New England News

In a lighter moment during his regular Friday press conference, Governor Phil Scott received a briefing from his Agriculture Secretary on the ingredients in a creemee – an ice cream cone ubiquitous in Vermont.

     Springfield, Massachusetts officials are touting progress on police reforms following a federal investigation that found unconstitutional use-of-force by narcotics officers.

After being pulled over for a traffic violation that revealed she was driving with a suspended license, the Berkshire County District Attorney says she didn’t receive preferential treatment from police. 

Today, the public comment period on a controversial cleanup plan brokered by the EPA for the Housatonic River in Berkshire County comes to an end. The response to the proposal from locals has been nothing short of toxic.

On Thursday, a junior varsity baseball coach at Taconic High School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on multiple charges related to sexual misconduct with students at the school. WAMC spoke with Berkshire County District Attorney Andrea Harrington about the case, and why she thinks more allegations against Scott Nimons could emerge. Neither the school nor the superintendent immediately responded to request for comment.

Commuters in the greater Springfield, Massachusetts area may see a mobile billboard promoting suicide prevention.

An abandoned racetrack in Pownal, Vermont caught fire Wednesday night, leading to a multi-agency response well into today.

University of Vermont researchers have published a study that assesses varying risk factors for COVID-19 including the effectiveness of wearing masks.

Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Kathleen A. Theoharides was in Western Massachusetts this week as part of a statewide tour for Climate Week. Governor Charlie Baker’s administration is rolling out three new initiatives, including $11 million in new spending on climate change preparedness programs and over $800,000 on culvert projects.

The Burlington, Vermont High School will be closed for in-person classes for the remainder of this semester.  But it’s not due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the Vermont town of St. Johnsbury to cancel its annual Halloween parade.

A federal court judge has rejected a challenge to Vermont’s plan to mail ballots to all of the state’s active voters so they can cast ballots by mail or in person for the November election.

At an Environmental Protection Agency public hearing Tuesday night, Berkshire County residents and activists made their displeasure with the proposed Housatonic River cleanup plan clear.

The U.S. Forest Service is beginning construction of a new headquarters in Mendon, Vermont. In addition to serving as a visitor center, the $6 million, 11,550-square-foot building will house the people responsible for overseeing the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont and the Finger Lakes National Forest in New York. 

While a debate over a complaint filed against the Burlington City Council’s use of executive session dominated Monday evening’s meeting, a number of other items were on the agenda.  As WAMC’s North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley reports, the meeting included an update on the stalled downtown redevelopment project.

Vermont Governor Phil Scott welcomed a special guest for part of his regular COVID briefing on Tuesday.  White House Coronavirus Task Force member Dr. Anthony Fauci joined by video link to praise the state’s low positivity rate and answer questions.

Burlington City Councilors spent a substantial portion of their meeting Monday evening discussing how they should respond to a complaint claiming the city council violated Vermont’s Open Meeting Law.

   The redevelopment of a former school into apartments, an effort to control invasive plants, and a feasibility study on building a bike and skate park are among 15 projects being recommended for funding by a citizens committee in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The Environmental Protection Agency is holding a second public hearing on a controversial Berkshire County river cleanup plan tonight.

On Wednesday, water use restrictions in Pittsfield, Massachusetts are moving from voluntary to mandatory as the city’s water supply continues to drop amid a statewide drought. Outdoor water activities like watering lawns and gardens, washing cars or filling swimming pools must happen before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. and only on alternating days. Pittsfield’s Department of Public Services and Utilities will be enforcing the new restrictions, with fines issued for all offenses after the first. WAMC spoke with Department Commissioner Ricardo Morales.

Activities are happening around Vermont this week to raise awareness about an invasive forest pest that has destroyed millions of the country’s ash trees.

     Halloween is still several weeks away, but the largest city in western Massachusetts has made a decision about how it can safely be celebrated during the pandemic.

An emergency COVID-19 relief fund focused on Berkshire County is pausing its efforts after raising millions for the region’s most vulnerable.

At his regular COVID briefing today, Vermont Governor Phil Scott began by remembering the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

While some communities canceled 9-11 ceremonies or held them virtually today, the city of Springfield, Massachusetts went ahead with its remembrance.

Protesters in Burlington have been calling for the firing of police officers involved in use of force incidents and larger police reforms. The Burlington City Council’s Public Safety Committee and the Police Commission held a joint meeting Thursday evening to discuss some potential initiatives.

On Saturday, the streets of Lenox, Massachusetts will be alive with music as five different jazz ensembles perform at locations around the Berkshire town. WAMC spoke with Berkshires Jazz President Ed Bride about the event, as well as the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the county’s music scene.

The Connecticut River Conservancy, this year, expects to complete nine river restoration projects in all four Connecticut River states.

The Berkshire Hills Regional School District has voted to rename a Great Barrington, Massachusetts middle school after local legend W.E.B. Du Bois.