Greenfield, Mass.

With the federal government committing to funding only half of this month’s SNAP benefits, states across the country, including in the Northeast, are continuing to pick a path forward with less federal food assistance funding now on the table. Massachusetts is home to at least a million people who rely on the program, with many in the state’s Gateway cities. However, as Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester State Senator Jo Comerford tells WAMC, food insecurity is just as present in one of the state’s most rural corners.

Amid a national legal battle to keep federal food assistance flowing during the government shutdown, produce providers in western Massachusetts have been bracing for impact -- with some taking action to ensure fruits and vegetables continue to go to those who need it most.

Next Tuesday, voters in Greenfield, Mass., will head to the polls, with a ballot measure drawing as much interest as some local races, if not more.It all stems from a vote the city council took months ago over a parking lot: a decision opponents have turned into a referendum.

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

Rural Franklin County, Massachusetts is facing housing issues like the rest of the commonwealth, but regional leaders say unlike other counties, it isn’t getting an equal level of support.

Thousands of families across Massachusetts have been making the most of an annual, federally-funded summer food program. Advocates say “Summer Eats” helps bridge a gap for households while school’s out. The same officials have a wary eye on recent federal cuts targeting other food initiatives.

The Greenfield Triathlon, New England’s longest-running triathlon, is set to kick off tomorrow.

Pride Month is in full-swing in the Pioneer Valley, with multiple parades this weekend.

The superintendent of Greenfield Public Schools has submitted her resignation, almost a year after moving into the role.