The public health forces behind an effort to provide safe disposal locations for sharps in rural Southern Berkshire County say they’re addressing a serious need in the community.

The Northeast Kingdom is one of the most rural – and poorest – areas of Vermont, and lawmakers and advocates for the region were in Montpelier to discuss their legislative priorities.

Thousands of model train enthusiasts once again made the pilgrimage to West Springfield for the “Railroad Hobby Show” put on by the Amherst Railway Society.

As with most of the WAMC listening area, Western Massachusetts is digging out from this weekend’s snow storm. As WAMC reports, the commonwealth’s westernmost county is hard at work beating back heavy accumulation- from its largest community to its smallest.

Giving her third State of the Commonwealth address, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey on Thursday talked up her affordability agenda, including plans to reduce gas and electric bills for residents this February and March.Expanding homebuyer assistance, affordable pre-K funding and access, and finding more ways to lower health care costs were also big-ticket items. But after a year of federal moves that froze food assistance funding and let federal health care plan subsidies expire, the Democrat also spent much of the night explaining how the state’s responding to the Trump administration.

As communities across the Northeast brace for heavy snow, officials in Springfield, Massachusetts say the snowstorm that will start Sunday merits an emergency declaration.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey brought up bridges in her State of the Commonwealth Thursday night — a topic near and dear to the hearts of Western Massachusetts communities in dire need of long-delayed and much needed infrastructure repair.

Making her latest “State of the Commonwealth” speech Thursday night at 7 p.m., Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is slated to talk utility bills, how her administration plans to reduce them and how the state is faring in the face of federal cuts and changes of all kinds.WAMC’s Lucas Willard spoke with Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief James Paleologopoulos about what’s likely to come up - plus election year implications.

In a section of Springfield with a number of empty storefronts, a new restaurant has opened its doors. It’s the product of an owner and staff with a passion for cooking - supported, in-part, by a special effort supporting “microbusinesses.”

As Governor Maura Healey prepares to deliver her state of the commonwealth address tonight, Western Massachusetts legislators are laying out their hopes and expectations.