LAWRENCE

Sheriff Cousins won’t seek reelection

Essex County Sheriff Frank Cousins, who became the first African-American sheriff in Massachusetts almost 20 years ago, will not seek reelection this November, a spokesman confirmed on Tuesday. Cousins, a former state representative from Newburyport, was appointed as sheriff in 1996 by then-Governor William F. Weld. He won reelection three times over the last 18 years. Cousins, 58, told The Eagle Tribune that he did not know what he would do after leaving the sheriff’s office but looked forward to having more time to attend school events for his son, a high school freshman. (State House News Service)

BOSTON

Two-alarm fire displaces 50 seniors

Almost 50 residents of a senior housing complex in Dorchester were displaced Tuesday morning after a two-alarm fire, officials said. A short circuit in wiring in the second-floor ceiling caused the blaze, said Steve MacDonald, a spokesman for the Boston Fire Department. MacDonald said the electrical and heating systems were damaged by water, forcing residents out. The fire on Ditson Street rose from the second floor of the 40-unit building to the roof, causing an estimated $500,000 in damage. No residents were injured, MacDonald said, but one firefighter was treated for a leg injury at a hospital and released.

MALDEN

Woman found slain in apartment

Authorities are investigating the death of a female found in a Malden apartment complex on Monday night as a homicide, officials said. The female, who was not identified, was found at about 9 p.m. after State and Malden Police responded to a well-being check at Cliffside Commons Apartments on Broadway, Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan and Police Chief Kevin Molis said Tuesday in a statement. The slaying did not appear to be random, the district attorney’s office said. Authorities did not give any details on the homicide or the victim.

WESTFIELD

Baker to give commencement address

Governor Charlie Baker will deliver a commencement address to the class of 2016 graduates of Westfield State University in May, the university said Tuesday. “As a class that is committed to engaging in the democratic process and service to our communities, we are extremely excited to welcome Governor Baker, who is arguably one of the most popular governors in the country, as our commencement speaker,’’ class president Ryan Losco said in a statement. The university’s 177th commencement ceremony will take place May 21 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, the university said. (State House News Service)

EAST BURKE, VT.

Mass. skier identified in fatal crash

State Police have identified the Massachusetts man who died following a ski accident in northeastern Vermont on Monday. Varter Shirinian, 58, of Watertown, lost control and hit a tree at Burke Mountain Ski Area in East Burke, Vt., about 40 miles northeast of Montpelier, State Police said. He had been skiing with a family member on the Big Dipper trail and was not wearing a helmet. Shirinian was pronounced dead at the scene. Foul play is not suspected. An autopsy has been ordered and police are investigating. (AP)

PORTLAND, MAINE

Districts consider later school starts

Some school boards in Maine plan to vote on proposals that could push back school start times for the 2016-2017 year. School boards in Saco, Biddeford, Old Orchard Beach, Scarborough, South Portland, and Yarmouth are all considering later start times for 2016-17 or the future, the Portland Press Herald reported. The most recent report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Maine’s average high school start time is 7:53 a.m., 10 minutes earlier than the national average. The agency recommends middle and high schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. At least 200 schools around the country have recently pushed back start times. (AP)