Into the Fire: Will Investigators Bring Charges in the Back Bay Blaze?

One veteran Boston firefighter said the blaze that claimed the lives of two brave men was the worst he’d seen in 30 years. But will investigators bring charges?

By Michele McPhee | Boston Magazine | June 2014

Photo via Boston Fire Department
The run came in at 2:43 p.m. on March 26, just as a dark cloud of smoke began to rise over the Back Bay. It was a nasty day—16 degrees and with gusts whipping off the Charles River at up to 50 miles per hour. A fire had started on Beacon Street near Exeter and now the wind was pushing the smoke across the neighborhood, darkening the area.
About a half-mile away, the smoke was already visible from the Engine 33/Ladder 15 fire station on Boylston Street. In less gloomy weather, the doors to the station’s bay are kept wide open. The firefighters stand in the apron Continued > Into the Fire: Will Investigators Bring Charges in the Back Bay Blaze?

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TruStage To Launch TSDA, Bringing Stablecoin Infrastructure To Community FIs

MADISON, Wis.— TruStage Tuesday today announced the planned launch of TruStage Stablecoin (TSDA), a fully reserved U.S. dollar stablecoin. At its core, TSDA is designed to broaden access to digital payment infrastructure for community-based financial institutions, TruStage explained. “A trusted partner of credit unions for more than 90 years, TruStage currently works with more than 93% of 4,300+ credit unions nationwide, which collectively hold more than $2 trillion in assets. TruStage Stablecoin will be among the very first stablecoins specific to community based financial institutions and is supported by decades of industry relationships, financial strength, and operational excellence,” TruStage said. “In my career working with credit unions, I’ve never witnessed the level of engagement surrounding any technology advancement similar to what I’m seeing with stablecoin solutions right now,” said Brian Kaas, president and managing director of TruStage Ventures, the venture capital arm o...

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Sunday Reading - Where Beatniks Come From

Where Beatniks Come From An introduction to the Beat Generation The Beat Generation was an American literary movement that rose to prominence in the 1950s. A loosely affiliated collection of poets, novelists, playwrights, publishers, and other artists reacted to what they considered an anti-intellectual and homogeneous social order following World War II. The writing of the Beat Generation used experimental forms, surreal imagery, and vernacular language, and emphasized the importance of " spontaneous prose " to mimic the improvisation of jazz. Although the Beats praised canonical poets like William Blake, Arthur Rimbaud, and Walt Whitman, much of their work sought to rebel against literary tradition. The Beats' radical politics and nonconformity influenced several subsequent countercultural ...

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As Expected, Fed Opts Not to Raise Rates--But Says It May in Future

WASHINGTON–As expected, the Federal Reserve has adjourned its meeting here without raising rates, but it also indicated it could again do so in the future. The decision means rates remain at a two-decade high. The adjournment without action marks the second consecutive meetings at which the Fed has not raised rates, it the longest period without an increase since it began to lift rates from near 0% in March 2022. In announcing it would maintain the Fed Funds rate at a range of 5.25% to 5.50%, the Fed said in a statement that recent indicators suggest economic activity expanded at a strong pace in the third quarter, job gains have moderated since earlier in the year but remain strong, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Inflation remains elevated. ...

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James Hunter, Executive Director of Credit Union Development for New Orleans Firemen’s CU, knows too well how expensive it is to be poor.

NEW ORLEANS FIREMEN’S FCU 􀀁 METAIRIE, L A passion for empowerment James Hunter knows too well how expensive it is to be poor. It’s what he sees every day as mortgage director and executive director of credit union development for $182 million asset New Orleans Firemen’s Federal Credit Union, Metairie, La., and executive director of The Faith Fund, a nonprofit partnership that seeks to provide a financial hand-up to the undeserved. It’s what inspires him to come to work every day and drives his passion of empowering people and setting them on the path to financial security. “Too many people are too far away from the starting line,” Hunter says. “Payday loans are a big business in Louisiana. Exorbitant fees and interest from payday loans drain more than a quarter of a billion dollars a year. Baton Rouge supports one of the top three pay-day loan markets in the U.S.” The Faith Fund was formed to counteract that. It’s a unique cooperative relationship between like-minded busi...

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LA County firefighters help each other cope with toughest part of the job

This is an excellent program, and no matter what size your department is, you should be prepared. Scott Ross talks over issues with Firefighter Richard Conejo who was recently affected by the death of a fellow firefighter . They meet under the auspices of the LA County Fire Department's Peer Support Program. **** Read More ; LA County <b>firefighters</b> help each other cope with toughest part of the job :

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Is it a ‘skip’ or a ‘pause’? Federal Reserve won’t likely raise rates next week but maybe next month

WASHINGTON — Don’t call it a “pause.” When the Federal Reserve meets next week, it is widely expected to leave interest rates alone — after 10 straight meetings in which it has jacked up its key rate to fight inflation. But what might otherwise be seen as a “pause” will likely be characterized instead as a “skip.” The difference? A “pause” might suggest that the Fed may not raise its benchmark rate again. A “skip” implies that it probably will — just not now. The purpose of suspending its rate hikes is to give the Fed’s policymakers time to look around and assess how much higher borrowing rates are slowing inflation. Calling next week’s decision a “skip” is also a way for Chair Jerome Powell to forge a consensus among an increasingly fractious committee of Fed policymakers. One group of Fed officials would like to pause their hikes and decide, over time, whether to increase rates any further. But a second group worries that inflation is still too high and would prefer tha...

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CU Board Modernization Act Passes House

Backed by NAFCU and CUNA, the legislation would reduce the number of times CU boards must meet each year. By Michael Ogden | September 30, 2022 at 01:00 PM U.S. Capitol building, Washington, D.C. (Source: Shutterstock) The House of Representatives passed the Credit Union Board Modernization Act on Thursday, the fate of which goes to the Senate, where a similar version was introduced in May. The bill would alter the Federal Credit Union Act’s requirement that federally charted credit unions meet 12 times each year and reduce that number to a minimum of six times each year. For months, CUNA and NAFCU officials have backed the bill , along with representatives from the California and Ohio Credit Union Leagues. “This bill would provide a needed update to credit union board meeting requirements, freeing up time and resources that can be dedicated to meeting members’ needs,” CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle said. “We thank Reps. Var...

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If these cuts in salaries catch on, is your credit union ready?

NEW ORLEANS — The first New Orleans firefighters were furloughed on Sunday under a plan requiring six unpaid days off by the end of the year to help stem a precipitous decline in city sales tax revenue during the coronavirus pandemic. The city’s furlough requires almost all 4,700 employees to take the six unpaid days, including police, firefighters and other safety workers, reducing their salaries by about 10% and saving the city $6 million. New Orleans' firefighters' union says the city's furloughs have had an impact on service. The city has required nearly all of its public employees to take at least six unpaid days off before the end of the year in order to offset COVID-19-related budget issues. ...

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Dolphin Debit Access ATMs Made Simple

Dolphin Debit is the largest “pure play” provider of ATM outsourcing for credit unions in the United States. We currently operate over 2,000 ATMs for our clients. Dolphin has been providing ATM outsourcing services to financial institutions across the U.S. for over 16 years. Our entire staff is solely dedicated to our core focus of ATM outsourcing. Our internal departments are designed specifically for the execution of optimal results for your ATM program. Whether you have 2 or 200 ATMs, outsourcing will save your credit union time & money, relieve your staff of the heavy burden of ATM management and assure there is a plan in place for future enhancements and technology upgrades. Let the experts at Dolphin become your ATM department. CONTACT: URL: www.dolphindebit.com Address: 1340 Rayford Park Road Spring, TX 77386 ph: 877-247-4182 Email: Dolphininfo@dolphindebit.com Email: jwoods@dolphindebit.com

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Syracuse Fire Department Credit Union

Congrats, Tonia, on your promotion! ================================================= Remember, you're not alone with NCOFCU.org Join/Upgrade Check out some of NCOFCU's additional features: First Responder Credit Union Academy Financial Literacy Podcasts YouTube Mini's Blog Job Board

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