North Shore Couple Accused Of Beating Daughter: Patch PM

BEVERLY, MA — It's Friday, July 17. Here's what Patch has been covering on the North Shore and across Massachusetts today.

An Essex County grand jury handed down indictments against a Beverly couple accused of beating and threatening to strangle their 14-year-old daughter.

Hadi S. Jabbar, 46, and Ruqaya Al Jumaili, 40, both of Beverly, will be arraigned Aug. 11 in Salem Superior Court. Jabbar, who is being held on $50,000 bail, is charged with assault and battery on a household member, strangulation or suffocation, and threats to commit murder. Jumaili, who is free on bail, is charged with assault and battery on a household member and strangulation or suffocation.

The state took custody of the couple's children after their arrest in February. The couple had originally been ordered held without bail, but that order was rescinded once their children were in state custody.

Also on the North Shore today:

Salem Will Fine Downtown, Park Visitors Without Face Coverings

The move comes to crack down on people who refuse to wear masks even after Salem saw a decrease in the number of coronavirus cases in the latest report from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. It also had a positive test rate over the 14 days ended Wednesday of 1.27 percent, which is below the state rate of 1.91 percent and a level that health officials say it is safe to begin relaxing social distancing measures.

Beverly Moves To Declare Racism A Public Health Issue

Beverly City Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday to support efforts to "honestly and directly address minority health inequities." The resolution co-authored by Ward 2 Councilor Estelle Rand and At-Large Councilor Julie Flowers is seen as a first step in the city's effort to declare racism a public health issue.

Across Massachusetts

Massachusetts Has Highest Unemployment Rate In Nation

Massachusetts was one of just five states that saw its unemployment rate go up in June. It was the third straight month the unemployment rate rose in Massachusetts, even as most states have seen their rates fall since an initial spike at the start of the coronavirus crisis in March and April.

Also:

• Replacement Of Cape Cod Bridges May Not Start Until 2025
• Rob Gronkowski Returns To New England Gridiron In Mansfield
• Canton PD Looking For Missing Teen
• Deals, Discounts In MA For National Ice Cream Day 2020

And, finally today: Didn't have time to keep up with local news this week? Check out our weekly recap of all the top stories Patch covered on the North Shore this week.

Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).