“I know what I can do and I’ve been doing a lot, probably more than you know, and more than the public is entitled to know under the law.” ~ Governor Deval Patrick By: Tom Duggan, 4/24/14 Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick was confronted today on his way into an event at University of Massachusetts in […]
By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives April, 2014 April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. I’m glad to report two recent developments that will strengthen safety for our children in the Commonwealth. There have been significant discrepencies in child services this past year; one being the serious challenges at the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) […]
By: Joe D’Amore – April, 2014 There are heroes who work with foster families and children in Massachusetts and are on the front line of caring for children at risk and I met one of them recently. She related her daily experiences of witnessing deplorable conditions in most foster homes where the standard of protection […]
(BOSTON) – Representative Frank A. Moran (D-Lawrence) joined his colleagues in the Legislature to pass the VALOR Act II which builds upon existing legislation to expand opportunities and services for military personnel, veterans and their families. The legislation provides increased property tax relief and enhances employment, educational and healthcare support services. It creates a home […]
By: Justess Jacobson – April, 2014 Last month The Valley Patriot awarded Amesbury Police Officer Jason Kooken with The Valley Patriot, Officer Tom Duggan Sr. Law Enforcement Award. Officer Duggan’s granddaughter did the presentation to Officer Kooken. Every year, Jason Kooken bicycle rides his way down to Washington, DC to the National Law Enforcement Memorial […]
By: Jeff Katz – April, 2014 According to a recent poll, more than seventy percent of us believe that that DCF is broken. I’m assuming that the other thirty percent work for DCF. Politicians routinely hoot and holler that something is “for the children.” They usually invoke that phrase when there is a piece of […]
The Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) has concluded that State Attorney General Martha Coakley’s state campaign committee was not in compliance with the campaign finance laws when her U.S. Senate committee paid for campaign services that should have been paid by the state committee. Under Massachusetts law, federal committees are prohibited from providing […]
VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL For years we have called for investigations into what State Rep. Jim Lyons called the “criminal enterprise” of the Lantigua Administration in Lawrence. For years we have detailed in this newspaper the myriad of questionable and sometimes blatant criminal actions of those on the taxpayers dime at Lawrence City Hall. Now, Lantigua’s […]
Dr. Bharani Padmanabhan – March, 2014 Every year on Women’s Day (March 8th) we remember the women who inspired us with their innate decency and courage. This year I give thanks that Violet Amirault enriched our Commonwealth with her life, a good person and self-made entrepreneur who really should’ve moved to California, a battered wife […]
By Tom Duggan – April 4, 2014 Attorney Carmine DiAdamo is suing the City of Lawrence for $5MIL, after Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera made it clear to him that the City of Lawrence was no longer interested in continuing the lease of his building at 255 Essex Street. DiAdamo’s downtown building has housed the Lawrence […]
Current and Former Political Officials Ask Judge for Leniency at Degnan Sentencing Hearing By: Tom Duggan: April 3, 2014 Willie Lantigua’s former Chief of Staff Lenny Degnan will pay a fine of $10,000 and serve 18 months in the Middleton House of Corrections for his role in soliciting a bribe from Allied Waste, the company that contracts […]
UPDATE 8:39pm Methuen police have arrested eighteen year old Methuen Teen Justin Suriel in connection with today’s stabbing at Methuen High School…. more …. BREAKING… METHUEN… [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW6Put7I0Vw&feature=youtu.be&w=380&h=320]] Massachusetts State Police and Methuen Police searched for over an hour for Levi Cruzetta (Age 19) and two other suspects after a student from Methuen High was stabbed in […]
All major mayoral fundraising and expenditure records, which former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino held during his 21 years as mayor, were eclipsed during the 2013 election, according to a study of campaign finance reports filed by mayoral finalists. The 63 mayoral candidates in 2013 reported total expenditures of $8.8 million and receipts of $8.5 million […]
By: Senator Katy Ives – March 2014 Given this is The Valley Patriot’s 10th year anniversary special edition, I would like to highlight legislation in the State House especially relevant to freedom of the press. Government should have transparency and accountability and the only way to ensure that this is occurring is to have access. […]
By: Dani Langevin – March 2014 *WINNER OF A VALLEY PRESIDENT’S AWARD* I am married. I guess you could say I am ‘in a marriage’. I am not in a gay marriage, just like I don’t live in a gay house or drive a gay car. My parents weren’t in a heterosexual marriage nor are […]