New England in brief
BOSTON
US Representative Michael Capuano may be trailing Attorney General Martha Coakley in the polls, but he is winning among dropouts from the Senate race. US Representatives Stephen Lynch and John Tierney, both of whom have exited the Senate race, are backing their congressional colleague. Lynch, of South Boston, was to endorse Capuano last night at Amrhein’s, a restaurant in Lynch’s district, according to Capuano’s campaign. Tierney voiced his support yesterday at a Lynn deli. “There is no other candidate in this race who can match his work ethic, his years of legislative experience, and his steadfast commitment to his principles and professive beliefs,’’ said Tierney, of Salem. Also yesterday, the Republican field became one candidate thinner: Canton Selectman Robert Burr said he was dropping out of the race because he did not collect the signatures required. The GOP’s hopes rest on state Senator Scott Brown of Wrentham.Three state troopers are hurt in accidents
Three separate car crashes in recent days sent three state troopers to the hospital, State Police said. The most seriously injured was a trooper whose cruiser rolled over yesterday just before 8 a.m. on Interstate 290 in Worcester. The trooper, whose name was not released, was being treated at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. The trooper was driving west near Exit 22 when his vehicle overturned; it was not clear why. About 8 p.m. Sunday, Trooper Patrick McGowan was involved in a crash with a 2004 Acura on Route 1 south in Wrentham. McGowan was later released from Norwood Hospital, police said. Twenty minutes later, Trooper John Duggan was injured when a Nissan Pathfinder traveling north on Interstate 495 in Raynham crossed the center line and struck Duggan’s cruiser head-on, police said. Duggan was extricated from the vehicle, but had only minor injuries and was later released from Morton Hospital and Medical Center in Taunton. State Police are investigating all three crashes.Mass. could offer rebates on appliances
Massachusetts officials are hoping to spend more than $6 million in federal stimulus money on a cash rebate program to encourage consumers to upgrade to energy-efficient home appliances. Officials said yesterday that the state has already filed details of the proposal with the US Department of Energy, which is expected to issue a decision within several weeks. If it is approved, the state plans to launch the program in February. (AP)NORTH READING
Florida man charged in pills scheme
Federal investigators charged a reality show winner from Florida with attempting to sell thousands of oxycodone pills in the Boston area, officials said. Adam Jasinski, 31, of Delray Beach, Fla., allegedly arranged to sell 2,000 pills to a witness working with agents from the US attorney’s office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Jasinski, who won the $500,000 grand prize on the CBS reality television show “Big Brother,’’ said he used his winnings to buy thousands of oxycodone pills and resell them to customers on the East Coast, according to the US Department of Justice. Investigators said Jasinski flew from his home in Florida to meet the witness at Logan International Airport in Boston Oct. 17. Jasinski was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. A detention hearing was scheduled for Thursday, said Christina Sterling, a Justice Department spokeswoman.MALDEN
MCAS scholarship qualifiers on increase
State education officials say 17,575 high school seniors have qualified for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, entitling them to free tuition if they attend a public college or university in Massachusetts. The total represents an increase of more than 100 students from a year ago. The Department of Education said 80 percent of students in the class of 2010 who qualify for the scholarship are white. Eight percent are Asian, 6 percent Latino, and 5 percent black. Girls outnumber boys by a margin of 55 to 45 percent. Qualified students must score advanced in either the math or English tenth-grade exams of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, while scoring either proficient or advanced in the other. Their class rank must also be in the top 25 percent of the school district. (AP)
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