Supreme Court won't take wind farm case
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The US Supreme Court refused yesterday to consider an appeal by a group opposed to a wind energy farm in Nantucket Sound. The petition of the Ten Taxpayers Citizens Group argued that the developers of the proposed wind farm should not be allowed to erect a data tower in federal waters without permission from Massachusetts officials. The US Army Corps of Engineers has granted a permit for the proposed $770 million wind farm to Cape Wind Associates. It would be the country's first offshore wind project. Since it was proposed more than three years ago, the project has prompted vigorous opposition by shore residents and some political figures.
PLYMOUTH
Carbon monoxide poisoning kills girl, 10
A 10-year-old Plymouth girl found suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning in her home earlier this week was pronounced dead yesterday morning at Massachusetts General Hospital, spokeswoman Amy Moquin said. Nicole Garofalo, her pregnant mother Christine, and brother Ryan, 7, were found unconscious in their home after heavy snow blocked an exhaust vent in their heating system, officials said. Christine remains in critical condition at the hospital, while Ryan was released Thursday afternoon, Moquin said.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.
Woman dangling as drawbridge lifts
A 79-year-old woman was left dangling after a drawbridge opened as she walked across it. Helen Koton, a winter resident of Florida who also lives in Massachusetts, said she didn't hear any warning signals before the bridge began opening as she was nearly halfway across. As the bridge rose to its full height, shocked motorists got out of their cars and told the bridge attendant, who lowered the span after several minutes. Koton said that when the span came down, she fell on her face and bruised her forehead and nose. (AP)
BOSTON
Agency fined for delay in transit projects
The state's Executive Office of Transportation agreed to pay a $100,000 fine yesterday for failing to make court-ordered deadlines for improving the transit system. In a consent order issued yesterday, the state Department of Environmental Protection concluded that several projects required under a 1990 agreement tied to the construction of the Big Dig had fallen badly behind schedule. The projects include Silver Line bus service to Logan Airport, new cars for the Blue and Orange lines, the restoration of the Arborway trolley service in Jamaica Plain, a Red-Blue line connector, and the extension of the Green Line from Lechmere through Somerville to West Medford. All the missed deadlines will be made up, said Jon Carlisle, spokesman for state transportation secretary Daniel A. Grabauskas. The state has promised nearly $50 million in funding for new transit projects.
Adult-literacy program eyed for expansion
With an eye on reducing the 25,000 adults waiting to attend literacy classes in Massachusetts, Governor Mitt Romney yesterday touted a section of his budget proposal for next year that would add 4,000 adults to the program. Romney's fiscal year 2006 budget proposal would add $8 million to adult basic education programs for a total of $36 million next year. (State House News Service)
Jury rejects claim against ex-officer, union
A Suffolk County jury yesterday ruled in favor of the Boston Police Superior Officers Federation and Thomas Nolan, a former Boston police lieutenant and union official, in a civil lawsuit brought by a former union employee who said she was sexually harassed. The plaintiff, Karen Kelley, accused the union of fostering an environment that allowed sexual harassment, saying Nolan sent her inappropriate e-mail and phone messages. The union and Nolan argued that the e-mail messages were friendly and did not constitute sexual harassment because Nolan was not working in the union hall when most of the messages were sent.
Chelsea
Death in storm remains a mystery
An autopsy on a Chelsea man found dead under a snowdrift Tuesday revealed no signs of trauma, thus there is no evidence that Santos G. Oseguera, 20, was assaulted in any way before he was found dead in front of Chelsea City Hall, Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley's office said yesterday.
