Dozens of birds fall from sky; officials want to know why

Dozens of birds fall from sky; officials want to know why

BOSTON — Health officials are trying to figure out what caused dozens of birds to fall out of the sky onto a Boston neighborhood.City officials say 47 grackles were found Thursday in the city's Dorchester neighborhood.Thirty-five of those birds are now dead.

Update: Woman injured by broken bat at Fenway Park now in fair condition

Update: Woman injured by broken bat at Fenway Park now in fair condition

BOSTON — A woman struck by a flying bat at Fenway Park has been upgraded to fair condition.Tonya Carpenter had been listed in serious condition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston since she was hit in the head during a game between the Red Sox and Oakland Athletics on Friday night.A family statement released by the hospital Monday also said she is responsive.

Woman seeking stranger she kissed at Boston Marathon hears back from his wife

Woman seeking stranger she kissed at Boston Marathon hears back from his wife

BOSTON -- As Barbara Tatge was running through the town of Wellesley during the Boston Marathon, she remembered a dare from her daughter.Her daughter dared her to kiss a random, good-looking man as she ran through the town, where the women of Wellesley College offer kisses to runners.Tatge got up the nerve and smooched a man in a tan hat and plaid shirt along the route.After the race, Tatge says the man left an impression on her and her daughter set out to find him on social media.

Boston officials announce marathon public safety measures

Boston officials announce marathon public safety measures

BOSTON (AP) — Boston officials have announced improved public safety measures for the final two miles of the Boston Marathon on April 21, a year after two explosions near the finish line killed three people and wounded more than 260 others.Mayor Martin Walsh and Police Commissioner William Evans on Saturday said more uniform and undercover officers will be deployed along the marathon's Boston route.Authorities also have installed more than 100 cameras along the Boston portion, together with 50 observation points that will help monitor the crowd.Thirteen ambulances will be deployed, together with 140 emergency medical service workers on foot patrol, bicycles, utility vehicles and in medical tents.Officials urge spectators to leave backpacks, strollers and other large items at home.

Two friends of Boston bombing suspect plead not guilty

Two friends of Boston bombing suspect plead not guilty

BOSTON (CNN) -- Two friends of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev pleaded not guilty Tuesday in federal court to charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstructing justice with intent to impede authorities.Handcuffed and dressed in orange jail jumpsuits, Dias Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov both voiced their not guilty pleas during their roughly four-minute arraignment Tuesday in Boston.

Bloomberg group sorry for reading Boston bomber's name

Bloomberg group sorry for reading Boston bomber's name

(CNN) -- The group pushing for tighter restrictions on guns that's partly funded by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg apologized Wednesday after accused Boston bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev's name was read at an event memorializing gun victims.Noting they were using a list compiled by Slate.com of people killed by guns since December's school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Mayors Against Illegal Guns said in a statement Tsarnaev "was absolutely not a victim, his name should have been deleted before the list was provided to a family member for reading and his name should never have been read.

Boston fire chief resigns after criticism of bombing response

Boston fire chief resigns after criticism of bombing response

(CNN) -- Boston Fire Chief Steve Abraira, whose deputy chiefs criticized him over his handling of the Boston Marathon bombings, has submitted his resignation, the Boston Fire Department said Monday on its official Twitter account.Abraira's resignation is effective Friday.In an April 26 letter to Boston's mayor, 13 Boston deputy fire chiefs said they had no confidence in Abraira, asserting that he failed to assume command responsibility or show any leadership at the scene."At a time when the city of Boston needed every first responder to take decisive action, Chief Abraira failed to get involved in operational decision-making or show any leadership," the letter read.CNN obtained the letter from a deputy chief who signed it but requested anonymity.

Boston bombing suspects seen at gym days before attack

Boston bombing suspects seen at gym days before attack

(CNN) -- Three days before the Boston Marathon bombings, suspects Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev were working out together at a Boston gym.Security cameras captured footage of the brothers arriving at the Wai Kru mixed martial arts center with a friend just before 2:45 p.m. April 12.The manager at Wai Kru, who wanted to be identified only as Michael, noticed a distinct change in the older brother's appearance.Tamerlan Tsarnaev's full, bushy religious beard, which he had for about two years, was gone.Michael described the older brother as extremely opinionated and outspoken about his Muslim religion.

Boston suspects' sister pleads not guilty on marijuana charge

Boston suspects' sister pleads not guilty on marijuana charge

(CNN) -- The sister of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects has pleaded not guilty to possession of marijuana, according to her attorney.Bella Tsarnaev entered the plea at her arraignment hearing Tuesday to the initial charge of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Tsarnaev's attorney, Mario Blanch told CNN.Police originally arrested Tsarnaev in December 2012 after responding to a domestic disturbance call and finding marijuana in her Fairview, New Jersey, apartment.Blanch says Tsarnaev, 24, has no prior criminal record, and he is hoping she will be accepted into New Jersey's pretrial intervention program, in which mostly first-time offenders are offered alternatives to the normal prosecution process.

Seven-year-old sister of boy killed in Boston Marathon released

Seven-year-old sister of boy killed in Boston Marathon released

(CNN) -- The sister of the boy killed in the April Boston Marathon bombings has been discharged from the hospital where she spent 39 days in intensive care, according to a family statement posted online.Jane Richard, 7, who lost part of one leg in the second blast, was transferred from Boston Children's Hospital to a rehabilitation facility."While we remain devastated over Martin's death and all that has happened to us, Jane's determination for getting better is an inspiring source of strength for the entire family," the statement said.The girl went through 12 surgeries, the posting said.

Official: Dead Boston bombing suspect involved in 2011 slayings

Official: Dead Boston bombing suspect involved in 2011 slayings

(CNN) -- Deceased Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev participated in a 2011 gruesome triple homicide outside Boston, along with a Chechen killed early Wednesday during a confrontation with the FBI and Massachusetts State Police in Orlando, Florida, a federal law enforcement official told CNN.