Hurricane closes schools, colleges, government offices; essential information listed

Gov. Deval Patrick declared a state of emergency Sunday in advance of Hurricane Sandy’s expected arrival today. Patrick directed all schools and state offices to close, and non-emergency state workers to stay home today and encouraged private employers to tell their workers to also stay home. Here is … 0

• Giant dangerous superstorm bears down on Eastern US
• Essential to have an emergency preparednesss plan
• Most Red Cross personnel are volunteers
• Helping children cope with natural disasters
• Preparing for a disaster at home
• The disaster plan for businesses

Four Pittsfield teenagers held on $10,000 bail after allegedly raping UMass Amherst student in dormitory

AMHERST — Calling the allegations “horrendous,” a judge Monday set bail at $10,000 each for four Pittsfield teenagers accused of gang-raping a University of Massachusetts student for hours on the morning of Oct. 13. UMass police charged Emmanuel Bile, Justin King and Adam Liccardi, all 18, and Caleb … 0

Teach-in at UMass to focus on 'corporatization' of public education

A teach-in planned for Friday at the University of Massachusetts Amherst will explore the impact of corporate-led education reform, including such issues as “high stakes” testing, budget cuts, mounting student debt and political attacks on public schools and teachers, organizers say. The free “Education for Democracy, Not Corporatocracy” … 0

UMass says punishment may not deter rowdy behavior

AMHERST — Last year, nearly three-quarters of the 652 University of Massachusetts students identified as being involved in off-campus disturbances were punished by UMass. But it’s not clear that this is deterring other students. Judging by calls to police and the number of arrests logged so far this … 0

UMass Amherst gets $85 million for physical sciences building  

AMHERST — Gov. Deval Patrick announced $607 million in capital investments across the University of Massachusetts system on Tuesday, a funding package that includes $85 million for a new physical science building at UMass Amherst. The announcement was made to coincide with the university system’s 150th anniversary. Patrick … 0

UMass to get capital funds for new buildings, including physical sciences in Amherst

BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration has announced more than $600 million in capital investments in the University of Massachusetts system. The plan announced on Tuesday includes a new, $85 million physical sciences building on the university’s flagship Amherst campus; a $100 million academic building on the Boston … 0