NORTHAMPTON—On a sun-blasted afternoon in July, a mix of celebration and mourning was afoot outside the Daily Hampshire Gazette’s building. Decked out in union red shirts, staffers demonstrated in support of their imminently unemployed colleagues. The paper was closing its press, idling 29 workers, and
With Tuesday’s results, one thing is now clear: the Springfield City Council is not a terminal space for political ambition. There were signs this legacy was ending for years, but it was a slow drip countered by evidence that councilors could not rise. With Ward
UPDATED 3:51PM: Due to a transcription error, a quote of Neal’s was incorrectly rendered. It is now correct. SPRINGFIELD—An epic battle (mostly) in the 413 came to a close Tuesday as US Representative Richard Neal handily won re-nomination after year-long battle with Holyoke Mayor Alex
Our One Hundredth is an occasional series on Massachusetts US Senate elections. LONGMEADOW—The Markey Bus steamed into the parking lot here at Williams Middle School, almost the geographic center of this noted Springfield suburb. A number of local luminaries, Green New Deal enthusiasts and a
A Fifth of Hampden is a series of profiles of candidates for Holyoke’s Next Rep HOLYOKE—In the recent past, before State Rep Aaron Vega announced his retirement from the state House of Representatives, David Bartley, a city councilor here, had also expected to retire. After
A Fifth of Hampden is a series of profiles of candidates for Holyoke’s Next Rep HOLYOKE—Growing up in a military family, Patricia Duffy had lived in a lot of places. Born in Los Angeles and educated in metro Boston, she found her way to Western
UPDATED 10:59AM: For clarity on events from this month. As the sharp, bitter and increasingly embellished Democratic primary for the First Congressional district comes to a close, the money is now flowing on both sides. Congressman Richard Neal has never wanted for funds, but Holyoke
A Fifth of Hampden is a series of profiles of candidates for Holyoke’s Next Rep HOLYOKE—Patrick Beaudry almost ran for office last year. A longish time at-large city councilor was bailing. Beaudry, home for three years after a career in state politics, had the cred
by Michael Lachenmeyer Correspondent-Intern In June and July, candidates competing in three races spanning Hampden County fought to win over voters while also doing their best to boost their fundraising numbers. While the novel coronavirus has upended many normal aspects of campaigning, the money race
The saga of the employment status of once-upon-a-time Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Superintendent Bennett Walsh has reached a critical stage. Both the commonwealth—technically the Home’s Board of Trustees and the state Health & Human Services office—and Walsh filed papers for declaratory judgment on the pleadings. The