Although Somerville's Mayor Joseph Curtatone ran unopposed in 2009, he still raised serious cash from some 600 contributors: Donors sent in over $100,000, including $13,990 from 75 City of Somerville employees and $750 from two executives at Duncan Solutions, which had recently received a contract to be the city's new parking meter vendor.

At his parole hearing on Nov. 6, 2008, Dominic Cinelli, who allegedly killed Officer John "Jack" Maguire a week ago, was found to be "proactive in addressing" the Parole Board's previous concerns, attending substance abuse and alternatives to violence classes while earning his GED and taking job training programs. Despite three concurrent life sentences, the Board found his release "not incompatible with the welfare of society."