MA In 'Strong Position' Despite COVID Increase: Baker | Patch PM

Today is Tuesday, Oct. 13. Here are some of the top stories we are covering.

Massachusetts is "in a strong position to be prepared for what comes next" in the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Charlie Baker in a wide-ranging press conference Tuesday afternoon that sought to highlight the progress the state has made despite increasing COVID-19 totals sparking fears of a second surge.

Baker, speaking during a 90-minute press conference at the State House, acknowledged the rising numbers, but said some of quickest thinking and best preparation in the country has Massachusetts well-equipped moving forward.

The state has seen a steady increase in cases in recent weeks. The long weekend saw nearly 1,922 new cases and 39 new deaths.

Baker said the rise isn't indicative of a second surge of the coronavirus, but rather something that has been expected.

"I don't consider where we are to be anywhere near [a second surge,]" Baker said.

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Other top stories

Recall After Razor Blades Found In Pizza Dough; N.H. Man Arrested

Supermarkets are recalling some pizza dough and cheese products amid tampering concerns after a man was accused of putting razor blades into the dough at a Hannaford in Maine.

Hannaford and Shaw's and Star Market are recalling all Portland Pie cheese and Portland Pie fresh dough sold in the deli department of all their locations between Aug. 1 and Oct. 11. People should not eat the products and may return them.

Nicholas Martin of Dover, N.H., was arrested Sunday night and charged as a fugitive from justice. The 38-year-old is a former employee of It'll Be Pizza, a Scarborough, Maine-based company that manufactures Portland Pie products.

Massachusetts Lord & Taylors To Close In Dec., 162 Face Layoffs

Mass layoffs will begin Dec. 1 for Lord & Taylor's four Massachusetts locations, as the company begins closing all its stores nationwide.

Le Tote, Lord & Taylor's parent company, reported 162 layoffs planned for its Boston, Burlington, Natick and Braintree, in a state filing required under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act.

The chain will cut 56 jobs in Boston, 35 in Burlington, 27 in Natick and 44 in Braintree.

Housing Advocates Plan Protest At Gov. Baker's Swampscott Home

Housing advocates are not buying Gov. Charlie Baker's $171 million plan to help renters and landlords in lieu of the state ban on evictions that is set to lapse this week amid the coronavirus health crisis.

The groups Homes for All Massachusetts and Massachusetts COVID-19 Response Alliance said they are organizing the car caravan and march to press Baker to support and sign the Guaranteed Housing Stability Act, which would protect tenants from eviction for up to 12 months following the end of the state of emergency involving the pandemic.

The groups said the act is the only measure that will prevent mass evictions and foreclosures by protecting renters, helping homeowners and stabilizing small-scale landlords.

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