Library may cut 10 of its branches – Boston weighs layoff of quarter of staff
By Andrew Ryan – Globe Staff / February 18, 2010

The Boston Public Library is considering closing up to 10 of its neighborhood branches and laying off one-quarter of its staff, cuts that would irrevocably alter America’s oldest municipally funded library system.

Amy E. Ryan, the library’s president, said yesterday that because of steep budget cuts the only alternative to closings would be slashing hours at 18 library branches, with the smallest facilities open only one to three days a week.

“As we think about the shortfall, there is a sense of urgency,’’ Ryan told a board of trustees meeting packed with more than 80 people. “The status quo can’t work. We cannot sustain the system as it is currently configured.’’

Ryan’s proposal also calls for significant cuts at the library’s headquarters in Copley Square and in behind-the-scenes administrative offices.

But the most visible impact would be in the city’s 26 neighborhood libraries, a system which has outposts from Hyde Park to Charlestown and includes the nation’s first branch library, established in East Boston in 1869.

Boston Herald boycotts Huskies
By Jon Raymond/Huntington News Staff – February 18, 2010

As it continues its record-breaking winning season, the Northeastern men’s basketball team will be featured in a national broadcast Saturday when they face Louisiana Tech.

But despite the anticipated attention from ESPN and other major media outlets, the Huskies aren’t likely to make The Boston Herald the next day.

Since late November, the Herald has run box scores and short clips about Northeastern sports teams — but the paper has chosen not to run full-length game stories on any Huskies sports, including the successful men’s basketball team, said Executive Sports Editor Hank Hryniewicz.

Hryniewicz says the Herald’s feud stems back to Northeastern’s Nov. 23 press conference at Matthews Arena, during which Athletics Director Peter Roby announced the termination of the football program in front of a room full of TV, radio and print reporters — but none from the Herald. Hryniewicz said Northeastern did not alert the Herald about the press conference. He said he has called Northeastern officials asking for an explanation but has been ignored, leading to the lack of Northeastern coverage in the Herald’s popular sports section.

Prof leads Toyota cases
By Bill Shaner/Huntington News Staff – February 18, 2010

Tim Howard, professor of law and director of Northeastern’s Doctorate in Law and Policy (LP.D.) program, leads a team of 30 law firms across 20 states in a fight for consumer rights against Toyota.

Their main goal: getting Toyota to compensate consumers for faulty vehicles. They aim for Toyota to pay owners either a cash sum of $500 to $600 or additional credit for trade-ins, Howard said.

Toyota recalled nearly 8 million cars globally because of accelerator problems in January, and on Feb 3., Toyota recalled roughly half a million Priuses and other gas-electric models for faulty brakes, according to The New York Times.

Howard and his team began pursuing the company in January. He said when the case is resolved is up to Toyota.

“If they’re smart they’ll move quickly and get this thing settled,” he said. “There’s around 31 death cases now nationally for Toyotas that went out of control. So they need to clean this up, fix their car problems, get back to making a good product and be honest with consumers.”

Howard said he and his team met with Toyota’s attorneys on Tuesday and would like to reconvene soon to discuss possible resolutions.

“It’s fun doing justice for consumers,” he said. “If we’re not there to fight for them they would be crushed. There would be no accountability in the system.”