In the News

SPRINGFIELD — The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority showed off its new $55 million, state-of-the-art operations and maintenance center on Cottage Street Monday, saying the facility enhances its mission of providing vital transportation to the region including thousands of low-income riders. State and federal legislators, area mayors, representatives of state and federal agencies,… Read more »

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It'll be a series of firsts for Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity when it builds six net-zero energy use condominiums on land on Deming Street.  It is the first such project for the organization. It is the first time it had used a panel-build day. It is the first time a bank is financing the project. And it is the first for a "homebuilders blitz." … Read more »

AGAWAM — Memorial Day observances Monday at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery had state Rep. John C. Velis recalling words painted on a wall in Afghanistan. It was a message he saw as he was leaving to come home from his first of two deployments as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve. "Live a life worthy of their sacrifice," Velis said. "That's what the mural said.… Read more »

AGAWAM, Mass. (WWLP) - Top state lawmakers attended a Memorial Day ceremony at the Agawam Veterans Cemetery on Monday.  Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and Congressman Richard Neal spoke to veterans and their families about the importance of their loved one's service to the country and the Commonwealth.  During the ceremony at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial… Read more »

The U.S. House of Representatives’ passage on Thursday of a bill that intends to increase the ability of people to save for retirement was praised by U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal as a way of averting an impending “retirement crisis.” The bill, known as the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, was overwhelmingly approved by a vote of 417-3,… Read more »

The House overwhelmingly approved a bill Thursday to promote retirement security by making it easier for small businesses and other companies to offer retirement plans. The bipartisan bill, approved 417-3, also makes it easier for workers to transfer retirement plans when they change jobs and allows part-time workers to save for retirement. The measures changes a provision of the 2017… Read more »

As debate continues in Washington over funding to rebuild the nation’s aging infrastructure, a major project is beginning to improve part of the wastewater treatment system in western Massachusetts.         The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission broke ground Monday to build a new pump station to take wastewater from Springfield and three… Read more »

SPRINGFIELD — Local, state and federal officials gathered Monday to launch a $115 million water infrastructure project along the Connecticut River that officials say will protect the drinking water supply and the river. The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission held the groundbreaking ceremony for the project, which includes a new pumping station on York Street and a new river… Read more »

NORTH ADAMS — The 2019 Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts graduates truly have a reason to celebrate. In addition to putting their last batch of final exams behind them, they'll be starting their job search at an opportune time, their commencement speakers assured them. "Today's college graduates are entering one of the best job markets in many years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor… Read more »

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal urged the new graduates of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts to not only hear, but to listen and not to be afraid of encountering alternative opinions. Rather, he said, determine the facts before forming an opinion because that will make your argument "more clear and more crisp." "It helps me to gain a fresh perspective and new ideas… Read more »