Doctor under investigation quits practice

Dr. Joseph Z. Zolot, a Needham physician who is under federal investigation for allegedly overprescribing addictive narcotics to his patients, at least six of whom died of overdoses or drug abuse, has permanently given up his medical practice. The state Board of Registration in Medicine suspended Zolot's medical license a year ago. But Zolot, 57, decided last week to give up his appeal of the suspension. In a written notice to the state, the doctor said he could not properly defend himself against the board's actions because of "serious ongoing medical issues" and because he does not have access to findings in the ongoing criminal investigation. Zolot said his decision is "in no way an acknowledgement of wrongdoing or culpability."

The FBI has honored two New Hampshire businessmen, saying they helped police capture a gang that had robbed a dozen banks in the state. Warren Bamford, special agent in charge of the FBI's Boston office, praised Stratham businessmen Gary Hammond and Frank Cadieux and presented a reward. In January 2006, Travis and Avery Blodgett, Douglas Fisher, and Starr Parish robbed the Ocean National Bank in Stratham. Moments earlier, they met in the parking lot of two nearby businesses. Cadieux and Hammond saw the men, thought they were acting suspiciously, and called police when they learned of the robbery. Bamford said the robbers were not known to the FBI and were not considered suspects until after information was received from Hammond and Cadieux. The four robbers ended up pleading guilty. (AP)

State public health officials are warning lobster lovers to avoid the soft green substance found in the body cavity of lobsters. The tomalley is considered a delicacy by some, but the state Department of Public Health said this part of the lobster can build up high levels of toxins and pollutants. That is of particular concern this year because of red tide, a toxic algae that closed seafood beds along large swaths of New England's coast earlier this summer. Eating shellfish with high levels of the toxin can cause potentially fatal paralytic shellfish poisoning. The tomalley can also accumulate high levels of possibly carcinogenic PCBs. Health officials said the pinkish lobster meat is safe to eat. (AP)

For the first time this summer, West Nile virus has been detected in Boston, public health authorities announced yesterday. A red-tailed hawk infected with the disease was found in Jamaica Plain, the Boston Public Health Commission said yesterday. The virus is usually spread by mosquitoes. No human cases of West Nile have been reported in Massachusetts this year, but six people fell ill with the disease last year. Boston authorities have already started putting insecticide in catch basins to reduce the number of mosquitoes. Earlier this month, mosquitoes carrying West Nile were discovered in Brookline and Worcester.

A Randolph man pleaded not guilty yesterday to a charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle after allegedly striking a second-grade girl with his car on his way to an elementary school to vote. William Giesler, 87, was reportedly going to vote on Feb. 5, Super Tuesday, at Lyons Elementary School when the incident occurred. Britney Noel, 8, who sustained serious injuries, was transported to Milton Hospital, said David Traub, spokesman for Norfolk District Attorney William Keating. "People observed [Giesler] trying to negotiate a parking space" when the girl was pinned under the car, Keating said. Giesler was ordered not to drive and not to make contact with the victim during the ongoing trial. Giesler is free on personal recognizance, and he is due back in court on Sept. 11.

State Police executed a search warrant at a Plymouth home Wednesday and found a "significant quantity" of materials used in making fireworks, including tubes, fuses, chemicals, powders, and explosive materials. The searchers, who worked until early yesterday morning, also found "a number of devices in various stages of completion," said the state fire marshal's office and Plymouth police. Charges are pending against the occupant, Robert Rinaldi, 57, and the investigation is continuing, said Jennifer Mieth, spokeswoman for the fire marshal's office. The Sandy Beach Road home was also raided in April. Rinaldi could face charges of manufacture and storage of fireworks and possession of an infernal machine in that incident, Mieth said.

Correction: Because of an editing error, a news brief in some editions of the City & Region section yesterday misstated the plea of a driver charged in a pedestrian accident. William Giesler of Randolph pleaded not guilty to a charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle.