In January, a mental wellness check by the Hinsdale, Massachusetts, police department left 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil dead. Many aspects of the lethal police response are under scrutiny – from the lack of mental health professionals on scene before police breached a locked door to confront Kauvil to how the Hinsdale PD determined that rushing the distressed young man was the best way to address the situation.

In eastern Massachusetts, the bog-standard cranberry holds the mantle of “state fruit” (technically, “state berry”).But in western Mass., a third grade class and several lawmakers have been the tip of the spear in calls to make asparagus the state vegetable.

Calling out a rise in “youth disturbances” at Union Station, the mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts, is also now calling for an end to free busing in the city – a move that’s attracting criticism from riders and local leaders.

Since the killing of a young man in a mental health crisis in January, the Hinsdale Police Department has been the subject of public outcry and an investigation into its protocols and practices.

Fifteen years ago this week, a tornado touched down in Western Massachusetts, tearing through communities and scarring the landscape.

The city of Burlington has absolved city police of any use of force allegations during an ICE raid in South Burlington in March. The report says the department complied with the Fair and Impartial Policing Policy. But individuals who were at the protest say the findings are more fiction than fact.

The Burlington Electric Department has signed new agreements to obtain hydroelectric power from Maine.

“Waste not, want not.” That was the sentiment as dozens of households made their way to a special “fix-it” event in western Massachusetts over the weekend.

The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams has received a $1.2 million federal earmark for its Early Education Center. As WAMC reports, the facility reflects a broader mission.

The Vermont Legislature adjourned its biennium Friday night.