AMHERST — Mike Minogue holds a commanding 2-to-1 lead over Brian Shortsleeve in the Republican primary for governor, according to a new University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB poll released two weeks before the Sept. 1 primary.

The survey, conducted Aug. 5-12, found Minogue, former CEO of medical device company Abiomed, leading Shortsleeve, former Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority chief administrator, 53-26 among likely Republican voters.

Tatishe Nteta, provost professor of political science at UMass Amherst and director of the poll, noted Minogue also holds substantial advantages among moderates and independents, adding that “these results suggest that Shortsleeve faces an uphill battle to close the gap.”

Raymond La Raja, professor of political science and co-director of the poll, said Republican primary voters are prioritizing agreement on issues, honesty and trustworthiness, and opposition to Democrats on Beacon Hill over allegiance to President Donald Trump when choosing a nominee. Trump’s approval among Massachusetts Republicans fell to 74% in the new poll, his lowest mark since August 2020.

Regardless of which Republican wins the primary, the poll shows Gov. Maura Healey with roughly a 20-point lead over both potential opponents in the general election. Healey’s job approval rating stands at 56% among registered voters, despite a majority of Bay Staters saying the state is on the wrong track.

The poll also examined several potential November ballot questions. Strong majorities of voters support initiatives on public records accessibility (84%), gun control (70%), same-day voter registration (69%) and residential zoning reform (59%). A question to repeal the state’s marijuana legalization law is opposed by 55% of voters, while a proposed all-party primary system remains a toss-up, with about half of voters in support and nearly 1 in 5 undecided.

The poll surveyed 833 registered Massachusetts voters, including 462 self-identified Democratic primary voters, with a margin of error of 4.4% among all respondents and 5.8% among Democratic primary voters.

Community Action to formally open WIC office in Hadley

HADLEY — Community Action Pioneer Valley will formally open its new office for its Women, Infants and Children nutrition program at 4 Bay Road on with an open house on Saturday, Sept. 1, at 8 a.m.

The new site, which opened on June 25, offers expanded space and improved access, said Frances Hall, director of community services at Community Action Pioneer Valley, noting its location on the fare-free B43 bus line and available parking.

“Community Action’s WIC has been a cornerstone of healthy starts for families in our region for decades, and this new Hadley location improves access for families across Hampshire County,” said Lev BenEzra, executive director of Community Action Pioneer Valley.

WIC is a supplemental nutrition program for pregnant people and families with children under 5. Participants receive an EBT card for items such as milk, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables, along with breastfeeding support and regular nutrition check-ins with staff.

Community Action’s WIC program serves Franklin and Hampshire counties and parts of the North Quabbin, with offices in Orange, Greenfield and Hadley. Families interested in applying can visit www.mass.gov/wic or call 413-376-1160.

UMass Amherst dining marks decade at No. 1

AMHERST — The University of Massachusetts Amherst has again earned the No. 1 spot on The Princeton Review’s Best Campus Food list, marking a 10th consecutive year at the top.

The 2027 rankings are based on surveys of 172,000 students at 392 colleges and universities nationwide. UMass Amherst is the only Massachusetts school to place in the top 15.

UMass Dining serves more than 50,000 meals daily — nearly 9 million annually — to 25,000 students, faculty and staff on meal plans, across four dining commons and more than 30 retail cafés and markets. It is the largest collegiate dining program in the country.

Chancellor Javier Reyes credited partnerships with more than 100 local farmers, fishermen and producers, noting UMass Dining invested more than $2.5 million with Massachusetts vendors and nearly $5 million across New England in the past year.

For more information, visit umassdining.com.

Smith Voc wins $5K through Friday Night Lights sweepstakes

NORTHAMPTON — Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School has won $5,000 through T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights sweepstakes, with a chance to compete for a $1 million football stadium transformation.

The national program, now in its third year, is awarding more than $8.4 million to schools in small towns. Schools that apply automatically enter weekly $5,000 giveaways, and community members will be able to vote starting Oct. 8 to help determine which schools advance.

Schools have until Sept. 18 to apply at FridayNight5GLights.com. The program includes celebrity ambassadors Patrick Mahomes and Rob Gronkowski.