2 children taken from Dorchester house

Two separate crashes involving four cars each tied up traffic yesterday along Interstate 93 in Milton and Quincy within five minutes of one another, sending four people to an area hospital with minor injuries, State Police said. Just after 1 p.m., two pickup trucks, a 2008 Dodge Caravan, and 2003 Cadillac collided while traveling southbound just before Exit 8 in the Quincy area. No one was injured, but two lanes were shut down for about 30 minutes. Five minutes later, on the other side of the highway, four vehicles collided near Exit 9, also prompting two lanes to be shut down and sending four people to Quincy Medical Center. State Police are investigating both incidents.

A nonprofit group in Lawrence is launching a website designed to monitor this year's municipal election. Lawrence CommunityWorks says its "Yes We Will" site - www.ywwlawrence.org - is an effort to keep candidates talking about various issues and away from traditional mudslinging. Lawrence residents who opt to become site "members" will encourage residents to get out to vote and will help sponsor debates among the candidates. (AP)

Police arrested a Framingham man who allegedly fatally stabbed a man at a party in a Grant Street apartment early yesterday. Dan Gonzalez, 19, was arrested about 4 p.m. at the Framingham Police Department and charged with first-degree murder. Authorities responding to a 911 call about 4:13 a.m. found Geoffrey McKinnon, 22, of Framingham, with multiple stab wounds, according to a statement from Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone. McKinnon died in surgery at MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham. Authorities are seeking a motive, said Corey Welford a spokesman for Leone's office, adding: "We do believe that they were known to one another." Gonzalez is to be arraigned today in Framingham District Court.

The city of Worcester and its unionized firefighters have a new 3-year contract. City Manager Michael V. O'Brien says the deal, which was ratified Friday by members of Local 1009, International Association of Firefighters, calls for 2 percent raises for fiscal years 2008 and 2009, but no pay increase in fiscal 2010, which begins July 1. Firefighters have agreed to pay 25 percent of their health insurance premiums beginning July 1, and higher co-payments for medical visits and services. O'Brien says the city hopes use the savings to restore some firefighter positions. (AP)

A group of casino gambling opponents took to the streets of Palmer in their cars to protest a proposal to put a casino there. About 75 cars, many with signs reading "casino traffic" in their windows, drove around downtown for an hour Saturday, to simulate the congestion they say would come with a casino. Ronald Masnicki of Palmer, who participated in the protest, said he saw people having trouble exiting side streets and a gas station near where the owners of Mohegan Sun want to build a $1 billion gambling complex. Another 140 people held up pro-casino signs in a counter-demonstration. They say the increased tax revenue and estimated 3,000 permanent jobs are worth more traffic in town. (AP)