By: Richard Howe – March, 2010 Senator Steve Panagiotakos Says Goodbye Since announcing last month that he would not seek re-election to the State Senate, Steve Panagiotakos has repeatedly said that he is proudest not when he’s called Senator or Chairman, he’s proudest when he’s called “Panagiotakos of Lowell.” That sentiment was clearly on […]
Congressman Tsongas March, 2010 WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Niki Tsongas says that a series of landmark reforms to the way the credit card industry does business have now gone into effect “thanks to the Credit CARD Act (Credit Card Accountability and Disclosure Act).” In a press release, Tsongas said, “The law, which was passed […]
By: Joe Mendonca – February, 2010 The City Manager has begun to reorganize city government. The first change was to replace the Building Commissioner as the beginning of restoring integrity to the City’s Inspectional Services. The Manager appointed Rosemary Cashman (former Tyngsboro Town Administrator) as Interim Building Commissioner while a search is conducted for […]
By: Crystal Arnott – January, 2010 Each year thousands of animals go missing and are never reunited with their families. Without proper identification, many of these animals enter shelters and never make it home. There are many ways to ensure your pet makes it home after an adventure out of the house, and a […]
By: Joe Mendonca, Lowell City Council January, 2010 The New Year has begun. The new City Council has been sworn-in. Jim Milinazzo was elected as the Mayor and Kevin Broderick was elected as the Vice-Chairman of the Council. Now the work begins. There are many challenges ahead for the new Council. The largest […]
But Warren Shaw and Mike Miles Can’t Debate the Real Issues By: D.J. Deeb – January, 2010 The letter is ludicrous and speaks for itself. Unlike Mike Miles and his Gang, I will actually address the issues that he raises regarding my previous column, statements in his letter, and offer insight into some of the […]
How Some of Your Money is Being Spent “Since Recovery Act dollars began to be released in March, the Fifth District has received more than $350 million, helping to create or save 1,600 jobs. This includes construction projects with Lowell Public Housing, Community Health Center expansions in Lawrence and Lowell, and double tracking along the […]
Valley Patriot Questions Tsongas, Governor Patrick on Spending By: Tom Duggan – January, 2010 LINK: How Some of Your Money Was Spent Deval Patrick: As the senator said, we have had to close a multi-billion dollar budget gap in the last few years, nine billion dollars, actually over the last 18 months and we have […]
From the Desk of Congressman Niki Tsongas By: Congressman Niki Tsongas – January 12, 2009 WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Niki Tsongas today reintroduced two bills to address and improve the quality and continuum of mental health care available to veterans. Recognizing the sharp increase in post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health wounds […]
Elected officials sending secret messages to each other during public meetings may be illegal Tom Duggan – July, 2008 Last week, Lowell City Councilor and former Lowell Mayor Rita Mercier filed a motion requesting that the council ban the use of cell phones and other electronic devices during council meetings. The motion was filed, Mercier […]
By: State Senator Steve Panagiotakos – April, 2008 Chairman Senate Ways & Means Committee The following information is intended to address the issue of local mandates and explains how the state complies with the applicable laws. I would also like to explain how the state assists municipalities in the funding of certain education categories. […]
By: Tom Duggan – December 2007 WCAP radio (980/AM) may be located in downtown Lowell, but Colonel Sam Poulten and Clark Smidt say they are expanding the Lowell-based news and talk programming on the station to include Lawrence, Methuen, Haverhill “and everywhere in between,” says Smidt who took over the station with […]
October 10,2007 Election season is in full swing here in the Valley with a special congressional election in the 5th district this month and the general municipal elections in November. Few people, however, seem to care. During the Lawrence primaries last month, only 12% of registered voters bothered to brave the 80 degree weather and […]
PAYING ATTENTION! with Tom Duggan Former Congressman Jim Shannon Endorses Tsongas By: Tom Duggan, May 16, 2007 Niki Tsongas, the front runner in the race for the 5th congressional district visited the city of Lawrence last night at the opening of her Essex Street headquarters only feet away from city hall. Tsongas is […]
PAYING ATTENTION WITH TOM DUGGAN By: Tom Duggan – May, 2004 Recent headlines in Merrimack Valley newspapers have proven that the sacred cow ideologies of public education espoused by liberals are in fact, myths. Myth #1 Money equals education: Most people have bought into the myth that spending more money on education results in […]