GateHouse News Service New England Budget • March 5, 2008
Here are the top New England regional stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at gatehousenewsservice.com. Please submit stories below no later than 6 p.m. local time, unless you have breaking news that is changing significantly. Questions?
Contact: Chris Biondi, (508) 626-4343, cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com
News
CIGARETTE TAX - As the Legislature considers adding $1 to the state's $1.51 cigarette tax, we look at what people say about the fairness of this move.
MetroWest, Hilliard, 15 inches, on wire now
NEEDHAM PSYCHOLOGIST SARA OROZCO BRACES FOR STATE SENATE RUN - Sara Orozco's life has been a series of challenges - from growing up in Miami in a financially strapped household to surviving breast cancer. Now the Needham psychologist is ready to take on a new challenge as she plans to run against Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham, for his Senate seat.
CNC, Ryan, 27 inches, on wire now
With photos
SAVING DARWIN, FOR FAITH: AUTHOR SAYS THEY'RE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE - Eastern Nazarene College professor Karl Giberson thinks believers in both God and evolution are losing the public battle with creationists - so he's written a book to make the case for Darwin.
Ledger, Lambert, 25 inches, on wire now
With photo
TWO TODDLERS LEFT HOME ALONE BY MOTHER AND PHYSICIAN FATHER - A Fall River couple faces charges after leaving their two toddlers home alone while they were nearly an hour away in Dedham Monday morning, police said.
Herald News, Holtzman, 15 inches, on wire now
FEDS APPEAL $3.1 MILLION AWARD TO MOTHER OF "WHITEY" VICTIM - In 2006, a federal judge ordered the FBI to pay $3.1 million to the mother of a Quincy man slain by mobster James "Whitey" Bulger. On Monday, a Justice Department lawyer argued to an appeals court that the FBI should not be held responsible for what a disgraced agent did more than 20 years ago.
Ledger, 8 inches, on wire now
VIOLENCE HAS PARENTS OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WORRIED IN RANDOLPH - Two recent incidents involving students at Randolph Community Middle School have parents concerned about the safety of their children. Both incidents involved weapons and took place off school property.
Ledger, Hanson, 18 inches, on wire now
With photo and sidebars
GHOSTBUSTERS TRY TO SCARE UP MIDDLEBORO TOWN HALL SPIRITS - Armed with cameras, a high- tech thermometer and a digital voice recorder, ghost hunters searched Middleboro Town Hall for their quarry, from the rafters to its basement. With cell phones turned off and skepticism left at the door, a knot of curious bystanders followed the investigators from the Paranormal Institute of New England in their probe for ghosts Monday night. hey haven't found any ectoplasmic evidence -- yet.
Enterprise, Elwell, 18 inches, on wire now
With photos
AFTER CRASHING INTO ROCKLAND POLICE STATION, PEMBROKE MAN SEEKS ALCOHOL TREATMENT - The Pembroke man whose truck crashed his pickup truck into the Rockland police station had been sober for seven years before he started drinking on Monday, and he has entered an alcohol treatment program, his wife said.
Ledger, Lightman, 12 inches, on wire now
With photo
BROCKTON HOSPITAL SURGEON HAS HISTORY OF MALPRACTICE CASES - Dr. Julie G. White was not held responsible for the death of a Chelmsford woman who underwent surgery at Brockton Hospital in 2001, but does have two other malpractice cases on her record.
Enterprise, Alspach, 18 inches, on wire now
Business
DELAYED FLIGHTS AT LOGAN UNCHANGED DURING JANUARY - Boston airport ranks fifth highest in on-time departures among airports.
Ledger, 5 inches, on wire now
REEBOK GETS A NEW CEO - Adidas replaces Paul Harrington with Uli Becker, as Harrington heads to job at California company.
Ledger, 5 inches, on wire now
Opinions
PETER CHIANCA: HONK IF YOU LOVE FREE VIDEOS - The other day, I received an e-mail with the subject line, "Free video on resolving conflicts with Canada geese." My initial thought was, of course, what's the catch? Surely no one is going to just give away an entire video on resolving conflicts with Canada geese.
CNC, on wire now
With art
EDITORIAL: TAXING INFRASTRUCTURE - The time has long since passed when Ma Bell was a regulated utility and needed some tax breaks to invest in infrastructure and wiring to ensure
connectivity for all cities and towns, especially rural areas.
Ledger, 6 p.m.
GAUTHIER: THE BUSINESS OF FORECLOSURE - When my daughters were young, I typeset for a weekly newspaper. My duties included preparing for publication lengthy foreclosure notices. During the 1970s, there were many foreclosures, and as my fingers flew over the keys, I'd think about the people who surely were hurting, financially and emotionally, over the loss of their home.
MetroWest, on wire now
GUEST COLUMN: STEVEN EPSTEIN - LET LEGISLATORS KNOW YOUR STANCE ON MARIJUANA - After pondering marijuana law reform since 2000, the Joint Committee on the Judiciary is now required to hold a hearing this month on an Initiative Petition for An Act Establishing a Sensible Marihuana Policy for the Commonwealth submitted by over four score thousand voters. Author is a founder of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition.
CNC, in wire now
DEIRDRE REILLY: Warning ˆ this medication might give you an urge to gamble.
CNC, on wire now
GRANLUND: On Obama as the Wizard of Oz
MetroWest, on wire now
GRANLUND: On Marines and puppy cruelty probe
MetroWest, on wire now
MAHONEY: Romney wonders how McCain did it
Ledger, on wire now
JOE BURNS MAKING THE WRONG CALL - A version of that urban legend, giving *77 as the life-saving number, was sent to me by Susan, a Cape Cod senior who'd had a scare last fall when she was tailgated on Route 6 by an unmarked police car.
CNC, on wire now
Sports
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Lifestyles
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GETAWAY / IN NEW ENGLAND PACKAGE FOR MARCH 12 PUBLICATION
GETAWAY: GET ACTIVE ON MEXICAN RIVIERA CRUISE - I feel like Tarzan, even if the harness attached to the line belies the fact I don't have the strength of the ape-man. A slight decline and pulleys are propelling me down the line.
IN NEW ENGLAND: THE SWEETEST SEASON - With the spring thaw comes one of New England's biggest treats, maple syrup. The sweet stuff is duly celebrated with a plethora of maple sugaring events this month.
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RAYNHAM BOY MAKES GOOD IN HOLLYWOOD - On March 10, Fox debuts the pilot episode of "Canterbury's Law" - a legal drama Massachusetts native Dave Erickson created and wrote.
Raynham Call, Weinstein, 30 inches, on wire now
With photo
HOW TO EAT HEALTHY ON A BUDGET - A gallon of milk, a loaf of bread and a can of coffee will set the average shopper back about $10. And, that's before the meats, fruits and vegetables get tossed in the cart.
Herald News, Allard, 20 inches, on wire now
With recipes, shopping tips and photos
CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK'S DAY WITH IRISH SODA BREAD - In March, people are mad not just for college basketball and all things green, but for Irish soda bread. The bread takes its name from the baking soda used as leavening instead of yeast.
Ledger, Feinberg, 25 inches, on wire now
With photos and recipe