By: John Cuddy – 6/24 Growing up in Medford, Massachusetts with six siblings, Johnny Joyce loved baseball and the Boston Red Sox, he played in baseball’s Babe Ruth youth program. Shortly after graduating from Medford High with the Class of 1987, Johnny Joyce joined the US Navy Seabees in 1988. He completed basic training […]
By: Brian Genest – 6-24 How can Dracut miss Phil Thibault if he won’t go away? The town’s most rejected perennial candidate—a nine-time failure at the ballot box—Phil Thibault has a new hobby: Applying for appointments on town boards and reapplying when he’s rejected. When there’s an opening on any board these days, Phil Thibault […]
With exorbitant costs of living, increased grocery prices and the end of pandemic-era supports in 2023, 1 in 3 Massachusetts adults reported household food insecurity, according to the latest annual statewide study from The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), with the overall number increasing to nearly two million food insecure adults in the Commonwealth. […]
SALEM, Mass. – Gym and health teacher Darren Benedick, 42, of Salem was arraigned in Newburyport District Court on Wednesday afternoon following a sting operation in which he allegedly made plans to meet an underaged girl for a sexual encounter, apparently unaware that the person he was communicating with online was not a 14-year-old […]
By: Former State Rep. Lenny Mirra, 6-24 If there’s one prediction you can take to the bank for this year’s election it is that the losing side in a close race will almost certainly make claims of election fraud and a “stolen” election. Democrats did this after the 2016 presidential election and Republicans did the […]
By: State Rep. Francisco Paulino 6-24 Dear Constituents, I am writing to share a significant update on our efforts to transform healthcare in Massachusetts. As your State Representative, I have been working tirelessly to ensure that our healthcare system is equitable, efficient, and effective. Recently, I addressed the House of Representatives, advocating for […]
By: State Rep. Estela Reyes 6-24 “Another Spring month has gone by in a flash. The Massachusetts House of Representatives met several times this month to work through the remaining bills before the end of the 2023-2024 Legislative Session. The process to pass a bill into law requires negotiation and a final agreement from the […]
By: Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio 6-24 Hello Valley Patriot readers, During the darkest days of 2020, when the economy was freefalling and we were all learning to stay healthy, Congress passed the CARES Act to provide measured relief. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) distributed these emergency funds to each […]
BOSTON – A Guatemalan man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to unlawful reentry. Wilson Hernandez-Bautista, 34, plead guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Oct. 3, 2024. Hernandez-Bautista was indicted by a federal grand jury December 2023. Hernandez-Bautista […]
By: State Senator Pavel Payano – 6/24 In a landmark decision, the Massachusetts Senate has unanimously passed a budget totaling $57.999 billion for the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). This significant decision followed three days of robust and bipartisan debate, resulting in the adoption of over 400 amendments and 43 roll call votes. The Senate added […]
Owner of Tax Preparation Company fled the United States after being indicted and remained a fugitive for 19 months BOSTON – A Lawrence woman pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to separate fraudulent schemes that targeted banks and the Small Business Administration (SBA). Luz Paulino, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of bank […]
Cusick accepted free ski trips from water meter manufacturer and its distributor Newburyport Department of Public Services Water Treatment Plant Superintendent Thomas Cusick has paid a $13,000 civil penalty for violating the conflict of interest law by accepting free ski trips from a water meter manufacturer and its distributor. Cusick admitted the violations and waived […]
Defendant previously convicted of domestic assault and restraining order violations BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after being deported. Brayan Zepeda, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Julia E. Kobick to eight months in prison, to be followed by one year […]
By: State Rep. Ryan Hamilton – 6/24 Last week, I proudly voted to pass a comprehensive Bill to enhance veterans’ benefits. The Massachusetts Legislature has gone forward with Bill H.4661, comprehensive legislation aimed at bolstering benefits and support for veterans across the state. This bill encompasses many changes, from increasing tax credits for businesses hiring […]
6-14-24 The Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed legislation to boost support for hundreds of thousands of individuals across the state who have served in the United States military, including nearly 30,000 women veterans. Because the bill differs from the House Bill passed last month, both chambers will now move to reconcile the differences before sending the […]