New England in brief
BOSTON
A Mattapan man and a Roxbury woman were sentenced to life imprisonment yesterday for the 2007 slayings of two men, according to Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley. Alexander Bolling, 26, and Taneika Britt, 33, were given two life sentences each, along with 15-20 years for the attempted murder of a surviving victim and four to five years for unlawful possession of the firearms used in the incident, according to a statement from Conley. Last week, Bolling was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Jesse Calhoun, 29, and second-degree murder in the death of Robert Turner, 29. Britt was found guilty of first-degree murder in both cases. Britt and Calhoun had previously been in a relationship and were in a dispute over money.US sues state on bias in correction hiring
The US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Massachusetts and the state Department of Correction over an allegation of discrimination against female applicants seeking entry-level jobs. The lawsuit, filed yesterday in federal court in Boston, accuses the state of using a physical abilities test that disproportionately screens out female applicants for entry-level correctional officer positions. A complaint said that in 2007 and 2008 female applicants for the entry-level jobs had a passing rate of 59 percent, while male applicants had a rate of 96 percent. Diane Wiffin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Correction, said she could not comment on pending litigation. (AP)Foy’s work for green business honored
Douglas Foy, the longtime environmental campaigner and former Massachusetts Cabinet secretary, is being awarded an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Britain’s ambassador to the United States, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, will confer the honor tomorrow at the British Embassy in Washington, on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II. The award recognizes Foy’s “achievements as an advocate and entrepreneur in the practice of environmentally sustainable enterprises,’’ as well as his years of volunteer work helping to select winners of the British Marshall scholarships. For 25 years, Foy was president of the Conservation Law Foundation, an organization of scientists and lawyers who work to protect the environment in New England.CHELSEA
Electrical blaze hospitalizes firefighter
Smoke from an electrical fire in Chelsea sent one firefighter to the hospital yesterday morning, a fire official said. “During the operation, we had one firefighter take some smoke in,’’ said Chelsea Deputy Fire Chief John Quatieri. The firefighter was taken by ambulance to Whidden Hospital in Everett for smoke inhalation and later released. Chelsea firefighters fought the fire in the second-floor bathroom of a three-family home for about two hours before knocking it down just after 9 a.m. The fire, which spread to an adjacent bedroom, displaced 17 residents, who must wait for electrical crews to inspect the building before returning. Quatieri estimated about $10,000 in damages.PROVIDENCE
Victim’s father asks US to probe club fire
The father of the youngest victim of a 2003 nightclub fire that killed 100 people said yesterday that he has asked to meet with the new US attorney in Rhode Island, Peter Neronha, to try to persuade him to investigate the blaze. Dave Kane’s 18-year-old son, Nicholas O’Neill, died in the Feb. 20, 2003, fire in West Warwick, which began when pyrotechnics used by the rock band Great White ignited foam that club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian had used as soundproofing. Kane said he sent a letter to Neronha last week, asking him to look into the case. (AP)HOLYOKE
Man is held on bail in child’s death
A Chicopee man has been ordered held on $50,000 bail after pleading not guilty to charges he was driving drunk when he struck and killed a 6-year-old Holyoke boy. Police said Kyier Douchette and a friend were in a crosswalk on Main Street when Angel Ortiz, 34, hit him at about 4:30 p.m. Friday. Holyoke police Lieutenant Michael Higgins said Ortiz told police he heard a noise, saw the boy in the road, and pulled over immediately. The boy’s friend was not injured. (AP)
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