NEWTON — Congressman Joseph Kennedy III will lead a party briefing to night in Newton as Democrats plan for the year ahead and 2018 elections. Party officials announced Monday morning that Kennedy will lead the party briefing with party chair Gus Bickford and said the event would “focus on the road ahead for Massachusetts Democrats in 2017 and beyond.” The 7 p.m. briefing will be held at Newton South High School Cafeteria, 140 Brandeis Road.
The federal government could go in different directions on two major issues involving states’ rights, according to a prominent local Donald Trump supporter.
In an interview that aired Sunday, Rep. Geoff Diehl of Whitman told Jon Keller of WBZ that certain undocumented immigrants in so-called sanctuary cities could face prosecution under a Trump presidency, but said the federal government might need to defer to states that have legalized marijuana.
Marijuana supporters fear that given his track record, Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trump’s nominee for attorney general, might crack down on marijuana legalization, which was extended in Massachusetts with passage in November of a ballot law legalizing the possession, sale and adult use of the drug.
“But at the same time you have to look at the world of people and if you are a Federalist, if you’re a believer in states’ rights, they may have to work in a direction that goes towards what states want,” Diehl said.
Sanctuary cities, while not a legal designation, are those where officials have put in place policies to prevent police and other officials from asking about immigration status or to use municipal resources to enforce federal immigration law. Cambridge, Somerville, Chelsea, Northampton and Springfield are among the Massachusetts communities that consider themselves part of the category.
“I think that Donald Trump made it very clear that he wants to eliminate sanctuary cities,” Diehl said. “And when (Sessions passes Senate hearings) I think they should expect that there will be a reaffirmment of the federal mandate to work with ICE and other federal law enforcement officials to prosecute or get rid off people who are here criminally with criminal backgrounds.”
STURBRIDGE — Four Lawrence men have been arrested and three roosters have been rescued after state police say a trooper heard noises from inside a car he stopped in Sturbridge.
The trooper stopped the car early Sunday on Interstate 84. Police say the trooper saw four occupants shoving something underneath the seats and noticed bags moving.
Two roosters were found in laundry bags. One was in a trash bag. State police say they had no feathers below the neck and chest area and had gouges on their breasts, legs and heads.
Authorities say the roosters had been used in a cockfight in New Jersey.
Police say they found medical tape, nail files and styptic powder, used to stop bleeding.
The suspects face charges including animal cruelty and keeping or promoting animal fight.