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By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Even with the late start on constructing a new $97.5 million elementary school on South East Street, indications are that the building will still be ready for occupancy in the fall of 2026.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A full team of five teachers at Amherst Regional Middle School, who provide instruction in English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and special education to seventh and eighth graders, would be eliminated as part of at least 18 staff cuts, saving around $1.39 million, at the regional schools if a proposal under consideration is adopted for next fiscal year.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Amber KaCey, a participant in Senior Center programs for almost 20 years, is pleased with the town’s plans for undertaking $2.8 million in upgrades to the Bangs Community Center building, beginning this summer.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Moving to ranked-choice voting for local elections, imposing a real estate transfer fee on some property transactions, and allowing permanent legal residents to vote in town elections are measures Amherst officials are continuing to support.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Less than two years since taking the helm as chancellor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Javier Reyes interviewed as a finalist to become the next president of West Virginia University.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — PiNZ, a business featuring an eight-lane bowling alley, more than 40 arcade games and a restaurant and bar with seating for about 150 people, has closed at Hampshire Mall, 367 Russell St.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A one-month extension is being sought from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners so Amherst officials have time to hire a general contractor to handle the $46.1 million expansion and renovation of the Jones Library.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

LEVERETT — An archaeological survey and mapping of the historic Graves’ Ironworks site, located downstream from the 1774 Slarrow Sawmill, will be supported with a small donation from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s small-dollar grant program.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School’s enrollment can increase by 100 students after the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Tuesday narrowly supported acting Commissioner Russell D. Johnston’s recommendation allowing the K-12 school to have up to 684 students.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — An investigation has cleared Amherst Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman of allegations of threatening harm to a district employee, creating a hostile work environment for an employee and retaliating against employees who are part of a protected class.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — A Worcester company denied permission to place a standalone battery in a Breckenridge Road gravel pit is suing the town’s Planning Board, contending its Jan. 7 decision is legally untenable and “unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious.”

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — An Orchard Valley home was destroyed, and a cat living at the residence likely killed, by an early Saturday morning fire, with the initial attack by firefighters compromised by a fire hydrant covered in snow and ice and frozen shut, and a second fire hydrant only working after being forced into operation.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — Before a decision is made on whether to bring a $20.3 million, 23,247-square-foot Department of Public Works headquarters project before voters, as early as annual Town Meeting in May, the Select Board will be getting more information about financing the building and the potential impact on property taxes.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — The state’s acting education commissioner is recommending a 100-student increase in the enrollment at the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, which would allow the school to have as many as 684 K-12 students at its existing 317 Russell St. campus and a second campus on Venture Way.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Famous for its giant popovers, Judie’s was a mainstay of Amherst’s dining scene, a popular place for people to go to on graduation, alumni and homecoming weekends and to celebrate special events for more than 40 years.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A zoning change aimed at slowing the development of new apartments and townhomes, especially in neighborhoods close to the University of Massachusetts and where students are most likely to be tenants, is being sought by the Planning Board.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Town leaders continue to reaffirm its status as a sanctuary community, even as the Trump administration is threatening to cut off funding to any city or town not complying with the federal government’s immigration efforts.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

NORTHAMPTON — The Massachusetts Teachers Association is removing links to potentially offensive images from a members-only section of its website, as well as any materials posted there that don’t aid students and teachers in better understanding the conflict in the Middle East.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Over the last nine months of 2024, Amherst’s unarmed community responders handled 696 calls for service, either from people making direct appeals for help by walking into or calling the office, or having calls relayed from the town’s emergency dispatch center.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — The Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) is asking that all millwork in the original part of the Jones Library be preserved in some form, and for all windows in the expanded and renovated library building to take on an historic appearance, as final stipulations in a memorandum of agreement under the Section 106 Historic Preservation Review.