Two Men Banned from Fundraising after Deceiving Donors to Veterans

BOSTON – A Massachusetts Superior Court judge permanently banned two men from collecting charitable donations in the state.

In January 2023, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell filed a civil complaint that alleged Sean Murphy, who managed Political Petitioning of MA LLC (PPMA), and Rikkile Brown, the owner of the company, used deceptive tactics to collect donations they said would support veterans in violation of state law.

The complaint alleged that PPMA recruited and hired veterans to collect signatures for a petition they said supported homeless veterans. Instead, Murphy and PPMA directed the hired veterans to collect cash donations. The workers told donors that their contributions would benefit charities that support veterans.

When some donors questioned where their donations went, Murphy and Brown formed Help Homeless Vets, Inc. (HHV), a charitable organization.

The complaint alleged that of thousands of dollars collected, about $343 went to legitimate charities supporting veterans.

In March 2023, a judge granted Campbell’s motion for a preliminary injunction prohibiting the two men from collecting donations. The litigation continued until the court’s decision.

Campbell announced the decision on Monday, March 30.

The court order permanently bans both Murphy and Brown from soliciting and collecting charitable donations and orders the men to dissolve both PPMA and HHV.

New England Governors Pledge to Explore New Nuclear Energy

BOSTON – The governors of all six New England states issued a joint statement on Tuesday, March 31, committing to explore advanced nuclear energy technologies and continuing to support the region’s existing nuclear facilities.

The statement, signed by Governor Maura Healey, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Maine Governor Janet Mills, New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, and Vermont Governor Phil Scott, directs state energy agencies to take two steps:

1. Explore opportunities to ensure existing nuclear generation facilities continue to operate in a safe, affordable, and reliable ways.
2. To take steps to explore deployment of advanced nuclear generation in states and communities willing to host nuclear facilities.

The statement says exploring new deployments includes considering innovative financing structures, federal funding and financial support opportunities, public-private partnerships, and regulatory designs for advanced nuclear energy

Priorities of the governors include ensuring local voices shape decision-making, including community-led approaches to explore responsible locations for new nuclear development.

ISO New England expects New England electrical consumption to increase by over 40 percent in the next 20 years, with peak winter demand doubling by 2045, according to Healey’s office.

“New England has a long tradition of collaborating on regional energy matters,” said the governors’ statement. “We are committed to safeguarding our collective energy future through advancement of a diverse energy strategy that includes nuclear power, a pillar of New England’s electric system.”

Massachusetts has also launched a partnership with UMass Lowell to develop advanced nuclear and fusion energy roadmap expected to be published this summer.

Worcester Councilor Interested in 911 Mental Health Response After Lawsuit Filed

As This Week in Worcester previously reported, three mental health organizations, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Central Massachusetts, NAMI-Massachusetts, and the Parent-Professional Advocacy League, filed a lawsuit on March 16 against the City of Worcester. The lawsuit claims that the city’s emergency response program discriminates against residents with mental health disabilities.

In short, the lawsuit alleges that the city’s practice of responding to medical emergencies with emergency medical response but responding to mental health emergencies with a law enforcement response is discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Issues related to police response to individuals in mental health distress became part of the public conversation long ago. For example, in 2017, the mother of a 10-year-old autistic child called 911 seeking medical help for her son, something she hadn’t done previously. After her son had a reaction to medication and stopped taking it, the two had an argument in the family vehicle. The 911 operator told the mother that they dispatched an ambulance. Two police officers arrived at the scene first to find the 10-year-old in the vehicle.

The officers said that when they approached the vehicle, the boy screamed profanities at them and pounded on the seat and armrest. The mother says when the officers approached the car, the boy barely spoke to them and threw a bag of potato chips out of the car. She said the bag did not strike either officer.

Officers used force to remove the boy from the car, force him to the ground, and handcuff him. The incident left the boy with a broken arm. Neither officer faced discipline. The city settled the civil case for $250,000.

That wasn’t enough to warrant interest from the Worcester City Council.

Any time between the beginning of time and March 15, the day before the mental health organizations filed their lawsuit, would have been appropriate for the Worcester City Council to seek information about how the department handles calls to emergency response related to mental health. After an interaction with police left a 10-year-old boy’s arm broken would seem like an appropriate time. It did nothing.

Now, after the filing of the lawsuit, we find the following item on the agenda for the Worcester City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 31, from City Councilor At-Large and Chairperson of the City Council Standing Committee on Public Safety Kate Toomey:

“Item 10j
Request City Manager provide City Council with a report concerning the current process used by the Worcester Police Department (WPD) and Emergency Communications and Management Department when responding to mental health-related emergencies, as well as any initiatives, measures, or programs the City has adopted related to current process used by the Worcester Police Department (WPD) and Emergency Communications and Management Department when responding to mental health-related emergencies. (Toomey)”

The chairperson of each city council committee has almost total control over the business of each committee, including when meetings occur and the items on its agenda. With Toomey as that committee’s chair, it does very little. In its only meeting this year, on March 10, the public safety committee’s agenda had two items: a report on the ALERTWorcester program and a report on the Worcester Fire Department’s Public Education Unit.

That’s it. The meeting adjourned after just under 40 minutes.

With a decade as chair of that committee, Toomey’s interests are transparent. That committee operates as a promotional arm of the police department and, far more importantly, come election time, the NEPBA Local 911, the union that represents patrol officers in Worcester.

While a council committee may only take up agenda items forwarded to it by the full council, a horrible flaw that needs reform, we see with this order that Toomey could introduce those items herself. Performing no meaningful oversight over public safety agencies is a choice.

The other councilors share a significant amount of blame as well. They should be introducing items to the full council that fall within the jurisdiction of the public safety committee. With a majority of current city councilors receiving endorsements from the Local 911 in the election last November, they may vote such items down and prevent them from getting to committee.

Even if the council forwards items to the public safety committee, meaningful oversight is unlikely with Toomey as the committee chair. Yet Mayor Joe Petty has appointed Toomey as the chair of the council’s public safety committee for over a decade.

Forcing councilors to vote is still important. Sending items of importance to the committee is also important.

I’d petition the council myself, but the majority faction of the council has no interest in what the plebs want, so they don’t allow that anymore.

While I have no illusions that any suggestions will go anywhere, here is one item that should be sent to the public safety committee.

• That the Standing Committee on Public Safety review all available evidence and hold public hearings related to the case of Natale Cosenza, who served 16 years in prison before his conviction was overturned, a civil jury determined two Worcester Police officers violated his constitutional rights, and the City of Worcester paid a $2 million settlement in 2025. Further, that the Standing Committee on Public Safety review all available evidence and hold public hearings related to the case of Dana Gaul, who remained held pending a murder charge for five months that was later dismissed and which the City of Worcester paid a $260,000 settlement in 2025. Further, that the Standing Committee on Public Safety issue a written report of its findings, including policy recommendations designed to prevent similar future occurrences.

While I have no expectation that a majority of councilors have anything but indifference to wrongful incarceration, they could at least try to prevent additional millions of taxpayer dollars being paid out to more people who forced to endure the consequences of their indifference.

Worcester Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexual Abuse of 3 Minors

WORCESTER – A local man received a sentence of 30 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of three minor girls.

In federal court on Thursday, March 26, U.S. District Court Judge Margaret Guzman sentenced Antonio Merced, 29, of Worcester, to 30 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. The federal sentence will run concurrent with a state prison sentence he received.

After Merced’s arrest in September 2024, he faced an indictment in Worcester Superior Court. He received a guilty verdict on 10 counts of aggravated rape of a child and a sentence of 25 to 30 years in prison.

According to federal prosecutors, Merced exposed two minors to pornography and sex toys in July 2024. An investigation revealed sexual abuse by Merced of three minors, and the production of videos of that abuse. Investigators found documentation of abuse of a six-year-old child in 2023 and videos of the sexual abuse of two other children in 2024.

Merced pleaded guilty in July 2025 to three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography. At the plea hearing, he admitted to abusing three minors to produce sexually explicit videos. He also admitted to the possession of hundreds of photos and videos of child sex abuse material involving children he did not know.

Federal Agency orders $1 Billion in Energy Savings for New England Consumers

BOSTON – The federal agency that regulates organizations operating wholesale energy markets has ordered ratepayers in New England to receive around $900 million in refunds and over $100 million in annual savings in the future.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ordered ISO New England (ISO-NE), a non-profit organization responsible for operating the high-voltage power grid and wholesale electricity markets across all six New England states, to cut its return on equity, the profits earned on transmission investments in the region, a full percentage point, from 10.57 percent to 9.57 percent. FERC’s decision applies retroactively to 2014, which causes the refunds.

The PPL Corporation, which operates Rhode Island Energy as a subsidiary, said it is evaluating a possible appeal with other energy providers in the region.

This decision by FERC began in 2014, when it issued a ruling cutting the rate from 11.14 percent to 10.57 percent. Energy companies Emera Maine, National Grid, Eversource Energy, Central Maine Power Company, United Illuminating Company and Vermont Transco LLC challenged FERC’s ruling in federal court. Consumer advocates also joined the suit, but argued the rates set by FERC were still too high.

In 2017, the court vacated FERC’s ruling.

FERC has since engaged in a long process to redefine its methodology and rate setting formulas. In 2024, a court vacated parts of FERC’s new method, leading to further adjustments. It settled on a new composite model in 2025.

In its new ruling, FERC applied its new methodology to find that, as consumer advocates said in 2014, the previous 10.57  percent rate was “unjust.”

Former Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley led filing of the case on behalf of multiple attorneys general. Current Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey became attorney general in 2015 and supported the case on behalf of Massachusetts. They argued that FARC’s rate setting methods were flawed and resulted in unjustifiably high costs for consumers.

“People’s energy costs are far too high, and we fought for a long time in this case to lower people’s bills,” said Governor Healey in a statement on Friday, March 27. “This decision makes clear that utilities should not be allowed to make exorbitant profits on the backs of ratepayers, and that those profits should go back in people’s pockets where it belongs.”

What Worcester Residents Need to Know about Street Sweeping Starting April 6

WORCESTER – Residential street sweeping in Worcester starts on Monday, April 7, with sweepers operating from 7:30 AM to 4 PM for the duration of the project. Commissioner of the Department of Public Works and Parks, John Westerling, says he expects the city-wide project to last between six and eight weeks.

This year, the city organized the sweeping into five sections based on the day trash/recycling pickups occur. Street sweepers will conduct the city-wide operation in this order:

Week 1, April 6 to April 10: Friday trash pickup areas
Week 2, April 13 to April 17: Thursday trash pickup areas
Week 3, April 20 to April 24: Monday trash pickup areas
Week 4, April 27 to May 1: Tuesday trash pickup areas
Week 5, May 4 thru completion: Wednesday trash pickup areas

The city will post signage in each area prior to the beginning of sweeping that area. The city will also advertise notifications, make the information available on Local Government Access Channel 192, provide information on X.com at @Worcester 311 and on Facebook at Worcester 311.

ALERTWorcester will also provide updates by phone, email or text message. Residents can sign up by dialing 311 or going to the city’s ALERTWorcester page, signing up and selecting “Leaf Collection & Seasonal Public Works Updates.”

The city asks residents to sweep sidewalk sand and debris into the gutter before street sweepers come to the area. Sweeping in front of walkways, vacant lots, and medians is also helpful.

Yard waste, such as leaves or branches, should not be placed in the street during street sweeping. Yard waste will not be collected and property owners should expect fines if they do so.

Street sweeping requires curb-to-curb access to be effective. Anyone with a vehicle on the street that interferes with street sweeping should expect a $50 ticket. The vehicle may be towed and returned after sweeping.

Clark University Launches Master’s Program in Mental Health Counseling

WORCESTER – A master’s degree program in mental health counseling is coming to Clark University.

Clark announced on Friday, March 27, that its Frances L. Hiatt School of Psychology introduced a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling designed to prepare students for a career as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Enrollment for the program becomes available in Fall 2026.

The university says the design of the program meets the Massachusetts LMHC 60-credit licensing requirements and aligns with national accreditation standards. Students in the program will prepare for licensure-eligible roles in both clinical and community settings.

Graduates of the program will be prepared for roles as case managers, clinical specialists, clinical mental health counselors, and youth/family counselors in community agencies, hospital, youth programs, schools, and other nonprofit and private settings.

Clark descibes the Masters of Arts in Mental Health Counseling as offering:

• Comprehensive clinical training, including a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship across two semesters, that will build practical skills in assessment, treatment planning, clinical interviewing, and reflective practice. Fieldwork is conducted in community agencies, hospitals, schools, and partner organizations under the supervision of licensed clinicians.
• Core coursework, including ethics, counseling theories, lifespan development, psychopathology, multicultural counseling, assessment, and advanced clinical interventions.
• Exposure to evidence-based modalities, such as CBT, DBT, trauma-informed care, and crisis intervention.
• Courses are primarily in-person in Worcester, and the degree can be completed in two years, including full-time study and summer coursework.

“There is a shortage of mental health providers both in the Central Massachusetts region and nationwide,” says Amy Heberle, associate professor of psychology and co-director of the master’s program. “Our training centers contextual, developmental, and cultural considerations in mental health work, building on our department’s rich and longstanding history in applied psychology.”

Learn more about the new program on Clark University’s website.

Body of Man Missing Since October Found in Lake in Gardner

GARDENER – The Gardner Police Department discovered the body of an Acton man, missing since escaping Heywood Hospital in October, in Crystal Lake in Gardner during an aerial search pm Wednesday.

Authorities identified the man as Leonard Mercury, 27, of Acton. He was last seen leaving Heywood Hospital in Gardner on Oct. 31, 2025, at around 2 AM.

The Gardner Police Department conducted a search at the time of the missing person report, but did not locate him.

During the search on Wednesday, the Gardner Police Department used drones to search for Murcury. An image captured by a drone appeared to officers to be a human body floating in the Crystal Lake water.

The Massachusetts State Police dive team recovered the body a short time later.

The chief medical examiner will determine the cause of death. Massachusetts State Police Detectives, State Police Crime Scene Services, the Gardner Police Department, and the Westminster Police Department are investigating the case.

Since Mercury’s disappearance, the Gardner and Westminster police, the Massachusetts Environmental Police, and the Massachusetts State Police Dive Team, Special Emergency Response Team (SERT), Marine Unit, and K-9 Unit have contributed to the search.

Worcester Agrees to Pay Holden $35.5 Million Over 4 Years

WORCESTER  – The City of Worcester announced an agreement to pay $35.5 million to the Town of Holden over four years to end the long-standing dispute over sewage fees between the two municipalities.

According to City Manager Eric Batista’s office, Worcester will make the following payment to Holden:

April 1, 2026 – $10 million
July 1, 2026 – $10.5 million
July 1, 2027 – $5 million
July 1, 2028 – $5 million
July 1, 2029 – $5 million

As part of the agreement, Holden agreed to waive all interest accrued after February and throughout the course of the payment schedule. The city says that will save it $4.5 million.

Batista said that he believes exhausting all legal options was in the best interest of Worcester residents and that he is confident that this agreement, “is the best possible outcome.” He also said that he will “bring forward a report to Council that will detail the impact to ratepayers,” in the coming weeks.

The City of Worcester owes Holden over $35 million for what a jury decided was “unjust enrichment” in August 2022, after an eight-day trial. Holden filed the lawsuit in 2013, alleging that Holden paid overcharged fees for sewage treatment. The 2022 judgement in the case awarded Holden $14.6 million.

Worcester pursued overturning the case. In April 2023, a Worcester Superior Court judge upheld the jury’s verdict. The finalized judgement at this time, including costs and pre-judgement interest, was nearly $27 million.

The City of Worcester continued to pursue appeals and asked the Massachusetts Supreme Court to review the case while interest continued to accumulate. In February, the court declined the Worcester request for review of the case.

By then, accumulating interest pushed the amount due to Holden to over $35 million.

Laurel Street to Close, Closures of I-290 Scheduled

WORCESTER – Laurel Street in Worcester will close on Thursday, March 26, at 5 AM for MassDOT roadwork and phase one of the Laurel Street bridge project. The City of Worcester says it expects the street to reopen on Friday, April 3, at 7 AM.

Phase one of the Laurel Street bridge project will set new bridge beams. The city expects MassDOT to move a crane into the area to facilitate the work on Sunday night, March 29.

The city says no-parking signs will begin going up on Tuesday, March 24.

The work will also require lane closures on both sides of I-290 overnight on both Sunday, March 29, and Monday, March 30. All lanes are expected to reopen by 5 AM on both Monday and Tuesday.

The two left lanes of I-290 Eastbound will be closed overnight between Tuesday, March 31, and Thursday, April 2. Intermittent closures of all lanes on I-290 Eastbound are expected, but will be limited to between midnight and 5 AM.