Speaking of Nature: Successfully ‘pishing’: American redstart sighting highlights peak migration season

Massachusetts abortion expansion takes effect, removing all gestational limits

Massachusetts has joined nine other states plus Washington, D.C., without gestational limits on abortion, after Gov. Maura Healey shielded a new state law from an anti-abortion referendum petition that could have prevented it from taking effect. Healey signed an emergency preamble Friday that put the law into effect immediately and protects it from suspension, preventing what she called “two more years of women being denied care.” Opponents can still pursue a repeal question on the November 2028 ballot. Signed into law by Healey over the summer, “An Act prioritizing patient access to care” lifts the 24-week restriction. It eliminates the exceptions […]

No data stolen in Easthampton schools cybersecurity incident, superintendent says

EASTHAMPTON — A forensic review found that no student or faculty data was stolen from Easthampton Public Schools in what the district described as a cybersecurity incident last month. “We have no evidence that data was subtracted from our system for either student or teacher data,” Superintendent Michelle Balch told the Gazette Tuesday. Balch notified district families of the news Monday after meeting with the company that conducted the forensic review, Surefire Cyber, on Friday. The company conducted a monthlong analysis of the district’s information after suspicious activity was flagged by the Information Technology department Oct. 5. Balch met Friday with […]

Climate chief departs, warning against pitting green against affordable

BOSTON — Melissa Hoffer, the nation’s first Cabinet-level climate chief, used her final day in the Healey administration to deliver a message to Massachusetts environmental advocates: The transition to a cleaner economy cannot succeed politically unless people understand that climate action and affordability go hand in hand. Speaking Monday during a virtual farewell address hosted […]

Planning Board looks to areas around UMass Amherst for denser housing

AMHERST — The Planning Board is examining residential parcels near the University of Massachusetts campus, on the east side of East Pleasant Street and the north side of Fearing Street, for potential denser housing development. This campus-adjacent zone overlay district, which would require some form of rezoning, is being discussed as an option for increasing […]

PopUp Bagels opens first WMass shop Friday at Hadley's Mountain Farms Mall

HADLEY — PopUp Bagels, a national bagel chain, will open its first western Massachusetts location Friday at 7 S. Maple St. in the Mountain Farms Mall complex. The shop opens at 7 a.m. with a four-hour celebration featuring a live DJ and merchandise giveaways. PopUp Bagels sells its bagels unsliced, in bags of three, six, 12 and 30. In what the company calls a “Grip, Rip and Dip” experience, customers tear off pieces and dip them in cream cheese or butter schmears. The bagels are not designed for sandwiches. The shop offers five styles of bagels: plain, everything, poppy seed, salt […]