Weds Morning: Shapiro Forfeits Millions, O’Brien Speaks

Published December 8, 2010

I’ll be donning my face mask for the first time this season… in preparation for a bitter bike ride into work. Here’s what’s news on a cold Wednesday morning in Boston:

Boston philanthropist Carl Shapiro is giving back $625 million in Madoff money. Shapiro says he will be able to maintain his commitments to nonprofits that depend on the family’s support. (Globe)

Commissioner John O’Brien says the Probation Department report was incomplete. “He gave an investigator as many as 100 job-related thank-you notes from a broad array of elected officials and judges … but they are never mentioned in an explosive hiring scandal report.” (Herald)

Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Somerville) is criticizing President Obama’s tax-cut compromise. “It certainly seems as though the president just called the Republicans in and said, ‘What is it that you want?’ ” Capuano said. (WBUR)

Five months after he took over a failing South End school, the principal is resigning. Steve Zrike was supposed to “turn around” Blackstone Elementary School, but he has taken another job in Chicago. (South End News)

Justice Roderick Ireland could be confirmed as SJC chief justice today. Many members of the governor’s council say they will support the governor’s nomination. (WBUR)

Did I miss any big news?