Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Foreign with an AM Quincy news update for Thursday, November 6th the Office of Campaign and Political Finance ordering Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch to pay $55,000 to resolve multiple campaign finance violations William Campbell, director of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, wrote a letter to the mayor saying he took thousands of dollars in illegal donations, including money from businesses and untraceable donors in 2022 and 2023, the office said. To resolve the matter, the Koch committee has made payments totaling 55,000 DOL payable to the Commonwealth and $40,000 payable to charitable entities of the committee's choice, according to an investigation. Koch's campaign committee accepted $7,750 in corporate contributions, which is in violation of Section 8 of the Campaign finance law. The letter did not specifically state which businesses gave money to the mayor's committee. The investigation also found that 6,550 DOL dollars in campaign contributions were made via money order treasurer's checks and other similar tenders. Section 9 of the Campaign finance law states that tender type contributions cannot be made in excess of a hundred dollars in a calendar year from one individual. The letter acknowledged that it's not always easy to identify the source of the donation, but once it is verified it any improper donations should be returned. The state's investigation also found that $3,091 were made via PayPal, of which Koch's committee had no contributor information.
[00:02:11] In addition to the $55,000 fine, Coke's campaign committee also agreed to implement internal accounting procedures to prevent future violations.
[00:02:22] The office says the matter is closed at this time, barring further instances of non compliance, which would then require intervention from the Attorney General's office.
[00:02:34] Two new officers joined the Quincy Police Department this week. Swearing in ceremonies were held on Monday in the Great hall at Quincy City hall for officers Stephen Petinelli and Michael Shea. Quincy Police Chief Mark Kennedy offered congratulations to the new officers and their families. Petinelli is a U.S. marine Corps veteran and was a Weymouth police officer. Shea is a Quincy resident and served as a police officer in Belmont. Kennedy also said eight more officers will be joining the department from the civil service list in the near future. The new officers will undergo field training and then academy training in December.
[00:03:18] The Federal Aviation Administration's plan to slash airline capacity due to the government shutdown could hit some of the nation's busiest airports, including in Boston as well as Atlanta, Dallas, New York City and Los Angeles, according to a proposed list provided to CBS News.
[00:03:41] Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced yesterday that 40 high volume areas will have their air traffic cut by 10% in the coming days to cope with shortages of air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid the 36 day long government shutdown. The cuts are expected to be phased in starting Friday, with airlines reaching the full 10% mark by next week, according to two sources familiar with a conversation between the FAA and the Department of Transportation. The FAA has not formally announced which airports will have their capacity cut. The source provided CBS News with a proposed list that includes scores of busy passenger airports in major cities and airline hubs, as well as airports with heavy cargo traffic including Louisville, Memphis, Anchorage and Ontario, California and an airport in Teterboro, New York that is frequented by private jets and other general aviation traffic. The list is not final and still could change as the FAA has not issued a final order formally requiring airlines to cut their capacity.
[00:04:56] A man who investigators said had ties to notorious gangster James Whitey Bulger pleaded guilty yesterday to two separate killings that took place decades ago.
[00:05:09] 65 year old Michael Lewis of South Boston pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter in the deaths of William Villani and Brian Watson. Lewis admitted killing his boss, the 46 year old Vellani, in April of 1993 inside Villani's office at the Boston Housing Authority. He also pleaded guilty to shooting 23 year old Watson in July of 1984, dumping his body off Interstate 93 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Prosecutors previously indicated that Watson's death was over a drug dealing dispute with indirect ties to Bulger. Lewis's defense attorney denies any connection to Bulger. During the hearing, the court heard emotional victim impact statements, including one from Watson's daughter, Jessica Prioli. Prioli, who was three years old when her father was killed, called Lewis a coward. Grand jury indicted Lewis on two counts of murder, but under the terms of a plea agreement he pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter. The state said that the availability of at least one key witness, a New Hampshire investigator who died earlier this year, may jeopardize a trial and first degree murder leading to the plea deal. The agreement recommends a prison sentence of two 15 year sentences that will run concurrently, meaning Lewis would be nearly 80 at the completion of the sentence. Lewis declined to address the court yesterday.
[00:06:45] Specialty license plates have been around for decades, but the latest installment that is commemorating the Massachusetts250 festivities is shattering sales records. So far, more than 29,000 people have paid for and registered the plate in just a few months. Unlike the typical Massachusetts plate, the background of the new plate is dark blue with white lettering. There is a 1776 insignia on the plate and the number 250. It will cost $60 to register and $40 for the plate. Unlike other specialty plates, there is no charity or cause aligned with the new plate.
[00:07:32] The holiday season has begun at Quincy Market. A 50 foot tree arrived in Boston yesterday from Quincy Market's longtime partner, family owned Egan Acres Tree Farm in Cadillac, Michigan. The tree was built using branches from two additional trees to get a picture perfect full shape. It'll be adorned with one mile of twinkling lights and more than 900 ornaments. The official lighting of the tree will be on November 22 from 10am to 11am between Faneuil hall and Quincy Market. Guests will also be able to enjoy complimentary hot cocoa and pastries from Bakey and take home a festive ornament from Christmas in Boston to commemorate the occasion.
[00:08:20] A check of business news this morning. Stocks rebounded yesterday. The dow was up 225, the Nasdaq rose 151 and the S&P is up 24. Shares also bounced back in Asia after Wall street got a boost from upbeat economic updates and a steady flow of quarterly reports from US Companies. The dollar fell. The Euro rose oil at just under $60 a barrel.
[00:08:48] Sports Celtics beat the Wizards 136 to 107.
[00:08:52] They'll be in Orlando tomorrow night at 7. Bruins are home tonight against Ottawa at 7. The national weather Service forecast for today the wind will gradually die down. It'll be a partly cloudy day with A high around 50 degrees for tonight, partly cloudy and cold.
[00:09:13] A low 29. Potential freeze this evening for tomorrow. Sun and clouds high 54 Saturday. Some showers in the morning and a high of 62. Some scattered showers around Sunday. High 59.
[00:09:27] The marine forecast calling for 2 foot waves. Northwest winds at 25 to 30, gusting to 40 knots at times but diminishing throughout the day. High tide 11:13am Sunrise 6:23 sets at 4:30.
[00:09:43] I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Thursday, November 6th.
