The Garden Guru - WBZ NEWSRADIO 1030

The Massachusetts Senate has approved a bill designed to ban the sale of high-calorie sodas and salty and sugary snacks in elementary and high schools. The House passed a similar bill in January. The Senate bill would require state health officials to develop nutritional standards for all food sold in public schools, including snacks and sodas sold in vending machines. The bill would also require schools to sell fresh fruits and vegetables, ban deep fried foods and require students be taught about nutrition and exercise.

Lawrence Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy

Indicted Lawrence superintendent pleads not guilty

Suspended Lawrence Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy has been released on personal recognizance after pleading not guilty at his arraignment on charges of fraud, embezzlement and possession of alcohol on school premises. Laboy appeared before a judge in Salem Superior Court, two days after an Essex County grand jury returned a nine-count indictment against him following a lengthy investigation by state and local police. Laboy was ordered to surrender his passport. Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua has called for a special meeting of the school committee Thursday to consider suspending Laboy without pay.

WBZ-TV

Two dead in Everett fire

An Everett man who ran into his burning home to save his sister has died. Wednesday night's fire on Blake Terrace is now "double-fatal" fire that investigators say was caused by carelessness. The fire broke out around 9 p.m. 80-year old Edna Power, who was disabled lived in the building with her brother, 76-year old Edward. Off-duty State Police Sgt. Michael Fiore discovered the fire and ran into the burning home to save anyone inside, but the intense flames pushed him back. The fire quickly raced to the second floor where the brother and sister lived. Edward managed to get out, but ran back in to rescue Edna, who was bedridden and relied on a wheelchair and oxygen. Investigators say it all started when a young woman carelessly tossed away a lit cigarette.

Amy Bishop following her arrest in Alabama (AP file)

Inquest of Bishop death set for April

A Massachusetts judge has set aside four days in April to conduct an inquest into the 1986 death of the brother of a university professor accused in Alabama of killing three colleagues last month, authorities announced Thursday. The inquest was ordered by Norfolk District Attorney William Keating to investigate whether Amy Bishop intentionally shot her 18-year-old brother, Seth, at their Braintree home. Quincy District Court Judge Mark Coven will preside at the inquest from April 13 through April 16, said David Traub, a spokesman for Keating.

In this image from video provided by C-SPAN, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., speaks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, Wednesday. (AP Photo/C-SPAN)

Rep. Kennedy rips media in speech - VIDEO

Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy is blasting the news media as "despicable," accusing it of ignoring the war in Afghanistan even as troops continue to die there. On Wednesday he shouted, pointed and waved his arms excitedly during a speech on the House floor about U.S. policy in Afghanistan. He chastised the media for focusing "24/7" on former Rep. Eric Massa of New York, who resigned from Congress amid sexual harassment allegations, at a time when lawmakers were debating the future of the war.

Click here to watch the speech.

William Galvin (WBZ-AM file)

Galvin: My offices will open, St. Patrick's Day or not

Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin continues to say "bah-humbug" when it comes to St. Patrick's Day. The Democrat announced Thursday all of his offices and the state Archives will be open March 17 even though many other government offices in Suffolk County will be closed for what is also known as Evacuation Day. Galvin oversees offices supervising securities and corporate activities, so he tends to keep his offices open on normal business days. That has traditionally included St. Patrick's Day.

WBZ-TV

Rescuers try to save dolphins on Cape Cod

Rescuers have been trying to save two groups of stranded white-sided dolphins on Cape Cod. The International Fund for Animal Welfare says it was notified Thursday morning of 10 dolphins stranded in a muddy area of Drummer Cove in Wellfleet. Six others stranded just south of there at Lieutenant Island, and two of those have died.

Club settles charges in boy's Uzi death

A Massachusetts sporting club has settled charges in the accidental death of an 8-year-old Connecticut boy who shot himself with an Uzi during a 2008 gun fair at the club.

Worker hurt in church ceiling collapse

A construction worker has been flown to a hospital for treatment after part of a ceiling collapsed at a church in Rockland.

CBS

Daylight savings returns this weekend

Heat up the grill and break out the badminton set: Daylight-saving time returns this weekend as we shift an hour of light from the morning to the evenings. Push your clocks ahead -- spring forward -- before going to bed Saturday night. The official change occurs at 2 a.m. Sunday, local time. Daylight-saving time ends Nov. 1., when it will be time to fall back.

Mediator to lead talks over firing of RI teachers

A mediator will lead negotiations meant to avert the mass firing of all teachers from long-troubled Central Falls High School as part of a plan to improve student performance, Superintendent Frances Gallo said Thursday.

Columbus Center development goes belly-up

The Columbus Center project had been on hold for 13 long years. Now, the plan is officially dead.

Philanthropist Ray Tye dies of cancer at age 87

One of Boston's biggest philanthropists, Ray Tye, has died.

USS Constitution's cannon tradition to continue

The USS Constitution will continue firing its cannons twice a day across Boston Harbor as it has done for more than 200 years despite the objections of well-heeled neighbors.

CBS file

State lawmakers to debate anti-bullying legislation

The Massachusetts Senate is scheduled to debate a bill designed to clamp down on school bullies. The bill would prohibit bullying at schools and discourage so-called cyberbullying by prohibiting the use of e-mails, text messages, Internet postings and other electronic means to create a hostile school environment.

Former Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, who signed a Red Sox one-day minor league baseball contract, takes questions form reporters during a news conference at City of Palms Park, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Garciaparra retires as a member of the Red Sox

Nomar Garciaparra retired as a member of the Boston Red Sox Wednesday. During a news conference with Red Sox President Larry Lucchino and general manager Theo Epstein at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, Garciaparra announced he signed a one-day minor-league deal with the Red Sox so he could retire with the team he broke in with in 1996.

FBI

FBI celebrates 'Most Wanted' anniversary

The FBI will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives program this weekend. The Top Ten program is designed to publicize particularly dangerous fugitives. It is an extremely important law enforcement tool and media involvement is crucial to its success.

Michael Riley sits in the courtroom for his trial in Brockton. (AP Photo/Greg Derr, Pool)

Father on trial in daughter's death

Opening arguments are underway in the trial of Michael Reily, the Hull father charged with killing his four-year old daughter, Rebecca. Prosecutors have been granted permission by the judge to use grizzly crime scene photos of the body of Rebecca during opening statements. The little girl died on the floor of her parents bedroom from an overdose of prescription anti-psychotic drugs. Prosecutors say Reily and his wife Carolyn routinely gave the girl more drugs than necessary in order to keep her "calm". Carolyn Reily was convicted in a separate trial earlier this year.