Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Foreign.
[00:00:16] I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Monday, April 13th. The Quincy City Council Finance Committee meets tonight to discuss a proposal that would establish fiscal safeguards, reserve protections and and financial transparency. City Council President and Councilor at Large Anne Mahoney has proposed an ordinance aimed at clarifying the city's finances by defining items including free cash reserve fund withdrawals, proceeds from city owned real estate or assets, bond premiums and non recurring grants or settlements. The measure would also establish minimum reserve requirements, limit the use of one time funds and require advance disclosure of year end financial actions. The order also would require the Administration to submit a long term affordability statement for borrowing and issue quarterly financial transparency reports. The Finance Committee, which includes all City Councilors, will meet tonight at 6:30 at City Hall. The committee chairman is Ward 6 Councilor Deborah Riley. The meeting will be live on QATV channels 9 and 1072 and qatv.org fines for the illegal dumping of prohibited materials in Quincy's sewer and drain system are increasing. The City Council recently approved raising the fines up to $5,000 to violators in an effort to prevent sewer and drain backups that are very costly to clear, Quincy DPW Commissioner Al Grazioso said. The goal is to prevent issues now rather than respond to emergencies later. Grazioso said the city received 800 calls for sewer and drain backups last year, some caused by restaurants improperly disposing the fats, oils and grease. So far this year, 34 restaurants were found to have issues with their sewer disposal. The previous fines were a $50 penalty from the health department and $300 fine for plumbing violations. The City Council approved measures that allow for public outreach about the rules and a written warning prior to fines being imposed.
[00:02:38] A U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson claimed that a driver tried intentionally striking an agent during a vehicle stopping in Quincy. The Collision occurred about 11 o' clock Friday morning on Bigelow street near Miller Style Road. An ICE spokesperson said officers attempted a targeted arrest of an illegal alien who violated our nation's laws, although they did not identify the person or clarify what laws the person had violated. After agents stopped the vehicle in question, the driver of the vehicle tried to run over one of the agents, according to the statement. The agent was able to move out of the way but was briefly pinned by the door, the ICE spokesperson said. The vehicle struck the agent's door and then sped off. The special agent will be evaluated for minor injuries. State Police issued a Be on the lookout for a silver Ford Fusion with Massachusetts plates in connection with that incident. No further information was available.
[00:03:44] The State Senate last Thursday approving legislation that will provide $750,000 in education and transportation investments in the Norfolk and Plymouth district. State Senator John Keenan of Quincy secured funding to make must have improvements to the Quincy Ferry, such as upgraded lighting in the ferry terminal to make it safer for users and workers alike. The Quincy Public Schools will receive funding to partner with Manit Community Health center to provide primary care and behavioral health services for students and staff. School based providers forge relationships with students and caretakers to offer acute and routine primary care regardless of health coverage, while also alleviating transportation and access barriers. The Senate also adopted a Keenan Amendment to advance a road improvement project along VFW Drive Weymouth street corridor in Rockland from Union street to the Hingham Line. Those funds will support the installation of accessible pedestrian facilities, separated bike facilities, pavement resurfacing, the upgrade of stormwater infrastructure and traffic signal and intersection improvements. The House and Senate versions of the legislation will be finalized in a conference committee and before going to the governor for her review.
[00:05:11] Ten Indian nationals were indicted last week in connection with an elaborate scheme to fake armed robberies across Massachusetts to boost immigration application odds for their co conspirators, according to the Department of Justice. Ten people were indicted by a federal grand jury with one count of conspiracy to commit victim visa fraud, including 45 year old Sanjay Kumar Patel, unlawfully residing in Quincy. They were all previously charged by criminal complaint and released on conditions and all are now subject to deportation after sentencing. According to the documents, the getaway driver and their co conspirators staged armed robberies at at least six convenience stores in Massachusetts in March of 2023, officials said. During the fake robberies, the robber would threaten the store clerk with a gun before taking cash from the register and then fleeing. The clerks would allegedly wait at least five minutes making sure the fake robber escaped before calling police. The alleged robberies were caught on surveillance camera and the victims would use that to leverage for you non immigration status visas. A U visa is available to victims of certain crimes who've suffered mental or physical abuse and have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of any criminal activity. The 10 people in the case allegedly paid the ringleader to participate in the scheme as a victim and in turn he would pay the store owners to use their businesses to stage the robberies.
[00:06:53] The charges carry fines of up to five years in prison and $250,000.
[00:07:01] Massachusetts State Police Lt. Brian Tully, who oversaw the investigation into John O' Keefe's death and testify to Karen Reid's trial, has retired State Police confirmed his retirement was effective at the end of day last Wednesday. Tully's most recent post was part of the Field Services Division, but he formerly led the detective unit for the Norfolk County District Attorney's office. Weeks after Reed's first murder trial ended, State Police announced In July of 2024 they were investigating two troopers, including Tully, who testified at Reed's trial. A State Police internal affairs investigation found Tully failed to properly supervise and discipline members of State Police sharing inappropriate text messages about Karen Reed during the investig into John O' Keeffe's death. Tully was transferred out in October of 2024 after a new leader took over the entire agency. He was found to have violated department rules and regulations. State Police said in November that he failed to supervise or discipline unit members, were involved with inappropriate text messages relative to an ongoing homicide investigation. Tully was disciplined for that, forced to forfeit six days of accrued leave. Beyond that, State Police didn't give any further information on Tully's status at the time, saying only that he was available to assist the DA's office with any cases he was previously involved in. Tully is one of several key figures in Reed's civil suit due to be deposed over the next few months.
[00:08:38] A video showed multiple tractor trailer trucks on fire outside of a Brockton bowling alley on Saturday. Brockton Fire Chief Brian Nardelli says the fire began about 2pm Behind Westgate lanes, bowling alley and arcade. When firefighters arrived, three tractor trailers were already on fire. Two more had caught on fire. There were around 10 tractor trailers on the property at the time. Black smoke could be seen rising from the site of the fire. Loud booms could be heard. The fire spread into some nearby woods, causing a brush fire. Several fire trucks worked to fight the flames coming from the trucks. Others were stationed nearby in case the brush fire spread further. The brush fire damaged about 2 acres of land but didn't damage any buildings. The flames were put out about two hours later. No injuries reported, but a total of six tractor trailers were damaged by the flames. The because the fire has not been determined, State Fire Marshal is assisting with the investigation.
[00:09:43] Bob Hall, a childhood polio survivor who became known as the father of wheelchair racing after twice winning the Boston Marathon, then going on to build racing chairs for the generations of competitors that followed, has died. He was 74. The Boston Athletic association said yesterday that Hall's family confirmed his death after a long illness in 1975. Hall convinced Boston Marathon organizers to let him into the race and was promised a finisher's certificate like the one the runners got if he completed the 26.2 mile distance in under three hours. Hall crossed the lime 2 hours and 58 minutes. He returned to the Boston race in 1977 when it was designated as the site for the National Wheelchair Championship and prevailed in a field of seven as they crested Heartbreak Hill. Eventually, men's winner Bill Rogers and fifth place finisher Tom Fleming slowed down to encourage him. Hall, who lost the use of both legs from childhood polio, sued in 1978 to have wheelchair racers admitted into the New York Marathon, a fight that wasn't settled until the race created men's and women's wheelchair divisions in 2000. Hal finished in the top three in Boston three other times and remained active with the race. More than 1900 wheelchair racers have followed him from Hopkinton to Boston. This year's race on April 20 will include 50 more, along with 50 others in eight paradivisions competing for more than $300,000 in prize money.
[00:11:27] Check of business news this morning and stocks are mixed. The dow is down 269 points on Friday. The Nasdaq rose 80, the S&P lost 7. Oil prices resume their climb and global markets decline today as the US Military prepared to blockade traffic to and from Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz, where most shipping's been stalled by Iran since the start of the war. The dollar rose, the euro was down. Oil is now up to over $103 a barrel.
[00:12:02] In sports, Red Sox beat St. Louis nine to three. They're in Minnesota against the Twins tonight at 7:40. Bruins beat the Columbus Blue Jackets three to two. They'll host New Jersey tomorrow night at 7:00 o'. Clock.
[00:12:18] Celtics finish out the regular season with a win over Orlando 113 to 108.
[00:12:25] Forecast from the National Weather Service today cloudy and mild, high of 70 degrees.
[00:12:31] Cloudy tonight, maybe some showers. Low tonight of 57. Tomorrow Partly sunny and warm, high of 79.
[00:12:39] Wednesday sun and clouds and a high near 80 and partly cloudy 72 on Thursday for the boater. Waves about 2ft. Wind southwest 10 to 15 with gusts to 30 knots. There is a small craft advisory in effect. High tide at 8:41 this morning. Sunrise 6:05 sets at 7:22.
[00:13:02] Traffic node for River Bridge scheduled to open at 8:30 this morning and 7:00 clock tomorrow morning. I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Monday, April 13th.
