Guest columnist Beatriz Cazho Garcia: College resources aren’t enough without access

A street divided: As Picture Main Street project nears, supporters and opponents clash over cost, congestion and the future of downtown Northampton

NORTHAMPTON — An ideological battle is raging between Northampton residents who believe the $43.3 million downtown overhaul known as Picture Main Street will poison the city, and those who see it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in downtown infrastructure. Caught in the crossfire: Main Street business owners.  Picture Main Street has drawn controversy from […]

Amherst DPW headquarters proposal would nearly triple space

AMHERST — A new Department of Public Works headquarters would provide almost triple the room available in the existing building, based on a space program consultants developed from a needs assessment The 52,955-square-foot proposal is a starting point for the footprint of the new building, not a final design or program, according to representatives from Weston & Sampson, who presented the concepts to the DPW Building Committee last week. The consultants are continuing to investigate whether such a permanent building could be constructed at the current 586 South Pleasant St. site. They are also looking at the Ruxton gravel pit in […]

Northampton officials flag revenue concerns as cannabis, hotel and building permit income decline

NORTHAMPTON — The city exceeded its revenue projections by less than 1% last spring — the final quarter of fiscal year 2026 covering a three-month period from April through June — though some of the city’s key revenue streams are seeing a year-by-year decline. Some of the quarter’s more drastically depreciating revenue streams include taxes collected on cannabis sales, hotels and motels, and building and plumbing inspections, according to Finance Director Charlene Nardi, who gave a presentation to the City Council at its Sept. 17 meeting. “The city is still financially healthy,” Nardi said in an interview with the Gazette Friday. […]

Healey joins Minogue in push for gas tax relief

BOSTON — Days after her opponent called for suspension of the gas tax, Gov. Maura Healey proposed a two-month gas tax holiday Tuesday, saying she’ll put election-season legislation before lawmakers to accomplish her goal. The proposal to suspend Massachusetts’ 24-cent-per-gallon tax could set up a difficult fight over a tax that Beacon Hill lawmakers have […]

Easthampton becomes second Hampshire County community to ban crypto kiosks amid rising fraud

EASTHAMPTON — As seniors and other vulnerable residents lose thousands of dollars to cryptocurrency scams, Easthampton has joined a growing list of Massachusetts communities fighting back — voting unanimously to ban the machines scammers use to steal from victims. The City Council unanimously passed an ordinance at its Sept. 16 meeting officially barring cryptocurrency ATMs — […]