劍橋市議員張禮能宣佈參選麻州參議員

             (Boston Orange 周菊子報導)劍橋市議員張禮能（Leland Cheung）今（17）日早上10點 28分以電子郵件宣佈，將參選米斗塞郡（Middlesex）第二區麻州參議員席位。

            今年是麻州的州級選舉年，麻州參議員40個席位，眾議員160個席位都將辦理改選。有意連任者，都必須參選。9月8日初選，11月8日大選。

            米斗塞郡第二區的範圍，包括劍橋市（Cambridge），尚莫維爾（Somerville）, 麥德福（Medford），溫徹斯特（Winchester）等地區。

            張禮能表示，這些地都有悠久，豐富的歷史，同時也代表著經濟及文化未來，所以他和太太選擇在此成家立業。

            這個地區儘管美好，仍然面對一些不可思議的挑戰，例如麻州政府打算不理了的綠線，房價上漲到許多人都得搬出城去，早期教育擴展計畫不斷推延，創新經濟對許多人來說仍然可望不可及，環境岑岑可危，政府太過頻繁地把大企業利益擺在一般小家庭之上等等。

            張禮能表示，他決定參選麻州參議員，就因為他希望能帶動大家團結起來，要求政府做必要選擇，現在就採取行動，迎頭面對那些挑戰。

            根據2010年的人口統計調查，這一選區的麻州居民人數約為167,996。2005年當選迄今代表這區的麻州參議員是Patricia D. Jehlen。她的任期將於今年屆滿，若競選連任，須在11月8日的大選中獲勝。（更正版）

下附張禮能宣佈參選麻州參議員公開信：

I wanted to share some exciting news with you: I’m running for State Senate.

Our extended community of the Second Middlesex district, including Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, and Winchester, is an amazing place to live. We simultaneously enjoy a long, rich history and also represent the future, both economically and culturally. It's why my wife and I decided to settle down and raise our children here.

For all that's great about our community, we still face incredible challenges - a Green Line the state is threatening to let fall off the tracks, a housing market that’s pricing people out, persistent delay in the expansion of early education, an innovation economy that remains inaccessible to many, an environment in peril, and a government that all too often puts the interests of big business over those of small families like ours.

We have an opportunity to join together and demand that our government make the choices necessary, and take action now, to address those challenges head on. That’s why I’m running for State Senate and asking for your support.

We’re going to win this campaign in the field; people are going to be shocked see me personally at their door and in awe of how visible we are. But the Beacon Hill establishment is not going to be behind us. If you can chip in today, it would go a long way in helping us launch this campaign.

As always, I want to hear from you - if you have any concerns, if there is an issue you think I should know about, or if you want to help out with the race let me know at leland@lelandcheung.com or call me on my cell at (617) 444-9080. I hope that you will stand with me in this race and thank you in advance for all of your support.

Leland Cheung
Candidate for State Senate

中国90后留学生初创公司完成首次跨国虚拟现实直播 吸引好莱坞关注

中国90后留学生初创公司完成首次跨国虚拟现实直播   吸引好莱坞关注

轉載：

近期在好莱坞明星社交圈内引发关注的​Magic Cube魔方公司，是一家VR（Virtual Reality）直播娱乐公司。该公司是由中国90后留学生在洛杉矶的初创公司。

3月7号晚7点，Magic Cube公司邀请好莱坞著名演员艾美奖得主比尔.奥德西（Bill Obersy Jr.）, 以及中星集团主席向华强的特聘武师、好莱坞武打明星摩根.伯内特（Morgan Benoit）在洛杉矶VISUAL会所举办见面会，在活动中与中国的业内人士同时互动，完成首次跨国虚拟现实直播。

当天由于工作关系未能赴宴的制片人李女士表示被直播的真实感所惊艳，称：“没有想到可以如此真实！”曾与成龙倾力合作<功夫之王>并参与过<钢铁侠>，<画皮>等国际大片的Morgan Benoit, 也曾被向华强特邀赴香港教授功夫。在现场他展示了寸拳，当拳头像子弹一样冲向魔方公司产品“魔方虚拟仪”时,在大洋彼岸正在看直播的李女士像触了电一般从椅子上蹦了起来,刚决这一发寸拳真的近在咫尺，从眼前划过。

魔方公司的设备具有4K清晰度，当天有百人同时在线互动，使用了UNITY引擎，云拼接等高新技术。这一次好莱坞盛宴不仅仅使众人感叹Magic Cube先进的VR直播技术，更让好莱坞影星共同见证了中国90后正在用VR技术改变远程交互。

什么是虚拟现实？据90后的南加州大学留学生、魔方公司总裁戎若天介绍，Magic Cube魔方是一家致力于VR直播的娱乐公司。通过戴上一副VR眼镜，让你足不出户，就能穿越时空。如果科比退役赛无法亲临现场？工作太忙没有假期、昂贵的机票和球票、繁琐的签证过程等，都长期困扰着国内的球迷们。但如果使用Magic Cube虚拟现实互动技术，就能如亲临NBA第一排；奥斯卡颁奖典礼；花花公子庄园年度派对等精彩活动的现场。

​魔方公司总裁戎若天表示，魔方的产品做的不仅仅是虚拟现实，它致力于建设一个全新空间世界，在这个空间可以体验到另一个全新人生。我们的闲余时间除了用来打游戏，看电影，现在可以用来去体验和陈奕迅同台互动，和科比一起在洛杉矶凌晨4点起来训练。

​

据介绍，魔方VR新颖的内容传播方式，已经获得了许多国际知名机构的青睐，魔方VR将携手好莱坞奥斯卡协会，及各大赛事主办方为中国国内、和海外华人观众带来前所未有的身临其境体验。通过魔方VR我们不再错过任何盛典。和旅途中的长队，遥遥无期的赴美旅行计划说再见吧。魔方VR把世界盛典和明星通通带回家。

3月13日魔方VR的多位高层飞往法国巴黎，与法国艺术协会敲定初步合作意向。对新事物有兴趣的朋友，请实时关注微博账号魔方VR。届时将会放出100个内测名额直播戛纳红毯，符合资格者将会受到内测邀请。

据了解，魔方VR的团队基本上都是90后的中国留学生，在海外留学生创业大潮中，作为初创公司，研发和设计时，这些年青人每天工作时间从早上6点到凌晨2点。该项目和相关技术的结合，将新媒体和内容有效结合，受到业内人士的关注，并结合时尚业、文化创意产业、影视制作业、电子游戏产业，在青年人的市场中受到追捧。（AACYF洛杉矶讯）

Governor Baker Issues Statement on the Death of Trooper Thomas Clardy

Governor Baker Issues Statement on the Death

of Trooper Thomas Clardy

BOSTON - Today, Governor Charlie Baker released the following statement regarding the passing of Trooper Thomas Clardy:

“Lauren and I are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Trooper Thomas Clardy who tragically lost his life in the line of duty. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones, fellow troopers and the entire law enforcement community during this very difficult time.”

USCIS Will Accept H-1B Petitions for Fiscal Year 2017 Beginning April 1, 2016

USCIS Will Accept H-1B Petitions for Fiscal Year 2017 Beginning April 1, 2016

USCIS Reminds Petitioners to Follow Regulatory Requirements

WASHINGTON – On April 1, 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year 2017 cap. U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in occupations that require highly specialized knowledge in fields such as science, engineering and computer programming.

The congressionally mandated cap on H-1B visas for FY 2017 is 65,000. The first 20,000 H-1B petitions filed for individuals with a U.S. master’s degree or higher are exempt from the 65,000 cap.

USCIS expects to receive more than 65,000 petitions during the first five business days of this year’s program. The agency will monitor the number of petitions received and notify the public when the H-1B cap has been met. If USCIS receives an excess of petitions during the first five business days, the agency will use a computer-generated lottery system to randomly select the number of petitions required to meet the cap. USCIS will reject all unselected petitions that are subject to the cap as well as any petitions received after the cap has closed.

Premium Processing for Cap-Subject Petitions

H-1B petitioners may still continue to request premium processing together with their H-1B petition. However, please note that USCIS has temporarily adjusted its current premium processing practice based on historic premium processing receipt levels and the possibility that the H-1B cap will be met in the first five business days of the filing season. In order to prioritize data entry for cap-subject H-1B petitions, USCIS will begin premium processing for H-1B cap-subject petitions requesting premium processing no later than May 16, 2016.

Filing Petitions

H-1B petitioners are reminded that when the temporary employment or training will be in different locations, the state where your company or organization’s primary office is located will determine where you should send your Form I-129 package, regardless of where in the United States the various worksites are located. Please ensure that when temporary employment or training will be in different locations, the address on page 1, part 1 of Form I-129 is for your organization’s primary office. Please note that when listing a “home office” as a work site location on Part 5, question 3, USCIS will consider this a separate and distinct work site location.

H-1B petitioners must follow all statutory and regulatory requirements as they prepare petitions in order to avoid delays in processing and possible requests for evidence. USCIS has developed detailed information, including an optional checklist, Form M-735, Optional Checklist for Form I-129 H-1B Filings, on how to complete and submit an FY 2017 H-1B petition. The optional checklist for FY 2017 will be available within the next week.

Cases will be considered accepted on the date USCIS receives a properly filed petition with the appropriate fees.

For more information on the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program and current Form I-129 processing times, visit the H-1B FY 2017 Cap Season Web page or call the National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 or 800-767-1833 (TDD for the hearing impaired). We encourage H-1B applicants to subscribe to the H-1B Cap Season email updates located on the H-1B FY 2017 Cap Season Web page.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Facebook (/uscis), Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

THOUSANDS OF MASSACHUSETTS DRIVERS TO RECEIVE $7.4 MILLION IN RELIEF ON HIGH-INTEREST AUTO LOANS FROM TWO LENDERS

THOUSANDS OF MASSACHUSETTS DRIVERS TO RECEIVE $7.4 MILLION IN RELIEF ON HIGH-INTEREST AUTO LOANS FROM TWO LENDERSAG’s Office Has Now Recovered More Than $12 Million for Consumers Relating to High-Interest Auto Loans

BOSTON – Two national auto lenders have agreed to provide a total of $7.4 million in relief to thousands of Massachusetts consumers over allegations they charged excessive interest rates on their subprime auto loans, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today. The AG’s Office has now recovered more than $12 million for consumers in the last several months in settlements relating to high-interest auto loans.

“There are protections in place to ensure that consumers who take out auto loans are treated fairly and not forced to pay illegal and excessive interest rates,” AG Healey said. “Our office will continue to make sure that these protections under state law are applied properly so that consumers are not exploited by predatory practices.” 

Under the terms of the assurances of discontinuance, filed Tuesday in Suffolk Superior Court, American Credit Acceptance, LLC (ACA) and Westlake Services, LLC (Westlake) have agreed to eliminate interest on certain loans they purchased that allegedly included excessive interest rates due to the inclusion of so-called GAP coverage. The lenders have also agreed to forgive outstanding interest on the loans and reimburse consumers for the interest they have already paid on the debts. 

The Attorney General’s Office has identified approximately $1.7 million in relief for ACA loans, and approximately $5.7 million in relief relating to Westlake loans. Under the settlements, additional audit work will determine if other loans are also subject to refunds. More than two thousand Massachusetts consumers will benefit from the settlements. On average, the settlement will provide each consumer with approximately $3,000 in relief. 

Under the settlements, the lenders will also pay $225,000 to pay for implementation of the agreements.

Consumers in these cases were overcharged because of GAP fees. These fees caused the effective interest rates on the loans to exceed the 21 percent state interest cap. GAP is a product that is intended to limit the shortfall between the payment on an auto insurance claim and the amount the borrower owes on a car loan in the event the financed vehicle is totaled. GAP is sold by car dealers as an add-on product and is often financed in the auto loan. 

This case is part of an ongoing subprime loan review initiative by the Attorney General’s Office. Previously, as part of this initiative, the Attorney General announced a $5.4 million settlement with Santander USA Holdings Inc. also relating to GAP fees and excessive interest.

波士頓市特別選舉選民登記截止日期 3/23

CITY OF BOSTON ISSUES VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE REMINDER FOR SPECIAL STATE PRIMARY FOR FIRST SUFFOLK AND MIDDLESEX SENATE DISTRICTS

BOSTON Individuals can register to vote either in person at City Hall's Boston Election Department room 241, at the City Hall to Go truck, by mail, online(http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/), or through the Registry of Motor Vehicles. To be qualified to register to vote, an individual must be at least 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen. The April 12 Special State Primary is not a citywide election and only includes the following areas in  Boston's 1st Suffolk and Middlesex Senate District: East Boston, All precincts ( Ward 1 Precincts 1-14), Chinatown, Downtown and the North End (Ward 3 Precincts 1-4, 6 & 8), and   Bay Village and Beacon Hill (Ward 5 Precincts 1, 3, 4, 5 & 11). For those who are already registered but have either moved recently, are interested in changing party enrollment, or other changes to their registration, those changes should be made prior to the March 23 deadline. It is also recommended those eligible to vote in the Special State Primary check their voter status to ensure that they are active. If a voter's status is inactive that is an indication that the voter did not responded to the last annual city census. Voters may also check their registration status, as well as their ward and precinct assignment online here. The Boston Election Department is currently conducting the 2016 city census and has been mailing response forms to residents, it is very important that every household be counted, and they may respond by phone, mail, or onlinehere.    For more information, voters should contact the Boston Election Department at617-635-3767, email   Election@boston.gov, follow the Boston Election Department on Twitter (at @BostonElections) and Facebook (at Boston Election Department), or visit the Boston Elections Department Boston City Hall in room 241 to receive election updates.

摩頓市將辦兩場申辦地鐵耆英查理卡說明會

摩頓市長葛帝生（Gary Christenson），麻州眾議員 Steve Ultrino將於3月22日，在摩頓耆英中心舉辦兩場“地鐵查理卡耆英套票”說明會，一場在早上10點半，一場在下午一點。

麻州眾議員Steve Ultrino及其屬下將在場協助耆英更新，申辦地鐵耆英套票。

凡年滿65歲以上耆英，有意申辦地鐵查理卡（CharlieCard）者，應攜帶有效麻州身分證或護照出席。

耆英查理卡可讓耆英以半價搭乘本地巴士，亦即原價1.6元，持卡者只要80分。搭乘市內快捷巴士，原價3.65元，持卡耆英只要2.35元，市外快捷巴士，原價5.25元，持卡耆英只要3.4元。

搭乘原價2.1元的地鐵 （MBTA），持卡耆英只要1.05元。搭通勤火車或船，都半價，到波士頓羅根國際機場也可享折扣價。

耆英也可購買名為“LinkPass“的月票。原價75元，耆英購買只需29元，可不限次數的搭乘巴士及地鐵。不過，快捷巴士、通勤火車或船都沒有折扣月票。

MBTA CharlieCard Senior Program at Senior Center

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

State Representative Steve Ultrino along with Mayor Gary Christenson will hold an MBTA CharlieCard Senior Citizen Pass Program event at the Malden Senior Center on Tuesday, March 22, 2016. There will be two one hour sessions from10:30-11:30 AM and from 1-2 PM where Representative Ultrino and his staff will help seniors renew and sign up for MBTA passes.

Senior Citizens age 65 and older, who are interested in applying for an initial Senior CharlieCard should bring a copy of a valid Massachusetts ID or Passport with them to the event. Seniors who are seeking to renew their existing Senior CharlieCard will also be accommodated.

The Senior CharlieCard allows seniors to ride local buses for 80 cents (instead of $1.60), inner express buses for $2.35 (instead of $3.65), and outer express buses for $3.40 (instead of $5.25). Seniors can also ride MBTA subway service for $1.05 (instead of $2.10) and commuter rail or boat services for 50% off the regular full fare and for a discounted fare to Boston Logan International Airport. In addition, seniors can purchase a monthly pass (good for unlimited travel on local bus and subway) for $29 (instead of $75). No discounts apply to express bus passes, commuter rail passes, or boat passes.

In short, the Senior CharlieCard gives seniors 50% off on local bus, subway, commuter rail and commuter boat services; a discounted rate for inner express buses and outer express buses; and a much cheaper monthly LinkPass for local bus and subway services.