NANTUCKET — The federal government says there is a large aggregation of an endangered species of whale south of Nantucket, and mariners should avoid it for the safety of the animals.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the group of 100 North Atlantic right whales was seen in the area in mid-January. It’s asking mariners to route around the area or transit through at 10 knots or less. The management area is in effect until Wednesday.
The group of whales represents nearly a quarter of the worldwide population of the animals. The whales were decimated by hunting during the whaling era. They have also suffered heavy mortality and poor reproduction in recent years.
NOAA says the whales are on the move on the Atlantic coast and mariners should be mindful of them.
BOSTON — An abundance of wild turkeys in Massachusetts might be a boon for hunters.
The Boston Globe reports that state wildlife officials have scheduled two informational meetings next month on a proposed increase on limits for turkey hunting.
MassWildlife says possible changes include increasing the annual limit on the number of turkeys from two to three birds per hunter.
The agency says increasing the limit will not affect the abundance of turkeys in the state.
The proposal would also expand the archery hunting season for turkeys so it coincides with the archery hunting season for deer.
ATTLEBORO — A woman who drained $40,000 from the bank account of a 64-year-old man she was caring for has been sent to jail.
Thirty-five-year-old Crystal Allison was sentenced to serve 60 days in jail last week. The Sun Chronicle reports she previously pleaded guilty to larceny and will serve two months in jail for a one-year sentence.
She will also pay about $2,400 in restitution. The victim, an Attleboro man, has since died.
Court documents say Allison had known the victim since she was 16.
She was arrested in March after police obtained surveillance photos from a Citizens Bank branch linking her to the missing funds. The bank had reimbursed the man’s account, and can also file suit to recoup its loss.
BOSTON — A federal prosecutor says a drug company founder was driven by greed to bribe doctors around the country to prescribe a highly addictive fentanyl spray.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lazarus told jurors as the trial opened in Boston’s federal court on Monday that John Kapoor turned Insys Therapeutics Inc. into a “criminal enterprise” to line his pockets and protect his legacy.
Kapoor’s lawyer told jurors that the 75-year-old did nothing illegal.
Attorney Beth Wilkinson said Kapoor watched his wife suffer with breast cancer and was determined to help others dealing with excruciating pain. Wilkinson also sought to portray two former Insys executives who are expected to testify against Kapoor as liars.
From Associated Press