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A flood watch remained in effect for much of Massachusetts as a wind-whipped storm moved through the area, dumping several inches of rain.The annual St. Patrick's Day parade in Boston went on as scheduled despite the poor weather, which brought wind gusts near 60 mph late Saturday and early Sunday.

Politicians turn out for annual roast/breakfast

Springfield teen stabbed to death at local restaurant

Springfield police say a local high school soccer player has been killed at a city restaurant where more than 200 teens had gathered for a birthday party. Police say 17-year-old Conor Reynolds, a senior at Cathedral High School in Springfield, died after being stabbed in the neck late Saturday. Another student was stabbed in the arm.

MA job program creates fewer spots than promised

Hundreds of companies that have received tax breaks under a Massachusetts job-creation incentive program created far fewer spots than promised and some even cut positions, according to a review of state records.

UMass & Amherst camp fight childhood obesity

The University of Massachusetts and an Amherst weight-loss camp for children have teamed up to fight childhood obesity.
The UMass Psychological Services Center created the Connections Program with Camp Kingsmont to help focus on emotional, social and behavioral aspects of problem eating.

NH House to weigh in on state drink

Apples are getting some competition from cows over what New Hampshire's state drink should be - cider or milk. The House will weigh in this week when it votes on a bill designating apple cider as the state drink. A lawmaker introduced the bill after Jaffrey Grade School students contacted her. Later, Gilford Elementary School students lobbied for milk.

Activist's service draws admirers

Hundreds of admirers of activist Doris "Granny D" Haddock turned outfor her memorial service in New Hampshire. About 250 people turned out at the Dublin Community Church for the service Sunday afternoon. Guests included federal, state and local officials.

Ex-federal official facing immigration charges

A former top Homeland Security official from Boston is set to go on trial for allegedly encouraging her housekeeper to remain in the United States illegally.

'Madness' about to hit Providence

March Madness is about to descend on the city of Providence.
Providence will be hosting first and second round games of the NCAA men's basketball tournament on Thursday and Saturday at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Nor'easter hits New England

The heavy rains and high winds expected throughout the weekend in southern New England are already having an effect.
Police in Darien, Conn., reported late afternoon Saturday that more than 50 trees had fallen in town, taking down power lines and closing roads. Connecticut Light & Power says 31,000 customers are without power in an area encompassing Greenwich, Stamford and Norwalk.

Vigil in Boston for European victims of clergy sex abuse

Protesters in Boston called for a government investigation of clergy sex abuse claims nationwide, saying revelations concerning the Pope show the Catholic church will never reform itself. About 30 people held vigil Saturday in downtown Boston, one of several cities nationwide where protesters expressed solidarity with European abuse victims.

Bad weather in NY diverts air traffic to Boston

Bad weather in New York is diverting air traffic to Boston. Logan International Airport was hosting extra international aircraft Saturday as heavy rain and high winds created delays at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Massport spokesman Matthew Brelis says nine overseas flights had to stop in Boston because they no longer had the fuel to wait for clearance into Kennedy.

Data Breach

There's a new law in effect in Massachusetts aimed at cutting down the number of people exposed to identity theft. The new regulations require companies to encrypt personal data that is stored in laptops or sent over the internet. Still, the Boston Globe reports that data breaches remain a big problem.

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Bad Idea

Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas says he's against a proposal to allow up to five dispensaries to be set up around the state for medical marijuana. Douglas won't say if he'll veto the legislation if it reaches his desk. But he says Vermont is already at odds with the federal government in allowing some medical patients to use the drug, and he says the state shouldn't push the issue further.

Murder For HIre

Two men who were the star witnesses in a millionaire businessman's murder-for-hire trial have been sentenced for their roles in the killing of a Derry, N.H., handyman. Michael Benton of Manchester and Joseph Vrooman of Las Vegas were hired by John "Jay" Brooks to help lure Jack Reid to his death in 2005.

Sen. Scott Brown (MA)

Republicans Warn Against Passing Health Care Bill

Newly arrived Republican Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts accused President Barack Obama and Democrats on Saturday of a "bitter, destructive and endless" drive to pass health overhaul legislation that Brown warned would be disastrous. "An entire year has gone to waste," Brown said in the weekly GOP radio and Internet address.

Senate President Therese Murray

Senate president floats idea of Mass.-owned bank

Senate President Therese Murray is floating the idea of a state-owned bank to spur job creation and free up lending to Massachusetts businesses. Murray told the business group Associated Industries of Massachusetts on Friday that a state-owned bank has worked in North Dakota, helping insulate that state from the worst of the recession, while also keeping its foreclosure rate down.

Senate President Therese Murray

MA Senate president Murray headed to White House

Senate President Therese Murray has a date at the White House. The Plymouth Democrat was invited to the Executive Mansion on Wednesday evening to commemorate St. Patrick's Day with President Barack Obama and Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen. Aides say Murray has not been invited before, though she is active in Irish-American affairs.

WBZ-AM file

Tax changes proposed to boost business, create jobs

The Massachusetts Senate will consider a series of corporate tax policy changes aimed at helping grow small businesses and spawn new companies. Senate President Therese Murray announced the proposed changes Friday at an Associated Industries of Massachusetts breakfast in Waltham. Murray describes the proposals as a way “to create a more favorable and stable business tax climate.” She descirbed the proposals as “relatively low cost” , but didn't give any estimates. Murray cited a study showing that between 1990 and 2007, the number of firms in Massachusetts increased 67 percent, but the average firm size shrunk almost 40 percent. In 1990, the average firm in the state employed approximately 17 people; by 2007, the average firm size here was almost 10 people.

Cities and towns face local aid cut up to 4 percent

Legislative budget leaders say Massachusetts cities and towns should expect a cut in state aid next year, but it won't be more than 4 percent. In a joint statement Friday, Senate Ways and Means Chairman Steven Panagiotakos and his House counterpart, Rep. Charles Murphy, said state education funding will also be held at so-called "foundation" levels. Gov. Deval Patrick drafted a budget that avoided cuts to state funding for schools and municipal services such as police and fire.

CBS

Senate approves anti-bullying legislation

The Massachusetts Senate has unanimously approved 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.

(Photo: David G. Curran, SatelliteNewsService.com)

Rescuers back to try and free dolphins on Cape Cod

Rescue teams have reached another of the white-sided dolphins that became stuck in the mud off Cape Cod. A spokesman for the International Fund for Animal Welfare says it's too early to know if the animal -- one of 16 that stranded in two locations in Wellfleet on Thursday - will survive. Four of the original 16 have died and three are unaccounted for. Six others that were rescued were taken to Provincetown and released back into the ocean. IFAW spokesman Chris Cutter says hip-deep mud he compared to quicksand had been preventing rescuers from reaching the remaining dolphins, but Friday morning's high tide has helped those efforts.

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.

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.