Week in Review: Carroll's Eyes Opening, Housing Authority Scrutiny, Waterboarding Simulation

Robert Covelle stood in the function room of one of the Riverside Avenue towers in front of the Medford Housing Authority's commission, residents and Medford citizens and outlined his plan to remedy issues raised in a federal audit report Wednesday night. There was no talk of resignations or firings among housing authority officials, only discussion of the plan to address issues raised in a federal audit and how it will be carried out. The housing authority and Covelle -- its executive director -- have been scrutinized since an audit report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development found procurements were agreed upon without a bidding process, and federal money was being used without following proper procedures. “The audit has opened our eyes to see that we have to revise our policies and we have to set up new procedures and assign duties and responsibilities to staff so that the staff can be held accountable,” Covelle said.

The new Carroll's restaurant in Medford Square is looking to open its doors to the public next week, co-owner Maury Carroll said Wednesday. The restaurant located at 21 Main St. is near the end of the licensing process, with only an inspection from the board of health remaining, Carroll said. That's expected to be done Thursday. "It's nice, people are excited and we're excited, too," Carroll said.

: Tufts University students conducted a symbolic waterboarding Wednesday evening to protest a visit on campus by former George W. Bush advisor Karl Rove. Rove spoke on campus for a lecture cosponsored by Tufts Republicans and the national Young America's Foundation. The talk was part of Young America's Foundation's Wendy P. McCaw Lecture Series. Outside the , where the lecture took place, about 25 students held up signs, wore masks and chanted in protest, arguing Rove was complicit in what they considered torture because he was a leading member of the Bush administration, which used waterboarding and other so-called enhanced interrogation techniques on suspected terrorists.

: In an attempt to crackdown on alleged prostitution, the city is moving forward with crafting an ordinance to bring the licensing of massage parlors under its control. The issue came to the forefront after employees at , but The city council approved a resolution presented by council president Robert Maiocco last week that asks for the city to create an ordinance to bring more local control over massage parlors and spas.

: A Medford man pleaded guilty Friday to charges stemming from allowing emergency medical responders to avoid training by signing off on courses they didn't attend, according to the state's Attorney General. Thomas Codair, 50, is described by prosecutors as the "central figure" in a widespread scheme that allowed emergency medical technicians to sign in on course rosters for state-required "refresher" training courses but not attend, according to a press release from Attorney General Martha Coakley. Codair was given a 2 and 1/2 year suspended sentence, one year of probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine by a Suffolk County Superior Court judge Friday, the release said. He pleaded guilty to charges including issuing false statements and conspiracy.