Lynn

An MBTA Transit Police officer assigned to patrol the Lynn parking garage due to multiple break-ins in recent days may have hit the jackpot yesterday morning: A woman he allegedly found attaching a stolen plate to one car, with evidence she had tried to break into several other cars nearby.

Alexis Downez, 32, was charged with five counts of attempted breaking and entering in the daytime, five count of malicious destruction of property, possession of burglarious tools, stealing a license plate and driving after suspension. Her arrest came after three days of car break-ins, thefts and vandalism at the garage, police say.

Mark B. recounts the history of the Boston, Revere and Lynn railroad.

WBZ reports a Lynn shopkeeper used a piece of rebar given her by a friend in construction to fend off a would-be robber armed only with a knife.

Mike the Mad Biologist considers GE's effort to blackmail the state - give us $25 million or else. At first, it sounds kind of similar to Liberty Mutual's successful effort to wring tax breaks out of Boston and the state for its new headquarters building on the edge of the Back Bay. But Liberty Mutual at least is giving the city a new tower that will, ultimately, supposedly mean more tax revenue, while GE's argument seems to be: Give it to us because we want it. Plus, Liberty Mutual never threatened to fire people or shut its Boston operations if it didn't get the breaks.