Northampton fugitive arrested, extradited from South America to face child sexual abuse charges

Northampton judge sentences Ware man to 20-25 years on 28 child sex abuse charges

NORTHAMPTON — A Ware man will spend the next 20 to 25 years in state prison followed by 10 years of probation after he was convicted of 28 child sex abuse charges related to his continued rape of a child. The courtroom fell silent Wednesday afternoon as Hampshire Superior Court Judge Charles Groce III addressed […]

Pediatricians and health departments sidestep Trump’s CDC on vaccine guidance

AMHERST — For the last 30 years, whenever pediatrician John Snyder wanted to find the most up-to-date research on treating young patients, he would turn to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If he wanted to learn more about an outbreak of measles or hantavirus, he would pore over the weekly CDC report that […]

Navigating a narrow market: MassHire hosts Mature Worker Multi-Industry Job Fair to connect older workers with local employers

After beginning at a bakery, working as a case manager and pivoting to elder care, Melanie Young — a former Greenfield resident now living in West Springfield — is ready for a new challenge. “I’m looking for a change for my final act,” Young, 52, said. Like 30 other older locals looking for a job, […]

Early voting begins as high-profile state and local contests heat up

NORTHAMPTON — All Democratic and Republican voters across the region will have races to decide at the Sept. 1 state primary, though ballots in some area communities will feature more contests. Early in-person voting starts Saturday and continues throughout the last week in August. The most high profile race on all Democratic ballots is between […]

New bylaws set to simplify small clean energy projects in Amherst

AMHERST — A new bylaw allowing small clean energy projects — like solar arrays and battery energy storage systems — while protecting drinking water and the environment is close to the finish line. After more than four years of discussion and development, interrupted by the state adopting a consolidated permit process through the Energy Facilities […]