Convictions upheld for Pierce's attackers

The state appeals court has upheld the convictions of two men who attacked Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce eight years ago in an after-hours party at the Buzz Club in Boston. William Ragland was convicted of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in the attack, while Trevor Watson was convicted of assault and battery. The Massachusetts Appeals Court rejected various challenges by Ragland and Watson, including their arguments that the prosecution's evidence was insufficient because highly incriminatory grand jury testimony from a witness, which was introduced at the trial, was recanted by the witness when she testified.

Police identified the victim yesterday of a fatal stabbing Saturday in East Boston as 19-year-old Rafael Sandoval. The Chelsea resident was stabbed at about 11:50 p.m. in a shopping plaza, in front of a Shaw's Supermarket, at 220 Border St. On arrival, officers located the Hispanic teen suffering from an apparent stab wound, police said. Sandoval was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The case remains under investigation and police are interested in information about a dark, four-door Honda or Toyota that was seen leaving the scene.

Boston plans to offer businesses in the Newmarket Industrial District a total of $5 million in loans for projects to reduce energy use and save money. The city also promised to address transportation concerns in the sprawling district on the city's southern outskirts by adding 60 spaces to a Magazine Street parking lot, start a shuttle Andrew Square, and reconstruct Massachusetts Avenue in the district. To calm business owners' fears that residential development will encroach, the city will strengthen zoning protections and identify parcels for potential business growth. The Redevelopment Authority said Newmarket has 490 businesses with more than 11,000 employees.

The MIT athletic department has received a $1 million gift from the Steinbrenner Foundation to upgrade its athletic stadium, named for the father of New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. Massachusetts Institute of Technology said in a statement yesterday that it planned to build a new pathway and entrance to Steinbrenner Stadium, along with a new press box and improvements in lighting and seating. The stadium was built in 1978 with proceeds from another donation by the foundation. Henry G. Steinbrenner received his bachelor's degree in naval architecture and engineering from MIT in 1927. He was also a two-time track and field All-American and won a national championship in the low hurdles in his senior year. (AP)

The regional high school in Lakeville was locked down yesterday after a custodian found bullets in a hallway. Apponequet Regional High School, which serves the towns of Lakeville and Freetown, was placed on lockdown at about 9 a.m. The head custodian found six .22-caliber bullets in a back corridor of the school, according to Superintendent Stephen J. Furtado of Freetown & Lakeville public schools. All school doors were locked and students and faculty were required to stay inside classrooms for two hours and 40 minutes, Furtado said, while a canine police unit searched lockers and classrooms. No weapons or additional ammunition were found. An investigation is underway.

A Massachusetts man is accused of taunting and fighting with a lesbian couple at a restaurant, and police say he brought up last week's Connecticut Supreme Court ruling allowing gay marriages. Daniel Dabrowski, 26, of Boston was charged with intimidation based on bigotry or bias and breach of peace after Saturday night's confrontation. He has posted bail and is due in state court Monday. Fairfield police said Dabrowski pushed a woman who confronted him and ripped a necklace off the woman's partner. Dabrowski denied the accusations. (AP)