BOSTON — Supporters of a proposed tax on Massachusetts’ highest earners are again making their case before lawmakers.
A legislative committee on Thursday heard testimony on the so-called “millionaire tax,” a constitutional amendment that calls for a 4 percent surtax on any portion of an individual’s annual income that exceeds $1 million. The estimated $2 billion raised by the tax would be earmarked for education and transportation.
The Supreme Judicial Court disqualified a similar proposal from the state ballot last year. Backers are employing a different legislative procedure that they expect will circumvent the court’s objections.
LAWRENCE — The utility company blamed for natural gas explosions and fires in Massachusetts’ Merrimack Valley last September is resuming efforts to replace heating equipment damaged in homes and businesses.
Mark Kempic, chief operating officer for Columbia Gas, said Thursday the company began to install new boilers and hot water heaters for about 900 customers in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover this week.
The customers had received repairs that allowed the company to restore natural gas service over the winter. Most other customers — roughly 7,000 — received new heating equipment last year.
MARLBOROUGH — Two people police say twice robbed the home of a disabled Vietnam veteran while he was hospitalized after being burned in a fire have pleaded not guilty and been released on $1,000 bail.
Marlborough police say 35-year-old Joseph Migliaccio and 31-year-old Sarah Hampton, both of Sudbury, were arrested Wednesday and charged with breaking and entering and larceny in connection with burglaries last weekend at 68-year-old Gene Rano’s home. They were arraigned Thursday.
Rano’s son caught two people on security video breaking into the home and removing valuables.
Rano, who uses a wheelchair, was severely burned April 2 while burning brush in his yard.
Police say the suspects were acquainted with Rano and knew he wasn’t home.
Migliaccio said he and Hampton are Rano’s friends and had permission to remove the items.
WORCESTER — A Massachusetts woman who suffered severe injuries in a crash on Interstate 290 in Marlborough several years ago has been awarded $8.6 million in a lawsuit.
The suit said Paula Appleton, also known as Paula Sweet, was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her future husband on Jan. 29, 2015 when traffic began to slow. Their vehicle was struck from behind by a pickup truck that was traveling 63 mph and did not slow down, pushing them into the rear of a tractor-trailer.
The Worcester woman, who was wearing a seat belt, suffered life-threatening injuries that left her with chronic pain.
From Associated Press