Western Mass leaders praise public health overhaul

Judge orders Northampton Planning Board to revisit apartment approval

NORTHAMPTON — A Land Court judge has sent the Planning Board’s approval of a five-story apartment building in Ward 3 back to the panel for further review, following an appeal from residents. Residents of the neighborhood surrounding Phillips Place appealed the Planning Board’s decision from the spring of 2025, arguing that the board granted waivers […]

Healey renews calls to rein in ICE after fatal Maine shooting

BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey said Tuesday she was “sick to her stomach” about a federal immigration agent shooting and killing a person in Maine the day before, and called for an investigation. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot a man in a vehicle Monday in Biddeford, Maine, according to the Department of Homeland Security. It was the second fatal shooting in a week involving an ICE agent firing into a vehicle, with the other one occurring in Houston.  The department said agents were conducting surveillance of the last known address of an individual who had been ordered to leave […]

Easthampton's last liquor license goes to new karaoke bar

EASTHAMPTON — The city’s last available liquor license — lost in December by the Polish Pulaski Club of Easthampton for thousands in unpaid taxes — has been awarded to James Crawford, owner of the newly opened Chickadee Karaoke Rooms. Crawford said he was happy to secure the license, having started renovating the space at 24 Cottage […]

Jones Library launches campaign to get Amherst reading again

AMHERST — Worried that fewer people are reading for pleasure — including some students arriving at college having never finished a book in high school — the Jones Library is launching a summer campaign to get its community reading again. The campaign, called We Read!, kicks off this summer across the library’s main branch, temporarily […]

Guest columnist Gary Midura: Giving western Massachusetts a real path home

Across western Massachusetts, the local housing crisis is lived and it is affecting people we know; the single woman searching for a safe, modest apartment; the young professional hoping to stay in the region where they grew up; the senior on a fixed income; the family trying to remain rooted in the community. At this […]