Free Republic

Of the thousands of people I have known or covered in the Massachusetts Legislature over the years, Steve Doran of Lexington would be the last I would have expected to wind up in prison. Last week Doran, 58, a former 14-year member of the House of Representatives, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to drug charges. At one time, Doran had it all -- a lovely wife, four daughters, an extended family, a fine home, a solid reputation, good friends and an upwardly mobile political career. He threw it all away. What happened

A Boston developer, testifying publicly for the first time yesterday in an explosive pre-sentencing hearing for former Democratic state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, said he slipped the admittedly corrupt pol as much as $10,000 over the course of an eight-year friendship — and she wanted $10,000 more — before she finally went to bat for him in 2008 for his dream project of a life sciences center in Roxbury. “She did mention to me that cash would be preferable,” said businessman Azid Mohammed, who was placed on the stand at the request of Wilkerson’s defense team, in hopes of undermining the...

The state’s zoos may be shuttered and lions, giraffes, apes and other exotic animals could land on a furry death row if devastating funding cuts proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick go through, alarmed officials warned. The governor’s proposed $4 million whack would shut down Dorchester’s Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Zoo New England boss John Linehan told the Legislature in a no-nonsense letter this week. Worse yet, he warned, officials could have to unleash a tragic string of mercy killings because it would be impossible to find new homes for all 1,000 of the zoos’ fuzzy friends.

Boston-based Fidelity Investments is one of General Motors’ largest unsecured creditors, owed some $12 million for overseeing the auto giant’s pension plans and other employee benefits. GM’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition yesterday listed Fidelity as the automaker’s 26th largest creditor, with $11,980,946 due. All told, GM listed $172.8 billion in debt. Fidelity and other vendors run GM’s pensions, health insurance, workers compensation and other employee-benefit plans

US Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) is probably among the most despised members of Congress these days. As Chairman of the House Banking Committee, most people have seen his arrogant, condescending manner in various television interviews over the past several months. Well, it turns out that not everyone is upset with ol' Barney. Boston-based Fidelity Investments wants to make sure that Frank wins his next election. So a few weeks ago they "reached out" to him and threw a fund-raiser for Frank at their downtown Boston offices, netting $28,000 for Frank's campaign fund, which was reported in the Boston Herald last...

Statement by Jeff Beatty on defeating aviation terrorist attacks: Criticizes Rep. Delahunt for obstruction to airport security HARWICH - Jeff Beatty, Republican candidate for U.S. Congress issued the following statement on defeating aviation terrorist attacks. "Congratulations to the Law Enforcement, Intelligence and Security Services of Great Britain, and the United States. Today's foiling of a large-scale terror plot that had the potential to kill as many as 2,000 passengers on up to 10 aircraft over the Atlantic is a tremendous achievement! “Today, we are reminded that we were attacked before and those who would attack us will not go away-they...

Morse takes on Rep. Frank R.J. HALLIDAY Gazette Staff Writer - 02/15/2004 Chuck Morse, a conservative author and radio talk show host from Brookline, is seeking to unseat liberal Fourth District U.S. Congressman Barney Frank in November's election. "I couldn't resist the opportunity to go up against an opponent with whom I have completely opposite views ideologically, politically and philosophically," said Morse, who at 47 has never held an elective office. . . . read the rest of the story online,