Massachusetts is on the brink of selling hypodermic syringes over the counter, a move that comes with a pair of totally opposite but equally simple arguments. Opponents consider the idea and suspect the world's gone mad: Heroin is illegal, they correctly point out; heroin is bad. We should be making it harder -- not easier -- for people to shoot it into their veins. Supporters do the math and come away with their own no-brainer of a conclusion: Used needles spread AIDS and hepatitis C, both of which kill people. They'll concede the high to cut down on horrible disease. [continues 1047 words]
Pelham [NH] - It was a typically calm morning as classes started in Pelham High at 7:30 yesterday, but that only lasted about two hours. The silence of second period was broken by the voice of Principal Barry J. Connell, ordering all students to leave their bookbags and go to the cafeteria at once. "We all knew right away what was going on," said Sean P. Thyne, a senior, who had been through the drill at least three times in the last few years. [continues 639 words]
PELHAM [NH] - Police searched Pelham High and Memorial School for drugs this morning. Roughly 15 officers and 10 police dogs from Hudson, Nashua, Plaistow, Salem and Lowell, Mass., as well as the Essex and Middlesex county sheriff departments in Massachusetts helped with the search. Acting Police Chief Evan J. Haglund was blunt about its goal. "Ultimately it's to scare the hell out of the kids," he said. The search, which began at about 9:30 a.m., was led by acting Chief Haglund, Pelham High Principal Barry J. Connell and Assistant Principal Dorothy A. Mohr. [continues 243 words]
