In the News

he January 6th Select Committee held another public hearing on Capitol Hill this morning. Bi-partisan senators announce deal on first gun control legislation in decades The committee continues to outline a 7-part plan by former President Trump to overthrow the 2020 presidential election. Monday’s hearing focused on the former president’s deliberate narrative that the election was… Read more »

U.S. Rep Richard Neal visited the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission’s West Parish Filters water treatment plant in Westfield Friday afternoon as workers continued working on the new clearwell and backwash pump station project.   The $25 million project at the Westfield facility, Phase 1 of which began in December, is part of a $550 million effort across 20 projects by the… Read more »

The vacant parcel of land in the city’s North End that used to be home to a neighborhood landmark will become a lasting tribute to a neighborhood legend.   Members of the New North Citizens Council, along with community, civic and political leaders, held a ceremonial groundbreaking Monday on the grounds of the former Chestnut Junior High School at Chestnut and Prospect streets. The… Read more »

The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission’s 250,000 customers across the lower Pioneer Valley might take the water in their tap for granted.   “It’s amazing,” said U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, Friday on a tour of the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission West Parish Filters Water Treatment Plant in Westfield.   He stopped off as workers craned… Read more »

Twice during the Jan. 6 Committee’s two-hour televised hearing on Thursday night, witnesses and members of Congress mentioned Room 208 in the U.S. Capitol or the Ways and Means Committee room.   Those spaces are where U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield was that day. He serves as chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.   “I think that anybody who would… Read more »

City and state officials gathered in celebration of The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts’ groundbreaking ceremony on June 2. The food bank is constructing a new food distribution center on Carew Street. While currently operational in Hatfield, the food bank is developing a new headquarters location in wake of rising food insecurity rates. Factors driving the rising insecurity rates… Read more »

Construction for the new Food Bank of Western Massachusetts officially kicked off on Thursday. It’s a project that had faced pushback from some area residents. “This is going to be the hub of food security for western Mass. and points beyond,” said Chicopee Mayor John Vieau. The food bank is moving its headquarters from Hatfield to the city of Chicopee in an effort to expand after… Read more »

Springfield Union Station has received a $1.75 million federal rail infrastructure grant for track improvements, the U.S. The Department of Transportation announced Thursday. The project will develop preliminary engineering and environmental clearance for track, signal, and infrastructure improvements, according to the statement. The track work will include additional platforms,… Read more »

Congressman Richard Neal is calling the rise in gas prices and inflation an international problem. It comes after President Biden’s Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she underestimated the inflation we saw this past year. Congressman Neal told 22News inflation is being brought on by the pandemic’s impacts in China, leading to supply chain issues, but also the Russian invasion of… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, is encouraging state lawmakers to create a Western Massachusetts passenger rail authority that would apply for federal funds and evenly administer expanded east-west commuter rail.   “Virtually every state rep. and state senator west of Worcester is allied with us,” Neal said yesterday.   He’d just spoken with state Senate… Read more »