Tsarnaev Indicted on Federal Charges, Could Face Death Penalty
Dzhokar Tsarnaev, one of the men who allegedly killed four people and injured hundreds of others in the Boston marathon bombing and the days afterward, was indicted on 30 federal charges, including conspiracy to use weapon of mass destruction to cause deat South End Patch News
Tsarnaev Indicted on Federal Charges, Could Face Death Penalty
Dzhokar Tsarnaev, one of the men who allegedly killed four people and injured hundreds of others in the Boston marathon bombing and the days afterward, was indicted on 30 federal charges, including conspiracy to use weapon of mass destruction to cause deat South End Patch News
Tsarnaev Indicted on Federal Charges, Could Face Death Penalty
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the men who allegedly killed four people and injured hundreds of others in the Boston marathon bombing and the days afterward, was indicted on 30 federal charges, including conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, and he cou South End Patch News
State House News Service Weekly Roundup: Death With Benefits
The specter of deceased citizens collecting welfare benefits haunted the marbled halls of the State House this week as Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray tied up the loose ends dangling on his six-and-a-half years with the Patrick administration and Attorney General Martha Coakley sued the Obama administration for allegedly putting fishermen on death row. Other than that, the arrival of steamy days in Boston ushered in a post-Memorial Day and budget week lull at the State House with the governor out of town, politicos watching two special elections and committees plodding forward with bill hearings while lawmakers wait for word from on high about their next big votes. Congressman Ed Markey and Republican Gabriel Gomez also continued sniping from a distance in the lead-up to next week’s first debate, with First Lady Michelle Obama and song lady Carole King both in Massachusetts to campaign for Markey. Click here to subscribe to MASSterlist, a free morning newsletter by State House News Service that highlights political news from a wide array of newspapers and journals in Massachusetts and New England Auditor Suzanne Bump released a blockbuster audit of the Department of Transitional Assistance alleging $ 15 million in questionable spending on welfare benefits, including 1,164 cases totaling $ 2.4 million in benefits flowing to enrollees after they were reported deceased or to recipients using a dead person’s Social Security number. If Auditor Suzanne Bump was seeking to make a name for herself as a nonpartisan watchdog of the public purse, she hit the jackpot with this one. The report played perfectly into the hands of Republicans and conservative Democrats eager to jump on any morsel of evidence that welfare benefits are being abused. What Bump might not have been expecting, however, was the tone of the pushback from Gov. Deval Patrick and his administration who had little positive to say about his former labor secretary’s work. And it’s not the first time the accuracy of Bump’s auditing has been questioned. Patrick told the Herald he found it “infuriating” that Bump’s office had only released the details on 178 cases reviewed in the audit, of which his team found that only 17 were problematic. The spin required walking a fine line: Yes, one case of fraud is too many, but a 99.9 percent success rate ain’t bad either. Asked whether the Democrat was doing a good job in her role as auditor, Patrick said, “I think it’s too soon to say.” Bump has been auditor for two and a half years. Unlike other audits, this one isn’t likely to fade soon and will feed into the debate when Senate President Therese Murray files her comprehensive welfare […]
Death of Abandoned Dog Spurs Legislation Effort
A resident’s efforts to find justice for a lab that died after being abandoned in a foreclosed property have culminated with the filing of a bill to protect animals in similar situations. “This is the bill that I want. I have been praying for this bill for two years and I am very, very happy … I want this law passed. I don’t want this to happen to any other dogs,” said Lyn Gorka, a local real estate agent and animal rights advocate, who had spoken out for such a bill after being moved by the story of the 2 year-old Phantom that died after being abandoned in a foreclosed apartment. Gorka said abandoned animals in foreclosed properties is ongoing and being reported by other brokers throughout the region. “I want this to be called Phantom’s Bill,” she said. “I’ve been working on it for almost two years and I haven’t given up … with this bill in place, more animals will be saved.” The bill that would provide protections for abandoned animals in foreclosed and abandoned properties in Massachusetts was filed Wednesday night. The bill, filed by State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton), is titled An Act protecting abandoned animals in vacant properties (SD.618). It specifies that abandoned or foreclosed properties must be inspected for abandoned animals by the landlords or foreclosing owners within five days of properties being vacated. ‘I filed [the bill], to help provide protection and prevent further harm to abandoned animals in properties that have been foreclosed or vacated,” said Sen. Eldridge who worked with the MSPCA on the bill. If any abandoned animals are found, the the landlord or foreclosing owner would be required to notify an animal control officer. The bill does not make the landlord or foreclosing owner further responsible for the animal. Phantom’s owner was never charged. Hudson police said that there was a miscommunication and not enough evidence to prosecute, said Gorka. “I’d like to see that case reopened,” she said. She has petitioned the Hudson Police and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office to open the investigation again. She started an online petition to collect signatures in an attempt to sway the police department and district attorney. She is still collecting signatures here. South End Patch
Cause of Death Issued for Tamerlan Tsarnaev
The death of accused Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev has been ruled a homicide, according to a WCVB-TV report. According to the report, Tsarnaev’s death was caused by gunshot wounds from police bullets and being run over by a car. Tsarnaev, 26, was pronounced dead at Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center in Boston at 1:35 a.m. on Friday, April 19. Specifically, Tsarnaev sustained gunshot wounds to his torso and “extreme” blunt trauma to his head and torso, according to WCVB. Police have said Tsarnaev was run over by his brother, Dzhokar, during a shootout with police in Watertown. Dzhokar, 19 escaped the gun battle but was later captured hiding in a boat at a Watertown home. The Graham, Putnam and Mahoney Funeral Home in Worcester, which plans to handle Tamerlan’s funeral arrangements, said the body will undergo a second autopsy, according to the Boston Herald. The Massachusetts Medical Examiner’s Office released the body to Tamerlan’s relatives on Thursday, May 2. Tamerlan’s uncle, Ruslan Tsarni, is in Worcester to help with the funeral arrangements, according to the Globe. The family does not plan to bury the body until an independent coroner issues a cause of death, according to the Globe. South End Patch