Raymond Luc Levasseur

Raymond Luc Levasseur: While a date and time have not been announced, the University of Massachusetts released a statement Tuesday expressing its frustration that convicted bomber Raymond Luc Levasseur apparently will be speaking in Amherst after the university had canceled his appearance.

Raymond Luc Levasseur:While a date and time have not been announced, the University of Massachusetts released a statement Tuesday expressing its frustration that convicted bomber Raymond Luc Levasseur apparently will be speaking in Amherst after the university had canceled his appearance.

The university administration does not in any way support the presentation by Ray Luc Levasseur, and was very clear in supporting the library’s recent decision to cancel its talk,” the university said in a prepared statement. “The university administration did not invite this speaker and would not invite him.

A group of faculty members has decided to invite him.

“Although the university administration questions the wisdom and common sense of this judgment, the institution must respect academic freedom,” the statement continues. “As repugnant as we find this invitation, the administration’s commitment to academic freedom must be honored. While the university administration does not approve, endorse or support the decision to invite this individual to campus, academic freedom must be paramount for the university community.”

Levasseur’s appearance has generated protests from those opposed to his appearance including Gov. Deval L. Patrick and UMass president Jack M. Wilson, and from those irate that the talk was canceled by UMass.

A letter was set to the administration and signed my alumni who were “disgusted with the university for caving to right-wing pressure.”

Robert S. Cox head of special collections and university archives had invited Levasseur to campus as part of the 5th annual Colloquium on Social Change Thursday night but canceled the talk after police groups and others vehemently opposed Levasseur’s appearance.

Levasseur was released in 2004 after serving 20 years in prison.

He was part of the United Freedom Front, a group that was charged with eight Boston-area bombings between 1976 and 1979, the murder of a New Jersey state trooper, the attempted murder of a Massachusetts state trooper, several other assaults on law enforcement officers and several armed bank robberies.

Levasseur was not at the scene of the trooper’s shooting nor was he charged.

Jefferson City Hostage,Jefferson City News

Jefferson City Hostage,Jefferson City News: There is a possible hostage situation in a downtown office building, city block in Jefferson City . Jefferson City Police said they received an alarm message about a possible hostage situation, but they said that they have not been able to confirm it as yet. There have been unconfirmed reports that the hostage situation is in the Governor Office Building in Jefferson City , which is a government building near the Governor’s Mansion , but fortunately it does not house the Governor.

Jefferson City Hostage,Jefferson City News:There is a possible hostage situation in a downtown office building, city block in Jefferson City. Jefferson City Police said they received an alarm message about a possible hostage situation, but they said that they have not been able to confirm it as yet.

There have been unconfirmed reports that the hostage situation is in the Governor Office Building in Jefferson City, which is a government building near the Governor’s Mansion, but fortunately it does not house the Governor. If it were housing the Governor then the hostage situation would have had been more critical.

Jefferson City Police have taken the help of Capitol Police, Highway Patrol, and the Sheriff’s Department in the possible hostage situation and all has surrounded the Governor Office Building at 200 Madison St.

The possible hostage situation might have been on the 5th floor, of the Governor Office Building, where a person said that there might be some hostages there. Helicopters are flying above the building, in a bid to nab the culprit. Sharp shooters are on the adjoining buildings as the police tries their best to nab the culprit.

KRCG’s crew at the scene reported that nearby businesses and shops have been closed down as a precautionary measure, as police try to assess the situation.