Main Park Street T entrance reopens

Boston Firefighters Union Local 718 became the fifth union yesterday to endorse Councilor at Large Michael Flaherty for mayor, according to a campaign statement. A formal endorsement announcement will not take place until May 9 during Firefighters Family Day at Pope John Paul II Park in Dorchester, but the union "thought it imperative to voice [its] support for Flaherty early in the campaign," the statement said. Flaherty said in statement that he was "honored to accept the endorsement of the firefighters, the men and women who have a very difficult and dangerous job that requires them to put their lives on the line every day to keep Boston safe."

The nation's second face transplant recipient saw his new face for the first time this week, according to a statement from Brigham and Women's Hospital. Lead surgeon Dr. Bohdan Pomahac said the patient "recognized himself, and he really was very pleased. Both he and his family said his nose resembles his old nose." The patient is in good condition, the hospital said. The man underwent a 17-hour operation last week to replace his nose, the roof of his mouth, his upper lip, facial skin, muscles, and the nerves that power them. The hospital has not released his name or any other details about him.

Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray hasn't been shy about raising campaign money and apparently he's not shy about spending it. Campaign finance records show the Democrat spent $23,000 in March on a statewide poll to assess his political standing and prospects. A campaign spokesman said yesterday the poll is normal political expenditure. And spokesman Michael Cohen said the poll was conducted in early February, not in response to public reaction to a 19-cent gas tax increase proposal and traffic backups on Massachusetts Turnpike on Easter. Patrick raised $81,000 for his reelection account during the first three months of the year. Murray raised more than a quarter million dollars during the same period. That brought his campaign war chest to a little more than $1 million. (AP)

A Superior Court judge is facing a charge of driving under the influence after being arrested Wednesday in Lexington, Middlesex County prosecutors said. Christine M. McEvoy, 58, of Belmont was arraigned in Concord District Thursday. McEvoy waived her appearance and a plea of not guilty was entered on her behalf, said Corey Welford, a spokesman for the Middlesex district attorney's office. McEvoy's lawyer, William H. Kettlewell, issued a statement saying that McEvoy "has the greatest respect for the institution of the court. She deeply regrets the fact that her actions may have cast the court in an unfavorable light and intends to deal with the pending case as swiftly as possible."

Massachusetts has its first red tide closure of 2009. The state Division of Marine Fisheries says the toxic algae bloom has been identified in blue mussels found in a portion of the Nauset Estuary in Orleans. The closure affects an area from the northern tip of Weeset Point to the Orleans-Eastham town line. It also includes Mill Pond, Roberts Cove, and a portion of Nauset Harbor. The order only applies to blue mussels harvested or collected in that area. Eating shellfish with high levels of red tide can cause potentially fatal paralytic shellfish poisoning. (AP)