The Garden Guru - WBZ NEWSRADIO 1030

President Barack Obama put off the start of a scheduled Asian trip on Friday as the White House and senior Democrats reached for agreement on long-stalled health care legislation they hope to push through Congress within days. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is voicing fresh confidence there are enough votes to pass sweeping health care legislation, saying lawmakers are "one day closer" to a historic achievement. Summing up intense work to get the measure through Congress, Pelosi told reporters on Capitol Hill she felt "very exhilarated" by the tone of conversation in a caucus of Democrats Friday morning. She said, "We stand ready to stay as long as necessary" to finish the bill, which has been heavily debated for well over a year.

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.

CT. AG investigating Toyota problems

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal says he's investigating Toyota's response to vehicle accelerator problems after three Camry crashes in Connecticut this week.

NFL's Goodell to speak at UMass-Lowell graduation

National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell is scheduled to deliver the address at the University of Massachusetts Lowell's commencement.

Baby death suspect held without bail

A Massachusetts man accused of killing a 15-month old boy in Bangor, Maine, will remain jailed indefinitely while awaiting trial.

VT says "no" to plan to dump dioxins at landfill

The state of Vermont is rejecting a plan by the Environmental Protection Agency to dispose of 33,000 tons of hazardous soil from Massachusetts at a Moretown landfill.

Lynn restaurant shooter pleads not guilty

The New Hampshire man accused of opening fire with an AK-47 assault rifle at a Lynn restaurant after a worker refused to serve him a beer has been ordered held without bail.

NH student critical after electric class accident

An 18-year-old New Hampshire high school student remains hospitalized in critical condition after suffering an electrical shock in class.

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.

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.

Panel rejects effort to trim film tax break

A key legislative committee has unanimously rejected a bill that would have drastically cut the state's tax credit for the film industry. The Revenue Committee voted 8-0 on Thursday to reject a bill introduced by state Rep. Steven D'Amico that would have cut the credit to a maximum of $7 million per movie. Gov. Deval Patrick 's proposal to cut the tax credit to $50 million per year for the next two years was not acted upon.

AP file

Greenway developments delayed again

Another setback for the Rose Kennedy Greenway, the open space above the Big Dig that replaced the old Central Artery. The Boston Globe reports the organization, New Center for Arts and Culture has folded it's plan to build an 80-million dollar performance center adjacent to Rowe's Wharf. The center had raised only about a quarter of what it needed.

Wilfredo Laboy (WBZ-TV file)

Indicted Lawrence superintendant suspended without pay

Calling it a dark day for the city of Lawrence, the School Committee Thursday night voted to suspend indicted superintendant Wilfredo Laboy without pay and begin termination proceedings. The panel unanimously approved sending Laboy a notice they intend to fire him. Under his contract, Laboy has ten days to request a hearing to fight the planned dismissal. The panel decided to hold a public hearing on the matter starting March 23 and lasting through March 27. At the end of the hearing process, it will take a final vote on whether to fire Laboy, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud, embezzlement and possession of alcohol on school grounds.

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.

(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.

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.

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.

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.

Senate approves school nutrition bill

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.

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.