In the News

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal ran through a list of ongoing and upcoming achievements Friday at the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Outlook 2025 lunch: west-east rail, the F-35 fighter jets coming to Westfield, American Rescue Plan Act, the inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law the CHIPS and Science Act.   It’s typical for these types of… Read more »

The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, continues cutting costs by canceling the leases of several federal offices across the country including several buildings here in Massachusetts. But what does that mean for us at home?   Congressman Neal told us point blank that he feels very little thought has gone into these terminations and he would not be surprised if they were… Read more »

Local shelter providers are worried changes within the Department of Housing and Urban Development could gut their response to housing insecurity and homelessness in the Berkshires.   President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, an entity known by DOGE and overseen by Elon Musk, is planning sweeping staff cuts at HUD and promising to root out so-called spending… Read more »

The Silvio O. Conte Federal Building has been labeled as “surplus” and therefore under consideration for possible sale by the Trump administration.   Named for the late Republican U.S. congressman from Pittsfield, the federal building at 78 Center St. houses offices for the Social Security Administration, the Veterans Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and one of… Read more »

Congressman Richard Neal spoke shortly after Trump’s address.   Congressman Neal says he hopes for a restoration of relations with Ukraine as calls for a peace deal grow, and to renew relations with Canada and Mexico as new tariffs take effect on imported goods.   He also criticized the administration’s mass layoffs sweeping the federal government. “I also hope that there be… Read more »

This story has been updated with information from a congressional hearing on Tuesday morning.   When President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress tonight for the first time since his return to office, Michael Slater will be in the audience at the U.S. Capitol.   Slater, 42, was a probationary employee at the Springfield Vet Center for about seven months until… Read more »

Clyvanor Corp. has 75 American workers at its plant in Palmer. Tariffs that went into effect Tuesday are expected to make this and other work around the region more costly.   The company uses lumber from Canadian forests as well as hardware from Canadian factories to fabricate roof and floor trusses for Massachusetts homes and buildings, said company president Stephane… Read more »

Roadway and sidewalk improvements are coming to the area around Union Station thanks to a $4.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The money, which was officially approved by the City Council during its Feb. 10 meeting, will cover roadway, sidewalk and curb ramp improvements at Lyman Street from Chestnut Street to Dwight Street; Main Street where it… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal on Thursday pledged to dutifully oppose tax cuts for the rich, and threats to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.   But with Republican majorities in every branch of government, Neal and his fellow Democrats are hoping for conservative defectors and a vigilant legal system to aid their response to a flurry of orders from President Donald Trump’s… Read more »

Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal, who's the top Democrat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, joins WBUR's Morning Edition to discuss the Trump administration's efforts to bring more taxation and spending power under the President's control. This segment aired on February 14, 2025. Listen HERE. Read more »