A former Olympian and longtime track coach will spend as many as 11 years in state prison after pleading guilty to charges of sexually molesting young boys at a sports camp in western Massachusetts in the 1970s, abuse that was laid bare by the emotion…
Massachusetts
Seaport area eyed as new site for migrant shelter
Questions continue to grow on where to shelter unhoused migrants in Massachusetts.
With the newly opened shelter in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood nearly full, eyes are now turning to a new part of the city for a shelter. That area is Boston’s Seaport.
The Fort Point office building could be next. This is a private building with 10,000 square feet of space and the owner, after being contacted by the state, apparently said they were interested in converting this into a short-term housing facility.
City officials notified the Fort Point neighborhood that the state was considering this as a safety-net site for migrants because the shelter Roxbury is nearing capacity.
The Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex on MLK Jr Boulevard in Roxbury opened last week to accommodate up to 100 migrant families of four. However, this week more than 90 families are now in there.
“At some point, we just are not able to sustain everyone that wants to come here. The situation we have now just can’t continue and we have to make some major and dramatic decisions over the next several months,” said Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn.
While a decision hasn’t been made or finalized on the Fort Port building, “conversations and potential arrangements are being made.” In the meantime, state leaders said they have not stopped searching for the next overflow site.
Temps increase into the weekend, storm on the way next week
Temperatures continue to climb Friday with a sun/cloud blend. The deciding factor in reaching 50 (or better) will be the sun and the wind direction.
South winds will favor cooler readings on the Cape(s)/Islands and across most of southeast Massachu…
You can legally bet on the Super Bowl in Massachusetts, but there are rules
Sunday will mark the first time in history that Massachusetts will allow legal online and mobile sports betting for the Super Bowl, and the event is poised to smash records.
While many are already diving deep into their wallets for game day, certain bets will not be allowed.
Due to a vote by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Wednesday, certain prop bets, or side wagers, are not permitted.
Bay Staters cannot bet on:
- The team to get the opening kickoff
- If the coin toss will be re-taken
- The coin toss call result
- The Gatorade color poured over the winning team’s coach
- The length of the National Anthem
“Overall, this will be the most bet Super Bowl ever,” said Bill Speros, a senior betting analyst with Bookies.com.
According to Speros, at least a quarter to a half-a-million people will bet legally in Massachusetts, but reiterated that prop bets must relate to the actual gameplay.
For Taylor Swift fans, it may not be the most optimal news.
“You can bet along the Taylor Swift theme,” explained Speros, “but you can’t bet on stuff like her clothes, or her shoes, or whether or not she’s going to cry.”
More on the Super Bowl
Instead, people have been forced to get creative to keep the fun legal.
“There was one I think called ‘Karma,’ which was ‘Travis Kelce doesn’t catch the ball and the 49ers win,’” Speros said.
As for which bet is most popular heading into Super Bowl Sunday, Speros pointed to Kelce.
“The Kelce anytime touchdown bet is probably the most popular one overall, from what I’ve seen,” he said.
Newton mayor, school committee unanimously approve new teacher contract
The Newton School Committee and Mayor Ruthanne Fuller voted unanimously Thursday to approve a new teacher contract after a weekslong strike.
The Newton Teachers Association voted Jan. 18 to go on strike. Schools in the Massachusetts city were close…
Mass budget cuts concern charity supporting families of homicide victims
Gov. Maura Healey’s plans to slash $375 million from Massachusetts’ budget is continuing to cause concern among local organizations.
The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, based in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, says the proposed cuts would reduce its funding by a third for Fiscal Year 2024, impacting hundreds of families across the commonwealth.
In the last five years, from 2018 to 2022, nearly 250 lives were lost to homicide in Boston. The institute says that these budget cuts would affect the grieving families it supports each year.
“It was really unfortunate to see that,” said Alexandra Chéry-Dorrelus, co-executive director at the institute. “We have heard over and over again how much the state respects the work of the organization.”
Chéry-Dorrelus says burial costs, survivor outreach and healing support are among the services the organization provides for families.
She knows, first-hand, the trauma they have experienced.
“Back in 1993, my brother, Louis Brown, was murdered on Dec. 20 on his way to a Teens Against Gang Violence Christmas party,” Chéry-Dorrelus said.
Rachel Rodrigues, who is also a co-executive director, said it needs $1 million in state funding, with $400,000 of that going to burial costs alone.
“We normally receive $300,000 from the Massachusetts, and we work statewide,” Rodrigues said. “This would mean a $100,000 cut in that funding.”
The Executive Office for Administration and Finance says the $200,000 proposed is consistent with last year’s budget, as well as Fiscal Years 2020, 2021 and 2022. It added that the $300,000 it received this year included a $100,000 earmark for grants to be awarded by the institute to other organizations.
The institute says it will continue helping the community in over 91 cities and towns across Massachusetts.
“If we are sending the message that people are not worthy of receiving access to their basic needs, they cannot heal through trauma,” Chéry-Dorrelus said. “They cannot get through the rest of it.”
In a statement, Healey’s office said it respects and appreciates the work done by the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute to support victims of violent crime.
More on Gov. Maura Healey’s proposed budget cuts
