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QUINCY Newly minted House Speaker Ron Mariano is drawing criticism for his response to questions about the COVID-19 vaccine in a recent TV interview. He replied, I have no idea. Sacchetti followed up by asking if he was looking into it at all and Mariano told her, I just got here. Sacchetti then asked if he would be looking into it and Mariano said, If it s necessary, obviously we re going to be taking a look at it. His response to a topic on nearly everyone s minds has drawn the ire of some observers. I think it s ridiculous, frankly. He s been close to power for a long time and this issue isn t new, said David Fadul, communications strategist for polling and consulting firm Poll Progressive. This doesn t convey a lot of confidence in the system when we need competence more than anything. ....
BRAINTREE Police arrested a Boston man and seized more than 330 pounds of marijuana and a handgun following an investigation at Lennox Farms apartments complex. In a press release, Braintree Police said they were doing surveillance at the complex at 550 Liberty St. which led to the arrest of Jamir Castillo, 29, of Roslindale. Castillo was arrested Tuesday and charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, unlawful possession of a large-capacity firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. Castillo was released after posting a $25,000 bail and was arraigned in Quincy District Court on Wednesday. He is expected back in court on March 17. On Tuesday, members of the Braintree Police Drug Control Unit were at the apartment complex following up on information about drug activity in the area. ....
QUINCY – Well, it s over. 2020, a year unlike any other, has come and gone. It unleashed a once-in-a-generation pandemic and the resulting economic slowdown, exacerbated by lockdowns aimed at protecting people as cases mounted. Gov. Charlie Baker and local politicians have called on the federal government for more help, which is on the way after President Donald Trump signed a second federal COVID-19 aid bill. As the death toll from COVID-19 in Massachusetts surpassed 12,000 this week and continues to climb, there is hope as the state starts to administer vaccines. The country has also been through massive political upheaval. The killing of George Floyd and other Black Americans by police has spurred a reckoning on systemic racism. The state is on the cusp of new police reforms that have worked their way through the Legislature onto Baker s desk, and diversity and inclusion are now a goal for more civic institutions. ....
BOSTON It s official. Quincy state Rep. Ron Mariano is speaker of the Massachusetts House. Mariano, 74, was elected to lead the House with 123 votes on Wednesday, Dec. 30, one day after Speaker Robert DeLeo, of Winthrop, stepped down from the role. The longtime Quincy state representative called the honor of getting the House s top job a culmination of a career in public service. It’s a true honor to be elected speaker of the House and to have earned the trust and confidence of my esteemed colleagues, Mariano, 74, said during a speech on the House floor Wednesday. And it’s not lost on me that I accept this great honor in a historic chamber that is nearly empty. ....
RANDOLPH Ten pounds of marijuana, a pound of cocaine, more than 175 grams of fentanyl and two handguns were seized by State and local police in early morning raids at two locations in Randolph and one in Fitchburg on Tuesday as part of a narcotics operation investigation, according to the Norfolk County District Attorney s office. Police also arrested two men who face a number of drug charges. Prosecutors said police executed search warrants at 12 Crawford Street and 8 Sunset Drive in Randolph and 196-198 Water Street in Fitchburg at about 5:30 a.m. In addition to the drugs, police said they found about $42,000 in cash, according to Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey. One of the handguns had a defaced serial number, according to police. ....