Top Essex County Court Clerk Under Fire

Today is Tuesday, July 2, and here are the five things you need to know: 

1. You'll want to be prepared for some more stormy weather today. The National Weather Service is predicting that local residents can expect rain, thunderstorms and a high near 76. Tonight should be rainy, with a low around 67. (sunrise, 5:09 a.m.; high tide, 7:50 a.m.; low tide, 2:02 p.m.; high tide, 8:14 p.m.; sunset, 8:24 p.m.) 

2. WBZ-news' I-Team aired a story Monday night focused on the work habits of Tom Driscoll, Essex County’s top court clerk, who is paid $110,000 a year, but the I-Team reported is rarely on the job. During the two months while he was being observed by the news station's reporters, Driscoll was reportedly at the courthouse in Salem just 40.5 hours of the 120 hours court was open — which is one-third of the time. Click Here for the full story. 

3. Salem's No Place for Hate Committee will meet this evening at the City Hall Annex on Washington Street. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., according to the posted agenda. 

4. Salem will soon have a brand new gas station and convenience store on Lafayette Street. A construction project at the AL Prime Energy gas station, located at 175 Lafayette St., began last week when construction crews removed the station's gas pumps. Click Here for our full story.

5. Today in History: On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, meant to prohibit segregation in public places.