News
Program trains officers to spot drug use
By ORIANA DURAND
In the debate leading up to November’s vote legalizing marijuana, law enforcement officials warned that traffic cops had no equivalent to a Breathalyzer to prove drug impairment in drivers.“With marijuana, it’s much more difficult to make the arrest...
‘Turbocharged’ storm clobbers northern New England with plenty of snow
By DAVID SHARP
PORTLAND, Maine — The most powerful nor’easter in nearly two years brought heavy snow, powerful winds and even thunder and lightning to northern New England, leaving tens of thousands of people in the dark Friday and burying some towns under 2 feet of...
Promoting affordable housing among goals of Amherst community grant proposals
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — Promoting affordable housing, enhancing community services for low- and moderate-income residents and making public infrastructure more accessible are among the projects encouraged in the town’s 2017 community development strategy.This...
Syria cease-fire goes into force
By BASSEM MROUE and VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
BEIRUT — A cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey went into effect in war-ravaged Syria at midnight Thursday, a potential breakthrough in the six years of fighting that have left more than a quarter-million people dead and triggered a refugee crisis...
Hatfield lights up for 36th Luminarium
By JACK SUNTRUP
HATFIELD — The Hatfield Luminarium rolled into its 36th year Sunday, and as with years past, the town’s main drags were illuminated by candlelit milk jugs and paper bags.Each year, drivers steer bumper-to-bumper through town (headlights off for best...
Local farmers finding market for their meat CSA subscriptions
By RICHIE DAVIS
If your answer to “Where’s the beef?” is “local, local, local,” you’re not alone.The demand for locally raised beef, as well as lamb, pork, chicken and turkey, has been inching upward enough in recent years, with Shelburne’s Foxbard and Wheel-View...
AirBnB popular source of income in Pioneer Valley
By CAITLIN ASHWORTH
An extra space at home could bring in guests from all over the world — and some extra cash.Many people in Hampshire County are renting living space through the online platform Airbnb, a service that allows people to share space. There are currently...
Nearly 50 shot in Chicago over holiday
By KATHERINE ROSENBERG-DOUGLAS
CHICAGO — Five people were wounded in shootings in Chicago early Monday, bringing to almost 50 the number of people shot in the city since Christmas weekend began Friday afternoon. Much of the violence happened in areas “with historical gang...
Blizzards, ice storms wreak havoc in Plains
CHICAGO (AP) — Travel conditions remained hazardous as a winter storm swept across much of the northern Plains on Monday, with blowing and drifting snow forcing the closure of an airport and creating near-zero visibility on some roads.The combination...
Typhoon mars festivities in Philippines
By BULLIT MARQUEZ
BATANGAS, Philippines — A powerful typhoon blew out of the northern Philippines on Monday after killing at least six people and spoiling Christmas in several provinces, where more than 380,000 people abandoned celebrations at home to reach emergency...
Good wishes flow in for Carrie Fisher
By MARK KENNEDY
NEW YORK — Tributes and well-wishes poured in for “Star Wars” actress Carrie Fisher, who was spending Christmas Eve in a Los Angeles hospital after suffering a medical emergency on a flight the day before.“Princess Leia can survive anything!” wrote...
Montana ski town roiled by white supremacist ‘troll army’
By MATT VOLZ
The email to a group that promotes diversity in northwestern Montana warned that white supremacists would encircle the advocacy organization’s office and end with someone “swinging by a rope from the nearest lamp post.”“Those days are not far off...
Pepin/Center kids give back with snowmen
By CAITLIN ASHWORTH
EASTHAMPTON – Kindergartners and first-graders got a surprise visit from the Pepin/Center Elementary Schools’ mascot, Eli the eagle, who came to thank students for raising a total of $701.74 for the Easthampton Community Center. “Guess how much money...
Select Board race heats up between neighbors
By JACK SUNTRUP
HATFIELD — Select Board meetings can stretch deep into the night. They can be dull.But every once in a while, there’s a flash of drama, some simmering issue that needs to be addressed. Things can get tense, and then awkward, if only for a few...
State strives to be green leader in the uncertain era of Trump
By Michael Sol Warren
Massachusetts has led the nation in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and embracing renewable energy for years – a tradition continued in Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration. Now, however, the election of Donald Trump and his attitude about less...
Russian military plane crashes into Black Sea
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian plane carrying 92 people to an air base in Syria crashed Sunday into the Black Sea minutes after taking off from the city of Sochi, Russia’s Defense Ministry said. There appeared to be no survivors, and those on board included...
Business briefs: UMass food specialist gets grant
Greenfield Savings promotes threeGREENFIELD – Kelly Gagnon has been promoted to trust officer in the Trust and Investment Management Group at Greenfield Savings Bank. Gagnon joined the bank in 2010, and has worked in the financial services industry...
Hanukkah celebrators light up winter night with Chinese food
By EMILY CUTTS
NORTHAMPTON – The sounds of laughing and singing filled the halls of Congregation B’nai Israel Saturday night as hundreds gathered to mark the first night of Hanukkah.Traditionally, Jews across the world light candles to commemorate the festival of...
A healing home in Northampton: Property owner Jordi Herold offers free apartment for a year to refugees
By AMANDA DRANE
NORTHAMPTON — City property owner and founder of the Iron Horse Jordi Herold said his decision to donate one of his rental units to incoming refugees spawned from a New Year’s resolution.Each year during Hanukkah, Herold said his family takes time to...
Amherst church turns down $200,000 in CPA money
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — Representatives of the First Congregational Church are turning down $200,000 in Community Preservation Act money that would have paid more than half the cost of installing a fire sprinkler system in its building at 165 Main St.Instead, the...
