The Springfield City Council is weighing whether to strengthen regulations covering pawn shops. If passed, the city would have some of the highest licensing fees and strictest rules for pawnbrokers in the Northeast.

Any items brought to a pawn shop in Springfield right now must be held for ten days before they can be sold. This is done to make sure the goods are not stolen. Police say ten days isn’t enough to complete robbery investigations and they need thirty days, which used to be the case.

“It was changed two years ago,” said City Councilor Thomas Ashe, who heads the committee considering the proposal. “And it didn’t at that time didn’t have much public input. There wasn’t an awareness that this would be hurting the police department as much as it has.”

While some cities such as Hartford and Albany have a ten-day waiting period, a change to a month would bring Springfield in line with Boston.

Another part of the proposal is hiking fees for a license to operate a pawn shop. Right now, Springfield charges $100, which is similar to many places such as Worcester and Hartford. Ashe said the city is considering an increase to between $500 and $1,000.

“And the thought behind raising the fees in general would have more legitimate businesses being open rather than – as the police term – ‘fly-by-night’ operations,” Ashe said.

Ashe said he expects to present a proposal to the City Council in early August.

Meanwhile, there are some pawnbrokers who say a longer waiting period would make it difficult for them to do business. Joe Greenberg, who operates World Pawn in Springfield, said gold prices can change drastically in a month, and because of this, his shop and others would be forced to take a higher risk when purchasing precious metals.

Massachusetts wildlife officials believe they know why hundreds of dead fish were found in a Wales lake this weekend.

Richard Hartley, a biologist with the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, said that warmer-then-normal water temperatures in Lake George due the recent heat wave contributed to the death of many white perch.

“In this case, it’s what we call and epizootic. It’s an organism – likely a bacteria, a virus –  that’s commonly present in the lakes and ponds in Massachusetts, but as water temperatures increase, their numbers go up dramatically,” Hartely said Monday. “And, generally, a single species or a family of fish is targeted and that’s what you see.”

Hartley said this is the second year in a row white perch in Lake George have died off – for the same reason. And it’s not unusual. Hartley said between a dozen and three-dozen fish kills are reported to the state each. He said most are due to natural causes.

On a tense day on Capitol Hill, Ed Markey became the junior U.S. senator from Massachusetts. Markey took the oath Tuesday morning.

Massachusetts’ U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and the outgoing interim senator, Mo Cowan, escorted Markey into the chamber. Vice President Joe Biden administered the oath.

Markey nearly had to cast a vote on the so-called nuclear option over stalled presidential nominees. But a last-minute deal appeared to hold off the procedural showdown.

Earlier in the morning, Majority Leader Harry Reid gave Markey a less than ceremonious welcome.

“I know a lot of people want to say some real nice things about this man, but you’re going to have to do it later,” Reid said to laughter. “We have a lot of things to do here, and as he will learn the Senate is not always as punctual as the House.”

Markey spent more than 36 years in the House before winning a special election last month to complete the term started by Secretary of State John Kerry.

To keep the seat for a full term, Markey will have to win it again next year.

Springfield poll observers are reporting enthusiastic turnout and only minor problems as residents vote on a proposed casino project.

Gladys Oyola is Springfield’s election commissioner. She says poll watchers on both sides of the debate can protect against voting fraud and misconduct. But she said it’s the weather causing the most trouble.

“This morning at one of the polling locations, they want to be able to hear the names of the voters that come in and vote and their observers are having problems hearing because of all the fans that we have going due to the heat,” Oyola said.

Kelly Tucky with MGM, the company proposing the casino development, said the heat only makes turnout more impressive, showing how important Springfield residents find the issue.

Timothy Paul, a spokesperson for Citizens Against Casino Gaming, said volunteers from his organization had no problem demonstrating outside polling places.

“Ten or so people at one polling place on Main St. – they were covering both sides of the street and chanting ‘Casi-NO’ and you could see the enthusiasm they had and the passion for their cause,” Paul said.

Based on observer reports, Oyola said turnout is exceeding the recent special Senate election. She predicted turnout will be well over 20 percent.

John O’Neil reported this story.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for parts of the New England Public Radio listening area. The advisory began at noon Monday and is scheduled to expire at 8 p.m. It includes eastern Hampshire County and eastern Hampden County in Massachusetts, and Hartford, Tolland and Windham counties in Connecticut.

The forecast said the heat index Monday will top out around 100 degrees, “due to temperatures in the lower 90s…and dewpoints in the upper 60s.”

More from the National Weather Service:

“The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible. Avoid prolonged work in the sun or in poorly ventilated areas. Drink plenty of liquids…stay in an air conditioned environment..Stay out of the sun…and check in on relatives and neighbors.”

“Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water.”

“Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency – call 9 1 1.”

In Massachusetts and Connecticut, residents can call 2 1 1 to obtain cooling center information.