Around New England

Report: 800 Million Gallons Of Sewage Flowed Into Merrimack River in 2018

Bill Gnade

The Lawrence Eagle-Tribune is reporting that failing sewer pipes dumped more than 800 million gallons of sewage into the Merrimack River in 2018. The paper also reports that statewide, Massachusetts rivers and streams, according to data collected by environmental groups, were depositories for over 3.5 billion gallons of sewage.

According to the Eagle-Tribune's article, 50 out-dated "overflow pipes" within 5 separate sewer systems dumped the sewage into the Merrimack River along its 117-mile course from Franklin, NH and through the commonwealth. The Merrimack's mouth is in Newburyport, where it spills into the Atlantic Ocean.

Around The Web

Illinois Woman Held 33 Immigrants In Her Basement In “Forced Labor” Scheme

Bill Gnade

The FBI raided a Cicero, Illinois home this week and found 33 Guatemalan immigrants held in the home's basement in an alleged forced labor scheme. The homeowner, Concepcion Malinek, 49, has been arrested and thus far charged with 2 counts of forced labor.

19 adults and 14 children were found in the home, according to multiple news sources.

CNN reports Malinek, who holds dual citizenship in Guatemala and the US, apparently threatened the immigrants by telling the adults she'd have them deported and would keep their children with her state-side.

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