region, news

Mass. to get $318M, keep 2 claims open

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

BOSTON - Massachusetts will receive nearly $318 million from a national settlement announced Thursday with mortgage lenders over abusive foreclosure practices, Attorney General Martha Coakley said.

Massachusetts among 10 states to get waiver from No Child Left Behind requirements

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama today will free 10 states from the strict and sweeping requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, giving leeway to states that promise to improve how they prepare and evaluate students, The Associated Press has learned.

Priest sounds alarm on parish consolidations

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

BOSTON - The Boston Archdiocese's proposal to cut costs by organizing its 290 parishes into 125 groups that share resources could crush its pastors, who now face a bleak future after sustaining the church through the abuse scandal, a veteran priest wrote in a letter to Cardinal Sean O'Malley obtained by The Associated Press.

MGM to gauge support for casino in Brimfield

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

BRIMFIELD (AP) - A major Las Vegas casino company says it wants to get a sense from Brimfield residents if they back a resort-style casino in town.

MGM Resorts International said Thursday it has filed a petition to have a non-binding casino question put on the May 21 town meeting warrant.

Taunton woman convicted in fatal crash

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) - A Taunton woman has been sentenced to up to eight years in prison for a fatal drunken driving crash in which she was driving 113 miles per hour.

Boston police website restored 6 days after hack

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

BOSTON (AP) - Boston police say the department's website has been restored, six days after it was hacked and defaced by a group that criticized the police handling of the Occupy Boston movement.

Bpdnews.com was back up and running Thursday.

Man charged with assault for tossing pennies

AP Wire — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00:00 -0500

ASHLAND (AP) - An Ashland motorist who gave a few pennies for his thoughts after getting honked at by another vehicle is in trouble with the law.

Police say 42-year-old Paul Castelli is facing charges including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon for allegedly lobbing a handful of pennies at a car.