By Travis Andersen, Town Correspondent

A Somerville man has pleaded not guilty to a charge of stabbing his former girlfriend to death and is being held without bail.

Antonio Marcos Ferreira, 38, was arraigned on Wednesday in Middlesex Superior Court on a sole count of first-degree murder.

By Peter DeMarco, Globe correspondent

We all know that it’s dangerous to text on a cellphone while driving. Study after study proves it, and everyone from carmakers to cellphone companies is clamoring not to do it. New Hampshire and Rhode Island are among the latest states to outlaw the practice, and AAA and Verizon, among others, are calling for a national ban.

A ban will help end the practice, but texting is addictive, and those with less self-control — teenagers, perhaps — may have a hard time abiding.

Fortunately, budding technologies are offering another solution. Products abound that enable drivers to speak aloud a text or e-mail message, or listen to one being read, without having to type on their phones. With speech-recognition or ‘‘voice-to-text’’ technology, drivers can keep their eyes on the road.

The following information is from the Middlesex district attorney's office:

A Somerville man has been arraigned in connection with the stabbing death of Sheila Dos Santos, 26, of Everett, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public Thursday.

Antonio Marcos Ferreira, 38, was arraigned yesterday before Middlesex Superior Court Clerk-Magistrate Michael Sullivan for first degree murder. He was ordered held without bail.

By Travis Andersen, Town Correspondent

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) - which steers federal funds to 101 cities and towns in Eastern Massachusetts - has allocated more than $20 million for four major construction projects in Somerville.

The MPO has earmarked $15 million for the redesign of Assembly Square Drive, as well as $1.75 million for repairs on Washington Street in East Somerville.

Davis Square’s annual Midnight Madness event, hosted by the Davis Square Area Resident-Business Initiative, happens tonight from 6 to midnight in Somerville.

Poor Little Rich Girl (255 Elm St., 617-684-0157) will have everything marked down 20 percent; The Boston Shaker (69 Holland St., 617-718-2999) will be offering 10 percent off cocktail tools, ingredients, and glassware; and Black & Blues (89 Holland St., 617-628-0046) will offer progressively steep markdowns throughout the night (starting at 10 percent from 6-8 p.m.).

For a list of participants, see www.yourdavissquare.com.

-- Ami Albernaz

By Stephen Smith, Globe Staff

In a clear sign that vaccine supplies are becoming more bountiful, Boston-area health departments will distribute thousands of shots and nasal sprays against swine flu during major public immunization drives in coming days.

‘‘It certainly is a relief to be able to say yes to people, we have vaccine,’’ said Paulette Renault-Caragianes, director of Somerville’s Health Department, which will offer vaccine from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Edgerly School, 8 Bonair St.

By Travis Andersen, Town Correspondent

Two teens are facing assault and kidnapping charges after a fracas last week at the state Department of Youth Services (DYS) building located at 124 Cross St.

Two 17-year-olds from Lynn were arrested at 4:15 p.m. at the building last Friday.

The following is a press release from the City of Somerville:

Acting Director James Kotzuba announced today that the City’s Traffic and Parking (T&P) offices at 133 Holland Street will open their doors on two Saturdays, Dec. 5th and 12th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will also remain open until 7 p.m. on January 4th and 5th, in order to provide permitting assistance to residents affected by new parking regulations. One third of Somerville’s public ways will be converting to resident permit parking status effective January 4, 2009, and the additional Saturday hours are designed to provide alternative times to obtain new resident stickers and visitor permits before the change in policy.

The following is a press release from the Cambridge Health Alliance:

Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) announced today that two of its family health practices in Revere and Somerville have been selected as national best practice sites for team development by the Commonwealth Fund (Qualis) Safety Net Medical Home transformation initiative.

Congressman Michael Capuano said today that he remains opposed to any expansion of our current troop deployment in Afghanistan, despite the plan proposed by the President last evening.

"Nothing I heard last night convinced me that we would not be better served to begin an immediate redeployment of our forces from Afghanistan to the possible locations where our enemy Al Qaeda is now most dangerous,'' Capuano, who is running for US Senate, said in a statement.