Boston firefighters responded to 205 Boylston St. in Jamaica Plain for what turned into a three-alarm fire, around 11:10 p.m. on Saturday.

The department reports firefighters found fire on multiple floors in the four-story building - with flames already bursting through the roof.

The department reports the fire was knocked down shortly after midnight.

Sometime tomorrow, noonish perhaps, I'll be shutting off comments on UHub as I begin to move the site to new software. And sometime after that, you'll see the new look of the site (which will look kinda, sorta the same, if you squint). And then, later in the day, I'll turn comments back on.

The reason is because while I might be almost good at some things, dealing with complex databasey things is not one of them. I migrated UHub articles and comments over to the new database about a week ago, figuring I'd be flipping the switch on the new site the next day, but turns out I had a lot more work to do than I thought, so I've been tinkering with the new site (and uploading current UHub articles to it) ever since, but didn't do comments, so there's now this backlog of comments that are on the current site but not the new site, and I'll need some time to move a week's worth of comments over before I turn comments back on, for which I apologize.

Why go to all this bother? The version of Drupal software the site runs on is now officially Unsupported, which means no more upgrades and no more security patches. Plus, the UHub version has gotten creaky over the years, as you may have noticed of late with all those Cloudflare "verification" pages that you've been getting the past week or so.

The new Backdrop software should (fingers crossed) run better, let me do better fine tuning for folks on phones (now a majority of the site's visitors) and has an active developer community doing stuff like fixing security holes. So I'll be able to get back to actually writing instead of spending so much time on Web-site configuring.

Plus: The new site supports emojis! OK, not the biggest thing in the world perhaps, but if you've ever tried to put an emoji into a comment here, then you know what a pain it is when your comment basically just disappears because the current site just can't deal. Also, easier embedding of YouTube videos.

I'll keep you posted, and thanks for your patience with all the site slowdowns and other issues (including less news) over the past couple weeks.

Mary Ellen spotted this red-tailed hawk looking for some breakfast this morning at Millennium Park in West Roxbury.

Roman the roving UHub photographer spotted fighter jets sitting on the tarmac by Terminal E this morning. WBZ reports the jets are here to honor Capt. Richard Stratton, a Vietnam War Navy veteran and Quincy native who died last week at 93.

GBH reports on yet another dying gasp from the dying Steward Health. The chain had promised $100,000 to the Allston Brighton Health Collaborative to provide farmers-market vouchers for poor people, then never paid, then paid after GBH reported on that and now it wants the money back.

City Councilor Ben Weber (Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury) reports that possibly as early as tomorrow, BTD crews will be out along the Boston stretch of Allandale Road to remove some of the 13 speed humps they installed earlier this month between the Faulkner Hospital ER entrance and the Allandale Farm entrance.

And some of the remaining humps will basically be filed down, BTD said after confirming that, yes, all the complaints from motorists - many forwarded by Weber and state Rep. Bill MacGregor - had a point.

An engineering review determined that the speed humps built on Allandale Street are not working as intended and have reduced speeds lower than the target of 20 mph.

BTD estimates the work could take two weeks, if the weather cooperates.

The department installed the humps as part of Boston's "safety surge" program to use speed humps and other measures to try to slow traffic on side streets.

From Gov. Healey on impending tariffs on stuff imported from Canada, Mexico and China:

The number one issue facing the American people is high costs. The President’s tariffs represent nothing more than a giant price hike on the cost of groceries, clothes, phones, housing, and energy. We estimate that electricity costs in New England alone will go up by as much as $200 million a year. Additionally, we rely on these countries for lumber and building materials, which means housing costs will rise, and housing production could stall. We need a partner in the White House who will lower costs for families and businesses in Massachusetts, and all we’ve seen thus far from this new administration are actions that will do the exact opposite.

Tariffs on Canada are expected to impact the dairy industry and raise the cost of milk, cheese and butter. Canada is also one of the largest suppliers of softwood lumber in the U.S., which means increased costs for housing, construction and home renovation. Tariffs on Canada will also impact the price of cars and car parts, energy, and fish and seafood. Tariffs on Mexico are expected to increase the cost of agricultural products like fruits, vegetables, avocados and tomatoes, as well as cars and car parts, beer and tequila, TVs and other electronics. Tariffs on China will increase the cost of smartphones, laptops, TVs and other electronics, furniture, clothing and toys. These tariffs also raise the risk of retaliatory tariffs on exports, which could be devastating for American businesses.

CommonWealth Beacon reports (second item) that Team Kraft has been approaching former Marty Walsh apparatchiks about working on his campaign. Kraft once said Walsh would "always be Boston’s Mayor for Life;" Walsh in turn got all irritable when Michelle Wu and Andrea Campbell started running for his office before he'd even left for Washington, if you can imagine.

A judge in US District Court in Boston yesterday sentenced Devante "D-Lopes" Lopes, 31, of Quincy to five years in prison and James "Bummy" Rodrigues, 34, of Boston to 3 1/2 years in prison for their roles in Dorchester's Cameron Street gang, the US Attorney's office reports.

The sentences are lower than that handed out to some other members of the gang swept up by federal and local authorities in 2022, but unlike some of the others, neither were charged with crimes of violence, at least not by the feds. In 2019, Rodrigues and two other men drinking in a Revere parking space became incensed when somebody asked them to move so he could park so they stomped him, breaking his neck and leaving him covered in bruises from head to toe.

Lopes pleaded guilty to charges of RICO, conspiracy to distribute marijuana and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute last year. Rodrigues pleaded guilty to RICO and conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack on Jan. 16. Both have been locked up since their 2022 arrests at a federal detention facility in Rhode Island; the 33 months they've already spent behind bars will be credited towards their sentences.

Federal prosecutors had urged a sentence of 78 months for Lopes:

LOPES made hundreds of thousands of dollars through a multi-state marijuana trafficking scheme, and the quantity of cocaine seized from his apartment showed that by the time he was arrested he had moved into selling substantial quantities of cocaine. ... LOPES worked for years in a series of low-to-modest paying jobs in cleaning companies and retail, yet LOPES lived in a luxury condominium in Quincy. Moreover, the search of LOPES's residence uncovered sophisticated hidden compartments and surveillance gear, the kind of tools that only the most successful drug traffickers would access and be brazen enough to utilize.

His attorney, though, argued for just 48 months, saying he's the product of a traumatic childhood - and drug addiction into which he spiraled after getting shot in the stomach in 2017, that the algorithm used to determine a possible sentence unfairly includes a conviction for reckless driving, that he has shown he wants to be a good father to his two young children and that he actively took part in a number of classes and workshops while detained at a federal lockup in Rhode Island.

Despite the poor choices he has made in the past, Mr. Lopes has worked hard while he has been in custody and has started to obtain the skills and education that will enable him to lead a better life when he is eventually released from prison. He fully admitted responsibility for the conduct at issue in the indictment and has served thus far in detention with no issues. Mr. Lopes recognizes that his substance does not excuse his conduct, but believes that his recognition of it and commitment to further counseling and treatment should be considered by the Court in crafting a just sentence.

Prosecutors had urged a sentence of 46 months for Rodrigues:

The evidence gathered during this investigation showed that for months, JAMES RODRIGUES worked with several other members of Cameron Street to distribute cocaine from an apartment in Somerville, an apartment that, when searched, had large quantities of cocaine, cash, and drug processing and packaging materials. RODRIGUES was also present when Cameron Street member JOSE AFONSECA negotiated a firearm sale to a cooperating witness. Especially in light of his age (35), these facts alone warrant a sentence at the high end of RODRIGUES’s guideline range.

His attorney, though, argued the time he has already spent detained since his 2022 arrest was enough:

His racketeering activity is limited to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. He was not involved in any of the alleged violent conduct attributed to some of his codefendants. He was not a leader, manager, or decision maker of the racketeering enterprise.

James Rodrigues stands out from most defendants sentenced in this court for RICO and controlled substance offenses. Those defendants, by and large, have made calculated decisions to earn a living selling drugs. They typically think only short term and are motivated solely by what is best for them, not for others who depend on them. Few are in committed relationships, play an active role in the lives of their children, or provide adequate financial support. Not many are motivated to obtain a legitimate job or are capable of holding a job for any period of time.

James has done all of that. He is in a committed relationship, is active in the life of his 12 year-old daughter, and provides guidance and emotional and financial support. At the time of his arrest, he was a member of the sheet metal workers union and had a good job. He was working on obtaining a real estate license and had completed 40 hours of training and a Harvard extension course on contract law.

But also:

James' accomplishments prior to his arrest show a level of maturity, self reflection, and the ability to put criminal conduct behind him. Turning himself in once he was aware of the charges against him is another sign of maturity. He did not try to run or hide. He made the responsible decision to face the consequences of his criminal conduct.

It is time to get James back to doing what he cares so deeply about and is so very, very good at - being a father to his daughter and providing her and other young people in the City of Boston with an understanding of the values and drive that it takes to stay on the right path and succeed.

The state Housing Appeals Committee recently ruled that Weston, a town far from meeting its minimum state requirement of having 10% of its housing units be affordable, has to allow construction of an apartment building that locals have been fighting for years as the "Weston whopper" - a four-story, 180-unit building with 45 affordable apartments and 293 parking spaces on a 9 1/2-acre parcel that would also include a pool, a playground and separate dog areas for small and large breeds.

As first reported by Banker & Tradesman, the committee, which oversees appeals of local rejections of projects with affordable housing, basically said the town could have better spent all the money it spent on all the consultants who testified, because the committee concluded that the project met minimum state and federal requirements for water runoff, sewage treatment and driveway design and so would be unlikely to overwhelm nearby residences and the rest of the town with flooding, the stench of sewage and hordes of ill mannered drivers overwhelming the local scenic byways, with their children forced to suffer on an inadequate playground.

In a footnote, the committee dismissed town concerns, as highlighted by a consultant who no doubt came well prepared with 27 eight-by-ten color glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one, that the proposed playground at the site would be too small:

Mr. Boehmer's testimony on behalf of the [zoning] Board that the proposed outdoor amenities are deficient and inconsistent with design industry standards was based upon the American Society of Planning Officials' January 1965 Standards for Outdoor Recreational Areas, which is not a local by-law or regulation, and which has not been updated for almost 60 years. Exh. 72. Furthermore, on cross-examination, Mr. Boehmer acknowledged that the 1965 Standards for Outdoor Recreational Areas was developed for the design of city parks and not apartment buildings.

The state committee concluded:

The Board's and Interveners' primary focus was on compliance with state standards, which cannot be waived by Committee decisions; their failure to focus on evidence necessary to persuade the Committee that the project as proposed would result in other than speculative adverse impacts upon wetland resources and land intended to be protected by local requirements and regulations ultimately leads us to conclude that the Board and Interveners have not met their burden of proving that a valid local concern outweighs the regional need for affordable housing.

Complete decision.

The Dorchester Reporter introduces us to the people who have come a step closer to running for one of the four at-large seats on the City Council this fall, by filing paperwork with the state.

Boston Police report homicide detectives and an FBI crime lab have identified a man whose stabbed body was found in Boston Harbor near Thompson Island on Dec. 4, 1991 as Toussaint Gonsalves, a graduate of the old Boston High School and possibly a resident of Dorchester.

Mr. Gonsalves was born on October 2, 1970. At the time of his death, he was described as 5’11,” approximately 225 lbs., with short cropped brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a heavy grey multi-colored knit sweater and a blue, white and green rugby shirt, black pants over red running shorts, and two pairs of black socks and black high-top sneakers. He had three scars on his left hand and his eyebrow appeared to have been shaved.

Police add:

Mr. Gonsalves’ identification is a direct result of the FBI’s use of investigative genetic genealogy, a unique method used to generate new leads in unsolved homicides, sex assaults, and other violent crimes. It combines the use of DNA analysis with traditional genealogical research and historical records to generate investigative leads. Investigators only obtain what any other customer using a publicly accessible genealogical service would receive from using it.

Since his identification, investigators have learned Mr. Gonsalves attended the former Boston High School and may have been living in Newton or Dorchester at the time of his murder. He also may have been employed working in a kitchen.

Although he was not initially identified, police say an autopsy at the time showed he was the victim of a homicide.

Anybody with information can call detectives at 617-343-4470 or contact the anonymous tip line by calling 800-494-TIPS or by texting TIP to CRIME (27463).

Jaha "Jay" Hughes of Hyde Park this week filed paperwork with the state that will let him begin raising funds to run for mayor this fall against incumbent Michelle Wu and, likely, Josh Kraft.

Hughes's platform includes barring transgender youth from sports, ending what he thinks is the scourge of "transgender story hours" in Boston schools and barring the displays of both "gay pride" and "Black Lives Matter" flags in Boston schools - although he also would prohibit Confederate flags in local schools. Hughes says he has nothing against trans people, but:

It is my right to not participate in their lifestyle. I do not use pronouns. I call people as I see them. I do not follow illusions.

Hughes would also end what he says is the way the city spends millions so illegal immigrants can live high on the hog, especially people practicing "pregnancy tourism," while real Americans are forced to ration their medications, cut back on food purchases, lower their thermostats and struggle to pay for daycare. Companies would have to show papers to the city that all their employees are real Americans, and:

The Boston Police will be given the duty of detaining criminal illegals and turning them over to immigration and customs enforcement agents.

He would also require would-be voters show proof they are really American and charges: "It is racist for Democrats to say or imply Black and Brown Americans do not have or cannot get an ID to vote."

But Hughes goes beyond Owens's typical all-hate platform, such as calling for a universal-income pilot (with "no eligibility for those criminals who are in America illegally") and requiring local universities to pay annual fees, which he would use to help the homeless and set up community watches equipped with bullet-proof vehicles and a fleet of drones flying overhead 24 hours a day. He would also fight to build a trauma center to serve Dorchester and Milton and wants 24-hour clinics across the city.

Also, he would set up a program to show pregnant women that "there are alternatives to abortion and they can, with a child, live a happy life" even if they have been raped or have no money. He would couple this with childcare, housing and job training for the new mothers - and their partners.

He calls for school vouchers and for the placement of armed guards, "trained by federal agents in counterterrorism tactics," in all BPS schools - and would let teachers pack guns.

And he calls for the city to begin an eco-friendly program in which people could have their deceased loved ones cremated and, rather than have the remains put in urn, put in biodegradable tree pods that would be planted as fertilizer for new trees.

The Crimson reports on the Wednesday night crash on JFK Street. No injuries reported.

CBS News reports on the death of two skaters, their mothers and their coaches, all affiliated with the Boston Skating Club of Norwood, in yesterday's crash between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter over the Potomac.

Statement by the club.

Boston Restaurant Talk reports Rebecca Roth Gullo is looking to reopen the Gallows in 2026, although she didn't say where - the spot on Washington Street in the South End where it used to be has since been torn down for condos.

A federal appeals court today upheld a lower-court judge's decision to toss a suit by a cardiac ICU nurse who claimed the way Boston Medical Center fired her in 2021 rather than let her keep working, unvaccinated, with the sort of intensely sick patients who would wind up in an ICU.

In her suit, filed in US District Court in Boston, Alexandria Melino argued this violated her First Amendment right to refuse the shots on religious grounds. Also, she argued, the shots didn't work, anyway.

But the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit agreed with Judge Richard Stearns - who dismissed her case last year - that there was no safe or practical way for the hospital to let her keep working, so her demand would have caused an "undue hardship" and legally, the hospital's right not to suffer that outweighed Melino's right to keep working with her religious virtue intact. Also, the court said, when the hospital asked her to better define a vague exemption request that only said the shots would violate her religious beliefs, without explaining what those beliefs were, she refused.

Melino's request was that she continue working at the hospital in the same capacity in the CCU and other intensive care units without being vaccinated. BMC claimed that permitting Melino to work unvaccinated would pose an undue hardship "by increasing the risk of COVID-19 transmission amongst staff and patients." Melino does not dispute that BMC could establish undue hardship "[i]f the vaccines worked." But she argues on appeal that "[t]he onus should [have been] on BMC to prove that the products advertised as COVID-19 vaccines actually function as vaccines so as to prevent recipients from catching and spreading COVID-19." But it is uncontroverted that BMC implemented its vaccine requirement based on the CDC's recommendations, which describe vaccines as mitigating the effects and spread of COVID-19. See Rodrique v. Hearst Commc'ns, Inc.

Melino was represented by Peter Vickery of Amherst, one of a handful of Massachusetts lawyers who took on suits by people fired for refusing shots. Last week, the appeals court upheld dismissal of a case he'd brought for a BMC neonatal ICU nurse. The week before, a judge dismissed another of his cases, involving a BMC endoscopy nurse.

Vickery also argued the hospital shouldn't have fired Melino because the federal statements on which it relied to require employees to get vaccinated were "hearsay" and not proof the shots actually worked.

And, the court continued, a letter from a federal official about the vaccine that Melino's attorney said showed the vaccine didn't really work, in fact concluded that "the known and potential benefits of [the] Pfizer-BioNTech COVID- 19 Vaccine outweigh the known and potential risks of the vaccine."