News

LYNNFIELD — One month after U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton ended his failed candidacy for president, fewer than a dozen residents attended a Town Meeting he held at the Summer Street Elementary School on Saturday.

The intimate setting allowed voters to ask Moulton questions, leading to discussions about climate change, his short presidential campaign and the current government leadership. One attendee asked him about Rep. Joe Kennedy’s (D-Mass.) Saturday morning announcement to run against Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) in the 2020 Democratic Primary.

“No comment,” he said.

Two Bay State congressmen are vowing to probe how a nurse at the Bedford VA Medical Center could reportedly water down doses of morphine for a dying veteran who may have suffered in his final hours because of the drug-tampering.

“Our veterans deserve the excellent care that they have earned by their service — and this incident, even if it’s rare, is unacceptable,” U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch said. “So we’ve got to review our protocols and make sure that we’re not missing something, that we’re not leaving a veteran unnecessarily vulnerable.”

At a time when the Pentagon is preparing itself for a clash with a well-funded and equipped military power, lawmakers are warning that support for special operations deployments should not go away, and even more investment should be made in mental health care for special operations forces as well as other troops and veterans.

Director of suicide prevention organization cites lack of volunteers.

For decades, a sign on the Sagamore Bridge has counseled travelers to call the Samaritans suicide prevention organization if they are feeling desperate.

But what if no one picks up the phone?

That has been the experience of a West Barnstable woman who said she has called the two phone numbers listed for the Samaritans on Cape Cod and the Islands several times in recent weeks — only to have the phones ring multiple times and then disconnect.

SALEM — It appears Nancy Pelosi doesn’t get mad or get even.

On the heels of U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton’s failed attempted coup of the House Speaker last year, the California Democrat has named him to the powerful Conference Committee. It’s their job to negotiate the House’s version with the Senate’s proposal for more than $700 billion in defense spending.

“I was not surprised,” Moulton said. “We are professionals. There’s a time to debate and a time to play on the team. I talk to her all the time.”

Pelosi’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

When a medical emergency occurs, even with the confusion and surging adrenaline, people know just what to do: Call 911.

But for people in the midst of a mental health emergency, it’s not quite that simple. They, too, are in the middle of a crisis where time is of the essence – but instead of having an easy-to-remember three-digit number at the ready, they have to first look up who to call.

With any luck, that search will take them to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, and they’ll get the help they need. But we shouldn’t count on it.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton on Monday called the Maine Lobstermen's Association shortsighted for stepping away from the federal plan to increase protections for North Atlantic right whales, saying the defection will dull its membership's ability to influence the plan ultimately adopted by NOAA Fisheries.

SAUGUS — Public safety is heating up in Saugus.

The town will hire five new firefighters with nearly $885,000 from the state. The money comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant program.

It will allow the Saugus Fire Department to “increase firefighter presence” and decrease response time, which will allow them to better protect residents during emergencies, said Saugus Fire Chief Michael Newbury.

“Maintaining adequate staffing is absolutely critical for first responders,” said Newbury.