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Massachusetts is ‘prepared’ for National Guard deployment, AG Andrea Campbell says

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Massachusetts is ‘prepared’ for National Guard deployment, AG Andrea Campbell says


AG Andrea Campbell says Massachusetts is ready if the National Guard is deployed to the Bay State, adding that her office is “drafting paperwork” that she hopes it never has to file against President Donald Trump.

The attorney general’s comments mark the firmest stance yet from a Bay State official on what kind of coordination or preparations are being made in the case Trump tries to deploy troops in Massachusetts.

Trump has deployed National Guard units to cities he argues are dealing with high crime or are epicenters of federal immigration activity, even as governors and mayors have largely voiced opposition to their arrival.

“We are prepared if they were to come,” Campbell said on GBH’s Boston Public Radio on Tuesday. “Of course, I hope they don’t, because the narrative they’re suggesting is that they would come here to promote public safety, and we are doing just fine.

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“If anything,” the AG continued, “we’re seeing in other communities across the country is that they’re eroding public safety and trust between law enforcement and the community. In addition to that, they’re perpetuating fear.”

Campbell said her office is engaging with the National Guard, Gov. Maura Healey’s office, the state Legislature, law enforcement, and “every stakeholder” available over how the state would respond to a potential deployment.

The AG added that she’s personally spoken with her counterparts in California, Illinois and Oregon, states where Trump has threatened to deploy the National Guard to combat what he describes as lawlessness.

Trump continues to face legal challenges in areas where he has looked to deploy troops.

Courts in Tennessee and West Virginia heard arguments Monday challenging the deployment of their states’ National Guard troops to patrol the streets of Memphis and Washington, D.C.

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Since their arrival on Oct. 10, National Guard troops have been patrolling neighborhoods and commercial areas of Memphis, wearing fatigues and protective vests that say “military police.” Officials have said Guard members, who are armed, have no arrest power.

West Virginia is among several states that sent troops to Washington, D.C., to support Trump’s crime-fighting efforts. Last month, a West Virginia judge asked attorneys for the state to address whether Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s deployment of up to 300 Guard members to the nation’s capital in August was legal.

The Bay State AG’s Office has filed 41 complaints against the Trump administration since the president regained office in January. Campbell made clear that another may be coming if Trump tries to deploy troops here.

“Any time you file a lawsuit, it takes a lot of human capital resources and work,” the AG said. “And frankly, you have to be prepared beforehand, so we hope we never have to file anything.”

Healey said last month that sending the National Guard to major U.S. cities is a “waste of resources,” but the first-term Democrat declined to say if she was coordinating with any local officials or preparing any action in case Trump attempted to conduct a deployment in Massachusetts.

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Bay State Congressman Jim McGovern told the Herald last month that he had spoken to the Healey administration about a possible National Guard deployment.

Campbell said troops are designed to handle a “major flood, a major emergency” in the state. She added that she doesn’t know how equipped the National Guard is to accomplish what Trump wants it to.

“They’re not necessarily trained to show up in the city of Boston,” she said, “or the municipalities here in Massachusetts, to promote public safety, to investigate crimes, to respond appropriately.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

National Guard troops patrol the Mall in front of the White House last month as part of President Donald Trump’ss order to impose federal law enforcement in the nation’s capital. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
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Mass stranding of bottlenose dolphins off Cape Cod said to be largest in Massachusetts history

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Mass stranding of bottlenose dolphins off Cape Cod said to be largest in Massachusetts history


Rescuers were working to save around 30 bottlenose dolphins that got stranded off the coast of Cape Cod early Monday morning. It is the largest known stranding of bottlenose dolphins off Massachusetts, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

The dolphins had become stranded between First Light and Ellis Landing in Brewster at about 5:30 a.m. when they came in with the tide. A woman noticed the animals and reported it. The IFAW quickly responded to the area, but five to six of the marine mammals died before help arrived. 

Dozens of bottlenose dolphins were stuck off of Cape Cod

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The IFAW worked throughout the day on Monday to get the mammals away from the shoreline before the next low tide at 5:13 p.m. They said late Monday afternoon that they were still successfully being steered away. 

“Our team remains in the area to monitor and herd the animals away from shore,” an IFAW spokesperson said. “We know these events can sometimes repeat in the coming hours and days, but we remain hopeful.”

The organization said it had seen an uptick in bottlenose dolphins becoming stranded off Cape Cod in the last few years. 

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“Bottlenose dolphins are typically an offshore species,” the spokesperson said.

They asked that anyone who encounters a stranded or distressed marine mammal not get close and never drag or push the animal back into the water. 

“Similar to a person involved in a car accident, dolphins can become injured and exhausted during a stranding event,” the IFAW said.

Instead, they recommend calling their IFAW stranding hotline at 508-743-9548.   

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Man dead after apparent drowning in Randolph pond

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Man dead after apparent drowning in Randolph pond


A man has died following an apparent drowning at a pond in Randolph, Massachusetts, on Sunday.

The Randolph police and fire departments received a 911 call at around 4 p.m. for a swimmer in distress in the water on Pond Street, according to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office..

Firefighters located the man a short time later, officials added, and he was taken by ambulance to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Kingston Fire Department had said just before 4 p.m. that their dive team was activated for a missing swimmer in Randolph, but that the activation was canceled after the swimmer was located.

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Further information is not being released at this time, including the man’s name.

Massachusetts State Police detectives and the Randolph Police Department are investigating.



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Fire spreads to 3 multi-family buildings in Lawrence, Massachusetts

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Fire spreads to 3 multi-family buildings in Lawrence, Massachusetts


Firefighters in Lawrence, Massachusetts are working to contain a fire that damaged at least three buildings on Sunday afternoon.

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Lawrence Fire Chief Patrick Delaney said they received multiple 911 calls about the buildings on fire at the intersection of Haverhill and Margin Street at about 12:45 p.m.

When firefighters arrived, there were three occupied multi-family buildings with heavy fire.

“Crews did an excellent job once they arrived on scene to make sure we did a primary search of all three buildings, make sure everybody was out,” Chief Delaney said.

No injuries have been reported. It is unclear how many people have been displaced from the three buildings that were on fire.

Lawrence fire

Three buildings were damaged by fire on Haverhill and Margin streets in Lawrence, Massachusetts. 

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Chief Delaney said the firefighters were impacted by the hot weather. 

“The crews are working extremely hard, they’re taking a lot of heat in all three fire buildings and we’re trying to get crews in here to make sure that they’re safe and give them some relief,” Chief Delaney said.

Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire. Firefighters from other nearby communities responded for mutual aid.

“We’re at a fourth alarm which brings a lot of resources to our city, but they’re well needed in a fire like this,” Chief Delaney said.  

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Police are asking residents to avoid the area of Haverhill Street at Margin Street because of the fire.

Lawrence, Massachusetts is a city about 30 miles north of Boston. 



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