This week Masslive reported bus line magnate Peter Picknelly had emailed Governor Charlie Baker shortly before the governor effectively vetoed a study on developing and implementing reliable rail service between Boston and Springfield. The study’s fate, a priority of Longmeadow Senator Eric Lesser, remains in
UPDATED 8:40PM: Both Houses of the legislature approved the conference report Sunday evening. The Massachusetts legislature faced a glut of work during two, rare weekend sessions following the political conventions this month. Major bills on energy, ride-hailing services and non-compete clauses in employment have still
PHILADELPHIA—It was a call to arms, an appeal to the better angels of our nature, a riposte to critics and a firm defense of a rival-turned trusted colleague. But it was also a good-bye. President Barack Obama, in perhaps his last prime-time address as president,
…And the World: We begin today in Russia, toward which investigators are increasingly pointing fingers for a hack and leak of Democratic National Committee emails. While the emails have led to tangible fallout in the Democratic Party’s central national organ (see The Feds), the notion
Sitting on nearly $100,000 accumulated via stingy spending, Governor’s Councilor and ex-Springfield Mayor Michael Albano appears poised to open the floodgates on behalf of his bid to become the Democratic nominee for Hampden Sheriff. Much like his mayoralty, Albano’s campaign has been suspenseful, colorful and over-the-top.
SPRINGFIELD—Echoing demands from North End community leaders, the City Council made a dramatic call for upgrades to the German Gerena tunnel that many consider a public health risk to the vulnerable population that attends the school. The Council implored Gov. Charlie Baker to issue $3 million
…And the World: We begin today in Turkey, which withstood a coup attempt over the weekend, preserving its democracy, however bruised by its autocratic President, Recip Tayyip Erdogan. Though Turks of all stripes felt a bad democracy was preferable to the best coup and all
The High Sheriff in America This post is the first in a series about the end of Michael Ashe’s 42-year tenure as Hampden Sheriff. PHILADELPHIA—Imposing, 30-foot walls separate the Gothic Eastern State Penitentiary from the charming, adjacent residential neighborhood. When built nearly two hundred years ago,
Nearly a week after Gov. Charlie Baker signed the budget, the Massachusetts House of Representatives has begun undoing some of the millions of dollars in cuts Bakers made last Friday. The Senate shall follow. The governor vetoed some $412 million in spending and proposed alternative
Five years ago, cheers broke out in the Springfield City Council chamber after councilors unanimously approved the city’s foreclosure ordinance. Ravaged by the foreclosure crisis and subsequent recession, Springfield had taken a notably bold step toward curbing the deterioration of neighborhoods littered with vacant, bank-owned