Massachusetts
Steward Health Care’s sale of 5 Massachusetts hospitals approved by judge
HOUSTON – A judge approved the sale of five Massachusetts hospitals owned by Steward Health Care on Wednesday during a long-awaited bankruptcy hearing in Texas.
Wednesday’s hearing had previously been postponed several times, which forced the state to spend millions of dollars to keep the medical centers open.
The hospitals that were sold are St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Morton Hospital in Taunton and Holy Family Hospital’s locations in Methuen and Haverhill.
Steward closed Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer on Saturday.
The Archdiocese of Boston had concerns about the sale, asking for the new owners to remove symbols of Catholic identity if they don’t plan to operate as Catholic health care facilities.
Wednesday’s hearing was held in Houston, Texas.
Steward filed for bankruptcy reorganization in May and began exploring plans to sell dozens of hospitals it owned across the country.
CBS News reported earlier this year that federal prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston are investigating Steward Health Care based on allegations that include fraud and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
“A bright new day for healthcare workers”
The Massachusetts Nurses Association, which represents more than 2,800 registered nurses working in hospitals impacted by the Steward crisis, said it has already had conversations with the new operators.
“This is a long-awaited and very positive development for the communities and dedicated workforce at these facilities and we look forward to working with all parties to ensure a smooth transition for these facilities to new operators in the coming days and weeks,” the MNA said in a statement.
Tim Foley, Executive Vice President at 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, said “It’s a bright new day for healthcare workers and our patients.”
“With Steward finally on its way out of Massachusetts, the critical work of transitioning the hospitals to their new owners can begin,” Foley said in a statement. “Throughout this complicated process, patient safety and workers’ rights need to be protected, and new investments will be needed to help stabilize our fragile hospitals and their vital workforces.”
Steward CEO will not testify
Ralph de la Torre, the CEO of Steward, was ordered to testify at a hearing in Washington next week led by a bipartisan group of senators looking into his bankrupt company. Instead, on Wednesday de la Torre responded to the subpoena with a scathing letter from his attorney, saying the senators appeared “determined to turn the hearing into a pseudo-criminal proceeding in which they use the time, not to gather facts, but to convict Dr. de la Torre in the eyes of public opinion.”
Massachusetts
School closings and delays for Massachusetts on Friday, March 6
Several school districts in Massachusetts have delayed the start of classes for Friday, March 6 because of a mix of sleet, freezing rain and snow.
Take a look below for the full list of school closings and delays.
The list displays all public schools in alphabetical order, followed by private schools and then colleges and universities.
Delays on this page are current as of
Massachusetts
Body part found in Shirley, Massachusetts pond, police suspect foul play
A body part was found in a pond in Shirley, Massachusetts and investigators said foul play is suspected.
It was discovered around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday as a group of people were walking along Veterans Memorial Bridge on Shaker Road.
Police said the group noticed something suspicious in the water of Phoenix Pond. The Middlesex District Attorney confirmed that the item was a body part, but would not elaborate.
Police shut down the road and divers could be seen exploring the pond late Wednesday. Authorities were back at the scene Thursday morning.
No other information is available at this point in the investigation.
Phoenix Pond connects to the Catacoonamug Brook, which flows into the Nashua River. It’s also connected to Lake Shirley.
Shirley, Massachusetts is about 44 miles northwest of Boston and around 13 miles from the New Hampshire border.
Massachusetts
Foul play suspected after human remains found in water in Shirley
Human remains were discovered Wednesday in the water in Shirley, Massachusetts, and authorities suspect foul play.
Police in Shirley said in a social media post at 7:15 p.m. that they responded to “a suspicious object in the water near the Maritime Veterans Memorial Bridge on Shaker Road.” Massachusetts State Police later said the object was believed to be human remains.
The bridge crosses Catacoonamug Brook near Phoenix Pond.
The office of Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said a group of young people was walking in the area around 5:30 p.m. and “reported seeing what appeared to be something consistent with a body part in the water.”
Foul play is suspected, Ryan’s office said.
Authorities will continue investigating overnight into Thursday, and an increased police presence is expected in the area.
No further information was immediately available.
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