Around the Region: Shots Fired in Malden Armed Robbery, Fire at Retired Cop's Winchester Home Was Arson, Officials Say

A man fired at least one shot during an armed robbery on Ferry Street in Malden late Thursday night, prompting a manhunt and an unsuccessful police raid at a condemned property nearby.  A witness said the hooded gunman entered around 10:30 p.m., shoving the weapon at the cashier's chest and demanding money from the register.  The suspect then reportedly fired the weapon into the ceiling before fleeing on foot with cash. -Chris Caesar

A owned by a retired police officer was arson, according to fire officials. Jim Covino and his two daughters were awoken by the smoke detectors and escaped without any injuries, according to Fox 25 News. He told firefighters on scene he originally thought the alarm was false, but once he smelled the smoke and saw the fire coming from the front doors, that's when he retrieved his 9- and 13-year-old girls. -Lindsey Davidson

Union Square Rising, a group that opposes a proposed 40-unit affordable housing development in Union Square, picketed a community meeting about the project Wednesday night. One person attending the meeting called the protesters "racist pigs" as he walked into the school cafeteria where it was taking place. Inside the school, about 100 people participated in a comparatively uneventful presentation about the project's design features. -Chris Orchard

: A Boston MedFlight helicopter landed on the East Knoll on Tuesday during rush hour to transport a Melrose-Wakefield Hospital patient to a Boston hospital, Melrose Fire Capt. John White said on the scene. "Some type of emergency and usually this time of day, they're not going bother around with traffic," White said. "They're going to take them by helicopter and have them in there in two minutes." -Daniel DeMaina

Six applicants are in the running for Arlington's two new liquor-store licenses, . They are expected to appear before Arlington's town council next week. The locations are: Arlington Heights Liquors, Arlington Wine & Spirits, Foodmaster Super Markets, The Meat House, Mystic Wine Shoppe, and Peter Pan Superette. -John Waller