Police: Noose In Yard Was Political, Not Racist: Patch PM

ANDOVER, MA — It's Tuesday, Oct. 27. Here's what Patch has been covering in the Merrimack Valley and across Massachusetts today.

The Andover resident who hung a noose in his yard told police that it was meant to represent his view of President Donald Trump's treatment by Democrats and that it was not intended as a racial threat, an Andover police spokesman said.

The noose, displayed Wednesday, was quickly taken down at the request of the resident's father, the homeowner, after police were sent to the Whittier Street home.

Nooses are sometimes displayed as a form of racist intimidation, as they were a primary tool of lynchings in the Jim Crow era. The town said Thursday that all "symbols and acts of hate" would be investigated by the police department.

In this case, Andover police accepted the resident's explanation that the noose was not intended that way. Read more.

Also in the Merrimack Valley

Chelmsford Rolls Back Reopening Measures

Chelmsford is among 13 municipalities across the state that are rolling back reopening measures after being deemed high-risk for coronavirus spread for three straight weeks. The town moved back from Phase 3, Step 2 to Phase 3, Step 1 on Monday.

The step back means gyms, libraries and museums must reduce capacity from 50 percent to 40 percent, businesses with indoor activities such as theaters and escape rooms must close and outdoor gathering limits are reduced from 100 to 50.

Westford Throws Support Behind Net Zero Emissions Task Force

A non-binding resolution to promote clean energy and reduce fossil fuel use in an effort help the commonwealth achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, passed in Town Meeting.

The resolution asks that the select board charges a task force to study and make recommendations for the town to help the state aim for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions through intermediate goals. The proposal also asked that the task force make those recommendations within nine months and report to annual Town Meeting.

Some Andover Voters Sent The Wrong Ballot

Some Andover Precinct 7 voters were sent mail-in ballots for the wrong precinct, the town clerk confirmed Tuesday.

"We don't know how many ballots were affected, but we believe it's a relatively small number," Town Clerk Austin Simko said. "Out of more than 1000 Precinct 7 ballots mailed out, we received around a dozen phone calls."

The Precinct 2 and 4 ballots the residents got instead are in a different state representative district with an uncontested race, whereas Precinct 7 voters can cast their ballots in the Tram Nguyen-Jeff Dufour 18th Essex District race.

Lawrence District Court Temporarily Closed After Positive Test

A probation employee who was last in the office on Oct. 21 tested positive for the coronavirus, the court said. The court will reopen Thursday after cleaning and disinfecting.

Across Massachusetts

MA Weather: First Snow Of Season Possible This Week

Tropical Storm Zeta may bring wet snow Thursday into Friday, with some flurries possible as far east as Boston.

Coronavirus Leads To Record Month For Cape Cod Home Sales

Real estate experts said more people are choosing to live on Cape Cod and the Islands as working from home becomes the new norm.

Baker Warns Of 'Significant Increase' In Coronavirus Cases Among Younger People

"The share of positive cases between the under 30 crowd and the over 60 crowd has basically flipped," the governor said.

Puppet Showplace Theater Says Someone Emptied Its Bank Account

Brookline police are investigating after the theater's board found its bank account empty.

No Bail For 'Emotionally Disturbed' Man After Ballot Box Burning

Worldly Armand, 39, will have a dangerousness hearing Friday. He had bail revoked in a case where he is charged with a similar arson crime.

Woburn Hairstylist, Laid Off In June, Starts Own Salon

Two Middlesex County women decided to set out on their own after Hair Cuttery laid them off amid the pandemic.

And finally today:

The Post Office recommends that mail-in voters send their ballots in by today, one week before the Nov. 3 election, although in Massachusetts you only need to have your ballot post-marked by Election Day and received by Nov. 6. You can also vote in person early through Friday or vote in person on Election Day. How are you voting?