Area property deed transfers, March 21

AMHERST

Making News in Business, March 21

NORTHAMPTON — The Northwestern district attorney has made promotions and other staffing changes following the departure of three prosecutors for legal positions in other state and federal agencies.

Jam-packed McGovern town hall calls for resistance to Trump moves, stronger Dem Party

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

GREENFIELD — The more than 700 people who attended a town hall event with U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern on Tuesday relayed an expansive mandate for him to take back to Congress: Defend federal institutions, create a stronger coalition of Democrats and be a voice of resistance to the Trump administration.

Northampton woman jailed in dog death

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — A Northampton woman was ordered held in jail without bail on Wednesday after allegedly killing her dog in what a judge described as a “savage beating” and the city’s animal control officer called “the worst case I’ve seen.”

Activists arrested after occupying L3Harris lobby in Northampton

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON – Five activists with the group Demilitarize Western Mass were arrested Wednesday morning after occupying the lobby of the L3Harris building on Prince Street in Northampton.

South Hadley Select Board reluctantly backs budget that members agree does not meet resident needs

By EMILEE KLEIN

SOUTH HADLEY — The Select Board is reluctantly supporting a $58 million budget that will be presented at annual Town Meeting this spring, with members acknowledging that the spending plan for next fiscal year does not meet the needs of residents.

The ills of a billion-dollar enterprise: The slow-death of the cannabis industry, and what might be done to reverse the trend

By GABRIEL O’HARA SALINI

The Massachusetts cannabis industry is a billion-dollar enterprise, with over 700 retailers operating across the state. Yet stores are closing, companies are firing their workers and retail and non-retail licenses are being surrendered by former operators as business owners clamor for regulatory changes to transform an industry they see as unsustainable.

A Look Back, March 20

Amherst disability commission upgraded to handle funds, report to town manager

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Money for projects to improve access to buildings and ensure more public amenities for residents with disabilities could be directed by a new Commission for Persons with Disabilities, which will begin meeting monthly in April.

Belchertown rolls out welcome mat for businesses

By EMILEE KLEIN

BELCHERTOWN — When Town Manager Steve Williams goes on the road to advertise Belchertown as a viable, business-friendly community, business owners admit to him that they never considered the town as a potential home for their company.

Smith College to recognize four with honorary degrees

NORTHAMPTON— Four distinguished leaders in the arts, academia, health and wellness, social justice and innovation will be recognized with honorary degrees from Smith College during commencement on Sunday, May 18.

Area briefs: Dentist office breaks ground in Hadley; Garcia, delegation feted at Holyoke sister city in Ireland; Literacy Project celebrates 40 years

HADLEY — Hampshire Meadow Family & Pediatric Dentistry will hold a groundbreaking for its new 4,600-square-foot dental facility at 101 East St., the corner of Route 9 and East Street, on Friday at 11 a.m.

Photo: Easthampton firefighters train to be cold-water saviors

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.