Massachusetts

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After 24 Years, Kerry Comes Into His Own

No longer aloof, he's interested in local issues, collaboration

(Newser) - John Kerry is a changed man, his colleagues tell the Boston Globe. Gone is the seemingly aloof Kerry known for his solo speeches and patrician habits. These days Kerry is a consensus builder, holding weekly strategy sessions of the kind his state's senior senator is known for. Kerry’s also...

Cash-Strapped Cities Ditch Fireworks

(Newser) - Some 50 US cities are so strapped for money that they're ditching their July 4th fireworks displays, reports the Los Angeles Times. "It came down to this: Did we want to spend $150,000 on something that would be over in a few hours?" asked the mayor of a...

DA's 'Smear' Should Nix Conviction: 'Rockefeller'

(Newser) - Lawyers for Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter—aka Clark Rockefeller—want his conviction overturned because the jury was unfairly prejudiced against their client, the Boston Globe reports. Rockefeller was found guilty of kidnapping his daughter. The lawyers say the prosecution “eviscerated” their insanity defense during closing arguments by calling an unqualified...

'Rockefeller' Guilty of Kidnapping, Faces 15 Years

(Newser) - A Boston jury found the con man known as Clark Rockefeller guilty of kidnapping and assault today in the abduction of his young daughter last year, the Boston Herald reports. He faces up to 15 years in prison when he's sentenced this afternoon. The jury found him not guilty of...

Lobster 'Fiona' Is 1-in 30-Million Phenomenon

Fiona is a 1-in-30-million genetic mutation

(Newser) - The one-in-30-million special at one Boston eatery isn’t on the menu. Caught off the Canadian coast, “Fiona” is believed to be a rare yellow lobster. The spotted 7-year-old (the coloring is actually closer to orange) is fed sushi-quality tuna and will eventually be sent to live at a...

Would-Be Car-Battery Kings Jostle Over $2.4B From Feds

States seek to become lithium-ion capital of US

(Newser) - Some 165 companies and states are battling for a $2.4 billion Obama administration grant aimed at making the US a leader in electric-car batteries, the Wall Street Journal reports. General Motors, Dow Chemical, and General Electric are among the firms vying for the money; states like Michigan, Kentucky, and...

Mass. Man Held in Rape of 2-Year-Old

Was supposed to be babysitting girlfriend's toddler

(Newser) - Massachusetts police have charged a 22-year-old man with raping his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter, setting fire to her blanket, violently resisting arrest, marijuana possession, and a litany of other charges, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports. Christopher C. Mundell was supposed to be babysitting the toddler, and was highly intoxicated...

Effects of Gay Marriage in the Bay State

'Sky hasn't fallen' after 5 years, but opponents still simmer

(Newser) - Five years after Massachusetts legalized gay marriage, most of the furor has fizzled and day-to-day consequences have settled in, the AP reports. Now long-time partners are recognized as family during hospital stays; they can also explain family ties and deal with state adoption officials more easily. And then there's "...

Texting Driver Causes Boston Subway Crash

Collision in tunnel injures 49, including tech-addled conductor

(Newser) - A subway conductor distracted by the text message he was sending his girlfriend caused a collision in a tunnel beneath downtown Boston last night, the Globe reports. One two-car Green Line trolley rear-ended another at the Government Center station, injuring 49. The victims included the 24-year-old texting driver, who will...

Gun, Restraints Found in Craigslist Suspect's Home

(Newser) - A search of the home of alleged Craigslist killer Philip Markoff turned up a handgun, ammunition, and plastic restraints, the New York Times reports. Boston police believe the ties are identical to ones used in two hotel robbery/assaults that left one woman dead by gunshot last week. Markoff pleaded not...

Mass. Mom Kills Child, Unborn Baby: Cops

Woman was 7½ months pregnant, stabbed herself

(Newser) - A pregnant woman killed her 9-year-old daughter and stabbed herself in the stomach to kill her unborn child, authorities in the Boston suburb of Quincy said today. Fang Chi Xue, 38, was treated for self-inflicted stab wounds to the arms and abdomen and is expected to be arraigned on two...

Kennedy Throws First Pitch at Fenway

(Newser) - Sen. Ted Kennedy earned a rousing ovation from the Red Sox faithful today as he threw out the first pitch at Fenway, the Boston Globe reports from Opening Day. Kennedy, battling brain cancer, rode in from the outfield on a cart driven by team legend Jim Rice. Kennedy’s first...

Mass. Seeks New Way to Pay for Health Plan

Most insured state in nation burdened by priciest care

(Newser) - Three years ago, Massachusetts politicians began what may be the gutsiest health care experiment the country has ever seen, bringing near-universal coverage to the state in record time. There’s just one problem: they put off any attempt to control costs, the New York Times reports. Massachusetts’ health care is...

Mass. Earmarks Have Familiar Theme: Kennedys

(Newser) - More than one out of every five dollars of the $126 million Massachusetts is receiving in earmarks from a $410 billion federal spending package is going to help preserve the legacy of the Kennedys. The bill includes $5.8 million for the planning and design of a building to house...

'Rockefeller' Fights False Name Charges

Con man just gave cops name he'd used for 15 years: defense

(Newser) - The con man who went by “Clark Rockefeller” attempted today to dismiss charges he gave police a fake name when arrested last year, the Boston Globe reports. Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter told police arresting him for absconding with his 7-year-old daughter that he was Clark Rockefeller—as he had told...

Runaway Mass. Teacher, Student Found in W. Va. Hotel

24-year-old charged with enticing 8th-grader

(Newser) - Police today found the 8th-grade teacher who ran off with a 15-year-old student, WWLP-TV reports. Massachusetts police tracked a financial trail to find the pair at a hotel in West Virginia. They alerted the local cops, who arrested 24-year-old Lisa Lavoie this morning on charges of enticing a minor. She...

8th-Grade Boy, Female Teacher Go Missing

Mass. pair said to be in relationship; may be headed to Canada

(Newser) - A male 8th-grader and a 22-year-old female teacher at his Holyoke, Mass., school have both been reported missing and are suspected of running off together, the Republican reports. Federal and local authorities are searching for them after the 15-year-old’s parents raised concerns about a relationship earlier this month, and...

Kennedy: 'I Don't Plan to Go Away Soon'

(Newser) - Ted Kennedy appreciates the sentiment, really. But this recent wave of eulogies might be a tad premature, he tells the New York Times. "Obviously I've been touched and grateful," he says in a phone interview. "Beyond that, I don’t really plan to go away soon."...

Madoff's Wife Withdrew $15.5M Days Before Arrest

Deadline for criminal indictment extended 30 days

(Newser) - Ruth Madoff withdrew $10 million from a Madoff-related brokerage firm the day before her husband was arrested, according to a complaint filed by Massachusetts’ secretary of state, the Wall Street Journal reports. She also withdrew $5.5 million a few weeks earlier, according to documents from Cohmad Securities, which Bernie...

Iconic Mass. Gay Couple Splits
 Iconic Mass. Gay Couple Splits 
Feb 3, 2009 1:18 PM CST

Iconic Mass. Gay Couple Splits

Goodridge suit legalized same-sex marriage in state

(Newser) - A lesbian activist couple well-respected for leading Massachusetts' gay marriage charge has filed for divorce, the Boston Herald reports. Hillary and Julie Goodridge's landmark lawsuit legalized same-sex marriage in the state six years ago. The couple married a year later—after nearly two decades together—and share custody of their...

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