■A drop-in center for Northampton’s young people could be open in a matter of days if the group of organizers could find a suitable location. The center primarily for this city’s high school age young people would be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and would be open to everyone.
■Noting that “this year’s census will chart America’s urban growth,” Mayor Sean M. Dunphy urged Northampton residents to accurately complete their census forms and return them tomorrow. Mayor Dunphy has proclaimed Wednesday as Census Day in Northampton.
■The once-quiet fields and hillside to the west of the JFK Middle School have been transformed in the past few days into a massive construction site. The $14.9 million expansion and renovation of the school has begun.
■Motorists may be able to travel the western end of the Massachusetts Turnpike free under a plan Gov. William F. Weld reportedly is considering. Tolls would be eliminated at the three-most western exits of the turnpike, making the last westbound toll at new booths at the intersection of Interstate 91.
■The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield is preparing to make significant cuts to staff, programs and educational services as its financial condition worsens. “We no longer can sustain our operation’re going to have to make cuts and people are going to have to prepare for that,” said Mark E. Dupont, diocese spokesman.
■In his first visit to Franklin County since he was elected to replace the late Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in January, Republican Sen. Scott P. Brown said he’ll devote a lot of his efforts to get people back to work. “It’s all about jobs,” said Brown, who was in Greenfield Monday for a “power tour” of the town.