Free Republic

Rev. Talbert Swan, president of the Springfield branch of the NAACP, has requested meetings with the four companies that have expressed interest in bringing a casino to the city, as well as Mayor Domenic Sarno, to discuss efforts to hire minorities and women should voters approve one of the proposals. "In a stricken economy, where communities of color are the most heavily affected, a proposal to create hundreds of permanent jobs along with many temporary construction jobs should include a plan to ensure fair participation by residents of color," Swam wrote in a letter to the four casino operators, MGM...

"The first Frostop Root Beer stand opened in Springfield, OH in 1926. The company expanded nationwide, reaching over 100 locations by 1958".-- At the time if you wanted to hang out or take your girl for a bite you went to the Frostop Drive In ! A tray on the window, big frosty glass mug of cold rootbeer and the best chili dog I ever ate... so good that I don't know what else was on the menu, I never looked. The best cars in town were there and the cutest girls.....

The Rev. Talbert W. Swan II said he and other local clergy will meet privately with Springfield Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet before a public meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Spring of Hope Church of God in Chist, 35 Alden St. "We reached out really to see what we, as clergy, can do to reduce some of the violent crime," Swan said, explaining the reason for this evening's meeting with the commissioner. Swan said the private meeting, which will begin at about 6 p.m., is a chance for religious leaders to see how they can help quell...

State police, in wake of an uptick in gun violence that has most recently taken the life of a 29-year-old city man who was shot in the head Friday during a home invasion in the Forest Park neighborhood, have agreed to step up patrols here. “I would like to see the CAT team in here more regularly so we can quell this,” Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said Sarno said he met with Commissioner William J. Fitchet Monday morning to discuss the seeking of enhanced state police support to help combat the gun violence that has taken two lives and injured...

A car accident was the reason for a power outage in Springfield's Pine Point neighborhood this afternoon. Springfield Police Lieutenant John Bobianski told 22News an SUV crashed into a utility pole at Bay and Haskins Streets around 3:30. Power was knocked out in the surrounding neighborhood. 22News was there as WMECO crews worked to restore that power and clean up the downed wires. A passenger in that SUV was taken to Baystate Medical Center with a head injury. No charges were filed.

he Urban League of Springfield has sued the city, saying when the city took it’s land and building by eminent domain the payment was “grossly unfair, totally inadequate, and does not reflect the fair market value” of the property. City Solicitor Edward M. Pikula said he has not seen the suit filed in Hampden Superior Court late last month and cannot comment. The city took the 756 State St. property by eminent domain in September 2009 and opened the Mason Square branch of the city library there in April 2011. That location had been a full service library until 2003,...

Federal prosecutors announced Thursday they have indicted Pete Seda, the head of the Ashland branch of the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, on fraud and tax charges. Seda, also known as Pirouz Sedaghaty and Abu Yunus, and another officer of the foundation, Soliman Hamd Al-Buthe, are part of a three-count indictment for illegally transporting $150,000 to Saudi Arabia. The indictment, filed in U.S. District Court in Eugene, charges them with conspiracy to defraud the United States, filing a false IRS return for a tax-exempt corporation and failure to file a report of international transportation of currency. Known locally as a peace activist,...

A 38-year-old city man lost his life on Bay Street as he walked to get cigarettes early Saturday morning, shot by a teenage gunman who had been attending a birthday party, neighbors said. Police on Saturday morning could not be reached to confirm the account. WWLP-Channel 22 reported that the victim was 38-years-old, and a 16-year-old boy had been arrested. The shooting happened in the area of 305 Bay St., next to the apartment block where the man lived, according to a neighbor. Neighbor Lila Acevedo, who lives next door to 305 Bay St., said there was a crowd of...

On the heels of her live chat with the MassLive.com readers, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren is again taking her campaign westward for events in Pittsfield, Springfield and Westfield. On Sunday, Warren, who is aiming to unseat Republican U.S. Senator Scott Brown, will visit Pittsfield in Berkshire County to engage voters in a conversation about the issues that are in the spotlight this election season. Billed as an ice cream social, the gathering will take place at the campaign headquarters she shares with Democratic U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who is running to represent the newly drawn 1st Congressional District...

The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts on Thursday filed a request for records from several police departments, including Springfield, to determine if the use of automatic license plate readers goes too far and could infringe on rights to privacy. Police Sgt. John M. Delaney, aide to Commissioner William J. Fitchet, said there is just one license plate reader used by the department to detect stolen cars and unregistered cars, with no ill intent. “It’s not ‘big brother,’” Delaney said. “We don’t use it to monitor anybody’s movement. It is only used for law enforcement, stolen cars and other investigations.”...

With more than 130 in attendance and about a dozen onlookers on scene hoping to catch a glimpse of America's first lady, Michelle Obama delivered a stump speech aimed at energizing the local Democratic base as she campaigned for her husband's re-election efforts. Among the attendees joining Obama for lunch in the MassMutual Room of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield on Friday were NBA player Grant Hill, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, State Auditor Suzanne Bump, Congressman Richard Neal, D-Springfield, the recently retired former state Rep. Raymond Jordan, and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno....

......The Romney campaign paid its bill last week, about a month after the city sent its invoice. The Obama bill, on the other hand, was sent in May and has not been paid. City spokeswoman Tara Finnigan said the city's billing system would be sending past-due notices. About three weeks ago, the Democratic National Committee contacted the city and told officials to deal with the Secret Service. The DNC and the Republican National Committee split their Newport Beach event proceeds with the respective campaigns. ...... Councilwoman Leslie Daigle, a Republican, said, "It's the city's intention to apply its usual policies...

The city of Newport Beach, California says it may seek out the assistance of a collection agency to retrieve $35,000 the Obama campaign owes the city for providing police protection during a February, 2012 fund-raising event. The bill was sent in May and was due in June. The city recently emailed the campaign a reminder. The DNC told the city about three weeks ago to deal with the Secret Service. However, [Secret Service] agency spokesman Max Milien [said] that it won't pay. Councilwoman Leslie Daigle says the city intends to apply its usual policies and send the bill to collections....

The Romney team today confirmed grass-roots reports that a campaign bus was sabotaged by an unknown vandal over the weekend. The bus, which was being used for campaign events but not transporting Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, was parked in Richmond, Va., when the vehicle was tampered with late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. A Romney campaign official told PJM that the alternator belt was cut. Repairs were under way Monday to get the bus back on the road for a voter registration event in Springfield, Va., from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Springfield Metro Commuter Lot....

A report of shots fired in the Bay neighborhood early Monday afternoon led to the arrest of three city men and the seizure of a handgun that had been reported stolen in Amherst over three years ago. All three suspects were ordered held in lieu of $25,000 cash bail following their arraignments in District Court. Police, alerted by the city’s ShotSpotter audio surveillance system and 911 callers, responded to the area of Girard and Hayden avenues shortly after 1:15 p.m., according to a release issued by Commissioner William J. Fitchet’s office. An anonymous tipster told police that a black SUV...

U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren passionately defended her Native American heritage, after reaching Springfield by train today for the state Democratic Convention on Saturday. About 5,000 delegates on Saturday are expected to vote to endorse Warren as the Democratic pick for Senate to face Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown in November. The endorsement could give her some momentum for the months before the general election. "My mother and father fell in love," Warren, 63, told reporters after disembarking from a train with dozens of supporters at the train station and then rallying backers with a stump speech at Stearns Square...

Springfield Police officer Kevin Ambrose was shot and killed responding to a domestic dispute Monday afternoon at the Lawton Arms apartment complex in the Sixteen Acres neighborhood. An officer's death was confirmed by Sgt. John Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William Fitchet. The flag at police headquarters on Pearl Street was lowered to half staff. An email sent from City Hall notifying city councilors and media that a City Council Casino Site Committee meeting had been canceled "Due to the death of Police Officer Kevin Ambrose." Springfield City Council President James J. Ferrera III said the regular council meeting Monday...

‘Thousands of dollars” in state grants awarded to bolster health care in minority communities instead went to pay campaign workers for former state Sen. Rickey Hendon and Democratic candidates Hendon supported, a Chicago nurse has told investigators. The nurse, Tonja Cook, 44, detailed her allegations in four interviews with state and federal authorities between October 2010 and May 2011, records show. In June 2011, federal prosecutors in Springfield charged Cook and another Chicago nurse, Margaret A. Davis, with siphoning $500,000 from state grant funds for Davis’ “personal use.” Hendon, 58, a West Side Democrat who unexpectedly retired from the Senate...

The School Department’s new policy on making condoms available to students ages 12 or over will be subject to discussion at a public hearing Wednesday at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The event, scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., will be held in the Mass Mutual Gallery Room, 1150 West Columbus Ave. Azell Cavaan, school spokeswoman, said all parents with children in the city’s public school system are invited to attend. The event is being held to “get input from people on how the policy will be implemented,” Cavaan said. The event is being co-sponsored by the...

The ragged-looking grass growing up around the veterans’ monument in the center of Avalon Park was getting on Ron Davis’ nerves. That’s why on Friday Davis, who lives across from the park on Revere Street with his wife Barbara, paid a contractor $175 from his own pocket to cut the grass in time for Memorial Day. “I’m not angry at the city,” Davis said. “I just got sick of looking at it.” Patrick J. Sullivan, director of Springfield parks, buildings and recreation management, said he’s also sick of looking at unkempt parks. But budget constraints have forced him to prioritize....