UPDATED 9:19PM: For response from Arise and news of McFarlin’s retirement and to reflect a correction. Barbieri is the third, not the second Police Commissioner of Springfield. SPRINGFIELD—Backing off from the conventional wisdom, Mayor Domenic Sarno announced the appointment of Deputy Police Chief John Barbieri
…And the World: We begin today in Crimea, where voters there in an election result fitting a former Soviet region voted overwhelmingly to join Russia. Given the turnout and measures taken to ensure the proper result, this poll is simply no credible. Yes, it would
UPDATED 11:23PM: To reflect confirmation of details via other news reports and to correctly state a women is running for Gale Candaras’ seat. A previous version of this story said one was not. SPRINGFIELD—State Representative Cheryl Coakley-Rivera of the 10th Hampden district, Springfield’s only Hispanic
UPDATED 3/17/14 5:52PM: To include details of press release from community groups on McFarlin and his response to the release on Masslive. This post is the third in a series on the debate over Management of the Springfield Police Department. Since announcing how he would
…And the World: We begin today in Russia, which is trading diplomatic entreaties with the United States. Secretary of State John Kerry may, or may not, be on his way to Moscow, but that seems up the air. The Kremlin rejected one US proposal and
The speed at which the city has careened toward succession in the Police Department has raised the alarm among many in the community, especially as many have sought to alter the setup of Police Management in the city of Springfield. Mayor Domenic Sarno has announced
UPDATED 10:42PM: For additional photographs. NEW BRITAIN, Conn.—Welcomed to Central Connecticut State University with a roaring applause, President Barack Obama came to the Nutmeg State in the hopes of boosting his quest to raise the federal minimum wage. Joining the president on stage were the
This post is the second in a series on the debate over Management of the Police Department in Springfield. Since the debate to reform Police leadership has begun in Springfield, Mayor Domenic Sarno has employed a number of legal and rhetorical arguments to halt the
SPRINGFIELD—In a victory for organized labor, the City Council unanimously approved an arbitration award, securing a contract between the city and it’s the International Brother Hood of Police Officers, Local 364 through July 2016. Despite fears that the mayor’s office was maneuvering to kill the
…And the World: We begin today in the Ukraine, where Russian-backed forces are issuing ultimatums to Kiev-controlled forces in Crimea. Among them is that Ukrainian forces swear allegiance to the separatist Crimean government. The head of the Ukrainian navy has defected, but subordinate officers have