Top Stories - October 26, 2006

Cops eyed in drug thefts: Stolen evidence may taint future cases

(Photo and article from Boston Herald.)

The Boston police anti-corruption unit is investigating whether cops stole the drugs that are missing from a Hyde Park evidence warehouse - jeopardizing ongoing criminal cases in the latest embarrassing blow to a department already rocked by scandal.
Earlier this month, the Herald reported drugs had gone missing as police moved mountains of seized cocaine, heroin, marijuana and other drugs from one section of the warehouse to another.
While some of those drugs were later found, acting police commissioner Al Goslin said at the time an audit was under way to determine whether more drugs had been stolen or were misplaced.
Late yesterday, Boston police acknowledged that drugs are in fact missing.
“As a result of the audit that had been ordered by the commissioner, anti-corruption is investigating and the audit continues,” said police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll.

Running unopposed on crime

Barring the onset of the apocalypse, Gerry Leone will be the next district attorney of Middlesex County.
The Franklin native, who now lives in Hopkinton, and who served as the former Massachusetts anti-terrorism coordinator, is unopposed for the office, which will be vacated by current DA Martha Coakley, who is running for the state’s attorney general position.
But being the lone candidate hasn’t changed Leone’s approach to his campaign.
In the weeks before the election, Leone, a Democrat, is beginning to familiarize himself with each of the 55 cities and towns that make Middlesex the largest county in the state. He’s also preparing to take the office that he has been working toward his entire career, he said.
Leone’s resume is stacked with credentials - from seven years spent as deputy first assistant to former district attorney Tom Reilly in the early 1990s, to a two-year stint as chief of the statewide Criminal Bureau. But even such a career couldn’t prepare him for the cost and work involved in running for public office, he said.

SC supports sealing personnel evaluations

WAKEFIELD — A motion from a statewide association of school committees suggests that most committees are in favor of sealing personnel evaluations from the public record.
Six out of the seven Wakefield School Committee members voted to support Motion Two during Tuesday night’s School Committee meeting at the Wakefield High School’s Volpe Library. Committee Chairwoman Carmen Urbonas cast the only dissenting vote.
The School Committee also discussed and voted on five resolutions made by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, which is a group of all the school committees from Massachusetts.
The Motion Two resolution was created by the Wayland School Committee. It said that individual performance evaluations on school administrators (i.e. the superintendent) should be kept confidential.
In a phone interview Wednesday morning, Urbonas explained that this issue has been confusing to Wakefield School Committee members since last year.

Hundreds of Bay State marines come home from Iraq

DEVENS, Mass. --Hundreds of Marines from Massachusetts were welcomed home Thursday morning after several months in Iraq by thousands of happy, teary and relieved relatives.
"I'm so happy he's home. So relieved," Julie A. Wenck of Milford, who was there to greet her nephew, Lance Cpl. Brian Shepard, told The Telegram & Gazette of Worcester.
The Marines, members of the 1st Battalion, 25th Infantry, marched onto the field in formation at Devens Reserve Force Training and remaining straight-faced before both sides rushed toward each other.

(Other articles from Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Observer, Boston Globe.)

On a final note, I attended Fright Night 2006. I've written reviews of every film shown, which will appear in the Spin. I won't post them here; if you want to see them, wait for the Spin (sometime next week) or e-mail me.

True Conservative Vs. Liberal (Part 1 of 3)

The following post does not necessarily express the opinions of all of us here at the Étudiant.

Abortion:
Liberal: Fetus' aren't considered "human life". We like to call ourselves "Pro-Choice", but there is no such choice it is "Pro-Death"
True Conservative: In one word: Murder. Life begings at conception and under any circumstance this is illegal. Solution: Illegalize and Imprison.


Affirmative Action:
Liberal: We have to make up for racial discrimination by giving these people chances! We need to create diverse oppurtunities!
True Conservative: In a productive society, workers are hired based on abiility and if you want racism, affirmative action is exactly that (Hiring people based on their "minority" status gives them an unfair ADVANTAGE)

Death Penalty:
Liberal: Woah, what if the person sent to the death chair was actually innocent?
True Conservative: Circumstances need to be observed and taken into consideration when determining if a person shall be executed. Crimes involving 2+ persons being killed are worthy, but not definite. Human rights says that we should give the killer an oppurtunity in prison to amend their life.

Econony/Market:
Liberal: The government needs to regulate the economy in order to prevent "big companies" from taking charge.
True Conservative: The government needs to play a minimal role in regulation. A free market allows for us to make as much as we possibly can and gives a high standard of living for all.

Education Vouchers:
Liberal: No vouchers. Build upon existing public schools.
True Conservative: Because of the lack of money, many would-be private school children can't attend their school of choice. Parents should be able to choose school whichever option (no money hassle) will best benefit their child.

Environmentalism:
Liberal: The environment is a big deal and must be taken care of in order to prevent things such as global warming.
True Conservative: As far as science understands it, global warming is natural and a desire for the simplest environmentally sound resources exists, but anything outlandish is far too extreme and unnecessary.

Part 2 - The True Conservative

The following post is an editorial, a continuation of a post made Friday. These are Mr. Maganzini's views, not necessarily those of all of us here at the Étudiant. The sole purpose of the image to the left is to provide a visual.

1. Are the Founding Fathers to be taken literally?
Democrats argue that the earliest principles of the United States (a la The Constitution) are not to be taken literally. Republicans say "whatever is on their is my right....whatever isn't....well isn't". Republicans you seem to have won.....but not so fast. While rights such as the one where we can bear arms is certainly debatable, other rights such as gay marriage are just wrong. So should they be taken literally? The "True Conservative" (whom is always right) says yes, but with an italicized question mark?

2. So about the Gov't..........
Democrats assert that the Gov't (Government, of course) has all the rights in the world to use your money in any way shape or form. Republicans say "This is my money, you guys shouldn't worry about it too much. Ah, the too much is where Republicans fail and where the "True Conservative" wins. In a truly conservative society, the government and your money are not compatible and privatized education, health care, et al exist.

3. Can you be your own self in a traditional sense?
Democrats say "No, we are in the 2000s, we can make all our decisions for ourself! Mwahahahah!" Republicans believe that the traditional family unit is something that has been preserved over the centuries and should be valued. The "True Conversative" says that both of these can be accomplished. The traditional family unit is something that paves the way for a future of individuality and responsibility. Once we are able to reach a certain age (21), we can then make our own decisions based on our childhood experiences. And yes, that means no gay marriage. Point goes to the "True Conservative"

HALF TIME - True Conservative [3] vs. All Other Parties [0]

A True Conservative? One Doesn't Exist

By Glen Maganzini

(The Following Views Are Personal And Do Not Reflect Those Of The Etudiant)

Deval Patrick? No. Grace Ross? Heck No. Christy Mihos? He tries. The supposed Republican Kerry Healey? Sorry.

Why isn't Kerry Healey truly a conversative? Well, in order to be a "true conservative", you basically have to know right from wrong. Liberals, Independents, Republicans, and of course Green Party platform members have it all wrong. For instance, Healey has said "I've been Pro-Choice, even when Romney disagreed." Come on, Kerry, you claim to be a conservative, yet you think that killing a baby is a choice! Ross says "MCAS is a big reason why kids drop out of high school." Excuse me Grace, but last time I checked, you only make 30,000 K a year and maybe you were that kid who dropped out of high school! Patrick is a proponent of Affirmative Action, and incase you didn't know what that means ----- it means that there should be a balance of various ethnicities in a business environment. Last time I checked, the most productive and profitable kind of person was the one who should get the job. Sorry Sally from Salem State College, if Bob has a MBA and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard, I would choose him over you.

One of the biggest question marks of the "True Conservative" is the issue of [Illegal] Immigration. A Republican who is totally against immigration can't call themselves a conservative; they don't respect human dignity. A liberal who believes that Illegals can have all the rights in the world over here aren't right in the least bit; they are costing us (Massachusetts) 1.0 Billion Dollars. How to resolve such an issue is to impose moderate restrictions. The Illegal Immigrant is similar to a slave --- it might be quite a while until they actually get their well deserved freedom.

Stay tuned for Part 2...

Please Note That The Book Displayed Above Doesn't/Hasn't Affected My Political Views and That I Do Not Support Or Endorse Any Content Contained Within The Book. The Sole Purpose Of The Image Is To Provide A Visual

Debate #3

Left: The scene outside Boston's Faneuil Hall, where the debate took place at 7:00 PM today.

And now, some highlights of the hour-long debate, which can be seen here...

7:00
The introduction. The candidates stand closely together, from left to right, Ross, Mihos, Patrick, and Healey. Channel 5 reminds us that this is the third debate between the candidates. Much fanfare for Mihos and Patrick. Ross...not so much. Cheers and boos for Healey. This stays consistent for the hour. The moderator often asks the rowdy audience to be polite and "modest".

7:03
Patrick is asked to respond to Healey's attacks on his advocation on behalf of convicted rapist Benjamin LaGuer. Patrick claims Healey has no perspective on crime, citing her history vs. his. Mihos seizes the moment to attack Healey. Healey questions the accuracy of the statistics Patrick and Mihos have been citing. Patrick doesn't wait to claim there are statistics showing Massachusetts as the most violent state in the Northeast.

7:09
Mihos claims the Democrats and Republicans are hiding statistics.

7:14
Once again, Healey attacks Patrick over the Benjamin LaGuer incident, and says he has the wrong priorities. Patrick claims to be "...the only one up here who's prosecuted someone." Mihos attacks Healey some more.

7:18
Mihos denies he's only running to steal votes from Healey, and attacks the Democrats and Republicans some more. When asked, between Healey and Patrick, which one he agrees with more, he refuses to answer, saying, "I'm winning," and thus it doesn't matter.

Patrick: "I'm in this race because I want a change."

Ross attacks Healey for not being specific about her plans.

7:23
Patrick denies he opposed charter schools. He says he wishes for charter and district schools to "flourish". Ross accuses Patrick of flip-flopping over MCAS. She brings up the dropout rate. Healey defends MCAS. She promotes the creation of charter schools. Patrick says he supports MCAS, but it is "not enough." Mihos claims "everyone" wants to go to charter schools because Healey has "destroyed public education."

Healey: "They are public education!"

7:30
Ross supports raising the minimum wage.

Mihos: "This administration has decimated the middle class, and they're going after everyone else."

Healey vows to sign the No New Taxes Pledge.

Healey: "Everyone else here is trying to raise your taxes."

7:33
Mitt Romney's jokes about Massachusetts he has made while touring the country are discussed. Healey says she loves the state, but dodges a question from Mihos about it.

Mihos (to Healey) : "...you don't love Massachusetts."

Ross: "Taxes have gone through the roof under your administration."

Patrick: "It is hurting us," referring to Romney's remarks.

7:36
Mihos: "I wanna hear real numbers."

Healey: "Deval Patrick has no plan to lower property taxes."

Patrick: "You have a plan to raise property tax."

7:39
Healey claims Patrick is "going to raise taxes, and tax [his] way into prosperity."

7:44
Patrick (to Healey) : "I wish you would read our proposals, instead of just the right-wing's."

Healey: "I have."

Healey (to Patrick) : "You're saying, 'Spend on everything.'."

Ross: "The two of you both have expensive proposals."

7:46
Mihos reminds us he said no to increasing the gas tax by 9 cents.

7:50
Ross says her main goals concern local economic development, health care, and the environment. Mihos mentions his Proposition One, which can be viewed at http://christy2006.com, his campaign site. He also says he will protect higher education, tourism, and health care. Patrick says he will focus on health care and education reform. Healey does not name her top three, but invites the audience to visit her campaign site, http://healeycommittee.com, to see her goals.

7:52
Final statements.

Ross: "I will make sure you keep your job, keep your home..."

Healey: "Deval Patrick and I have some things in common."

Patrick will not sign No New Taxes. Healey promises not to give drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.

Patrick: "We have a choice to make - same old, same old, or real change."

He says he wants to unite, not divide, the state.

Patrick: "I ask for your help."

Two more gubernatorial debates are scheduled.

Top Stories - October 17, 2006

Cops serve as chauffeurs, bellhops for visiting chiefs

Left: Boston motorcycle cops are on the job outside the Boston Convention Center yesterday where the International Association of Chiefs of Police was meeting. (photo by Ted Fitzgerald)

Tipsy police brass visiting the Hub for a chief’s conference are being ferried home from barrooms by city cops in BPD cruisers even as Boston grapples with one of the bloodiest weekends of the year, the Herald has learned.
In addition, the BPD’s newest police academy graduates were spotted carrying luggage for police chiefs as they checked into the swanky Langham Hotel, used as a command post for the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference.
“It is a wholly inappropriate waste of taxpayers’ money and police resources,” said City Councilor Stephen J. Murphy, chairman of the Public Safety Committee. An outspoken critic of the dwindling police ranks, Murphy was furious that BPD cops were taxiing visiting law enforcement officials and not patrolling the streets of Boston.

New WHS Announcements
http://www.wakefield.k12.ma.us/highschool/notices.html

Rail trail plans rolling along

Work is already underway using a $30,000 state appropriation for a feasibility study for the Reedy Meadow recreational pathway running along the old spur railroad line through Wakefield and Lynnfield.
Representatives from both communities and members of the trail committees recently meet at Town Manager Thomas Butler’s office to determine what parameters the study will encompass.

Scientology group protests screenings

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights, a group established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology to "investigate and expose psychiatric violations of human rights," briefly protested Oct. 5, designated as National Mental Health Screening Day, on the sidewalk outside Riverside Community Care on Main Street.
On the day when clinics across the country offer basic written questionnaires to those who choose to walk in and potentially walk out with anti-depressant drugs, New England Director of CCHR Kevin Hall said the screening is a "hoax." The screening day is part of President Bush’s Mental Health Commission.
Though well intentioned, especially Hall says because of Michael McDermott, who in 2000 shot seven co-workers in Wakefield shortly after his anti-depressant medication was increased, the protest fell somewhat flat because Riverside has not conducted these screenings since 2001.
Wakefield police arrived about 30 minutes after the protest began and ordered Hall to roll up the banner that read "Psychiatry’s toxic drugs cause suicides and acts of violence" which was blocking the entryway to Riverside.

Substitute sues claiming he was denied work for free speech

BOSTON --A federal lawsuit filed on Tuesday claims a high school headmaster refused work to a longtime substitute teacher who spoke publicly against funding school military programs.
Jeffrey Herman, 59, had been a substitute teacher at English High School for about five years. In early March, he spoke at a Boston City Council meeting against a proposal to spend $1.2 million on a junior ROTC programs at public high schools.
Herman said Jose Duarte, the headmaster at English, put him on the "do not call" list after a neighborhood newspaper reported his comments.

(Sources: Boston Herald, Wakefield High School, Wakefield Observer, Wakefield Daily Item, Boston Globe)

Top Stories - October 9, 2006

Baby Jordan’s chilling first night

Left: Police investigate the scene where a newborn was abandoned behind house on Bradeen Street in Roslindale. (Photo by Douglas McFadd)

For 14 hours, Mireya Jimenez listened to the squalling from the filthy back yard next door, her heart aching for what she thought was a frightened kitten.
Stricken to learn it was actually a newborn boy who’d miraculously survived an entire night in a garbage bag as temperatures hovered near 40 degrees, the trembling 53-year-old grandmother of 13 could only shake her head in disbelief.
“She’s very emotional,” said Mili Arias, Jimenez’ 14-year-old granddaughter. “She feels guilty.”
Boston police were anxious to speak to anyone who knew a woman near the end of her pregnancy - who now can’t account for her child - after yesterday morning’s appalling discovery in Roslindale of a discarded day-old white or Hispanic infant.
Authorities have named him Baby Jordan.

Man dies after being hit by log

A 72-year-old Preston Street man died after suffering massive head trauma in an accident outside his home on Saturday at approximately 6:54 p.m., according to police.
Police were not sure if next of kin had been notified and declined to release the victim’s name publicly as of press time.
The accident reportedly happened at 5 Preston St. on the corner of New Salem Street.
According to police, the victim was working with at least two other men at the time of the incident. A log apparently fell off a loaded truck causing the victim to sustain massive head injuries.

Mixed review for Route 128

Even in heavy rain, the trip from Waltham to Woburn, direct via Route 128, took only 10 minutes.
In the next two hours, though, author David Kruh noted that it’s not always that fast, and it wasn’t originally that easy to get around Boston’s suburbs.
The co-author of "Building Route 128," a picture history of one of the state’s most ambitious public works projects, gave a slide presentation and signed books Sunday at the Woburn Public Library. Among other things, he discussed his own commute, from Reading to Wilmington, which forces him into heavy traffic because Route 128 encouraged towns to base their growth on the automobile - which made the highway a self-fulfilling success and, at the same time, failure.

40 people treated at Portland-area hospitals

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine --About 40 people who were evacuated from a supermarket Monday night after complaining of nausea and other problems were treated at area hospitals, police said.
No one appeared to be seriously ill and all of those who were treated were conscious and walking, police said.
The Shaw's Supermarket at Mill Creek in South Portland was evacuated around 6:45 p.m. after several customers complained of nausea, difficulty breathing, or vomiting.
Police Lt. Robb Couture said the store was being checked for the source of the problem, but officials believe it was airborne and not related to food sold there. Couture says about 40 people who were in the store were treated.
"We are very concerned about the health and safety our associates, and we are working closely with officials to determine the source of the problem," said Judy Chong, a spokeswoman for Shaw's.
Firefighters were looking at the possibility of a problem with the refrigeration system.

Sources: Boston Herald, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Observer, Boston Globe

Top Stories - October 5, 2006

Stirring strings at ensemble concert

The 25-member New England String Ensemble (left) opened its 13th season Sept. 30 at the Rogers Center for the Arts in North Andover with a beautiful performance of four pieces by Franz Schubert, Igor Stravinsky, Osvaldo Golijov and Pyotr Tchaikofsky.
Attended by close to 200 people of all ages, the near 90-minute concert was recorded by WGBH 102.5 for rebroadcast. The same concert was performed the following day at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall to a full house. NESE Co-founder and Executive Director Peter Stickel of Wakefield welcomed guests as they arrived.

Monitoring wells coming to test for contamination

Last night the Conservation Commission heard a request from Brown and Caldwell engineering firm of Andover, on behalf the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department, to install monitoring and testing equipment in and around Lake Quannapowitt to ascertain the levels of groundwater and lake sediment contamination.
The Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department (MGLD) hired Brown and Caldwell to help them comply with an order from the state to clean up an old sediment deposit that has covered parts of the Lake bottom and possible surrounding areas since the 1920s.
Brown and Caldwell came before the Conservation Commission for a Request for Determination of Applicability, to ascertain that the work they want to do “is subject to the Wetlands Protection Act,” they wrote in their application.

New WHS announcements:
http://www.wakefield.k12.ma.us/highschool/notices.html

Cop killer got state house duties: ‘Tough on crime’ Healey/Romney administration doled work to violent criminals

Though Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey attacks her gubernatorial rival as soft on cons, her administration assigned a Boston cop killer to a light-duty prison clean-up crew that once broomed trash from the State House, the Herald has learned.
Terrill Walker - the triggerman who murdered veteran BPD Detective John Schroeder during a Nov. 30, 1973, holdup at a Roxbury pawnshop - is an inmate at the Boston Pre-Release Center, which correction officers call a “bed and breakfast” for privileged cons.
Walker, 50, is paid by the Romney-Healey administration’s Department of Correction “community work crew” that maintains the State House, Forest Hills cemetery and the Emerald Necklace parks.
News that a convicted cop killer is working in a public setting outraged BPD union leaders yesterday as Healey and her running mate, former state police Col. Reed Hillman, lobbied for law enforcement endorsements.
It also came as she launched a new TV ad attacking rival Deval Patrick for representing a Florida cop killer as a lawyer in the past.
“You can’t profess to be tough on crime and turn around and allow this stuff to happen. You simply can’t have it both ways,” said Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association President Tom Nee. “This is an insult to the Schroeder family and to every working cop in the commonwealth.”

Michaels Stores shareholders approve sale

DALLAS --Michaels Stores Inc. shareholders voted Thursday to approve sale of the arts-and-crafts retailer to two private-equity firms.
Michaels had valued the deal at $44 per share or about $6 billion when it was announced in June.
The company said Thursday that the sale to Boston-based Bain Capital Partners LLC and New York-based Blackstone Group is expected to close by Nov. 4.
Michaels said holders of about 79 percent of eligible shares voted, and most favored the sale.

(Sources: Wakefield Observer, Wakefield Daily Item, Boston Globe, Boston Herald)

Top Stories - October 4, 2006

New WHS announcements: http://www.wakefield.k12.ma.us/highschool/notices.html

Suffredini says our schools are safe

Left: Dr. Maynard M. Suffredini, Jr., superintendent of Wakefield Public Schools.

It’s a scenario that no parent ever wants to experience. But to their horror, three separate school shootings with deadly results have happened in the United States over the past five days.
The deadliest of the shootings occurred in rural Lancaster County, Pa. yesterday morning, when a crazed gunman stormed into a one-room Amish schoolhouse, ordering many students to leave, then boarding up the building and taking the remaining occupants hostage. Before police could rush the schoolhouse, the would-be killer lined up several girls — between the ages of 6 and 11 — bound their legs and shot eight people — including a teacher’s aide — execution style, before taking his own life.
Five girls are dead.
In the wake of yesterday’s tragedy, parents across the country were somewhat shaken about sending their little ones to class this morning. We, again, must ask ourselves, how safe are our schools?
Here in Wakefield, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Maynard M. Suffredini Jr. says the schools are safe. Among other safety procedures, all of the town’s four elementary schools are locked 24 hours a day. Visitors can only enter the buildings by ringing a doorbell. The school secretary will allow the visitor inside after viewing the guest through a security camera installed outside the front door. Wakefield Memorial High School and the Galvin Middle School both plan to install the same system once Capital Plan funding is approved.
Though he’s not at liberty to explain specific security procedures, Suffredini says each school often reviews “lockdowns” and other safety precautions.
"We’ve worked with the police and fire departments drafting these plans,” Suffredini said. “We review them annually.”

Vermonters question Mass. candidate's comment on Quebec power

MONTPELIER, Vt. --Gov. Jim Douglas' office and the company that handles bulk electric transmission for Vermont on Wednesday both downplayed comments by a Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate that Vermont could become a bigger gateway for power flowing from Quebec to the Bay State.
"The governor (Douglas) and Lieutenant Gov. Healey did discuss the importance of renewable energy and working on a regional basis to address our future energy needs," said Douglas spokesman Jason Gibbs.
But both Gibbs and Kerrick Johnson, spokesman for the Vermont Electric Power Co., said no specific plans were in the works for transmission system upgrades in Vermont to expand links between Quebec and southern New England.
The comment came a day after Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, the Republican candidate for governor in Massachusetts, said she had talked with Douglas about big new power imports from Canada through Vermont.
"We have a transmission line directly from Quebec into Massachusetts," Healey said in Tuesday's debate in Springfield, Mass., according to a transcript on The Boston Globe's Web site.
"I've already spoken to the governor of Vermont about strengthening that transmission line so we can have a new source, a powerful source of renewables coming directly into our state," she said.

Big Dig firms put money into Healey’s ads
While Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey has talked tough on the Big Dig, a new political ad supporting her bid for governor was bankrolled by a Republican special interest group funded by major contractors on the scandal-plagued project.
The Republican Governors Association, which is chaired by Gov. Mitt Romney, raked in $25,000 from Big Dig contractor Bechtel since 2005 and another $10,000 this year from Dig firm Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade and Douglas.
The nonprofit RGA has so far kicked in $890,000 for a new TV ad trumpeting Healey’s accomplishments on Beacon Hill as part of a nationwide campaign to support GOP candidates for governor.

(Sources: Wakefield Daily Item, Boston Globe, Boston Herald)

2 Turks surrender after hijacking plane

Left: A Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-400 plane carrying more than 100 passengers is seen at Brindisi airport, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006. The plane was hijacked in Greek airspace after taking off from Albania and later landed at Italy's Brindisi airport. Italian aviation officials say the apparently unarmed hijackers are in negotiations with Italian authorities for the release of the passengers. (AP Photo/Max Frigione)

BRINDISI, Italy --Two Turks protesting Pope Benedict XVI's trip to Turkey next month hijacked a jet carrying 113 people from Albania to Istanbul on Tuesday, and it landed safely in this southern Italian coastal city, where they surrendered, officials said.

The two gave themselves up to police about two hours after the Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-400 landed, Italian news agencies reported.

Passenger Ergun Ozkeseoglu told Turkish NTV television by telephone from inside the jet that one of the hijackers waved and apologized to passengers as he left the plane. Some of the passengers could be heard applauding in response.

Source: boston.com