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By JAMES PENTLAND

NORTHAMPTON — Western Massachusetts lawmakers are touting a $375 million bond authorization for funding road and bridge repairs and other transportation needs that Gov. Maura Healey signed Friday.“I think (rural towns) will be pleasantly surprised,”...

By JAMES PENTLAND

NORTHAMPTON — Stymied by the struggle to attract and retain enough teachers, the area’s Head Start provider has proposed lowering its enrollment capacity in the face of a potential loss of $3 million in federal funding.Clare Higgins, executive...

By JAMES PENTLAND

HOLYOKE — Mayor Joshua A. Garcia has been named “Padrino” (“Godfather”) of Boston’s annual Puerto Rican Festival Parade.The festival, now in its 57th year, starts Saturday at Boston City Hall plaza. The parade steps off Sunday, July 30, at noon.As...

By JAMES PENTLAND

HATFIELD — Farmers who lost crops to this month’s floods, the February freeze and May frost will be able to seek compensation from a new $20 million fund announced Monday by Senate President Karen Spilka.“We have added $20 million to the supplemental...

By JAMES PENTLAND

NORTHAMPTON — A 30-year-old man serving a prison sentence in Oregon for child pornography offenses is facing similar charges in Hampshire County.Blake Lassiter appeared before Judge Jane Mulqueen in Hampshire Superior Court Friday for a status...

By JAMES PENTLAND

NORTHAMPTON — Food producers Park Hill Orchard in Easthampton and Antonellis Farm in Deerfield are among 165 recipients of $26.3 million in food security grants announced Thursday by Gov. Maura Healey.Farms and other organizations applied for the...

By JAMES PENTLAND

NORTHAMPTON — Besides the philanthropic Massachusetts Farm Resiliency Fund announced Thursday by Gov. Maura Healey, there are a number of online fundraisers where people can give money to help area farms recover from flood damage.Donation links can be...

By JAMES PENTLAND

NORTHAMPTON — At least three municipal sewer systems overflowed due to heavy rain Sunday, sending millions of gallons of untreated or partially treated sewage into nearby waterways and the Connecticut River.Public works officials in Northampton...

By JAMES PENTLAND

SOUTH HADLEY — Marina owner Luke Brunelle died unexpectedly Thursday evening, the family reported in a statement.Brunelle, 61, was widely respected and admired for his dedication to providing exceptional service and fostering a welcoming environment...

By JAMES PENTLAND

HADLEY — As forecasters extended flood warnings for the Connecticut River Valley until Thursday evening, lawmakers and state officials heard from farmers who have lost crops to the deluge.“This looks bad,” Allan Zuchowski said, surveying a muddy lake...

By JAMES PENTLAND

WILLIAMSBURG — After seeing some of the area’s widespread flooding from a helicopter as she flew from Hanscom Field in Bedford to Northampton, Gov. Maura Healey stopped in Williamsburg Wednesday morning to learn more about flood-related damages...

By JAMES PENTLAND

NORTHAMPTON — With smaller rivers around the county dropping below flood stage Tuesday, attention turned to the still-rising Connecticut River and the homes and businesses in harm’s way.At Brunelle’s Marina in South Hadley, the river sent tons of...

By JAMES PENTLAND

WILLIAMSBURG — Scott Hodges and Jack Slowik were watching the swollen East Branch of the Mill River slowly subside as the rain ceased Monday morning when the police came calling.Everyone living on Ashfield Road along the river would have to evacuate...

By JAMES PENTLAND

NORTHAMPTON — A former physical therapist from South Hadley pleaded not guilty Monday in Superior Court to two counts of rape following indictments by a grand jury.Edward Kostek, 42, worked at Cooley Dickinson Hospital Rehabilitation Services for many...

By JAMES PENTLAND

SOUTH HADLEY — Town officials are encouraging residents to submit comments on a new five-year housing plan that was the subject of a public forum late last month.Known as a housing production plan, the process began last summer with the formation of a...

By JAMES PENTLAND

NORTHAMPTON — Water levels were receding Friday after a rainy stretch to start the month, but many boaters and fishermen were still cautious about going out on the region’s rivers.“This is exceptional, what’s going on,” said Ken Salem, a Northampton...

By JAMES PENTLAND

EASTHAMPTON — A city family was displaced by a fire that broke out Wednesday morning at their Everett Street home, the Fire Department reported.The fire was called in at 8:37 a.m. by the sole occupant who was safely outside when crews arrived. They...

By JAMES PENTLAND

AMHERST — What if all you needed to generate electricity was thin film material, microscopic fibers and air?Researchers at the University of Massachusetts have proved it can be done, and now they’re showing that many different kinds of materials can...

By JAMES PENTLAND

WILLIAMSBURG — State Auditor Diana DiZoglio knows she’s going up against some powerful interests with her push to audit the Massachusetts Legislature, but she’s forging ahead regardless.“We’ll be preparing a report,” she told an audience of 30 at the...

By JAMES PENTLAND

NORTHAMPTON — A lawyer for a Southampton man facing numerous charges including rape, strangulation, assault with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping in cases involving three women is asking a judge to lift or modify the curfew restrictions on her...