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This Hour: Latest Massachusetts news, sports, business and entertainment

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BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING-THE LATEST

Latest on Boston trial: Closing arguments set for Wednesday

BOSTON (AP) - The judge overseeing the trial of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR' tsahr-NEYE'-ehv) says closing arguments will be held Wednesday.

Judge George O'Toole dismissed the jury Monday after both the defense and prosecution rested their cases. The judge says jurors will be off Tuesday and will return Wednesday.

He says jurors can expect to begin deliberations after hearing closing arguments and instructions from him.

The jury has already found Tsarnaev guilty of all 30 charges against him. Seventeen of those charges carry a possible death sentence.

Jurors will soon be tasked without deciding whether Tsarnaev should spend the rest of his life behind bars for the 2013 attacks or be sentenced to death.

All 12 jurors must be in agreement on a death sentence. Otherwise, Tsarnaev would get a life sentence.

BEACH BRAWL

Police arrest 9 people in suburban Boston beach brawl

REVERE, Mass. (AP) - State police say nine people, including eight juveniles, were arrested after a large disturbance broke out at a suburban Boston beach.

Dozens of police cruisers from surrounding areas made their way to Revere Beach at about 6:15 p.m. Sunday in response to a brawl that resulted in road closures.

Five girls under the age of 18, three boys under the age of 18 and one adult male were arrested. No names were released.

State Police Lt. Dan Richard says those involved in the fight were "pushing and shoving" and throwing plastic soda bottles.

He says the melee was apparently sparked by a group of young people drinking and perhaps smoking marijuana and disturbing nearby families.

Police say between 100 and 200 people were at the scene.

No injuries were reported.

BOSTON TRANSIT OVERHAUL

Baker urges lawmakers to approve MBTA overhaul

BOSTON (AP) - Gov. Charlie Baker is urging lawmakers to approve his plan to overhaul the MBTA and give the state a reliable, predictable and affordable public transportation system.

The governor testified on Monday before the Legislature's Transportation Committee, which is considering a bill that Baker filed after a task force report pointed to a "pervasive organizational failure" at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Baker ordered the review after the transit system experienced massive breakdowns during a winter of record-setting snow.

The governor reassured lawmakers that he was not seeking to privatize the T, cut services or raise transit fares so high they would no longer be affordable.

The key component of the governor's bill is the creation of a finance control board to oversee the system for at least the next three years with broad powers to make reforms.

HEALTH OVERHAUL-MASSACHUSETTS

Report: State held back info on website progress

BOSTON (AP) - A new report suggests the state was aware for more than a year that the health connector website was well behind schedule and may have tried to conceal that knowledge from the public and the federal government.

The Pioneer Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank, said the report released Monday was based on "whistleblowers" and information from publicly available audits.

Gov. Charlie Baker's administration, which took office in January, said last week it had received a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney's office for records related to the health connector dating to 2010.

Pioneer's report says only a small number of features on the website were completed before the scheduled Oct. 1, 2013 launch date. The failure of the health exchange dramatically slowed the state's transition to the federal Affordable Care Act.

DRUG DEAL-CHILD

Police: Lowell man had son in car as he sold drugs

LOWELL, Mass. (AP) - Lowell police have arrested a city man they say brought his 6-year-old son along for the ride as he sold drugs from his car.

Police conducting surveillance on Sunday afternoon saw what appeared to be a drug transaction between a man on the street and another in a vehicle.

Police say they pulled over the vehicle and were met with violent resistance by the driver, who attempted to hide something.

After subduing the driver, 29-year-old Ariel Rafael Pena, officers recovered cocaine, heroin and $670 in cash from the car.

Pena was charged with drug trafficking and possession. His son was handed over to the care of relatives.

Pena was held overnight pending arraignment Monday and it was not clear if he has a lawyer.

FANEUIL HALL ENTERTAINERS

Faneuil Hall entertainers balk at new fee

BOSTON (AP) - Musicians, magicians and assorted entertainers who thrill the crowds outside Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market are outraged at management's decision to charge them annual fees as high as $2,500.

Jason Gardner, an escape artist who has performed at Faneuil Hall for more than a decade, calls the fee "a shakedown."

Artists point out they have to undergo auditions to win their license to perform publicly and they don't get paid by the city or marketplace management, relying entirely on tips from the public.

Marketplace management tells The Boston Globe that the fee, which takes effect next month, is needed to offset administration, promotion, and security costs.

A spokeswoman said via email that auditions have been postponed in light of concerns about the fees, which can be paid over five months.

NEW BEDFORD-PAWSOX

City councilor wants New Bedford to discuss PawSox pitch

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (AP) - The new owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox say they want to move the team to Providence. But officials in New Bedford are interested in becoming the next home of the Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate.

City Councilor Steve Martins has filed a motion for the city to discuss becoming the home for the team.

Martins and fellow councilor Kerry Winterson have lined up two potential sites for a new stadium. One is right along the waterfront, similar to the proposed ballpark in Providence.

Martins and Winterson say they are willing to give the PawSox time to work on a deal with Rhode Island officials.

Martins says New Bedford would consider taking an aggressive approach in obtaining the team if a deal falls through.

GAS PRICES-MASSACHUSETTS

Gas up another 4 cents per gallon in Massachusetts

BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts gas prices are on the rise again, up another 4 cents per gallon on average in the past week.

AAA Northeast reports Monday that the average cost of a gallon of self-serve, regular is now $2.64.

The current price is 30 cents higher than a month ago but still $1.02 lower than at this time last year. Massachusetts per gallon prices are also 2 cents lower than the national average.

AAA found self-serve, regular selling for as low as $2.39 per gallon and as high as $2.79.

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