In Other News

Above, screen grab from WPRI coverage of the Second Arraignment of James Blanchard

Arraignment #2 in Grove Street Double Fatal

Franklin resident James Newton Blanchard was in Wrentham District Court again Tuesday for a pretrial hearing in the death of five-year-old Krisha Patel, who was pronounced dead at the scene of the May 24 Grove Street crash authorities say was caused by Blanchard, who was drunk at the time. Three other family members were injured in the crash and Minaben Patel, 38, of Franklin, mother of Krisha, later died of her injuries. It was for charges related to her death that Blanchard also appeared on Tuesday, formally arraigned by the Commonwealth. He remains in jail on $250,000 cash bond.

MBTA Roasts Passengers in Monday Mishap

According to multiple line, there was a lengthy delay on the Franklin line due to drooping wires, blamed by the MBTA on the high heat.  According to reports, for the better part of an hour the air conditioning was shut off in the train cars, leading to rising heat and fraying tempers. Indeed, some Franklin-bound commuters reportedly got off in Dedham rather than spend any more time on board.

NH Legislators Consider More Attention to Voter Rolls

New
Hampshire lawmakers are moving ahead on a slew of bills to tighten
voting procedures, among them is Senate Bill 221,
which would require a comprehensive review of voter rolls to be held
annually, rather than once a decade.

Testimony Heard on Roy Oil Heat Bill

Kathleen Murray of North Attleborough choked up before lawmakers Tuesday as she recalled the "full-scale disaster" her family experienced in February, when their home heating oil tank leaked 190 gallons of oil into the ground, drains and sump pump. Murray soon found out her homeowners insurance policy would not cover cleanup costs, which are estimated at $400,000. Murray urged lawmakers to support bills from Rep. Jeff Roy and Sen. Jake Oliveira (H 1302 / S 813) that would require insurance companies to cover home heating oil spills, which can cost tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to remediate. A summary from Oliveira's office said the legislation will "help prevent homeowners from going bankrupt."