Robert Lay, the town’s fire chief since 2013, was recently placed on paid administrative leave by selectmen but said Tuesday he’d be willing to come back to work. For that to happen, however, Lay said he would like to see his contract renegotiated and a mixup over his health insurance costs cleared up.
- PUB DATE: 2/1/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Newburyport Daily News

FirstNet nationwide contractor AT&T today launched a new visual brand that will be associated with FirstNet services and products, according to AT&T and FirstNet officials. FirstNet will continue to use its existing logo to designate organizational activities, as opposed to products and services that subscribers can buy.
- PUB DATE: 2/1/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Urgent Communications

Weeks after a tragic fire on Bowdoin Street in Providence, a firefighter who was trapped inside a burning building is speaking to Eyewitness News. In the early morning hours of Jan. 6, more than 100 firefighters filled Bowdoin Street as they battled flames that extended to several homes. Providence firefighters Dan Rinaldi and Jay LaSalle had just finished a check inside one of the homes, so they decided to head into another.
- PUB DATE: 2/1/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPRI-TV Providence 12

Six months after severe flooding caused an estimated $10 million in damages at Burton Barr Central Library, Phoenix officials have finished a personnel investigation and decided to fire, demote or suspend five more employees. That brings the total number of employees disciplined for the disaster to 11.
- PUB DATE: 2/1/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com & KPNX-TV NBC 12 Phoenix

The possible annexation of the city of Port Townsend into Jefferson County Fire District 1 for firefighting and emergency medical services would result in higher taxes – somewhere between a low of $32 and a high of $205 a year on a $300,000 home in Port Townsend. City Manager David Timmons said that the amount of the tax increases depends on what the community and City Council decide to do with levy funds, such as possible improvements to housing infrastructure, streets or parks.
- PUB DATE: 2/1/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Port Townsend Leader