New England in brief
BOSTON
The federal political action committee of a major food union made illegal state campaign finance contributions between 2006 and 2008 and has paid $3,500 to resolve the matter, according to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance. The Active Ballot Club of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union made prohibited contributions of $5,000 to Governor Deval Patrick’s Victory Fund on May 31, 2006; $15,000 to the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee’s account on Oct. 13, 2006; $5,000 to the Kenneth Donnelly Committee on Nov. 4, 2007; and $10,500 to the Douglas Belanger Committee in March and August 2008, according to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. State law does not allow federal PACs to make contributions to Massachusetts candidates and political party committees. State campaign finance regulators said recipients were unaware the gifts were from a prohibited source. (State House News Service)Man hit by T car, treated for foot injuries
A man was hit by a Green Line MBTA train heading inbound at Parker Street and Huntington Avenue, said T spokeswoman Lydia Rivera. The man sustained foot injuries that were not considered life-threatening, and he was transported to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Rivera said. MBTA police and Boston firefighters responded to the scene at 10:55 last night, Rivera said. The accident is under investigation.Google users can find T bus, train routes
Users of Google in Massachusetts can now find the shortest public transportation routes to and from their destination. The popular Google Maps feature is now listing MBTA bus and subway routes. Online groups had pressed for the feature, which also gives an estimated time for each trip. Google executives plan to join city officials and the T general manager, Daniel A. Grabauskas, at South Station today to formally announce the change. T officials hope the addition to the website will encourage people to use public transportation. (AP)LOWELL
Search continues for Chelmsford canoeist
Authorities are searching for a man missing after a canoe overturned on the Concord River in Lowell. Lowell police said the 31-year-old Chelmsford man was in a boat with two other men who also fell into the water. They were able to climb ashore onto Interstate 495, where it crosses the river, after the accident Tuesday night. Police said the search resumed yesterday. The men’s names were not released. (AP)CONCORD, N.H.
Former coach gets 20 years for child porn
A former New Hampshire soccer coach has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for persuading teenage boys to send him photos or footage of themselves engaged in sexual acts. Jacob Silva, 28, of Manchester is a former coach with the Express Soccer Club in Concord. He pleaded guilty to one count each of production and possession of child pornography as part of a plea bargain. Prosecutors say a search of his computers revealed numerous images of child pornography. The charges pertain to only one soccer player, but authorities say he communicated inappropriately over the Internet with 22 players between the ages of 14 and 17, often posing as a teenage girl. (AP)DOVER, N.H.
Woman in to face charge in 2008 slaying
A woman accused of being an accomplice in a New Hampshire homicide has been arrested in Texas. The New Hampshire attorney general’s office says Dianna Saunders, 41, was arrested Tuesday in Fort Worth on a fugitive-from-justice warrant from New Hampshire. She is accused of being an accomplice to first-degree murder in the death of David King, 46, who was fatally shot in the home he shared with Saunders in Dover on Aug. 29, 2008. Saunders’s former stepson, Derek Saunders, and Scott Mazzone have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from King’s death. Both men are serving prison sentences. After Saunders is returned to New Hampshire, she will be arraigned in Dover District Court. (AP)
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