Making News in Business, Aug. 7

Bevy of candidate forums on docket in advance of primary contests

Less than a month before the Sept. 1 primary, several candidate forums are on tap from Springfield to Easthampton and Greenfield to help voters decide who to choose in three contested races: U.S. representative in Congress, the Massachusetts 1st Franklin District and the Governor’s Council District 8. Easthampton forum A forum for only Democratic candidates […]

'The danger is greater than ever': State Senate urges federal action on nuclear disarmament

The Massachusetts State Senate has passed a resolution urging Congress to support a treaty banning nuclear weapons, timed to arrive as the country marks 81 years since the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing an estimated 145,000 people by the end of that year and causing elevated cancer rates among survivors for generations. […]

Northampton's weekend school meal program at risk of closing as funding expires

NORTHAMPTON — As funding dries up for a program that for three years has supplemented free school meals with weekend groceries for local elementary school students, the nonprofit Weekend Nutrition for Northampton Students (WNNS) is working to raise $123,000 to keep children fed outside of school hours during the 2026-2027 school year. Initially funded as […]

Shutesbury proposes new committee to plan beautification of Town Common

SHUTESBURY — A new committee will examine a potential refurbishment of the Town Common, the main greenspace in town center across from Town Hall and perhaps best known for being the site of a historic guideboard. The Select Board on Tuesday supported a proposal from Town Administrator Hayley Bolton that could bring changes to the common. Calling it “Common Ground Shutesbury,” Bolton said the location is nice, but it’s also possible something more could be done with the space bounded by the former M.N. Spear Memorial Library and the Shutesbury Community Church. Also at its Tuesday meeting, the Select Board agreed […]

United Way's August diaper drive supports families facing rising costs

The United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region has launched its annual diaper drive, with a goal to collect 40,000 diapers and raise $10,000 for local families struggling with diaper insecurity.