Monday Morning: Making Sense Of It All

Published January 10, 2011

Good morning. It’s hard to talk about anything other than what happened in Tucson this weekend.

On Point is devoting both hours of the show today to the shooting. WBUR’s Tom Ashbrook writes:

This is the river’s edge. We’ve got to pull back. Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford’s shooter was 22. That means he grew up in America’s years of trash talk – of increasingly rash, intolerant, hate-filled talk. Years of framing disagreement as Armageddon and opponents as traitors. This has to stop.

The Herald’s Joe Fitzgerald said “we’ve created a monster” as he remembers RFK’s assassination.

Morning Edition spoke with Rep. Michael Capuano, who said he has received physical threats before but none that he took seriously. Capuano also said the aggressive rhetoric has gotten out of hand. I’ll post the link as soon as the story is up.

In other news, we’re expecting another big winter storm on Wednesday. The French Toast Alert is Elevated.

Sudanese ex-pats voted in the historic secession referendum yesterday in Arlington.

The driver of an SUV who struck and injured a six-year-old girl from Allston — and then fled the scene Saturday — is still at large. The girl suffered a broken neck; she is in serious condition at Children’s Hospital. Police are looking for a silver Jeep Cherokee with front-end damage.

The T is (finally) cracking down on parking scofflaws.

And on the lighter side…

T riders went pants-free yesterday. There’s video.

Comedian Rachel Dratch says 2010 was an active year for the Boston accent.

Giffords’ Mass. Colleagues React To Shooting

Published January 8, 2011

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.)

Gabrielle Giffords

WBUR has been following the shooting in Tucson, Ariz., that critically injured Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and left six others dead, including a federal judge and a nine-year-old girl.

Support for Giffords is pouring in from her colleagues and other politicians around Massachusetts.

Rep. Ed Markey:

Today’s news of the shooting of my colleague Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, members of her staff and her constituents is shocking and horrifying, and my deepest condolences go out to the families of those who lost their lives today in such a senseless and tragic event. Gabby is a true Congressional Superstar – savvy, sharp, sincere and as sunny as the state she heralds from. Gabby was doing today what she loved best, and what all of us in Congress consider a great responsibility and a true honor – to meet with and listen to our constituents. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family, and with all of those wounded today in the hopes for a full and speedy recovery.

Rep. John Tierney:

This is a terrible, personal tragedy and our hearts ache for Gabbie, her family, and her staff. Gabbie is a good person first, and a smart and honorable Member of Congress as well. This type of incident cannot be condoned if our nation is to continue as a Democratic Republic. Again, Patrice and I are shocked and saddened and will be thinking of Gabbie and her family, her staff, her constituents and our nation during this difficult time.

Rep. Niki Tsongas:

It was with great sadness and shock that I learned of the senseless attack against Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and over a dozen others in Tucson this morning.  Gabby is a wonderful, caring, and dedicated colleague and friend whom I have the pleasure of serving with on the Armed Services Committee.  It was just yesterday that we sat next to each and talked during a Democratic Steering Committee meeting.  My thoughts are with Gabby and her husband and all of those who are fighting for their lives at this hour and with the families who lost loved ones as a result of this horrible tragedy.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney:

Today’s horrifying shooting in Tucson shocks the conscience of decent Americans everywhere.  When such an unspeakable act occurs, and lives are taken in violence, we rightly respond with comfort and support because that is the only way we know to show that evil does not triumph over goodness in the world.  I offer my prayers to all the victims and their families, including Representative Gabrielle Giffords, and look forward to the swift and harsh punishment that awaits the perpetrator of this cowardly attack.

What A Week! Boston Hits 2011 Running

Published January 7, 2011

If the rest of 2011 is anything like the first week, I won’t make it through July. And I’m only talking about local news.

A recap, in very rough order of significance according to me:

Radio Boston’s weekly news roundup featured the ever-sharp Renee Loth and the ever-funny Craig Sandler.

Video: 150 Years Of Weird, World-Changing Innovation

Published January 7, 2011

To mark MIT’s 150th anniversary, the MIT Museum exhibits 150 objects — many of them voted in by the community — that tell the story of world-changing and quirky innovation over the years.

I was lucky enough to be the first reporter to see the new exhibit on Wednesday, as the staff raced to finish the installations. It was a lot of fun.

The “MIT 150″ exhibition opens to the general public Saturday, Jan. 8. I’ll talked more about this story on Radio Boston.

My thanks to Josie Patterson at the MIT Museum for her help with this story.

Beth Israel CEO Levy Will Resign

Published January 7, 2011

Beth Israel's Paul Levy, in WBUR Studio 3 (Andrew Phelps/WBUR)

Beth Israel's Paul Levy, in WBUR Studio 3 (Andrew Phelps/WBUR)

Paul Levy, the CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, is resigning.

The hospital leader sent an e-mail to his staff Friday, outlining his reasons for the move:

… I felt some ambivalence as I was writing yesterday’s blog post entitled “Resolve.” I realized that my own place here at BIDMC in the role I outlined in that blog post had run its course. While I remain strongly committed to the fight for patient quality and safety, worker-led process improvement, and transparency, our organization needs a fresh perspective to reach new heights in these arenas. …

Reached by WBUR, Levy cited his desire for new challenges.

“I realized that I don’t currently have the level of enthusiasm I need to continue in the job, that I had accomplished what I wanted to and it was time to move on. Simple as that,” Levy said.

Levy has led Beth Israel for nine years. He’s known for turning around the hospital’s finances and implementing greater transparency.

“I tend to get energized in a turnaround situation when the business is facing tough issues and hard choices,” he said. “And the hospital is now quite successful. It’s more in a maintenance kind of mode, and I decided it’s time to move on.”

The state’s largest health care workers union last year called for Levy’s ouster after the Beth Israel board fined him $50,000 for “judgment mistakes” in regard to a personal relationship he had with a female employee.

On Friday, Service Employees International Union spokesman Jeff Hall said Levy’s resignation is a positive step, and good for workers and patients to have a fresh start.

“There were many troubling issues under his tenure and really what’s important is that the board make the right decision and that’s for Levy to leave without any additional compensation,” Hall said.

Levy told WBUR the relationship controversy is behind him and did not play a role in his resignation decision.

“That really wasn’t part of it,” he said. “What it is is that I’ve accomplished what I want to. It’s time for someone with a fresh perspective to take over and lead the place on to its new heights.”

Levy says he will leave in the next few weeks.

Our CommonHealth blog has more coverage and is rounding up reaction.

Gov. Cellucci Has Lou Gehrig’s Disease

Published January 6, 2011

Paul Cellucci (AP)

Paul Cellucci (AP)

On the day Massachusetts’ 71st governor is inaugurated, sad news about the health of the 69th governor.

Paul Cellucci has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. The Associated Press reports:

The 62-year-old told The Associated Press on Thursday he has a relatively slow case of the illness. […]

The disease progressively attacks the brain and spine and leads to complete paralysis. It is incurable and fatal.

Cellucci said he’s experiencing some weakness but otherwise feeling well. He’s maintaining a full work schedule as an attorney in Boston.

Cellucci resigned in 2001 to be President George W. Bush’s ambassador to Canada.

Thursday Morning: Dispatches From Court

Published January 6, 2011

Let us all salute Hubbub’s Andrew Phelps who is currently performing his civic duty and testifying in a criminal case at Middlesex district court in Medford. No, he is not taking the stand in his own defense.
—-
This day in history: January 6, 2011 – Deval Patrick is sworn in for his second term as Massachusetts governor, the first African-American in the country to serve two terms as governor.

With a nod to the sluggish economy, Patrick’s inauguration will feature few frills. The Globe reports that it will be funded entirely by private firms. Analysts say to expect a pragmatic political agenda for Patrick’s second term.

A federal judge is set to sentence ex-State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson on the eight counts of attempted extortion she pleaded guilty to in June.

In with the new, in with the old: Even as a huge number of new state legislators were sworn in yesterday, both the House and the Senate re-elected their leaders. House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray both plan to tackle politically ambitious projects in the coming months, according to The Globe.

Boston Herald sports columnist Steve Buckley wrote a column coming out to his audience. It’s courageous, enlightening, inspiring and well-written. Congratulations on lifting what I assume was a burden off of your chest, Steve.

Also in sports, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and the Celtics held on to beat the Spurs 105-103 in an electrifying contest. Sports pages are ablaze with speculation that these two teams, the top two in the NBA, will meet in the NBA Finals in June. I’m not so sure.

Free Phelps 2011!

Lorillard Prepares For Another Fight

Published January 5, 2011

A Newport ad from the 1970s appeared to target young, black smokers.

A Newport ad from the 1970s appeared to target young, black smokers.

The Lorillard tobacco company — bruised by its losses from a major civil case in Boston — is ready for its next battle.

The FDA is considering a ban on menthol, the minty ingredient in Newport and other cigarettes. The Wall Street Journal reports menthol cigarettes account for 90 percent of the company sales.

Lorillard is trying to own the message before anyone else can, having purchased the domain names MentholKillsMinorities.com, MentholAddictsYouth.com and FDAMustBanMenthol.com.

From the WSJ:

Keeping those names out of the hands of critics is just one part of Lorillard’s multimedia campaign to thwart a possible ban. The fight’s next round is scheduled for next week, when a special FDA tobacco advisory committee is scheduled to meet to review data regarding menthol products. In March, the panel will recommend whether to extinguish menthol cigarettes altogether—including Lorillard’s top-selling Newport brand.

The plaintiffs in the case of Marie Evans, who died of lung cancer in 2002, argued Lorillard targeted young, black children in Roxbury with free cigaretts and advertising.

In that case, Lorrilard was ordered to pay a total of $152 million, thought to be the largest-ever award from a tobacco company in a wrongful death suit.

Wednesday Morning: Must Be Decaf

Published January 5, 2011

Good morning! A late start for me today. I don’t normally do this, but here are last night’s winning Mega Millions lottery numbers; 4, 8, 15, 25, 47; Mega Ball: 42

You didn’t win. The winning tickets were sold in Idaho and Washington. The Globe notes the numbers’ eerie similarity to the recurring digits on ABC’s “Lost.” (I bet a lot of people played those numbers and won $150.)

Bad news for employees of Natick-based BJ’s Wholesale: The AP reports BJ’s will close three stores (none in Mass.) and lay off 500 employees (some in Mass.).

Ex-state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson is begging a judge for mercy in advance of her sentencing on corruption charges. In an apology letter, Wilkerson described her behavior — she pleaded guilty to taking more than $23,000 in bribes — as “wrong and inexcusable.”

Ahead of his second inauguration tomorrow, Gov. Deval Patrick made the rounds with news organizations and bloggers yesterday, including WBUR. He made a little news with us, saying he wants a “comprehensive fix” for the state’s parole system. The Parole Board freed a three-time convict who went on to shoot and kill a Woburn police officer in December, and Patrick has been under pressure to respond. The governor also outlined his ambitious second term.

The Globe covers a radical pastor who won international attention for his testimony as a homosexuality “expert” in Uganda in 2009. He said “the gay movement is an evil institution.” Now Rev. Scott Lively has moved back to Springfield — and he’s popular.