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Groups ring in 2024 with New Year’s Day guided hikes on Massachusetts trails

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Groups ring in 2024 with New Year’s Day guided hikes on Massachusetts trails


MILTON – A decades old tradition continues across Massachusetts as people kick off the New Year with a hike through local state parks. It’s called the First Day Hike.

“Blue Hills is the sight of the original First Day Hike about 33-years-ago, and that phenomenon has taken on a life of it’s own. Now most states have their own First Day Hikes, and it’s even gone international,” said Simon Schreier, a Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) interpreter.

Hundreds of people came to a handful of state parks for guided walks with interpreters like Schreier. 

His job is to connect people with the deeper stories and history of the areas that they are hiking, and to foster an understanding of how to keep these areas clean and healthy. 

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He said their job is also to bring equity and inclusion to the outdoors.

“The outdoors is a space for everyone, but historically it hasn’t always felt that way,” explained Schreier.

“It’s always incumbent on us to be thinking about who doesn’t feel invited? Who doesn’t feel this is their space, and what can we do to say, ‘Hey, we would love to have you here. This is your space.’ That’s not something you do in one day, or one week.”

These walks go a long way to getting new people into enjoying the outdoors. 

Some hikers have been taking part in the tradition for decades, but some are doing it for the first time. 

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Hikers may be taking part in the day for personal or physical reasons.

“It’s kind of my way of saying I am still young enough,” laughed hiker Martine Carroll, “I always try to be hopeful and promising that it will be a good year.”

“I said why not get out of the bed, and bring in the New Year!” smiled Kanoi Hicks, another hiker on the trail.

“It’s a really easy, great way to get physical activity,” said Karen White as she walks along the trail, “I am out here by myself today, taking it all in, and hopefully walking away with a couple of new hiker friends to hike together with on hikes.”

“Every day is about Stanley,” joked Erin Cummings, looking down at her dog as they walk the trails of Blue Hills, “He has already been to Widow’s Walk in Scituate, and hung out with his dog friends. He went for the dog polar plunge, and now we are here. He did fabulous. You can’t keep a lab out of water.”

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Schreier suggest new hikers have proper footwear, and that they tell people where they are going if they head out alone.

“Take it small chunks at a time. You don’t have to climb a huge peak right off the bat, and take into account elevation,” urged Schreier.

“Wear appropriate clothing, which means layers, because I bet you feel yourself getting toasty even on a day like today,” Schreier fniished.



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Massachusetts

Massachusetts AG Campbell accused of breaking professional conduct amid audit lawsuit

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Massachusetts AG Campbell accused of breaking professional conduct amid audit lawsuit


AG Andrea Campbell called Diana DiZoglio’s personal cell phone a day after an SJC justice moved the legislative audit legal case to the full court, a call that the auditor alleges violates the state’s professional conduct rules.

DiZoglio’s fight with Campbell is steaming ahead, even as the attorney general claims that there’s a “path forward” for the voter-approved audit of the state Legislature, over 15 months after 72% of the state signed off on the ballot measure.

DiZoglio’s office argues that Campbell’s attempt to call the auditor on her personal cell phone violates Rule 4.2 of the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct, which prohibits lawyers from communicating directly about a case with an individual represented by another attorney without consent.

“The Attorney General is our state’s top law enforcement officer and should follow the Rules of Professional Conduct,” DiZoglio said in a statement on Wednesday. “I will not participate in dark, shadow conversations with the AG about this lawsuit.”

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“That she is trying to get me to speak with her alone, via private cell phone, without my legal counsel present, is unacceptable,” the auditor added.

Campbell’s office is firing back at DiZoglio’s claim, which it says is a “false and baseless accusation.”

“If the Auditor is interested in a solution,” the office said in a statement shared with the Herald, “the AG is available to speak with her or the Auditor’s staff can speak with our office – but as it stands, her office refuses to engage with us directly on a path forward.”

DiZoglio and Campbell have been locked in a legal tug-of-war since voters approved the audit in November 2024.

Siding with legislative leadership, Campbell has claimed that DiZoglio has not answered basic questions on the scope of the legislative audit. The AG argues that the auditor’s review may also violate the state Constitution.

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In February, DiZoglio sued House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka for refusing to comply with the audit. The auditor is asking the SJC to allow her to appoint an outside attorney, as Campbell is representing the top Beacon Hill Democrats.

DiZoglio spotlighted Campbell’s attempt to talk with her on her personal cell phone after the AG appeared on GBH’s Boston Public Radio on Wednesday. The auditor also released emails between the two offices regarding the call.

In her radio segment, Campbell admitted to calling the auditor after seeing her at a recent event in Worcester and that she had yet to hear back from DiZoglio. The AG said the message that she is trying to convey to the auditor is that “there’s a pathway forward.”

Speaking at an event on March 16, DiZoglio said, “I have only asked for financial receipts and state contracts. There is nothing unconstitutional about …  getting access to that information.”

Campbell argues DiZoglio has “changed” her stance on the audit’s scope.

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Deputy Auditor Michael Leung-Tat expressed his concerns about Campbell’s call to DiZoglio in an email on Monday to Assistant Attorney General Anne Sterman and First Assistant Attorney General Pat Moore.

Leung-Tat emphasized that the last time DiZoglio and Campbell spoke via phone was allegedly in November 2023, when the AG informed the auditor of her support of the legislative audit.

“They don’t have a relationship beyond our office’s official communications,” Leung-Tat wrote, “and, as you know, official business between our offices is conducted at the staff level. … it appears that the Attorney General was calling the Auditor about the pending litigation before the SJC.”

“As you are aware,” the deputy auditor added, “we have been engaged with your office seeking assistance in our efforts to audit the Legislature since 2023, so it is curious that the Attorney General only just now decided to call.

In an email reply, Moore said there was “nothing unethical” about Campbell’s call and that the AGO was “surprised to see” the auditor’s “unfounded assertion.”

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“The Auditor has also used her time in those forums make false allegations against the Attorney General and officers of every other branch of state government, recently including judges,” Moore wrote. “Having now heard multiple variations of these comments, the Attorney General felt it appropriate to reach to talk with the Auditor.”

After multiple exchanges back and forth, Moore refuted Leung-Tat’s claims that DiZoglio has answered Campbell’s questions to help the legislative audit proceed. The first assistant AG added that the office “takes pride in our professionalism.”

“We do not, just to pick one example,” Moore wrote, “claim that every state agency funded by legislative appropriation is corrupt; nor that the courts adjudicating our cases are.”

“Nor do we take exception to conferring with those against whom we are litigating,” he added. “We do that every day.”

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Massachusetts faces World Cup-test with friendly match in Foxboro

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Massachusetts faces World Cup-test with friendly match in Foxboro


Massachusetts will get a taste of World Cup action in Foxboro on Thursday.

There is a friendly match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium.

It’s being considered a test ahead of World Cup matches in June.

Massachusetts governor Maura Healey says dozens of agencies are involved in making sure the 7 World Cup matches are safe and secure.

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Thursday is a test for transportation for the World Cup.

The MBTA will have 4 trains going from South Station to Foxboro.

MassDOT expects heavy traffic to begin later this morning with new traffic patterns near Gillette for the match.

As for the teams, NBC 10 caught up with Team France at their practice.

Team France says it is excited to face off against one of the best teams in the world.

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France is ranked 3rd worldwide while Brazil is ranked 5th.

Parking opens at noon while the game’s kickoff is at 4:00 p.m.



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Gov. Maura Healey says Massachusetts is ‘match ready’ for World Cup

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Gov. Maura Healey says Massachusetts is ‘match ready’ for World Cup


Gov. Maura Healey spoke Wednesday about the public health and safety preparations it is making ahead of this summer’s World Cup matches in Massachusetts.

Gillette Stadium — to be called Boston Stadium — will be the site of seven matches between June 13 and July 9.

The state is carrying out planning and training with local, state and federal agencies on everything from transportation and crowd management to cybersecurity, public health, and emergency response.

“Residents and visitors alike can be confident that we are prepared to host a safe, secure and successful World Cup,” Healey said.

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Healey said the state secured about $76 million in federal funding to pay for security and preparedness.

The state has more information about the World Cup at Match-Ready Massachusetts.

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Gillette will host a friendly Thursday between France and Brazil as a warm up to the World Cup.

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