NORTH ADAMS — More than 140 people converged on the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Church Street Center on Friday to study all aspects of poverty in the Berkshires.
The all-morning Community Conversation on Poverty event was capped off by some remarks from U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, who noted that the Trump administration is doing its best to hamstring efforts… Read more »
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — An individual in Berkshire County with a minimum wage job has to work 57 hours a week to afford a one-bedroom apartment.
If it's two parents with a child, they both need to be working full time and earning $14.41 an hour — $1.66 above the state minimum wage — to support their family.
There's a good chance they're renting because… Read more »
The Senate overwhelmingly approved a revised North American trade pact in a rare bipartisan vote Thursday that hands President Trump a victory on a key campaign promise just as lawmakers are preparing his impeachment trial.
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, passed by a vote of 89-10. The trade pact, signed by the president in November 2018, received a similar bipartisan vote in… Read more »
Even with the passage of the first retirement security package in more than a decade shortly before the holiday recess, there is more retirement-related legislation that could get a look in 2020.
While the Setting Every Community up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019, referred to as the SECURE Act, signed into law Dec. 20 was a thrill for those in the retirement community, leaders in… Read more »
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – Nearly 3,000 additional American troops have been ordered to the Middle East, amid a dangerous situation in the U.S. showdown with Iran.
European diplomats were hard at work on Monday trying to limit tensions between Iran and the United States after the U.S. killed a top Iranian military commander in Iraq last week, raising… Read more »
SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Political leaders are responding after last week's deadly airstrike killed Iran's top military general.
"I think that impulsive decision making, without regard for what the legislative branch of government considers, is irresponsible," said Rep. Richard Neal.
Days after the U.S. launched a drone strike on a convoy traveling near Baghdad International… Read more »
With Iran vowing to avenge the death of Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, two congressmen serving Central and Western Massachusetts asked Friday for President Donald J. Trump to explain his overall strategy — and how his administration will defuse tensions.
“There is no question that Qassem Soleimani was a ruthless military commander who had American blood on his hands. But this is… Read more »
SPRINGFIELD – The chair of the House’s Ways & Means Committee brought back to his district quite the holiday present for the workers at CRRC-MA: continued employment.
Mayor Domenic Sarno called the results from Richard Neal’s advocacy “a Herculean effort” that involved “two key words: respect and clout.”
Sarno made the comments at a press… Read more »
SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Employees at the Chinese-owned rail car manufacturer CRRC in Springfield are calling it a Christmas miracle.
A Hail Mary attempt to keep the plant open despite a federal ban against Chinese-owned companies has been passed by the House of Representatives.
The deal, announced officially to employees at CRRC, came down to the wire, but a new Pentagon spending… Read more »
Massachusetts U.S. Rep. Richard Neal said he believes restrictions placed upon the CRRC rail car facility in Springfield can be overcome.
Neal helped negotiate the deal that, at least for now, keeps the Chinese-owned factory up and running.
Some in Congress wanted to keep any public dollars from going to Chinese transit manufacturers. But the deal allows for some wiggle… Read more »
