Three WMass drug investigations net 45 guns, 52 arrests, heroin, fentanyl
SPRINGFIELD — Speaking before a table laiden with guns and bags of drugs, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni announced the result of three drug trafficking investigations Tuesday.
The haul from several search warrants included thousands of grams of cocaine, fentanyl and heroin. The investigations netted 52 arrests.
In comments, Gulluni said the law enforcement actions that included contributions from New York police, Springfield Police, Massachusetts State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration, would help the city be safer as it heads into the summer.
Gulluni also said a task force had a 'highly successful' investigation into drug trafficking between here and New York City. He also said an investigation looked at two local businesses that he characterized as drug trafficking fronts. Those were Garcia Market at 344 Orange St. and Angel's Used Appliances at 167 White St.
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Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Rising NATO Ally Builds Its Own Aircraft Carrier
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Turkey's ambitious naval expansion is taking shape as new details emerged about its first homegrown aircraft carrier, Mugem, now under construction in Istanbul. With design and system integration work ongoing, priority will be given to homegrown aircraft, including unmanned combat drones and light jets, according to statements by Captain Hakan Uçar, director of the Turkish Navy's Design Project Office, reported by Jane's OSINT on Friday. Newsweek has reached out to Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries, overseeing defense projects, for comment. Why It Matters Turkey's defense industrial growth signals Ankara's drive to assert greater strategic autonomy and its importance both within NATO and for the Middle East under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump. Turkey's expanding naval and air defense capabilities—including a fifth-generation fighter jet —could also change global defense industry dynamics. What To Know About 285 meters long and 72 meters wide, Mugem will weigh arounds 60,000 tons and should carry up to 50 aircraft, with two runways for takeoff and one for landing, according to a description on the Turkish government's Directorate of Communications' website. The ship will have a flight deck built for aircraft to take off from a short runway and land safely, known as the STOBAR system, according to Jane's OSINT, a prominent open-source intelligence and defense analysis provider. Turkey, a NATO member since 1952, lacks a full-sized traditional aircraft carrier; its largest ship, the amphibious assault vessel TCG Anadolu, serves mainly as a drone carrier but has limited capabilities compared to a true carrier. The Turkish Ministry of National Defense revealed the warship last year and announced the start of construction in January. Turkey is also building a submarine and the TF-2000-class destroyer. Erdogan has established himself as a key figure across multiple geopolitical arenas, with Trump acknowledging and turning to the leader of a longstanding ally, as he seeks to redefine Washington's Middle East policy. Turkey's expanding defense capabilities come amid an escalating rivalry with Israel, especially in Syria where Turkey maintains bases in the north and has set out to leverage close ties with Syrian opposition factions. Turkey is also an important buttress against Russia and has been a diplomatic player on the Ukraine war. What People Are Saying Turkish Presidency's Directorate of Communications in January 2025: "With this project, Turkey's goal of maritime independence and regional superiority is clearly visible. However, as long as foreign dependency continues in critical areas such as power systems and aircraft technology, more time and investment is needed to achieve these goals." Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in 2024, as quoted by TRT World: "We will not stop or turn back from our path until we achieve the goal of a fully independent Türkiye in the defence industry." What Happens Next Turkey will continue accelerating major defense projects, drawing increasing strategic interest from regional powers.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Lifelong Learning: UWG Begins Three-Year Partnership With The Birches on Maple
CARROLLTON, Ga., June 06, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At the University of West Georgia, collaboration and partnership are cornerstones of a thriving and engaged community. Through a new three-year agreement with The Birches on Maple, a 55+ living community developed in partnership with Tanner Health, UWG will offer residents meaningful cultural experiences, educational programming and new ways to engage with the institution. Designed to foster lifelong learning and creativity, the partnership includes an exciting calendar of annual activities for Birches residents and augments an already robust offering of engaging outings and experiences – curated by the community's onsite Lifestyle Director and Activities Director. It also builds on Tanner's Get Healthy, Live Well program, which provides a variety of classes and resources that strengthen the connection between healthy habits and personal well-being. Each year, residents will have the opportunity to take part in a curated international trip centered on the arts and culture of a specific region. These trips, which are thoughtfully planned to be both fun and educational, are safe and all-inclusive. The inaugural adventure will take travelers to Italy to explore Italian history, art and culture through a variety of immersive experiences. "Travel is a powerful way to spark curiosity, build community, and deepen our understanding of the world," said Brandy Barker, UWG's chief creative officer and assistant vice president for placemaking. "By connecting global experiences with UWG's academic strengths, we're creating something truly unique for residents of The Birches." In addition to global travel, the collaboration brings the best of UWG directly to The Birches. Over the course of each year, UWG will host six creative workshops and six lectures on-site, offering opportunities for residents to explore topics ranging from memoir-writing and history of Southern language to gardening, painting and archeology. These sessions will be led by UWG faculty, staff and experts in their respective fields. "We're thrilled about the partnership with UWG and what it means for our residents," said Wayne Senfeld, executive vice president at Tanner Health. "We know that staying physically and mentally active is a vital aspect of overall well-being, and we're excited for our seniors at The Birches on Maple to be able to engage in these special events and learning opportunities. They will undoubtedly provide them with another outlet for creativity, social interaction, education and — most importantly — fun." This relationship doesn't end at The Birches. Residents will be hosted on campus throughout the year, including events overlooking RA-LIN Field in University Stadium during home UWG football games, reserved seating at home men's and women's basketball games and opportunities to attend campus lectures, holiday events and more. Adding to the beauty and inspiration of the community, each year will also see the installation of two new public art pieces at The Birches, developed in collaboration with UWG. "The relationship between Tanner and the University of West Georgia is so important," said Loy Howard, president and CEO of Tanner Health. "We work together in countless ways to give back to and support the local community – and what we're doing at The Birches is no different. This partnership will enrich the lives of these residents, allowing them to make the most of this next phase of their lives, and will help to create a stronger, healthier community for all." As UWG continues to expand its commitment to placemaking and community engagement, partnerships like this one with The Birches on Maple demonstrate how higher education can play a role in enhancing quality of life for people of all ages. "At the heart of this partnership is a belief in the power of experiences to inspire discovery and connection," said Dr. Ashwani Monga, UWG's interim president. "By bringing the university's academic offerings and experiential learning activities into the daily lives of The Birches residents, we're creating opportunities for lifelong learning for members of the Carrollton community." View source version on Contacts Tray Lowerytrlowery@ 770-812-6180
Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
As ICE ramps up activities targeting undocumented immigrants, communities are fighting back
Periodically, the Latinx Files will feature guest writers. Filling in this week are De Los reporters Carlos De Loera and Andrea Flores. Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers tried to execute two raids in San Diego. San Diego fought back. It all started on May 30 when heavily armed ICE agents showed up at the Italian eateries Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta in the South Park neighborhood of the SoCal border city, as The Times' Ruben Vives reported. A spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations, a branch within ICE, said the agents were executing search warrants related to alleged 'violations of hiring and harboring illegal aliens and false statements.' But as ICE members were making arrests, San Diego community members came out to defend those targeted and push back the agents. 'Shame! Shame! Shame!' hordes of San Diegans yelled at the gun-wielding, protective vest-wearing agents while forcing them to move away from the restaurants, social media video showed. Other videos revealed that ICE used flash-bang grenades against the protesters who interfered with the raids. Ultimately, four people living in the country illegally were taken into custody, HSI claimed. A federal search warrant, obtained by several San Diego news outlets, claimed that the restaurant owners were 'knowingly employing both illegal immigrants and individuals not authorized to work in the United States.' Additionally, it stated that HSI initially received tips about the restaurants' alleged activities in 2020 and a follow-up tip on Jan. 31 of this year. Reports on exactly how many restaurant workers were initially apprehended vary from a handful to the entirety of the staff. Claire Cody, who works at Buona Forchetta, spoke with KPBS San Diego about the situation. 'You always see this anywhere else, but then you experience it,' Cody said. 'I'm just thinking about my co-workers and I'm thinking about their families. This is just really unfortunate and very sad. I'm just praying that they're OK.' Officials from San Diego and across California commented on the situation, often scolding the ICE agents for their brute display of power. San Diego Rep. Scott Peters, whose district includes South Park, said, 'People must have thought: 'Wow, there must be an MS-13 [gang member] here or some drug kingpin like El Chapo at the bar.' No. They took four people away — dishwashers, busboys, maybe a cook.' North San Diego County/south Orange County Rep. Mike Levin also criticized the move. 'If there is any evidence, even a shred of evidence, that any of the individuals at that restaurant on Friday were guilty of any other crimes, they were violent in any way, if they were gang members, if they were drug dealers — that evidence needs to be put forward right now,' Levin said. 'In the absence of that evidence, what happened on Friday was fundamentally wrong, fundamentally un-American and could happen presumably to 1 in 5 San Diegans working in the service sector.' California State Sen. Steve Padilla called the events a 'disproportionate and dangerous display of force' in an official statement and applauded the San Diego community's response to ICE agents. 'Over-the-top tactics to carry out the policy stunts of this small president will not deter us in our fight to protect all Californians, nor succeed in intimidating hard working immigrant families. Immigrants have always and continue to enrich our society and their earnest belief they can make a better life in America is what makes this country great already,' he wrote. 'As our neighbors so bravely demonstrated in protest of these attacks, we stand together against this weaponized hate.' Last week's raid was the latest in a series of similar ICE activities carried out throughout Southern California. In late May, officials announced a raid at an L.A.-area underground nightclub that ended with the arrest of 36 Chinese and Taiwanese citizens suspected of being in the country illegally. Roughly two dozen day laborers were detained in a border patrol action outside a Home Depot in Pomona in April. But the protests from San Diegans spotlighted a growing contingent of people who are ready and willing to combat ICE agents to protect their communities. Last weekend, 18-year-old Massachusetts resident Marcelo Gomes da Silva was detained by ICE while on his way to his high school for volleyball practice. The Brazilian native was eventually granted bond on Thursday. On Monday, students at Gomes da Silva's school in Milford, Mass., staged a walkout in protest of his detention. Students were seen holding 'Free Marcelo' signs and Brazilian flags. Other members of his community protested the arrest outside Milford Town Hall on Sunday, where they called for the teen's release. On Wednesday, protesters, politicians and community organizers gathered in downtown Chicago to decry the detention of several immigrants at the hands of ICE, the Chicago Tribune reported. The protest was led by Organized Communities Against Deportations, a group that describes itself as 'undocumented, unapologetic, and unafraid organizers building a resistance movement against deportations and the criminalization of immigrants and people of color in Chicago and surrounding areas.' To combat against ICE activity in Southern California, groups such as Unión del Barrio — an independent political organization advocating for immigrant rights and social justice — have helped train community members on how to spot federal immigration officers and alert local residents to their presence using social media. 'We're not violent, we're not trying to break any laws, but we're doing everything within our legal means to protect the community,' Ron Gochez, a member of Unión del Barrio, told The Times in February. The organization has been working with communities for decades, including heavy involvement during crackdowns in the '90s and during the Obama administration. Participants volunteer in patrolling various locations for potential raids and proudly tout that they have helped in stopping and/or disrupting several ICE operations. Adalberto Ríos, a member of Unión del Barrio, summed up the group's mission concisely, telling The Times, 'We're just trying to help the community protect itself.' — Carlos De Loera At only 19 years young, J Noa has been defined by two things; her intrinsic spitfire flow and a refreshing air of humility, elements that resound clearly throughout her latest EP, 'Los 5 Golpe,' her most Dominican project to date. The Caribbean powerhouse and 2023 Latin Grammy nominee gained popularity for her freestyle rap sessions and showstopping Tiny Desk performance. But the music industry has never been easy for humble acts like J Noa, who vents those frustrations in the trumpet-laced hip hop track 'Sudor y Tinta' alongside urban singer Vakero. The earworm melody, and new EP, are a testament to the island's homegrown hustlers. 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Grupo Firme cancels appearance at La Onda festival, becoming latest international act to face visa issues Grupo Firme's news came only a week after Mexican singer Julión Álvarez postponed his May 24 show at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, after he claimed his work visa had been revoked. Also in May, Chicago's Michelada Fest, a Spanish-language music festival that had programmed several Latin American acts was canceled due to concerns over artists' visas. How 'Will Trent' star Ramón Rodriguez became an industry game-changer De Los spoke with the Puerto Rican actor, director and executive producer of ABC's quirky police procedural — which just was renewed for a fourth season. Belinda cannot be tamed. Her latest album, 'Indómita,' proves it The Mexican singer-actor dishes on how she transmuted her love for Thirty Seconds to Mars, anime and Mexican corridos into her most authentic work to date. 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