Two bicyclists recently killed in crashes in Cambridge, Massachusetts, were remembered Monday at a vigil.
A crash on June 7 at the intersection of DeWolfe Street and Mt. Auburn Street, near Harvard Square, killed 55-year-old Kim Staley of Florida. …
Massachusetts
Heavy fire burns in buildings 1 block from Boston Common
A major fire was burning in what appeared to be a pair of buildings in Boston’s Theater District Monday night.
The Boston Fire Department shared images of the fire on Stuart Street, one block from the Boston Common at Boylston and Tremont st…
Small child hit by vehicle, Worcester police say
A child was hit by a vehicle Monday night in Worcester, Massachusetts, according to police.
Officers responded shortly after 9:30 p.m. to the 200 block of Lincoln Street, where police say a pedestrian crash occurred involving a small child.
Poli…
‘Demoralizing’: Firefighters’ vehicles damaged during Celtics parade
On a day the city came together to celebrate, Boston firefighters who work at the Back Bay station found little to cheer about after their cars were damaged and vandalized at Friday’s Celtics parade.
“Pretty demoralizing and just frustrating and disappointing,” said Sam Dillon, president of Boston Firefighters Local 718. “They worked the parade all day, they get back to the fire house and they found their personal vehicles had been damaged and vandalized.”
Photos taken by the union show dozens of fans standing and sitting on these vehicles while the parade passed by on Friday. Other pictures show those same vehicles with damage to their hoods, roofs buckled in, and in one case, an apparent apology left on one vehicle.
“If you are truly sorry, reach out, make this right, and everyone can go their separate ways,” Dillon said.
“We were discouraged to learn of the damage to our firefighters’ vehicles during the parade,” Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Burke said in a statement. “Any personal property damage, not just to the firefighters’ property but any property, is unfortunate during a celebration such as the Celtics victory parade.”
Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn said these firefighters deserve better.
“It was outrageous what happened, it was disrespectful to the Boston firefighters,” Flynn said. “When you come into Boston for an event you should behave, and act as if it is your own neighborhood, that didn’t happen with some people.”
At an event on Monday afternoon, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said Boston Police are investigating.
“These are hard-working public servants of the city who were there to make sure everyone else was safe,” Wu said. “There is an ongoing investigation.”
Reward offered for information on man wanted in 2017 Boston murder
U.S. Marshals are offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of a man wanted in a 2017 murder investigation.
Alan Lewis, 38, of Brockton, is wanted on a murder charge for the fatal shooting of Brent Stevenson, 37, of Boston, on November 6, 2017.
Investigators say Boston police responded to the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Boylston Street on that date for a report of shots fired. As they responded a car crashed; its driver, Stevenson, was suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Lewis was identified as the suspect. His last known address is on Reservoir Street in Brockton, Massachusetts. He was described as 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He has a stocky built, with tattoos on both arms that read “KILLER” and “BEES.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Boston Police Fugitive Unit at (617) 343-5059. Anonymous tips can be made by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463).
Now’s your chance to see a rare corpse flower bloom in Boston
A rare plant has begun its even rarer bloom this week at Boston’s Arnold Arboretum, the Harvard institution says, and locals only have a limited time to see it.
The titan arum, or otherwise known as the corpse flower, blooms once every seven to 12 years and smells like rotting meat. The bloom lasts just a few days.
The arboretum said Sunday that the bloom — the first to happen at the institution — was underway, but only Arnold members can see it in person, with a reservation. But for everyone else, the arboretum is streaming the bloom live on YouTube:
Scientists have determined that the plant’s strong scent occurs because of a combination of chemicals that create flagrant odors, like rotting cabbage, onions and garlic, as well as spoiled fish and sweaty gym socks, according to the arboretum.
It has at least two corpse plants. The staff named this one Dame Judi Stench and the other Pepe le Pew.
“The titan arums we grow are part of a global conservation effort for a threatened species—but they are also truly magnificent organisms that manage one of the most audacious and spectacular feats of the botanical world. We hope that by connecting people to remarkable plants like this titan arum that they come away with a better idea of why all biodiversity is valuable and worth protecting,” said William Friedman, the Arnold Arboretum’s director.
Corpse flower blooms have become popular events and attract viewership in the botanical world. This marks the first time a corpse flower has bloomed at the Arnold Arboretum.
Originally from Sumatra, Indonesia, the plant may grow up to 8 feet tall. Its odor might repel humans but it attracts carrion-feeding beetles that pollinate the plant.
More plant news
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