■Local farmers, the victims of a rainy summer which played havoc with their crops, are suffering a long hard winter. With losses on fruit, vegetable, and dairy crops running as high as 50 percent, county farmers are rushing to take advantage of emergency loans and low-cost feed programs, area farm officials say.
■The state Bar Association voted yesterday not to recommend establishment of a law school at the University of Massachusetts here “at this time.” Officials at UMass said this morning that they will continue their quest for a law center.
■The move to include domestic partners — gay or heterosexual — of city employees in health insurance plans yesterday won praise for its practical and symbolic impact, as well as criticism of the way it was enacted. Phillip Sullivan, who was elected in November to an at-large seat, said that Mayor Mary Ford was “rushing” through the new policy and should have first gathered opinions from the City Council.
■’Tis the season for giving — and individuals and organizations have given generously to the Forbes Library. Director Blaise Bisaillon says $132,450 in grants and donations have recently come to the library. Most of the money will help cover costs of the multi-phase renovation of the 103-year-old building.
■Local educators reacted to news of the massacre Friday at an elementary school in Connecticut as if it had happened to one of their own. Administrators met at 3 p.m. at district headquarters to discuss how to respond to the tragedy.
■After placing seventh in a quiz bowl academic competition Dec. 7 in South Burlington, Vt., four Northampton High students, members of the school’s NHS Academic team, will head to Atlanta next year to compete in the national championships. The four students are Katherine Stowe-Thurston, Saadya Cheven, Jonah Klein Barton and Ben Tidswell.