BOSTON — The federal government is asking mariners to route around an area east of Boston because of the presence of rare whales.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says North Atlantic right whales were spotted in or near shipping lanes in the area, and it’s asking mariners to avoid it until May 5. The agency says a group of 11 right whales was seen in the area on April 19.
The right whales number about 411. Rules that protect the whales could be expanded soon. The Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team is holding a meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, from Tuesday to Friday on the subject. NOAA created the team to reduce injuries and deaths that whales suffer due to entanglement in fishing gear.
GLOUCESTER — A man charged with picking up a woman he had been arguing with and carrying her into the path of an approaching dump truck has been held without bail.
Michael Baker was also ordered at his arraignment Monday to undergo a mental health evaluation.
He pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Police say the 40-year-old Baker, who has addresses in Beverly and Ipswich, and the woman had been arguing late Friday morning over the custody of a 7-year-old girl.
They say he grabbed the woman and carried her into a Gloucester street, where they were struck. Both were taken to the hospital and survived.
WORCESTER — A man who helped run a sophisticated illegal sports gambling operation has avoided prison and been sentenced to two years of probation.
Anthony Seariac was ordered to spend the first six months in home confinement, forfeit $92,000 to the government, and was fined $10,000.
Prosecutors say the 38-year-old Holden man, a self-employed carpenter and hockey coach, worked as an agent in a gambling operation and had several people under him, recruiting bettors, collecting money and delivering winnings.
He also controlled a “master administrative account” with an offshore betting website that was used to place and track bets.
He pleaded guilty in January to running an illegal gambling business.
He was spared prison time in part because there was no evidence of extortion, violence or threats used in the operation.
JAMESTOWN, R.I. — State officials say drivers crossing Rhode Island’s Newport Pell Bridge have racked up $9.6 million in unpaid tolls, fees and fines in the last six years, and there is often little the state Turnpike and Bridge Authority can do to go after them.
Authority Executive Director Buddy Croft tells WPRI-TV that only about $1.4 million of that total us unpaid tolls.
In the case of in-state drivers, the authority can ask the Department of Motor Vehicles to freeze license and motor vehicle registration renewals when a driver goes over the bridge 20 times or more without paying. But it takes 100 free rides before the agency can take them to court.
The agency, because of an agreement with Massachusetts authorities, can only go after Bay State drivers for unpaid tolls.
From Associated Press