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Massachusetts has a rich history of classic pranks

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Massachusetts has a rich history of classic pranks


By Sharon Oliver, Contributing Writer

When a Boston TV station reported on April Fool’s Day in 1980 that the nearby Blue Hills were erupting, the public outrage caused the station’s executive producer to lose his job.Photo/NewtonCourt/Wikipedia
When a Boston TV station reported on April Fool’s Day in 1980 that the nearby Blue Hills were erupting, the public outrage caused the station’s executive producer to lose his job.
Photo/NewtonCourt/Wikipedia

REGION – When it comes to pranks, jokes, and outrageous shenanigans, the people of Massachusetts can give or take it with the best of them. 

 

False volcano eruption report

Well, in most cases, that is. There has been a joke or two that had gone awry―case in point―the 1980 Blue Hills April Fool’s Day Panic. On April 1, 1980, WNAC-TV Channel 7 (now WHDH) reported that the Blue Hills in Milton were erupting, sending some people in the streets out of fear of a volcanic eruption. There are no volcanoes in the state.

The report claimed lava and ash were spraying onto homes and used edited clips from President Jimmy Carter and Governor Edward J. King, calling the situation serious. Keep in mind, that the eruption of Washington State’s Mount St. Helens five days earlier was still fresh in the minds of many throughout the nation. Making matters worse, the Massachusetts Department of Civil Defense fielded dozens of calls from people wanting to know if they should evacuate.

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At the end of the broadcast, reporter Jim Harrison held up a sign that read: “April Fools.” Residents were not amused. Angry viewers called into the station and executive producer Homer Cilley was ultimately fired the next day for “his failure to exercise good news judgment” and for violating Federal Communications Commission’s rules on showing stock footage without properly identifying it.

 

State House “codnapping”

The Sacred Cod hanging above the chamber of the Massachusetts House of Representatives was once “codnapped” by staff members from the Harvard Lampoon.Photo/Wikipedia
The Sacred Cod hanging above the chamber of the Massachusetts House of Representatives was once “codnapped” by staff members from the Harvard Lampoon.
Photo/Wikipedia

Another example of hijinks for the record books is Harvard Lampoon’s 1933 abduction of the “sacred” cod from the Massachusetts House of Representatives chamber. The shocking “codnapping” was carried out by three staff members of the Lampoon who pretended to be tourists. Demand for the mascot’s return was high and the sentiment was deep since it symbolized how cod fishing fueled the colony’s growth since the early 1700s. Police even dredged the Charles River and a manhunt (or fish hunt) had spread down to New Jersey. The story made national news and the Los Angeles Times printed a poem about the fishy crime:

From Winthrop Beach to Bunker Hill,
From Cambridge to Revere,
The voice of happiness was still,
One heard no note of cheer.
A pallor whitened every face.
All eyes were red and swollen;
A dreadful crime had taken place —
The Codfish had been stolen.

 

Accounts vary as to how Charles Apted, Chief of Harvard Yard Police, came into possession of the cod but he was able to bring it back to its rightful place in history.

Of course, not all pranks caused Bay Staters such angst. Take the time when the “Candid Camera” TV show came to town, for example. The show’s “There Goes the Neighborhood” is a classic 1960s episode featuring the hilarious reactions of Boston residents when they are tricked into believing a disco is moving in next door.

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MIT “hacks”

In 1994, MIT students placed a replica of a campus police car on the roof of the Great Dome.Photo/Michael Bauer - hacks.mit.edu
In 1994, MIT students placed a replica of a campus police car on the roof of the Great Dome.
Photo/Michael Bauer – hacks.mit.edu

Not to be outdone, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) brainiacs have a longstanding penchant for jaw-dropping pranks. These “hacks” are designed to demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, along with commemorating pop culture and historical topics, and have garnered national attention over the years. 

Some of their most famous creations include placing a replica of a campus police cruiser on the roof of the Great Dome and using a remote-controlled device to move bulletin boards up and down whenever the calculus professor approached the board. The day after AMC’s hit television series “Breaking Bad” finale aired, students turned the school’s Alchemist into an homage to Heisenberg, an alias of the show’s main character, Walter White. 

More recently, this year Newton native and “The Office” actor B. J. Novak was pardoned for a prank he pulled at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston while he was in high school in 1997.

 

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Massachusetts

Canadian hydropower line to Massachusetts expected to be running in January

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Canadian hydropower line to Massachusetts expected to be running in January


The long-awaited hydropower line delivering electricity from Québec to New England is expected to be running in January after years of hurdles and delays, the company Hydro Québec stated.

“We have been actively testing the line and the transformers for the past several weeks and are making good progress,” a spokesperson for Hydro Québec said, adding the teams were actively working on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border and “expect to be ready begin energy deliveries in January.”

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line, initiated nearly in 2017 under the Baker administration and under construction since 2021, is set to deliver 1,200 megawatts of hydropower from Québec to New England over 20 years, becoming one of the largest sources of baseload power in the region.

Avangrid, the company behind the NECEC, announced in November it had secured the final permit to get the power line running after years of regulatory and legal hurdles. The company estimated the line would be running by the end of 2025 at the time.

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The project to bring Canadian hydropower to the New England power grid, estimated to cost about $1 billion, is expected to provide Massachusetts with approximately 20% of it overall electricity.

The clean energy line will deliver about $3 billion in net benefits to Massachusetts residents paying for electricity, including “reducing in ratepayer bills by around $50 million each year,” state officials said.

“This transmission line will deliver affordable, stable power from our partners in Canada to our residents and businesses,” Gov. Maura Healey said in November. “More energy means lower costs. The NECEC line is a key part of our all-of-the-above approach to lowering energy costs and delivering the power our economy needs.”

On average, officials estimated, residents can expect to save $18 to $20 a year over the contract term.



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NESN’S Tom Caron, Dave O’Brien Named 2025 NSMA Massachusetts Co-Sportscasters Of The Year

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NESN’S Tom Caron, Dave O’Brien Named 2025 NSMA Massachusetts Co-Sportscasters Of The Year


New England Sports Network (NESN) on Monday announced that Boston Red Sox broadcast leaders Tom Caron and Dave O’Brien have been named 2025 Massachusetts Co-Sportscasters of the Year by the National Sports Media Association (NSMA).

Caron and O’Brien serve as the cornerstone voices of NESN’s Red Sox coverage, leading the network’s studio and game productions, respectively. Together, they anchor NESN’s comprehensive Red Sox broadcasts, delivering in-depth analysis, trusted storytelling and championship-caliber coverage to fans across New England.

“Tom and Dave represent the gold standard of sports broadcasting,” said David Wisnia, President & CEO of NESN. “Their credibility, storytelling, and deep connection to Red Sox fans elevate every broadcast. This recognition by NSMA is a well-deserved honor and a reflection of their impact on New England sports media.”

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This recognition continues NESN’s tradition of broadcast excellence, following Jack Edwards’ selection as the 2024 NSMA Massachusetts Sportscaster of the Year for his work as the play-by-play voice of the Boston Bruins.

Tom Caron joined NESN in 1995, recently celebrating 30 years with the network. For the past 24 seasons, he has been a central figure in NESN’s Red Sox coverage, serving as the network’s first baseball sideline reporter before becoming host of the Red Sox pregame and postgame shows during the club’s historic 2004 championship season. In addition to leading NESN’s Red Sox studio programming and hosting the “310 To Left” VODcast, Caron has served as studio host for Boston Bruins hockey and as play-by-play announcer for premier New England college hockey events, including the Beanpot Tournament and Hockey East Championship. A nine-time New England Emmy Award winner, Caron was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2021 and is deeply involved in numerous charitable organizations throughout the region, including serving as Co-Chair of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund.

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Dave O’Brien has served as NESN’s primary play-by-play voice of the Red Sox since 2016, following nine years with the Red Sox Radio Network. In addition to leading NESN’s game broadcasts, O’Brien is also the lead play-by-play announcer for college football and basketball on ESPN’s ACC Network. His career includes Major League Baseball postseason broadcasts, international World Series coverage, and play-by-play roles with the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves. A Boston native, O’Brien is a recipient of multiple national and regional broadcasting honors and is widely respected as one of the sport’s premier voices.

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The National Sports Media Association annually recognizes excellence in sports media across the country, honoring broadcasters who demonstrate outstanding professionalism, longevity, and impact in their markets.

About NESN
NESN is consistently one of the top-rated regional sports networks in the country with award-winning Red Sox and Bruins coverage, and recently named RSN of the Year by Cynopsis. NESN and NESN+ are delivered throughout the six-state New England region and are available anytime, anywhere, on any device on the NESN 360 app via direct subscription or TV authentication. The network is also distributed nationally as NESN National. NESN’s free ad-supported streaming (FAST) channel, NESN NATION, offers 35+ hours of weekly live and original programming, including exclusive sports content, interviews, and behind-the-scenes features, available on Samsung TV Plus, Prime Video, Roku, LG, Twitch, Plex, and TCLtv+. NESN.com is one of the country’s most visited sports websites with dedicated digital video production and always-on news coverage. NESN’s social responsibility program, NESN Connects, is proud to support and connect its employees with charitable organizations in the Greater Boston community. NESN also manages SportsNet Pittsburgh, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Pirates for all regionally televised games in and around Pittsburgh, as well as other local sports content. NESN is owned by Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Boston Red Sox) and Delaware North (owners of the Boston Bruins).

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Mass. weather: How much snow is expected across the state on Monday

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Mass. weather: How much snow is expected across the state on Monday


All of Massachusetts is predicted to see some snowfall in the latter half of the day on Monday, with most of the state getting 1 to 2 inches of accumulation, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures are expected to dip into the teens overnight on Sunday before rising into the mid to high 20s on Monday, the weather service said. Clouds are predicted to increase throughout the day before the snow begins in the afternoon.

Berkshire County could see some light snow Sunday night and Monday morning, but heavier precipitation is expected to begin by 1 p.m. Monday, according to the weather service. Most of the rest of the state is predicted to start seeing snow between 3 and 6 p.m., first in western Massachusetts, then spreading across the state.

The snowfall is expected to stop between 10 p.m. Monday and 1 a.m. Tuesday in most of Massachusetts, according to the weather service. Much of the state may also experience patchy fog Monday night.

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The northwestern half of Worcester County and most of Berkshire County is expected to get the most snow — up to 3 inches, according to the weather service. The Cape, Islands and South Coast are predicted to get less than an inch, and the rest of the state is expected to get 1 to 2 inches.

Most of Massachusetts is predicted to get 1 to 2 inches of snow Monday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service.National Weather Service

Overnight lows on Monday are predicted to drop into the low to mid 20s, according to the weather service. Temperatures on Tuesday are expected to be warmer, reaching the mid 30s to low 40s.

There is a chance of rain in most of Massachusetts Tuesday afternoon, with precipitation more likely after 4 p.m., according to the weather service. Tuesday night is predicted to be rainy across the state, though the precipitation may come down as freezing rain or snow at higher elevations.

Temperatures overnight on Tuesday are expected to dip into the high 20s and low 30s before rising into the mid 40s on Wednesday, according to the weather service. Communities in the central and western parts of the state are predicted to see the rain cease by 10 a.m., while Eastern Massachusetts can expect to experience rain until midday.

Sunny skies are predicted across the state following the rain on Wednesday, according to the weather service.

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