BROCKTON
Man held without bail in roommate’s killing
A 25-year-old Brockton man was held without bail Monday for allegedly killing his roommate during a weekend altercation at their residence, officials said. Robert J. Savignano pleaded not guilty in Brockton District Court to charges of murder and assault with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury in the fatal stabbing Saturday night of James J. Jennette, 35, according to legal filings and Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz’s office. Savignano was ordered held without bail, according to a Cruz spokesperson. Robert Griffin, a lawyer for Savignano, said in a brief phone interview that witnesses indicated to police that Jennette had entered Savignano’s room and attacked him initially. Jennette, Griffin said, apparently “didn’t think my client was carrying his share of the weight of the household.” Cruz’s office said in a statement that Brockton police received multiple 911 calls around 8:30 p.m. Saturday alerting them to an altercation at 158 Lisa Drive. Authorities discovered Jennette suffering from multiple stab wounds, and he was taken to Good Samaritan hospital where he was later pronounced dead, according to the statement. Savignano’s next court date is slated for Feb. 9, according to Cruz’s office.
BOSTON
State troopers cite 137, arrest two, during New Year’s Eve patrols
State Police issued 137 driving citations, including 66 for speeding and arrested two people for driving under the influence of alcohol on New Year’s Eve when extra troopers were on patrol, State Police said. The extra patrols were sent out for the holiday to enforce highway laws in all five troops statewide, the agency wrote in a Facebook posting. The enhanced deployment included two mobile breath alcohol testing machines on Route 16 in Medford and on Interstate 290 in Northborough, State Police said. Troopers made a total of four arrests, two of which were for operating under the influence, State Police spokesman David Procopio said in a statement. The 137 citations issued by troopers included 66 for speeding tickets, State Police wrote in the Facebook posting. Also on New Year’s Eve, troopers were diverted to assist with other investigations, State Police said. Patrols from Troops B and C were sent to Springfield after a state trooper was shot there, while troopers from Troop H assisted in the investigation of a fatal motor vehicle crash.
BOSTON
Special election set to fill DeLeo’s House seat
A special election has been scheduled to fill the Massachusetts House seat left vacant by the resignation of former Democratic House Speaker Robert DeLeo. The special election will be held on March 30. The primaries will be held on March 2. No-excuse voting by mail will be available for both the primary and special election, according to Democratic Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin. The deadline for submitting nomination papers to local registrars of voters is Jan. 19 while the last day to file certified nomination papers with Galvin’s office is Jan. 26. Nominations for the Massachusetts House of Representatives require a minimum of 150 certified signatures. DeLeo, who served as speaker for a record 12 years, resigned last week and is expected to accept a job at Northeastern University, his alma mater. Representative Ron Mariano, a Quincy Democrat, was elected by fellow House members to replace DeLeo as speaker. (AP)
PROVIDENCE
Raimondo in quarantine after close contact tests positive for COVID-19
Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo is in quarantine again after being informed that she had a close contact last week who tested positive for COVID-19, a spokesman said Monday. Raimondo has tested negative repeatedly, including earlier Monday, communications director Josh Block said. The governor will be out of quarantine on Thursday and will continue working from home until then, he said. He said he could not share information about the person who tested positive. Since she is in quarantine, Raimondo will be unable to address the House and the Senate when they return on Tuesday for the 2021 legislative session, Block said. Officials tried to find a way for her to address legislators remotely, but were unable to do so, he said. Raimondo’s regular coronavirus press conference, scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed until 1 p.m. Friday, Block said.
HARTFORD
Teachers’ union leader urges switch to all-remote learning
The leader of Connecticut’s largest teachers union is urging school superintendents statewide to switch all classes to remote learning until at least the middle of this month, citing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. Jeff Leake, president of the Connecticut Education Association, said many students and educators were to return to classrooms on Monday, before potential virus surges from the holiday season are over. He said many school districts already have moved to all-distance learning through mid-January. “While no one is more eager to return to the classroom than Connecticut’s dedicated teachers, detecting and stopping the spread of COVID-19 must be the top priority,” Leake said in a statement Sunday evening. Leake also called on the state to mandate more COVID-19 testing and said a new survey by his union and the American Federation of Teachers shows “schools are not the safest places for children or educators” amid a pandemic. Governor Ned Lamont and state education officials have been allowing local school officials to decide whether to switch to all-remote learning but have been advocating for schools to be kept open, saying it’s better for students. (AP)