[00:00:00] Foreign.
[00:00:17] With an AM Quincy news update for Friday, January 9th. The case of the Quincy mayor's salary increase will be back in court today.
[00:00:27] An all day hearing was held yesterday in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, where both sides presented their cases to a judge. QUINCY Citizens for Fair Raises is suing the Quincy Board of Registrars, claiming that they improperly rejected more than 2600 signatures on a ballot petition. They would have asked voters if they want to roll back the mayoral raise from 285 to $183,000. The group says the city failed to use the printed names on the petition to verify the voter status of the signer. The group says over 1400 signatures could have been certified if the printed names were used. Over 7,100 signatures were submitted to the city. However, only 4,545 were certified, falling over 700 signatures short of the required minimum to get the question on the ballot. The city contends it followed proper state procedures for signature verification. The hearing is set to resume this morning in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham.
[00:01:35] A woman was found dead after flames broke out at a home in Easton last night. Easton fire officials say it happened just before 9:30 when they received an alert for a medical emergency at the North Main street house, so they brought emergency vehicles suited for that, including an ambulance and a fire truck on the way. Fire officials were told it was most likely a false alarm, but crews arrived to find flames throughout the entire single family home. The responding crews worked to battle the flames while waiting for backup. Firefighters from multiple nearby towns responded to assist. The victim, whose name has not been released, was the only person inside at the time of the fire. No one else was injured. Fire chief says there was a brief mayday call, but that firefighter was ultimately okay. Easton police asked people to avoid the area of North Main street and Holmes street just before 11 last night, noting there were several agencies at the structure. Fire fire investigators were still at the scene this morning. The cause of the fires under investigation by the state Fire Marshal's office, while the state plans to pump an additional $250 million into heavily subsidized insurance offered through the Massachusetts Health Connector in an attempt to staunch skyrocketing costs for middle class Bay staters. Federal enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of December, creating turmoil for residents whose subsidies had protected them from steep premium hikes. Governor Healey's relief plan brings Connector CARE funding to a total of $600 million, which the governor's office called the largest state investment in the country. The extra state aid is intended to ensure that about 270,000 residents enrolled in Connector Care and making below 400% of the federal poverty level will see little to no premium increases because of the expiring federal credits, while also lowering other out of pocket costs like CO pays and deductibles. That threshold applies to individuals earning up to $62,600 and families of four earning up to $128,600. The 250 million is coming from the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund. It's not clear how much money is in that fund. The infusion offers an additional subsidy for people enrolled in Connector Care plans designed for residents earning between 100 and 400% of the federal poverty level. To highlight the impact of the $250 million plan, the governor's office used the example of a 45 year old couple in Fall river who have two kids and make $75,000. They previously paid $166 monthly for the lowest cost coverage, though that figure would have more than doubled to $452 with the expiring subsidies. With the new Connector Care boost, the couple will now pay $206 a month. Open enrollment at the Health Connector wraps up on January 23rd. As of last week, nearly 23,000 Bay Staters had terminated their coverage through the Connector this cycle, and almost 24,000 people newly signed up for those plans.
[00:05:12] Less than six months out from one of the world's most followed sporting events coming to Massachusetts, state officials say they're making progress on preparations but raised fresh concerns about World cup funding and event locations.
[00:05:30] In a new report to the Legislature. Visitors from around the world are expected to pour into the state and for the FIFA World cup, featuring seven games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough between June 13 and July 9, the legislature has wrestled to cement the level of state support for the international event and got a better picture of the anticipated need in the latest update. However, the World cup does not come without its challenges. Specifically, the sources, allocation, control, responsibility, accountability for funding are still being negotiated and understood. The home of the Patriots will be renamed Boston Stadium for the World cup and will undergo FIFA specific upgrades to meet international standards for player, media and fan facilities. The competing teams and FIFA officials are expected to stay in hotels and to train at facilities across Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
[00:06:29] Tie in events are planned for downtown Boston, but the state said many of those details are still up in the air. Primary source of security funding for the tournament is the FIFA World cup grant program administered through FEMA.
[00:06:43] Massachusetts is eligible for just more than 46 million dollars of the total 625 million that the program is available to the 11American host cities. The state says its submission for that maximum amount is pending, but it would be less than half of the 95 million the state and local agencies applied for. The state legislature last year did approve $10 million to support World cup related transportation, public safety and signage.
[00:07:16] A Greenfield man is facing charges after allegedly breaking into a Whitman coffee shop twice in the same week. 22 year old Anthony Cruz was arrested by Whitman police yesterday and charged three counts of breaking and entering a building in the nighttime with intent to commit a crime, two counts of larceny. Police were told that Restoration Coffee on Washington street was broken into overnight on New Year's Day and cash was taken. Police learned the break in suspect was driving a strange silver sedan with a black bumper. Tuesday night, an officer on patrol when he observed a car matching that description conducted a motor vehicle stop for an expired inspection sticker and identified the driver as Cruz.
[00:08:02] Two days later Wednesday morning, police were notified of a second break in at the same coffee shop. During a follow up investigation, police identified Cruz as the suspect in both break. Inside, police determined Cruz had attempted to break into a gas station at about 2am on Jan. 7. Cruz turned himself in yesterday, set to be arraigned in Brockton District Court.
[00:08:29] Two small earthquakes were reported in New England on Wednesday, including one right here in Massachusetts, According to the U.S. geological Survey. A 1.8 magnitude quake was registered in Acushnet at about 9:11 Wednesday night following a 1.9 magnitude earthquake in East Hatam, Connecticut. There was no damage or aftershock effects reported in either town.
[00:08:56] Last year, a rare 3.8 magnitude quake hit about 6 miles off the southeast coast of York Harbor, Maine, causing residents in Massachusetts to feel the ground shake, according to the Geological Survey. New England averages several small quakes per year, with most measuring 2.5 magnitude or less. The largest known New England earthquakes were a 6.5 magnitude back in 1638 centered in Vermont or New Hampshire, and a 5.8 magnitude centered offshore from Cape Ann in 1755, which resulted in severe damage to the Boston waterfront.
[00:09:41] The Quincy Department of Natural Resources Environmental Treasures program presents Life and Death on Pine island Saturday at 10am Participants will visit the salt marshes in Blacks Creek and learn about the natural and human history of the area and the importance of salt marshes. To register and for more information about the free program, email sallyowenzyma.gov the Atherton House School PTO will hold their annual Polar Plunge freezin for a reason on Saturday at the Quincy Yacht Club. Registration begins at 9:30am with the plunge at 11am $25 per plunge and shoes are encouraged. Baked goods, hot chocolate, raffle prizes will be for sale. Cash and Venmo are accepted and the proceeds will benefit programs at the Atherton Howe School.
[00:10:39] A check of business news Stocks are mixed. The Dow up 270 points. The Nasdaq lost 104. The S& P rose a fraction.
[00:10:48] Asian stocks mostly higher. The dollar rose. The euro was down, oil at $58 a barrel.
[00:10:57] In sports, the Quincy and North Quincy boys and girls basketball teams playing for the first time tonight at 5:30pm for the boys and 7:00 clock for the girls. You can watch both games live on QATV and
[email protected] the Bruins be Calgary 4 to 1 and they'll be hosting the Rangers tomorrow afternoon at 1 o'. Clock. Tonight the Celtics host Toronto at 7. Of course, Patriots, Chargers Sunday night at 8 o'. Clock.
[00:11:31] Foxborough for the NFL wildcard game.
[00:11:35] Today's forecast from the National Weather Service calling for clouds, maybe a shower. High 48 tonight, showers low of 36. Tomorrow, scattered showers high 45, showers on Sunday, high 41 and sunshine on Monday with a high of 38 for the boater. Waves 1 to 2ft, wind south 5 to 10, gusting to 25 knots later. High tide 3:54pm Sunrise 712 sets at 4:30.
[00:12:04] I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Friday, January 9th.
