New England News

The state Medical Examiner is working to determine the cause of death of two Glover, Vermont residents whose bodies were found in Crystal Lake in Barton.

    Fundraising is underway to build a new hub for emergency food assistance in western Massachusetts.

Berkshire County’s largest healthcare provider says COVID-19 activity is trending upwards in the community.

The North Adams, Massachusetts Public Library will no longer charge fines on overdue materials. Library Director Sarah Sanfilippo says the move is an effort to join a national movement to eliminate barriers to what is a public resource. Galvanized by the COVID-19 pandemic, dropping fines across the board expands a 2018 decision to halt charges for children and young adults with overdue materials. WAMC spoke with Sanfilippo about the decision, and why she isn’t concerned about the institution taking a financial hit from the move.

A Vermont town board is considering whether to revive the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance now that it is holding in-person meetings again.

The town of Lee, Massachusetts has officially responded to residents angry over a municipal worker removing lawn signs from private property. 

Community groups will rally for voting rights in downtown Pittsfield, Massachusetts Saturday. 

On Saturday, composer Jessie Montgomery makes her Tanglewood debut with the performance of her piece “Starburst.” Born and raised on the Lower East Side in the 1980s, Montgomery – also a violinist and educator – has seen her work performed across the United States and abroad. Recipient of the Leonard Bernstein Award from the ASCAP Foundation, she was selected by the New York Philharmonic to participate in its 2020 celebration of the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment – which prohibited denying the right to vote based on sex – called Project 19. WAMC spoke with Montgomery about “Starburst,” and about her efforts to increase the visibility of people of color in the classical music community.

    A recent report said there are deficiencies in a state program in Massachusetts that makes payments in lieu of taxes for state-owned lands.

The Burlington Business Association is forming a safety escort program for downtown workers leaving their jobs at night, following increased violent incidents in the city.

A Great Barrington, Massachusetts man is facing arson, insurance fraud and other charges after a fire at his business earlier this month.

The city of Pittsfield, Massachusetts will receive over $32 million in federal relief funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill was signed in March to hasten the country’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying recession. With half of the money in hand and the rest hitting city coffers next May, Mayor Linda Tyer has described it as a once in a lifetime windfall for the community. WAMC asked the mayor how she plans to spend the money, and why the voices of city residents will inform the final disbursements.

About a dozen beaches around Vermont, including several in Burlington, were closed Wednesday because of potentially toxic algae blooms.

A committee of the advisory panel monitoring the decommissioning of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant held a meeting this week to get an update on federal nuclear waste policy and the potential ramifications for the Vermont plant.

The Pittsfield, Massachusetts Police Advisory and Review Board held its monthly meeting on Tuesday.

     Like much of the nation, Springfield, Massachusetts is seeing a rise in new coronavirus infections prompting the city’s top public health officer to urge extra precautions.

Vermont Governor Phil Scott held his weekly briefing on Tuesday.  Administration officials provided an update on COVID-19 infections and followed up on a White House infrastructure meeting.

The Lee, Massachusetts select board meeting Tuesday night was dominated by residents angry over a town employee removing lawn signs from private property.

Colleges across the country are determining their fall semester COVID-19 policies for students, faculty and staff. The University of Vermont Board of Trustees endorsed a policy that will require students be vaccinated by the time they arrive on campus for the fall semester.

   The American Rescue Plan Act expanded health insurance affordability.

      Massachusetts legislators today held what is expected to be the first of many public hearings on how to spend almost $5 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Advocates for tenants fear a spike in evictions will occur in Massachusetts once a federal moratorium ends on July 31st.  

Celebrations were held at Amtrak stations across Vermont on Monday to mark the return of passenger rail service to the state.

An exhibit of works by an artist and activist once described as “China’s most dangerous man” has opened in western Massachusetts.