SPRINGFIELD—The City Council inched closer toward another round of complex and fraught legislating as it signaled plans to reform the city’s beleaguered responsible employer ordinance. The law, intended to provide minimum standards of employment for workers employed by city contractors, has been buffeted by weak
…And the World: We begin today in Iraq, where government forces in concert with the United States have begun their assault on Daesh’s last stronghold in the country, Mosul. The fundamentalist terrorist group, also known as ISIS/ISIL, has drained away from Iraq amid onslaughts from
EAST LONGMEADOW—With Election Day nearing, former Governor Michael Dukakis and his wife Kitty were here to rally volunteers on behalf of Senator Eric Lesser and return him to Beacon Hill for another term. With a mix of nostalgia and prospective-minded praise for Lesser, Dukakis emphasized
CHICOPEE—The event was a fundraiser and thus its purpose was principally to raise funds for the candidate. Less than five weeks before Election Day, it was also an introduction and an opportunity for locals to hobnob with Republican Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. But there was something
The Feds: We begin today in the United States, where the Republican party is in convulsions after a devastating video revealed its nominee, real estate tycoon and provocateur Donald Trump, bragging about sexually assaulting women and that he can do so because of his fame.
Springfield has long suffered from a staggering small “d” democratic deficit. Turnout is hopelessly low, especially so in municipal elections. Many things, socioeconomics to name one, are responsible, but one way out is better engaging the public. The process to replace Calvin McFadden, who resigned
SPRINGFIELD—The battle over charter schools dominated Monday City Council meeting, injecting the body into the fraught battle over the ballot question that would raise the charter cap in Massachusetts. But that issue did not monopolize councilors’ attention, as the body also spent a considerable amount
…And the World: We begin today in Colombia, where voters rejected a peace deal with the FARC guerillas, who have been at war with the country for decades. It’s not clear what happens next and few expect the current ceasefire to fall apart. Leaders on
Amid the current national climate of community-police relations, Springfield has been relatively lucky. Tensions are often high, but since Melvin Jones, there have been no Charlottes or Tulsas caught on cell phone cameras. Nevertheless, the actions of Gregg Bigda, a Springfield narcotics detective, threaten the
More than a hundred years later, Springfield City Hall remains a solid piece of construction. Even as maintenance of the larger Municipal Group to which it belongs has waxed and waned, the strong stone construction remains a tribute to the city’s brighter past. However, 36 Court