By: State Senator Katy Ives – Oct. 2016 On July 31, the formal legislative session technically ended, meaning that between August and January, no formal voting on major bills takes place. In the months leading up to the beginning of a new formal session in January, I’m focusing in on what bills are priorities for […]
By: Tom Duggan – 10-27-16|7:21pm Previous Story: Merrimack Street Business Owners Give Mayor an Earful Over Proposed Changes to Street, Parking Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera has ordered a halt of all construction on the Merrimack St. project, sending workers and police details home on Wednesday. Rivera also called for a work stoppage by Columbia Gas […]
By: State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell – Oct, 2016 Bridgewater State Hospital is the center of attention for a number of high profile incidents stemming from the use of excessive force. These include the recent suicide of Leo Marino this April and the death of Joshua Messier from the excessive use of restraints in 2014. […]
By: Joe D’Amore – October, 2016 The city of Lawrence and several Cape Ann communities have an almost intractable homelessness problem not unlike other urban centers in the United States. The twin primary drivers are lack of affordable housing and an economy that does not produce sufficient jobs for people looking for them throughout the […]
Conservative radio talk show host John MacDonald walked out of his show, live, on the air Tuesday morning, after the 980WCAP radio station owner, Sam Poulten, “invaded” the program to ‘redirect’ the on-air conversation about Hillary Clinton’s emails and give the Clinton party line on what the host was discussing with his guest, Republican, Mary Burns. […]
BOSTON, MA —State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump today released the results of an audit of the Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC), which found that the committee did not ensure that out-of-state police officers hired by municipal police departments completed the mandatory online Massachusetts Police Office Orientation Training within the required timeframe. “Communities rely on the […]
Lawrence resident and United States Navy Veteran Brian Mercer teaches others to save lives through training and education. Five years ago Mercer, an EMT and owner of a wheelchair van service in Lawrence, saw a news story about 17 year old North Andover High School student Alexander Farese, who died of a heart failure on […]
The City of Methuen has announced that all registered voters will be able to vote before Election Day for the first time ever in Massachusetts. Early voting will begin on October 24th and continue through November 4th, 2016. Prior to the enactment of this new law, the only way a registered voter was allowed to vote […]
The Town of Salisbury is holding its’ Annual Town Meeting on October 24th at 7pm at the Salisbury Elementary School. Voters should know what is on the warrant within two weeks before town meeting. Warrant Articles will be posted on the Town of Salisbury website. Two articles submitted by town residents address sewer user fees […]
By: Tom Duggan – Oct. 6, 2016|6pm Republican Governor’s Council candidate, Rich Baker is accusing the incumbent Governor’s Councilor, Eileen Duff (D) of applying “a religious litmus test” in the way she approves judges. Baker also called on Duff to publicly apologize for what he called “anti-Catholic” and “anti-religious” statements during her questioning of judicial […]
HARRINGTON SOFTENS – After years of complaints from residents about the way the Town of Salisbury charges for sewer user fees based on “flat fee” per unit, Town Manager Neil Harrington seems to be coming around on the idea of charging for sewer user fees based on their actual metered water usage instead of […]
New location expands capacity, increases student resources and enhances access Cambridge College recently announced plans to move its campus from 360 Merrimack Street to 280 Merrimack Street in Lawrence, effective September of 2016. Located in the heart of the Riverwalk, the new location offers students large modern classrooms, improved technology, student-focused amenities such as a […]
By: Rickey Gonzalez – Aug. 2016 LAWRENCE – National Night Out continues to bring the community together with those that protect and serve. They (who) come together under a united cause, to take back the streets and having fun in a safe environment. Keith Wlodyka, who organizes the event on Tower Hill each year, alongside […]
Boston – A 16-year veteran officer of the Lawrence Police Department was indicted today in connection with attempting to use his position as a police officer to extort cocaine from a drug trafficker. John R. Desantis, Jr., 44, of Methuen, was indicted on one count of extortion and attempted extortion under color of official […]
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) today announced his intention to file legislation creating the crime of using the Internet and other communication channels to propagate so-called ‘kill lists’. The Tarr bill creates penalties for anyone who attempts to induce, tempt, command, or entice another person to take action in a conspiracy to commit a […]