…And the World: Merry Christmas, Feliz Natal, Boze Narodzenie, Shub Naya Baras, Sung Tan Chuk Ha We begin today with Christmas in Australia. Prime Minister Julia Gillard, in her holiday message, urged her countrymen and women to reach out to the alone and isolated this
Two potentially historic throw downs in the Springfield City Council chamber ended with barely a whimper Monday night. The Council selected its president for the 2013 term and approved the first step of changes to the fire commissioner’s qualifications. Both had the potential to get
…And the World: We begin today…in Newtown, Conn. Were we a blog in any other country, our top international story would probably be here. The story has led the BBC’s news bulletins since Friday and as the slain children begin to be laid to rest,
Since Springfield’s fiscal crisis began a decade ago, the ebbs and flows of financial distress have rocked few departments as much as the Fire Department. A critical department, it was often given short shrift by the Control Board, and continues to enjoy less public political
UPDATED 12/13/12 3:32PM: An earlier version of this post identified the Patrolmen Union Lawyer as Kevin Boyle. His name is Kevin Coyle. SPRINGFIELD—Since the city’s convoluted residency ordinance has come into vogue at the City Council, the emotions of councilors and labor leaders alike have
…And the World: We begin today in Italy where over the weekend it was announced that Prime Minister Mario Monti will resign shortly after the country’s budget is passed. The announcement came only hours after former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced he will seek the
UPDATED 7:47PM: For clarity and accuracy. Two significant, but very different departures hit Springfield today. New North Citizens Council Director Michael Denney, 63, died of a heart attack, according to the Republican. Among the city’s preeminent neighborhood groups, the NNCC also doubled as one of
UPDATED 12/5/12 2:47PM: For clarification of John Lysak’s political affiliation and grammar. Campaigns for the City Council Presidency in Springfield are quite unlike many of the city’s big political fights. While several important issues go by unnoticed at 36 Court Street, where there is a
SPRINGFIELD—A quiet quick meeting for the Springfield City Council dispensed with numerous housekeeping measures. However some items sent to committee portend either broader conflicts or a healthy helping of grandstanding. Still recuperating from injuries sustained in August, Ward 3 Councilor Melvin Edwards was absent from
UPDATED: 9:20 PM: To reflect details obtained from the Republican. UPDATED 9:40 PM: To show comments from Councilors. UPDATED 12/4/12 1:22PM: With Tweet from WMassP&I’s twitter account and new reporting. SPRINGFIELD—After five years of a relative calm among the mayor’s inner circle of advisers and