The Garden Guru - WBZ NEWSRADIO 1030

Gov. Deval Patrick declared a state of emergency on Monday as three days of relentless rain closed roads and stranded motorists in Massachusetts, spilled rivers and streams over their banks and forced the controlled release of untreated wastewater into Boston Harbor. Some communities reported 8-10 inches of rain and wind gusts up to 50 mph from the nor'easter that began on Saturday and was not expected to wind down until late Monday. Patrick made the emergency declaration after touring Waltham, one of the communities hit by flooding. The governor said state officials were surprised by the storm's persistence. The governor said there were no reports of deaths or serious injuries, and it was too early to assess the financial damage.

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Nor'easter - March 2010

A tenacious storm hangs over Massachusetts, pouring rain on the state, flooding roads and basements, forcing school closures and threatening to overwhelm drainage systems.

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Nor'easter clean-up tips

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director offers these tips for residents after the nor'easter of March 2010. If you have been evacuated, listen to the media and your local Public Safety officials. Do not return home until authorities indicate that it is safe to do so.

WBZ-TV file

Ed chief won't compromise state academic standards

The state's education secretary says Massachusetts will not adopt new national academic standards if those federal benchmarks are found to be below the state's already established standards. Education Secretary Paul Reville tells The Boston Globe the standards are moving closer to Massachusetts' levels, but still need to be strengthened in some areas.

Erica Blizzard in Belknap County Superior Court in Laconia last Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

Pilot in NH fatal boat crash thought she had depth

A New Hampshire woman charged with drunkenly piloting her speedboat into a ledge in Lake Winnepesaukee and killing her friend while injuring herself and a passenger says she thought the boat was in 70 feet of water. But 36-year-old Erica Blizzard told a jury in Laconia on Monday that there was poor visibility and she couldn't see beyond the bow prior to the 2:20 a.m. crash.

AP Photo/Boston Scientific

Analyst: Boston Scientific suspends device sales

An analyst says Boston Scientific has suspended all sales of its implantable cardioverter defibrillators after finding a documentation error in regulatory filings. Bernstein senior analyst Derrick Sung says in a research note the error puts the Natick medical device maker's devices out of compliance with Food and Drug Administration regulations.

CBS

Suspect in old Gloucester slaying faces judge

A suspect arrested in connection with the slaying of funeral home worker in Gloucester more than 33 years ago is facing arraignment. Kevin Ireland is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Gloucester District Court. Ireland and another man were identified as suspects in the 1976 death of 65-year-old Eleanor Wadsworth.

Conor Reynolds, a student at Cathedral High School in Springfield. (AP Photo/The Republican)

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.

Toyota casts doubt on Prius case

Toyota cast doubt Monday on a California man's claim that his Prius sped out of control, saying the report is inconsistent with the findings of the company's preliminary investigation. Toyota said in a statement that the accelerator pedal was tested and found to be working normally and a backup safety system worked properly.

Governors seek wind energy boost

A coalition representing governors of 29 states is urging the federal government to take steps to boost wind energy, such as a renewable energy standard requiring utilities to produce at least 10 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2012.

Defense of Evacuation Day holiday draws rebuttals

There were jokes galore at the annual St. Patrick's Day political roast in South Boston. There also was a defense of the special holiday some government workers will enjoy while many private sector employees continue to labor.

(AP Photo/Lisa Poole)

Gas prices up another 2 cents

Gasoline prices in Massachusetts inched up another two cents in the past week, and have now risen seven cents in the past month. AAA Southern New England reports Monday that self-serve, regular gasoline is averaging $2.70 per gallon. That is nine cents below the national average, but 84 cents above the cost at the same time last year.

Maple trees are tapped for syrup alongside tombstones at Ledgeville Cemetery in Petersham. (AP Photo/The Telegram

Tapping of cemetery maple trees under fire

Maple syrup producers are being criticized for tapping maple trees in Central Massachusetts cemeteries. The Worcester Telegram reports Monday that at least two cemeteries in Lancaster and one in Petersham have sap buckets on trees that stand along side rows of tombstones.

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.