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Police / Fire / Courts

February 22, 2013 - Northampton, Mass. - Photo by Michael S. Gordon/The Republican - Cara L. Rintala watches as the jury enters the Hampshire Superior Courtroom Friday.  Rintala is accused of killing her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala.

Judge again denies bail for murder suspect Cara Lee Rintala while awaiting new trial in 2010 slaying

Thursday, May 23, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — Cara Lee Rintala will remain behind bars while she awaits a new trial in the 2010 slaying of her wife. Superior Court Judge Mary Lou Rup, who presided over Rintala’s trial earlier this year on a charge of murder in connection with the death of Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, denied a motion to set bail for Rintala at $250,000. … 0

Cellphone helps save disoriented hikers on Mount Tom

Thursday, May 23, 2013

HOLYOKE — A cellphone helped save a pair of hikers who became disoriented while walking a trail on Mount Tom State Reservation Thursday afternoon. State police Trooper Reid Bagley said the hikers called for help at 12:45 p.m., after they realized they were turned around. A dispatcher used GPS information from one of the hikers’ smartphones to pinpoint their location on a map … 0

Area police news

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Troopers help hikers lost on Mount Tom HOLYOKE — A cellphone helped save a pair of hikers who became disoriented while walking a trail on Mount Tom State Reservation Thursday afternoon. State police Trooper Reid Bagley said the hikers called for help at 12:45 p.m., after they realized they were turned around. A dispatcher used GPS information from one of the hikers’ smartphones … 0

Massachusetts House OKs bill to try 17-year-olds as juveniles

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

BOSTON — Seventeen-year-olds would no longer automatically enter the adult court system in Massachusetts under a bill that won unanimous approval Wednesday in the House of Representatives. The change, if adopted by the Senate and signed by Gov. Deval Patrick, would mean that 17-year-olds would be tried in … 0

Attorney for James 'Whitey' Bulger argues informant should be exposed

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

BOSTON — An attorney for James “Whitey” Bulger argued Wednesday that the government should expose the identity of a confidential informant he believes could undermine two star witnesses against the reputed gangster. During a pretrial hearing Wednesday, attorney Hank Brennan said providing the informant’s name is critical to … 0

Connecticut train service gets back on track

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Train service from New York to Boston was back on schedule Wednesday on one of the nation’s oldest and most heavily traveled railways, five days after a derailment in Connecticut injured scores of commuters … 0

Newport, RI, man arrested for stealing copper downspouts

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) — A Newport man has been arrested for allegedly stealing copper downspouts from 16 homes around the city. Newport police say 25-year-old Anthony Hendricksen is scheduled to be arraigned at Newport District Court on Wednesday on 16 counts of larceny and one count of vandalism. … 0

More than 50 hurt in school bus crash

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

NORTH WEBSTER, Ind. — A school bus slammed into the back of another one Wednesday afternoon, setting off a chain-reaction crash involving four buses in northern Indiana, leaving about 50 middle and high students with non-serious injuries and … 0

Rev. William Hamilton first Easthampton police chaplain

Monday, May 20, 2013

EASTHAMPTON — The newest person to wear an Easthampton Police Department badge is not a young recruit. He is a 60-year-old Catholic priest who said he will devote himself to supporting the city’s officers as they deal with … 0

Belchertown attorney Michael J. Pasterczyk stripped of law license for pocketing client’s insurance settlement

Monday, May 20, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — A Belchertown attorney has been disbarred and will be unable to practice law in Massachusetts after he kept a client’s insurance settlement from an auto accident. The state Supreme Judicial Court ruled in favor of the Board of Bar Overseers in stripping Michael J. Pasterczyk of … 0

Area police news

Monday, May 20, 2013

Amherst ■ Connor Dunn, 19, of 82 Pondview Drive, was arrested Sunday at 4:32 a.m. on West Street on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, being a minor in possession of alcohol, unlawful possession of a keg and possession of a fake … 0

Guatemala’s ex-dictator may avoid prison after conviction annulled

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

GUATEMALA CITY (ap) — The decision to annul the genocide conviction of Guatemala’s former U.S-backed dictator and restart his trial could spawn interminable delays in the effort to see him jailed for the massacre of thousands of Mayans, victims’ advocates said Tuesday. Some said they feared the country’s … 0

Connecticut commuter rail service to resume Wednesday

Monday, May 20, 2013

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Commuter rail service between Connecticut and New York City is expected to resume in full by Wednesday morning rush hour, five days after a derailment and crash injured scores of passengers, transit authorities said Monday. … 0