EAST LONGMEADOW—Results in Massachusetts produced few surprises even as less than stellar results came in for Democrats nationwide. The election changed almost nothing in terms of partisan control in Massachusetts. However, a host of transformations lie before the region. The only competitive races in the
About five years ago this blog urged residents of our city, Springfield, to vote with their whole hearts, their whole minds, and their whole souls on the casino subject. Our preferred outcome lost, but the point was to call our fellow residents to speak at
There are only a handful of legislative races with general elections this year in the Pioneer Valley. There are so few it hardly feels unfortunate that we were unable cobble together our election guide for the general. Most of what races there are feel uncompetitive
Many states lay claim to inventing America. Few get as close to that being true as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Not every pivotal event in American history happened in our state, but it is not an overstatement to suggest that revolutions—political, cultural, technological—common start here.
We face a critical moment in our country and our commonwealth has a role to play in it. As pervasive as the daily national news grind can seem, it can also seem distant and irrelevant. That could not be any less true. Here in the
The ballot questions on Bay Staters’ ballots this cycle are somewhat unlike those of previous years. They are technical, complex, but also critical. They could decide how healthcare is delivered, but these questions could also come to define whether Massachusetts has truly evolved into an
From the moment of her first election, Elizabeth Warren was to stand astride history. By beating incumbent Republican Scott Brown in that bruising 2012 campaign, she became the first woman to represent the commonwealth in the Senate. Yet, Warren did so in spectacular fashion, replacing
UPDATED 10/29/18 9:13PM: To reflect a correction. A prior version of this article stated the next debate is/was Sunday. Rather, Baker & Gonzalez’s last debate is Thursday, November 1. Depending on what happens on November 6, history may record Republican Governor Charlie Baker’s October 17
SPRINGFIELD—Compared to recent meetings, Monday’s City Council meeting was mellower than most. More throat-clearing than the advance of policy, it set the stage for a few issues like a plastic bag ban and tighter state health code standards. However, neither had the effect of law
MONSON—Every seat in the stuffy auditorium near the center of town was filled. A few crowded along the walls or near the open side door bringing in some welcome cool air. Angry and concerned residents were there to learn what they could about their defective