8/12/2019 March 18, 2014 The Republican Page A1

1/1

INDEX

Business B5

Classified B4

Comics D2

Lifestyle D1

Legals C6

Local C1

Obituaries C6

Opinion C4

Puzzles D4

Sports B1

Television C6

Weather B8

8 15 9 9 6 6 0 0 0 0 0

TODAYS

MUSTREADS

LOVE IT MORE!Special section gives readers guide to new look.INSIDE

Partly sunny.

High:37; Low:15

EXPANDED WEATHER, B

WEATHER

TO OUR READERS

A vision ofinclusivity

Today, The Republicanembarks on a new era in theemphasis, style and flavorof the Opinion and Editorialpages. While some elementsmay look familiar, there will bea change in the way editorialsare written, and readers will bepart of that change. We inviteyou to take part in the page bycommenting at MassLive.com,by emailing us and by writingletters to the editor. We lookforward to meeting you andgetting to know you throughyour letters, through yourpresence and through yourcomments. Full Editorial,Page C

KICKER

Dobelle lawsuitarguments

U.S. Magistrate Judge Ken-neth P. Neiman is not expectedto rule for several weeks on amotion by lawyers for West-field State University trusteesto dismiss a lawsuit by ex-pres-ident Evan Dobelle.

Neiman spent nearly twohours on Monday hearing ar-guments in U.S. District Court

from lawyers on both sides ofDobelles suit, which claimshe was forced from office by aconspiracy involving universi-ty trustees, the states highereducation commissioner andothers.

Dobelle was not presentfor the hearing, the first sincehe filed the lawsuit in Octo-ber after university trusteesplaced him on paid leave amidquestions about his spendingon dozens of domestic andinternational trips.

Assistant Attorney GeneralJeffrey Collins said the suitfailed to meet the minimum le-gal standard because Dobelle

effectively surrendered his jobby resigning.Full story, Page A

THE REPUBLICAN CO. | .YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS.TUESDAY, MARCH ,

NCAA TOURNAMENT

Big Dance preparationsUniversity of Massachusetts basketball coach Derek Kellogg works on defensive techniques with Tyler Bergantino during practice Monday at the MullinsCenter in Amherst. Read more about UMass preparations for the NCAA tournament on Page B1. DON TREEGERTHE REPUBLICAN

B J Kjkinney@repub.com

Changchun Railway Vehicles Co.,the largest maker of transit and railpassenger cars in the world, plansto build a ,-square-foot as-sembly plant on the -acre formerWestinghouse site on Page Boule-

vard in East Springfield.The company confirmed on Mon-

day that it wants to assemble transitcars for the state-run MassachusettsBay Transportation Authority andmake Western Massachusetts thehub for its future North Americanmanufacturing plans. The MBTA

proposal involves a potential .billion contract to build at least rail cars to replace its aging fleet.

Prompted by their participation inthe MBTA request for proposal forthe Orange/Red Line Car Procure-ment, Changchun representativestoday announced initial proceedings

including their selection of Spring-field for its rich manufacturingheritage, and development plans of asite initiating ongoing conversationsof support with state, city, local, andcommunity officials, Changchunsaid in a news release.

SPRINGFIELD

Chinese firm eyes cityFailed casino site proposed for U.S. manufacturing hub

B P Gpgoonan@repub.com

In the wake of Mayor Domenic J.Sarnos closed-door interviews ofthree candidates to be the citys nextpolice commissioner, representativesof three community organizationscalled on the mayor to create anopen process for selecting the nextleader for the Police Department.

The statement by the Rev. TalbertW. Swan II, president of the Greater

Springfield branch of the NAACP,Archbishop Timothy Paul Baymon,president of the Council of Church-es of Western Massachusetts, andMichaelann Bewsee, director ofArise for Social Justice., was issuedon Monday after MassLive.comreported Sarno completed interviewslast week of the three deputy policechiefs.

An initial statement issued bythe group also urged Sarno to drop

Deputy Chief Robert McFarlin as acandidate. They said McFarlin hasa long history of insensitivity towardcommunities of color and women.That portion of the statement waslater withdrawn by the group, butthey said they want the mayor to re-view their concerns about McFarlinsconduct on the job .

Sarno completed private inter-views of the departments threedeputy chiefs as the sole candidates

being considered for the job beingvacated on June when Commis-sioner William J. Fitchet retires.Sarno interviewed McFarlin onMarch and interviewed the othertwo deputies, William Cochrane andJohn Barbieri, on Friday, accordingto a police source.

In the interest of transparen-cy, we call on the mayor to openhis selection process and to allow

SPRINGFIELD

Top cop interviews ire community groups

SEE RAIL,PAGE A

SEE POLICE,PAGE A

DearRead

ers,

etoourne

wlook!Aft

er190ye

ars

ublicanis

readyfor

a21st

wof

LoveitMORE!

-

-

Theres somethingfor everyone

in todaysRepublican,

see todays comics pages for details.

3/18/14

3/18/14

Republican,see todays

comics pagesfor details.

Theres something for

everyone in todays

42 Myron Street West Springfield, MA Exit 13B (south) of Interstate 91 to U.S.Route 5, (Riverdale Street) then take the next right onto Myron Street.413-737-4012 www.BeautifulRooms.net All Major Credit Cards Accepted

Save 40% to 60% OFF! M.S.R.P.

Beautiful RoomsF in e F ur ni tu re & A c ce ss o r ie s

The Its FinallySpringSavingsCelebration: Save on in-stock, newly arrived,

and display designer furniture.Special orders are included!

02

559254