Latest News
Local stores report a drop in those using HIP benefits since cuts took place
Just over a month since Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) benefits were cut by a minimum of 50%, local businesses and advocates for the initiative are hopeful that it will be restored, as farmers, vendors and stores are seeing the effects of reduced benefits.
MDAR survey to tabulate farmers’ weather-related losses
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is seeking information about weather-related losses in 2023 and 2024 from farmers across the state as it prepares to report damages to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which will split up $220 million in relief funding among eight states.
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Sports
UMass hockey: Inconsistency again plagues Minutemen in 3-0 loss to Northeastern
AMHERST – The UMass hockey team continues to struggle with consistency after its 3-0 shutout loss to Northeastern on Saturday night at the Mullins Center.
Opinion
Guest columnist Donald Joralemon: The arrogance of willful ignorance
Your Daily Puzzles
An approachable redesign to a classic. Explore our "hints."
A quick daily flip. Finally, someone cracked the code on digital jigsaw puzzles.
Chess but with chaos: Every day is a unique, wacky board.
Word search but as a strategy game. Clearing the board feels really good.
Align the letters in just the right way to spell a word. And then more words.
Business
Ten Thousand Villages in downtown Northampton to close at end of March
NORTHAMPTON — After a quarter century downtown, Ten Thousand Villages is preparing to close its Main Street store for good on March 31.
Arts & Life
Making space for trans voices: Monthly women and nonbinary singer-songwriter series expands mission to include trans community
A singer-songwriter showcase series in Florence is expanding to include the trans community.
Obituaries
Hadley, MA - Norman Edward Brown, 92, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2025 at his home in Hadley, MA, surrounded by his family. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, "Normpy" will be dearly missed. Born... remainder of obit for Norman Edward Brown
Amherst, MA - Kenneth Hoffman, of Amherst MA, died suddenly on October 17 2024. Ken was born in Pontiac, MI on March 2, 1941, to Stan and Mary Hoffman. As a child he lived in Canton, China, and Tuba City, Arizona, as his parents wer... remainder of obit for Kenneth Hoffman
Amherst, MA - Janet Hoffman, of Amherst, MA, died on October 10, 2024, after a brief illness. Jan was born in Philadelphia to Martha and Harold Snover in 1939. She earned a BA in French literature from Wooster College in 1961 and ma... remainder of obit for Janet Hoffman
Easthampton, MA - Joanne Mary Barszewski, 75, of Easthampton, passed away on January 4, 2025. Born on May 8, 1949, in Northampton to Edward and Irene (Yagmin) Samuel. Joanne was raised in Easthampton, she graduated from Easthampton ... remainder of obit for Joanne Mary Barszewski