Athol downtown sign plan moves forward

Baystate Health faces growing pressure over transgender care, insurance ties in dueling protests

SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Health has come under pressure this week after two protests outside of its corporate offices demanded the hospital system reinstate gender-affirming care for youth and advocate for a public healthcare system. On Tuesday evening, about 25 people joined Nadia Milleron, an independent candidate for Congress in Massachusetts’ 1st District, to object to […]

UMass football: Minutemen preparing for season-opener against Rutgers

When the UMass football team travels to Rutgers for its season opener on Thursday, Sept. 3, coach Joe Harasymiak will have intimate knowledge of the opponent at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. The gameplan should be simple for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers went 5-7 last season and 2-7 in the Big Ten. The team […]

Local police chiefs weigh in on pitfalls, benefits of AI scanner apps

Law enforcement officials in western Massachusetts are expressing concern over the accuracy of AI-powered police scanner apps like CrimeRadar, which have caused confusion through misinterpretations of emergency radio traffic.

Orange Selectboard votes to fill library roof project funding gap

ORANGE — The Selectboard voted last week to use $119,852 of the town’s money to fill a funding gap that has emerged during the Wheeler Memorial Library roof replacement project. Initial estimated costs were provided by Gale Associates, an architectural firm hired by the Orange Public Libraries board of trustees to conduct a comprehensive evaluation […]

Massachusetts gives schools a playbook for ICE at the door

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey issued new guidance for schools and childcare centers on how to handle potential immigration enforcement following the implementation of a statewide immigrant protection law.