massachusetts Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a Democrat who sits on the U.S. House Select Committee on China, said that China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin are both hoping that former President Donald Trump will be reinstated to the White House in the 2024 election.

"Let me be crystal clear here: Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin are salivating at the prospect of President Trump re-entering the White House in 2025," Auchincloss said at Semafor's World Economy Summit on Wednesday.

"January 6, 2021, was Xi Jinping's best day in office because when the United States degrades its own democracy on the world stage for people all over to witness, it undermines the power of our example," he said.

Auchincloss and Trump's former national security advisor, Robert C. O'Brien, who was speaking remotely at the summit, then had a tense exchange over Trump.

O'Brien said that he had heard from foreign leaders that Trump's criminal indictment was "the darkest day for political prisoners around the world."

He added that the U.S. is setting a bad precedent by prosecuting the de facto leader of the opposition.

Auchincloss then retorted that Trump had been "fanboying all over Vladimir Putin" during his presidency, adding, "Thank goodness we have Joe Biden in the White House when Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine."

This information first appeared on thje Red Sox Website 

April 12: RHP Zack Kelly exits with right elbow pain

In an unsettling scene, Kelly went to the ground in agony after hitting Yandy Díaz with a changeup in the bottom of the fifth inning of Wednesday's game against the Rays.

Kelly clutched his right elbow and appeared to be near tears as he exited the game. The initial diagnosis was right elbow pain.

Kelly, who gave up two runs in two-thirds of an inning, has a 3.68 ERA in six outings this season.

Kelly will stay with his teammates through Thursday's series finale and then get examined by Boston's medical staff on Friday in Boston. Manager Alex Cora indicated the Sox will bring in a reliever to replace Kelly on the roster in time for Thursday's contest.

April 12: OF Masataka Yoshida scratched with right hamstring tightness

A couple of hours before Wednesday's game at Tropicana Field, the Sox took their rookie left fielder out of the lineup due to what the club deems to be a minor injury.

With a day game looming on Thursday, manager Alex Cora suspects that Yoshida will be held out until Friday night's home game against the Angels.

Yoshida's removal from Wednesday's lineup caused some significant switches. Kiké Hernández moved from shortstop to make his first start of the season in center field, Bobby Dalbec made his second career start at short, Raimel Tapia moved from center to left and Triston Casas made his first career start in the cleanup hole.

A little over 1800 voters cast ballots Tuesday in Westport, with Manual Soares Jr and Incumbent Westport Selectman Steven Ouellette securing the two avaliable seats on the Westport Board of Selectmen. 

Soraes secured 1067 votes to Ouellette's 1034. 

Kristne Stinson is the new Westport Town Clerk, while Pauline Dooley and Paula Feitelberg claimed spots as Trustees of the Free Public Library in Westport. 

Westport voters also approved a debt exclusion regarding a new Diman Regional High School, approving the question by a margin of 1039 yes and 668 no. 

On Sunday, April 9, 2023, New Bedford Police and EMS responded to the access road for the Hurricane Barrier in New Bedford at 177 Gifford Street just after 7:11 am.  

Upon arrival police located two males lying on the ground within approximately 20 feet of one another.  Also within proximity of the two males was a shopping cart full of bags and clothes along with a tote containing miscellaneous items and a fishing pole.

 The first male was pronounced deceased at the scene by EMS.  Notification efforts for next of kin are ongoing at this time.

 The second male, identified as 39 year old Jose Arroyo of New Bedford, was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.  

This matter remains under investigation.  No foul play is suspected.  

(FALL RIVER, MA- April 11, 2023)- The Office of Mayor Paul Coogan has announced three
volunteer clean-up opportunities to celebrate Earth Day.

Residents are invited to join at these
locations, where the Department of Community Maintenance will be providing tools to all
volunteers.

No sign-ups or registration are needed and all ages are welcome, with parental
supervision.

On Friday, April 21st, the City will host two clean-ups. The first, lead by the Fall River
Department of Community Utilities, will take place from 10am-12pm starting from 1240
Innovation Way.

In the afternoon, a downtown clean-up will begin from Government Center
plaza at 1pm, wrapping around 3pm. Residents may choose to collect tools and clean a location
of their choosing, or can be assigned an area in need of attention.

On Saturday, April 22nd from 11am-1pm, a park clean-up will take place at Kennedy
Park, starting from the park pavilion.

The clean-up will be a part of the second annual Arbor Day
Fair, organized by the City’s Cemeteries & Tree Division.

It will run from 11 am till  3pm and will feature food trucks, tree plantings and children’s crafts. City partners, including
National Grid, Davey Resource Group and Lewis Tree Service, will be present to discuss careers
in forestry and hold demonstrations

. In addition to the day’s activities, the Fall River Street Tree
Planting Project (FRSTPP), in conjunction with Greening the Gateway and the City of Fall
River, will be giving away free tree saplings to city residents

.

For more details, residents can contact the Mayor’s Office at 508-324-2600 or email
epevide@fallriverma.org. Residents can also sign-up for email notifications about future cleanup
opportunities at tinyurl.com/FRCLEANUPEMAILS.

On Monday April 10, 2023, Officers assigned to the Special Operations Division, working in cooperation with the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (V.F.A.S.) responded to an address on the 100 block of Rockland St. to locate an individual wanted on multiple arrest warrants for drug and motor vehicle offenses.

The target, Francisco Cunha, was located in the home and taken into custody by officers without incident. While inside the apartment, Officer Derek Pereira observed a white powdery substance on a nearby table along with other items indicative of drug possession.

Having made these observations, Officer Pereira obtained a warrant to search the apartment. The following items were located during the subsequent search; 387 grams of Fentanyl, 2 grams of black tar heroin, 7 grams of crack cocaine, 5 grams of cocaine, 2.2 grams of suboxone, 61 gabapentin tablets, 5 Xanax, 15 partial Xanax, 9.3 grams of methamphetamine, 160 rounds of .22 ammunition, 65 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 50 rounds of .40 ammunition, $1,172 in US Currency.

Francisco Cunha, 31, of Fall River is charged with trafficking more than 200 grams of a class A drug, possession to distribute methamphetamine, possession to distribute a class B drug (subsequent offense), possession of ammunition without an FID card, and possession to distribute a class E drug. Cunha is also being charged as an armed career criminal.

The Boston Red Sox allowed a solo home run to the Tampa Bay Rays last night in Tropicana Field, good enough for the only run of the game, as the Sox lost game one of the four game series 1-0, as the Rays won their 10th consecutive game to open the 2023 MLB Season. 

Game Two of the four game series this afternoon 95.9 and 1480 WSAR, with the Mass Mutual Pre Game on The Red Sox Radio Network at 5:40 and a first pitch at 6:40pm. 

To begin on April 24th, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and ending
 June 2nd, 2023.

 We may also flush nights during these weeks starting from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Residents may experience some temporary discoloration of their water during flushing operations.

As a precaution please check your water before washing laundry.

The Department apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause; however, this is a vital part of our annual water distribution system maintenance program.

Any questions, please feel free to contact the Department    
at 508-324-2721
 

In Swansea on Monday, Sonya Barbosa earned 464 votes, with Thomas Rodrigues Jr. garnering 460 votes, with Frank P Baptistia trailing with 424 votes, in a race where 307 were left blank in the school committee race that sent Barbosa and Rodrigues to a win. 

Swansea voters also approved having their Town Treasuer Collector be appointed with 477 yes votes, 272 no and 82 ballots blank. 

Somerset voters have elected a new Selectman, who will be sworn in Tuesday Morning, and take his seat Wednesday for this week's session of the Somerset Selectmen inside the town's Public Library. 

Jamison Souza secured majorities in four of the five Somerset Precincts, knocking off Incumbent Selectman Loren Lawless, with challenger Paul Healey in 3rd. 

Souza garnered 1340 votes, to 1092 for Lawless and 337 for Healey. 

In other unoffcial numbers for a pair of slots on the Somerset School Committee,  Robert Gaw and Jennifer Ashley secured the votes needed on Monday,. 

On Saturday April 8, 2023, at approximately 1:00 am, units responded to the area of Alden St. and Dean St. after receiving reports of shots fired.

Upon arrival, witnesses in the area reported hearing two pops from the area of a local establishment. They also reported seeing a male wearing a construction style shirt leaving the area in a white SUV.

While making his way to the call for service, Officer Connor Levesque observed a white Nissan SUV turn onto Pleasant St. at a high rate of speed.

Based on his observation, Officer Levesque initiated a traffic stop. As he was approaching the vehicle, officers investigating the shooting communicated the description of the vehicle and male who fled the area, which matched the vehicle Officer Levesque was approaching. Furthermore, the lone male occupant of the vehicle was wearing a construction style shirt.

As Officer Levesque ordered the operator to exit the vehicle, he observed a firearm magazine on the front passenger seat. The operator was removed from the vehicle and taken into custody without issue. Also located within the vehicle was a Glock handgun.

Calvin Devoe, 50, of Fall River was arrested and charged with carrying a firearm without a license 2nd offense, possession of ammunition without an FID card subsequent offense, Possession of a class B drug subsequent offense, discharging a firearm within 500 ft. of a dwelling, speeding, and carrying a loaded firearm without a license to carry.

No injuries were reported as a result of the shooting incident. The matter remains under investigation by the Major Crimes Division. Anyone with information is asked to contact 508-324-2796. Anonymous tips can be provided at 508-672-TIPS (8477).

Five people were forced from their home after a fire broke out in New Bedford Sunday Afternoon. According to CBS 12 in Providence, crews responded to Blackmer Street around 4 p.m. where they found heavy fire coming from the back of the building running  its way up to the roof. The family of five was all able to get out of the building safely on their own with The Red Cross having been called in to assist.

Crews and officials stated that the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

As mandated by the current Fall River City Charter the nine members of the Fall River City Council and the six elected members of the Fall River School Committee will meet at 5:30pm EDT ''for a review of the fiscal and financial condition of the city, revenue and expense forecasts, and other relevent information in preperation for the Fiscal Year 2024 budget''.

Press conference planned for 1 pm on Monday April 10 on the steps of the Massachusetts State House 
 
 
BOSTON – Following a federal court ruling in the case of Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food & Drug Administration that stayed FDA approval of the medication abortion drug mifepristone, Governor Maura T. Healey is pledging to take immediate action to protect access to care in Massachusetts.

The Governor will hold a press conference with advocates and officials on Monday afternoon to outline her administration’s plan. 
 
“Medication abortion is safe, effective and legal. Mifepristone has been used safely for more than 20 years and is the gold standard. This is yet another attempt by extremists to ban abortion nationwide. But we are prepared to take immediate action to protect access to this important medication,” said Governor Healey. “Patients in Massachusetts will continue to have access to mifepristone. We stand for civil rights and freedom, and we will always protect access to reproductive health care.” 

 On 4/6/23 at approximately 6:00 pm, Fall River Police and EMS were dispatched to the shoreline of the Taunton River near Atlantic Avenue in Fall River. 

 Bystanders in the area had located the fully clothed body of a male floating a short distance offshore.  Police identified the male as 64-year-old John Boday of Fall River.

 Mr. Boday was pronounced deceased upon the arrival of EMS. 

 No foul play is suspected.  

This matter is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office and the Fall River Police Department . No further information will be released at this time.

On 4/6/23 at approximately 5:30 pm, UMass Dartmouth Campus police were called regarding a motor vehicle that struck a pedestrian on campus.  

Campus Police responded and located 19 year old Frankie Portillo, a UMass Dartmouth student, lying in the roadway on Ring Road with significant injuries.  

Mr. Portillo was transported to St Luke’s Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.  The student operator of the vehicle involved, a gray Honda Accord, was located at the scene.  

This matter is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office along with the CARS Unit of the Massachusetts State Police.  

This is an active investigation and no further information will be released at this time.

New Bedford, Massachusetts – Mayor Jon Mitchell has proposed more than $1.3 million to purchase new equipment for the Police Department and upgrade Fire Department facilities. The funds come from the Fiscal Year 2022 Free Cash certification, a state-certified use of a municipality’s remaining funds from operations of the previous fiscal year.

New Bedford’s Fiscal Year 2022 Free Cash totals more than $12.8 million and has been certified by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. The majority of that total will be placed in the City’s financial reserves, according to policies adopted by the City a few years ago.

The allocation requires City Council approval. In a package submitted to the Council, Mayor Mitchell allocates $400,000 to replace Police Department tablets, including all installation and training costs, along with $375,000 to purchase six front-line patrol vehicles.

Mayor Mitchell would commit $495,000 to complete work at Fire Station #2 on Pleasant Street. An additional $85,000 would be used to implement electrical upgrades at Fire Station #5 on Acushnet Avenue.

Additional allocations would include more than $9.3 million to replenish the City’s rainy-day fund, nearly $1.3 million for the reserve fund for retiree healthcare, $300,000 for a new street sweeper, and $100,000 for a comprehensive review of the City’s emergency plans. 

“Our consistent commitment to maintaining our financial reserves has enabled the City to maintain its strong bond rating,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell. “The additional investments in public safety equipment and facilities will help our police officers and firefighters to do their jobs more effectively.”

STATE HOUSE – The House of Representatives today passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Teresa Tanzi to ensure workers have the right to report alleged incidents of sexual harassment, discrimination or illegal activity.

The bill would prohibit employers from requiring non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) as a condition of employment that prevent workers from discussing alleged violations of their civil rights or criminal conduct that they experience in the workplace.

“Workers are being forced to sign away their rights as a condition of employment,” said Representative Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, South Kingstown, Narragansett). “That means if harassment or discrimination occurs, someone can be prohibited from talking about it or seeking remedy in court. And perpetrators can avoid accountability and continue victimizing other employees.”

The legislation (2023-H 5929) would forbid any employer from requiring an employee to execute a nondisclosure agreement or non-disparagement agreement regarding alleged violations of civil rights or criminal conduct as a condition of employment. NDAs could still be entered into voluntarily. Mandatory NDAs would still be permitted concerning all other confidential business information.
Across the country, 21 states currently limit NDAs or ban them outright.

“The millions who have said ‘me too’ have shown us the power of survivors being able to speak out about discrimination, including harassment and sexual assault,” said Andrea Johnson, director of state policy at the National Women’s Law Center. “They have also shown us how too many employers have abused contractual tools like nondisclosure and non-disparagement agreements to keep workers from coming forward and have swept discrimination, harassment and assault under the rug. This bill removes a big legal barrier to survivor justice, and we’re grateful to Representative Tanzi for her support.”

“When someone starts a new job, they aren’t planning on being the victim of harassment or discrimination,” said Representative Tanzi. “But if those things happen and they have signed an NDA, it may already be too late. This bill protects the rights of workers to come forward and will ensure safer, more respectful workplaces for all of us.”

The bill passed the House unanimously. It now heads to the Rhode Island Senate where Sen. Alana DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown, New Shoreham) has introduced companion legislation (2023-S 0342).

A 32-year-old New Bedford man arrested last month while carrying an illegal firearm inside the Funz Trampoline Park in New Bedford was sentenced yesterday in Fall River Superior Court to serve up to 15 years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Chantra Say pled guilty in Fall River Superior Court on Tuesday to indictments charging him with Carrying an Illegal Firearm-Subsequent Offense with Two Priors, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition with two Prior Crime software Violence and Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device.

On March 4th New Bedford Police officers dispatched to the trampoline park for a report made by a juvenile caller of a male wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, black ski mask, and blue jeans who had a gun in his pocket. Officers entered the establishment and observed the defendant matching that description. When officers approached the defendant, he turned to a second male, and pulled an object wrapped in a plastic bag from his waistband area.

He attempted to hand the object to the second male who refused. Officers recognized the item in the bag was shaped like a firearm. The officer grabbed the male’s shoulders to detain him when the defendant tossed the bag in the garbage can. The firearm was recovered from the trash bin and was confirmed to be a Jimenez 9mm pistol, loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition in a 13 round magazine. The defendant initially provided a false name, but officers were ultimately able to confirm the identity of the male as the defendant with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit. 

This defendant has a prior conviction for possession of firearm and was on probation at the time of his arrest for an Armed Assault with Intent to Murder conviction.

The case, which went from arrest to indictment to conviction in just one month, was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Sylvia.

"Despite being on probation for a prior shooting, the defendant was walking around in a park for children with a loaded gun. He has a history of convictions for violent offenses and clearly continues to be a significant danger to the community. I’m pleased this case was resolved very quickly and that the defendant will be off the street for up to fifteen years," District Attorney Quinn said.
 

BOSTON – Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $3 million in state nonprofit security grant funding for 47 organizations at increased risk of hate crimes or terror attacks.

In addition to the annual Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant Program (CNSGP), the Administration awarded funds as part of a new pilot grant program focused on assisting with security personnel costs. Together, the complementary programs provide needed funding for on-premises security measures. 

“Today’s recipient organizations contribute immeasurably to the life of our Commonwealth as nonprofits fulfilling unique missions,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The security enhancements made possible by this funding ensure their continued preparedness against potential threats. Our Administration remains committed to ensuring the safety of those they service as centers of community, art and culture, learning, and social services.” 

Citizens for Citizens, Inc.    Fall River    $58,885.00

USS Massachusetts Memorial Committee Inc, DBA Battleship Cove    Fall River    $79,530.00

FALL RIVER — Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., has issued an Easter Message to Catholics throughout the Fall River Diocese, which comprises Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands.

The message will be published in the April 7, 2023 issue of the diocesan newspaper, The Anchor, and will be posted on the diocesan website at fallriverdiocese.org for Easter. It has also been distributed to pastors in the diocese for sharing with parishioners. 

It follows below in its entirety:

“Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”  (Romans 5:5)

As every dark night is followed by a new day and as calm follows the storm, so there is hope for those who trust in God, even in the midst of suffering and trials. Easter is a reminder to us that evil and death don’t have the last word, that our faith in the God of Life who raised Jesus from the dead, will also raise us from death. He will raise us not only on the last day, but will also bring us to life from our pains, sufferings and miseries of this life. 

Hope is needed for life, a life lived in peace and in the light. If we don’t have hope, if we don’t believe, and if we don’t trust that God can turn the darkness of our life in this world into light, then we are bound to live in darkness and despair. Hope scatters the darkness that envelops us, because hope gives meaning to what we cannot logically understand. 

Easter also reminds us that the Resurrection of Jesus is not just an event of the past, but is meant to have a real impact on our lives, in our world, in the present and in the future.

As people who have faith and hope, we find in these theological virtues the courage to face the challenges of life with confidence, knowing that God is with us and that He is giving us His grace to help us work through these challenges of life. It teaches us that that no matter how difficult our struggles may be, we can always find hope in Jesus’ victory over death.

As we celebrate another Easter, we are reminded of our responsibility to live as disciples of Jesus, reflecting in our own lives the love for each of us that Jesus showed by giving His life on the Cross, so that we too may come to believe and hope in the Son of God and in the eternal life He promised to us all.

When we renew our baptismal promises this Easter, let us recommit ourselves to a new life grounded in faith and hope and renewed in the Risen Lord. This witness to hope is particularly relevant in today’s world where so much uncertainty, fear, and division are still all around us. The support we can provide for each other as we gather to celebrate Easter this year, can give us the strength to face our challenges and to find hope in difficult times.

I often think of the symbolism and connection between Easter and spring. Easter falls in early spring when nature is coming back to life after a long winter. The trees are budding, the flowers are blooming, and the air is filled with the sound of birds. This season of renewal is a powerful reminder that even after the darkest of winters, life will return. And so, we can joyfully sing Alleluia!!!
Happy Easter!  Feliz Pascoa!  ¡Felices Pascuas!  Buona Pasqua!  Joyeuses Pâques!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Edgar M. da Cunha
 

Electric BMW SUV Takes Top Honors, but Upstart Rivian Lands Two Models in the Top Five 

With their attractive blend of cutting-edge design, advanced technology, and energy efficiency, electric vehicles (EVs) are taking center stage in more auto showrooms nationwide. And now, the new 2023 AAA Car Guide is here to help consumers navigate this evolving automotive marketplace by ranking and rating the newest vehicles, including EVs. The Guide provides consumers with reviews, based on testing by AAA Engineers, highlighting how many advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are included in the vehicle, along with other criteria and information.

Announced today at the New York International Auto Show, the 2022 BMW iX xDrive50 earned the overall top score for the 2023 edition of the AAA Car Guide. All but one of the category winners for 2023 is electric - the gasoline-powered Kia Carnival SX took the minivan category. Meanwhile, tiny Rivian Automotive placed two models in the top five – the R1T Adventure pickup (Pickup Truck category winner) and the R1S Launch Edition SUV.

2022 was notable for soaring gas prices, with the national average for a gallon of gas hitting a record $5.01 in June. Consumers responded by purchasing more than 760,000 EVs, a 65% increase from 2021. Of the 71 vehicles reviewed for the 2023 AAA Car Guide, 19 are pure electric.

The 2023 AAA Car Guide includes comprehensive reviews of each vehicle based on 13 criteria, including the number of ADAS safety features, fuel efficiency, emissions, braking, handling, ride quality, and acceleration. These vehicles are tested, scored, and placed in one of six vehicle type categories by the Automotive Research Center (ARC) of the Automobile Club of Southern California, a member of the AAA federation of motor clubs.

Additionally, there are three categories based on price.
“EV sales gain more traction each year, but we know that consumers still have a lot of questions about them, such as battery life and ease of charging,” said Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast Vice President of Public and Government Affairs. “That’s where the AAA Car Guide comes in handy.  It’s an easy-to-understand resource that takes some of the stress and guesswork out of car-shopping by providing the vital information consumers need to make the right choice.”

For those in the market for newer used vehicles, the online AAA Car Guide website also contains links to the two prior editions in 2022 and 2021.

Each of the 2023 AAA Car Guide winners has numerous ADAS safety features and achieves high fuel efficiency. The highest scoring ranked by category are:

Category    Vehicle

Overall     2022 BMW iX xDrive50 (electric)
Small     2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV 2LT (electric)
Midsize    2022 BMW i4 M50 (electric)
Large    2022 Mercedes-Benz  EQS 580 4MATIC Sedan (electric)
Pickup    2022 Rivian R1T Adventure (electric)
SUV    2022 BMW iX xDrive50 (electric)
Minivan    2022 Kia Carnival SX (gasoline)
Best Under $35K    2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE Nightshade (hybrid)
Best $35K - $50K    2022 Kia Carnival SX (gasoline)
Best Over $50K     2022 BMW iX xDrive50 (electric)

Winners, detailed evaluation criteria, vehicle reviews, and an in-depth analysis of the ADAS technology can be found at aaa.com/carguide. AAA also provides consumers with other resources like the Your Driving Costs calculator and Used EV Car Buyer’s Guide to help with car buying decisions
The AAA Car Guide also contains detailed information about AAA’s recent research on current automotive technologies such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and headlight effectiveness.
 

Black Lives Matter RI PAC and the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island issued the following statement in response to Mayor Smiley’s press conference this morning outlining plans to address the use of ATVs and dirt bikes in Providence, which include looking into ways to criminally charge the operators of ATVs and dirt bikes and using various surveillance techniques to identify and seize the vehicles:

“Our organizations share the City’s goal of creating a safe environment for all residents, but seeking ways to criminalize ATV and dirt bike use – and utilizing expansive surveillance techniques to do so – are deeply troubling methods to pursue this laudable goal. We know that turning civil traffic offenses into criminal ones in this context will disproportionately affect young people and Black and Brown neighborhoods, have a severely discriminatory impact, and undermine the critical need for greater equity in the criminal justice system. 

“These concerns are compounded by the City’s stated intention of using ‘video technology’ to track down ATV and dirt bike users. Given the objections that we and others have raised about the intrusive installation of Flock Safety surveillance technology in Providence and the severely limited protections that residents have from this technology, the potential use of these cameras to track and target ATV users should be extremely troubling to anybody concerned about privacy. That Providence is promoting the use of an anonymous tip line to report any ATV or dirt bike possession, even on a private residence or in a private garage, only enhances these surveillance concerns. 

“In short, criminalizing traffic offenses that primarily impact communities of color and using questionable surveillance tools to enforce this program will ultimately not support community safety, but instead will further contribute to justice inequities and distrust in the community.  We strongly urge the City, in addressing the problem of unlawful ATV use, to reject intrusive surveillance techniques and the criminalization of conduct that does not belong in the criminal justice system.”
 

STATE HOUSE, Providence, RI – Senator Thomas J. Paolino (R-Dist. 17, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield) introduced Senate Bill 846 relating to campaign finance. The omnibus package is the result of collaboration with Representative Brian C. Newberry (R-Dist. 48, Burrillville, North Smithfield), who introduced companion Bill 5962 in the House, following informal meetings seeking suggestions from stakeholders including Secretary of State Gregg Amore, Common Cause executive director John Marion, and employees of the RI Board of Elections.

This legislation would raise the minimum aggregate reporting amount to $200 per year and the contribution limit for individuals and political action committees to $2,000 per year. It would also expand public financing to include primary elections and prohibit public financing for any candidate with outstanding fines owed to the board of elections. Lastly, it would define accounts payable and terms related to donated campaign expenditures.

“This legislation aims to maximize people’s ability to run and to support candidates while safeguarding against potential abuses,” declared Senator Thomas J. Paolino. “We garnered input from varied sources with the idea of a compromise that everyone can support to varying degrees. By expanding public and private financing options and giving specific definition to terms that have caused concern in the past, we will promote more participation in the election process.”

“It has been 20 years since contribution limits have changed. If those limits had kept pace with inflation, they would be higher than what this legislation proposes,” stated Representative Brian C. Newberry. “The increase of the minimum aggregate for reporting empowers small donors, many of whom don’t want to be identified. Public financing for primary elections makes sense as, regretfully, many times the primary is the election. In total, the proposed reforms will modernize and strengthen our system and expand opportunities for candidates and donors.”

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- Recently, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration ("NOAA") Fisheries released a draft National Seafood Strategy which aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration's goals for economic recovery, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience. This strategy focuses on NOAA’s commitment to seafood sector resilience.

The New Bedford Port Authority ("NBPA"), representing the most profitable fishing port in the country, reviewed and submitted comments pertaining to this strategy as a way to highlight the role and importance the Port of New Bedford plays to the entire seafood industry.  

The Port of New Bedford’s remarks focused on the challenges the fishing industry is facing relative to federal regulations and advent of the offshore wind industry.  

“The seafood industry continues to deal with unique challenges, and it is imperative that there is a significant investment in new technologies, research development, and mitigation from new industries that will share our waters,” said New Bedford Port Authority Executive Director, Gordon Carr.  

Many of the comments submitted concentrated on ways to sustain or increase seafood sustainability, without limiting the days at sea for our fishermen. This can be accomplished by having a flexible approach to regulations and extensive monitoring and data collection of our habitats. Furthermore, the Port supports an increase in local aquaculture projects to reduce dependence on imported seafood products while creating jobs in coastal communities.

The NBPA noted that seafood supply chains and policies should foster and strengthen community-based fisheries. Fisheries access should be kept available to future generations and must be balanced against the needs and limits of the ocean as well as fishermen’s ability to sustain a livelihood with pride.

“It is my hope that NOAA’s national seafood strategy will enable American seafood to compete more effectively in foreign markets,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell. “As America’s leading fishing port, New Bedford will inevitably benefit from an increase in foreign and domestic seafood sales.”

The National Seafood Strategy outlines the direction for supporting a thriving domestic U.S. seafood economy. It describes the federal government’s approach to enhancing the resilience of the seafood sector in the face of climate change and other stressors.

The Port of New Bedford submitted comments to this national strategy because of the Port’s importance to the complete seafood supply chain in our country and beyond, and its willingness to partner with government entities and industry to successfully promote locally generated products.
 

Elizabeth Warren to Host First Town Hall for Senate Re-election Campaign with Governor Maura Healey, Representative Ayanna Pressley, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu
 
Boston, MA - On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, Senator Elizabeth Warren will host the first town hall of her re-election campaign in Roxbury, Massachusetts. She will be joined by Governor Maura Healey, Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. Together, they will discuss how they’re fighting for Massachusetts families, take questions from constituents, and take selfies with any attendee who would like.

Team Warren is taking every precaution to ensure that the town hall is a safe experience and will follow all state and local public health guidance. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, we encourage you to stay home.

LOGISTICAL INFORMATION
Details are subject to change
 
Wednesday, April 12 - Roxbury Town Hall with Elizabeth Warren and Special Guests Gov. Healey, Rep. Pressley, and Boston Mayor Wu
 
WHO:         Senator Elizabeth Warren
            Governor Maura Healey
            Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
            Boston Mayor Michelle Wu

WHEN:       Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at 7:00 pm ET
            Doors open at 6:00 pm ET

WHERE:     Hibernian Hall
            184 Dudley Street #200
            Roxbury, Massachusetts 02119
 

As of the close of business yesterday, here are the candidates who have requested Nomination Papers thus far:

Mayor
Paul E. Coogan
C. Samuel Sutter
Michael J. Vandal
Jordan James Silvia

City Council

Linda M. Pereira
Paul B. Hart
David B. Sullivan
Bradford (Brad) L. Kilby
Bob Pearson
Jordan James Silvia

School Committee

Charles M. Chase, Jr.
Collin R. Dias
 

Mayor
Paul Coogan
C. Samuel Sutter
Michael J. Vandal

City Council
Paul B. Hart
Bob Pearson

School Committee
Collin R. Dias

Sutter is a former Fall River Mayor and former Bristol D-A. 

Coogan is running for a third consecutive term--Will Flanagan, Jasiel Correia II and Ed Lambert have won multiple terms in recent decades. 

If Hart does indeed decide to leave the School Committee, it creates a vacancy for one of the six elected slots. 

Dias has run in a prior election cycle. 

Mayor Jon Mitchell announced today that the City of New Bedford has been awarded $2,092,585 in homeless assistance funding by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as part of a competitive grant process under HUD’s Continuum of Care Program. 
 
HUD’s Continuum of Care grants provide critically needed support to local programs that serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

The federal department recently announced a total of $2.8 billion in awards to renew and expand support to thousands of local homeless assistance programs across the nation. 
 
New Bedford’s grant funds are awarded through a competitive national application process, with local application efforts led by the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development.

The office coordinates the City’s comprehensive response to homelessness,?using a Continuum of Care methodology and working?with?the City’s Homeless Service Provider Network (HSPN). 
 
A Continuum of Care is a community’s plan or strategy to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people who are in a housing crisis and/or are experiencing homelessness, as they move toward stable housing and maximum self-sufficiency.? The strategy includes action steps to break the cycles of homelessness. 
 
HUD grant funding supports a variety of interventions for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, particularly those living in places not meant for habitation, staying in shelters, or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Each year, HUD funding serves hundreds of people through a coordinated entry system, emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and permanent housing programs. 
 
“Every day the City and the HSPN work without fanfare to address the complex issue of homelessness. This new funding will enable that work to continue and will strengthen our efforts to stabilize the lives most vulnerable in our City,” said Mayor Jon Mitchell. “I wish to thank our Congressional delegation for their support of the program.”
 
“Funding received through these grants is essential for ensuring housing and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness,” said Joshua Amaral, Director of the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development. “This Continuum of Care application is competitive and requires a high degree of collaboration and coordination between our office and the HSPN throughout the year.”
 
The federal grant funding will support eight local programs, along with data and strategic planning efforts. Funds will be distributed to the following programs and agencies: 
 
?    FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAM (SEMCOA)                              $ 321,737  
?    WELCOME HOME (Steppingstone)                                                        $ 218,837?  
?    PORTICO (Catholic Social Services)                                                         $ 725,211  
?    STEP UP (Positive Action Against Chemical Addition/PAACA)        $ 316,917  
?    PRISM (Catholic Social Services)                                                               $ 132,155 
?    WELCOME HOME EXPANSION (Steppingstone)                               $   89,978?  
?    FAMILY PRESERVATION PROGRAM EXPANSION (SEMCOA)     $   89,971  
?    THE CALL COORDINATED ENTRY (Catholic Social Services)         $   50,000  
?    HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (HMIS)     $   74,524  
?    CoC PLANNING PROJECT                                                                       $   73,255 
 
For more information about the City's efforts to address homelessness, please contact the City of New Bedford’s Office of Housing & Community Development at (508) 979-1500 or visit the HSPN’s website at www.nbhspn.com.  
 

According to ABC 6 in providence, the Rehoboth Police Department said they will be accepting unwanted or expired prescription drugs from the public as a part of a national safety campaign. The 24th National Take Back Initiative run by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency allows pharmaceutical and other hazardous wastes to be properly disposed of to help reduce addiction and stem overdose deaths, as well as offer clean, renewable energy from converted wastes. Rehoboth police said they will be accepting tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs.

The event will be hosted on Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

According to ABC 6 in Providence, a New Bedford man was sentenced to prison time after being convicted of trafficking cocaine and possessing an illegal gun. The 27-year-old Tylor Martin pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court on Friday to charges that included Carrying an illegal firearm with a prior violent conviction as well as drug charges of trafficking cocaine. After he was arrested, police said they found a loaded 9 mm handgun and narcotics in plain view seizing 48 grams of cocaine along with a 30-round high-capacity firearm magazine.

Martin was sentenced to serve three to four years in state prison as he still faces charges of domestic assault and battery, assault, strangulation, intimidation, breaking and entering and unarmed robbery for two separate incidents from 2021.

New Bedford Police have announced on their social media they will be increasing enforcement of parking violations. According to ABC 6 in Providence, this is in response to numerous complaints of violations occurring in residential areas which contain charges including, parking of oversized vehicles at night. Blocking of driveways, fire hydrants and handicap-accessible sidewalk openings

Officials said much of this enforcement will happen during late-night and early-morning hours.

According to ABC 6 in Providence, Dartmouth Police have arrested a man and a woman who were driving a stolen car on a list of charges. Police found a Honda Pilot that was reported stolen out of Dorchester, pulling into a Walgreens parking lot on State Road as authorities identified the two people in the car as 48 year old Melvin Ward of Dorchester and 34 year old Jessica Fernandes of Fall River. investigation revealed both Ward and Fernandes were in possession of suspected fentanyl as well as stolen property from the Walgreens where they parked as both were arrested on the scene.

Ward's charges included receiving a stolen motor vehicle, numerous class A drug charges as well as shoplifting for a second offense and charges from four other outstanding warrants in his name. Fernandes was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle, possession of a class A drug and with one outstanding warrant.