<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Midnight Mass News by Mike Crawford]]></title><description><![CDATA[Massachusetts and beyond. ]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com</link><image><url>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/img/substack.png</url><title>Midnight Mass News by Mike Crawford</title><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 20:02:42 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.midnightmassnews.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[midnightmass@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[midnightmass@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[midnightmass@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[midnightmass@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Methuen, MA Mayor Requests Federal Investigation of Methuen Police Department]]></title><description><![CDATA[City Council to vote on Resolution Monday night]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/methuen-ma-mayor-requests-federal</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/methuen-ma-mayor-requests-federal</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 04 Oct 2026 16:45:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jbeq!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdef2b2e3-5446-4a6d-bb9c-71937b4f378d_1193x804.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Mayor and Councilor Seek United Front to Reopen Federal Corruption Investigation</strong></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9adVjiFKrI&amp;pp=ygUgcG9saWNlIGNoaWVmIG1ldGh1ZW4gbGFycnkgc21pdGg%3D" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jbeq!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdef2b2e3-5446-4a6d-bb9c-71937b4f378d_1193x804.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jbeq!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdef2b2e3-5446-4a6d-bb9c-71937b4f378d_1193x804.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jbeq!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdef2b2e3-5446-4a6d-bb9c-71937b4f378d_1193x804.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jbeq!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdef2b2e3-5446-4a6d-bb9c-71937b4f378d_1193x804.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jbeq!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdef2b2e3-5446-4a6d-bb9c-71937b4f378d_1193x804.jpeg" width="1193" height="804" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jbeq!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdef2b2e3-5446-4a6d-bb9c-71937b4f378d_1193x804.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jbeq!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdef2b2e3-5446-4a6d-bb9c-71937b4f378d_1193x804.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jbeq!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdef2b2e3-5446-4a6d-bb9c-71937b4f378d_1193x804.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Jbeq!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdef2b2e3-5446-4a6d-bb9c-71937b4f378d_1193x804.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon-noB79L"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><strong>METHUEN, MA</strong> &#8211; Mayor D.J. Beauregard and City Councilor Mike Simard have submitted the following letter and an accompanying joint resolution for consideration at the City Council&#8217;s October 5, 2026 meeting. The proposal calls for the Mayor and City Council to send the letter jointly to the Department of Justice, presenting a united front in seeking to reopen the federal investigation into corruption involving the former leadership of the Methuen Police Department.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>The proposed letter appears in full below.</p><p>The Honorable Leah B. Foley<br>United States Attorney<br>District of Massachusetts</p><p><strong>Re: Request to reopen the federal investigation into Methuen corruption</strong></p><p>Dear United States Attorney Foley:</p><p>We write jointly as the Mayor and City Council of the City of Methuen to ask you to reopen the federal investigation into corruption involving the former leadership of the Methuen Police Department, or direct a fresh and independent review of the evidence gathered in that investigation.</p><p>On September 18, 2026, former Police Chief Joseph Solomon pleaded guilty to all 17 charges against him, including perjury and placing the public&#8217;s safety at risk by rigging the Massachusetts Civil Service system to knowingly hire individuals to enforce the law without proper training or legitimate police academy credentials as required by law. Former City Councilor and &#8220;police officer&#8221; Sean Fountain had previously pleaded guilty in a related case involving similar charges. Their convictions establish serious criminal wrongdoing. However, they do not answer the full set of questions surrounding the 2017 police contracts, the favors that preceded or followed the approval of those contracts, Fountain&#8217;s appointment and continued service, or the conduct of others who have never faced charges.</p><p>In the City&#8217;s opinion, those questions are substantial. In February 2017, the City Council approved a contract that would have made Solomon one of the highest paid law enforcement officials in the country. During the following six months, Solomon gave police department jobs to two councilors, including Fountain, and elevated the relative of another councilor to the rank of police captain. In September, the Council approved a separate superior officers&#8217; contract containing costly provisions that City leaders did not understand. The Massachusetts Inspector General later found that Solomon and former police captain and union president Gregory Gallant put their financial interests ahead of the public&#8217;s, and that material pay provisions had been added without City leaders&#8217; knowledge.</p><p>Fountain&#8217;s case raises another set of grave questions. He masqueraded as a police officer despite lacking the required qualifications and training. A forged police academy certificate was used to conceal his lack of training and keep him on the force. He was paid at the rate of a master patrolman, allowed to work as a detective, and testified in at least one murder trial. While impersonating a duly qualified officer, he arrested and detained more than 40 people. To those deprived of their liberty, these encounters were tantamount to kidnapping. The conduct of Solomon, Fountain, and numerous other unindicted co-conspirators in the state cases has exposed the City of Methuen to potentially disastrous civil liability for years to come. We ask your office to examine the legality of those detentions, Fountain&#8217;s role in criminal investigations and prosecutions, and the conduct of everyone who enabled him to exercise police authority.</p><p>Andrea Estes&#8217;s reporting in <em>The Boston Globe</em> documented that a federal grand jury was investigating the police contracts and that prosecutors examined whether their financial consequences had been concealed from City officials. A City-commissioned investigation by the STIRM Group identified a wider pattern of alleged misconduct and raised serious questions about the roles of Gallant and former Massachusetts Police Training Committee executive director Robert Ferullo in the events surrounding Fountain&#8217;s appointment.</p><p>Despite these allegations and roughly two years of FBI investigative efforts &#8211; which were poised to result in a grand jury presentation and numerous federal indictments &#8211; City officials were informed by the Justice Department under Attorney General Merrick Garland that the federal investigation and prosecution had been abruptly shut down. It is the City&#8217;s understanding that the case, though fully ready to be presented to the grand jury, was closed and the presentation was stopped. The late Mayor Neil Perry was among the loudest voices demanding accountability. It was during the week between Mayor Perry&#8217;s death and funeral in September 2024 that the City learned that the federal case had been mysteriously abandoned without explanation.</p><p>There have since been developments that call for a fresh review. In addition to Solomon&#8217;s 17 guilty pleas, Kaylee Baker, a former employee of the Municipal Police Training Committee, has come forward with information and filed a whistleblower lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court: <em>Baker, Kaylee v. The Municipal Police Training Committee, as an Agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts</em>, Case No. 2584CV00937. The complaint contains troubling allegations and outlines additional facts that are key to the completion of this puzzle, and they warrant further examination by your office.</p><p>The STIRM Group&#8217;s detailed investigative report found that police credentials had knowingly been falsified. That report, known as the STIRM Report, is available at <a href="https://www.methuen.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4951">https://www.methuen.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4951</a>. We urge your office to review it together with the Baker complaint and the state prosecution records.</p><p>While Solomon&#8217;s admissions of guilt and subsequent incarceration represent some degree of closure, the people of Methuen still have not received a full accounting of what happened in their police department over more than a decade. We ask you to reopen the investigation and review the new evidence concerning Solomon, Fountain, Gallant, Ferullo, and any other person whose conduct warrants examination. We also ask you to consider all applicable federal laws, including fraud, public corruption, civil rights, conspiracy, and racketeering statutes, wherever the evidence and legal elements warrant.</p><p>We understand that some conduct may now be beyond the statute of limitations and that your office alone decides whether charges are warranted. We ask you &#8211; the new United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts &#8211; to examine the full record in light of the guilty pleas and the information that has since come forward. The state cases did not address every question, and the decision by the previous Justice Department leadership to close the federal investigation deserves scrutiny.</p><p>The City of Methuen will cooperate fully and provide relevant records and access to personnel. We would welcome an in-person meeting with you and ask that you let us know whether your office will undertake a renewed review, to the extent you are able.</p><p>The late Mayor Perry, retired Police Chief Scott McNamara, retired Police Captain Eric Ferreira, and many others fought to bring this conduct to light and obtain justice for Methuen&#8217;s residents and the people harmed by these crimes. Solomon&#8217;s state court guilty pleas are an important result of that work, but they should not be where the inquiry ends.</p><p>Please reopen the federal investigation and determine where the evidence leads. We look forward to hearing from you.</p><div id="youtube2-Gb8mtoIQhfY" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;Gb8mtoIQhfY&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:&quot;2s&quot;,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Gb8mtoIQhfY?start=2s&amp;rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><div id="youtube2-j9N2HQrGIwA" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;j9N2HQrGIwA&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/j9N2HQrGIwA?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><div id="youtube2--zqThFMY3eA" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;-zqThFMY3eA&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:&quot;52s&quot;,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/-zqThFMY3eA?start=52s&amp;rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><div id="youtube2-mQrSGLPN-aY" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;mQrSGLPN-aY&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:&quot;13s&quot;,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/mQrSGLPN-aY?start=13s&amp;rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Salem Police, it’s Fantasy Island restaurant and two men (your officers) are drunk and about to drive ]]></title><description><![CDATA[2019 phone call from the restaurant to the Salem PD regarding two &#8220;legless&#8221; off-duty cops. Also today, Judge amends Karen Read buffer zone order.]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/salem-police-its-fantasy-island-restaurant</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/salem-police-its-fantasy-island-restaurant</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 15 May 2025 15:30:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MC1H!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F54069e18-1f6d-4e53-84a6-bc75f7bbb562_794x343.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe 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fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3><strong>An anonymous tipster sent over audio and internal documents about an incident involving two Salem Police officers who were described as &#8220;legless&#8221; drunk at a local restaurant, Fantasy Island in 2019. </strong></h3><p>A concerned employee of the restaurant called the Salem Police about two drunk men set on driving home. </p><div id="youtube2-S7QVsoeY2mU" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;S7QVsoeY2mU&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/S7QVsoeY2mU?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0CIe!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F08721872-ac76-4efa-99c2-d793c78f8e8e_720x1130.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0CIe!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F08721872-ac76-4efa-99c2-d793c78f8e8e_720x1130.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0CIe!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F08721872-ac76-4efa-99c2-d793c78f8e8e_720x1130.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0CIe!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F08721872-ac76-4efa-99c2-d793c78f8e8e_720x1130.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0CIe!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F08721872-ac76-4efa-99c2-d793c78f8e8e_720x1130.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0CIe!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F08721872-ac76-4efa-99c2-d793c78f8e8e_720x1130.jpeg" width="720" height="1130" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0CIe!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F08721872-ac76-4efa-99c2-d793c78f8e8e_720x1130.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0CIe!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F08721872-ac76-4efa-99c2-d793c78f8e8e_720x1130.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0CIe!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F08721872-ac76-4efa-99c2-d793c78f8e8e_720x1130.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!0CIe!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F08721872-ac76-4efa-99c2-d793c78f8e8e_720x1130.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon-noB79L"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><strong>The anonymous source, who sent the audio and documents also emailed about  litigation happening now with the same two officers being named in a lawsuit filed by another Salem Police officer:</strong></p><div class="pullquote"><p><strong>&#8220;There's also a civil lawsuit in Essex County Superior Court filed by Lt. Matt Desmond that makes some accusations against Ryan, an accusation of retaliation for Desmond reporting that Ryan's drinking buddy Walker held a woman in protective custody topless.</strong></p><p><strong>And there&#8217;s more. A lot more.&#8221;</strong></p></div><h3>Sounds just like Canton. </h3><p>Speaking of Canton, check out my latest interview with Mark Bederow and Carl Steinbeck, two former Assistant District Attorneys who are now Defense attorneys. They discuss the many reasonable doubts in the Karen Read retrial. </p><div id="youtube2-ChaACfccgo0" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;ChaACfccgo0&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/ChaACfccgo0?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p>You can also listen to or watch my weekly Karen Read trial review every Friday at 1 p.m. ET on the Grace Curley show, heard locally on WRKO 680AM in Boston, nationally on The Howie Radio Network, or on the Grace Curley Show Rumble. </p><p>And some good news, earlier today, Judge Beverly Cannone was forced to amend her strict buffer zone order after a decision from the United States Court of Appeals ruled that her original order was too limiting of free speech. It now appears that journalists  reporting on the sidewalk without court approval will no longer be threatened with arrest by the Massachusetts State Police. </p><p>We will be sure to discuss <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBpv7PhxZF4">this ruling tonight on The Young Jurks at 6:30pm ET</a>. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EjFh!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c3d7133-4fc4-4339-a4fb-20554660920b_1170x1442.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EjFh!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c3d7133-4fc4-4339-a4fb-20554660920b_1170x1442.jpeg 424w, 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EjFh!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c3d7133-4fc4-4339-a4fb-20554660920b_1170x1442.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EjFh!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c3d7133-4fc4-4339-a4fb-20554660920b_1170x1442.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EjFh!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c3d7133-4fc4-4339-a4fb-20554660920b_1170x1442.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EjFh!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7c3d7133-4fc4-4339-a4fb-20554660920b_1170x1442.jpeg 1456w" sizes="auto, 100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon-noB79L"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><div id="youtube2-GBpv7PhxZF4" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;GBpv7PhxZF4&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/GBpv7PhxZF4?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Midnight Mass News by Mike Crawford is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ten random Canton citizens on Susan Harrington's landslide Select Board win]]></title><description><![CDATA[Free Karen Read movement wins seat over 30 plus year incumbent]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/ten-random-canton-residents-on-susan</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/ten-random-canton-residents-on-susan</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2025 20:47:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!EgMA!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F02b7b527-5308-4544-8812-4da43379c1d7_851x315.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://www.harringtonforcanton.com/" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" 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class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon-noB79L"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Susan Harrington&#8217;s election to the Canton Select Board on April 8, 2025, over a 30-year incumbent was influenced by local sentiment around the Karen Read case, with the "Free Karen Read" movement amplifying Harrington&#8217;s campaign. The Karen Read case, a high-profile murder trial, has polarized Canton, with most residents questioning the local police and the Select Board&#8217;s handling of it. Harrington&#8217;s platform, emphasizing transparency and accountability, aligned with these concerns, resonating with supporters of the "Free Karen Read" movement who sought to remove the old guard, including the soon-to-be-retired Police Chief Helena Rafferty. </p><h2>Quotes below are from ten random Canton citizens on their hopes and thoughts of what Susan Harrington on the Canton Select Board means for the future of the town.</h2><h4>&#8220;Susan Harrington winning meant that the town finally acknowledged our problem and voted for it when it counted. Many people are silently in the background supporting us. Susan will be a great select board member.&#8221; Kathy Gibbs McCormack</h4><p>&#8220;I supported Susan Harrington for Canton Select Board because she is candid, honest, intelligent, and hard-working. Her winning by close to two-thirds of the vote shows just how many residents, whether newer to town or here for generations, have been craving different perspectives and a fresh start. I&#8217;m most excited to see (now) two strong women listen, make tough decisions, and be nimble when tackling curves in the road ahead.&#8221; Liza Colburn</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ak6c!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9204154f-d814-466f-8d01-8ab4ac1f1c9d_457x426.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ak6c!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9204154f-d814-466f-8d01-8ab4ac1f1c9d_457x426.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ak6c!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9204154f-d814-466f-8d01-8ab4ac1f1c9d_457x426.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ak6c!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9204154f-d814-466f-8d01-8ab4ac1f1c9d_457x426.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ak6c!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9204154f-d814-466f-8d01-8ab4ac1f1c9d_457x426.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Ak6c!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9204154f-d814-466f-8d01-8ab4ac1f1c9d_457x426.jpeg" width="457" height="426" 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pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon-noB79L"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Rita Lombardi endorsed Susan Harringon</figcaption></figure></div><h3>&#8220;I proudly elected Susan Harrington for the Canton Select Board because she embodies the leadership qualities our town desperately needs. </h3><h4>After enduring extraordinary times marked by a lack of guidance, our community deserves a leader who not only listens but acts with integrity and purpose. Susan brings hope and compassion, coupled with a proven track record of effective leadership. Her commitment to the people of Canton is unwavering, and I trust in her ability to steer us toward a brighter, more unified future. Having Susan represent us means having a voice that truly reflects our concerns, dreams, and aspirations.&#8221; Rita Lombardi</h4><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Midnight Mass News by Mike Crawford is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s time for Canton to move forward. Build back trust with our neighbors, friends, and leaders of our community. Now&#8217;s the time, the time is now.&#8221; Kevin Colby</p><p>&#8220;Susan Harrington is going to be a breath of fresh air. Canton needed some drastic changes, and change begins with the first step. We are already feeling Susan&#8217;s positive impact, with the retirement of Police Chief Rafferty. One step at a time will bring Canton back to having a real sense of community.&#8221; Martin Rich</p><p>&#8220;I supported Susan Harrington for Select Board, who won in a landslide victory of historic proportions, dethroned the King of Canton, because she is the leader and visionary desperately needed in &#8220;our town" now. With her win, the Select Board better reflects the diversity that exists in Canton. We are not the Canton of days gone by filled with old white men. Susan brings a new and refreshing perspective and high integrity to the most influential board in Canton. She is level-headed and speaks up assertively with conviction about what she believes is important to bring us into the future.&#8221; Elyse Wolrich Cohen</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been fortunate enough to have known Susan Harrington for the past 20 years as our vet. When she told me she was running, I was ecstatic and knew she was exactly what the town of Canton needed. Throughout those years, I witnessed a woman with strong ethics, great intelligence, and someone who had a very thoughtful approach to any problem we had. As for everyone I know in this town, from people I&#8217;ve met through dog walking at the parks to my neighbors and friends, we are celebrating a great victory and feeling hopeful that positive change is finally starting to happen.&#8221; Kelli Pittenger</p><p>&#8220;Living in Canton has been tough over the last few years, with the town being divided. It&#8217;s crazy to think how a case can even make family members turn away from each other. Sue Harrington for the select board, she gives a vibe of hope for Canton, and we need a change. Hopeful that this will encourage the other select board members to do the right thing with upcoming votes.&#8221; Anonymous</p><p>&#8220;I voted for Sue. Canton needs to change. The good ole boys need to go. People don&#8217;t feel safe in this town.&#8221; Jack Carney</p><p>&#8216;The people of Canton are standing up and making their voices heard through the power of their vote. Change is critical for the citizens who've been intimidated for years by the powers that be. Looking forward to a united town that turns Canton from a laughingstock to a respectable, thriving community and the place everyone wants to be.&#8221; Dennis Sweeney</p><h2><strong>Jennifer McCabe on the stand</strong></h2><p>Yesterday Alan Jackson started his cross-examination of Karen Read prosecution witness, Jennifer McCabe and it went about as expected.</p><p>Tomorrow, Friday morning at 9am ET Jackson will finish his cross of McCabe, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_v8WNJZ52E">The Young Jurks will be live streaming it without commentary here. </a></p><div id="youtube2-B_v8WNJZ52E" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;B_v8WNJZ52E&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/B_v8WNJZ52E?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqzBK0GexRk&amp;t=2s">Check out yesterday&#8217;s Aidan Kearney court hearing. </a></p><div id="youtube2-sqzBK0GexRk" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;sqzBK0GexRk&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:&quot;2s&quot;,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/sqzBK0GexRk?start=2s&amp;rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqw34cmVR-4&amp;t=11s">The Young Jurks interview with criminal defense Attorney Mark Bederow</a></p><div id="youtube2-dqw34cmVR-4" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;dqw34cmVR-4&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:&quot;11s&quot;,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/dqw34cmVR-4?start=11s&amp;rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><h3><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqBhq-ydo88&amp;t=9s">Jean from Dorchester, July 1, 2024 call-in to The Young Jurks</a>. Jean recently signed an affidavit in support of Aidan Kearney. </h3><div id="youtube2-wqBhq-ydo88" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;wqBhq-ydo88&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:&quot;9s&quot;,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/wqBhq-ydo88?start=9s&amp;rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Today's DOJ Press Conference transcript on the arrest of a fired Stoughton Police officer]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sandra Birchmore was found dead in her Canton home on Feb 4, 2021]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/todays-doj-press-conference-transcript</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/todays-doj-press-conference-transcript</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Aug 2024 03:42:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HMXo!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a89a489-b935-42a9-8fed-c8f3a4a0f550_1170x660.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCpB50XoHzA&amp;t=2519s" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HMXo!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a89a489-b935-42a9-8fed-c8f3a4a0f550_1170x660.jpeg 424w, 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data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/1a89a489-b935-42a9-8fed-c8f3a4a0f550_1170x660.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:660,&quot;width&quot;:1170,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:495912,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCpB50XoHzA&amp;t=2519s&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!HMXo!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1a89a489-b935-42a9-8fed-c8f3a4a0f550_1170x660.jpeg 424w, 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20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon-noB79L"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3><strong>DOJ Press Conference</strong></h3><h4>Joshua S. Levy</h4><h4>Acting US Attorney</h4><h4>District of Massachusetts</h4><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Midnight Mass by Mike Crawford is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div id="youtube2-TCpB50XoHzA" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;TCpB50XoHzA&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:&quot;2519s&quot;,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/TCpB50XoHzA?start=2519s&amp;rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p>Good afternoon. On February 4, 2021, Sandra Birchmore was found dead in her Canton, Massachusetts apartment. The charges &#64257;led today in federal court allege that she was murdered by Matthew Farwell three days earlier. At the time of her death, Sandra Birchmore was a 23-year-old woman with her entire life ahead of her, and she was pregnant with her &#64257;rst child. We allege that Sandra Birchmore survived years of grooming, statutory rape, and then sexual violence&#8212;all at the hands of Matthew Farwell, who was employed throughout their relationship as an o&#64259;cer, and then detective, for the Stoughton Police Department. And when it became clear to Mr. Farwell that he could no longer control Sandra Birchmore, he allegedly silenced her. </p><p>Permanently.</p><p>This morning, Matthew Farwell was arrested on a federal grand jury indictment charging him with one count of killing a witness or victim. Speci&#64257;cally, Mr. Farwell is charged with violating</p><p>Title 18 United States Code 1512 for killing Sandra Birchmore with the intent of preventing her from communicating information about his possible commission of federal crimes.</p><p>How did this all unfold? What happened here? Well, back in 2010, a 12-year-old Sandra Birchmore applied to join the Stoughton Police Department&#8217;s Explorers Program, which introduces teens to policing. O&#64259;cer Matthew Farwell was an instructor in that program, and as alleged in court documents, he befriended Sandra Birchmore. Contacted her online, went to the library with her, became friends on Facebook&#8212;essentially, groomed her. And then he committed statutory rape by having sex with her when he was a 27-year-old police o&#64259;cer, and she was just 15 years old.</p><p>Mr. Farwell continued to have a sexual relationship with Sandra Birchmore until her death 8 years later, allegedly meeting her for sex regularly when he was on-duty and being paid by the Stoughton Police Department. Now in the weeks leading up to Sandra Birchmore&#8217;s death in February 2021, she found out that she was expecting a baby, and she told Mr. Farwell that he was the father. According to court documents, Miss Birchmore was very excited about becoming a mother. Buying baby clothes and other items, taking precautions to ensure the health of her new child.</p><p>Sandra Birchmore had good friends, she had a good job, she had dreams of becoming a nurse, and she had a child on the way. But Mr. Farwell did not share in that excitement. It&#8217;s alleged that Mr. Farwell reacted quite negatively to the news that Sandra Birchmore was pregnant with his child. And he acted angrily, it is alleged, when Sandra Birchmore began making requests of Mr. Farwell around doctor&#8217;s appointments, and ultrasounds, and what information would be on the birth certi&#64257;cate. Mr. Farwell was losing control in late 2020/early 2021, and the information that Sandra Birchmore possessed about his illegal conduct was in danger of slipping out.</p><p>In fact, word started to get out about their relationship. Less than two weeks before she was found dead, someone called the Stoughton Police Department and disclosed that Matthew Farwell had had a relationship with Sandra Birchmore. And when Mr. Farwell learned about that&#8212;that call&#8212;he became visibly angry. Mr. Farwell, it is alleged in these court papers; started to lose his patience, lose his temper&#8230;and the 6&#8217;4&#8221; Mr. Farwell started to be physically violent with 4&#8217;10&#8221; Sandra Birchmore.</p><p>Sandra Birchmore told her friends that Mr. Farwell had pushed her, and shoved her, and put her in a chokehold. She was scared. And during that same time Mr. Farwell was allegedly planning Sandra Birchmore&#8217;s murder. For the &#64257;rst time he requested a key to her apartment, and she told friends that he was oddly inspecting the apartment and looking at the closet, including the closet that she was found dead in front of. And then it all came to a head-on February 1, 2021. </p><p>Mr. Farwell went over to her apartment that evening, and he strangled</p><p>Sandra Birchmore to death. That&#8217;s the allegation in this case. And he used his knowledge and experience as a law enforcement o&#64259;cer to stage her death to look like a suicide. He allegedly attempted to cover his tracks to literally try and get away with murder. And he almost did, until today.</p><p>Back in 2021, with the information that was available, Sandra Birchmore&#8217;s death was ruled a suicide, or deemed a suicide. But over the last year or so, the FBI and our o&#64259;ce have been working exhaustively with our state partners. We&#8217;ve uncovered critical new information, and examined the existing information, all of which led to this federal grand jury indictment. If convicted on this charge, Mr. Farwell faces a minimum of life imprisonment.</p><p>Giving voice to the voiceless. Ensuring that no one is above the law. Protecting the vulnerable people of Massachusetts. That&#8217;s the highest calling of people in law enforcement, and this case represents those principles. And every day across Massachusetts, thousands of police o&#64259;cers&#8212;federal, state and local law enforcement&#8212;put their lives on the line to protect the people of Massachusetts. Mr. Farwell violated those principles, and now he faces very grave consequences.</p><p>It is disheartening to have to charge law enforcement o&#64259;cers, especially with crimes this serious. But it&#8217;s our job at the Department of Justice to investigate potential crimes without fear, and without favor. We do in this o&#64259;ce what we&#8217;ve been doing for decades with our federal partners like the FBI: we follow the facts regardless of where they lead, and we apply the law and the principles of federal prosecution&#8212;full stop.</p><p>We are not in&#64258;uenced by social media chatter. We are not in&#64258;uenced by politics. We&#8217;re in&#64258;uenced by the facts and the law. Our mission is to do our level best to do justice in every case, and our mission today is to do justice for Sandra Birchmore.</p><p>I want to note that we are sharing the information and the evidence that we developed in this case with the Norfolk County District Attorney&#8217;s O&#64259;ce, with the Massachusetts State Police, and with the Massachusetts Attorney General&#8217;s O&#64259;ce; so they can assess whether state charges may be warranted in this situation. I want to thank those three agencies, and I also want to thank the Stoughton Police Department for their assistance in our investigation.</p><p>Lastly, I want to commend the women and the men of the FBI Boston and Lakeville for their incredible work on this case. This was a dogged investigation, and as you look at the court papers you&#8217;ll see exactly how much work has gone into this matter. A huge credit to them, and I particularly want the members of my o&#64259;ce&#8212;the o&#64259;ce I&#8217;m proud to lead. The victim witness advocates; the paralegals; the chief of our Human Tra&#64259;cking and Civil Rights Unit, Liz Riley;</p><p>Assistant United States Attorneys Torey Cummings and Brian Fogerty&#8212;this case doesn&#8217;t happen without their passion for justice. They deserve the credit, not me. And now I want to turn it over to Steve Kelleher, the Assistant Special Agent in charge of FBI Boston.</p><div id="youtube2-OY1dM6tb5C4" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;OY1dM6tb5C4&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/OY1dM6tb5C4?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Midnight Mass by Mike Crawford is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Speak up for cannabis workers at Friday's CCC hearing!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Also check out our latest episodes on Free Karen Read]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/speak-up-for-cannabis-workers-at</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/speak-up-for-cannabis-workers-at</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 07 Sep 2023 19:33:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!keA7!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F37759a28-a572-471d-b9ce-9eb71837b8a3_1170x1023.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://www.masscosh.org/" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!keA7!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F37759a28-a572-471d-b9ce-9eb71837b8a3_1170x1023.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!keA7!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F37759a28-a572-471d-b9ce-9eb71837b8a3_1170x1023.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!keA7!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F37759a28-a572-471d-b9ce-9eb71837b8a3_1170x1023.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!keA7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F37759a28-a572-471d-b9ce-9eb71837b8a3_1170x1023.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!keA7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F37759a28-a572-471d-b9ce-9eb71837b8a3_1170x1023.jpeg" width="464" height="405.7025641025641" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/37759a28-a572-471d-b9ce-9eb71837b8a3_1170x1023.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1023,&quot;width&quot;:1170,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:464,&quot;bytes&quot;:133020,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https://www.masscosh.org/&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!keA7!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F37759a28-a572-471d-b9ce-9eb71837b8a3_1170x1023.jpeg 424w, 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20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon-noB79L"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h1>Massachusetts Cannabis Control Public Comment on Friday!</h1><p>If you are a resident of Massachusetts, I strongly encourage folks to sign up to testify or submit written comments at the CCC public hearing THIS<a href="https://masscannabiscontrol.com/events/public-hearing-september-8-2023/?occurrence=2023-09-08"> Friday at 10am</a>. The hearing will receive public comment on the proposed regulations that will change the agency&#8217;s oversight of host community agreements (HCAs) and municipal equity requirements <em>(for specific language on the draft regulations click<a href="https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2022/Chapter180"> HERE</a>).&nbsp;</em></p><h4><strong>What to say:&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>A team at MassCOSH is working together to draft specific recommendations on what we encourage this coalition to recommend to the board in their testimonies.&nbsp;</p><h4><strong>How to sign up:&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>Sign up to testify virtually or in person using this form: <a href="https://cannabiscontrol.formstack.com/forms/ccc_public_hearing_testimony_signup">https://cannabiscontrol.formstack.com/forms/ccc_public_hearing_testimony_signup</a> Otherwise, written public comment will be accepted through 5pm on September 8<sup>th</sup> and must be sent to <a href="mailto:Commission@CCCMass.com">Commission@CCCMass.com</a></p><p>Ultimately our goal is to center worker health and safety on every front in the cannabis industry!</p><p>Our core recommendations include developing an <strong>illness and injury prevention program </strong>at the CCC.&nbsp; This would include:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p>Ensuring that the core training for vendors and employees includes a curriculum that covers worker health and safety and hazard recognition and control.&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>Technical assistance to social equity recipients and small businesses around health and safety program implementation</p></li><li><p>Require common language on model host community agreements that include health and safety standards.</p><div><hr></div></li></ul><h3>Also on Friday night at 8pm, don&#8217;t miss our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwMqAX7NX9M">latest The Young Jurks live show</a> discussing the FREE KAREN READ movement!</h3><p>Big thank you to all our new supporters and guests for this past week&#8217;s episodes which are now our most viewed/listened to episodes of all time.&nbsp;</p><h4><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3buuZDjv85aMDZePiHx7jT">Retired DEA Agent on why he supports Free Karen Read!</a></h4><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3buuZDjv85aMDZePiHx7jT" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZdKZ!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f1222a8-03d6-4c87-9516-18acb369acb7_1170x1162.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZdKZ!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f1222a8-03d6-4c87-9516-18acb369acb7_1170x1162.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZdKZ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f1222a8-03d6-4c87-9516-18acb369acb7_1170x1162.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZdKZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f1222a8-03d6-4c87-9516-18acb369acb7_1170x1162.jpeg 1456w" sizes="auto, 100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZdKZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f1222a8-03d6-4c87-9516-18acb369acb7_1170x1162.jpeg" width="406" height="403.2239316239316" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5f1222a8-03d6-4c87-9516-18acb369acb7_1170x1162.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1162,&quot;width&quot;:1170,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:406,&quot;bytes&quot;:267734,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https://open.spotify.com/episode/3buuZDjv85aMDZePiHx7jT&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZdKZ!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f1222a8-03d6-4c87-9516-18acb369acb7_1170x1162.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZdKZ!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f1222a8-03d6-4c87-9516-18acb369acb7_1170x1162.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZdKZ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f1222a8-03d6-4c87-9516-18acb369acb7_1170x1162.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ZdKZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f1222a8-03d6-4c87-9516-18acb369acb7_1170x1162.jpeg 1456w" sizes="auto, 100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon-noB79L"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Sean McDonough AKA Sean Onthegulf was born in Boston with Canton roots. He&#8217;s a 1975 Canton High School graduate and is also a retired Supervisory Agent with the DEA.</p><p>His last DEA assignment was in Bogota, Colombia where he supervised all money laundering investigations for the DEA, which he says was one of his best assignments. He retired with the DEA after 28 years with previous assignments in Washington DC, Massachusetts, Texas, Peru, Florida, and Venezuela.</p><p>Sean also worked for the US Capitol Police, in DC and with the Arlington County Police Department in Arlington, VA where he was assigned as a CSI Agent.</p><p>McDonough has noted that with the John O'Keefe/Karen Read investigation, all the (law enforcement) protocols were flat-out ignored and deviated from.</p><p>He posted a viral social media letter to Canton Police Chief Rafferty asking her 17 questions with his name and law enforcement bonafides. He&#8217;s still waiting for a response.</p><p>McDonough firmly believes that Karen Read is innocent based on all the reports he&#8217;s read and questions how the evidence was found, collected, and processed.</p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trulieve Holyoke NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Young Jurks live with two guests from MassCOSH, Massachusetts Council for Occupational Safety and Health discussing an upcoming NIOSH (the feds) Health Hazard Evaluation at Trulieve Holyoke.]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/trulieve-holyoke-niosh-health-hazard-d91</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/trulieve-holyoke-niosh-health-hazard-d91</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 20 May 2023 00:34:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/122602354/2032ffcf51210d327bbf0255ba771739.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Young Jurks live with two guests from MassCOSH, Massachusetts Council for Occupational Safety and Health discussing an upcoming NIOSH (the feds) Health Hazard Evaluation at Trulieve Holyoke. Our guests are Nancy Lessin and Elise Pechter. MassCOSH.org --- Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[MA CCC Chair Shannon O'Brien]]></title><description><![CDATA[Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Chair Shannon O'Brien is live with The Young Jurks discussing worker safety, equity in cannabis, resuming in-person CCC hearings and much more.]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/ma-ccc-chair-shannon-obrien-953</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/ma-ccc-chair-shannon-obrien-953</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 03 May 2023 00:12:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/122602355/483b3fc39f6796393068ea55ae47e9bb.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Chair Shannon O'Brien is live with The Young Jurks discussing worker safety, equity in cannabis, resuming in-person CCC hearings and much more. We also take phone calls from RiverRun Gardens owner, Ed DeSousa, David Rabinovitz, and MA Cannabis Control Commissioner Kimberly Roy. --- Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trulieve named Dirty Dozen employer, MA CCC Chair on our podcast, The Nation cover, and our Cannabis Workers Awards Event!]]></title><description><![CDATA[The cannabis worker safety movement heats up]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/trulieve-named-dirty-dozen-employer</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/trulieve-named-dirty-dozen-employer</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 01 May 2023 19:56:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qTu_!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fde4676cb-4522-4ce1-a66f-9b297402845d_1080x1434.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://theshoestring.org/2023/05/01/growing-danger-the-dark-side-of-working-in-the-weed-industry/" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qTu_!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fde4676cb-4522-4ce1-a66f-9b297402845d_1080x1434.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qTu_!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fde4676cb-4522-4ce1-a66f-9b297402845d_1080x1434.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qTu_!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fde4676cb-4522-4ce1-a66f-9b297402845d_1080x1434.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qTu_!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fde4676cb-4522-4ce1-a66f-9b297402845d_1080x1434.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qTu_!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fde4676cb-4522-4ce1-a66f-9b297402845d_1080x1434.jpeg" width="628" height="833.8444444444444" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/de4676cb-4522-4ce1-a66f-9b297402845d_1080x1434.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1434,&quot;width&quot;:1080,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:628,&quot;bytes&quot;:152176,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https://theshoestring.org/2023/05/01/growing-danger-the-dark-side-of-working-in-the-weed-industry/&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qTu_!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fde4676cb-4522-4ce1-a66f-9b297402845d_1080x1434.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qTu_!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fde4676cb-4522-4ce1-a66f-9b297402845d_1080x1434.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qTu_!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fde4676cb-4522-4ce1-a66f-9b297402845d_1080x1434.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qTu_!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fde4676cb-4522-4ce1-a66f-9b297402845d_1080x1434.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon-noB79L"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>It&#8217;s an exciting time for supporters of cannabis worker safety. This last week, a national worker safety organization and their local chapter highlighted the cannabis worker safety issue and are organizing and rallying to bring changes to the Massachusetts cannabis industry. In addition, a national print magazine, <em>The Nation</em> put the cannabis worker safety issue on their latest cover and quoted our work directly. Also this week, MA Cannanis Chair, Shannon O&#8217;Brien will be joining our podcast/show as a guest on Tuesday night. Additionally on Sunday night, our first-ever Cannabis Workers Awards. As if that isn&#8217;t enough, Harvard University also hosted a cannabis worker safety event earlier today.&nbsp;</p><p>Let&#8217;s hit all of these latest developments.</p><div><hr></div><h3>National COSH and MASSCOSH cast a spotlight on cannabis worker safety&nbsp;</h3><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://nationalcosh.org/Dirty_Dozen" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8XZ!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91d6b4e6-6c15-4044-8414-036ee0ae7122_1080x1133.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8XZ!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91d6b4e6-6c15-4044-8414-036ee0ae7122_1080x1133.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8XZ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91d6b4e6-6c15-4044-8414-036ee0ae7122_1080x1133.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8XZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91d6b4e6-6c15-4044-8414-036ee0ae7122_1080x1133.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8XZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91d6b4e6-6c15-4044-8414-036ee0ae7122_1080x1133.jpeg" width="672" height="704.9777777777778" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/91d6b4e6-6c15-4044-8414-036ee0ae7122_1080x1133.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:false,&quot;imageSize&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:1133,&quot;width&quot;:1080,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:672,&quot;bytes&quot;:129736,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https://nationalcosh.org/Dirty_Dozen&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8XZ!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91d6b4e6-6c15-4044-8414-036ee0ae7122_1080x1133.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8XZ!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91d6b4e6-6c15-4044-8414-036ee0ae7122_1080x1133.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8XZ!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91d6b4e6-6c15-4044-8414-036ee0ae7122_1080x1133.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b8XZ!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F91d6b4e6-6c15-4044-8414-036ee0ae7122_1080x1133.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon-noB79L"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Last week, Trulieve Cannabis was named one of this year&#8217;s<a href="https://nationalcosh.org/Dirty_Dozen"> &#8220;Dirty Dozen&#8221; Employers</a> by the National Council of Safety and Health with their local chapter holding an event outside the State House on Friday.&nbsp;</p><p>Lorna McMurrey's mother joined <a href="https://www.masscosh.org/">Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety &amp; Health</a> (MASSCOSH) and the AFL/CIO in Boston to memorialize local workers who have died. Check out the new MASSCOSH report, <a href="https://www.masscosh.org/publications/featured-articles/new-report-dangerous-jobs-killed-51-workers-massachusetts-last-year">&#8220;Dangerous Jobs Killed 51 Workers in Massachusetts Last Year</a><strong><a href="https://www.masscosh.org/publications/featured-articles/new-report-dangerous-jobs-killed-51-workers-massachusetts-last-year">&#8221;</a></strong></p><p>McMurrey who was only 27 years old passed away after a work shift at Trulieve in Holyoke, Massachusetts, from asthma attacks that seem to have been caused by inhaling ground cannabis dust at work.</p><div id="youtube2-O9hk0JHY5Uo" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;O9hk0JHY5Uo&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/O9hk0JHY5Uo?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><div><hr></div><h3>T<em>he Nation,</em> &#8220;Growing Danger&#8221; cover story!</h3><p>Our Lorna McMurrey Trulieve coverage is quoted in <a href="https://theshoestring.org/2023/05/01/growing-danger-the-dark-side-of-working-in-the-weed-industry/">the latest issue of </a><em><a href="https://theshoestring.org/2023/05/01/growing-danger-the-dark-side-of-working-in-the-weed-industry/">The Nation </a></em><a href="https://theshoestring.org/2023/05/01/growing-danger-the-dark-side-of-working-in-the-weed-industry/">magazine</a>.</p><div class="pullquote"><p>Some excerpts from the cover article: </p><p>Rivers, who has, as of this writing, successfully<a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/22/marijuana/trulieve-ceo-kim-rivers-arrives-mass-amid-union-push/"> stalled</a> unionization attempts by workers at several Trulieve facilities in Massachusetts, made over $8 million in total compensation in 2021, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>*McMurrey&#8217;s death at the Trulieve facility went unreported in the press for most of 2022, until Mike Crawford broke the story that September on his podcast <em>The Young Jurks</em>. It was hardly the first time that Crawford, a veteran cannabis activist whose podcast covers the politics of the industry, has reported on such workplace concerns. &#8220;Just talking to these workers, their safety is not the priority,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Crawford noted that weed workers have told him about health concerns ranging from rashes to respiratory problems. &#8220;When the new workers come into the shop, the first thing that they have to tell them is, &#8216;Be prepared. You can go get some antihistamine, go get some [over-the-counter] medication, or go to the doctor,&#8217;&#8221; Crawford said. &#8220;Some people are sticking paper towels up their noses.&#8221;</p></div><h2>CCC Chair to join us as a guest on <em>The Young Jurks!</em></h2><p>Massachusetts Cannabis Control Chair Shannon O&#8217;Brien to join us as a guest, <em>The Young Jurks</em> live show and podcast on Tuesday night at 6:30 pm!</p><p>Taking your phone calls and questions! Watch live on our <a href="http://twitter.com/theyoungjurks">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1566144287242123">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/events/7057723301653008384/">Linkedin</a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1zF80q5AM8">youtube</a>.&nbsp;</p><div id="youtube2-Y1zF80q5AM8" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;Y1zF80q5AM8&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Y1zF80q5AM8?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><div><hr></div><h3><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-young-jurks-awards-show-tickets-581018852027?aff=ebdssbdestsearch">Please join us to honor local workers! The Young Jurks Cannabis Workers Awards Show</a></h3><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-young-jurks-awards-show-tickets-581018852027?aff=ebdssbdestsearch" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rLC7!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff73d4297-feb6-4b57-972f-8aa68d4f230d_1170x586.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rLC7!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff73d4297-feb6-4b57-972f-8aa68d4f230d_1170x586.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rLC7!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff73d4297-feb6-4b57-972f-8aa68d4f230d_1170x586.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rLC7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff73d4297-feb6-4b57-972f-8aa68d4f230d_1170x586.jpeg 1456w" sizes="auto, 100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rLC7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff73d4297-feb6-4b57-972f-8aa68d4f230d_1170x586.jpeg" width="1170" height="586" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f73d4297-feb6-4b57-972f-8aa68d4f230d_1170x586.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:586,&quot;width&quot;:1170,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:166374,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-young-jurks-awards-show-tickets-581018852027?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rLC7!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff73d4297-feb6-4b57-972f-8aa68d4f230d_1170x586.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rLC7!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff73d4297-feb6-4b57-972f-8aa68d4f230d_1170x586.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rLC7!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff73d4297-feb6-4b57-972f-8aa68d4f230d_1170x586.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!rLC7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff73d4297-feb6-4b57-972f-8aa68d4f230d_1170x586.jpeg 1456w" sizes="auto, 100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon-noB79L"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Sunday, May 7th at<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-young-jurks-awards-show-tickets-581018852027?aff=ebdssbdestsearch"> The Rockwell,</a> Somerville, MA</p><p>Hosted by Mike Crawford with Drew Weisse (UFCW 1459), Danny Carson, Caroline Pineau (Stem Haverhill) Ed DeSousa (RiverRun Gardens) and Saskia Vann James (MRCC). With live music from<a href="https://theteezers.bandcamp.com/"> The Teezers</a></p><p>Sponsored by<a href="https://ufcw1459.com"> UFCW 1459</a>,<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mohawkglass"> </a><a href="https://www.ufcwlocal1445.org/">UFCW 1455</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mohawkglass">Mohawk Glass</a>,<a href="https://massreccouncil.com/"> Massachusetts Recreational Consumer Council,</a><a href="http://riverrungardens.com"> RiverRun Gardens,</a> and<a href="https://stemhaverhill.com/"> Stem Haverhill,</a>&nbsp;</p><p>Venue: The Rockwell, 255 Elm Street, Somerville, MA</p><h4><strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-young-jurks-awards-show-tickets-581018852027?aff=ebdssbdestsearch">Buy tickets/support the Cannabis Workers Awards here!</a></strong></h4><h4>Half of any profits (if any) from this event will be distributed to <a href="https://midnightmass.substack.com/p/cannabis-workers-awards-nominations">special honorees</a> with the remainder to directly support <em>The Young Jurks!</em></h4><p>This Awards Show is free for cannabis workers that show their state agent badge or photo of their badge at the door.</p><div><hr></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h3>Also earlier today, the Harvard School of Public Health hosted a seminar on cannabis worker safety. </h3><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!V4_2!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfa3fe18-634f-48a3-9ed8-086702a3a080_1080x1372.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!V4_2!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfa3fe18-634f-48a3-9ed8-086702a3a080_1080x1372.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!V4_2!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfa3fe18-634f-48a3-9ed8-086702a3a080_1080x1372.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!V4_2!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfa3fe18-634f-48a3-9ed8-086702a3a080_1080x1372.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!V4_2!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfa3fe18-634f-48a3-9ed8-086702a3a080_1080x1372.jpeg 1456w" sizes="auto, 100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!V4_2!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfa3fe18-634f-48a3-9ed8-086702a3a080_1080x1372.jpeg" width="512" height="650.4296296296296" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/dfa3fe18-634f-48a3-9ed8-086702a3a080_1080x1372.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1372,&quot;width&quot;:1080,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:512,&quot;bytes&quot;:177549,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!V4_2!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfa3fe18-634f-48a3-9ed8-086702a3a080_1080x1372.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!V4_2!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfa3fe18-634f-48a3-9ed8-086702a3a080_1080x1372.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!V4_2!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfa3fe18-634f-48a3-9ed8-086702a3a080_1080x1372.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!V4_2!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fdfa3fe18-634f-48a3-9ed8-086702a3a080_1080x1372.jpeg 1456w" sizes="auto, 100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon-noB79L"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trulieve workers speak out on racial discrimination settlement]]></title><description><![CDATA[Trulieve workers speak out on racial discrimination settlement, layoffs, immigration abuse, dangerous work conditions including a shooting, and much more...]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/trulieve-workers-speak-out-on-racial-d60</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/trulieve-workers-speak-out-on-racial-d60</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 24 Apr 2023 01:27:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/122602356/23de2684548807b3e2e5d183a3e9aeab.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Trulieve workers speak out on racial discrimination settlement, layoffs, immigration abuse, dangerous work conditions including a shooting, and much more... --- Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Violence: Black cannabis business owners speak out on Massachusetts]]></title><description><![CDATA["One of the most horrific events I've had to experience", Maur Stringer.]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/violence-black-cannabis-business-0ee</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/violence-black-cannabis-business-0ee</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 22 Apr 2023 01:19:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/122602357/6ccfc8002110115224f9bedc946e5367.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>"One of the most horrific events I've had to experience", Maur Stringer. We've just released a video of an assault at NECANN. After Grant Smith and Harry/Big Hope Project made crazy accusations against Maur Stringer, they didn't want to release the video that we have released. The video shows Stringer AKA MassMother Mari getting jumped by three men all associated with Big Hope Project. And then two of the men filed restraining orders against Stringer. The video vindicates Stringer but the damage has been done. Our guests are all black business owners speaking about harassment and crazy bs they have had to recently endure: Maur Stringer of Shakti Green Lit and Sieh "Chief" and Leah Samura, the husband and wife owners of Yamba Market, a retail dispensary in Central Square, Cambridge, MA. https://yambamarket.com https://shaktigreenlit.com/ Young Jurks Cannabis Workers Awards https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-young-jurks-awards-show-tickets-581018852027?aff=ebdssbdestsearch --- Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wiz Khalifa responds to our Trulieve human trafficking allegations?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Does Wiz Khalifa respond to our Trulieve human trafficking allegations?]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/wiz-khalifa-responds-to-our-trulieve-30e</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/wiz-khalifa-responds-to-our-trulieve-30e</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 10 Apr 2023 00:49:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/122602358/381e4e42b4b84b6c697c0befed3b1f72.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Does Wiz Khalifa respond to our Trulieve human trafficking allegations? Trulieve green card holders weren&#8217;t told that a Trulieve job would cause them to be deported. --- Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cannabis Workers Awards Nominations]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Young Jurks to host cannabis worker event in Somerville on Sunday, May 7th]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/cannabis-workers-awards-nominations</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/cannabis-workers-awards-nominations</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 28 Mar 2023 12:42:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BA6r!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F943f53db-43fe-4f3d-8825-d73a8e4ed873_1920x1201.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-young-jurks-awards-show-tickets-581018852027?aff=ebdssbdestsearch" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BA6r!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F943f53db-43fe-4f3d-8825-d73a8e4ed873_1920x1201.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BA6r!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F943f53db-43fe-4f3d-8825-d73a8e4ed873_1920x1201.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BA6r!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F943f53db-43fe-4f3d-8825-d73a8e4ed873_1920x1201.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BA6r!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F943f53db-43fe-4f3d-8825-d73a8e4ed873_1920x1201.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BA6r!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F943f53db-43fe-4f3d-8825-d73a8e4ed873_1920x1201.png" width="618" height="386.67445054945057" 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https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BA6r!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F943f53db-43fe-4f3d-8825-d73a8e4ed873_1920x1201.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BA6r!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F943f53db-43fe-4f3d-8825-d73a8e4ed873_1920x1201.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BA6r!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F943f53db-43fe-4f3d-8825-d73a8e4ed873_1920x1201.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon-noB79L"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image buttonBase-GK1x3M"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2 icon-noB79L"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h1><strong><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-young-jurks-awards-show-tickets-581018852027?aff=ebdssbdestsearch">The Young Jurks Cannabis Workers Awards Show</a></strong></h1><h1>Sunday, May 7th at <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-young-jurks-awards-show-tickets-581018852027?aff=ebdssbdestsearch">The Rockwell, </a>Somerville, MA</h1><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.midnightmassnews.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>Hosted by Mike Crawford with Drew Weisse (UFCW 1459), Danny Carson, Ed DeSousa (RiverRun Gardens) Saskia Vann James (MRCC), and more TBA. With live music from <a href="https://theteezers.bandcamp.com/">The Teezers</a></p><p>Sponsored by <a href="https://ufcw1459.com">UFCW 1459</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mohawkglass">Mohawk Glass</a>, <a href="https://massreccouncil.com/">Massachusetts Recreational Consumer Council,</a> <a href="http://riverrungardens.com">RiverRun Gardens,</a> <a href="https://stemhaverhill.com/">Stem Haverhill,</a> and more TBA.</p><p>Venue: The Rockwell, 255 Elm Street, Somerville, MA</p><p><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-young-jurks-awards-show-tickets-581018852027?aff=ebdssbdestsearch">Buy tickets/support the Cannabis Workers Awards here!</a></p><p>For sponsor inquiries, email us at mjcboston1@yahoo.com</p><h3><strong>Half of any profits (if any) from this event will be distributed to special honorees with the remainder to directly support THE YOUNG JURKS.</strong></h3><h4><strong>Award Categories:</strong></h4><p>Occupational Safety Award</p><p>Labor Organizer Award</p><p>Community Action Award</p><p>Worker Solidarity Award</p><p>Public Service Award</p><p>Public Policy Award</p><p>Stem Haverhill Worker Award</p><p>Public Policy Award</p><p>The KOP Award, a memorial to Michael Malta, Mike Crawford&#8217;s best friend who passed away in 2013</p><p>Special Remembrance of Lorna McMurrey.</p><h3><strong>Awards and Nominees:</strong></h3><h4>OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AWARD</h4><p>Danny Carson</p><p>Tess Eidem</p><p>Anne Hassel</p><p>Dave Howard (DEATH OF A TRIMMER, LEAFLY)</p><p>Tom Lauerman (FARMER TOM)</p><p>Shannon O&#8217;Brien (MA CCC CHAIR)</p><p>Brenda Quintana (MA COALITION FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY &amp; HEALTH)</p><p></p><h4>LABOR ORGANIZER AWARD</h4><p>Danny Carson</p><p>Aidan Coffey (UFCW)</p><p>Fabricio DaSilva (UFCW 1445)</p><p>Hugh Giardano (UFCW)</p><p>Cam Keyes (UFCW 1445)</p><p>Fernando Lemus (UFCW 1445)</p><p>Maddi Woodhams</p><p>Drew Weisse (UFCW 1459)</p><p></p><h4>COMMUNITY ACTION AWARD</h4><p>Danny Carson</p><p>Aidan Coffey (UFCW)</p><p>Warren Lynch</p><p>Stephen Mandile</p><p>Kim Napoli</p><p>Shannon O&#8217;Brien (MA CCC Chair)</p><p>Lauren Pespisa (@SPLENDIDSPOON)</p><p>Shaleen Title (PARABOLA CENTER)</p><p>Saskia Vann James (MRCC)</p><p></p><h4>WHISTLEBLOWER AWARD</h4><p>Danny Carson</p><p>Anne Hassel</p><p>Cassidy Givens</p><p>Kelli Heist</p><p>Meghan LaJeunesse</p><p>Alex Miller</p><p>James from Florida</p><p></p><h4>WORKER SOLIDARITY AWARD</h4><p>Babz Carrapichano</p><p>Danny Carson</p><p>Dusty Christensen (@DUSTYC123 ON TWITTER)</p><p>Cassidy Givens</p><p>Kelli Heist</p><p>Anne Hassel</p><p>Dave Howard (DEATH OF A TRIMMER, LEAFLY)</p><p>Meghan LaJeunesse</p><p>Alex Miller</p><p>Jon Bambino Ramos<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p></p><h4>PUBLIC POLICY AWARD</h4><p>Jenny Armini (MA STATE REP)</p><p>Anthony Amore (MA GOP AUDITOR NOMINEE)</p><p>Nurys Camargo (MA CCC)</p><p>Diana DiZoglio (MA STATE AUDITOR)</p><p>Amanda Linehan (MALDEN CITY COUNCIL)</p><p>Ed Markey (US SENATE)</p><p>Dr Marion McNabb&nbsp; (MA CANNABIS ADVISORY BOARD)</p><p>Shannon O&#8217;Brien (MA CCC CHAIR)</p><p>Michael O Moore (MA STATE SENATE)</p><p>Seth Moulton (US REP)</p><p>Kim Napoli (MA CANNABIS ADVISORY BOARD)</p><p>Amanda Rositano (MA CANNABIS ADVISORY BOARD)</p><p>Jennifer Roy (MA CCC)</p><p>Quinton Zondervan (CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL)</p><p></p><h4>PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD</h4><p>Danny Carson</p><p>Ed DeSousa (RIVERRUN GARDENS)</p><p>Robert &#8220;BabyBoi&#8221; Jeffrey </p><p>Catherine Lewis (MEDICAL CANNABIS CAREGIVERS OF MAINE)</p><p>Warren Lynch</p><p>Stephen Mandile</p><p>Jen Nifer</p><p>David O&#8217;Brien (MASS CANNABIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION)</p><p>Lauren Pespisa</p><p>Caroline Pineau (Stem Haverhill)</p><p>Lou Rinaldi</p><p>Derek Shirley (GETTING HIGH WITH CATS)</p><p>Kristin Souza</p><p>Caleb Teske (THE FINE PRINT)</p><p>Shaleen Title (PARABOLA CENTER)</p><p>Saskia Vann James (MRCC)<br></p><h4>KOP MEMORIAL AWARD</h4><p>Danny Carson</p><p>Babz Carrapichano</p><p>Alex Miller</p><p>Alisha Nichole</p><p>Jon Bambino Ramos</p><p>Maddi Woodhams</p><div><hr></div><h2>Check out our latest podcasts:</h2><h3><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trulieve-set-up-immigrant-workers-for-deportations/id1086374373?i=1000605254902">Trulieve set up immigrant workers for deportations?</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-young-jurks/id1086374373">The Young Jurks</a></h3><p>Trulieve set up immigrant Florida workers for deportations? We speak to another Trulieve Florida worker with some new worker safety and abuse allegations.</p><h3><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/state-senator-michael-moore-on-ccc-oversight-bill/id1086374373?i=1000605090135">State Senator Michael Moore on CCC oversight bill The Young Jurks</a></h3><p>Live interview with Massachusetts State Senator Michael O Moore discussing the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission oversight unit bill that he sponsored, as well as other worker safety reforms.</p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trulieve set up immigrant workers for deportations?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Trulieve set up immigrant Florida workers for deportations?]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/trulieve-set-up-immigrant-workers-c19</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/trulieve-set-up-immigrant-workers-c19</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Mar 2023 01:13:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/122602359/598194c44dc95c2e28f0ecccfa231012.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Trulieve set up immigrant Florida workers for deportations? We speak to another Trulieve Florida worker with some new worker safety and abuse allegations. --- Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[State Senator Michael Moore on CCC oversight bill]]></title><description><![CDATA[Live interview with Massachusetts State Senator Michael O Moore discussing the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission oversight unit bill that he sponsored, as well as other worker safety reforms.]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/state-senator-michael-moore-on-ccc-72f</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/state-senator-michael-moore-on-ccc-72f</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 21 Mar 2023 00:38:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/122602360/4ab298b42156d21e16f2bdd2439e8194.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Live interview with Massachusetts State Senator Michael O Moore discussing the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission oversight unit bill that he sponsored, as well as other worker safety reforms. We also speak to Danny Carson about an upcoming meeting scheduled for this Wednesday at 4 pm, Coalition for Cannabis Workers Safety. Zoom meeting link for Wednesday's meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81640474586?pwd=NWVnTmFCVmc5Ympub2lEV3JnQ0IyZz09 --- Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[MA Cannabis Advisory Board Members, Amanda Rositano and Kim Napoli]]></title><description><![CDATA[Massachusetts Cannabis Advisory Board Members, Amanda Rositano and Kim Napoli discussing testing, workers, changing delivery regulations and much more...]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/ma-cannabis-advisory-board-members-832</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/ma-cannabis-advisory-board-members-832</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 14 Mar 2023 01:19:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/122602361/36754c78761b7c200c28430f0a9d04bf.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Massachusetts Cannabis Advisory Board Members, Amanda Rositano and Kim Napoli discussing testing, workers, changing delivery regulations and much more... --- Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trulieve Florida workers continue to speak out]]></title><description><![CDATA[Trulieve Florida workers continue to speak out --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/trulieve-florida-workers-continue-c93</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/trulieve-florida-workers-continue-c93</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:52:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/122602362/dce298002477ebe9157438557dc8fc42.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Trulieve Florida workers continue to speak out&nbsp; --- Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trulieve Florida workers speak up]]></title><description><![CDATA[Trulieve employees speak up on layoffs and much more!]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/trulieve-florida-workers-speak-up-997</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/trulieve-florida-workers-speak-up-997</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 27 Feb 2023 02:17:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/122602363/4ebdf90fa4fcd5a93bf9f53705024ada.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Trulieve employees speak up on layoffs and much more! We are live with employees from Trulieve! --- Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sound Museum Boston is closing, where will local musicians rehearse?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sound Museum Boston is closing, where will local musicians rehearse?]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/sound-museum-boston-is-closing-where-b16</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/sound-museum-boston-is-closing-where-b16</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2023 01:56:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/122602364/00bdcf2702eee3d608a104922b6d2396.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sound Museum Boston is closing, where will local musicians rehearse? Mike Crawford interviews two longtime local artists, Dave Tree and Scott Matalon about the city of Boston's shady dealings related to the closure of Boston's cultural institution, The Sound Museum. https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/01/10/sound-museum-owners-cry-foul-as-their-tenants-likely-secure-new-spaces-without-them?fbclid=IwAR31RGmFvNNBOTk1nDwVtvNeQo-0IwLcOxOspqR-MjTpa_HPKWM56DJ7JLk The Desmonds believe The Record Co. was a beneficiary of favoritism, alleging that MASSCreative had a conflict of interest because the city&#8217;s chief of arts and culture, Kara Elliott-Ortega, chairs its board. Elliott-Ortega is in a relationship with The Record Co.&#8217;s executive director, Matt McArthur. &#8220;[Elliott-Ortega] wanted to get my tenants away from me for her boyfriend's business,&#8221; Katherine Desmond said. &#8220;It's unethical. It's unmoral. And I'm hoping to prove that it's illegal, and litigate against it.&#8221; --- Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Big cannabis runs Connecticut?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Big cannabis runs Connecticut?]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/big-cannabis-runs-connecticut-24f</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/big-cannabis-runs-connecticut-24f</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2023 01:48:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/122602365/f787788938064da317167ce2f5ad5af7.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Big cannabis runs Connecticut? With guests, Louis J. Rinaldi and Kristin Souza&nbsp; --- Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why is Maine medical cannabis the best?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why is Maine medical cannabis the best?]]></description><link>https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/why-is-maine-medical-cannabis-the-1a0</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.midnightmassnews.com/p/why-is-maine-medical-cannabis-the-1a0</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Crawford]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 13 Feb 2023 02:16:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/122602366/25544eca5685c7a223319c5d4226b489.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Why is Maine medical cannabis the best? With guests: Dalton, owner of Grove Cannabis, a medical caregiver delivery service in Maine; and Derek Shirley, @gettinghighwithcats on Instagram. https://weedmaps.com/deliveries/grove-cannabis-co? --- Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theyoungjurks/support</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>