"The principal sent out a note in one of her newsletters saying costumes are not allowed. But the actual parade being canceled was word of mouth through the children," explained parent Liz Campbell. 

WBZ covered this same situation in Walpole almost a decade ago, when the Boyden School replaced their parade with black and orange spirit day. Since then, parent committees have organized trunk or treats or other events so students can still show off their costumes.

Elm parents say without much notice, they couldn't plan an outside-school event. An online petition created Monday has already collected close to 400 signatures - Walpole parents past and present hoping to hold onto the tradition. 

"The kindergarteners now don't get to experience what we got to. Which, it's kind of sad because it was one of the best things about Halloween at school," recalled Ryann, now in middle school. 

"We'd just see everyone we knew going by in their cute costumes and we'd all be able to just put our hands out and high five them and it'd just be the best moment ever," middle schooler Avery added. 

As Elm students select their black and orange outfits for Friday, they can rest assured there will be no shortage of sweets and spooky treats Saturday night. And it's really just that sweetness - that parents want to keep as long as they can. 

"There are only so many years where they want to put the costumes on and they want to celebrate and the magic that goes along with it is, it's fleeting. So, to have that experience is just wonderful," Campbell said. 

Police got a call around 4:45 p.m. that the car had been stolen on Boston Street and a child was in the back seat. The search for the car ended on Revere Beach Parkway in Everett.

Police surrounded the white car they said had the 6-year-old child inside, while people who live nearby watched in shock.

"When you looked down, we seen just tons of cop car lights, police car lights and stuff," a witness said. "So, I knew that it definitely was a small child. Other than that, I don't know if it was his child ... all I know is they dragged him away, threw him in the car and they put the girl in the car."

Police say it started about seven miles up the road in Lynn. The car would lead them through Revere and into Everett before it was stopped.

Lynn police said all surrounding departments and the Massachusetts State Police were notified of the incident, and they initiated the process for an AMBER Alert before the car was stopped.

The driver was taken into custody. The child was deemed safe and transported by EMS to Mass General Hospital in Boston for evaluation where they were reunited with family.

Police did not say if the suspect knew this family or what led up to them getting into the car. 

The suspect will be in Lynn District Court on Tuesday. 

William Farwell said Birchmore was between the ages of 20 and 21 during their sexual relationship. Matthew Farwell is on trial for allegedly killing Birchmore and her unborn child and covering it up to make her death look like a suicide. Prosecutors say Matthew Farwell began grooming Birchmore when she was a 13-year-old in the Stoughton Police Department's Explorers program and started having sex with her when she was 15.

William Farwell began testifying in federal court in Boston late Monday afternoon and will be back on the stand Tuesday. He acknowledged to the jury that he's testifying under a grant of immunity by the government.

William Farwell testifies in Sandra Birchmore case

"My understanding is that my statements may not be used against me," Farwell said. "I could be charged with a criminal offense for having sexual relations while on duty as a police officer."

Farwell, who became a Stoughton police officer in 2017, said he does not remember having any interactions with Birchmore before she turned 18. He said she reached out to him on Facebook Messenger asking for his help reenlisting in the military after being discharged for medical reasons.

The prosecutor asked Farwell if he knew back in July of 2018 that Birchmore and his brother Matthew had a sexual relationship. William Farwell said he did not know that at the time.

In the following weeks, Farwell testified that "we began a consensual sexual relationship," saying they would meet in either one of their cars or in the house where Birchmore lived with her aunt.

William Farwell had his police certification permanently revoked in 2024. A prior internal investigation by the Stoughton Police Department found that he had an inappropriate physical relationship with Birchmore and exchanged explicit messages and photos with her while on duty.

Medical examiner testifies about Sandra Birchmore's death

Before William Farwell took the stand Monday, the jury heard from a medical examiner whose initially ruled that Birchmore died by suicide.

Dr. Maria Capo Martinez testified that when she first received the case, her office was told there were no signs of trauma and that Birchmore was found hanging by a scarf in her Canton apartment with no suicide note.

But Birchmore was actually found with a duffel bag strap around her neck, and prosecutors pointed out that her autopsy photos revealed a number of possible abrasions and even a possible blunt force injury on her chest. 

The medical examiner performed Birchmore's autopsy the day after her body was found in 2021. She said that when she went to finalize her ruling, she checked back in with Massachusetts State Police Lt. John Fanning.

"Nothing new to report. We have some forensics out at the lab. We can discuss the case at any time if needed," Fanning replied.

That means Capo Martinez was never shown the final surveillance video of Birchmore or Matthew Farwell, told about laundry in Birchmore's machines or her excitement about becoming a mother.

It wasn't until two years later when the FBI got involved and the case was reevaluated that the medical examiner revisited her conclusions. Capo Martinez eventually changed Birchmore's death certificate, switching the cause of death from asphyxia by hanging to asphyxia, and the manner of death from suicide to undetermined.

The prosecution could rest their case in court this week. Matthew Farwell is being charged with a federal count of killing a witness or victim and causing the death of an unborn child. He has pleaded not guilty. 

Payton Pritchard made all five of his 3-point attempts during Boston's big third quarter and finished with 28 points, to lead the Celtics to a 134-99 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night. 

Jayson Tatum had 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and Paul George scored 16 points for Boston (2-1), which outscored the Bulls 39-21 in the third when Prichard scored 19. 

Norman Powell led the Bulls (1-3) with 20 points. 

Boston never trailed, opening a 16-point lead early in the second, led by 12 at halftime and 30 after three. Tatum had 19 of his points in the first half, including a buzzer-beating drive at the end of the first and long 3-pointer with .8 left in the second. 

The Celtics had been off since winning their home opener against the defending champion Knicks on Friday when Tatum carried them with 36 points and during his postgame press conference attempted to play down any possible beef with former teammate Jaylen Brown, who was traded to Philadelphia during the offseason.

Brown, though, didn't quite let perception fade away a couple of days later. 

George, Pritchard and Sam Hauser each nailed a 3 during a 93-second stretch that pushed Boston ahead 89-70 late in the third. 

Pritchard made consecutive 3s two minutes later, making it 101-73. The Celtics made 8-of-13 3s in the third. 

Entering the day owning the league's worst 3-point shooting percentage at 22.6%, the Bulls missed 15 of their initial 19 attempts from beyond the arc and finished 12 of 44. 

Chicago lost its home opener in its last game on Saturday. In a scheduling quirk, the teams met in Boston again Friday. 

Up next 

Bulls: Host New York on Wednesday night.
Celtics: Host Brooklyn on Tuesday night.

Picture This Wedding posted their bankruptcy announcement on their website in early October. That is when WBZ spoke with Victoria Doherty, a bride who spent $4,000 on photos from the company and has now had to pay her photographer separately to get her pictures. When the company switched her photographer numerous times right before her wedding, she became suspicious. 

"It was a Friday, Vickie called me kind of worried about her photographer got switched again, it was two weeks before the wedding," said Nicole Plante, her Maid of Honor.

Contract emails still being sent

In an attempt to get some answers, Plante decided to go on a recon mission. Before the bankruptcy announcement went public, she put in a fake request with the company for their services, so she could ask questions.

"I am a soon to be bride, so I am just going to email them and say I'm interested in booking with them and just see where this goes," explained Plante. "Every question I had for the guy I was consulting with, he had no real answers."

She was sent a Docusign for a contract for the job and continues to receive emails to sign the contract even after the company announced they are going bankrupt.

"This was from Friday. This was the recent review and sign document to hire them for my wedding," said Plante, showing WBZ an email with a recent link to sign the contract. "They would probably get my money and probably there would be nothing I could do about it."

Emily Watson knows this fate all too well. She and her fiancé are getting married in a year, but they paid for their pictures up front with Picture This Wedding.

"We paid them in full. We paid them $3,500," said Watson. "At the time I was seeing good reviews."

Watson said she met the owner in person at a wedding show in Maine.

"We were like this guy is real, his business is real, and then it kind of crumbled from there," explained Watson.

No record of bankruptcy filling

Despite having no pictures taken, she still received an email from the company saying they would do their best to get brides their photos by a target date of October 30. Watson wants her money back.

"The fact that we have to pay a different company for the same service we already paid for, really kind of, it stings," said Watson.

She says she has made numerous attempts to contact the company through their phone number as well as emails they have provided online regarding the bankruptcy. She even reached out to the New Hampshire Bankruptcy Court.

"They say they have no record of him filing, they have no record of Picture This Wedding or when it was under Pictures LLC," said Watson.

When WBZ called, we were quickly told there was no filing yet. They were already familiar with the company name, saying they have received numerous calls from people inquiring about their bankruptcy status.

WBZ reached out to the company weeks ago asking for answers but never heard back. WBZ contacted them again on October 26 for a response to these allegations and again did not get a response.

Just before 3:30 a.m., Massachusetts State Police received several 911 calls for a driver who was traveling south in the northbound lanes of Route 1 in the area of Saugus and Revere.

While troopers were on their way to the area, the wrong-way driver slammed into another car head-on just south of Sargent Street in Revere.

When police arrived, they found the wrong-way driver's car completely engulfed in flames. Police and firefighters tried to save him, but he died at the scene. State police said the driver was a minor and will not be identified at this time, "out of respect for their family and loved ones." The Suffolk County District Attorney's office said he was 17 years old.

The superintendent of the Triton Regional School District said the teen was a senior at Triton Regional High School in Newbury.

"Our student was highly involved and connected to many within the Triton community. Those who knew him saw daily how kind and caring he was to each and every member of our school community. We are heartbroken, and as a Community, we grieve this loss. Our deepest condolences go out to the family," Superintendent Brian Forget wrote in a letter to families.

The driver of the second car was taken to a hospital in Boston with minor injuries.

Route 1 was shut down for several hours after the crash. It reopened around 8:15 a.m. It's still not clear why the teen was driving on the wrong side of the road.

It's the latest serious crash involving a wrong-way driver on Route 1 in recent months.

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Kevin Trainor was killed in May just after his shift ended while trying to stop a wrong-way driver on Route 1 in Lynnfield. Less than a month later, a wrong-way driver was charged after a crash on Route 1 in Peabody.

On Monday, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation held a previously scheduled news conference to provide an update on the state's deployment of wrong-way driving prevention systems.

Highway administrator Jonathan Gulliver said nearly 90 systems are fully installed and another 40 will be completed by the end of this year. Gulliver expects another 300 to be completed by the end of 2027.

"There is still a lot of more work to be done, that's evidenced by the terrible crash that happened in Revere this weekend. Something that we want to acknowledge, that this is why we do this is that we want to be sure we have as many protections as we can in place for all drivers of Massachusetts," Gulliver said. "That was a terrible crash that's still under investigation. We don't have any details on that for you today, but that is something we are working with our partners at state police really closely to identify if there's any improvements we can make in that particular area in the future." 

According to Gulliver, since the equipment was installed in June, 215 wrong-way drivers have been recorded and 140 of them saw the warning and turned around.

"It's tragic and my heart goes out to his family," Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey told reporters Monday. "Know that we're going to stay committed to this and making sure that we have the best technology statewide that's possible to reduce the likelihood of wrong-way incidents on our roads."

Blackhollow is a one-woman gothic thriller, set in an insane asylum in the 1830s.

"Who doesn't love a revenge slasher at this time of year?" asked actor Anna Slate, who portrays Lucy Cull and every other character in this brand new piece.

Playwright and Greater Boston Stage's artistic director Weylin Symes was inspired by a classic.

"I re-read Jekyll and Hyde last year and thought, I want to do an adaptation of this. It feels great. It's got all the medical mystery in it and the gothic element," he told WBZ-TV. "The more I kept writing, it turned into its own completely different thing."

"I like being creepy and campy. And I get do both of those things," Slate said. 

"This could easily be a 12-person play. Anna plays eight fully realized characters plus a few other small ones throughout," Symes explained.

Working right at his side? Co-director Daniel Begin.

"Weylin really focused on the script and the changes that were being made in the script. And what I was able to focus on was working with Anna on stage, like where she's going, her characterization," Begin explained. "Figuring out the mannerisms for Anna of how she switches between characters has been really challenging, but also really rewarding when we see it come to life on stage."

"Combining action with a very literary script has been really fascinating. So I'm kind of narrating things as I'm doing them," Slate told WBZ.

The question is - is that narrator a reliable one?

Symes said that's up to the audience and hopes they'll think, "'Wait a second, can I trust that what this person's saying is true? Or is it part of her imagination?' And that's, I think, some of the fun of horror, that kind of not knowing what's real."

You can check out Blackhollow at the Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham through Sunday, Nov. 8

It happened around 8 a.m. on the Whitehorse Ledge, which is located in the White Mountains town of North Conway.

New Hampshire Fish and Game said a 30-year-old man from Portland, Maine, was climbing alone when he unroped on the climbing route called Sliding Board.

The man was about 500 feet from the ground when he was no longer comfortable going up or down. He got to a place on the rock where he felt safe and called for help.

Nine climbers from Mountain Rescue Service ascended to the man's location to help secure him and attach ropes back to the base of the cliff.

After about two hours, the climber and all of the rescuers were able to descend back to the ground safely.

New Hampshire's Mountain Rescue Service is described as "a highly skilled volunteer search and rescue organization" that can make technical rescues across the state.

Fish and Game encouraged outdoor enthusiasts to purchase a Hike Safe card.

Response by New Hampshire Fish and Game to Sunday's rescue was paid for with money from New Hampshire Hike Safe Card sales.

The voluntary Hike Safe Cards cost $25 per person or $35 per family, covering one calendar year.

Hikers who purchase the card will not be charged to repay rescue costs if they need assistance, unless they were acting negligently.

Those who require rescue but don't have a Hike Safe Card can be charged potentially thousands of dollars if the rescue is deemed preventable. 

Last month, 39-year-old Lester James was accused of killing two dogs and beating and starving several others in his South Boston apartment. Police said they found emaciated dogs in filthy cages with no water and a dead dog alongside a broken broomstick. James has pleaded not guilty to the abuse.

"Our hope is that individuals are held accountable especially when we see these more extreme cases of animal cruelty," said Chris Schindler of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA).

Then, there's the case of 44-year-old Kimberly Savino of Middleboro. Back in March, she pleaded guilty to 26 counts of animal abuse and neglect. Prosecutors asked for jail time, but the judge gave Savino a suspended sentence and probation, despite this being the second time she was charged with animal cruelty.

"In Massachusetts, animal cruelty and neglect is a felony," said Karen LoStracco of the Animal Rescue League of Boston. "It is a very serious crime. We are not finding necessarily that the penalty is matching what the crime should be and that is frustrating."

At the same time, the number of cases being reported is rising.

Data obtained by WBZ-TV's I-Team shows the MSPCA received 510 calls during the first nine months of 2024.

That rose to 546 last year and 641 during the same period this year.

That's a nearly 26 percent increase in just two years.

"We've added more officers, we are publicizing more cases and so there's more awareness to animal cruelty which drives more people to call," Schindler said.

The Animal Rescue League of Boston investigated 634 cases in the past three years.

"I think it's just really important to understand that, you know, we are seeing an uptick in, you know, people struggling, and when people struggle, pets struggle," LoStracco said.

"(We're) really trying to get to that intersection of where we can intervene before something escalates."

To cover all of Massachusetts, the MSPCA has ten officers and the Animal Rescue League of Boston has three. Police departments in cities and towns also respond to calls involving animal cruelty, but local officers may not have the specialized expertise to investigate these cases.

"We're ramping up to do some really intentional training in the state. We know the officers want it, they want to know what to do," Schindler said. "Animal cruelty is documented, well documented to be intertwined with violence against humans."

Investigators depend on the community in these cases. Reporting suspected abuse or neglect can be done anonymously. They said that one call could help get an animal the help it needs. 

The issues covered by the questions range from guns to marijuana policy to taxpayer refunds.

Election officials expect long lines at the polls as voters flip through pages of information, but here's what to know about each ballot question before you vote.

Question 1: Public Records

A "yes" vote would expand the public records law to include the governor's office and the state Legislature, which are currently exempt. A "no" vote would not make any changes to the law.

The ballot question is being spearheaded by state Auditor Diana DiZoglio, who has long sought to audit the Legislature.

"You have a right to see what your government is doing with your hard-earned taxpayer dollars," DiZoglio argues.

While there is no formal opposition group to Question 1, some lawmakers say the ballot question is overly broad and creates privacy risks. The House of Representatives passed their own bill earlier this year to increase public access to legislative records, but DiZoglio has called it unconstitutional. 

Question 2: CPCS collective bargaining

A "yes" vote would allow public defenders and other employees of the Committee for Public Counsel Services to unionize. A "no" vote would make no changes to the labor relations law.

Supporters say these workers deserve the right to form a union if they choose to do so. Opponents argue it could hamper the agency's ability to respond to staffing needs and other court demands.

Question 3: Eliminating political party primaries

A "yes" vote would eliminate separate party primaries for state elections. Instead, there would be one primary where all candidates, regardless of party, would appear on one ballot and the top two candidates would advance to the general election.

A "no" vote would make no changes to the law.

"This is about making sure that every voter has a vote that matters," said Harvard University political philosophy professor Danielle Allen, who supports the change. "We have the fewest competitive elections in Massachusetts of any state in the country and when there's no choice, voters get taken for granted."

Massachusetts Democratic Party chair Steve Kerrigan said changing the rules would benefit the richest candidates.

"We are the birthplace of democracy and anything that says that we should limit our choices for people come November is wrong for Massachusetts," he said. 

Watch the full debate on Question 3.

Question 4: Same-day voter registration

A "yes" vote would let eligible citizens register to vote or update their voter registration address at their polling place on Election Day. A "no" vote would keep the current law in place.

If Question 4 passes, Massachusetts would join 17 other states that allow for same-day registration. Currently, Massachusetts residents must register to vote or change their registration 10 days before an election. 

Question 4 supporters say it would give voters the same opportunity that others in New England have. Opponents say it raises fraud concerns. 

Question 5: State revenue limit & rebate

A "yes" vote would limit how much revenue Massachusetts could collect in a year, and provide a refund to taxpayers the next year if collections go over that limit. A "no" vote would make no changes to the law.

Supporters say it would put more money back in the pockets of Massachusetts families. Opponents say it would reduce the state's "Rainy Day" fund and force major budget cuts.

Question 6: Natural Resource Conservation Fund

A "yes" vote would put state taxes generated from the sale of sporting goods, recreational vehicles and golf courses into a fund for natural resource conservation. A "no" vote would not establish a fund.

Supporters say it would raise tens of millions to protect clean drinking water, prevent flood damage, reduce pollution and improve parks, trails and other green spaces. Opponents say it could take away funding from other priorities, and note the Legislature ultimately has authority over appropriations.

Question 7: Single family homes

A "yes" vote would allow single-family homes to be built on lots of 5,000 square feet or more across the state. A "no" vote would make no changes to the law.

Proponents of Question 7 say this would allow for the creation of more affordable homes. 

"We've heard people reach out, say they can't afford a home with even a dual income," Andrew Mikula, founder of the group "Legalize Starter Homes" told WBZ-TV. "

Opponents say it's a "one-size-fits-all" plan that would take away local control over zoning.

"There's many communities that are questioning whether they have enough water to serve their communities, never mind an expansion," said Adam Chapdelaine, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.  

Question 8: Prohibit sale of adult recreational use marijuana

A "yes" vote would repeal the 2016 law that legalized adult recreational marijuana use, and change penalties for possession. A "no" vote would make no changes to the marijuana law.

Supporters of Question 8 say marijuana contributes to car crashes, crime and lost productivity. Opponents say making recreational marijuana use illegal again would kill jobs in the cannabis industry and result in arrests that disproportionately target minorities. 

Question 9: Gun laws

A "no" vote would repeal the gun reform law enacted in 2024. A "yes" vote would keep it in place.

The law tightened regulation of firearms, including "ghost guns," machine guns and assault-style weapons. It also expanded "red flag" provisions and mandated an electronic registration system to track guns.

Toby Leary, speaking for the "no" side, says Massachusetts already had the strictest gun control laws in the nation and said the new law is trying to "scare people." 

"At the end of the day, this is a constitutional issue," Leary said. "Does the Legislature have the privilege to erode or restrict or encumber any of our constitutional rights?"

On the "yes" side, Ruth Zakarin said the legislation is about safety. 

"We're asking people to vote yes on 9 this November to preserve this critically important law and to make sure we're doing everything we possibly can to keep our community safe from gun violence," she said. 

Watch the full debate on Question 9.

Minogue made the accusation over the weekend in a Facebook post. He asked, "Maura Healey - did you cut a deal with the State Troopers for an endorsement as Governor?"

State Police Association of Massachusetts president Brendan Murphy called Minogue's allegation "categorically false."

In Minogue's post, he claims troopers will receive an 18% raise over three years. Murphy also corrected the contract numbers. "The agreement provides raises totaling 11% over three years, consistent with what other state unions received," he said. "Mr. Minogue's claim of 18% is wrong."

Healey was asked about the accusation during an event in Framingham Monday.

"The state police spoke to that I saw. I'm proud to have the support of law enforcement and the support of four police organizations I've received support from in this race. That is about my work as somebody who has worked with, alongside, and supported the men and women of law enforcement throughout my career as attorney general and now as governor. And so I support the work they do every day," Healey said. 

"That's just more lies and nonsense from Mike Minogue and his campaign. But I stand by the work we've done with law enforcement."

On Monday, Minogue released a new statement, saying that his concerns are directed at Healey, not Massachusetts State Police troopers.

"Let me be clear: Our State Troopers deserve a fair contract, competitive compensation, and our full support and respect. What they don't deserve is the perception that their contract could be tied to a political endorsement," Minogue said. "These men and women deserve better."

Murphy said Sunday in response to Minogue's post that the union stands by its endorsement of Healey.

"Accusing our members of corruption without evidence is reckless, and we will not allow their integrity or the contract they earned to be smeared for political gain," he said.

The governor's race between Healey and Minogue will be determined on Election Day, next Tuesday, Nov. 3.