SPRINGFIELD—Facing a rising tide of scandal flowing from the Springfield Police Department, the City Council’s Public Safety Committee reviewed legislation on Thursday that aims to contain the latest runoff. The ordinance, would essentially reverse efforts to revive the Police Commission and codify the mayor’s police
WORCESTER—On a seasonably brisk spring day, College Democrats had assembled in the basement of Clark University’s student center for their annual convention. There was drama, but that did not concern their guests, including one who was a few years out of college himself, Holyoke Mayor
…Everybody else is getting one, so why not? But seriously…The Springfield City Council thus far is the only organ of city government containing the conflagration spreading throughout city government without getting singed. The fires have raged at Pearl Street as l’affaire de Bigda and the
This post is part of a series on the new Democratic House and Western Massachusetts. WASHINGTON—On the television across US Representative James McGovern’s Rules Committee office was Georgia Congressman John Lewis. McGovern watched respectfully as his colleague, a civil rights icon who marched with Martin
SPRINGFIELD—City councilors continued their legislative blitz on April Fool’s night, passing a new array of laws to reign in pawn shops and tax incentives. But it was no laughing matter. In fact, the bills were extensions of existing rules. Yet they were notably for the
Exactly three months after he became chair of the House Ways & Means Committee, US Representative Richard Neal formally made his long-awaited request for Donald Trump’s taxes. In a letter to Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Charles Rettig Neal sent Wednesday, he asked for returns and
Transitions continue in the Lower Pioneer Valley media scene as The Republican’s national political correspondent prepares to move on. This is Shannon Young’s last week at the newspaper. She has taken a job with Politico’s New York operation, covering the state house in Albany. Young’s
NORTHAMPTON—United States Senator Ed Markey brought the Green New Deal to the 413 to build popular support for the proposals underlying goals. Markey introduced the ambitious climate manifesto alongside New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez earlier this year. Since then, it has started a conversation, but
A pair of retirements in two Lower Valley cities announced Friday mark transition for their respective councils. The now-open positions in Holyoke and Springfield are both ward seats. and the outcome of neither’s election is likely to alter any balances of power. Rather, the significance
Confirming weeks of speculation, Westfield State Senator Don Humason formally announced Thursday he would run for mayor. Mayor Brian Sullivan is retiring, opening the Whip City’s top job. Humason, though a conservative Republican, is an acceptable choice for many who fear a right-wing candidate could