For the City of Springfield, 2016 proved notable on multiple fronts. It briefly saw itself as the center of attention in the presidential contest. MGM evolving complexity dodged for at least another year a threat from Connecticut. A bevy of police controversies throttled City Hall
Less than 48 hours into the race for ranking member on the House Ways & Means Committee, Springfield Congressman Richard Neal appears victorious as his only competitor withdraws. Los Angeles Democrat Xavier Becerra, who jumped into the race Tuesday night, has announced he will accept
UPDATED 5:30PM: For grammar and clarity. Six years ago US Representative Sander Levin, a Michigan Democrat, narrowly overcame his colleague Richard Neal’s bid to be Democratic party’s ranking member on the powerful Ways & Means Committee. Levin said Tuesday he was stepping aside, but Neal is
There are, on our regional ballots this year a number of competitive races. Not all are created equally. Some of these races include candidates of third parties and in still-quite Democratic Hampden County others are not such that fuller, separate explanations of our opinions are
UPDATED 3/2/16 4:17PM: For clarity. SPRINGFIELD—Presidential candidates have lavished an unusual amount of attention on the commonwealth’s third largest city this cycle. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, seeking the Democratic nomination, drew a large crowd at the MassMutual. Ohio Governor John Kasich, a Republican, held an
UPDATED 8:42PM: For grammar and clarity. With only days before Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire goes to the polls, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign is set to formally open its campaign office in Springfield. Following a soft open timed to last Sunday’s Democratic debate,
SPRINGFIELD—In a low-key ceremony at the Old First Church, city councilors and Mayor Domenic Sarno, who began his second four-year term, were sworn in for their new terms of office. The event did not fill the 500 seat chapel, perhaps mirroring the little interest the
SPRINGFIELD—Spend enough time with US Representative Richard Neal, the dean of the Massachusetts US House delegation and it becomes clear he takes the idea of “What’s past is prologue” seriously. Whether at Union Station or a Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony, the former history teacher considers
The reelection campaign of Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno announced in a release today that Congressman Richard Neal would endorse the incumbent in his quest for a second four-year term and fourth overall. Even if the timing is a tad early, the endorsement says something more about the state of
UPDATED 3/24/15 8:47PM: For a Correction. A previous version of this post incorrectly identified Don Ashe as the Register of Probate. He is the Register of Deeds. UPDATED 3/23/15 2:25PM: With expanded comments from Aaron Saunders. SPRINGFIELD—Like many old industrial cities, the Irish have a prominent