John Bulger is released from prison

After serving a six-month sentence for lying about contact he had with his fugitive brother, James "Whitey" Bulger, John Bulger was released from federal prison yesterday, according to the US Federal Bureau of Prisons website. John Bulger, 65, was sentenced in September and began serving time in October for lying to two grand juries about safe deposit boxes used by his brother and about a phone call he had with him. He had also tried to help his brother obtain false identification. He now faces six months of house arrest.

QUINCY

Man is sentenced in golf course death

A Milton man was sentenced to two years of home confinement yesterday after pleading guilty of manslaughter in the beating death of a Quincy grandfather in a fight over golf balls. Robert Carnathan, 55, will also have to perform 100 hours of community service, take anger management classes, and stay away from the President's Golf Course in Quincy, where the fatal altercation with Donald King, 79, took place in November 2002. Norfolk District Attorney William R. Keating asked Superior Court Judge John C. Cratsley for a three- to five-year prison sentence. The state's chief medical examiner said King died after suffering cardiac arrest during the fight with Carnathan. Carnathan, who has used a cane to walk for several years, has said he acted in self-defense. (AP)

SALEM

Widow sues in slaying of MGH doctor

The widow of a prominent cardiologist shot to death by a secretary last year at Massachusetts General Hospital has filed a $10 million wrongful death suit against the estate of his killer. The lawsuit against the estate of Colleen Mitchell was filed Tuesday at Salem Superior Court on behalf of Dr. Brian McGovern's widow, Dr. Anne Jennings, and his children. Police said Mitchell shot the 47-year-old doctor four times last April 8 and then killed herself. Authorities closed the investigation in June, but were unable to determine a motive. Hospital officials said there were no complaints about Mitchell's work performance or behavior and no indication that McGovern and Mitchell had anything other than a professional relationship. (AP)

Suspect is indicted in shooting of officer

A Boston man was indicted yesterday on charges that he shot a Boston police officer during the execution of a search warrant, according to the attorney general's office. James Nolan, 25, was indicted on charges of armed assault and battery against a police officer, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of psilocybin mushrooms, and a school zone violation. When officers arrived on Feb. 11 at Nolan's apartment building at 515 Massachusetts Ave., Nolan allegedly fired one shot through a bedroom door with a .45-caliber handgun. The bullet struck Officer Kevin Ford in his side and became lodged in his bulletproof vest. Ford suffered minor injuries. Nolan is scheduled to be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on April 17.

Hearings set on convention shutdown

Lawmakers are planning oversight hearings for residents to air their concerns about the planned closure of North Station and Interstate 93 during the Democratic National Convention. Senator Steven A. Baddour, Democrat of Methuen, said his constituents need answers about why the closures are necessary. "Quite frankly, this is about getting back and forth from work and is going to have a negative effect on tens of thousands of workers north of Boston," he said. Boston officials plan to address the alternative transportation plans at other hearings this month, he said. The oversight hearings are planned for April and May in Lowell, Lynn, Methuen, and Gloucester, Baddour said. (State House News Service)

CAMBRIDGE

Harvard taking more women than men

The number of women admitted to Harvard for September's entering class slightly surpassed the number of men for the first time in the university's history, the school announced yesterday. The class of 2008, whose acceptance letters were sent yesterday, included 1,016 women and 1,013 men, out of an applicant pool of 19,750 students, according to the school. The school also set some other records this year. Asian-Americans had their largest percentage yet of accepted applicants, at 18.9 percent. The percentage of blacks was also the highest ever, at 10.3 percent, as were Latinos, at 9.5 percent. (AP)