boston globe

State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson was indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday, the Boston Globe reports.

Wilkerson, a Boston Democrat, was arrested three weeks ago on charges that she accepted $23,500 in bribes.

According to the Globe, Wilkerson faces "eight charges of attempted extortion under color of official right - essentially, using her office to illegally get payment."

U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy is considering sailing off the coast of Florida during congressional recesses this year, the Boston Globe reported Wednesday.

Keith Maley, a spokesman for the Hyannis Port Democrat, told the Globe that Kennedy's boat, the Mya, is currently in route to Florida. The Globe also obtained a photo of the Mya in transport.

The saga surrounding whether Salvatore DiMasi will face a challenge for his speakership in January continues, as the Boston Globe reports that state Reps. Robert DeLeo and John Rogers are trying to figure out if they have enough support to take on DiMasi.

But the Globe also notes that based on several interviews with lawmakers Wednesday, it appears DiMasi currently has enough backers to retain his post.

All of this speculation comes as DiMasi's, a Boston Democrat, has the state Ethics Commission investigation looking into whether a software company unlawfully sought influence in awarding a state contract by making payments to his associates.

Fresh off his trip to Chicago for Democratic President-elect Barack Obama's election night rally, Gov. Deval Patrick said again Wednesday that he is not interested in joining Obama's administration.

"Are you asking me if I am going to Washington again?" Patrick said, according to the Boston Globe. "No I am not. We have an ambitious agenda and a lot of work to do here. Frankly if the people will have me, I'd be interested in a second term."

Holliston Republican Dan Haley had nothing but positive things to say on Wednesday about Democrat Carolyn Dykema, who beat him in the race for Middlesex County's 8th House District Tuesday.

With all precincts reporting, the Boston Globe reports that Dykema earned 52 percent of the vote and Haley earned 48 percent.

Dykema's win is particularly significant because it represents a pick up for the Democrats. Middlesex's 8th District was previously held by Republican state Rep. Paul Loscocco.

Haley said he is proud the campaign he ran and that Dykema should be proud of her campaign as well.

BOSTON - Boston City Councilor Sam Yoon said Tuesday night he is still weighing whether he will run for mayor of Boston in 2009.

Yoon made waves earlier this year when the Boston Globe reported that he was fundraising for a possible mayoral run in San Francisco, Calif. Yoon said then that he was considering running but that he hadn't made up his mind yet.

The Dorchester Democrat told PolitickerMA.com Tuesday night that nothing has changed. "It's the same as before," he said. "I haven't made any decisions. We need to get this election over with. And clear my head and think about what this means for Boston."

Several signs encouraging voters to cast their ballot for state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson were seen at polling places in Suffolk's 2nd Senate District, the Boston Globe reports.

Wilkerson ended her write-in campaign for re-election last week after being arrested on charges of accepting $23,500 in bribes.

Nevertheless, the Globe reported that a white flier stating, "What happened to innocent until proven guilty" was seen taped over signs of Sonia Chang-Diaz, the Democratic nominee in the race.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney is doing plenty of campaigning for Republican presidential nominee John McCain and other GOP candidates, leading some to question whether 2012 is on his mind as McCain lags in polls.

The Globe is reporting that House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi isn't cooperating with the state Ethics Commission's demand for documents.

Some of state Sen. Dianne Wilkrson's backers are still backing her re-election bid even though she ended her campaign.

But Wilkerson is encouraging those supporters to focus their efforts on Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

The Boston Globe just reported that state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson has suspended her campaign.

"As of this moment today though I am certainly announcing the suspension, the termination, cessation -- I want to make it clear that I am ending any further campaign," Wilkerson said, according to the Globe.

Wilkerson did not comment on whether she would resign from the state Senate.

The Boston Democrat was facing off against Sonia Chang-Diaz with a write-in campaign after losing the Democratic primary to Chang-Diaz in September.

The Boston Globe has more details from U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan's press conference on state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson's arrest and investigation.

In addition to allegedly helping the Déjà Vu nightclub obtain a liquor license,Wilkerson's work on behalf of a land developer who wanted to build in the Crosstown section of Roxbury included allegedly influencing legislation that would assist the builder as recently as last week.

The Globe also describes one photo showed at the press conference of Wilkerson allegedly stuffing a $1,000 bribe into her shirt after her meeting at No. 9 Park on June 18, 2007.