Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Foreign.
[00:00:16] I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Thursday, March 5th.
[00:00:22] The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined a contractor over $47,000 related to a construction accident in Quincy that left a worker seriously burned. The fines were levied against Riley Brothers Construction of Stoughton in connection with the incident on October 21st along Southern Artery near Broad Street. That worker was jackhammering a water line in a trench when he struck a live 13,000 volt electrical cable, resulting in an explosion and power outage and leaving him with serious burns. A OSHA says Riley Brothers failed to ensure that the worker was wearing rubber insulated gloves and other protective gear. OSHA also says Reilly Brothers failed to protect workers from silica dust particles at the job site. Reilly Brothers is contesting the fines. The Quincy City Council had passed a resolution requesting Reilly Brothers appear before them to answer questions about that incident, but has not heard back.
[00:01:29] The Quincy City Council is looking for information about how the City spent over $46 million that it received from the federal American Rescue plan to help the city recover from the pandemic. This week, Ward 6 Councillor Deborah Riley, chair of the Finance Committee, introduced a resolution seeking transparency for the money. The administration previously issued a spreadsheet of how the funds were dispersed, including $15 million to purchase the Monroe Building in Quincy Center. Other funds were distributed for overtime pay, school improvements and to numerous social service agencies, community groups and religious organizations to help them recover from the pandemic. Riley's resolution was placed into the finance and oversight committees.
[00:02:21] Quincy City Council wants to know why the states can't pay for repairs to the exterior of the historic Dorothy Quincy Homestead. Councilors this week tabled a request from the mayor to spend $325,000 from the community Preservation Fund to pay for exterior painting, window and clapboard repairs, oiling the wood roof and repairing a storm door to the building on Butler Road in Quincy Center. The Community Preservation Committee unanimously approved the funding last month. However, the funding also needs City council approval. Ward 1 Councilor David Jacobs said he wanted to know why the city is being asked to pay for work on a building which is owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Colonial Dames lease the building from the state and and are responsible for the interior upkeep, but Jacob says the state must maintain the exterior. Counselors agreed to table the funding request, which could come up again at the March 16th city council meeting.
[00:03:29] The Hale Family YMCA and Quincy recently held their own Lunar New Year celebration. Hundreds of people enjoyed some live entertainment, including the traditional Mayan dance, along with a wide variety of food offerings and family activities, new South Shore YMCA President and CEO Trevor Williams said. The Y joined with Quincy Asian Resources to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse, a symbol of passion, strength and bold new beginnings. Quincy Asian resources held their 38th annual Lunar New Year Festival in February at North Quincy High School.
[00:04:11] A Marshfield police officer who was placed on leave following an off duty crash appeared in court yesterday to face several charges. Richard Perry's arraignment was previously delayed by a month. He's charged in a Jan. 11 crash on Route 139 in Marshfield involving a Jeep and two other vehicles with one one that ended up on its roof. He's charged with operating under the influence of liquor with serious injury, reckless operation, Mark Lane's violation and speeding. He entered a plea of not guilty and was released on personal recognizance with conditions that included no driving and remaining alcohol free with screening, police said. A preliminary investigation indicated that the Jeep was driving west at a high rate of speed and passed a tow truck by crossing over the solid double yellow lines into the eastbound lane. The Jeep then tried to pass a Hyundai Elantra, again crossing the solid double yellow lines and struck an eastbound traveling Honda Civic head on. The Hyundai was also hit during the collision. The driver of the Jeep, identified as Perry, was able to get out on his own. The driver of the Honda, identified, identified by her attorney as 24 year old Grace Owen, was trapped in her vehicle and had to be extricated by firefighters. Both drivers were taken by ambulance to hospitals with serious injuries. Driver of the Hyundai was not hurt. Prosecutors said yesterday that Owen remains at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Her injuries include a brain bleed, broken bones and internal injuries.
[00:05:52] Marshfield Police Chief Phil Tavares previously said Perry was placed on administrative leave effective immediately following the crash, per standard practice. The Massachusetts Post Commission, which is responsible for certifying police officers, was also notified about the incident. The chief said his department was seeking criminal charges against Perry for drunk driving, reckless operation, Mark Lane's violations and speeding.
[00:06:21] Federal Data from the U.S. marshals Service shows that attacks on judges are on the rise. Between 2022 and 2025, threats to judges increased by 40%. Some of the more serious credible death threats were received by Rhode Island U.S. district Court Judge John McConnell. Chilling voicemails were left for him at his office.
[00:06:48] According to the Massachusetts Trial court, there were 359 threats made against trial court employees in the state in the past four years and 168 of them were directed at trial judges.
[00:07:03] Some of the threats included sending unsolicited pizza deliveries to a judge's home or what's called pizza doxing. The concern is pushing state legislators in Massachusetts to to come up with a bill to keep judges personal information and addresses private and away from data brokers. A federal law was passed to protect federal judges in 2022. The Daniel Andurl Judicial Security and Privacy act is named after the son of New Jersey District Judge Esther Salas. Her son was shot and killed by a disgruntled attorney at her home in 2020. The gunman found the judge's personal information online.
[00:07:49] U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Announcing he'll be requiring proof of safe data from Dunkin and Starbucks in his latest push for the Make America Healthy Again movement and scrutiny of food and beverage ingredients.
[00:08:10] The event in Texas where Kennedy spoke was hosted by MAHA Action, a political group that supports Kennedy's agenda. Earlier this month on 60 Minutes, Kennedy said the Food and Drug Administration is considering petitions to remove safety status for carbohydrates if companies cannot prove their safety and will look into a citizen petition to remove sweeteners and starches. Categorized under generally recognized as safe, the category allows certain ingredients to be exempt from pre market approval for food additives. The category has expanded since it was put in place in 1958, when it was designated mainly for ingredients with a long history of safe use like salt and vinegar, and now includes ingredients that are also common in ultra processed foods. The citizen petition proposed by pediatrician and former FDA commissioner David Kessler argues that companies should provide evidence on the safety of ingredients in food. Governor Maura Healey quickly responded to Kennedy's announcement by posting an altered version of the Texas come and take it flag with an iced Dunkin drink instead of a cannon.
[00:09:31] Jack of Business news this morning. Stocks are higher. The Dow rose 238points, the Nasdaq's up 293.3 and the S&P adding 52. European shares slipped despite some rebounds in Asia and on Wall street as Iran launched new attacks and threatened the US the dollar rose, the euro was down. Oil is up now to $77 a barrel.
[00:09:57] In sports, Celtics lose to Charlotte 118 to 89. They'll host Dallas tomorrow night at seven tonight. The Bruins are in Nashville at eight.
[00:10:09] Forecast from the National Weather Service Cloudy with rain arriving later. High 44. The rain could change to a sleet and freezing rain tonight. The low of 27 tomorrow. Mixed precipitation high of 36. Cloudy on Saturday, high 48 and Sunday partly cloudy with a high.
[00:10:32] The marine Forecast calls for 2 to 3 foot waves. Winds north at 5 to 10 knots will become northeasterly and increase 10 to 15 with gusts to 25. High tide 12:36pm sunrise 6:12 sets at 5:38. A traffic note. The Four River Bridge is scheduled to open 9:30 this morning and 9 o' clock Friday morning.
[00:10:56] I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Thursday, March 5th.
