Florence man, 67, convicted of armed assault with intent to murder in 2024 shooting of estranged wife

A new foundation for learning: Williston Northampton to build $27M academic center

EASTHAMPTON — The Williston Northampton School will begin building a $27.4 million academic center before the end of the year, a project that will anchor the front of its main campus on Park Street. The project will be the first academic building constructed by Williston in more than 50 years, according to Ann Hallock, director of […]

The invasive spotted lanternfly has infested half the cities and towns in Massachusetts

The invasive spotted lanternfly has infested more than half the cities and towns in Massachusetts, according to data gathered by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. The sap-sucking insect native to parts of China and Vietnam arrived in Massachusetts in late 2020, and its population has grown exponentially since. MDAR found four new infestations in […]

Northampton City Council unanimously approves yearlong moratorium on AI data centers

NORTHAMPTON — Amid community concern that artificial intelligence data centers could strain the local power supply or pollute waterways, the City Council voted unanimously Thursday night to enact a yearlong moratorium on the facilities. The decision came after councilors formed a select committee last month to study data centers’ potential impact on their host communities […]

Little wiggle room: Amherst projects tighter spending increases in $110.5M budget for fiscal 2028

AMHERST — Initial projections for the fiscal 2028 budget indicate that spending increases may need to be more limited than in recent years. In a financial indicators presentation to town, school and library officials Monday, Town Manager Paul Bockelman said that increases to the municipal and elementary school budgets, the assessment for the regional schools and the contribution to the Jones Library would be held to 2.75% across the board. That is below the 3.5% increase provided in the initial budget forecast last year. “We’re projecting a modest budget increase this year,” Bockelman said. He explained that this projection is based […]

Amherst councilors cool to tax override as town grapples with $1M structural deficit

AMHERST — Some members of the Town Council have met the idea of increasing municipal revenue through a Proposition 2½ tax-cap override with a cool reception, though officials acknowledge limited options for immediately addressing an ongoing $1 million structural deficit. In a conversation among the Town Council, Finance Committee, School Committee, Library trustees and Budget […]