Saturday, May 18, 2013
Recap and analysis of the week in state government.
Like pieces of a puzzle that don't quite fit together yet, the Big Three may have been separated at birth, but with each incremental step their destinies seem to grow more intertwined. No, we're not talking about those Big Three - Gov. Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and Speaker Robert DeLeo - though they play major character roles in this thickening plot. Instead, three bills have come to define the early months of the 2013 legislative agenda and resolutions on tax hikes, local road funding and the annual state budget continue to be elusive and dependent on one another. Patrick spent the early part of his week welcoming British Prime Minister David Cameron to Boston for a few quick meetings and a visit to the Copley …
Friday, May 17, 2013
A scenario with an active shooter was part of a preparedness drill conducted at the Marlborough Hospital this week.
Preparation comes in many different forms for police and other emergency personnel and on Wednesday that meant running through an active shooter scenario at the Marlborough Hospital. "In the event we ever had to resp to a school shooter being able to get in there and train in there is very helpful," said Police Chief Mark Leonard of doing preparedness drills in area schools, hospitals and office buildings. “Departments have really been focusing on these (trainings) since the most well known incident which is the columbine incident." Marlborough police, a S.W.A.T. unit with the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, emergency medical services, the fire department, hospital staff and other emergency personnel participated. The …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
A joint committee on housing advances a $1.4 billion housing bond bill.
A housing bond bill that was approved Tuesday would funnel $1.4 billion to provide essential housing production and programs for low-income and moderate-income residents in the Bay State. "I am pleased to help advance this bill in the legislature to ensure that we continue to invest in a pipeline of housing initiatives and programs that address the most pressing housing needs of the Commonwealth,” said Senator Eldridge, D-Acton. An Act Financing the Production and Preservation of Housing for Low and Moderate Income Residents would authorize a $1.4 billion five year capital plan. $500 million will be directed to public housing modernization that would bring public housing units online. The bill would extend the low income housing tax …
The former Marlborough superintendent is in the running for the same position in Wareham.
Former Marlborough Supterintendent Anthony Pope is in the running for another superintendent position in Massachusetts. Pope is one of three finalists in the Wareham School District's search for a superintendent. The other two finalists are Kimberly Shaver-Hood, who serves as the superintendent of the Blackstone-Millville Regional School District in Blackstone and Elise Frangos, who currently is the assistant superintendent of curriculum for the Old Rochester Regional School District, in Mattapoisett. Former Superintendent Anthony Pope resigned in July. His resignation followed months of controversy and cost the district $99,000. Pope's decision to first suspend and later fire Marlborough High School Assistant Principal Adam Bakr angered …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Worcester Roman Catholic Bishop Robert J. McManus has lost his license and will need to pay fines and volunteer following an arrest on charges of drunk driving.
Bishop Robert J. McManus will not serve any jail time on charges of drunk driving after he admitted in court on Tuesday that he refused to submit to a chemical test, according to the Telegram and Gazette. McManus will lose his license for six months, pay roughly $900 in court fines, complete 10 hours of community service and attend alcohol education programs, according to the Telegram. These punishments correspond with admitting to refusing to submit to the test. The Narragansett Police Department will be dropping the drunken driving charge, according to the article. McManus had been charged following a hit-and-run earlier this month in Naragansett, RI.
Former State Rep. Steven Levy is not talking to the press about his arrest by Framingham police over the weekend.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
We have the guidelines for the current Watering Ban.
Currently, all non-essential outdoor water uses are prohibited until further notice. To keep your plants happy and comply with the ban you can make use of rain barrels. But what exactly does this ban cover and what are the exceptions? Outdoor Water Use Restrictions, Permitted Uses and Uses Not Subject to Mandatory Restrictions Non - essential outdoor water uses that are subject to mandatory restrictions include: • Irrigation of lawns via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems • Washing of vehicles, except in a commercial car wash or as necessary for operator safety • Washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways or sidewalks, except as necessary to apply surface treatments such as paint, preservatives, stucco, pavement…
Monday, May 13, 2013
Marlborough's member of Congress, Niki Tsongas (D-Lowell), made ending sexual abuse within the armed forces a key part of her election campaign, and she had some harsh words following recent allegations of sexual misconduct of a high ranking Air Force off
Last week, Lt. Colonel Jeffrey Krusinski, head of the U.S. Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, was charged with alleged sexual battery, a fact that led to a strong response from Marlborough's member of Congress. The news came on the same day that Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (D-Lowell), was briefed by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on the Department of Defense's (DoD) annual report on sexual assualt in the military. Tsongas, co-chair of the Congressional Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus thanked Hagel for presenting a plan for preventing sexual assault, but had scathing words for the current state of sexual harassment faced by members of the military. "The DoD report indicates a staggering amount of instances…
Police officials say a canine unit would benefit the city and nearly pay for itself through grants.
Marlborough is on its way to getting its first police dog after Police Chief Mark Leonard and City Councilors spoke to the many benefits of the addition to the department. “It will benefit [Marlborough] city wide," said Leonard at a Finance Committee meeting last week where the budget for the police department was endorsed with funds for a canine unit intact. A multi-use police dog would be a great asset to the department, said Leonard as he explained the city would be best served by a tracking and drug sniffing dog. While the city now has access to dogs in other communities, something it can take upwards of 40 minutes to arrive. In situations such as a missing person, every minute counts, he said. “Just like anything else when you have …
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Recap and analysis of the week in state government.
Massachusetts' problem is now Virginia's. After a macabre, around-the-clock stakeout of a Worcester funeral home this week by frenzied reporters and furious protestors, the remains of alleged Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev were secreted out of central Massachusetts and buried in a small Muslim cemetery in rural Virginia. No cemetery in Massachusetts, or public official for that matter, wanted Tsarnaev's body. And Gov. Deval Patrick just seemed relieved the tense standoff was over. "No. I have enough to do," Patrick said, when asked if he wished he had gotten involved to end the theatrics sooner. The April 15 attacks on the finish line of the Boston Marathon threw Beacon Hill policymakers off stride, quieting the raging debate …
Ken B.
10:34 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013
The problem was in more than one office and involved more than 2 "clerks". So Gene, what is "real news" to you ? The IRS problem being blamed on a Bush appointee ? Benghazi attack was the result of a video ? more ›