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 […]
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 […]
8-26 Nearly a year after the Valley Patriot exposed the Methuen School Committee’s non-existent obscenity policy, they still haven’t changed it. The current “policy” does not require parents to be notified or given the chance to opt their children out when teachers expose students to sexually explicit material in the classroom. They pretend that there […]
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 […]
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 […]
By: Elizabeth Dionne – 8-26 I am Elizabeth Dionne, and I am running for Massachusetts State Treasurer on this November’s statewide ballot. I am a mother, attorney, and educator. As a 10-year local elected official, I earned a reputation as a relentless reformer, laser-focused on common-sense government that is transparent and fiscally responsible. State […]
By: Bill Cushing – 08-26 Paula, is a newly divorced mother, who believes she witnessed a crime and starts investigating while dealing with her own problems. Her search pulls her into blackmail and murder as the situation expands into a wider conspiracy that grows more dangerous the deeper she goes. That’s the premise of the […]
By: Methuen School Committeeman Ken Willette Voters in the 4th Essex State Representative District will now have a clear choice when Republicans and Independents travel to the polls on September 1st. Please request a Republican ballot and write the following in the blank 4th Essex State Representative section— Kenneth Willette 10 Burnham Road Apt […]
EXACTLY WHAT DO THE FEDERAL DOCUMENTS ALLEGE AGAINST STATE REP. FRANCISCO PAULINO? A federal grand jury has indicted Massachusetts State Representative Francisco Paulino (D-Methuen) on eleven felony counts: Eight counts of wire fraud and aiding and abetting. Three counts of unlawful monetary transactions, commonly described as money laundering. The indictment alleges that Paulino used false […]
A Valley Landmark, The Olympia represents 75 Years of the American Dream *** A BIT OF GREEK HISTORY For nearly 75 years, the Olympia Restaurant stood at 453 Market Street as the heartbeat of Lowell’s historic Acre neighborhood — the same enclave that drew waves of Greek immigrants seeking a new life around Holy Trinity […]
Unconstitutional Recording Policy Once Again Proves – It Isn’t YOU! Aug. 2026 Imagine walking into a public meeting of your local city government. You simply take out your phone to record what your elected officials are saying. You are not disrupting or interfering with the meeting in any way. But when you do, you are […]