New England News

With days getting longer and the weather warming, dirt bikes are back on city streets.  Officials in Springfield, Massachusetts are making another attempt to crack down on the illegal use of these off-road vehicles.

In a WAMC News exclusive, a Pittsfield, Massachusetts city councilor is opening up about her time working for Berkshire County District Attorney Andrea Harrington – and what led to her exit.

   The police department in Springfield, Massachusetts and the city’s health department are looking to share information they hope could prevent opioid deaths. 

Vermont Governor Phil Scott is tweeting birthday wishes: to the state.

Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Berkshires native Ben Downing spoke and took questions at a meeting of the county’s NAACP chapter Wednesday night.

More than 20 Vermont communities have approved allowing retail marijuana businesses within their borders.

Town Meeting Day is traditionally when Vermonters gather to debate and decide local elections, budgets and community issues in town halls and auditoriums.  Voters assessed a number of items during non-traditional meetings this year.

The town of Great Barrington, Massachusetts is preparing its fiscal year 2022 budget ahead of a public hearing later this month.

At-large Pittsfield, Massachusetts city councilor Earl Persip says he’ll seek a third two-year term. 

    City Councilors in Springfield, Massachusetts next week will attempt to fill a vacancy among their ranks. 

Burlington, Vermont Mayor Miro Weinberger won re-election Tuesday to a fourth three-year term in his closest race yet for the city’s top seat.

Government funds have helped people in western Massachusetts stay in their homes as jobs were lost and income shrank during the pandemic. 

Last June, the city of Springfield announced a $2 million emergency housing fund to help people pay rent, mortgage, and utility bills.  All but $140,000 has now been claimed.

Vermont Governor Phil Scott held his latest COVID-19 briefing Tuesday.  The governor and administration officials discussed how the rollout of the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine could impact the state's vaccination program.

An exchange in a North Adams, Massachusetts community Facebook page has led to allegations of misconduct against city council vice president and likely mayoral candidate Jason LaForest.

        The largest public school district in western Massachusetts will seek a waiver if the state orders a return next month to in-person learning five days a week.

The U.S. House is set to begin debating H.R. 1 this week. The For the People Act is intended to expand voting rights. On Monday, Vermont at-large Congressman Peter Welch held a virtual roundtable with the Green Mountain state’s election officials and civic advocates to discuss the implications of the bill.

   Reflecting the impact of the pandemic on family finances, there was a surge in complaints last year to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – the government agency set up to protect people from unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices by financial companies.

Vermont’s Attorney General has released the top scams reported in the state last year.

Vermont’s Congressman held a roundtable with Vermont advocates and election officials Monday to discuss a House bill to revise U.S. election law that will be debated this week.

A party thrown by students on the campus of Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts Friday has raised concerns about COVID-19 spread and violations of public health measures.

     The mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts continues to lobby the Baker administration to authorize neighborhood coronavirus vaccine clinics. 

As Massachusetts carries out its troubled vaccine rollout and pushes to reopen businesses after a disastrous year of the COVID-19 pandemic, state legislators are working on carrying out their agendas on Beacon Hill. For Democratic State Senator Adam Hinds of the Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden district, that includes a focus on the fragile economy, increasing funding for schools and childcare, and climate change. Hinds spoke with WAMC.

The national reckoning with racial justice and police brutality has led to a conversation about the role of law enforcement in New England communities.

Many Vermont communities will decide issues through Australian ballot rather than floor discussion and voice votes on Town Meeting Day Tuesday due to the pandemic.  This year questions range from land purchase approvals to cannabis sales.

Our region’s congressional representatives are discussing key provisions of the American Rescue Plan – the latest COVID relief bill that’s expected to be voted on in the U.S. House this week.

   The largest city in western Massachusetts has finished a project to improve its response to emergencies.