Veterans Day events planned across state

A woman who was believed to be intoxicated survived a close call Friday night when she fell off an Orange Line platform onto the tracks at North Station, in the path of an arriving subway train, transit police said. Three transit police officers found a chaotic scene just before 11 p.m., with some bystanders flagging down the approaching train and others working to pull the woman out of the pit. MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said the train came to a stop “inches away’’ from the woman. The train operator later told her supervisor she saw the bystanders waving and knew something was wrong, he said. The woman, who was not identified, had scraped knees but was otherwise all right. She was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Immigrant advocates are scheduled to tour the state to promote new grants aimed at helping immigrants learn English. Next week, the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition is slated to visit New Bedford, Northampton, Pittsfield, and Lowell to discuss the “English Works Campaign.’’ Last week, state officials announced $1.3 million in grants from the Obama administration stimulus package for English classes. The grants come after a coalition of business, labor, and civic leaders in New Bedford launched a campaign to improve immigrants’ English proficiency by supporting reforms and investment in English programs. About 17,000 immigrants in Massachusetts on are waiting lists for English classes. (AP)

Smoke coming from a subway car with brake problems spilled into the State Street station on the MBTA’s Orange Line last night, causing short delays but no injuries. According to MBTA police, a subway car began emitting smoke around 10 p.m., forcing service to stop for about 20 minutes while the car was inspected by the Boston Fire Department and transit police. There was no significant damage to the subway car.

A forecast of sunny skies and mild temperatures this weekend is bound to bring out late-season boaters. But the Coast Guard says they should be aware of just how cold New England waters can be at this time of year. The Coast Guard says water temperatures are rapidly declining and the shock of sudden immersion could be fatal. Officials recommend that boaters and paddlers wear full survival suits, or at least a wet suit with life jacket, in case they fall overboard or capsize. (AP)

A motorcycle crash killed the father of an autistic Massachusetts boy who died after his mother allegedly withheld cancer medication. Eric Fraser died Thursday after being taken off life support earlier in the week. The 38-year-old Fraser and another biker collided in Malden on Oct. 25. The other rider died that night. Fraser’s son, Jeremy, died of leukemia in March at age 9. The child’s mother, Kristen LaBrie of Salem, has been charged with attempted murder and child endangerment after allegedly failing to give needed chemotherapy medications to her son and missing his medical appointments. Fraser and LaBrie had undergone a contentious divorce, and he wasn’t part of his son’s life as his illness advanced. But Fraser lived with his son during the boy’s final days. (AP)

A homeless person is missing after a three-alarm fire gutted an abandoned paper mill Friday night. Firefighters responded to the former Merrimac Paper Co. mill at approximately 7 p.m. Friday and were there until early yesterday morning extinguishing the blaze. No injuries were reported, but people who were squatting in the building told authorities that others were inside when the fire started. One of the individuals believed to have been inside is unaccounted for, said acting Deputy Kevin Loughlin. Police are trying to locate the missing person. The cause of the fire is under investigation.