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By JIM PUZZANGHERA

WASHINGTON — The chairman of a powerful House committee welcomed the nation’s top consumer financial watchdog to a hearing Wednesday by expressing surprise he showed up, and hoped he never does so again. The more than three hours of...

By DENISE LAVOIE

BOSTON — Former Massachusetts House Speaker Thomas Finneran must forfeit his $34,000-a-year pension because of his conviction on an obstruction of justice charge, the state’s highest court ruled Wednesday.The Supreme Judicial Court agreed with a...

By BOB SALSBERG

BOSTON — A Harvard University professor who introduced Americans to the concept of designated drivers to deter drunken driving is now taking on the deadly problem of motorists distracted by cellphones and other electronics.Jay Winsten is consulting...

By STEVE LeBLANC

BOSTON — Massachusetts officials say more than 10 percent of drivers for ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft have failed a required background check.More than 62,000 drivers passed, including some who drive for both companies. About 8,200 failed the...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

PELHAM — As other cities and towns across the state push to become official sanctuaries, Pelham could be the first town to support making all of Massachusetts a safe and welcoming place for all immigrants. When Town Meeting convenes May 6, voters will...

SOUTH HADLEY — Replacing or repairing Mosier Elementary School, open communication and a desire for public service has drawn a crowd for the opening election for School Committee.Incumbents Eric Sarrazin and Barry Waite will face challengers Carly...

Who would have predicted that America would spend much of President Trump’s first 100 days, the traditional honeymoon phase of a presidency, wondering just what his tax returns and government probes of Russia’s interference in our elections might say...

By LAWRENCE B. SIDDALL

It seems that the news we hear about Iran these days is mostly negative. This is troubling to me as someone who has been there because the media doesn’t tell us much about the Iranian people.Since my brief visit there almost two years ago, I have...

By MICHAEL MAJCHROWICZ

NORTHAMPTON — Police charged a Springfield man in connection with a string of reports, all in the same day, involving the passing of several counterfeit $100 bills.Robert M. Walter, 45, faces three counts each of uttering a counterfeit note and...

By CAITLIN ASHWORTH

EASTHAMPTON — The School Committee plans to discuss last Thursday’s Easthampton High School walkout, when hundreds of students marched in the streets against hate and voiced concerns about how school administrators handle racism. The walkout was...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Back from the supermarket with four bags of groceries, Joyce Silverstone was confronted by a pond in the middle of her street, and a dilemma: should she drive through the deep water to get home, or would it be wise to park the vehicle on...

Staff reports

Jason Fernandes and Stephen Stratton totaled three points each in a 14-7 loss to Minnechaug for the South Hadley boys lacrosse team Tuesday.Fernandes had a goal and two assists, while Stratton scored twice with an assist in the home game.Marcus...

By JACK SUNTRUP

HATFIELD — Candidate filing for the May 16 election at Town Meeting is closed, and while there are several uncontested races, there will be competition for some of the town’s highest-profile positions.Selectman Marcus Boyle resigned from his post on...

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE

SAN FRANCISCO — Most people who search on Google, share on Facebook and shop on Amazon have never heard of Sir Tim Berners-Lee. But they might not be doing any of those things had he not invented the World Wide Web.Berners-Lee, 61, is this year’s...

By BOB SALSBERG

BOSTON — When Alejandra Duarte learned she was pregnant, she asked her supervisor at an industrial laundry in Massachusetts if she could be given slightly less strenuous duty, but instead, she recalled, she was given longer shifts and more...

By SARAH EL DEEB and ZEINA KARAM

BEIRUT — A chemical weapons attack in an opposition-held town in northern Syria killed dozens of people on Tuesday, leaving residents gasping for breath and convulsing in the streets and overcrowded hospitals. The Trump administration blamed the...

By ERRIN HAINES WHACK and SADIE GURMAN

Civil rights groups reacted with alarm Tuesday, while law enforcement organizations expressed relief, after the Trump administration signaled it may back out of federal agreements that compel several police departments around the U.S. to curb racial...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Late town manager John Musante will be honored with a memorial tree on the Town Common as part of a series of events celebrating Arbor Month in Amherst.The recognition for Musante, who died in 2015, is a way to recognize him for support of...

By CHERYL ZOLL

Congressional lawmakers in Washington may have backed off their drive to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but they are certain to consider other harmful policy changes and funding cuts that could limit women’s access to reproductive health care and the...

By LISA SPEAR

Aisha Russell is a blur of motion, her knees bent in a semi squat, her feet taking tiny, quick steps, as she darts from side to side. Arms raised in front of her, elbows bent, too, she makes circular motions with her hands as if she is washing a...