Beyond the lines: Alma Thomas’ vibrant ‘stripes’ take center stage at Smith College

Guest columnist Mary Hurley: I held this seat. The council owes voters an explanation

I am not a candidate for anything and I do not intend to be. I left the Governor’s Council in January 2023 after three terms, by my own choice. I have no race to win here, which is exactly why I am going to be direct rather than diplomatic. I do not believe the current […]

Tim Curry, iconic character actor and 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' star, dies at 80

Tim Curry, a character actor who created a gallery of delicious, very loony villains for stage and screen, including Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and the smug concierge in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” has died. He was 80. Curry, who suffered a stroke in 2012 that put him in a wheelchair, died Wednesday […]

Amherst historic district panel objects to 'absurdly large' accessory dwelling units near UMass campus

AMHERST — Two accessory dwelling units planned for construction a short distance from the University of Massachusetts campus are raising concerns for a town commission charged with safeguarding the historic fabric of the North Prospect-Lincoln-Sunset neighborhoods. Even though the Local Historic District Commission has no means of preventing their construction — with its oversight only […]

Meta settlement brings Mass. millions, new limits for teens

BOSTON — Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced Wednesday that she and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general reached a $17.1 billion settlement with Meta — including a guarantee of approximately $366 million for Massachusetts — to resolve claims the social media giant created and ran its platforms in a way that harmed young people and violated state consumer protection laws.  “As a mom and as Attorney General, I know that young people deserve to grow up in a world where they can benefit from technology without being exploited by it. We took on Meta because the company chose to put profits ahead of […]

Area Briefs: Smith Academy student nominated for bravery award

Smith Academy student nominated for bravery award BOSTON — State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, has nominated Eli Bai for the Madeline Amy Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery, awarded annually by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.  Bai, a Smith Academy student, performed the Heimlich maneuver to save a friend’s life during a May field […]