Study: Mayoral Candidates Spend $6M in ’17 Election ~ Rivera Ranks #7 Among Big Spenders

Study: Mayoral Candidates Spend $6M in ’17 Election ~ Rivera Ranks #7 Among Big Spenders

According to the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), mayoral finalists in 35 cities reported $6,092,517 in expenditures during the 2017 election. HERE ARE THE TOP TEN BIG SPENDERS Name City Expenditures Won/Lost 1) Martin Walsh (I) Boston $2,208,827 Won 2) Ruthanne Fuller (O) Newton $376,984 Won 3) Tito Jackson Boston $333,656 Lost […]

Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate Opioid Trafficking Conspiracy

Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate Opioid Trafficking Conspiracy

BOSTON – Two men pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to their roles in an opioid trafficking conspiracy involving the distribution of fentanyl, heroin, and oxycodone across Massachusetts and Florida. Johnny Urena, 30, of Lawrence, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess heroin and fentanyl with intent to […]

President Trump was Right About Lawrence ~ VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL (4-18)

President Trump was Right About Lawrence ~ VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL (4-18)

Last month, President Trump accurately pointed out that because the City of Lawrence is considered a “sanctuary city” it attracts criminals who are here illegally, because they know they won’t be deported. Within a day, Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera held a press conference where he went into a predictable “defend my city” mode, denying Lawrence […]

Phil Thibault Can’t Just Walk Away Now ~ DRACUT TODAY

Phil Thibault Can’t  Just Walk Away Now ~ DRACUT TODAY

By: Brian Genest – April, 2018 There’s nothing more swamp-like than Dracut politics. Our town keeps living up to its reputation for local politics that is personal and putrid. The current race for the Board of Selectmen is no exception, sadly. Again this year, the nothing-to-offer negative voices are the Dracut Connection cable TV show and […]

Kidnapping, Two Stabbings, Keep Cops Busy as Violent Crime Continues to Plummet in Lawrence

Kidnapping, Two Stabbings, Keep Cops Busy as Violent Crime Continues to Plummet in Lawrence

4-21-18 TWO STABBED Lawrence, Police were unusually busy Friday night with a kidnapping, several accidents, brawling at last call on Essex Street and a double stabbing on Amesbury and Methuen Street shortly after the Lawrence bars closed at 2AM. Police were called to Amesbury Street shortly after 2AM for report of a stabbing victim outside […]

Ethics Commission Accuses Former State Rep. Fox, Former State Police Major Violated Financial Disclosure Laws

Ethics Commission Accuses Former State Rep. Fox, Former State Police Major Violated Financial Disclosure Laws

Fox and Jones face possible $1,250 civil penalties for allegedly filing their 2016 Statements of Financial Interests months late Gloria Fox State Police Major Jones The Enforcement Division of the State Ethics Commission today filed Orders to Show Cause alleging that former state Representative Gloria Fox and former State Police Major James Jones each violated […]

Clean River Project Invites Community to “Earth Day Awareness Rally” Launch of the Merrimack Riverkeepers Coalition

Clean River Project Invites Community to “Earth Day Awareness Rally”  Launch of the Merrimack Riverkeepers Coalition

RALLY TO TAKE PLACE April 22nd, 11 am to 2 pm G.A.R. Park in Haverhill, MA On Sunday, April 22nd from 11 am to 2 pm at the G.A.R Park in Haverhill, MA, the Clean River Project is laying down its Merrimack River clean up tools and invite the community to a free, positive, informative and […]

Amesbury Building Inspector Denis Nadeau Pays $3,500 Fine for Violating Conflict of Interest Law

Amesbury Building Inspector Denis Nadeau Pays $3,500 Fine for Violating Conflict of Interest Law

Nadeau intervened as Building Inspector in work performed at his neighbors’ home  Amesbury Building Inspector Denis Nadeau paid a $3,500 civil penalty after admitting to violating the conflict of interest law by intervening in his official capacity as building inspector in work performed at the home of his next-door neighbors, with whom he had a […]

DEA Raids Several Lawrence Locations, Make Arrests Early Monday

DEA Raids Several Lawrence Locations, Make Arrests Early Monday

April 9, 2018 The Federal Drug Enforcement Agency made several arrests in Lawrence Monday morning on Morton St., Parker Street, and several other locations throughout the city. Valley Patriot news spotters snapped these photos on Morton Street early Monday. The photos were purposely obscured to protect the identity of undercover Drug Enforcement Agents.

Lawrence Mayor Announces Police Chief Applicant Review Committee

Lawrence Mayor Announces Police Chief Applicant Review Committee

LAWRENCE – Mayor Dan Rivera has named the members of the Police Chief Applicant Review Committee to replace Chief James Fitzpatrick who stepped down two months ago. Mayor Rivera has appointed Roy Vasque as Chief during the application process for a permanent replacement.  Police Chief Job Posting The committee, which is made up of five […]

MassDEP Fines NASDI, LLC $140,910 for Asbestos, Hazardous Waste Management Violations in Lawrence, Elsewhere

MassDEP Fines NASDI, LLC $140,910 for Asbestos, Hazardous Waste Management Violations in Lawrence, Elsewhere

Violations Found at Work Site in South Boston, Rental Property in Lawrence, and the company’s facilities in Woburn and Stoughton  BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) penalized a Massachusetts-licensed asbestos abatement contractor, NASDI, LLC, $140,910 for numerous asbestos and hazardous waste management violations found at the company’s facilities in Woburn and Stoughton, Manchester […]

Representative Jones’ Rape Kit Testing Proposal Now on Governor’s Desk

Representative Jones’ Rape Kit Testing Proposal Now on Governor’s Desk

BOSTON – A proposal by House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) to assist and empower victims of rape and sexual assault is one step closer to becoming law.  Language filed by Representative Jones to address the current backlog of untested rape kits and create a statewide database for tracking these kits within the […]