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Construction crew hits gas main in Wrentham, causing leak

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

Emergency crews responded in Wrentham Thursday after a construction crew hit a gas line, causing a leak, officials said. The incident happened around 1 p.m. in the area of Harrier Path. Later over the scene, SKY7-HD spotted part of the emergency response as firefighters tried to control the situation. Officials said roughly 30 area residences were evacuated, at one point, and both power and gas service was shut off to area homes. While some residents had returned to their homes around 4 p.m., officials said power and gas service was still shut off in some spots. Eversource in a statement said contractors were working in the area when they struck the gas line. Separately speaking with reporters, Wrentham’s deputy fire chief said first responding firefighters worked to evacuate homes and “initiated a defensive mode to prevent the gas from going into the houses.” Deputy Fire Chief Robert Maduskuie said several homes had their windows open and said crews we...

Man arrested in killing of Baltimore tech entrepreneur Pava LaPere was released from prison in 2022

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — The man arrested Thursday in the killing of a Baltimore tech entrepreneur was released from prison last year after serving a shortened sentence for a 2013 rape and was suspected in another rape days before the slaying last week, police said.Jason Billingsley, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 26-year-old Pava LaPere, was released from prison last October after earning good behavior credits to reduce the time he served for the 2013 sexual assault.Baltimore police Commissioner Richard Worley said detectives believe LaPere was killed Friday night, although her body wasn’t found until after she was reported missing Monday. LaPere, who founded the tech startup EcoMap Technologies while she was still a student at Johns Hopkins University, was found dead with signs of blunt force trauma in her apartment complex.Investigators are reviewing all open cases since Billingsley’s 2022 release to determine whether any connections exist, Worley said.“We’r...

City leaders debate Wu’s ordinance proposing to clear encampments at Mass and Cass

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

Boston city leaders met Thursday to discuss the crisis at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, the area also known as Mass and Cass that has a number of homeless encampments.Mayor Michelle Wu submitted a proposed ordinance to give police the authority to remove tents with alternative housing options, but the proposal needs the support of the city leadership. The meeting began at 10 a.m. Thursday and was going hours later.“I know it hasn’t worked in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose, Sacramento,” City Councilor Richard Arroyo said. “I have a study here that says it doesn’t work anywhere.”Boston City Councilors asked health and safety officials if clearing the tents near Mass and Cass, where police said crime is also increasing, will solve the drug problem that is plaguing the area.“Do you have a single example in the entire country where that kind of policy has been successful? Do you have one? Just one?” Arroyo said.During the hearing, Boston Police Commissioner M...

Cement truck hits bridge in Norwood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

A cement truck slammed into a bridge in Norwood Thursday, drawing an emergency response, prompting a road closure and possibly damaging the bridge, according to police. The crash happened at the Morse Street Bridge. In a message around 1:45 p.m., Norwood police said the bridge “sustained possible structural damage.” Police said Morse Street would be closed between Pleasant Street and Short Street “for the foreseeable future.” In a later post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Norwood Police Chief William Brooks said the driver of the truck was OK and will be cited. Norwood police officers “will be on scene all night,” Brooks said. Brooks continued, saying motorists should seek alternate routes. Police shared photos from the scene showing debris on the roadway below the bridge after this crash. SKY7-HD flying over the scene also spotted the cement truck itself with visible damage.

Tractor trailer crash in Westboro causes delays

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

A tractor trailer crashed on I-495 south Thursday afternoon in Westboro, causing delays just before the exit onto the Massachusetts Turnpike.The Massachusetts Department of Transportation said around 2:50 p.m. that two right lanes were closed after the tractor trailer jackknifed. As of 4 p.m., all lanes were open, MassDOT shared.https://twitter.com/MassDOT/status/1707467747070792004?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EtweetWestboro fire also shared on social media just after 3 p.m. that traffic was backed up until Route 20.https://twitter.com/WestboroughFire/status/1707472610055917796?s=20

UAW aiming for 30% pay bump, sources

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

The United Auto Workers union wants to emerge from its strike against Detroit’s three major automakers with at least a 30% pay raise, according to people familiar with the matter.That’s the level — which is lower than the around 40% hike it initially proposed to Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Stellantis NV — that the union believes will allow it to satisfy existing members and organize non-union plants. It takes into account a cost-of-living allowance, or COLA, and a general wage increase, according to the people, who asked not to be named because the talks are private.Automaker stocks rose on the news, led by 2.5% gains in GM and Stellantis’ U.S. shares. GM and Ford have seen steep declines since July amid uncertainty about the negotiations. Stellantis is the outlier, up 36% so far this year.A wage bump of at least 30% is expected to generate interest from non-unionized auto workers and help grow the union’s membership, according to the people.The union’s president, Shawn F...

Utah and Arizona will pay to keep national parks open if shutdown occurs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

By ANITA SNOW (Associated Press)PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona and Utah will keep the iconic national parks in those states open if a shutdown of the federal government threatens access to Arizona’s orange-striped Grand Canyon and the sheer red cliffs of Utah’s Zion Valley.Most importantly for state budgets, visitors can keep spending their money near the parks.A cutoff could come Sunday. The economic impact of the national parks is so important that Arizona’s Democratic governor and Utah’s Republican governor have decided to invest state funds in keeping Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands national parks open.For Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, it’s a simple question of economics. The nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association says that every $1 invested in the National Park Service annually supports more than $15 in economic activity. The association says that every day of a shutdown could...

Tewskbury man dead following I-93 crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

A Tewksbury man is dead after police say a box truck rear-ended his pickup on Interstate 93 northbound in Reading.Michael Murphy, 41, of Tewksbury, was pronounced dead at the scene when Massachusetts State Police arrived a little after 1 a.m. Thursday.According to an MSP statement, the initial investigation indicates that Murphy’s 2014 Chevrolet Silverado was stopped in the right lane of the interstate when it was rear-ended by a 2022 International MV607 box truck, registered in New Hampshire, driven by a 51-year-old man from Wilder, Vt.The collision forced the pickup into the ramp to Commerce Way, according to the MSP statement.

Foxboro Station weekday commuter rail service becomes permanent

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

A pilot commuter rail program between Foxboro and Boston’s South Station saw so much success within the past year that officials are making it permanent.The full-time, weekday commuter service to Foxboro Station at Patriot Place is set to begin Monday, when the MBTA’s fall and winter schedule goes into effect. It will continue to feature 11 inbound and 10 outbound daily trips during peak morning and evening commuting times via the Franklin/Foxboro line, officials have announced.“This represents a win for the entire region,” MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng said in a release, “because it provides expanded access and opportunities for nearby residents in the community, workers, and businesses while making mass transportation the best way to travel for visitors looking to enjoy Foxboro’s many attractions.”The schedule, which can be viewed in its entirety online, will include the first morning inbound train leaving Foxboro at 5:49, arriving at South Station at 6:43, and the last...

Senate sends $1 billion in tax relief to Gov. Maura Healey

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

More than $1 billion in tax cuts are headed to the governor for her consideration and signature.On Thursday, the state Senate gave overwhelming approval to a raft of tax relief measures, many aimed at the state’s most economically vulnerable, almost two full years after then-Gov. Charlie Baker attempted the same sort of reform only to be stymied by legislative inaction.“This comprehensive tax relief package is a historic step forward, ensuring that we put money back into the pockets of the residents and families of the commonwealth, while making Massachusetts more affordable, accessible, competitive and inclusive,” Chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee Michael Rodrigues said before his colleagues voted.Approved by a vote of 39 to 1, with only Sen. Jamie Eldridge of Marlboro voting against, the tax relief package aims to balance affordability for lower-income families and competitiveness for businesses and individuals considering where to live and work.The bill, if it’s sig...