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Officials are investigating a crash between an SUV and an MBTA Commuter Rail train in Kingston, Massachusetts, on Wednesday night.
The crash happened around 9 p.m. on Summer Street, and video from the scene showed the front of the SUV sustained major front end damage.
It’s unclear if anyone was hurt of what led up to the crash.
For the first time in more than 20 years, Boston is saying goodbye to the longtime leader of the Catholic community and welcoming in a new archbishop. A fellow New Englander will take over the reins of the Archdiocese of Boston.
A special mass will be held Thursday to officially name the Most Reverend Richard Henning as the newest Archbishop of Boston.
“My job is I belong to them. I belong to the people of the Archdiocese,” Henning said. “I’m yours and you are mine. I want to love you, know you and serve you.”
Henning led a prayer service on Wednesday night at St. Anthony of Padua in Revere, Massachusetts. Over 1,000 people came out to meet the new head of the Boston Archdiocese.
The former bishop of Providence, Rhode Island, was chosen to replace Cardinal Sean O’Malley, who announced his retirement over the summer.
O’Malley was also on hand for Wednesday night’s prayer service. Henning delivered the service in Spanish, recognizing the diverse population in the diocese.
Henning will be formally installed at the 10th bishop and seventh archbishop of Boston. That mass will take place at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston’s South End.
Rising temperatures are increasing the risk of brush fires all across Massachusetts.
Firefighters on the North Shore continue to work the hot spots there. Wednesday’s rain was not enough to eliminate the elevated fire risk, especially with the warmer than normal forecast
The fires are forcing people in a number of communities to make adjustments.
“My windows have been closed. I have not opened any windows just because of the smell,” one resident said.
“It’s been hectic, worries every night,” another resident said. “You don’t know if it’s gonna reach your house or not. The smoke’s been terrible. You have to keep kids inside.”
Fire crews are bracing for the next couple days, with the potential for 80 degree temperatures and stong winds.
Students at Goodrich Academy in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, are returning to school Thursday after a troubling incident less than 24 hours ago. A 15-year-old student allegedly stabbed a classmate, a situation that has parents and students alike on edge.
School officials and police say this was a targeted attack, and therefore there is no threat to the rest of the school community. It did, however, prompt a lockdown lasting nearly an hour as authorities determined the type of threat they were dealing with.
Police said the stabbing happened minutes before 2 p.m. on Wednesday as students were preparing to go to afternoon classes.
The 15-year-old student was detained by police and is being charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
School was dismissed early after the lockdown was lifted.
Brianna Thibodeau was home across the street when she learned about what happened. She immediately worried about her younger sister, who attends the public school.
“I run downstairs and I’m like, ‘You can’t go to school,’ and I look out the window and there’s like five cop cars already and ambulances,” Thibodeau said. “If a child has a problem with another child, it should be left outside of school if anything, because in school kids are supposed to be safe and learn.”
School officials say they are making counselors available on Thursday for those who need them.
The teenage student who was stabbed suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.
Deadlines, rules and ballot questions differ in every state. Here’s what you need to know to plan your vote if you live in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont.
Timeline of important election deadlines:
Oct. 11
Oct.19
Oct. 26
Oct. 29
Nov. 1
Nov. 5 – Election Day
If you’re not registered to vote, you can register by mail, online or in person at your local election office.
Most applications ask you to confirm your citizenship, provide your full name, address and date of birth. Additionally, they ask for a driver’s license or social security number. And you are asked to provide your party enrollment or designation.
If you want to be eligible to vote on Election Day, you must register by Saturday, Oct. 26. You cannot register on Election Day in Massachusetts.
If you’re not registered to vote, you can register by mail, online or in person at your local election office.
Most applications ask you to confirm your citizenship, provide your full name, address and date of birth. Additionally, they ask for a driver’s license or social security number. You are asked to provide your party enrollment or designation.
If you want to be eligible to vote on Election Day, you must register by Saturday, Oct. 26. You cannot register on Election Day in Massachusetts.
If you are unable to vote in person in Massachusetts on Election Day or during the early voting period, you can vote by mail. You don’t need a reason or a witness to vote by mail, but you must return your ballot before the polls close on Election Day.
The office of the Secretary of State William Francis Galvin suggests applying as early as possible, especially if your ballot needs to be mailed. The office recommends allowing up to seven days for delivery and applying two or three weeks before Election Day.
There are several options to return a mail-in ballot. You can mail it back using the envelope provided, hand deliver it to your local election office, drop it off at an early voting location during early voting hours or use a ballot drop box.
You may also consider voting early in person. The early voting period offers voters the ability to vote before Election Day and usually in a less crowded location. Currently, 47 states, including Massachusetts, allow early in-person voting.
The early voting period in Massachusetts begins on Oct. 19 and ends on Nov. 1. There is no appointment or application required to vote early in person, you can just visit your local early voting location.
Lines may be longer on the first and last days of early voting, so Galvin’s office recommends going on off hours.
Each city and town in the state must offer at least one early voting location. The locations will be posted on the website of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at least one week before the early voting period begins.
There are five questions on the ballot for Massachusetts voters to decide on.
Massachusetts Question 1: Should the auditor be allowed to investigate the state legislature?
Massachusetts Question 2: Eliminate the MCAS graduation requirement.
Massachusetts Question 3: A union for rideshare drivers
Massachusetts Question 4: Legalizing psychedelic drugs
Massachusetts Question 5: Minimum wage increase for tipped workers
On Nov. 5, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) and attorney John Deaton (R) will compete for Warren’s current seat on the U.S. Senate.
Warren did not face an opponent in the primary election. Deaton secured his spot against Warren and hopes to unseat her as this would be her third term.
Deaton classifies himself as a “small government, fiscally-conservative, socially moderate Republican,” while Warren has fought for progressive change nationally.
Timeline of important election deadlines:
Oct. 18
Oct. 21
Nov. 3
Nov. 5 – Polls open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
You can register to vote through the Office of the Secretary of State’s website. The online registration and by-mail registration deadlines are Oct. 18, while the in-person registration deadline is Nov. 5.
Connecticut has strict laws regarding who can vote absentee. Some reasons you would be allowed to vote absentee:
There is also an emergency ballot within six days of an election. You can request a regular absentee ballot at the state’s online absentee ballot request portal, where an application can be downloaded for individual use, the use of an individual’s immediate family or the use of a designee of the applicant.
An absentee ballot will be sent to you 31 days before a general election and may be returned by mail or in person. Only ballots received before the polls close on Election Day will be counted.
The early voting period in Connecticut is Oct. 21 to Nov. 3. The locations will be listed here as they become available. Each town or city will have at least one early voting location.
Timeline of important election deadlines:
Oct. 15
Oct. 31
Nov. 5 – Polls open anytime from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
You can register to vote in person, online and by mail. Online registration forms can be found on the Department of the Secretary of State website, which gives the option to register for the first time, update your voter information and change your party enrollment.
The deadline to apply by mail and online is Oct. 15. You can register to vote in person through Election Day in Maine.
To vote by mail in Maine, you must request an absentee ballot which can be done online via this request form. Absentee ballots may be requested as early as three months before Election Day and must be submitted before Oct. 31.
In Maine, dates and times to vote early in person vary by where you live.
There are five questions on the ballot for Maine voters to decide on.
Question 1: Do you want to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office?
Question 2: Do you favor a bond issue of $25,000,000 to provide funds?
Question 3: Do you favor a $10,000,000 bond issue to restore historic buildings owned by governmental and nonprofit organizations, with funds being issued contingent on a 25% local match requirement from either private or nonprofit sources?
Question 4: Do you favor a $30,000,000 bond issue to invest in the design, development and maintenance for nonmotorized, motorized and multi-use trails statewide, to be matched by at least $3,000,000 in private and public contributions?
Question 5: Do you favor making the former state flag, which was replaced as the official flag of the State in 1909 and is commonly known as the Pine Tree Flag, the official flag of the State?
Timeline of important election deadlines:
Nov. 4
Nov. 5
You may register to vote in New Hampshire in person, by mail under certain conditions, or on Election Day at your polling place. You can also register at your town hall before Nov. 5. Deadlines vary by town, generally six to 13 days before the election.
You can find a full list of clerks and polling places on the New Hampshire Secretary of State website.
You may request a mail-in ballot in New Hampshire through this application. The request must be received by Nov. 4 at 12 p.m. If returned by mail, the ballot must be received by 5 p.m. on Election Day. In person, the deadline is Nov. 4 at 5 p.m.
New Hampshire does not offer early in-person voting before Election Day.
Voters in New Hampshire will be asked to weigh in on raising the mandatory retirement age for judges:
Voters in New Hampshire will elect a new governor on Nov. 5. The seat is open for the first time since 2016 as incumbent Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, did not seek reelection.
The three candidates are former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R), Joyce Craig (D) and Stephen Villee (L).
Ayotte previously served as New Hampshire’s first female attorney general and is backed by Sununu. She wants to follow in the previous governor’s footsteps.
Craig has served as Manchester’s first female mayor. She said serving the state’s third-largest city for three terms has prepared her to be governor.
Libertarian candidate Villee runs on a platform for smaller government and greater individual freedom, according to his website.
Timeline of important election deadlines:
Oct. 6
Oct. 15
Oct. 16
Nov. 4
Nov. 5 – Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
You can register to vote in Rhode Island online through the Secretary of State’s website, in person, or by mail. You need a driver’s license or state identification number, your name and date of birth to register. You can register online through the Secretary of State’s website.
In Rhode Island, any registered voter can request a mail-in ballot. You can apply for a mail-in ballot online. The requirements are to have a valid state ID and be registered to vote.
To return your ballot, you may deliver it by mail or by hand. It must be returned before 8 p.m. on Election Day.
In Rhode Island, you can vote early in person between Oct. 16 and Nov. 4. Schedules and locations vary by city or town.
There are five questions on the ballot for Rhode Island voters to decide on.
Question 1: Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the Rhode Island Constitution?
Question 2: Should $120 million be allocated for housing and community opportunity?
Question 3: Should $120 million be allocated for housing and community opportunity?
Question 4: Should $53 million be allocated for green economy bonds?
Question 5: Should $10 million be allocated for cultural arts and the economy grant program?
Timeline of important election deadlines:
Sept. 21
Nov. 4
Nov. 5 – Polls open anytime from 5 to 10 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
You can register to vote online, in person, or by mail in Vermont. If you are registering for the first time, you must include an acceptable form of photo identification.
Active Vermont voters do not need to request a mail-in ballot because the state mails general election ballots no later than Oct. 1. The ballot must be received by the town clerk or local election office before 7 p.m. on Election Day.
All requests for absentee ballots must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the day of the election.
A person suffered life-threatening injuries after a crash Wednesday evening in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
State police responded just before 8 p.m. to the rollover crash on Interstate 95 southbound.
Authorities say one person was ejected fr…
