News
Authorities ID victim in Greenfield slaying
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office had identified Christopher Hairston, 35, last known to reside in Pittsfield, as the victim found dismembered in a barrel in a Chapman Street apartment on Monday evening.Suspect Taaniel...
La Veracruzana, PHO-keh Bowl launch returnable container program
By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL
NORTHAMPTON — Amid the annual commemorations of Earth Day, Pioneer Valley eatery La Veracruzana is launching a new kind of takeout container meant to be given back after it’s used. The restaurant, which is known for its Mexican cuisine and has three...
Photo: Peach Protectors
Beacon Hill Roll Call, April 15-19
By BOB KATZEN
THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ and representatives’ votes on bills that are currently in separate House-Senate conference committees which are...
Amherst officials eye 2026 for 6th Grade Academy’s launch
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — Sixth graders from Amherst’s three elementary schools will relocate to a stand-alone 6th Grade Academy housed at the Amherst Regional Middle School in fall 2026, at the same time as the new 575-student, K-5 elementary school opens at the...
Amherst Regional School Committee proposes new budget that lowers assessments for towns
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — The Amherst Regional School Committee agreed on Wednesday to a new budget proposal for the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools next year that is nearly $500,000 less than a spending plan approved in March. The new budget means smaller 6%...
Is Steam Mill Road in Deerfield a public way? Land Court to decide as trial begins
By CHRIS LARABEE
GREENFIELD — The long-running saga of seeking to determine the status of Steam Mill Road in Deerfield has reached the courtroom, as the 2021 lawsuit began its bench trial at the Franklin County Justice Center on Wednesday, with opening statements and...
Around Amherst: Town cleanup day being organized for Saturday
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — A townwide cleanup day, organized by Amherst’s community participation officers and University of Massachusetts work study students, is taking place Saturday.Rain or shine, volunteers will fan out in town to remove trash and debris beginning...
Photos: Roofing Rigger
A Look Back, April 26
50 Years Ago ■A lecture and question period on Transcendental Meditation (TM) will be presented Tuesday night at Northampton High School by the Students International Meditation Society to acquaint the community with TM and discuss the possibility of...
Police report details grisly crime scene in Greenfield
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
SUNDERLAND — Police located a cabin in the woods around Clark Mountain Road Thursday afternoon believed to belong to Taaniel Herberger-Brown, the suspect accused of murdering a man at 92 Chapman St. and storing his body in a plastic barrel for an...
Haydenville residents resist Greenway trail plan, float alternative design
By JAMES PENTLAND
WILLIAMSBURG — With decision time nearing on the first section of the long-planned Mill River Greenway that will one day create a trail connection from Northampton to Williamsburg, a dispute over the project’s design through Haydenville’s residential...
Super defers Amherst middle school principal pick to successor; one finalist says decision is retaliation for lawsuit
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — Interim Superintendent Douglas Slaughter has opted against hiring a permanent middle school principal despite a search that yielded three finalists, a decision one of those finalists says is retaliation against her because she recently filed...
Federal probe targets UMass response to anti-Arab incidents
By JAMES PENTLAND
AMHERST — Federal civil rights officials are investigating the University of Massachusetts for allegedly dragging its feet over complaints of anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian harassment on campus amid the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.An official...
Supreme Court seems skeptical of Trump’s claim of absolute immunity but decision's timing is unclear
By MARK SHERMAN
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday appeared likely to reject former President Donald Trump’s claim of absolute immunity from prosecution over election interference, but it seemed possible Trump could still benefit from a lengthy trial delay,...
Hatfield eyes reserves to cover unexpected spike in payments to Smith Vocational
By SCOTT MERZBACH
HATFIELD — Town officials are recommending the use of free cash to cover a significant and unanticipated increase associated with the cost of tuition and transportation for Hatfield students attending Smith Vocational and Agricultural School in...
Ashfield considers seeking ‘Climate Leader’ designation
By DOMENIC POLI
ASHFIELD — The town is seeking a “Climate Leader” designation from the state that would help it reduce emissions by increasing its use of equipment run on electricity rather than those requiring fossil fuels, and maximizing the efficiency of...
Photos: Remembering the Armenian genocide
Building conversion, battery storage bylaws up for vote at Sunderland Town Meeting
By CHRIS LARABEE
SUNDERLAND — Bylaw proposals concerning battery storage facilities and converting existing buildings into multi-family dwellings will come before voters at Friday night’s annual Town Meeting.Residents will decide on the 18-article warrant at...
Area briefs: Bonifaz to speak at Law Day events; Easthampton Film Festival preps for third year; Granby Candidates Night
Law Day events to focus on ‘preserving democracy’NORTHAMPTON — The public is invited to 2024 Law Day at the Hampshire and Franklin county courthouses next week, with public presentations on the topic of “preserving democracy.” Constitutional law...
