Some Southern MA Towns Barred From Next Reopening Step: Patch PM

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 29. This regional Patch PM is a daily recap of some of the biggest stories we are covering south of Boston and on the Cape and Islands today.

State officials said cities and towns deemed at lower risk of COVID-19 spread can move into the second part of phase three of the state's reopening plan, beginning Monday. The step forward reopens indoor performance venues; expands capacity at outdoor performance venues, gyms, museums, driving and flight schools; reopens more indoor activities; and permits fitting rooms to open in all retail stores. It also allows for increased outdoor gatherings at events and in public settings.

But several communities in the region will have to wait for their cases to improve first.

Chatham, Dedham, Nantucket, New Bedford, Plainville and Wrentham are among 21 Massachusetts communities that didn't qualify to move into the second step in phase three.

In Chatham, a cluster of coronavirus cases was traced back to the popular Chatham Squire restaurant. Earlier this month, at least seven employees at the restaurant tested positive for the coronavirus.

And in Dedham, just a week before school was set to start, several parties were blamed as the source of a COVID-19 cluster that brought the town's numbers up to the state designated red level.

The parties were mostly high school-aged people and young adults, according to the Dedham Board of Health. There were 29 high school-aged people at two of the gatherings, 16 of which tested positive for COVID-19. The town has since dropped to the yellow level.

Read more here.

Top Stories: South of Boston

Medfield Man Sentenced In Panama Papers Investigation

A Medfield accountant was sentenced to three years and four months in prison after he was found to do business with the company at the center of the Panama Papers leak.

Richard Gaffey, 76, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit tax evasion and to defraud the United States, wire fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft and four counts of will failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Gaffey must also serve three years of supervise release and pay fines and restitution totaling more than $8.8 million.

Gaffey was charged along with Harald Joachim Von der Goltz, Ramses Owens, and Dirk Brauer in connection with a decades-long scheme by Mossack Fonseca & Co. (Mossack Fonseca), a Panama-based global law firm, that held billions in assets for foreigners, some of whom were looking to shield money from the IRS in a tax haven.

Foxborough Police K-9 Drax Dies From Brain Tumor

Drax, a recently retired K-9 unit with Foxborough police, has died following complications with a brain tumor.

Drax, a K-9 unit with Foxborough police, has spent the last two years helping officers track suspects, missing children and illegal drugs. But his career has come to an abrupt end earlier this month after being diagnosed with the tumor.
Police said Drax began radiation treatment and was showing signs of improvement, but his health recently took a turn for the worst. Drax, a German-Dutch shepherd mix, was just 3 when he died Friday afternoon.

Top Stories: Cape Cod

Cape Man Stabbed At Dennis Beach

A 20-year-old Dennis man was stabbed Monday night, according to police.

Around 8:45 p.m., Yarmouth police called the Dennis Police Department and said they were investigating the stabbing. The victim told Yarmouth officers the stabbing happened at Corporation Beach. Dennis officers were sent to the beach parking lot and found evidence of a stabbing there.

Cape Cod Hospitals In Need Of Blood Donations

Over the past few months, blood center inventories have fallen to their lowest levels since before the coronavirus pandemic. Cape Cod Healthcare officials said nationwide, blood centers have experienced a significant drop in donations which is limiting the ability for the overall blood supply to be adequately replenished.

Locally, health officials said the Cape Cod Healthcare blood program is experiencing the same challenge as the organization transitions back to a new normal.

Hospital officials said they need at least one week's worth of blood on hand at all times, since each unit collected or purchased only lasts 42 days.

Across Massachusetts Today

MCAS Tests Still Planned For Spring, Education Commissioner Says

Massachusetts students can expect to take the MCAS tests next spring, state education commissioner Jeff Riley said Tuesday.

MA Student's Design Could Visit The International Space Station

A Westford student's design is the only one from Massachusetts to have made the finals.

Sweeping Wind Gusts, Heavy Rain Coming As MA Mired In Relentless Drought

Potential thunderstorms could provide some much-needed relief to Massachusetts. Boston hadn't seen rain in 17 days before Monday.