WBZ NEWSRADIO 1030 - The Garden Guru

Preparing for the Fourth
The stage is set at the Hatch Shell along the Charles River for Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart and Neil Diamond for the big Fourth of July concert.

Keith Lockhart talks with WBZ's Laurie Kirby:

Celebrate the Fourth of July with WBZ!
WBZ NewsRadio 1030 will once again broadcast the July 4th concert on the Esplanade along the banks of the Charles River.

Things you should know before heading to the Hub on the Fourth
The City of Boston is strongly urging people traveling to the Esplanade on the Fourth of July, to take the MBTA. The T will offer increased bus, rail and subway service, and starting at 10:30 pm., no fares will be collected.

Dimitri Long in court Thursday. (WBZ-TV)

Prosecutors: MA bank rob suspects followed
Prosecutors say two men arrested after a bank heist in Needham had been under surveillance by law enforcement authorities and was followed to the bank by police. Thirty-two-year-old Dimitri Long and 44-year-old Michael Coty were each ordered held on $250,000 bail following their arraignments on several charges in Dedham District Court Thursday. Investigators say the men may be linked to the so-called "U30" bank heists. Seven banks in eastern Massachusetts have been robbed this year by a man dubbed the "U30 Bandit" because he was in and out of the banks in less than 30 seconds. Long was arrested as he left the Sovereign Bank branch Wednesday. Police said Coty drove off but was later captured in Newton.

Lightning kills man on Cape, damages 195-year-old church in Medway
Lightning killed a man on Cape Cod while another survived a lightning strike in Upton and firefighters saved a 195-year-old church in Medway after lightning hit its steeple during the heavy rains of Wednesday and Thursday, authorities said. Police in Orleans identified the victim there as Christopher West, 42, of Eastham.

Judge queries feds' photo releases in Boston cases
A federal judge has ordered prosecutors to produce affidavits explaining why photographs were released and any news conferences held following the arrests of two Boston politicians on corruption charges. Judge Douglas Woodlock said Thursday at a pretrial that he wants to evaluate whether prosecutors tried to "gin things up" among the public following the arrests last year of former Sen. Dianne Wilkerson and Boston city councilor Chuck Turner.

Poll shows NH governor's high approval rating slips
A new poll shows New Hampshire Governor John Lynch losing some of the broad support he's enjoyed for most of this time in office.

MA judge to rule on defense motion in Kissel case
A judge is expected to rule Monday on whether lawyers for a Massachusetts man charged in the killing of Greenwich real estate mogul Andrew Kissel can present evidence implicating Kissel's ex-wife.

Pope OKs MA man's miracle to beatify UK Cardinal
Pope Benedict XVI placed Cardinal John Henry Newman, an influential 19th century Anglican convert, on the path to possible sainthood Friday by approving a miracle in Massachusetts attributed to his intercession. Newman, a hero to many Anglicans and Roman Catholics alike, can now be beatified.

MA teen arrested in slaying of young mother
A New Bedford teen has been arrested for allegedly killing a young mother in a shooting outside his home.
Seventeen-year-old Erick Cournoyer was arrested on Thursday and is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.
Cournoyer is charged with killing 18-year-old Bianca Maria Rosado on Wednesday night and wounding her boyfriend, 17-year-old Victor Camacho.
Camacho was in stable condition at a local

One person hurt after elderly driver crashes into liquor store
An 83 year old woman crashed her Mustang convertible through the front of Fannon's Liquors in Natick just before 11:00 this morning. Authorities say it appears the woman drove into the parking lot then apparently hit the accelerator, slamming into the store.

John Henry's wedding causes a stir
The owner of the Boston Red Sox got hitched last weekend, and everybody knew about it. John Henry's guest list included 400 names, many of them high-profile. Transportation commissioner Tom Timlin said that's exactly why they blocked off streets around Fenway Park.

Turnpike insiders get a free ride
Hundreds of Massachusetts Turnpike employees and former employees are traveling the Pike using so-called "non revenue" Fastlane transponders.

Mass. to seek powers to take over failing schools
Gov. Deval Patrick is preparing to seek legislative approval to take over failing schools and waive parts of teacher contracts considered as undermining efforts to improve performance.

Continuing Coverage: Michael Jackson
The latest developments on the death of pop music icon Michael Jackson, including his funeral and ongoing reaction to his will. Information is updated throughout the day and listen to WBZ Newsradio 1030 for more developments.
Click here for a photo gallery of Michael Jackson

WBZ-TV

Elderly driver in fatal crash had been re-cleared
An elderly driver involved in a fatal crash had previously lost his license and then been recertified, suggesting legislative proposals to require increased reviews for older operators may not be a panacea.Registry of Motor Vehicles records released Wednesday show 83-year-old Joseph Casey of Malden had his license revoked after a surchargable accident in February 2004. It was reinstated in September 2004 after he participated in a driver retraining program, did road work with a certified driving instructor and received medical clearance.

AP file

Boston Navy Week activities
The USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship afloat, will take center stage as Boston prepares to celebrate its 5th Annual Navy Week and 28th Annual Harborfest celebrations, June 30 through July 5. Each year, the Navy selects cities across America to thank its citizens for their support of the world’s finest maritime force. Boston is one of 22 cities that have been selected to host a Navy Week again this year.

AP file

List of July 4th events in Massachusetts - LINK
Strained budgets have prompted some Massachusetts communities to cancel or rejigger their fireworks schedule, so Secretary of State William Galvin has compiled a list of activities. The state's chief historical officer announced Monday that information about fireworks displays, parades, concerts and other activities can be found at his Web site. Click here.

Michael Jackson - Album Art
The music of Michael from Thriller to Invincible

Michael Jackson in 2007 (AP)

Michael Jackson was much more than the King of Pop - SOUNDOFF
When Michael Jackson anointed himself "King of Pop" over two decades ago, there was considerable rumbling about his hubris: Yes, he may have become a world sensation with record-setting sales of "Thriller," and yes, he may have had a string of No. 1 hits with smashes like "Billie Jean" and "Beat It," but the KING OF ALL POP MUSIC? Surely, in a modern music history that has given us Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Stevie Wonder and so many other greats, that title was more than a bit inflated.

Michael Jackson - Memorial in Hollywood
The scene surrounding Michael Jackson's Star on Hollywood Blvd.

SWINE FLU INFORMATION FROM THE C.D.C.
Updated information on news, advisories, warnings, statistics on swine flu and what you should know.