The Secretary of State’s office is reporting the estimated population of Massachusetts has risen above 6.5 million.

Worcester, Springfield, Fitchburg and Westfield challenged the 2008 U.S. Census population estimates — and won. (Boston is still waiting to hear if their challenge succeeds.) Why care? Here’s what Secretary William Galvin says:

“These successful challenges, with the assistance of PEP, are further evidence that the Census estimates have been shortchanging our cities,” Galvin said. “A full count of all the people in Massachusetts is essential for us to receive our fair share of federal funds and to maintain our representation in Congress.”

UPDATE: He’s slapped with 2 1/2 years. Cleans out campaign finance account and owes state $100,000-plus.

John Buonomo is rolling the dice. The only problem is his choice is between a lot of time in jail and a heck of a lot of time in jail.

As Howie Carr writes, the 57-year-old ex-probate register of Middlesex County is throwing himself on the mercy of the court after pleading guilty to stealing cash from copy machines in the East Cambridge courthouse. That’s a ton of quarters, as the surveillance photo above shows. He also admitted to robbing his campaign fund of $100,000.

His sentencing is now set for tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn (Room 640). Prosecutors are seeking 4 to 6 years in jail. He’s hoping for a lot less. “I have ruined my career,” he read from his prepared statement last time in court, “my reputation and any integrity that I may have had. As a human, I have lost the very core of my being.”

Tomorrow, the gavel falls. We’ll be there.

The Blue Line just upgraded at a cost of $172 million, as we report today. This will mean six-car trains will be operating around the clock. Here’s a look at the new vs. the old.

A Haverhill 3-month-old severely shaken by her dad is clinging to life suffering from brain injuries. The little girl’s name was released by authorities, as is the norm in such cases. It didn’t pass by these eyes. Her name, different from her dad’s, won’t appear on the Web.

If she survives, God willing, she won’t open up her first Facebook account knowing a link hovers out there on the Web chronicling her brutal beginning of life. Her name will be clear of the sadness. This editor took it out of the story.

As the story states …

The baby’s mother was preparing a bottle in another room when the alleged abuse occurred, authorities said. The mother called 911 after witnessing the baby’s “eyes roll towards the back of her head, and difficulty breathing,” authorities said.

The T rider who was almost crushed by an Orange Line trolley (see post below) said “thanks” today to everyone who saved her life. Good for her!

In an e-mail to the Herald, she says thank God I won’t go through life missing a limb or two. (My words, not hers.) Here are her words …

“I cannot express how grateful I am to all the wonderful people on the platform who waved down the train and also to the train operator for acting so quickly. I am amazed so many people stepped up to help someone in the people on the platform and I want to express my thanks again to those people. I am still a bit in shock, but the kindness and quick thinking of all of those people who came together to save my life will forever have my thanks and gratitude. I wish I could thank them each individually. I hope they know how sincerely glad I am that they were there, and that they were brave enough to do what they did.”

It’s still amazing to watch how close she came to being maimed … or worse.