Lawrence mayor denies corruption allegations

Lawrence mayor denies corruption allegations

Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua says corruption allegations against him and his staff are false and that facts will show he’s innocent.

Lantigua told reporters Saturday that he hasn’t broken any laws and vowed to clear his name. Lantigua made his comments amid reports that he was a target of a federal and state corruption probe.

Two weeks ago, Lawrence police said it couldn’t find any evidence into Lantigua’s claim that he and another staffer were nearly struck by a car. Lawrence police and Lantigua have been locked in a public battle over budget cuts.

Lantigua also came under fire after being elected mayor in 2009 for initially refusing to resign his state house seat, which he later did.

Lantigua is the first Latino elected mayor in state history.

Boston nonprofits asked for voluntary payments

Boston is asking tax-exempt institutions such as hospitals, universities and cultural centers to make regular voluntary payments that some organizations say come close to a tax bill.

Many of the city’s nonprofit organizations have made so-called payments In lieu of taxes for decades. City officials have recently mailed letters to 40 major nonprofits asking for as much as 25 percent of what would be owed if their properties were not tax-exempt.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino says city officials are looking for fairness for Boston taxpayers and the nonprofits.

The new revenue-raising plan is based on the estimated cost of providing city services such as police and fire protection, snow removal and emergency medical treatment that account for about 25 percent of the city’s budget.

Mass. AG warns gas stations against price gouging

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is warning gas stations against price gouging as the cost of gasoline continues to climb.

Coakley said she understands that many factors, including major world events, have contributed to the increase in the price at the pump.

Still, Coakley said last Friday that her office will make sure no business is unfairly capitalizing on the situation.

Coakley said her office is monitoring compliance with all requirements of state law regarding the pricing of gasoline and the display of gas prices.

Coakley pointed to a provision in the law that bars any petroleum-related business from selling gasoline or other petroleum products for “an unconscionably high price” during a market emergency.

She said stations must also clearly display whether they are selling gas for a lower price during cash transactions.

Report details bullying problems in Mass. schools

A new study has found that one out of every four middle school students in Massachusetts has endured bullying at school.

The study by the state Public Health Department and released last Thursday also found that 16 percent of high school students reported being bullied.

The study of about 6,000 students in 138 public schools was conducted in 2009.

The report found a link between bullying and violence in the home. Students who said they had been involved in bullying, either as perpetrator or victim, were five times more likely to report they had been hurt physically by a family member.

State Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach tells The Boston Globe the findings will help his agency train counselors and educators to better pinpoint and deal with bullying.