People are enrolling faster than expected in health insurance plans under a new state law that eventually will require most state residents to have coverage. Nearly 63,000 people who earn less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level, about $30,000 annually for an individual, had signed up for state subsidized plans by April 1, officials say. State officials had projected that it would take until July 1 to enroll 70,000 of the estimated 140,000 eligible for subsidized coverage. Thousands of other residents who earn more than 300 percent of the poverty level will be required to enroll in nonsubsidized programs this year. Information is available by calling 877-623-6765, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or online at macommonwealthcare.com.
Antigun measures urged in Legislature
The Legislature should establish penalties for not reporting lost or stolen weapons, start more courts that focus on gun crimes, and allow judges to take illegal gun possession into account when setting bail, according to a report released yesterday by leaders of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. The report also suggests that state officials ban bulk firearm purchases in Massachusetts and negotiate agreements with surrounding states to better share gun registry and ballistics information.
State vows serious look on beaches
The state's top environmental official pledged yesterday to take seriously a new report that recommends major improvements to 14 public beaches stretching from Lynn to Hull. The Metropolitan Beaches Commission called yesterday for spending $3.3 million more a year on staff and equipment to clean and maintain the 15 miles of coastline, spending $1.4 million to buy about 20 new trucks and beach-cleaning machines, and appointing a state beach officer to oversee the work. "As we work to refocus the efforts of the Department of Conservation and Recreation on its core mission of parks, beaches, and forests, we will take the findings of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission very much to heart," Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles said.
NU student dies in fall down stairs
Just one day after a Northeastern freshman was killed during a snow tubing trip in New Hampshire, another student was killed when he fell down a flight of stairs. Jacob Freeman, 21, died after falling down stairs at 52 Gainsborough St. in Boston about 1:50 a.m. Sunday, police and university officials said yesterday. Freeman, a student in the university's College of Business, later died at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Adrienne Devino, 18, of Addison, Vt., died Saturday night when she struck a tree during a night run on a school-organized snow tubing trip at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire.
CAMBRIDGE
Harvard OK's a new department
Harvard University's governing body has approved a new department of developmental and regenerative biology, the first academic department in the university's 371-year history to be based in more than one of the university's schools. The new department will bring together 13 to 16 researchers from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Harvard Medical School. The decision by the Harvard Corporation is a response to a critical university report that called for better coordination of interdisciplinary research.
FRAMINGHAM
Boy, 12, charged with setting church fires
A 12-year-old Framingham boy is being charged with vandalizing and setting fires in St. Stephen's Church. Police said that the boy, whose name was not released, used a candle and matches to start a fire at the church on March 18 and another fire at the church on Concord Street on Sunday during a Palm Sunday Mass, police said. He also allegedly broke the fingers off a statue of Mary and broke an arm off a statue of Jesus on the cross.
WESTFIELD
College welcome letters sent by mistake
Westfield State College officials said yesterday that they mistakenly sent welcoming letters to some 300 to 400 education students who had previously been rejected by the college. Officials noticed the mistake Friday when confused parents began calling the school, said spokesman Craig Phelon. Westfield State, located outside Springfield, had 55,000 applicants this year for only 1,000 openings.
(Correction: Because of an editing error, a "New England in brief" item in yesterday's City & Region section misstated the number of applicants to Westfield State College. The college had about 5,500 applicants.)
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
