■The coronation of Winter Carni queen at the University of Massachusetts was halted Saturday night after James LaMacchia, 19-year-old sophomore from Norwood, won his case in student general court, charging the Junior Class with discrimination on the basis of sex and violation of student government election rules in the carni queen contest. Because write-in votes for LaMacchia were not originally counted, a new election will be held this week.
■Commissioner of Natural Resources Arthur W. Brownell today requested all dog owners in suburban and rural areas keep their pets under control for the next few weeks to prevent the slaughter of deer by dogs. “Once a dog gets the taste of blood a habit is formed,” Brownell said.
■The city of Northampton is said to be negotiating with the owner of the former Graves Equipment property on King Street for land that could hold a new city fire station. “We are negotiating with the city to sell a parcel,” said a spokesperson for the Stop & Shop Supermarket Co., which owns 14 acres of the former Graves property at 306 King St.
■At least three people were injured by broken glass and two others were arrested early today when a private party involving more than 300 college students erupted into a series of fights. Five Northampton police officers and two state troopers had to be called to quell the disturbance, which occurred at Club Metro, a new Pleasant Street bar.
■Forty donors had contributed $4,940 by the end of last week to help Robert Green, owner of Amherst Typewriter & Computer, pay his back rent and avoid eviction. Green said the donations — and the people who have come to the store to talk to him since he went public with his financial difficulties — have lifted his spirits and given him confidence in the future.
■An anti-war vigil has been going on for more than a decade, sponsored by the Northampton Committee to End the War in Iraq, every Saturday in front of the county courthouse on Main Street. In recent months, a counterprotest has taken root, led by people associated with the group Western Mass 9/12 and sympathetic to the tea party movement.