BWH醫院傳槍響 心臟醫生中槍辭世 男嫌犯自戕

波士頓市布里吉罕婦女醫院（Brigham and Women’s）昨（廿）日驚傳槍響，一名心臟科醫師受重傷後死亡，行兇者自戕。

波士頓警察局長伊凡斯（William Evans）表示，昨日早上十一點左右，嫌犯抵達哈佛大學這教學醫院，上到二樓，指名要找戴維森（Michael J. Davidson）醫師。當戴維森踏進檢驗室時，嫌犯立即開了兩槍。十二小時後，育有三名子女，妻子是一名整形外科醫師的戴維森過世。

警方調查組副局長Robert Merner表示，初步調查顯示，開槍殺人的Stephen Pasceri，55歲，住在Millbury，因為他母親之前在該醫院接受的治療而和戴維森有些過節 。

Marguerite E. Pasceri十一月五日過世了。

警方在簡述事件時表示，Stephen Pasceri用 .40口徑手槍，像戴維森醫師開了兩槍。在槍響之前，檢驗室內傳出很大的響聲。

警方在Stephen Pasceri的身體旁邊發現一把手槍。

醫院院長Elizabeth Nabel博士週二晚深夜發信給院內同仁，指戴維森是一名傑出的醫師，行醫救人一向不遺餘力，他的生命竟在這樣可怕的方式中被奪走，實在令人震動。

戴維森四十四歲，住在衛斯理（Wellesley），2006年起在布里吉罕婦女醫院任心臟外科醫生，在哈佛大學醫學院當助理教授。1996年時，他從耶魯大學醫學院畢業，並在杜克大學醫學中心，以及布里吉罕醫院接受訓練。

布里吉罕醫院院長在寫給同仁的信中還透露，戴維森四十歲時，曾以跑馬拉松慶祝生日。他也是參與全美最先進心臟瓣膜手術的十二人團隊成員之一。

開槍的Stephen Pasceri和太太泰瑞莎住在Millbury的一棟兩層樓，殖民地風格的房子裡，在Milford是專長製造實驗室設備的華特斯公司（Waters Corp. )工作。

警方昨日在搜索進行時，封鎖了幾條街道，暫時關閉了布里吉圈（Brigham Circle）和健康街（Heath）之間的綠線地鐵。

Statement of Mayor Martin J. Walsh

BOSTON - Mayor Martin J. Walsh issued the following statement after learning of the death of Dr. Michael J. Davidson.

"I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Michael Davidson," Mayor Walsh said. "This tragedy is the result of a senseless act of violence that has no place in our City. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and his colleagues at Brigham and Women's Hospital during this difficult time."

BOSTON FOOD TRUCK LIVE LOTTERY IS TODAY

BOSTON FOOD TRUCK LIVE LOTTERY IS TODAY

Food Trucks to Select Vending Sites for Schedule Starting April 1

BOSTON - January 20, 2015 - Today, the City of Boston’s Office of Food Initiatives will host the annual Live Lottery for food trucks vending on the public way. The Lottery will allow food truck owners to select sites for the upcoming vending year, which will start April 1, 2015. The Lottery will begin at 4:00 PM and is expected to conclude around 7:00 PM. It will include personnel from the City of Boston ,including Mobile Food Truck Committee members and staff from the Office of Food Initiatives, and all current and new food truck vendors.

“Boston’s food truck industry continues to grow with more than 80 trucks expected in 2015,” says Mayor Walsh. “Boston is a great home for small-business entrepreneurs, as is evident from the continued growth of the food truck industry. We are thrilled to be able to continue helping this industry grow.”

The names of trucks participating in the lottery will be drawn, at random, out of one of three hats, determined by the standing of the truck after the annual evaluation process. With more than 500 shifts available on the public way, the process of site selection is expected to take nearly three hours.

By the end of the evening, food truck customers will have a good sense of where they can expect to see their favorite trucks starting April 1st.

MAYOR WALSH APPOINTS ROSANNE FOLEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOSTON LANDMARKS COMMISSION

MAYOR WALSH APPOINTS ROSANNE FOLEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOSTON LANDMARKS COMMISSION

Will manage the City of Boston’s historic preservation program

BOSTON -  JANUARY 20, 2015 - Today Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the appointment of Rosanne Foley as the Executive Director of the Boston Landmarks Commission. A longtime resident of Dorchester, Foley will manage the historic preservation program for the City of Boston, including the Boston Landmarks Commission and nine Historic Districts Commissions. Her position is in the Environment, Energy, and Open Space Cabinet, under the guidance of Chief Austin Blackmon.

“Rosanne is a community connector, who has been deeply involved in supporting and advocating for Boston’s neighborhoods and Main Streets,” said Mayor Walsh. “Rosanne has vast experience in building community partnerships, and I’m pleased to welcome her in this important leadership role.”

"I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of Mayor Walsh’s Environment, Energy and Open Space team,” said Foley. “I look forward to making use of my background and relationships to honor the unique cultural resources that exist in all Boston neighborhoods.” 

In her role, Foley will supervise and direct activities of staff members engaged in preservation surveying and planning and regulatory review. She will represent the City of Boston and the Landmarks Commission in the local, state, and national preservation communities, and interact with local, regional, and federal preservation, development, and environmental agencies.

Most recently, Foley was the Executive Director at Fields Corner Main Street where she helped build stronger relationships between area residents, merchants, and institutions. Previously, Foley was cultural events and marketing consultant for Upham’s Corner Main Street and for other Boston area arts and culture non-profit organizations. She has also worked with Go Local MetroBoston, a social enterprise start up, and Codman Square Health Center. Foley held the position of Director at GreenDorchester, a grassroots environmental action collaborative for 8 years, helping to launch Boston’s first local bike advocacy group, two farmers’ markets, and a food co-op.

Foley has provided leadership in advisory positions for the City, state, and area non-profits, including the Ashmont MBTA Station Citizens Advisory Committee, the Codman Square Main Street Design Committee, the Dorchester Arts Collaborative, the Dorchester Historical Society, and the Metropolitan Beaches Commission.

Foley is a graduate of Northeastern University with a degree in History and Art History.

There are more than 8,000 properties located in the City’s nine local Historic Districts or designated as individual Boston Landmarks. This includes buildings, structures, sites, and areas that have shaped the City from its beginning to the present day. The Boston Landmarks Commission, along with the local historic district commissions, provides information and assistance concerning the regulatory process, historic preservation planning and protection, archaeology, sources for historical information, and technical assistance.

SOUTH SHORE PHYSICIAN HOSPITAL ORGANIZATION TO PAY $1.77 MILLION OVER ALLEGED KICKBACKS FOR PATIENT REFERRALS

SOUTH SHORE PHYSICIAN HOSPITAL ORGANIZATION TO PAY $1.77 MILLION OVER ALLEGED KICKBACKS FOR PATIENT REFERRALSState-Federal Agreement Alleges Defendants Operated Unlawful Grant Program; Massachusetts to Receive $620,000

            BOSTON – The South Shore Physician Hospital Organization in South Weymouth has agreed to pay a total of $1.77 million to settle allegations of operating a recruitment grant program through which it paid kickbacks to its physician members in exchange for patient referrals, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today. Massachusetts will receive a total of $620,000. 

In a consent judgment, and related settlement agreement, entered today against South Shore Physician Hospital Organization, Inc. (SSPHO) and its member organizations, South Shore Hospital, Inc. and Physicians Organization of the South Shore, Inc. (POSS), AG Coakley alleges that SSPHO paid kickbacks in the form of cash grants via a recruitment grant program. Over the course of the program, from 2001 to 2010, SSPHO allegedly approved 103 separate grants to 33 different physician groups.

“Instead of giving patients lower cost options and flexibility in health care services, we allege these defendants looked to increase their referrals through an unlawful kickback operation,” AG Coakley said. “We are pleased to have worked with our partners in federal law enforcement to ensure that improper incentives do not undermine the integrity of our healthcare system.”

According to the settlement, the defendants voluntarily disclosed the operation of the recruitment grant program in 2012 to the AG’s Office, the United States Department of Justice and the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The defendants cooperated fully with the investigation.

As part of the recruitment grant program, SSPHO allegedly sent letters to grant recipients with specific terms, including requirements to refer patients to participating providers, which include the South Shore Hospital. Over time, SSPHO emphasized the importance of ensuring a continued increase in patient referrals.

As a result of this conduct, SSPHO and its member organizations allegedly caused participating providers who received referrals from grant recipients to submit false claims for payment to the Medicare Program and the Massachusetts Medicaid program (MassHealth), because those claims were made in violation of the Anti-Kickback statute, and violated the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act.  

Under the terms of the settlement, SSPHO will pay a total of $1.775 million, including more than $620,000 to the Commonwealth, $310,625 of which will go directly to MassHealth.  The remainder will be paid to the federal government.

This matter was investigated by the Attorney General’s Office, along with the United States Department of Justice and the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Courtney Aladro and Eric Gold of the Health Care Division and Angela Neal of the Medicaid Fraud Division.

麻州紀念馬丁路德金 強調邁向族裔平等人民仍需努力

六名麻州政要昨（十九）日一大早趕到波士頓會議展覽中心，出席第四十五屆馬丁路德金（Martin Luther King Jr.）紀念早餐會，向近千名出席者發表感言。

            馬丁路德金在1968年四月被刺殺身亡時，年僅三十九歲。

            麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）在發言結束時引用馬丁路德金的話，“我有個夢…，這個國家終有一日會….所有人都生而平等”。

這場馬丁路德金早餐會的嘉賓，約有一半為神職人員，政要包括麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker），波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh），代表麻州的聯邦參議員馬基（Edward Markey），麻州總檢察官奚莉（Maura Healey），麻州參議員陳翟蘇妮（Sonia Chang Diaz）。另一名代表麻州的聯邦參議員伊莉莎白沃倫（Elisabeth Warren）未克出席，但以錄影帶致詞。

            查理貝克昨日的發言不長。他認為在馬丁路德短暫一生中，最感人的是他在伯明罕監獄寫的信。他還引用馬丁的名言“任何地方有不正義，都會對每一個地方的正義形成威脅（Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere）”，藉以強調要維護馬丁的理念，人們還有很多工作要做。

            查理貝克還表示，這天應該同時紀念另一位民權鬥士，甫於今年一月三日過世，曾任麻州聯邦參議員，直至2014年時仍是非洲裔人士中全美唯一曾任聯邦參議員的Edward Brook。

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊直指這天是波士頓最重要的傳統之一。五十年前，馬丁路德金在波士頓公園向二萬二千多名波士頓人喊話，呼籲人權平等，引起了全世界關注，也促成聯邦政府通過了投票權法案。上週他發表第一次市情咨文時，也引用馬丁路德金的話，強調平等是波士頓社區發展的基礎，他呼籲大波士頓人團結一致，讓馬丁路德金的夢想境界在波士頓實現。

            麻州聯邦參議員伊莉莎白沃倫以錄影帶發言，指人們每年這天聚在一起，都是為了紀念馬丁路德金的呼籲人們採取行動，爭取平等，人權。她指出，要防止那些倒轉歷史進展的行動，人們還有許多工作要做。

            麻州聯邦參議員馬基昨日的發言，不但聲音激昂，也不斷博得掌聲。他表示，如果當年沒有馬丁路德金，今日的奧巴馬就不可能當選美國總統。在弗古森，紐約或波士頓等地的事件中，人們都忘了馬丁路德金給人的指導，馬丁路德金所提出的理想美國夢似乎也離一般人越來越遠。他強調，人們需要的不只是人權平等，還要經濟平等，從馬丁路德金的時代到今天，社會中百分之一最有錢人的收入倍增了，佔全美收入一半以上，但社會中卻有四千九百萬人生活在貧窮中。儘管美國的失業率改善了，非洲裔人的失業率卻仍高達11%，要達到馬丁路德金的理想，人們還有許多工作要做。

            昨日這場早餐會，主辦單位還邀請了1960年代著名民權人士，如今是建築師，媒體顧問，電影製作人，強調必須消除種族歧視的Topper Carew做主講人。司儀是美聯社本地市場企業發展主任Ebony Reed。

         早餐會的收入將捐作學生獎學金，或辦理社區活動的費用。

            昨日，大波士頓地區活躍份子還響應全美其他城市的大遊行活動，有數以千計的人從舊州政府大樓出發，匯聚到畢肯街上的非洲人議會廳（African Meeting House），抗議警察暴力，呼籲執法改革。

圖片說明：

            麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）展示他給馬丁路德金日的表揚狀，指馬丁路德金強調的人人生而平等影響深遠。（菊子攝）

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）指馬丁路德金紀念早餐會是波士頓最重要的傳統之一。（菊子攝）

            麻州聯邦參議員伊莉莎白沃倫藉錄影帶參加波士頓的馬丁路德金日活動。（菊子攝）

            麻州聯邦參議員馬基在馬丁路德金紀念早餐會中的發言，聲調激昂，例舉數據，博得掌聲。（菊子）

            麻州長查理貝克（左二），波市長馬丁華殊（左三），麻州總檢察官奚莉（左六），麻州聯邦參議員馬基（右四），麻州參議員陳翟蘇妮（右一）等人在出席早餐會前先合影。（菊子攝）

            麻州長查理貝克（左二），波市長馬丁華殊（左三），麻州總檢察官奚莉（左六），麻州聯邦參議員馬基（右四），麻州參議員陳翟蘇妮（右一）等人在出席早餐會前先合影。（波市府提供，Don Harney攝）

麻州總檢察官 Healey 將推出社區參與計劃

麻州總檢察官奚莉（Maura Healey）昨（十九）日在馬丁路德金紀念早餐會上宣佈，將推出“社區參與計畫(Community Engagement Initiatives)，致力消弭貧富不均（disparity）。

1971年二月八日出生，現年僅四十三歲的奚莉，是過去以來，唯一一名在馬丁路德金過世後才出生的麻州總檢察官。她揚言要讓麻州總檢察辦公室成為人們的律師樓（people’s law firm）。

她指出，當貧富差距越來越大時，人們之間的溝通，信任也開始越來越少。

一月廿一日（週三）她宣誓就任後，將推出“社區參與計畫“，專責進入社區，聆聽人們有什麼問題或憂慮，並確保員工都受過適當的多元文化訓練，以重塑人民與政府間的互信。她的辦公室要致力消滅不平等，無論是住宅，就業或教育上的歧視等等，在案件起訴或是服務上，他們都將從平等角度出發，努力實現馬定路德金的遠見。

圖片說明：

            麻州總檢察官奚莉誓言消滅不平等。（菊子攝）