WESTFIELD—The special senate election here did not have much drama. For much of the official campaign and nearly a year before that unofficially, the political soothsayers felt it was then-Rep John Velis’ to lose. They were right. There were prophecies about his former House seat,
As America faces a stark and historic choice on Tuesday, Massachusetts faces many of its own. On the federal level, the 413 has two federal races ahead. US Senator Ed Markey faces Republican Kevin O’Connor, a lawyer and Representative James McGovern, a Democrat who represents
SPRINGFIELD—Last week, it looked as though coronavirus cases in the City of Homes were cooling after the city into surged into the state’s red designation. Numbers from the weekend crushed those hopes. Mirroring recent case records the state reported, Springfield residents tested positive higher than
There was a crisis in America even before the shroud of the coronavirus fell upon us. But now, nearly eight months after COVID-19 seized the globe, it has never been more clear how grossly inadequate and incompetent our current leadership is and why Joseph R.
SPRINGFIELD—On Monday, the City Council dispensed with a financial order left over from the last meeting and passed first step to reform an ordinance that regulates tax breaks in the city. Being the last meeting before an election, the Council also formally set the city’s
by Michael Lachenmeyer Correspondent-Intern Late last February, the 7th Hampden District’s State Rep. Thomas M. Petrolati announced that he would not be seeking reelection for the seat which he has held since 1986. Democrats have dominated the 7th Hampden District for fifty years. Yet, with
Two quietly filed reports last week likely became the last word on the 2020 Democratic primary for the First Congressional District in Massachusetts. These campaign finance reports, which candidates submit to the Federal Election Commission, show the spending and fundraising activity for the final 20
Later this year, another daily newspaper will begin printing in Springfield. However, the paper is not new nor new to the region. On Monday the Hartford Courant announced it would begin printing its paper north of the border on the presses of The Republican in
Springfield politicos are no strangers to the Rumbleseat, a Chicopee pub just across the city line. Some have even held fundraisers here. Earlier this month, Ward 1 Councilor Adam Gomez sat at an outdoor high-top seat counter, as he had many times before. Come January,
SPRINGFIELD—For only the third time since the city adopted the Community Preservation Act (CPA), the City Council here thumbed through and approved the recommendations. Councilors love the program as it lets them approve projects beyond the ambit of mayor. Meanwhile anybody—including some city organs—can suggest