“The Trial Court has issued the following order effective for the Commonwealth v. Karen Read trial, which begins tomorrow with jury selection:

“COURT ORDER: It is, hereby, ordered that no individual may demonstrate in any manner, including carrying signs or placards, within 200 feet of the courthouse complex during trial of this case, unless otherwise ordered by this Court. This complex includes the Norfolk Superior courthouse building and the parking area behind the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds building. Individuals are also prohibited from using audio enhancing devices while protesting.

“It is further ordered that no individuals will be permitted to wear or exhibit any buttons, photographs, clothing, or insignia, relating to the case pending against the defendant or relating to any trial participant, in the courthouse during the trial. Law enforcement officers who are testifying or are members of the audience are also prohibited from wearing their department issued uniforms or any police emblems in the courthouse.”-Massachusetts State Police.

“She did everything RIGHT…

Michaela noticed this mangey fox hanging around her house. Once the fox went into her garage, she closed possible exits and called us. We didn’t have to chase this already compromised animal. He crawled into her garage and fell asleep. Next thing he knew, he was in a carrier being brought to the rescue.

He is in rough shape. He is dealing with mange and a slow clotting time (likely from rat poison). We will be tending to him night and day until he is stable.

Thank Michaela, for giving this young red fox a second chance at the wonderful life deserves.”-Newhouse Wildlife Rescue.

_______________________________________

UPDATE at 10:25am:

“Someone is feeling better this morning. ❤️ Now that he’s all hydrated, we will begin treatment for mange. He is also being treated secondary rodenticide poisoning, skin infections, eye infections, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms.
His treatment will likely take about 6 weeks.

He’s tough and we believe he will pull through. ❤️”-Newhouse Wildlife Rescue.

Newhouse Wildlife Rescue photo.

“The fire occurred at 16 Bernards Way tonight (4/13), it was discovered just after 5 pm when a neighborhood child saw fire venting from a window on the back side of the house. A phone call to 911 followed and firefighters were enroute by 5:15 pm.

A full recall of firefighters was transmitted due to the report of the house fire. A working fire assignment was requested by the Chief before arrival due to information from the scene.

Engine 2 and Car 1 arrived first, conflicting reports about the whereabouts of the occupants necessitated an aggressive attack on the fire and a search of the home. Engine 2 crew stretched a 1 ¾ attack line into the home for extinguishment.

Lakeville, MA Fire Department photo.

Next arriving Engine 1 conducted a search for victims, but none were found. Car 2 and Tower Ladder 1 arrived on the scene, with the ladder assigned to ventilation of the structure.

An Engine from Raynham covered the Lakeville Fire Station during the fire.

A neighbor helped keep some of the fire in check by spraying water into a window where the fire was venting. Despite those actions, interior firefighters were faced with heavy smoke and zero visibility. Upon locating the seat of the fire, crews quickly extinguished the remaining fire.

The family of four was not home at the time of the fire, they did respond back home upon notification of the fire. The home was uninhabitable due to the fire damage, and the Red Cross is assisting the family with securing shelter for the night.
An attached neighboring home (duplex) was not damaged; the residents were temporarily displaced due to elevated carbon monoxide levels. The neighbor’s home was ventilated and made safe.

Lakeville, MA Fire Department photo.

Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department BCI responded to the scene for investigation assistance. The Building Inspector Nate Darling assisted with the investigation and securing of the home. All responders were clear of the scene by 8:00 pm.

Notes:

• A couple of firsts… This was the first call for our new Tower Ladder! This was the first fire for FF PJ Machunski and Brett Morse.
• FF Neal Severance graduated from the fire academy only yesterday.

Strong work fellas! The Delisle Family discovered the fire; they are the family that firefighters recently assisted after the birth of Annabelle in their home.”-Lakeville, MA Fire Department.

Lakeville, MA Fire Department photo.

Lakeville, MA Fire Department photo.

Defendant allegedly possessed videos files of child sexual abuse material; some depicting children approximately one to eight years old.

“BOSTON – A Lowell man has been arrested for child pornography offenses.

Steven Armando Estrada Ramirez, 21, was charged with receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Estrada Ramirez made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston yesterday.

According to the charging documents, Estrada was identified as a participant in multiple groups on a mobile chat application, in which the primary purpose of the group, is for users share and view CSAM. It is alleged that multiple files located within those chat application groups depicted child pornography. During a search of his residence, Estrada was found to be in possession of a USB drive containing approximately 800 video files, many of which had filenames descriptive of child pornography, and the majority of which depicted child pornography. The files allegedly depicted children who appeared to be approximately one to eight years old.

The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”-Massachusetts Department of Justice.

“This week, City of New Bedford Emergency Management placed their new Fire & Emergency Incident Rehabilitation Unit in service.

This unit will respond to all fire and emergency scenes where responders, displaced residents, and civilians can take shelter during inclement weather in all seasons. The Emergency Management Agency is a division of the Fire Department.

This unit carries an array of tents, heating and cooling units, blankets, and other supplies. The unit is staffed by EMA Director Brian Nobrega and his mostly volunteer staff. These volunteers respond all hours of the day and night, including weekends and holidays. Their dedication is appreciated by all. They assist with fire and emergency scene rehab and provide victim assistance to those in need.

These services allow the NBFD to be compliant with NFPA 1584 Standard on the Rehabilitation Process for Members During Emergency Operations and Training Exercises. EMA personnel also assist the Fire Investigators, American Red Cross, and NBPD and NBEMS with victim services and obtaining their information and needs.”-New Bedford Fire Department.

A typical Fire & Emergency Incident Rehabilitation Unit. Mass.gov photo.
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Throughout April, we are rolling daily high visibility enforcement patrols across Mass. as part of a nationwide distracted driving enforcement campaign.

Keep your eyes on the road, not your phone, or you could face a fine, or much worse. #JustDrive #DistractedDriving #EyesOnTheRoad NHTSA”-Massachusetts State Police.

Massachusetts State Police photo.

“As we begin this pilot of new sign designs for buses that are intended to improve our riders’ experience and provide clear information at bus stops, we are asking for public feedback to best ensure we are meeting your expectations,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng

This week, we launched a pilot to redesign bus stop signs in an effort to improve their accessibility and visibility. In the coming weeks, we’ll be hosting eight pop-up events at pilot bus stops to gather rider feedback on the pilot.

This bus stop signage pilot comes in advance of anticipated bus service changes to come as part of the Bus Network Redesign Program.”-Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority photo.

A recent study titled ‘A Life of Tax: How Much Tax Will Americans Pay Over Their Lifetime?’ has revealed that residents of Massachusetts are among those who will pay some of the highest lifetime taxes in the United States.

According to the study, the average American will pay approximately $524,625 in taxes throughout their lifetime, which accounts for about a third (34.7%) of their estimated lifetime earnings of $1,494,986. Massachusetts residents, however, are expected to pay even more, with a total lifetime tax burden of $816,700.

The study breaks down the taxes into different categories. For Massachusetts residents, the tax on earnings is estimated to be $374,256 over a lifetime. Additionally, tax on personal expenses, including food, clothing, personal care, and entertainment, is projected to be $52,039. Property tax will add another $325,086, and owning the most popular car (Toyota Rav 4) will cost an additional $65,319 in tax payments alone, across the average four cars owned in a lifetime.

These figures place Massachusetts as the fourth highest state in terms of lifetime taxes, following New Jersey, Washington D.C., and Connecticut. Residents of New Jersey are expected to pay the most, with a total lifetime tax burden of $987,117.

Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has announced upcoming overnight maintenance and debris removal on three key bridges in the New Bedford and Fall River areas.

Starting at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, through 6 a.m. the next morning, road closures and rolling roadblocks will be in effect for the following bridges:

Braga Bridge: Street sweeping will be conducted, requiring rolling roadblocks.

Veterans Memorial Bridge: Maintenance work will be performed, with state police implementing rolling roadblocks.

New Bedford-Fairhaven Swing Bridge: Maintenance activities will take place during this period.

MassDOT advises drivers to exercise caution, reduce speed, and plan for potential delays while traveling through these areas.

Delegation from U.S. Conference of Mayors met with Israeli and Palestinian officials on trip sponsored by Project Interchange.

“NEW BEDFORD – Mayor Jon Mitchell chaired a group of U.S. Mayors on a trip to Israel earlier this week on behalf of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the leading organization representing American cities. Mayor Mitchell is a member of USCM’s Board of Trustees.

The delegation spent four days in Israel meeting with municipal leaders, academics, business leaders, and experts from both Israel and Palestine. They also held discussions with released hostages and their families, and others coordinating humanitarian aid in the region. Site visits included Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem, and the city of Sderot on the border with Gaza. In the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by the terror group Hamas, 70 civilians, including 20 police officers, were murdered in Sderot.

Mayor Mitchell was back at City Hall on Friday.

“Although this is the USCM’s fourth mayoral delegation to Israel, the issues in the region today are more relevant than ever to Americans,” Mayor Mitchell said. “The current conflict is widening the political fault lines in our country, and I believe that it is important for mayors, as the leaders of their cities, to take opportunities like this to deepen their understanding of a situation that, as everyone can agree, is complicated and difficult.”

The trip was sponsored by a joint program between the USCM and the American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange, which facilitates exchanges between Israeli, Palestinian, European, and American officials. The mission of the program is to enhance Americans’ understanding of the region’s politics by exposing mayors to diverse perspectives and promoting new and mutually beneficial relationships with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. This is the program’s fourth mayoral delegation to Israel, which was funded entirely by the program.

Participants included Mayor Daniel Rickman of Columbia, South Carolina, Mayor Travis Stovall of Gresham, Oregon, and officials from the USCM and AJC. Based on security considerations, the USCM requested that members of the delegation refrain from announcing the trip beforehand or releasing details of the itinerary prior to return.”-City of New Bedford.