In tour of Riverside Industries in Easthampton, US Rep. Neal highlights the damage of potential Medicaid cuts

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

EASTHAMPTON — It’s not always easy to put faces and names to the impact that congressional budgets have on a particular populace. By visiting Riverside Industries in Easthampton on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal tried to do just that.

A Look Back, March 19

Belchertown to float estimated $2.4M override for school, town budgets

By EMILEE KLEIN

BELCHERTOWN — After a month of parent protest and debate among town leaders, the Select Board narrowly approved putting a Proposition 2½ general override question on the ballot to fund level-services budgets for both the schools and the town.

UMass diverting money to new fund that will cover federal funding losses

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Money targeted for both strategic investments and deferred maintenance on the University of Massachusetts campus is being temporarily diverted to a new account that will ensure research continues uninterrupted, should federal grants and contracts be paused or ended.

Legislature plans to again extend remote meeting authority

By COLIN A. YOUNG

BOSTON — Two weeks before the policies are set to expire, the House and Senate took the first steps Monday to once again temporarily extend pandemic-era laws allowing remote access for public meetings in Massachusetts.

Hadley’s town election taking shape as deadline nears

By Staff Report

HADLEY — With less than 10 days for residents to decide if they want to run for elective office at town election this spring, contests could be developing for some positions.

Officials will assess mold problem at Amherst Regional Middle School

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Mold and mildew that may be developing at the Amherst Regional Middle School, possibly related to the poor condition of the roof that could be fixed as part of the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s accelerated repair program, will be examined by school district officials.

Photos: Signs of spring at Deerfield farm

First candidate emerges for Easthampton mayor

By ALEXA LEWIS

EASTHAMPTON — The campaign to become the Easthampton’s next mayor officially kicks off this week, as Lindsi Sekula is the first candidate to announce her intention to become the city’s next chief executive officer.

Area briefs: Firefighting Academy graduates; S. Hadley Dems to elect delegates; Holyoke to observe Vietnam War Veterans Day; Holyoke parade sign carriers

State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy leadership announced the graduation of 12 firefighters from the 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program, including Aaron Almeda and Michael Radke from the Easthampton Fire Department, Tiana Roy from South Hadley Fire District 1 and Kyle Cavanaugh from Holyoke.

A Look Back, March 18

Red Fire Farm joins lawsuit opposing federal fund freeze

By CHRIS LARABEE

WASHINGTON — As federal dollars continue to be frozen for projects across the nation, a Pioneer Valley farm has joined a federal lawsuit demanding the government lift the “unlawful and indefinite freeze of congressional appropriated funds,” according to documents filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Just like his parents before him, Brian O’Connor serving as Northampton marshal in St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Holyoke

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — When he was a young child, Brian O’Connor remembers returning home from school, finishing his homework, and then heading to the Northampton St. Patrick’s Association with his parents to help plan for that year’s parade.

Northampton St. Pat’s Breakfast: Irish ribbing with a side of somber

By SAMUEL GELINAS

NORTHAMPTON — The first signs of green this spring were seen Monday at the Hotel Northampton for the annual Northampton St. Patrick’s Association’s Breakfast, where green sweaters, scarves, and shamrocks dominated ahead of next weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade festivities in Holyoke.

Uphill climb: Amherst-Pelham Regional School budget proposal would reduce staffing cuts, but boost assessments

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — The Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee is putting forward a $37.08 million fiscal year 2026 budget that would limit some anticipated staffing cuts at the middle and high schools, a proposal that would significantly increase assessments for the four member towns.

Truck fire snarls traffic, but no injuries reported

By Staff Report

NORTHAMPTON — Northampton firefighters put out a fully involved Toyota pickup truck on Interstate 91 Friday afternoon, a fire that caused significant traffic backups on the highway as spring break began at the local colleges and University of Massachusetts.

Sunderland, Deerfield and Conway elementary school budgets heading to votes

By CHRIS LARABEE

Budget season rolls on at the Frontier Regional and Union 38 school districts, with Sunderland, Deerfield and Conway elementary schools recently sharing their fiscal year 2026 budget proposals.

Amherst draft housing plan calls for between 265-715 new units in five years

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A draft housing production plan with a series of strategies to ensure there are sufficient housing options in Amherst for people with a range of income levels is suggesting Amherst produce 265 to 715 new housing units by 2030.

Photos: Hampshire Regional to present musical ‘Something Rotten’ this weekend

WESTHAMPTON — The Hampshire Regional High School Drama Company will take to the stage this weekend for performances of the musical “Something Rotten.” Shows will take place on Friday and Saturday, March 21 and 22, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, March 23, at 2 p.m.

Planning commission to hire regional energy manager for 15 communities in Hampshire, Hampden counties

By EMILEE KLEIN

LUDLOW — A new regional energy manager will guide decarbonization and sustainable energy efforts for 15 communities in Hampshire and Hampden counties as part of a collaboration to bring down energy costs.