James Paleologopoulos

Voters in parts of the Pioneer Valley are once again casting ballots. Polls are open for preliminary elections in Chicopee and Holyoke, with the most crowded contests in Northampton, including the race for mayor.

In western Massachusetts, residents in one town said “Yes” to funding a new middle school, while locals in another shot down raising property taxes to close a budget gap.

Like fellow Western Mass. city Northampton, Easthampton also now has four candidates seeking the mayor’s office. The latest to join is Salem Derby, the city’s interim mayor. He spoke with WAMC about his decision to run and hopes for the community.

Over the past few months, after a bipartisan push and series of nominations by the governor, multiple western Mass. Superior Court vacancies have been filled, says a member of the Governor's Council overseeing judge confirmations.

As studies show students with food insecurity suffer in the classroom, colleges across the country have been stepping up to fight hunger on their own campuses. The largest public university in Massachusetts is among them, and recently opened a new facility for students and staff alike.

Residents in several Western Massachusetts cities and towns will be taking key votes during primaries and special town meetings Tuesday, Sept. 9.

In a matter of days, one of the biggest fairs in the country will be up and running again in western Massachusetts. The Big E brings well-over a million people to West Springfield each year – with many hoping to taste new carnival culinary feats. WAMC got a preview of some of this year’s newest fair foods.

Cannabis social consumption rules could soon be finalized in Massachusetts, but state officials want to hear more from the public.

Activists and residents from across western Massachusetts filled Downtown Springfield on Labor Day - rallying on behalf of a man described as a father and local farm worker, whom advocates say was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Amid upheaval at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey says her state is making changes to ensure vaccinations are readily available in the commonwealth.