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Waltham Police Department seeking info on hit-and-run that killed officer, utility worker

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

Authorities are asking for help as they continue to investigate the killings of a Waltham police officer and utility worker that have left the community reeling.Anyone who may have information is urged to share what they know surrounding the Dec. 6 incident in which a suspect allegedly barreled through a Waltham construction site, striking and killing veteran officer Paul Tracey, 58, and National Grid utility worker Roderick Jackson, 36.The tragedy unfolded around 4:15 p.m. in the area of 166 Totten Pond Rd., about a mile away from Bentley University and Interstate 95.“If you saw or heard anything that day that you think may be related to the investigation, please reach out,” the Waltham Police Department stated on Facebook Wednesday. “Even if you think it may not be of value, trained investigators may find evidentiary value in what appears to be the most minor of details and would like to hear from you.”Waltham PD, partnering with State Police in the investigation, added that it’s ...

Massachusetts State Police troopers convicted of attempting to conceal overtime fraud

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

Two former Massachusetts State Police troopers stationed in Framingham were convicted in relation to actions they took to cover up their part in the overtime scandal.A federal jury in Worcester on Tuesday convicted Lt. Daniel Griffin, of Belmont, and Sgt. William Robertson, of Westboro, on one count each of conspiracy, one count each of theft concerning a federal program and four counts each of wire fraud.Just before the Worcester trial commenced, Griffin on Nov. 27 pleaded guilty to four additional counts of wire fraud and 11 counts of filing false tax returns.Both men are facing serious prison time, with a charge of wire fraud alone providing a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for March 20.The troopers were stationed at the Traffic Programs Section at State Police headquarters in Framingham.According to the indictment filed December 2020, the pair “and their coconspirators would purposely arrive late to, and le...

DCF social worker built intricate narrative of an ‘extremely traumatized child’ over years to enroll in BPS high schools, prosecutors say

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

For six months ahead of the 2022-23 school year, former DCF social worker Shelby Hewitt laid groundwork of false identities and intricate fictions of special education needs and emotional trauma for six months, Suffolk prosecutors say.It was all to con her way into high school, the DA alleges.“Posing as a child, the adult defendant enrolled herself in Boston Public Schools and attended school with children in the community, first as a ninth grader, and then later as a seventh grader at a different school within BPS,” the Commonwealth’s summary of the case reads. “In reality, the defendant was a woman in her early thirties who had attended both college and graduate school and was employed as a social worker.”Hewitt, 32, was arraigned on new charges in Suffolk Superior Court on Tuesday, following her prior arraignment in West Roxbury Court in July. The former social worker is charged with several counts of forgery, uttering false writing, identity fraud, ...

A Harvard event was moved off-campus after Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss criticized president for comments on antisemitism

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

An event at Harvard involving Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss was moved off-campus a day after the Harvard alum criticized the university’s president for her controversial Congressional testimony about antisemitism.Democratic U.S. Reps. Auchincloss and Seth Moulton, both from the Bay State and both Harvard alums, issued a joint statement after Harvard President Claudine Gay was questioned on Capitol Hill about rising antisemitism on college campuses. Gay refused to characterize calls for the genocide of Jews as a breach of Harvard’s code of conduct.“Harvard ranks last out of 248 universities for support of free speech,” Auchincloss and Moulton said in the joint statement. “But when it comes to denouncing antisemitism, suddenly the university has anxieties about the First Amendment. It rings hollow.”A day after that joint statement, an event on Harvard’s campus involving Auchincloss and California Congressman Ro Khanna was moved of...

Boston City Council approves voting rights for immigrants with ‘legal status’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

The Boston City Council approved a home rule petition that grants immigrants with “legal status” the ability to vote in local elections, over concerns that the move could jeopardize their path to attaining full citizenship.The 8-4 vote taken Wednesday was described as a largely “symbolic gesture” by Councilor Gabriela Coletta who stated that conversations with her constituents drove her to vote ‘yes’ on the measure, despite the serious legal ramifications that could arise from non-citizens mistakenly voting in state or federal elections.“After checking with members of my community, to them a ‘yes’ vote would show solidarity with those who are here legally, pay taxes and are members of, not just East Boston, but Boston as a whole,” said Coletta, who represents East Boston. “I do intend to vote ‘yes’ for them and for them only.”Coletta, in a lengthy prepared statement read prior to the vote, directed the councilors to “be real” about what their ‘yes’ vote meant.The mayor “may or may n...

Battenfeld: Michelle Wu defends holiday party excluding white city councilors

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s publicly hosted holiday party excluding white elected officials is questionable optics and judgment for someone who is supposed to be uniting the city.As the Herald first reported, Wu hosted the party for an “electeds of color” group only on Wednesday night at the city-owned Parkman House despite criticism from some councilors who got disinvited.Wu’s director of City Council relations, Denise DosSantos, mistakenly sent an invite to the party to all city councilors, seven of whom are white.Fifteen minutes later she sent another email apologizing for sending the invite to everyone.“I did send that to everyone by accident, and I apologize if my email may have offended or came across as so. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused,” she wrote.Wu spokesman Ricardo Patrón told the Herald the city was not paying for the party, though it was using city resources — the Parkman House.The disclosure of the party quickly spread nationally on the Internet – y...

Local teen becomes first player to sign with San Diego FC

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A 17-year-old San Diegan has become the first player to be signed to the newly-formed Major League Soccer (MLS) club San Diego FC, team officials said.Goalkeeper Duran Ferree was signed to a four-year contract through 2027 with a club option for 2028, San Diego FC said in a news release Wednesday.The 4S Ranch native, who starred with San Diego Surf Soccer Club, played with USL Championship club San Diego Loyal SC last season. San Diego FC is not allowed to sign players until 2024, unless they are San Diego based, according to the team. Former SDSU punter Matt Araiza speaks out after rape claims dismissed Ferree also made five appearances and posted two clean sheets during 2023 World Cup qualifying and competition as a member of the U.S. Under- 17 Youth National Team.“I’m honored to sign with my new hometown club,” said Ferree. “To be part of San Diego soccer history and play for my home city is beyond my wildest dreams. This is a testament to all the hard work I’ve pu...

Right groups say Greece has failed to properly investigate claims it mishandled migrant tragedy

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Two leading international human rights groups on Thursday accused Greek authorities of failing to properly investigate the circumstances around a migrant boat sinking six months ago that killed hundreds.In a joint report, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said “little meaningful progress” has been made in examining allegations by some survivors that the rescue mission was delayed and mishandled.Up to 750 people were believed to have been crammed into the “Adriana,” a rusty fishing trawler that sank on June 14 southwest of the Greek mainland while traveling from Libya to Italy.Following the sinking, 104 people were rescued — migrants mostly from Syria, Pakistan, and Egypt — and 82 bodies were recovered.The two rights groups said they interviewed 21 survivors and five relatives of people still missing as well as representatives of the Greek coast guard and the Greek police.“The survivors and the families of the missing and dead deserve a full accountin...

Maple Leafs prospects Cowan, Minten make Canada’s World Juniors roster

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

The Toronto Maple Leafs will have two players representing Canada at the upcoming 2024 World Juniors tournament.Centre Fraser Minten and winger Easton Cowan made the final roster on Wednesday. Minten and Cowan are the first Maple Leafs prospects on Team Canada’s World Juniors roster since goaltender Ian Scott in 2019 and the first Canadian skaters since Mitch Marner and Travis Dermott in 2016.Hockey Canada had the option of keeping a 13th forward but instead chose to leave that spot open in hopes that an NHL team would release a player before the team played its first exhibition game.The Buds representing Canada at the World Juniors ???????? Congrats, Mints & Cowboy ???? pic.twitter.com/mLY2lh7V0c— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 13, 2023Minten, 19, was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the second round (38th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft from the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The Vancouver, B.C. native had a terrific pre-season with To...

Brazil’s Senate approves Lula ally as new Supreme Court justice

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:18:18 GMT

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s Senate approved the appointment of Justice Minister Flávio Dino on Wednesday to take a seat on the country’s Supreme Court.Dino, a former leftist state governor who cracked down on supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro after they rampaged through government buildings last January, was approved for the court of 11 justics on a vote of 47-31.The vote, which came after a full day of speeches by senators in a divisive hearing, underscored that the opposition led by the rightist Bolsonaro is not strong enough to block the agenda of his leftist successor, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.Dino will replace former Chief Justice Rosa Maria Weber, who stepped down in September after turning 75, the age limit for the nation’s Supreme Court justices. Dino, who was a federal judge for 12 years before starting his political career, governed Brazil’s northeastern state of Maranhao in 2015-2023. His decisions to impose curfews and movement rest...