Legislature Overrides Cultural Council, Kindergarten Cuts

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BOSTON — The state House and Senate voted on Wednesday to override Governor Charlie Baker's veto and restore $2.3 million in funding in the fiscal 2016 budget for the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Baker vetoed $162.8 million in line items when signing the the $38 billion budget several weeks ago. Most if not all of his vetoes were expected to be overridden by the Legislature.

Wednesday's vote restores funding for the Cultural Council to $14.16 million passed by the Legislature and means a 20 percent hike over last year's $11.8 million. The funding passed unanimously in the Senate and by 153-2 in House.


"The arts and cultural community is thrilled by the bipartisan support from the House and Senate to restore investment in the commonwealth's arts, cultural and creative sector," said MASSCreative Executive Director Matt Wilson in a statement. "This vote shows a deep faith in the work of the creative community to help build a vibrant, healthy and equitable commonwealth."

Baker said the funding was vetoed to make it consistent with his House I budget and that the increased funding was  "for programs not recommended."

The Legislature also easily restored some $17.6 million in funding for full-day kindergarten and $5 million in appropriations for the University of Massachusetts, bringing its funding up to the original $531 million.

The governor's cuts had meant a $369,000 loss in kindergarten funding for the Pittsfield school system.


Tags: Legislature,   override,   veto,   

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Dalton Man Accused of Kidnapping, Shooting Pittsfield Man

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Dalton man was arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly kidnapping and shooting another man.

Nicholas Lighten, 35, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Friday on multiple charges including kidnapping with a firearm and armed assault with intent to murder. He was booked in Dalton around 11:45 p.m. the previous night.

There was heavy police presence Thursday night in the area of Lighten's East Housatonic Street home before his arrest.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Dalton dispatch received a call from the Pittsfield Police Department requesting that an officer respond to Berkshire Medical Center. Adrian Mclaughlin of Pittsfield claimed that he was shot in the leg by Lighten after an altercation at the defendants home. Mclaughlin drove himself to the hospital and was treated and released with non-life-threatening injuries. 

"We were told that Lighten told Adrian to go down to his basement, where he told Adrian to get down on his knees and pulled out a chain," the police report reads.

"We were told that throughout the struggle with Lighten, Adrian recalls three gunshots."

Dalton PD was advised that Pittsfield had swabbed Mclaughlin for DNA because he reported biting Lighten. A bite mark was later found on Lighten's shoulder. 

Later that night, the victim reportedly was "certain, very certain" that Lighten was his assailant when shown a photo array at the hospital.

According to Dalton Police, an officer was stationed near Lighten's house in an unmarked vehicle and instructed to call over the radio if he left the residence. The Berkshire County Special Response Team was also contacted.

Lighten was under surveillance at his home from about 7:50 p.m. to about 8:40 p.m. when he left the property in a vehicle with Massachusetts plates. Another officer initiated a high-risk motor vehicle stop with the sergeant and response team just past Mill Street on West Housatonic Street, police said, and traffic was stopped on both sides of the road.

Lighten and a passenger were removed from the vehicle and detained. Police reported finding items including a brass knuckle knife, three shell casings wrapped in a rubber glove, and a pair of rubber gloves on him.

The response team entered Lighten's home at 43 East Housatonic before 9:30 p.m. for a protective sweep and cleared the residence before 9:50 p.m., police said. The residence was secured for crime scene investigators.

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