Eastie to get $3.8 million renovation
BOSTON. Central Square in East Boston is getting a $3.85 million makeover.

The city announced plans Thursday to redesign and restructure the area to improve traffic, reduce congestion and create better walkways for pedestrians. Officials hope work will begin in Spring 2010.

Under the plan, parking will be reorganized, new traffic signals will be installed and crosswalks will be shortened. The first public meeting for the plan is slated for September.

In addition, the city announced a new effort to prevent commuters and people heading to Logan Airport from parking in East Boston. More than 200 on-street parking spaces will be switched to resident parking there.
METRO/GS

Slaying suspect awaits his hearing
NEW YORK. A man accused of killing a woman in Massachusetts and fleeing to New York with his four small children and their mother faced an arraignment Thursday on a fugitive warrant. Bay State authorities said they planned to charge Rodlyn Petitbois with first-degree murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in the fatal stabbing. It wasn’t immediately clear whether Petitbois, 25, might also be charged with forcing the family to flee with him.    AP

Retraction:

On Monday and Tuesday this week, Metro Boston reported on  an altercation that happened on July 27, 2008. In its articles, Metro may have suggested that those involved in the incident were at The Greatest Bar on Friend Street prior to the altercation and/or that the altercation occurred at or in front of The Greatest Bar. However, the police incident report clearly  states that the altercation happened on the corner of Valenti Way and Portland Street, not Friend Street. Moreover, no reference to The Greatest Bar appears in the police incident report of record.  Metro regrets these errors. 

WNV mosquitoes found in Boston
BOSTON. Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus have been found in Boston for the first time this summer, according to the Boston Public Health Commission. The infected insects were found in West Roxbury, following reports of a red-tailed hawk in Jamaica Plain testing positive for the disease last week.

Although no human cases have been reported, the city has begun putting larvicide in catch basins to quell heavy mosquito population.

To reduce the risk of being bitten, public health officials said using inspect repellent and wearing long sleeve shirts and pants can be helpful. METRO/BP