Mass. gets $100M in stimulus funds for clean water

Mass. gets $100M in stimulus funds for clean water

Massachusetts is set to receive $100 million in federal stimulus dollars to support clean water infrastructure projects across the state.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson made the announcement during a visit to the Deer Island wastewater treatment plant on Monday afternoon.

Officials say the money will help protect the public health, create jobs and jumpstart local economies.

U.S. Reps. Michael Capuano and William Delahunt and Lt. Gov. Tim Murray joined Jackson for the announcement.

Ex-President Clinton visits Mass. for fundraiser

WORCESTER — Former President Bill Clinton stopped by Worcester Boys and Girls Club and was greeted by dozens of young students.

Clinton came to Worcester last Friday for a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. James McGovern, a Worcester Democrat, but first stopped by to speak at the center. The former president shook dozens of hands and posed for photos with local officials, the police gang union and elementary school students.

Clinton joked that the Worcester club was much better than the one he attended as a child in rural Arkansas.

Damien Almazraawi, a 17-year-old Worcester resident, said meeting the former president was “amazing.”

Clinton was expected to raise more than $100,000 for McGovern’s re-election campaign at the fundraiser.

Family of Mass. man slain by mob gets $6.25M

A federal judge has ordered the U.S. government to pay $6.25 million to the family of a Revere nightclub owner whose death was ordered by FBI informants James “Whitey” Bulger and Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi.

Judge William Young last Thursday awarded the widow of Richard Castucci, Sandra, $3 million, two of their children $750,000 each, and two children $500,000 each. The family was awarded another $750,000 in lost income.

A judge last year found the FBI liable for the 1976 slaying.

Sandra Castucci told The Boston Globe that she was glad the ordeal was over.

Authorities say Bulger and Flemmi had Castucci killed because he told the FBI where to find two fellow gangsters. Bulger allegedly learned about Castucci from rogue FBI agent John Connolly.

Mass. hospital workers vote to unionize

Workers at a Catholic hospital in Boston have voted to join a labor union.

Employees at Caritas Carney Hospital in the city’s Dorchester neighborhood voted 299-78 to join the Service Employees International Union in a two-day election that ended last Wednesday.

Nearly 500 Carney workers, including respiratory therapists, radiology technicians, licensed practical nurses, housekeepers and dietary workers will be represented by the union.

Mike Fadel, the union’s executive vice president, says employees will now have a stronger voice at the hospital. The next step is to negotiate a contract with hospital administration.

The 159-bed Carney Hospital is part of the six-hospital Caritas Christi Health Career chain, the state’s second largest hospital chain.

Judge in Mass. rejects Armenian genocide lawsuit

A federal judge has rejected a lawsuit that challenges state Department of Education curriculum guidelines which characterize the mass slaying of Armenians during World War I as genocide.

Some say the killings of Armenians by the Turks in 1915 wasn’t genocide, but was driven by other factors, such as war.

In his ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Mark Wolf said the court had no role in the contentious debate. He said state and local boards must make most decisions on what is taught.

Attorney Arnold Rosenfeld, who represents the Armenian Assembly of America, said the ruling reaffirmed the teaching of the Armenian genocide.

But lawyer Harvey Silverglate, who filed the suit, said the curriculum was developed — without opposing viewpoints — because of political pressure, not educational merit.

(Associated Press)