Bills address care of mentally ill inmates

Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who is seeking a record fifth term in office this year, picked up the endorsement yesterday of the Boston Building Trades, a coalition of dozens of local unions representing boilermakers, bricklayers, laborers, pipe fitters, and other skilled workers. “On behalf of the thousands of union tradesmen and women affiliated with the Boston Building Trades, it is my honor and pleasure to offer our endorsement to you, for mayor of the City of Boston,’’ James Coyle, general agent for the Boston Building Trades, said in a letter to Menino. Menino offered his appreciation for the nod, saying in a statement, “Labor Day is truly a celebration of their hard work.’’

Two men accused of killing a drug dealer over a debt, then dismembering, and cooking the man’s body, are set to be arraigned. Paul Moccia of Dedham and Daniel Bradley of Westwood are scheduled to be in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham Friday. Last month, a grand jury indicted the pair on charges, including first degree murder. Prosecutors say Moccia, 49, and Bradley, 48, shot Angel Antonio Ramirez, a construction worker from Guatemala who lived in Framingham. They say Moccia owed Ramirez $70,000 from drug deals and decided to kill him instead of paying. Prosecutors say that to get rid of evidence, the pair dismembered the body and cooked the remains at a Walpole concrete company co-owned by Bradley. Defense attorneys say their clients are innocent. (AP)

Toll increases approved last month for the Claiborne Pell Bridge connecting Newport and Jamestown take effect this morning. Passenger cars without E-ZPass will pay $4 per crossing instead of $2. Trucks and other commercial vehicles will pay an extra $1 per axle. Rhode Island residents with E-ZPass transponders won’t pay any extra, but out-of-state residents with E-ZPass will see an increase to $4. The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority says the toll increase, the first in the bridge’s 40-year history, is needed to pay for renovations and upkeep. (AP)

A Cape Cod couple has been questioned in the case of a missing Florida girl who disappeared from her father’s mobile home in February. The Cape Cod Times reported that Florida authorities questioned Timothy Croslin and his wife on Saturday at the South Yarmouth State Police barracks about Haleigh Cummings, 5. Authorities have not said why they were questioned. Cummings vanished Feb. 10 from her father’s mobile home, just outside Satsuma. Croslin’s sister, Misty, told police she was babysitting Haleigh that night when she woke about 3 a.m. and Haleigh was missing. Despite extensive searches and a $35,000 reward, Haleigh has not been found. (AP)

University of New Hampshire Police issued a campus alert after a student was beaten by an unidentified male. Police said the random attack occurred at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday. Deputy Chief Paul Bean said a student was heading up the walkway to Stoke Hall when a man in front of the building accosted him, then began punching him in the face and head. The student was treated and released at a hospital. Police are increasing patrols in the area. (AP)