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Thursday, jun 4
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Community Support
Obituaries
McDaniel’s Winningest Coach Kevin Curley Dies At 54 After Cancer Battle That United Community
For months, Coach Kevin Curley’s community followed every update. The Johns Hopkins stays. The feeding tube. The chemotherapy. The hopeful return home. The prayers, donations, letters, and messages from the people he spent more than 30 years coaching, mentoring, and shaping. On Wednesday, May 27, that fight came to an end. Curley, the winningest men’s basketball coach in McDaniel College history, died at 54 after a battle with metastatic esophageal cancer, according to his obituary and a GoFundMe campaign created for his family. He was surrounded in his final hours by his wife, Alliso…
News
MA Rises In Rankings For Immigrant Support, New Study Shows: Here's Why
One Mid-Atlantic state offers the best conditions for immigrants, while others across the Northeast lag behind, according to a new study. SmileHub released its 2026 list of Best States for Immigrants on Tuesday, March 4. The report evaluated all 50 states using 16 measures tied to social support, economic opportunity, and legal stability for immigrants. The study was released as outrage grows toward President Donald Trump's mass deportation efforts, along with Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids that have stoked fears among immigrants of all legal statuses. "Over 53 mi…
Police & Fire
Monson Couple Married Nearly 60 Years Die In House Fire; Community Raises $41K For Family
A husband and wife who were killed at their Western Massachusetts home had been together for nearly 60 years and left behind a grieving family that needs help. Their friends and neighbors are stepping up to provide that aid. Firefighters received multiple 911 calls on Thursday, Feb. 19, around 4:30 p.m., about flames licking up the sides of a home at 275 Silver Street in Monson. Crews faced multiple roof collapses at the single-family home as they worked to put out the blaze. The bodies of two people were found. Two officers were also hurt in the search to pull them out, authorities s…
News
Community Steps Up After Lily Jean Sinks, Search Suspended With 6 Missing: 'Just Devastating'
A fishing trip out of Gloucester turned tragic Friday when the vessel Lily Jean sank about 25 miles off the coast of Massachusetts with seven people on board. Now the community is coming together to help the families who lost their loved ones. The fishing boat went down silently on Saturday, Jan. 31. The Coast Guard located a debris field in the water, and one crewmember was later found dead. Officials suspended their search with six still missing at sea. The Coast Guard identified all seven people on board on Monday. Among them was Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo, the boat’s captain. …
Police & Fire
Mass Ranks Among America’s Most Generous States, 2 Counties Crack National Top 12
Massachusetts has been ranked the ninth most generous state in the nation based on repeat donors, according to GoFundMe’s 2025 Year in Help report released earlier this week. Beyond that statewide ranking, two Bay State counties were named among the most generous communities in America. The annual report highlights GoFundMe’s biggest moments of giving, revealing that an average of 2.5 donations were made every second worldwide in 2025. Across the Bay State, donors stepped up to help neighbors through natural disasters, medical crises, moments of grief, and everyday financial hardships. Thi…
Neighbors
Massachusetts Communities Step Up To Keep Thanksgiving Hope Alive
Thanksgiving has a funny way of sneaking up on us. One minute you’re debating Halloween candy, the next you’re knee-deep in turkey talk and wondering if you bought enough potatoes. But while many of us fuss over gravy lumps and pie crusts, others worry about something much more basic. This season reminds us that giving back is not just a holiday slogan. It’s a real chance to lift up neighbors who could use a hand. Across Massachusetts, people are stepping forward with full hearts and busy hands. Their goal is simple. Share a good meal. Share hope. And make Thanksgiving count. Here are…
News
Mass Dad Crushed To Death In Scrap Yard Accident, Loved Ones Say
A 49-year-old Massachusetts father was killed in a workplace accident Friday, Oct. 10, and is being remembered by loved ones as a caring husband, devoted dad, and selfless friend. Mark Peters, of Taunton, died from a crushing injury sustained while working at Mid City Scrap in Westport around 11:10 a.m., the Herald News reports, citing the Bristol County DA. Peters was hospitalized and later pronounced dead. A GoFundMe launched by Nichole Franco to support Peters’ wife and son had raised more than $22,000 as of Thursday, Oct. 16. “Grace and Gabriel are left without a husband and fath…
News
MA Ranked Among 10 Happiest States In Nation, New Study Finds: Here's Why
The Northeast is home to some of the happiest people in the country, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 list of Happiest States in America on Monday, Sept. 8. The study compared all 50 states across 30 metrics of happiness, including depression and suicide rates, work hours, income growth, unemployment, family stability, volunteer rates, and safety. The personal finance website also measured how many adults feel active and productive, as well as factors like sleep, leisure time, and community support. "In addition to pursuing your passions, having a good work-l…
Obituaries
'Her Presence Lit Up The Room': Community Mourns Central Mass Teen After Fatal Crash
The Central Massachusetts community is grieving the loss of a 19-year-old Auburn woman after she was killed in a crash that left her car overturned and submerged in Stoneville Reservoir. Finleigh Dragon, 19, was discovered in the reservoir off Rochdale Street around 2:20 a.m., according to Auburn police and fire officials. First responders found her vehicle partially submerged with Dragon inside. Dragon was taken to the hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead. She graduated from Tantasqua Regional High School in 2024 and planned to attend Quinsigamond Community College in the fal…
News
Inside Northeast Sex Trafficking Empire: Cash, Luxury Apartment, Fake Spa, Fugitive On The Run
They built a criminal empire out of fake spas, cash, and exploited women. One vanished before trial. The other just got sentenced to decades in prison. The Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office issued an update on Monday, Aug. 25, confirming the fate of Zigui “Lisa” Zheng—and the disappearance of her co-defendant, Yan Qiu, after both were convicted of running a sex trafficking ring across Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia. Spa Boss Sentenced After Shocking Trial Zheng, 48, was sentenced to 10.5 to 21 years in state prison on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, after a jury found her guilty of…
Police & Fire
After 13-Year-Old Killed In Alleged DUI Crash, Community Rallies Behind Mass Family
A 16-year-old boy faces new charges in the Marblehead crash that killed 13-year-old Savanah Gatchell, as the community rallies to support her grieving family. The 16-year-old, whose name is not being released because of his age, is now charged with motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation, receiving a stolen vehicle, and operating under the influence of liquor, according to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. He was also cited for two civil motor vehicle infractions. Savanah, an eighth grader at Veterans Middle School, died after the crash on Atlantic Avenue just before 3 …
News
North Adams Community Rallies After Fire Destroys Homes, Leaves Families Scrambling
A Western Massachusetts community is rallying to support families left homeless after a devastating fire earlier this month that killed several pets. The blaze at 319-321 Walnut St. in North Adams was reported just after 3:20 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9. Authorities have not said what caused the fire, but it spread quickly through the triplex. Firefighters contained the flames in less than an hour, but the damage was catastrophic. Three families lost everything — far more than words could convey. Joe and Tina Matejek escaped the flames but lost everything in the fire, including two cats, acco…
Obituaries
'Stayed By His Side Til The End': Dog Remained Loyal To Owner During Fatal CT Fire
A Connecticut family who lost a 32-year-old man and two dogs in a devastating house fire is taking solace in the fact that one of his beloved pets never left his side. Now, the community is rallying to help them rebuild. Firefighters sped to the 100 block of Brookside Place in Cheshire around 3 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, after reports of a raging house fire. Inside, Zachary Naoumides was with his father, veterinarian Dr. Nicholas Naoumides, when flames quickly spread through the home. His father escaped by jumping from the roof, suffering severe smoke inhalation. Zachary, however, did not survi…
News
NJ Synagogue Firebombed In 2012 Ravaged By Fire — Along With All 7 Torahs
Tragedy has struck yet again for a New Jersey synagogue targeted in a 2012 firebombing. At approximately 2:45 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8, a blaze ripped through Rabbi Yitzchok Lerman and his wife, Bina's, Montross Avenue home and synagogue in Rutherford, where they've been since 2014. The couple and four of their six children who were home at the time escaped "right in the nick of time," according to Bina's sister, Brocha Wilschanski. However, everything else was destroyed — including all seven Torahs. "They're in shock, but they're well," Wilschanski said in a call with Daily Voice. "The al…
Obituaries
Teen Swept Into Drain, Dies As Brother, Mother Watch Helplessly During Flash Flood
A flash flood hit a small Maryland community in a matter of minutes. In even less time, a 13-year-old boy was gone. Mason Paul Kearns was swept into a storm drain just 20 feet from his family’s front door on Thursday, July 31, around 5:20 p.m. — all while his family watched helplessly as they attempted to save him. Emergency responders rushed to the Watersville Apartments on West Watersville Road, where Kearns had been caught in rapidly rising floodwaters. “Mason became trapped in a storm drainpipe as he was swept away by the heavy rainfall,” Mount Airy Chief Michael Ginevra said…
News
Hersheypark Wave Pool Drowning Investigation Report Released By Police
Police have released the findings of their investigation into the tragic Hersheypark wave pool drowning of 9-year-old Sophia Subedi, confirming her death was an accidental freshwater drowning. The Derry Township Police Department announced Friday, Aug. 1, that no criminal activity was involved in the July 24 incident, which unfolded shortly before 6:46 p.m. The review — conducted with the cooperation of the Dauphin County Coroner’s Office and Hersheypark — included video surveillance, witness and employee statements, and a detailed examination of the physical scene. Investigators confirmed …
News
Girl Who Died In Hersheypark Wave Pool Identified As 9-Year-Old Sophia Subedi
The 9-year-old girl who died after being rescued from Hersheypark’s wave pool last week has been identified as Sophia Subedi, a resident of Harrisburg’s Bhutanese community. Sophia, born in 2016 in Mount Carmel, Columbus, Ohio, had lived in Harrisburg since 2022. She had just completed 3rd grade at North Side Elementary School in the Central Dauphin School District and was preparing to begin 4th grade this fall, according to a statement from the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg (BCH) released on Monday, July 28. “A bright, kind, and loving young girl, Sophia, brought joy and light to every…
News
Bhutanese Community Mourns 9-Year-Old Girl Killed At Hersheypark
The Bhutanese community in Harrisburg is grieving the loss of a 9-year-old girl who died after being pulled from the wave pool at Hersheypark on Thursday, July 24. Tilak Niroula, chairman of the Board for the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg, confirmed the girl was a member of their close-knit community. In a heartfelt statement, he said the girl was “full of promise, innocence, and joy — a light in the lives of all who knew her. “Her sudden and tragic departure has left a deep void in our hearts and in the community she was so warmly a part of,” Niroula said. “Our entire community is grie…
News
Pastor Detained by ICE Forced to Sleep on Concrete Floor With No Bed, Family Says
A beloved, longtime Maryland pastor is reportedly living in troubling conditions after being detained by ICE and shipped to a detention center in Baltimore. Pastor Daniel Fuentes Espinal, of Easton, the head of Iglesia del Nazareno Jesus Te Ama (Church of the Nazarene Jesus Loves You), was picked up while shopping at a local Lowe's, according to his loved ones. Fuentes Espinal — who has been in the country for 24 years, has no criminal record, and leads a congregation of dozens in Easton — was taken into custody by ICE agents, and transported to a detention center in Baltimore, wh…
News
Triathlete, 37, Dies During Swim At NJ Lake, Authorities Say
A 37-year-old teacher and mother of four died while competing in the swimming portion of a triathlon at a North Jersey lake over the weekend, Daily Voice has learned. The incident involving 37-year-old Hannah Merlucci, of Kinnelon, happened on the morning of Saturday, July 19 at Fayson Lakes, according to Meghan Kbab, a spokeswoman for the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. Lifeguards spotted a female swimmer unresponsive in the water, swam out to her, and brought her back to shore, Knab said. CPR was immediately initiated. Emergency medical personnel arrived shortly after and transported …
Sports
‘He Died A Hero’: Former MLB Prospect Drowns Saving Strangers As Family Watches
Chase Childers, a former Baltimore Orioles minor league prospect, died a hero in South Carolina after rushing into floodwaters to save a group of swimmers — sacrificing his life to protect theirs. According to Pawleys Island Police, officers received a 911 call at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Sunday, July 13, reporting “multiple swimmers in distress near Shell Road Ocean.” One man — later identified as Childers — was missing, and a search was immediately launched by police, Midway Fire Rescue, and the US Coast Guard. At approximately 6:15 p.m., rescue teams recovered Childers' body fro…
Business
Feds Join Fight To Save 175-Year-Old NJ Family Farm From Bulldozers: 'Not For Sale'
The federal government is joining the fight to assist a New Jersey farm that has been a fixture off the Turnpike for more than a century. A 175-year-old family farm in Cranbury (Middlesex County) is now at the center of a high-stakes legal and political showdown after the township began the process of seizing the land for a housing development, triggering a wave of public outrage, national media attention, and direct intervention from the Trump administration. The farm, located at 1234 South River Road, has been in the Henry family for over 150 years. It’s widely known throughout the com…
Politics
Senator Stuck In Iraq Amid Overseas Chaos Returns To Logan Airport: 'Grateful To Be Home'
A Connecticut Senator is back in the US after being stuck for days in Iraq amid the ongoing tensions and attacks in the Middle East. Sen. Saud Anwar, who represents the state's 3rd District, confirmed that he safely returned to Boston Logan Airport on Saturday, June 14, days after posting a video about the airline shutdown in the region. "Feeling incredibly blessed to be back home in the United States," Anwar posted on Facebook. "A heartfelt thank you to everyone who reached out through emails, texts, voice messages, social media, and your prayers. "Your love and support have truly lifted…
News
Crash Report Reveals Heroic Dad, Son Died Trying To Save Suicidal Brother From Bristol Amtrak
A 110 mph Amtrak train struck a father and his two sons during a frantic struggle on the rails in Bristol Borough, Bucks County, on Thursday, April 3 at 6:02 p.m., newly released investigative records obtained by Daily Voice through a Freedom of Information Act request on Wednesday, June 11 show. Christopher Cramp, 56, and his eldest son, David Cramp, 31, were pulling 24-year-old Thomas Cramp off the tracks when all three were hit by southbound Train 85, according to the redacted Amtrak Police report. Thomas had just fallen toward an adjacent line after what officers believe was a suicide at…
Police & Fire
Mass Mom Dies Of Injuries In Drunk Driver Crash That Killed 5-Year-Old Daughter: DA
A 38-year-old Massachusetts mother has died from injuries sustained in a crash involving an alleged drunk driver that also claimed the life of her young daughter last month. Minaben Patel was a passenger in a Honda Civic driven by her husband, Atulkumar Patel. Their children, including daughter Krisha and a son, were in the backseat when a suspected drunk driver collided with their vehicle around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, in Franklin, Massachusetts, according to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. James N. Blanchard, a Plainville mechanic, has been charged with motor vehicle…
News
Philadelphia Plane Crash Claims 8th Victim As Mom Of 3 Dies From Injuries
A mother of three who was critically injured in the Jet Rescue Air Ambulance crash in Northeast Philadelphia has died, her loved ones and the coroner confirmed on Tuesday, May 6. Dominique Goods-Burke, 39, passed away on Saturday, April 27, after spending nearly three months in the hospital due to severe injuries and related health complications from the crash. Crash And Aftermath Dominique had been with her family at Macy’s in Roosevelt Mall on Friday, Jan. 31 when the Learjet 55 crashed into the area during the afternoon rush hour. The impact caused her car to catch fire with her and her …
Obituaries
Beloved Coach, Mentor, Father Of George Mason Final Four Star Mourned: ‘A True Legend’
Coach Lamar Butler Sr. didn’t just build basketball players in the DMV — he built men. The DMV basketball world is mourning the loss of Coach Lamar Butler Sr., a beloved mentor, husband, grandfather, and father to George Mason Final Four standout Lamar Butler Jr., who passed away this week. He was more than a coach — he was a pillar, his loved ones said. Butler shaped generations of young athletes, not only with his love for the game, but with values that extended far beyond the hardwood: discipline, integrity, teamwork, and self-belief. His contagious smile and unwavering com…
News
MA's Foster Care System Ranked In Nation's Bottom Half, New Study Says: Here's Why
Northeast and mid-Atlantic states showed wide disparities in foster care quality, with some ranking among the nation's best and others falling behind, according to a new study. SmileHub released its 2025 list of States With the Best Foster Care Systems on Tuesday, April 29. The study analyzed every state using 19 key foster care metrics, from adoption timelines and high school graduation rates to monthly stipends. The ranking used a weighted scoring system across three categories: foster youth baselines, community environment and support systems, and legal support. …
Lifestyle
Bullies Hurl Racial Slurs At 5-Year-Old Asian Boy — Then Flee When His Mom Shows Up (
Video
)
A video of a cowardly group of teen bullies terrorizing a terrified 5-year-old Chinese-American boy in Virginia has gone viral—and now parents are calling for accountability. The two-minute video, shared on YouTube by the group "JusticeForEthan" shows a group of teens—reportedly from Eagle Ridge Middle School—preying on the young preschooler who was sobbing and begging for the torment to stop. "Don't hurt me!" the child shouted while clutching a blue blanket he tried to hide behind while the teens called him offensive names. "Save me! Save me!" he shouted while running to the corner o…
News
Community Rallies After 3 Construction Workers Killed In West Springfield I-91 Hit-Run Crash
Hundreds of people have donated to support the families of three construction workers who were killed last week when a driver allegedly struck them while they repaired a guardrail on Interstate 91 and then fled the scene, according to police. The deadly crash sparked a major manhunt. Igor Costa, 26, of Marlborough; Ryan Almeida, 48; and Raul Bohorquez, 57, both of Brockton, died shortly before 1 a.m. on Friday, March 28, while working on the Exit 10A ramp to Riverdale Street in West Springfield, police said. Original Story: Police Arrest West Springfield Man In Crash That Killed 3 Bilal …
Obituaries
Carbon Monoxide Killed 3 Mass Women On Belize Birthday Trip: Report
Three Massachusetts women found dead last month in a seaside Belize hotel died from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to an investigation by the Belizean government, CBS Boston reported Wednesday, March 26. The bodies of Wafae El Arar, Imane Mallah, and Kaoutar Naqqad — all lifelong friends from Revere — were discovered on Feb. 22. The trio had traveled to Central America to celebrate El Arar’s 26th birthday, their families said. Related: Communities Rally Around Families of 3 Women Who Died in Belize Initial reports from officials indicated that the women died of acute pulmonary edem…
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