July 2, 2019

A real stain': Review of Massachusetts RMV underway after failure to stop driver in N.H. motorcycle

A real stain’: Review of Massachusetts RMV underway after failure to stop driver in N.H. motorcycle crash, Gov. Charlie Baker says


SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday that a “top-to-bottom” review of the state’s Registry of Motor Vehicles is underway following the agency’s failure to to take action against Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, the truck driver charged in a New Hampshire crash that killed seven people.

“This is a real stain on the processes and procedures at the registry,” Baker said following a groundbreaking event at the historic Paramount Theater in downtown Springfield.

“And I’ll have more to say on that today and over the next 10 days,” he said.

He said Massachusetts registry officials are in contact with agencies that license drivers across the country looking for ways to improve the process here.

Read more: https://www.masslive.com/news/2019/07/a-real-stain-review-of-massachusetts-rmv-underway-after-failure-to-stop-driver-in-nh-motorcycle-crash-gov-charlie-baker-says.html

July 2, 2019

Judge dismisses Scott Lively lawsuit against Gov. Charlie Baker, Massachusetts Republican Party

BOSTON — A lawsuit brought by conservative Springfield pastor Scott Lively against Gov. Charlie Baker, the state Republican Party and others has been dismissed in Superior Court, resolving allegations that the party violated its neutrality rules by helping Baker during the 2018 primary.

Superior Court Judge Susan Sullivan last week dismissed all claims brought by Lively, who challenged Baker for the GOP's nomination for governor last year and sued over what he saw as a violation of his rights as a candidate.

Lively accused the party of violating its neutrality rules by helping the incumbent with money and resources to gather signatures, raise campaign funds and round up endorsements. He sued last May, seeking $7 million in damages.

"We said from the beginning that we didn't believe anybody had done anything wrong and we felt his claims were baseless and we fought the lawsuit and we won and we won on the facts and on the law, exactly as it should be, all counts," Baker said Monday.

Read more: https://www.masslive.com/news/2019/07/judge-dismisses-scott-lively-lawsuit-against-gov-charlie-baker-massachusetts-republican-party.html

July 2, 2019

Boston Straight Pride Parade will 'very much' go on as planned after suspicious packages were sent

Boston Straight Pride Parade will ‘very much’ go on as planned after suspicious packages were sent to organizers


Members of the group organizing a “Straight Pride” parade in Boston in August say they received suspicious packages at their homes in Woburn, Malden and Salisbury on Monday.

Samson Racioppi, grassroots organizer with Super Happy Fun America, said he retrieved a white envelope with what felt like sand from the mail at his home in Salisbury around 1:30 p.m. He said additional envelopes were sent to the group’s president, John Hugo, and vice president, Mark Sahady.

“I could kind of feel with my fingers that there was something inside of it, like loose, almost like a sand or something. And when I shook it, you could hear it all shaking around inside,” he said. “It was abnormal, it was clearly abnormal.”

Not knowing what was inside, Racioppi said he immediately treated the envelope as a suspicious package.

Read more: https://www.masslive.com/news/2019/07/boston-straight-pride-parade-will-very-much-go-on-as-planned-after-suspicious-packages-were-sent-to-organizers.html

July 2, 2019

Five new Vermont laws coming your way starting Monday: What to know ahead of July 1

Some things are changing in the Green Mountain State starting in July. The Vermont Legislature addressed subjects like gun waiting periods, plastic bag bans and raising the smoking age to 21 in 2019.

Take a look at five laws that have been signed into law by Gov. Phil Scott so you know what's coming your way after the weekend.

H.47 (Act 28)

"An act relating to the taxation of electronic cigarettes," signed by Gov. Scott May 23.

A 92 percent excise tax will be expanded to include items like vaping liquid and e-cigarettes.

Read more: https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2019/06/28/which-vermont-laws-going-into-effect-july-1/1593006001/

July 1, 2019

Judge rejects white nationalist's challenge to state's gun magazine limit

A Vermont judge has denied a bid by Max Misch, a self-professed white nationalist online troll, to throw out charges that he illegally possessed high-capacity magazine.

Judge William Cohen issued the ruling Friday, following a hearing in Bennington County Superior criminal court in late May where Misch’s attorney challenging the constitutionality of the magazine ban that went into effect in Vermont on Oct. 1, 2018.

Misch is believed to be the first person charged under a provision of a gun control law, Act 94, that passed the Legislature and was signed by Gov. Phi Scott in April 2018.

Cohen’s seven-page decision means Misch still faces two misdemeanor counts of possessing magazines over the size limits set in the new law.

Read more: https://vtdigger.org/2019/07/01/judge-rejects-white-nationalists-challenge-to-states-gun-magazine-limit/

July 1, 2019

State seeks to protect investors as Salem man faces jail time for securities fraud

BRENTWOOD — The state is taking legal action to protect investors who claim they lost tens of thousands of dollars in deals with a Salem man who is facing jail time for securities fraud.

Secretary of State William Gardner has filed a complaint against Michael Bates seeking an injunction to prevent him from conducting any securities business.

Bates, 44, was sentenced on June 14 to at least six months in jail after a Rockingham County jury found him guilty of a felony securities fraud charge accusing him of making various misrepresentations when he solicited a friend to invest in a business.

A judge ordered Bates to pay $50,000 in restitution to the victim and prohibited him from engaging in the sale of securities or receiving monetary investments from third parties during his probationary period.

Read more: https://www.unionleader.com/news/crime/state-seeks-to-protect-investors-as-salem-man-faces-jail/article_2cca05cb-4e22-55cb-afbd-3e0ddab0b8d9.html

July 1, 2019

New Hampshire Lawmakers Approve Changes To Medicaid Work Requirement Rules

New Hampshire lawmakers have approved changes to work requirement rules for Medicaid recipients just as the requirements are taking effect.

The rules require most recipients to spend at least 100 hours a month working, going to school or participating in community service.

The House and Senate approved a compromise bill Thursday that would suspend, but not eliminate, coverage for noncompliance.

The state would have until July 2021 to waive the requirements in several scenarios, including if the state is unable to contact all participants to explain the rules.

Read more: https://www.nhpr.org/post/nh-lawmakers-approve-changes-medicaid-work-requirement-rules

July 1, 2019

As expected, Sununu vetoes budget, saying it would kill jobs

Republican Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed a $13 billion two-year state budget on Friday, saying it sets up unsustainable spending expectations and “job killing tax increases” that would put New Hampshire’s booming economy at risk.

The veto was widely expected and came a day after lawmakers approved a continuing resolution to maintain current spending levels for three months starting Monday, the first day of the new fiscal year.

Democrats, who control the Legislature, said the budget provides property tax relief and a boost to education funding while addressing the state’s most pressing problems. But Republicans argued it relies on one-time surplus funds for ongoing expenses and will drive the state toward a broad-based tax.

“Taking out a big mortgage with a one-time bonus from work would be a terrible decision, but that is precisely what this budget does,” Sununu said in his veto message.

Read more: https://www.concordmonitor.com/As-expected-Sununu-vetoes-budget-saying-it-would-kill-jobs-26642051

July 1, 2019

Top Democrat Volinsky makes big move toward running for governor

Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky took a big step toward a gubernatorial run in 2020.

The Democrat from Concord on Monday announced the formation of a 175-member exploratory committee – a first official move toward the launch of a gubernatorial bid to try and unseat two-term Gov. Chris Sununu.

“The challenges facing New Hampshire are immense, whether it’s our school funding crisis or the growing gap between rich and poor, or the existential threat of climate change,” Volinsky wrote.

Volinsky has remained a vocal critic of the Republican governor.

Read more: https://www.concordmonitor.com/Volinsky-takes-steps-to-run-for-governor-against-Sununu-26681128

July 1, 2019

Shuttered college campuses hit the market

If you’re looking for a bucolic property complete with historic buildings, a full suite of athletic facilities, and enough beds to sleep hundreds – you’re in luck.

A spate of college closures across New England, including three in Vermont, means prospective buyers with those criteria have options.

At Southern Vermont College in Bennington, a listing says amenities include an English country house-style mansion with views on Mount Anthony, walking distance to the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, and five dormitory halls. At Green Mountain College in Poultney, selling points include a carbon neutral campus, working farm, and a 30-minute drive to the Rutland regional airport. (The third college to close this year, the College of St. Joseph, is not on the market, although its leaders have sold off pieces of properties in recent years.)

But the campuses have their sticking points, too. Green Mountain College carries close to $20 million in debt with the USDA. Southern Vermont College is millions of dollars in debt, too – though far less than Green Mountain – and is facing two separate suits from former donors. The Vermont Land Trust also holds permanent conservation easements on large swaths of land owned by both colleges which preserve public access.

Read more: https://vtdigger.org/2019/06/30/shuttered-college-campuses-hit-the-market/