Turner agrees to turn over documents

Embattled Councilor Chuck Turner pledged yesterday to turn over campaign documents subpoenaed by federal prosecutors but accused them of an "abuse of power" against his reelection committee. In a statement read by his wife's lawyer, Michael Altman, at a courthouse news conference, Turner said his committee has nothing to hide. Terri Small-Turner is the campaign treasurer for Turner. In the statement, the councilor said his committee's First Amendment rights were being violated. The statement said the US attorney's office is intruding "unnecessarily upon those who support a particular candidate or cause." He called the move "a last ditch hope" to build a case against him.

Berklee College of Music announced yesterday it has awarded $2 million in financial aid to help offset student expenses for the spring semester. The assistance - in the form of scholarships, loans, student employment, and grants - was distributed on the basis of financial need and performance portfolios, college officials said. More than 800 students applied for assistance, and the vast majority received additional support. The college made broad cuts in discretionary spending to afford the increase.

Commuter trains from North Station experienced delays last night after a massive ice storm in Western and Central Massachusetts downed trees and flooded several lines, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Co. said. Delays were about 10 minutes, though service on one line was canceled. Spokesman Scott Farmelant said commuter trains experienced systemwide delays yesterday, and the Fitchburg line was held up for one to two hours.

A Dorchester man was sentenced to 10 years in jail after he was found guilty of slashing his former girlfriend's ex-boyfriend with a knife. Steven Banks, 48, was convicted of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon for slashing the 53-year-old victim in November 2007. The attack occurred after Banks was introduced to the man and refused to shake his hand. An argument ensued between the two. Banks fled in his car and was quickly apprehended, police said. Investigators matched the DNA from the knife Banks had in his possession to the victim's DNA. The victim suffered permanent nerve damage and was nearly blinded in the attack.

Police in Amherst, N.H., say that two women were caught on a Wal-Mart surveillance camera taking toys that were donated for needy children. Sergeant Anthony Ciampoli said the video shows two women circling a bin filled with toys donated to Toys for Tots Tuesday night. One of the women returned and pulled a toy out of the bin, police said. Investigators said it was possible that the women made a mistake, and that is why they want to talk to them. (AP)

The Vermont Yankee nuclear plant is running at 82 percent of normal power because of the storm that socked New England. Vermont Yankee officials say they were asked to reduce power by electric dispatch agency ISO-New England, citing the effects of the storm on the power grid. The storm has left a million homes and businesses in the Northeast without power. A plant spokesman said there were no equipment problems at the Vernon reactor as it reduced power. Plant officials are awaiting further instructions from ISO-New England. (AP)

An 11-year-old girl has died after falling or jumping through a glass coffee table in an apartment. Christiana Sarty was home alone with her 8-year-old sister in their Elmwood neighborhood apartment when she crashed through the table early Thursday evening. A shard of glass punctured her leg, causing her to bleed profusely. She died a short while later at Hasbro Children's Hospital. (AP)