Springfield City Councilor Tracye Whitfield

Springfield, Mass., has new leadership in its council chambers. Both the new president and vice president say they’re focusing on a few key issues this term, including the local economy.

For the first time in its history, Springfield’s city council will be led by a Black woman. During its first gathering of the year, councilors officially picked Councilor at Large Tracye Whitfield to lead as president, succeeding Ward 2 Councilor Mike Fenton.

While an official selection won’t happen until January, the city council in Springfield, Mass. appears ready to be led by a Black woman for the first time in its history.

The city council for New England’s fourth biggest city convened for its organizational meeting - featuring the adoption of council rules and the formal elections of council leadership, plus some early year council business.

The new fiscal year for Massachusetts municipalities started today, and Springfield has a new budget – minus some money for its police department. The…

The planned closure of a bank branch has sparked concern about the impact on a low-income neighborhood in the largest city in western Massachusetts.…