Over the summer, the earth opened up and swallowed the only rail connection between Boston and Western Massachusetts. Technically, the track itself did not fall into the bowels of the earth. A sinkhole appeared along a stretch of Amtrak-owned track that connected Albany to points east, suspending rail service. It returns in December.
For the second time in as many reelections, Senator Ed Markey faces a rival from Massachusetts’s House delegation. Salem Congressman Seth Moulton announced Wednesday morning he is challenging Markey for their party’s nomination. Famous names—and, hopefully, global health crises—aside, the race has echoes of the
After appearances at several meetings, the GoNetSpeed requests are out the door. On Monday, the Springfield City Council approved 17 applications GoNetSpeed, an internet service provider, had filed for work that would affect city streets throughout the city. Fearing the company would only wire wealthier areas, the Council had delayed approval at least twice.
They’re not giving up yet.
On September 19 the parties attempting to restore the Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant (ECJBG) filed an appeal with an appellate court in Washington. Some weeks before, a federal judge in district court dismissed the class action lawsuit, which the city of Springfield had joined.
UPDATED 10/8/25 1:11PM: To include clarification from the governor’s office on the staff changes. The name of a new staffer for Governor Maura Healey will sound familiar to some in the Lower Valley. Tuesday brought news that the governor’s new legislative director would be Thomas
Longmeadow Daze is an occasional series about Longmeadow government and politics. Longmeadow voters authorized a debt exclusion on Tuesday that will let the town build a new middle school to replace Williams and Glenbrook Middle schools. A special town meeting had advanced the question to
Local members of Congress are calling out Nexstar Media Group, the owner of WWLP, for its role in the suspension of ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Last week James McGovern, a whose Worcester-based district includes Amherst, Greenfield and Northampton, demanded answers from Nexstar leadership after the company said it would preempt Kimmel.
The Springfield City Council again put off approval of a bevy of permits for GoNetSpeed, an Internet Service Provider, fearing the company will not deliver on promises to wire the whole city. The issue has bubbled up at full Council and subcommittee meetings. In July, councilors continued the permits.
Although WWLP is not the Western Mass affiliate of ABC, the Disney-owned network that airs Jimmy Kimmel Live!. However, its parent company, Nexstar, owns ABC affiliates elsewhere. It was via those affiliates that Nexstar contributed to Disney’s decision to suspend Kimmel’s show.
Voters in three Valley cities slimmed down their ballots on Tuesday and began the march to the general election in November. Chicopee, Holyoke and Northampton had a handful of races among them where more than two candidates were running. By far, however, the highest profile of these races was for mayor in Northampton, which is experiencing a heated cycle as the mayor seek reelection.