Dorchester, MA
Police & Fire
Firefighter Hospitalized, 30 Displaced By Overnight Chelsea Fire: Report Firefighter Hospitalized, 30 Displaced By Overnight Chelsea Fire: Report
Firefighter Hospitalized, 30 Displaced By Overnight Chelsea Fire: Report A firefighter was rushed to the hospital after he was injured in a Chelsea fire early Tuesday morning that destroyed the home of 30 people.  The blaze broke out on the back deck of a three-story, six-unit building on Blossom Street just after 1 a.m., NBC Boston reported. Everyone inside escaped without injury, officials said.  Video of the conflagration shows fire chewing through the wooden deck and into the families' homes.  Chelsea 4th Alarm 43-45 Blossom St. Ok for media use with credit to Paul Koolloian pic.twitter.com/KOMAMZSPhA — @paulkoolloian (@paulkoolloian1) August 2, 2022 C…

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by Josh Lanier
Dorchester, MA
News
MBTA's Proposed Bus Changes Spark Outrage From Area Commuters MBTA's Proposed Bus Changes Spark Outrage From Area Commuters
MBTA's Proposed Bus Changes Spark Outrage From Area Commuters The MBTA has set out to completely redo its bus network, and the proposed changes are garnering mixed reactions from area commuters.   The MBTA's "Bus Network Redesign" was created to reflect several changes Boston and its surrounding areas have seen in recent years. These include shifting demographics, emerging employment districts, increasing traffic congestion, and changing travel patterns, the MBTA said.  The redesign is expected to bring the following benefits:  25% more bus service 70% more weekend service 275,000 more residents would be near high-frequency service (buses running e…

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by David Cifarelli
Cambridge, MA
Obituaries
Chelsea Man Who Drowned At Winchester Lake Remembered As Loving Father Chelsea Man Who Drowned At Winchester Lake Remembered As Loving Father
Chelsea Man Who Drowned At Winchester Lake Remembered As Loving Father A family from the North Shore is desperately trying to honor their late patriarch who unexpectedly died "after a fun day at the lake."  Jose Garcia, age 56, from Chelsea, drowned while swimming in the Upper Mystic Lake off Sandy Beach in Winchester on Sunday, July 24, Massachusetts State Police said. Initial investigation suggested Garcia was swimming with his family when he became "distressed" in the water, police said. He was last seen by a person on the shore well past the designated swimming area. Garcia's family is now actively seeking donations to help cover the cost of his funeral.  …

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by David Cifarelli
Cambridge, MA
Police & Fire
Swimmer Pulled From Greater Boston Area Lake Identified Swimmer Pulled From Greater Boston Area Lake Identified
Swimmer Pulled From Greater Boston Area Lake Identified The victim of a recent drowning at lake just in a Boston suburb has been identified as 56-year-old Jose Garcia from Chelsea. Multiple rescue crews responded the drowning in Upper Mystic Lake off Sandy Beach in Winchester around 4:37 p.m. on Sunday, July 24, Massachusetts State Police said.  Crews found Garcia around 5:30 p.m.. He was then taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to police.  Missing swimmer recovered in #Winchester at Upper Mystic Lake. #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/wAJCsVpPUW — Matt Kaminsky (@matty_kam) July 24, 2022 Initial investigation suggest…

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by David Cifarelli
Dorchester, MA
Police & Fire
2 Women Charged With Embezzling $130K From Chelsea Credit Union: Prosecutor 2 Women Charged With Embezzling $130K From Chelsea Credit Union: Prosecutor
2 Women Charged With Embezzling $130K From Chelsea Credit Union: Prosecutor Authorities accused two women of stealing $130,000 from their former employer — Metro Credit Union — in Chelsea, the Suffolk County District Attorney said. Morelia Juma, age 25, of Lynn, and Erna Sejdinvovic, age 26, of Malden, were indicted on theft and embezzlement charges on Thursday, July 21, the office said.   Bank employees noticed in February that Sejdinvovic funneled fraudulent rebates from the credit union's general ledger into Juma's account, prosecutors said.  Juma wasn't working at the bank at this point. Sejdinvovic also raised the amount of money…

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by Josh Lanier
Cambridge, MA
Police & Fire
Four Men Arrested In Cambridge Stabbings That Sent 2 To Hospital: Police Four Men Arrested In Cambridge Stabbings That Sent 2 To Hospital: Police
Four Men Arrested In Cambridge Stabbings That Sent 2 To Hospital: Police Police in Cambridge arrested four men this week who they say took part in stabbings that left two people seriously injured earlier this month.  Officers found evidence of the first attack around 4 a.m. on July 10, in Central Square near the intersection of Mass Avenue and Pleasant Street following a fight, Cambridge Police said. The victim in that attack walked into a nearby hospital with stab wounds. Doctors treated him and he was released later that day.  Later that day, that same man was attacked and stabbed again around 8 p.m. near 5 Western Ave., police said. Another man…

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by Josh Lanier
Dorchester, MA
Police & Fire
Boston Area Motorcyclist, 67, Dies After Apparently Striking Tree: Police Boston Area Motorcyclist, 67, Dies After Apparently Striking Tree: Police
Boston Area Motorcyclist, 67, Dies After Apparently Striking Tree: Police A 67-year-old Chelsea motorcyclist has died after apparently losing control of their bike and striking a tree, authorities said. The incident happened just before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, Chelsea Police said. The operator was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident remains under investigation.  Anyone with information can contact Chelsea Police at 617-466-4880, email reports directly from the department’s website or through the MYPD App. Tips can remain anonymous. 

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by David Cifarelli
Dorchester, MA
Police & Fire
Dunkin' Customer Dodges Bullet After Shots Fired Outside Boston-Area McDonald's Dunkin' Customer Dodges Bullet After Shots Fired Outside Boston-Area McDonald's
Dunkin' Customer Dodges Bullet After Shots Fired Outside Boston-Area McDonald's Chelsea Police are seeking the public's help in identifying a suspect after shots were fired outside a McDonald's, authorities said.  Police responded to a report of shots fired at the parking lot of the McDonald’s at 178 Revere Beach Parkway just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5, Chelsea Police said.  Witnesses told police gunfire was exchanged between two vehicles in the lot before both sped away. The bullets travelled so far that a customer inside the Dunkin' Donuts down the road was nearly struck, police said. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.  A whit…

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by David Cifarelli
Springfield, MA
Schools
Massachusetts Calls On National Guard To Assist In School Bus Driver Shortage Massachusetts Calls On National Guard To Assist In School Bus Driver Shortage
Massachusetts Calls On National Guard To Assist In School Bus Driver Shortage Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is calling in the cavalry to help the state with transporting students to class at the beginning of the new school year. Baker announced that he is activating as many as 250 Guard members to assist with school transportation as the country contends with a massive bus driver shortage that left some districts scrambling to get students to class. 
“We asked a bunch of communities if they'd be interested in having Guard people drive vehicles for them, especially the smaller buses," Baker said in a briefing this week. "A bunch of communities said if y…

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by Zak Failla
Pittsfield, MA
News
COVID-19: Here's How Many Massachusetts Residents Have Now Gotten At Least One Vaccine Dose COVID-19: Here's How Many Massachusetts Residents Have Now Gotten At Least One Vaccine Dose
Covid-19: Here's How Many Massachusetts Residents Have Now Gotten At Least One Vaccine Dose Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has almost reached his administration’s goal of vaccinating more than four million residents in the Commonwealth. Baker said that Massachusetts is on track to meet its goal of vaccinating 4.1 million people by early June, with the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that 3.9 million people have been fully or partially vaccinated as of Monday, May 3. An additional 180,000 Massachusetts residents are also scheduled to receive their first dose within the next week. Baker also announced that the state is prepared to expand…

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by Zak Failla
Springfield, MA
News
COVID-19: Only 3 'Red' Communities In Western/Central MA Under New System COVID-19: Only 3 'Red' Communities In Western/Central MA Under New System
Covid-19: Only 3 'Red' Communities In Western/Central MA Under New System Massachusetts has changed the system for local COVID-19 rates and infections in a move Gov. Charlie Baker will provide cities and towns with a more accurate picture of the risk. Last week (Oct. 30) there were around 30 red cities and towns in central and western Massachusetts.  In this reporting period (Nov. 6), there are 3: Fitchburg, Ludlow, and Springfield. Baker cited the influence the state’s reporting has on whether a community’s schools offer in-person, a hybrid, or distance learning. The governor has said that too many schools have been making the switch to distance learning e…

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by Kristin Palpini
Springfield, MA
Business
COVID-19: Businesses Forced To Close - Again - In 13 'High-Risk' Communities COVID-19: Businesses Forced To Close - Again - In 13 'High-Risk' Communities
Covid-19: Businesses Forced To Close - Again - In 13 'High-Risk' Communities Some businesses that opened just a few weeks ago will be closed as 13 Massachusetts cities and towns take a step back in reopening their local economies. COVID-19 rates that have spiked over the last several weeks are forcing 13 cities and towns to rollback their local economies to Step 1 of Phase 3. The closures and restrictions are temporary until the community can bring its COVID-19 positive test rate down. There are 26 other Massachusetts municipalities that were sent back to Step 1 of Phase 3 earlier. In total, that's 38 cities and towns with additional economic restrictions due to COV…

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by Kristin Palpini