Laura Briggs accused of aiding bank robbery suspect

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.

Missing Holyoke police sniper rifle recovered

HOLYOKE (AP) - A sniper rifle reported lost by a Holyoke police officer has been recovered while the city's new mayor was along for a ride with officers.

The rifle was recovered Friday night after police received an anonymous tip.

Judge refers Holyoke church fight to Vatican

HOLYOKE (AP) - A Massachusetts judge says the future of a Holyoke church where parishioners have been holding a 24-hour vigil to protest its closure by the Springfield Diocese is up to the Vatican.

President Robert Caret says UMass will help foster innovative industry in region

HOLYOKE - University of Massachusetts is poised to work with communities to attract innovative industry to the region, UMass President Robert L. Caret told local leaders and business owners Thursday. Caret outlined plans to foster the growth of science, information technology and other industries in communities around the Amherst campus, in remarks to the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce's annual Economic Development Breakfast at the Log Cabin.
The optimistic tone of the gathering was tempered with realism, however, as Caret and local leaders who spoke recognized economic challenges facing their communities.

Hard Rock to consider alternative sites outside Holyoke for casino

Hard Rock International is reconsidering its plans to build a casino in Holyoke and exploring alternatives elsewhere in western Massachusetts, a partner in the project said Wednesday. Anthony Cignoli, a partner in Paper City LLC, a local development team working on the proposal with Hard Rock, said the group is not giving up on its Holyoke plans. However, the company is entertaining conversations with other western Massachusetts communities that have approached the group about building a casino in their town, Cignoli said. He declined to name the communities in question.

• Related story: Financial health factor in casino license

Police identify Springfield man killed in I-91 crash

HOLYOKE - Police have identified the 23-year-old man killed in a crash in the breakdown lane of Interstate 91 Tuesday as Abidan Gonzalez of Springfield.

Police said Gonzalez was driving a 1995 Nissan Altima in the breakdown lane at high speed and crashed into the rear of a 2011 Peterbilt tractor-trailer stopped in the breakdown lane near Exit 17. Gonzalez was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hard Rock may look outside Holyoke for casino site

HOLYOKE (AP) - Hard Rock International may be looking elsewhere in western Massachusetts for a casino location after failing to convince Holyoke's new mayor to reconsider his opposition to casino gambling in the city.

The company, in a brief statement released to The Boston Globe said it's continuing to evaluate opportunities in the region.