Cross purposes: Proposed Westover cutbacks highlight competing interests in state's defense ties

CHICOPEE - Last week's announcement by Air Force officials that they intend to halve the number of cargo jets stationed at Westover Air Reserve Base served to highlight Massachusetts' heavy reliance on federal defense spending, according local lawmakers and analysts. The announcement also demonstrates Congress' sometimes conflicting goals of austerity and job creation, they said. The Bay State receives billions of dollars annually in defense contracts while its six military installations serve as a static but steady source of employment, they noted. "Do we want to start these budget cuts at a time when the economy is really struggling?" asked Robert Nakosteen, a professor at the Isenberg School of Business at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Bank robber had helper, police allege

NORTHAMPTON - Police say a series of text messages helped link a Holyoke woman to the suspect in Friday's robbery of the Florence Savings Bank branch on King Street.

Amherst College offers to keep funding campus preschool, with caveat

AMHERST - Amherst College has offered to continue funding the Little Red Schoolhouse if the preschool program expands its hours to better accommodate the needs of college faculty with children.

Northampton merchants urged to just say 'No sale' to synthetic pot

NORTHAMPTON - Police are putting local store owners on notice to keep an eye out for products marketed as incense or bath salts but used by some as a synthetic alternative to marijuana.

Amherst schools chief says more reserve funds needed

AMHERST - Superintendent Maria Geryk has recommended the regional schools spend an extra $133,441 from reserves next year because state aid is expected to be less than anticipated.

Landfill bill may nix solar lawsuit

AMHERST - A bill allowing all capped municipal landfills to serve as sites for solar projects, even if previous state capping grants had restricted their future use to recreational purposes, passed the state's House of Representatives unanimously Wednesday.

Talk to offer farmers tips on reviving the good earth

NORTHAMPTON - The public is invited to the First Churches tonight to hear agricultural experts talk about a topic they say is of grave importance - dirt.

The 7:30 p.m. event will feature discussions about how the decline of soil quality is affecting the nutritional value of crops, and what farmers and consumers can do to reverse the trend.