Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Foreign.
[00:00:16] I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Tuesday, September 15th. Here in Quincy, city leaders have voted to table discussions on its flock cameras until a later date. Quincy Police Chief Mark Kennedy said they are an important tool for the department while several residents oppose them. Kennedy said the cameras are not used to monitor law abiding citizens, but rather as an investigative tool. Flock cameras are automated license plate readers used to track vehicles. There are 50 flock cameras stationed throughout Quincy. Kennedy said over 700,000 license plates have been captured in the last few weeks, but fewer than 200 of them were investigated. The City Council plans to hold a public hearing about the use of flock cameras in the near future. Several Massachusetts communities have ended their use of the technology in recent weeks over privacy concerns and amid complaints that police officers have misused them to track people.
[00:01:25] The Quincy Public Schools have hired a new Air Force Junior ROTC teacher for North Quincy High School, meaning the program will carry on following the retirement of the previous instructor. John Moore, a master sergeant in the Air Force, has accepted the position at North. Moore succeeds Master Sergeant John D. Lorenzo, who retired in June following 18 years as the Junior ROTC instructor there. Between 130 and 170 students are enrolled in the program. Program students at both of Quincy's high schools are required to complete 30 hours of community service as part of their graduation requirements. Students must complete 10 hours in each of their first three years of high school.
[00:02:16] A public hearing will be held next week to discuss the state's plans to reduce flooding along Quincy Shore Drive. The Department of Conservation and Recreation will will hold the meeting next Wednesday, September 23rd at 6:30pm at the Central Middle School in Quincy and an online meeting will be held Next Thursday at 6:30pm the state is studying ways to reduce flooding along the roadway while maintaining the area's cultural, recreational and natural features. Public will be invited to provide comments during the meetings and comments may also be submitted to the state through October 8th.
[00:02:58] More than a thousand local children receive new backpacks and school supplies from Interfaith Social Services of Quincy, helping to ease the burden of back to school expenses for South Shore families in need. Generous individuals and corporate donors provided both backpacks and school supplies for families that utilize Interfaith's programs. Interfaith's Backpack Drive is one of several seasonal initiatives that the organization runs throughout the year designed to bring joy to children who may be growing up in difficult situations. Program aims to make sure students start out the school year prepared by providing them with the supplies they need to succeed. Zaverian Brothers High School student Michael McGrath participated in the drive for the seventh year in a row, raising funds to fill 100 backpacks with supplies over the past seven summers. McGrath asked friends and family for financial support.
[00:03:56] The teen purchased supplies and assembled the bags. He has donated more than 320 bags over the years The Quincy Christmas Festival Committee announcing that the theme contest for the Quincy Christmas Parade is now underway. The committee is seeking public nominations for the theme of the 73rd annual parade, which will be held on Sunday, November 29. The parade theme plays a significant role in float preparation for the annual event and is an important step in planning each year's parade. The contest is open to all. The winner will receive a gift and be invited to ride in a vehicle in the parade on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. All entries must be received no later than 4:30pm on Wednesday, October 7. Entry should be mailed to the Christmas festival committee at 1 Marymount Parkway, Quincy 02170.
[00:04:57] Other news today Disgraced former state trooper Michael Proctor appeared in a Dedham courtroom yesterday or he indicated he would exercise his Fifth Amendment right if questions about racist and misogynist text messages found on his cell phone. Proctor was ordered to appear for a hearing in the high profile murder trial of Miles King. King is accused in the July 2021 fatal shooting of Marquis Simmons in Milton, a case in which Proctor served as the lead homicide detective. Prominent defense attorney Rosemary Scapiccio has filed a motion to dismiss the charges against King, arguing the Proctor's racial bias tainted his investigation. Scpaccio had planned to grill Proctor on the stand regarding thousand of text messages, voicemails and personal phone data spanning more than a decade. However, the questioning never occurred after a private hearing in which Proctor stated the grounds for his Fifth Amendment claim. Proctor, who was dishonorably discharged from the state Police for misconduct revealed during Karen Reed's first trial, has faced intense scrutiny over the contents of his personal phone, which allegedly included racist and derogatory communications. Scapigio argued the case against King should have been thrown out as soon as those texts were revealed and read. Civil suit in June.
[00:06:23] After the hearing, Scapigio confirmed the defense will move forward with its effort to toss the indictment against King. She said she plans to call an expert witness on racial bias to testify about the King investigation.
[00:06:37] Prosecutors have long argued that mounting evidence shows King is responsible for the killing. The next hearing in the case is set for September 22nd.
[00:06:48] A Carver man facing hate crime and assault charges after police say he attacked a man while yelling racial slurs outside a convenience store. Kingston police responded at about 7:30 in the morning on 9-8-20 to Cumberland Farms on Main street on a report of a fight in progress. According to police, the victim, a black man, was standing near the gas pumps when 46 year old Gary Filippo began yelling racial slurs before allegedly charging at and assaulting him without provocation. The victim suffered multiple injuries, including a suspected compound fracture, police said. Witnesses corroborated the victim's account and surveillance video later obtained from the store also appears to support investigators findings. Officers identified Filippo as the primary aggressor after being taken to the police station. Filippo complained of an injury, was taken to a hospital.
[00:07:48] He disrupted the hospital's emergency department by yelling profanity, racial slurs and making sexual comments to hospital staff. Filippo is charged with a soft battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury and hate crime and disturbing the peace charges. He was ordered held on $7,500 bail after his arraignment and is set to return to court next month. Kingston police say Filippo has an extensive criminal history, including multiple charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and disturbing the peace.
[00:08:25] Drivers across Massachusetts are seeing gas prices rise sharply, with the statewide average now at 434 per gallon, according to AAA reports. The average price of a gallon of regular gas in Massachusetts is up 13 cents over the past week, more than 30 cents over the past month and more than $1.20 higher than at this time last year. Analysts point to rising oil prices as tensions continue around the Strait of Hormuz, critical shipping route for global energy supplies.
[00:09:04] Concerns over the ongoing war with Iran, now in its seventh month, have helped push fuel prices higher across the country, experts warn. The impact may extend far beyond the gas pump as colder weather approaches. Higher oil prices could drive up home heating costs this winter, particularly for New England families who rely on heating oil. Consumers may also see higher prices at grocery stores and elsewhere as most goods are transported by diesel powered trucks. Adding to those concerns, diesel prices have climbed to record levels. The average price of diesel in Massachusetts now stands at 623 per gallon, the highest on record, with no immediate signs of relief in global oil markets, drivers and homeowners alike may need to prepare for higher energy costs in the months ahead.
[00:09:57] Well, the second $25 million grand prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery's 25 million dollar mega money scratch ticket game has been claimed by the Caro Road Trust of Peabody. The trust, represented by trustee Donald McDonald, opted to receive the prize in the form of a one time payment of $16,250,000 before taxes. And while Massachusetts does not allow lottery winners to remain anonymous, winners can collect winnings through a trust in which a trustee is able to turn in the winning ticket, receive the check and deposit it into a bank account set up for the beneficiary. Trustee can be an attorney or representative of the beneficiary. The winning ticket was purchased at the 7Eleven on Franklin street in Quincy. The store will receive a $50,000 bonus for its sale of the ticket. One instant grand prize of $25 million remains unclaimed for this game.
[00:11:01] Check of business news this morning. Stocks are down. The Dow lost 152 points. The Nasdaq dropped 146. The S&P fell 37. Asian stocks are down. The dollar rose. The euro is down. Oil at $107 a barrel.
[00:11:19] Sports Red Sox are in Texas for a series with the Rangers beginning tonight at 8:05. The national weather Service forecast today sunny and a high of 68 degrees for tonight. Partly cloudy. Lows will drop tonight into the mid to upper 40s tomorrow. Mix of sun and clouds high 78. Mainly cloudy on Thursday, high of 80 degrees and sun and clouds Friday high 77.
[00:11:46] For the boater. Waves about a foot. Winds northeast at 5 to 10 knots. Become easterly later today at a high tide at 2:54pM Sunrise 6:24 sets at 6:53.
[00:11:58] I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Tuesday, September 15th.
