By: State Representative Linda Dean Campbell – July, 2016 The Massachusetts House of Representatives recently passed important legislation for workers, for our communities, and protections for transgender individuals. Facing an unexpected decline in capital gains, we also passed a budget on time – unlike many states throughout the country. I will have more on the […]
By: Bill Cushing – July, 2016 The Primetime Emmy nominations will be announced next week and every year I like to review the past year in TV and give my Emmy Wish List. There are always great performances that get overlooked each year. This is a list of performances and shows that I think really […]
By: John MacDonald – July, 2016 The reality of UMass Lowell and its significant impact on the City of Lowell has hit hard lately. UMass Lowell recently purchased Perkins Park Residences and Lofts for a reported $61.5 million dollars , a purchase that has infuriated much of the residents in Lowell, the City of Lowell […]
By: DJ Deeb – July, 2016 June proved to be a volatile month for both the City of Methuen budget and the Methuen Public Schools budget. Even though Mayor Steve Zanni proposed increasing the city budget by 6.25%, he initially proposed level-funding the schools. Faced with nearly $3 Million in new Federal Special Education mandates, […]
By: State Representative Lenny Mirra – July, 2016 Here’s why you should care, and care A LOT, about health care costs: Massachusetts has the highest healthcare costs in the world. No place else spends what we spend per capita on health care and it affects every part of our lives. We’re in the process of […]
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healy denied reports that she is “banning guns” or overstepping her authority saying she is neither creating a new law or taking away 2nd amendment rights. Healey appeared on 980WCAP’s morning show with Teddy Panos and Leslie Boder to talk about attending her first national convention but the talk quickly turned […]
By: Robin Desmet – July, 2016 July—a great month for fireworks, cookouts, beaches, and……TNR. What in the world is TNR? TNR stands for: Trap-Neuter-Return. After becoming aware of the number of cats roaming the alleys of Lawrence, and the number of kittens being born in unsafe conditions, I have developed both a fondness for feral […]
By: Celeste Begley – July, 2016 America’s more than 76 million baby boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—are known for shaping new cultural trends in music, fashion, politics, the economy and everyday life. Think Beatlemania, bellbottoms and lava lamps or. Or, smiley faces, Barbie dolls and casual chic. Now this same trendsetting generation is shifting […]
By: Jeff Katz – July, 2016 The first time I voted in a Presidential election, I was able to vote with a completely clear conscience and with a degree of pride. I was young, but I was sure that my vote would count and that my choice would continue to work hard to strengthen America. […]
Free English classes for adult English language learners, who want to further their education or employment opportunities, will be offered at Northern Essex Community college beginning in September. This 16-week program is for English language learners who would like to explore careers in health care, technology, engineering, or advanced manufacturing. The goal of the program […]
BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced last weekin U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with receiving fraudulent U.S. Treasury checks. Rolfi Espinal, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 18 months in prison, three years of supervised release and restitution of $13,500. In April 2016, he pleaded guilty […]
(WASHINGTON, JULY 19, 2016) — AGA has awarded its prestigious Einhorn-Gary Award to the Massachusetts Office of the State Auditor (OSA) for its contributions to furthering government accountability. The OSA’s audits of state government’s programs, departments, agencies, authorities, contracts, and vendors, and advanced data analytics capabilities, have helped identify areas of inefficiency and fraud in […]
2,500 Bloomin’ Brands Employees Who Were Not Paid for Required Trainings will Receive Restitution BOSTON – A national casual dining restaurant company has agreed to pay $210,000 in restitution and penalties to resolve allegations that it failed to pay more than 2,500 Massachusetts workers for required trainings in violation of state law, Attorney General Maura […]
BRAINTREE, MA (JULY 25, 2016) – The Powerball jackpot for the Wednesday, July 27 drawing is an estimated $422 million. The cash option on the prize is an estimated $291 million. The $422 million jackpot is the game’s highest since a $429.6 million jackpot that was hit 23 drawings ago on May 7. Earlier this […]
The City of Methuen announces that it will be conducting a citywide spraying for mosquitoes on Wednesday July 27 beginning at 9:00pm in effort to reduce the number of mosquitoes in the area. Recent weather conditions have been ideal for mosquito growth. The spraying will commence on the borders of Methuen and will work its […]