Columnist Carrie N. Baker: American rape culture fuels tales of female vengeance

Northampton Jazz Festival 2026: Lakecia Benjamin headlines 15th year spotlighting women bandleaders

The Northampton Jazz Festival returns for its 15th year this Friday and Saturday at venues in downtown Northampton — and female bandleaders will be in the spotlight. “They’re still sometimes overlooked or not considered, but they’re great musicians and they are making huge strides in the jazz world, and we want to embrace that. … […]

Amherst Olympia Drive fire: State lab still examining material 10 months after blaze

AMHERST — An investigation remains active into a November 2025 fire that destroyed an apartment building under construction and spread to the neighboring Olympia Place, destroying the homes of some 230 people, mostly University of Massachusetts students. The fire broke out the evening of Nov. 7 at the construction site at 47 Olympia Drive. Intense heat carried the flames to the five-story, 230-bed Olympia Place at 57 Olympia Drive, which was also consumed in the blaze. Fire Chief Lindsay Stromgren said Tuesday that material from the 47 Olympia Drive site continues to be examined in a state laboratory, as investigators try […]

A street divided: As Picture Main Street project nears, supporters and opponents clash over cost, congestion and the future of downtown Northampton

NORTHAMPTON — An ideological battle is raging between Northampton residents who believe the $43.3 million downtown overhaul known as Picture Main Street will poison the city, and those who see it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in downtown infrastructure. Caught in the crossfire: Main Street business owners.  Picture Main Street has drawn controversy from […]

Former warehouse space at The BrickYard in Easthampton to become 15 below-market units

EASTHAMPTON — Another 15 apartments are on deck to be built in the mill district on Pleasant Street, the latest set of housing units to be added to the city’s growing list of developments. The units are planned for the fourth floor of the mill building at 142 Pleasant St., known as The BrickYard. The building […]

Hadley CPA panel rejects $700K request for affordable units at senior housing project

HADLEY — A committee has rejected a request for $700,000 from the Community Preservation Act account to help build seven affordable apartments at a 55-and-over housing development. The CPA Committee, which reviews applications for funding for affordable housing, recreation, open space and historical preservation projects, at its Sept. 14 meeting voted 7-0, with one abstention, […]