By Jessica Heslam
The Boston Herald

BOSTON — Burned up over his demands for drug testing while denying them a contract for more than a year, angry Boston firefighters today will charge Mayor Thomas M. Menino with “smearing” them as he seeks to buff up Boston in tonight’s State of the City speech.

“Clearly, the city has been systematically attacking us through lies and accusations designed to tarnish our public image,” said Edward Kelly, president of Boston Firefighters Local 718. “We will begin to tell our side of the story.”

The powerful firefighters union - which showed up in force outside Menino’s 2001 State of the City speech in a strong show of anger - will be back tonight as the mayor speaks from inside Dorchester’s Strand Theater.

Full Story: Firefighters blazing mad at Menino: Union rips ‘smear campaign’, contract