EXTRA...

CCBL player Bill Richardson to run for President; McCowen juror resigns town hall job; Gambling lobbyists eye Cape Cod

Former Cotuit Kettleer announces for President
New Mexico Governor Richardson played ball here

Sunday morning on channel 7 ABC's "This Week" at 8 a.m.,  New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will announce he is a candidate for President. After years of freelancing his diplomatic skills from the unlikely position as governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson is taking the first step toward a bid to become president and put his skills to work in the White House.

Richardson plans to announce Sunday that he will soon file papers to create a presidential exploratory committee, several officials with knowledge of his plans said Friday. The governor is scheduled to appear Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

Hillary Clinton is considered the front-runner, with Obama and 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards top contenders. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who would be the first Hispanic president, intends to announce his plans on Sunday.

Richardson recalls rooming with the Savery family in Cotuit while playing for the Kettleers. "I used to do landscaping to pay for the room and board. We had to work pretty hard," he said. See our Kettleer story here. Richardson has fond memories of 1967, his one season in the Cape Cod Baseball League. At that time he was a sophomore at Tufts University and was a middle reliever with hopes for a pro ball career.

Years later he said he had "a pretty good ERA and strikeout ratio, but I wasn't destined to go to the majors."

Some folks around here think that a career as a Bill Clinton Cabinet member  followed by two terms as New Mexico's very popular Governor and now a run for the White House might qualify him for the "majors".   Leave a comment
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Gambling proponents bet time is right in MASS.
Is that particular Cash Cow coming to Cape Cod?

BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick has revived the gambling debate in Massachusetts, saying the state needs to seriously consider casinos or slots parlors to balance the state budget. But the idea of legalized gambling has been simmering all decade, kept warm behind the scenes by a cadre of lobbyists and gambling proponents who have long seen Massachusetts as a cash cow.

And now that there are predictions of a money crunch at the Statehouse, another lobbying rush is about to hit Beacon Hill. Patrick has extended an offer to meet with proponents of casino gambling before making a decision, saying he only heard from opponents during the campaign... By some estimates, allowing slots parlors at the state's four race tracks would generate $500 million a year in state tax and licensing revenue. Casinos could generate much more. 

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, the former Worcester mayor, strongly backed slot machines at the race tracks last year. The bill passed the Senate but was defeated in the House.  "His lieutenant governor is a lot more sympathetic," said Rev. McGowan, an associate professor at Boston College. "Tim Murray would push it."  Read the rest of this Standard-Times story here.  Leave a comment
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Juror Dismissed In Cape Slaying Resigns Town Job
Hicks: Huffman Pressured To Quit

BOSTON -- The woman known for being dismissed from the jury during the Christa Worthington trial is out of a job.  Rachel Huffman (on right with boyfriend Kyle Hicks) has resigned from her job as a town hall receptionist in Falmouth, citing personal reasons.

But her boyfriend, Kyle Hicks claims she was pressured to quit... Her dismissal came after Huffman was recorded calling investigators in a shooting case involving Hicks, "friggin' dumb."    ...Huffman has been on leave since she was arrested in December for being an accessory in the shooting that allegedly involved Hicks. The charge has been dropped. She still faces charges of possession of stolen state vehicle inspection stickers and possession of marijuana. Read the WCVB story here.   Read the previous stories about Huffington and Hicks here.   Leave a comment
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Upstairs, downtown
Apartments, condos are once again appearing above main street stores

It's the classic New England main street look: small businesses, retail shops at street level, with apartments above. And in many places in the region, it's illegal.

But "top of shop" housing, as it is sometimes called, is going legit. Several communities in Massachusetts have loosened zoning rules to allow more housing in their downtowns.

Long-vacant upper stories are being dusted off for residents in old downtowns in Woburn, Framingham, and New Bedford. New mixed-use developments are also being promoted as a way for Cape Cod communities to preserve dwindling open space, and to give single-story buildings in village centers a makeover... Read the restof this Globe story here.