From badge to barbecue: Police chief fires up new gig behind the grill

Amherst historic district panel objects to 'absurdly large' accessory dwelling units near UMass campus

AMHERST — Two accessory dwelling units planned for construction a short distance from the University of Massachusetts campus are raising concerns for a town commission charged with safeguarding the historic fabric of the North Prospect-Lincoln-Sunset neighborhoods. Even though the Local Historic District Commission has no means of preventing their construction — with its oversight only […]

Meta settlement brings Mass. millions, new limits for teens

BOSTON — Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced Wednesday that she and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general reached a $17.1 billion settlement with Meta — including a guarantee of approximately $366 million for Massachusetts — to resolve claims the social media giant created and ran its platforms in a way that harmed young people and violated state consumer protection laws.  “As a mom and as Attorney General, I know that young people deserve to grow up in a world where they can benefit from technology without being exploited by it. We took on Meta because the company chose to put profits ahead of […]

Area Briefs: Smith Academy student nominated for bravery award

Smith Academy student nominated for bravery award BOSTON — State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, has nominated Eli Bai for the Madeline Amy Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery, awarded annually by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.  Bai, a Smith Academy student, performed the Heimlich maneuver to save a friend’s life during a May field […]

Beyond the lines: Alma Thomas’ vibrant ‘stripes’ take center stage at Smith College

Artist Alma Thomas was famous for her signature brushstrokes — or, as she called them, “Alma’s stripes” — yet these marks transcend simple lines. At times, they mimic the view of nursery plants arranged in neat rows from above. In other pieces, they resemble terrace tilework, forming shapes the artist herself called “hieroglyphs.” They can […]

Spotlighting sustainability: Solar-powered Arcadia Folk Festival returns to Easthampton

Overflowing trash cans and abandoned plastic water bottles are familiar sights at many large music events. One Easthampton gathering, however, wants to show that it’s possible for a big concert series to be as good for the earth as it is to the ear. Arcadia Folk Festival will return for its eighth year on Saturday, […]