Attorney Judith Knight Running for Berkshire District Attorney

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LEE, Mass. — Criminal defense attorney Judith Knight has formally announced her candidacy for Berkshire district attorney. 
 
Knight, a former assistant district attorney, has more than 30 years of experience in the criminal justice system prosecuting cases and defending individuals charged with crimes. 
 
She is an advocate of criminal justice reform promoting alternative sentencing for first-time non-violent offenders by imposing a stint of community service, restorative justice, or inpatient treatment for addicts instead of incarceration. Knight wants to end the school to prison pipeline and is committed to fighting the opioid crisis at all levels. 
 
"The DA of any community has to make tough decisions every day. Having tried numerous criminal cases on both sides of the criminal justice system, I have the depth and experience to make good, sound decisions that will keep our community safe and moving forward," Knight said in a statement. "I will enforce the law to keep dangerous criminals behind bars and I will create a comprehensive community outreach task force whose sole purpose is to stop the revolving door at the jail for low-level drug-related and non-violent crimes."
 
Knight said she is committed to increasing racial diversity in the district attorney’s office. She intends to raise awareness on racial bias and will require every staff person at the DA's office to be trained on implicit racial bias. 
 
"This is how change starts," Knight said. "In order to prevent further racial profiling and discrimination for communities of color, individuals at every level of the criminal justice system must educated about these issues." 
 
She said she has seen firsthand that people who are marginalized in society suffer unfairly in the criminal justice system. 
 
Knight plans to be all-inclusive working with low-income populations, the elderly, LGBTQIA, women and children who are victims of domestic abuse and sex trafficking. She will be the District Attorney that changes the way the community experiences the criminal justice system; people will know that they are being treated fairly." 
 

Tags: Democratic Party,   district attorney,   election 2018,   primary,   


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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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