politics, local

Statehouse on verge of approving cell phone rules for drivers

Kristin Palpini — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:00:00 -0400

State lawmakers have been debating cell phone limits for more than seven years. Legislation now before them may be the one to become law.

Gazette, Bulletin to host override forum

Daily Hampshire Gazette — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:00:00 -0500

AMHERST - Voters here are on the cusp of deciding the fate of a $1.68 million override at the March 23 town elections.

Rosenberg airs budget conundrum

Kristin Palpini — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:58:10 -0500

AMHERST - Revenue from a proposed casino isn't going to solve the commonwealth's multibillion-dollar budget woes, state Sen. Stanley C. Rosenberg told a group of University of Massachusetts faculty Thursday.

Officials plead for funding

Ben Storrow — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:00:00 -0500

amherst - A parade of municipal and education officials pleaded with state legislators to maintain funding for local aid and higher education at a state budget hearing in Amherst Monday, warning that a reduction to either could leave them in disarray.

Baker, Stein bring campaigns to Amherst, area voters

Ben Storrow — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:06:28 -0500

AMHERST - Massachusetts' fledgling gubernatorial campaign came to Amherst Thursday, with the leading Republican and Green-Rainbow Party candidates taking aim at Gov. Deval Patrick for his response to the recession while also making their respective cases for why each should become the commonwealth's next chief executive.

Resident alien voting rights on tap on Beacon Hill today

smerzbach — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:00:00 -0500

AMHERST - An effort to grant voting rights to non-U.S. citizen residents in local elections will again come before a Statehouse committee.

The Joint Committee on Election Laws has scheduled a hearing on the home-rule petition, endorsed by Amherst Town Meeting last year by a 136-14 vote. The hearing on H4306 will be today at 1 p.m. at the Statehouse.

Rep. Frank coming to UMass for talk, signing

Kristin Palpini — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:00:00 -0500

AMHERST - U.S. Rep. Barney Frank will appear at the University of Massachusetts Tuesday to discuss his 30-year career in the U.S. House of Representatives, and to sign copies of his biography.

The book, "Barney Frank: The Story of America's Only Left-Handed, Gay, Jewish Congressman," is published by the University of Massachusetts Press.