--Laurel Sweet at the Herald did a piece on the sharp rise in domestic violence in the state. The statistics are startling. She writes, "Authorities project that by New Year’s Eve 57 people will have died this year in Massachusetts because of domestic violence - a toll not seen in 15 years."

Almost a year ago, the Phoenix made similar observations, noting that the media remains fascinated with endangered women, yet no one seems to be doing anything to stop domestic violence.

--The story about the two alleged creeps who stole an elderly woman's ATM card and emptied her bank account just gets better. The DA's Office put out a release saying that that the card was used for a spree at Shaw's and at the Finish Line at the CambridgeSide Galleria, and that "[Arniya Smith] made statements that [Dennis King] was supposed to buy milk for her baby, not sneakers. King allegedly made statements that he had bought the sneakers, but that someone had stolen them from his vehicle." Klassy.

--Turns out someone did get hurt in Friday evening's fire at Supreme Liquors on Mass Ave in Cambridge. Some bonehead--alleged bonehead--drove his delivery truck over a fire hose. A mess ensued. From the Cambridge Chronicle:

Police Officer Jerry Jean-Baptiste, who was at the scene of the fire, said a delivery truck driver ran over a fire hose filled with water. Brathwaite told the Chronicle the hose became tangled in the truck’s rear wheels, disconnecting it from the fire hydrant, sending the metal nozzle flying through the air and smashing into the firefighter’s back.

The firefighter went to the hospital. The driver said he had "no clue" that it probably isn't a good idea to drive over a fire hose. He got cited.

All charges alleged until proven under law. Image of today's Herald cover from its website. The woman in the photo is Christine McGee, who was allegedly killed by her husband.