Dick Kilhart recognized as Outstanding Drinking Water Operator

Rent control question disqualified due to religious exemption

BOSTON – Massachusetts voters will not have the opportunity to repeal the state’s three-decade ban on rent control in the November election. The Supreme Judicial Court ruled Tuesday morning that the initiative petition seeking to impose statewide rent control “impermissibly” relates to religion and religious institutions, which are among the matters the state Constitution sets […]

Athol Police Logs, June 3-June 18, 2026

Wednesday, June 3 7:24 a.m. Police were called about a stolen grill. Thursday, June 5 8:16 a.m. A party walked in to the station to turn in shotgun ammunition. 9:14 a.m. Caller from Kelly’s is reporting that someone may have been vaping in the bathroom. No smoke or fire reported.  9:23 a.m. A party went into […]

Congressman McGovern announces $879K in federal funding for ‘critical work’ in child abuse prevention

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern announced an $879,000 federal earmark for Northampton-based nonprofit Stop It Now! to strengthen child sexual abuse prevention work in western Massachusetts.

Columnist Daniel Cantor Yalowitz: Making and taking time for summer

Somehow, we made it to summer! Yesterday was the yearly summer solstice — most of us probably recall from our elementary school years that this represents the longest day of the annual cycle. And with that, we move into a new season and a lot more… School’s out for a couple of months, some kids […]

Council urges long runway to introduce new graduation standards

The K-12 Graduation Council has recommended that Massachusetts students complete college-preparatory coursework, pass end-of-course exams, develop postsecondary plans, and complete a capstone project or portfolio in order to meet the new high school graduation standards.