New England in brief
PLYMOUTH
A Connecticut man accused of shooting a Pembroke dance instructor outside her home in a murder-for-hire plot will stay behind bars for at least another week. A Plymouth District Court judge yesterday postponed Dorian Membreno’s dangerousness hearing after his defense lawyer requested police reports of the case he has not seen. The new date is Monday. The Bridgeport, Conn., man has been held without bail since pleading not guilty to charges including attempted murder. Authorities say Membreno, 25, shot Marybeth Banks several times as she sat in her car about 10 p.m. March 23. She is recovering at a Boston hospital. Authorities say Membreno had been hired to kill Banks by one of Banks’s former boyfriends. (AP)BOSTON
DeLeo to detail casino, racetrack slots bill
House Speaker Robert DeLeo tomorrow will outline long-awaited details of his legislation to authorize casinos and racetrack slot machines in Massachusetts at the State House. The Winthrop Democrat will be joined at 10 a.m. at the State House by state Representative Brian Dempsey, Democrat of Haverhill, co-chairman of the Legislature’s Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Committee. The committee is technically charged with reviewing and voting on expanded gambling bills. An aide to DeLeo said yesterday that the committee will not vote on DeLeo’s bill before the press conference. (State House News Service)WARWICK, R.I.
Proposed wind farm contract rejected
Rhode Island regulators dealt a blow yesterday to a proposed offshore wind farm. The Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously to reject a proposed agreement by Deepwater Wind to sell power from eight turbines proposed off Block Island at more than twice the price National Grid pays for electricity from current sources. Governor Donald Carcieri supported the wind farm and power-purchase agreement, saying it would create jobs and benefit the environment. But an organization representing some of the state’s largest electricity users said the higher prices would be a burden on its members. The environmental group Conservation Law Foundation said it was disappointed by the PUC’s ruling. (AP)AUGUSTA, Maine
Sick leave proposal killed in House
A weakened bill that would have required Maine employers to offer paid sick leave is dead. Senate president Elizabeth “Libby’’ Mitchell proposed the sick leave requirement as swine flu was reaching a peak. The Vassalboro Democrat later scaled back her proposal to prohibit Maine employers from firing workers who take paid or unpaid sick days. The bill, which encountered opposition from business groups, was killed in the House Monday. (AP)HARTFORD
AG criticizes Humane Society finances
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal accused the Connecticut Humane Society of failing to spend much of its money for its central purpose of helping animals and blurring the line between personal and business finances. He said a preliminary investigation found the Humane Society does not spend most of its $52 million balance. Blumenthal also said the society had unspecified financial transactions with businesses in which board members had a financial interest. Chris White, the president of the society’s board, said an internal investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing. (AP) MONTPELIER
Vt. pushes technology use to cut spending
Vermont is pushing to enhance use of technology by government agencies to trim the budget and improve services. One example the administration of Governor Jim Douglas is suggesting: requiring that firms with more than 250 workers electronically file their W-2 employee tax reports with the Tax Department. Officials say it will result in greater efficiency in department operations and faster processing of tax returns. Human Services Secretary Rob Hofmann said several branches of his agency could provide better service for less money with improved computers and networks. (AP)
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