On-Duty City Worker Fatally Hit Pedestrian: Patch PM

It's Tuesday, Nov. 10. Here's what Patch has been covering in Middlesex County and across Massachusetts today.

Pedestrian Fatally Struck By Somerville City Employee

A woman was fatally struck by a Somerville city employee who was on duty at the time of the crash, the Middlesex District Attorney's office said. The employee has been placed on paid administrative leave.

Authorities said the crash happened around 12:50 p.m. Nov. 3 at the intersection of College and Kidder avenues. The worker was driving his personal vehicle, a Chevy Colorado pickup truck, at the time of the crash, the DA said.

The victim was found unresponsive and taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where she died the following day. She has been identified as Leah Zallman, 40, of Somerville. Zallman was the director of research at the Institute for Community Health, a primary care physician at the East Cambridge Care Center and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Read more here.

Elsewhere in Middlesex County

How Payroll Scandal Could Impact Medford Officers' Trust In Court

Medford recently released the findings of an independent review conducted by former U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz into the potential impact of police officers' placement on the Middlesex District Attorney's Brady List.

Twenty-seven officers – about a quarter of the Medford Police Department – were placed on the list in January after being disciplined for abusing the department's overtime pay system. The list consists of officers with credibility issues whose testimony could be considered unreliable in court.

MBTA Riders Facing Service Cuts

MBTA Cuts Target Melrose's Cedar Park Station, 2 Bus Routes

The MBTA on Monday announced plans to shutter the Cedar Park commuter rail station and two bus routes in a move that was swiftly condemned by elected officials who vowed to fight the closures.

Burlington MBTA Riders Face Cuts To Bus Service

The MBTA commuter rail is facing major service cuts, but Burlington-area commuters will have a chance to tell transit leaders what they think at a forum on Thursday. Burlington is served by two bus lines, 350 and 354, and one of them will be consolidated if the proposed cuts go through.

MBTA Cuts: Lexington Commuters Have A Chance To Weigh In

The MBTA bus service is facing major service cuts and consolidations, including several lines in Lexington, but Lexington commuters this month will have a chance to tell transit leaders what they think.

>>>See Also: What The MBTA Service Cuts Look Like: Full List

Malden Animal Control Had A Hoot Freeing Owl

An owl has been released back into the wild after getting ensnared in a mesh fence in Malden. Animal Control Officer Kevin Alkins was called to Knollin Street by a resident who found the barred owl tangled in some fencing in his yard.

Alkins worked with a wildlife rehabilitator, who assists when a call comes in for injured wildlife, to cut the bird loose. They brought it to Rowley Animal Hospital for a checkup and then to the Cape Ann Wildlife Rehabilitation facility.

MIT Received Over $21 Million In CARES Act Contracts In Lexington

The federal government has sent six companies funding under the CARES Act for coronavirus relief efforts in Lexington. The bulk of the funding went to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Cambridge-based university. MIT was given over $21 million in five separate contracts, all from the Department of Air Force for research and development in the physical, engineering and life sciences.

TIAX, a laboratory-based technology development company, was one of the six companies that received a CARES Act contract in Lexington. TIAX's contract came from the Department of the Army and funding will go to men's apparel manufacturing.

Across Massachusetts

Prolific New England Lightbulb Thief Pleads Guilty: Feds

He stole lightbulbs from Home Depot stores, including in Natick, netting $400,000 over several years, according to federal prosecutors.

Popular Cape Cod Camp Closing Permanently Due To Impact Of Coronavirus

A popular summer camp on Cape Cod is closing down for good after 100 years in business.

Beverly City Councilor John Frates To Vacate Ward 6 Seat

The Ward 6 City Councilor, and father of late ALS Ice Bucket Challenge founder Pete Frates, is moving to a different ward in Beverly.

Romaine Lettuce Recalled In MA For Possible E. Coli Contamination

Packaged single heads of romaine sold under the Tanimura & Antle brand could be contaminated with E. coli.

Disability Advocates Push Back On Waltham Light Show At Fernald

Disability advocates say the annual fundraiser for the Waltham Lions should be somewhere else because of the property's history.