Ciccolo Arraignment Wednesday

iBerkshires StaffPrint Story | Email Story
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The Adams man suspected of planning terrorist attacks is due back in federal court on Wednesday morning.
 
Alexander Ciccolo is set to be arraigned before Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson at 10 a.m. at U.S. District Court.
 
Ciccolo has previously been indicted on a weapons possession charge and for allegedly assaulting a nurse when he was detained at the Franklin County lockup following his July 4 arrest.
 
To date, he has not been formally charged with any terrorism offenses. However, the U.S. Attorney's evidence at a bail hearing earlier this month outlined evidence of Ciccolo's sympathy for the self-proclaimed Islamic State and the defendant's desire to execute his own terrorist attack on U.S. soil, most likely at a college or university.
 
Northampton attorney David Hoose has said that he "suspects" there will be additional charges forthcoming against the 23-year-old Ciccolo, who also has gone by the name Ali Al Amriki.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

School Budget Has Cheshire Pondering Prop 2.5 Override

By Daniel MatziBerkshires correspondent
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen voted to schedule a Proposition 2.5 override vote, a move seen as a precaution to cover funding for the Hoosac Valley Regional School District if an agreement between the school and town cannot be reached.
 
The town's 2025 fiscal year budget is still being finalized, and while budget totals were not available as of Tuesday night, town leaders have already expressed concerns regarding the HVRSD's proposed $23 million budget, which would include a $3,097,123 assessment for Cheshire, reflecting a $148,661 increase.
 
The board did share that its early budget drafts maintain most town spending at current levels and defer several projects and purchases. Chairman Shawn McGrath said with a level-funded HVRSD budget, Cheshire would face a $165,838 budget gap. He believed this was an amount the town could safely pull from free cash and reserves.
 
However, with Hoosac's proposed budget increase, this budget gap is closer to $316,000, an amount member Jason Levesque did not want to drain from the town reserves. 
 
"I am not comfortable blowing through all of the stuff we have nitpicked over the last couple of years to save up for just to meet their budget," he said. "I am not OK with that. We have way too many other things that have been kicked down the road forever and every year they always get their check cashed."
 
The Selectmen agreed the only way to meet this increase would be for the town to pass an override that would permit it to increase property taxes beyond the state's 2.5 percent cap, an action requiring approval from Cheshire residents in a townwide vote as well as town meeting approval.
 
Selectwoman Michelle Francesconi said that without an override, the town would have to cut even deeper into the municipal budget, further derailing town projects and needs.
 
View Full Story

More Adams Stories