Patricia Valley says her license plate was searched more than 300 times and will not seek another term 9-24-26 Methuen West End City Councilor Patricia Valley revealed Thursday that a Lawrence police captain had sent her what she called threatening text messages after she raised questions about Lawrence Police use of the Flock surveillance system. […]
Fourteen counts accuse mayor of distributing a secretly recorded City Hall conversation; one alleges witness intimidation 9-25-26 Four members of the Lawrence City Council called for a thorough and independent investigation by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office after allegations surfaced earlier this year that conversations were being secretly recorded inside Lawrence City Hall. Now, five […]
By: Tom Duggan LAWRENCE – State Rep. Francisco Paulino says the Lawrence Public Schools are failing to provide some special education students with services required under their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and says he is working on a program that would provide free legal representation to parents fighting for those services. Paulino made the comments […]
By: Brian Genest – 9-26 You’d think a special election in Dracut to decide on a $177 million Campbell School project would mean something. You’d be wrong. You’d also think the Board of Selectmen voting against seeking an extension from the Massachusetts School Building Authority for grant funding would mean something. Wrong again. And if […]
Retired Methuen Police Joe Solomon has pleaded guilty today to: 2 counts — Perjury by Written Affidavit 7 counts — Obtaining Unwarranted Privileges in Violation of the Civil Service Laws 6 counts — Civil Service Law Violations 1 count — Uttering a Forged Document 1 count — Procurement Fraud The charges stem from the illegal […]
By Brian Genest – 8-26 Apparently, somebody in Dracut needs to learn how elections work — and it’s not the voters. Election integrity doesn’t appear to be on the School Committee’s agenda or anywhere in the School Department’s curriculum. Instead of accepting the answer voters gave them, the School Committee has been looking for a […]
Methuen Mayor Dave Beauregard has announced that despite his previous support for FLOCK Cameras with AI, facial recognition and license plate readers, he has “halted the installation of all remaining Flock automated license plate reader cameras and initiated a comprehensive audit of Methuen’s use of the technology.” The mayor’s change of position comes less than […]
State Finally Honors Families Who Also Sacrificed Sometimes government gets something exactly right. In Massachusetts last month Governor Healey signed legislation creating Massachusetts’ new “Blue Star Family” license plate, giving the spouses, parents, children, siblings, and grandchildren of police officers killed in the line of duty a permanent way to honor their loved ones. The […]
By: Lenny Mirra – 8-26 Our state budget includes a $200,000 earmark from State Senator Liz Miranda to a company called Bold Skin Babe Cosmetology Institute, Inc. for “scholarships for low-income students” in the beauty and wellness industry. Sounds like a noble goal, and not a big deal in a $63 billion budget. The […]
By John Cuddy – 8-26 This morning the Valley Patriot had coffee and donuts with Vietnam Veteran, Lawrence resident, and current Commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) “Queen City” Chapter 2, Dan Tirone. We met at the DAV Chapter 2 Headquarters on 112A East Haverhill Street in Lawrence, Massachusetts joined by key members […]
By: Essex County Sheriff Coppinger – 8-26 Have you tried finding a plumber lately? If you’ve had a leaking pipe, a broken water heater, or a plumbing emergency, you already know the answer. It can take days or even weeks to get someone to your house. The reality is that Massachusetts has a serious […]
Kane says, “Today is a good day in Retired Police and Military K9 World in Massachusetts.” Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed Bill H.2735 Dakota’s Law which establishes a fund to care for retired police and military dogs. Before Tuesday July 28th, 2026 the families and handlers of retired working dogs paid the costs of physical […]
By: Philippe Thibault – 8-26 Benjamin Franklin was a well travelled and wise man. In his time, he knew there were only two things that were certain: death and taxes. Then again, I do not believe he traveled as far north as Dracut although I am sure he was aware of the town through Joseph […]
Defendant yelled, “Charlie Kirk died, and we love it… we’re coming for you, gonna kill you.” BOSTON – A Malden, Mass. woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to assaulting federal agents who were engaging in lawful immigration enforcement and threatening to kill them. Bethany Abigail Terrill, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of influencing, impeding, or […]
By: State Auditor Diana DiZoglio As my office continues to fight for the 72% of Massachusetts voters who overwhelmingly voted the legislative audit into law, my State Representative Ryan Hamilton recently defended his vote in favor of the House’s so-called transparency bill. I was deeply disappointed to read my own Methuen state representative defend […]