Pittsfield Man Charged With Carjacking

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LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — A Pittsfield man has been charged with carjacking following an incident Thursday in the Target parking lot at the Berkshire Mall.
 
Police say Earl N. Kirchner, 64, was arrested at the scene and also faces charges of assault and battery and assault and battery on a police officer.  
 
The carjacking is a felony and the assaults are misdemeanors. Kirchner was being held at the Berkshire County House of Corrections pending his arraignment. 
 
According to police, the carjacking attempt was called in at about 1:30 p.m. The victim told authorities that the suspect had punched and kicked him in attempting to steal his motor vehicle. The victim was able to prevent the suspect from driving away before police arrived. 
 
Officers said Kirchner kicked them while they were trying to take him into custody. However, no injuries were reported. 
 

Tags: assaults,   carjacking,   

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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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