■Two senior University of Massachusetts professors have charged that the UMass administration may be attempting to “cover up” allegations and findings that federal funds have been misused at the School of Education. The professors will present separate resolutions to faculty groups this week calling for the creation of committees to “monitor” the administration investigation.
■Northampton Cablevision Inc. will apply for cable television franchise licenses in Northampton and five outlying towns within the next 30 days, according to the firm’s vice president, J. Orrin Marlowe of Greenfield. Marlowe said the firm will proceed with plans for a CATV franchise in Northampton, despite an adverse preliminary ruling on the prospects of bringing cable television to this city made two weeks ago by the Ad Hoc Cable Advisory Committee.
■The city tobacco control program is proposing to use part of Northampton’s share of the state’s tobacco settlement to reduce smoking on the grounds of the Northampton High School and the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School. The program proposes to use $9,000 of the settlement to pay hallway monitors to inspect school areas — such as bathrooms and other difficult-to-oversee areas — for students sneaking cigarettes.
■Five students from area technical high schools will each prepare a meal Monday at Mulino’s Trattoria Restaurant in downtown Northampton, as part of a contest for a $500 scholarship. Anthony Bishop, owner of the restaurant at 21 Center St., said Tuesday he plans for the scholarship contest to become an annual event, serving as a way for his business to be more involved in the community.
■Ellen Keiter is taking the reins as chief curator of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, replacing founding director and chief curator H. Nichols B. Clark. Clark retired in December after 13 years in his role as chief curator and will retain an emeritus role with the museum as a visiting lecturer and guest curator.
■Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School aims to increase school safety with more than $160,000 in security upgrades and a commitment to better communication in the digital age. The school installed 20 new security cameras last fall and plans to add 20 more as part of an upgrade to a new surveillance system.