Teachers in two cities on the North Shore of Massachusetts announced Thursday that they had voted to go on strike.
The Union of Gloucester Educators and the Beverly Teachers Association say their members voted overwhelmingly in favor of the ac…
Massachusetts
Karen Read judge no longer presiding over Ana Walshe murder case
Judge Beverly Cannone, already presiding over one of Massachusetts’ most closely watched murder cases, is no longer in charge of another.
Cannone had been presiding over the murder case against Brian Walshe, a Cohasset man accused of killing his wife, Ana, as well as the controversial Karen Read case, which is slated for retrial next year.
A court spokesman confirmed Thursday that Judge Diane Freniere is now presiding over the Walshe case, Commonwealth v. Brian Walshe. The Boston Globe reported that Superior Court Chief Justice Michael Ricciuti assigned Freniere the case.
Lat month, Brian Walshe, who is being held without bail on charges including murder, misleading an investigation and improperly moving a human body, made a brief appearance before Cannone in court, where she allowed the case to be continued to Dec. 2 so the defense team would have more time to review the large amount of evidence in the case.
The Walshe case is one of the most high-profile murder cases in the area in recent years. Ana Walshe was first reported missing just a few days into 2023, and as the search for her grew more desperate, her husband Brian began facing charges. He was first charged with misleading police, and eventually murder. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Want updates on the Walshe murder case as they come in, plus in-depth background and analysis? Listen to “The Searches for Ana Walshe” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get podcasts.
The 39-year-old mom of three’s body was never recovered. Prosecutors alleged that Brian killed her in their Cohasset home early New Year’s Day, dismembered her body and discarded it into the trash.
Brian allegedly made a series of Google searches on their son’s iPad that centered around discarding of a body.
The case officer in the Walshe murder investigation was Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor — the trooper who also managed the John O’Keefe murder investigation, and was suspended without pay for his unprofessional conduct that came to light in Karen Read’s trial. Prosecutors have already announced that Proctor will not testify in the Walshe trial.
Major drought declared across Massachusetts as dry conditions continue
Massachusetts officials declared a major drought across the state on Thursday due to an unprecedented lack of rainfall over the past two months.
“After more than a month of nearly no rain and devastating wildfires, Massachusetts is clearly exp…
Former police officer, contractor plead guilty in Mass Save fraud scheme
A former Stoneham, Massachusetts, police officer and his brother, who works as a contractor, have pleaded guilty in a bribery and kickback scheme that netted them millions of dollars in contract payments from the state’s Mass Save program.
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Man dies in accidental fire at Nantucket home
A man has died after being pulled from a fire, along with a dog, at a Nantucket home this week, local and Massachusetts officials said Thursday.
Peter Gurley, 62, was rushed to the hospital from his burning home on Green Meadows Drive on Tuesday night about 7:30 p.m. but later died, according to state and local firefighters, local police and the Cape & Islands district attorney.
The dog was taken in stable condition to Offshore Animal Hospital, the officials said; they didn’t share its current condition.
Investigators believe the fire began in the living room, either because of smoking materials or a power strip that had an after-market phone charger plugged in with several other devices, officials said. Additionally, there were six non-functioning smoke alarms.
“Smoke alarms are fundamental life safety tools and I’m urging all our residents to be sure they’re in place on every level of your home,” Nantucket Fire Chief Michael Cranson said in a statement. “Many tragic events like this one can be prevented with working alarms.”
When the fire was reported, firefighters rushed inside to find anyone in the structure. Gurley was the sole occupant and was taken out, given emergency care and then hurried to Nantucket College Hospital.
Tuesday was Election Night, and also two days after the end of Daylight Saving Time, when fire officials nationwide urge residents to check if their fire alarms are functioning.
Crane collapse damages boat at marina in East Boston
A crane working at a marina in East Boston dropped its load onto a boat below during a collapse Thursday morning, fire officials said.
According to fire officials at the scene, the crane was moving the barge into the water at the Boston Harbor…
