July 2023

July 31, 2023 

97.9 WHAV: Finegold Takes Lead in Adding Ability to Change Gender on Marriage Certificates in Senate Bill

The Greenfield Recorder: Massachusetts Senate clears ‘X’ gender choice for driver’s licenses

Western Mass News: Getting Answers: State lawmakers pass $56 billion 2024 fiscal year budget

July 28, 2023

22 News: Senate moves to make IDs more accessible, inclusive

BusinessWest: Senate Passes Supplemental Budget Including Proposed $20 Million For Farms

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Massachusetts Senate clears “X” gender choice for driver’s licenses

New Boston Post: ‘People Know What Gender They Are,’ Democrat State Senator Says, As Senate Passes Diverse ID Legislation

The Greenfield Recorder: Beacon Hill Roll Call: July 17 to July 21, 2023

July 27, 2023 

GBH: State Senate passes bills on gender-neutral birth records, ID access for homeless people

July 25, 2023

22 News: Section of Route 2 in Gill closed due to slope erosion

22 News: Senate preparing for critical budget vote

The Greenfield Recorder: Food caucus outlines goals: Legislation focuses on food access, farmland and economic development

The Reminder: Sabadosa, Northampton push for decarbonization legislation

July 24, 2023 

The Greenfield Recorder: In Hatfield, Senate President Spilka announces creation of $20M fund to help beleaguered farmers

MassLive: Mass. Senate proposes giving $20M to farmers affected by extreme weather

Western Mass News: State senate proposes $20 million in funding to help farms impacted by flooding

July 23, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: State farm caucus spells out priorities: Bevy of legislation focuses on food access, farmland and economic development

July 20, 2023

Mass.Gov: Healey-Driscoll Administration, United Way Announce Farm Resiliency Fund to Support Flood Relief Efforts

The Greenfield Recorder: Bills look to ensure ‘sustainable future’ for rural schools

The Greenfield Recorder: Congressional delegation calls on feds to declare western Mass a disaster area in wake of floods

WBUR: Gov. Healey launches fundraiser to help flooded farms

July 19, 2023

Amherst Bulletin: Federal lawmakers meet with farmers, speak to post-flood support

July 18, 2023 

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Hilltown Community Health Center secures almost $1M for clinic at Smith Voc

NPQ: The Push for Prison Moratorium: A Case Study in Massachusetts

WBUR: Damage assessments ongoing after western Massachusetts floods

July 17, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Sabadosa, others urge Legislature to allow Northampton to adopt all-electric building code

NBC Boston: Heavy rains flood 75 Mass. farms, force untreated sewage to flow into 3 rivers

New England Public Media: ‘Staggering’: Damage assessments ongoing after western Massachusetts floods

July 16, 2023

Sentinel & Enterprise: Mass. House answering call for special education funding

The Greenfield Recorder: Federal lawmakers meet with farmers, speak to post-flood support

July 15, 2023

MassLive: State, federal leaders seek relief for flood-soaked farmers

MassLive: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern visit flooded area in Hadley

July 14, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Northampton mayor salutes farmers’ ‘determination’

The Greenfield Recorder: Beacon Hill Roll Call: July 3 to July 7, 2023

July 13, 2023

Athol Daily News: ‘We’re all going to struggle’: Farmers share extent of crop damage with visiting politicians

The Greenfield Recorder: ‘A dream come true’: Greenfield celebrates long-awaited library opening

July 12, 2023 

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Conn. River inundates low-lying farm fields, ruins crops

The Greenfield Recorder: ‘We’re all going to struggle’: Farmers share extent of crop damage with visiting politicians

Western Mass News: State leaders discuss flood concerns, immense damages in Northampton

July 10, 2023

The Eagle-Tribune: Lawmakers renew push for translated nursing assistant exams

The Greenfield Recorder: Ending MCAS graduation hurdle could land on state ballot

July 8, 2023

The Eagle-Tribune: Teachers poll on possible ballot questions

July 7, 2023 

The Greenfield Recorder: Beacon Hill Roll Call: June 26 to June 30, 2023

July 6, 2023

Amherst Bulletin: Hats off to heroines: Amherst mom and daughter, Survival Center chief among honored women

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Teachers could put ending MCAS graduation requirement on ballot

Spectrum News 1: 2024 ballot questions could include major changes to state education

July 5, 2023

The Reminder: Northampton City Council supports state act involving access to trails for all

July 2, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Hats off to heroines: Amherst mom and daughter, Survival Center chief among honored women

June 2023

June 30, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Beacon Hill Roll Call, June 19-23

Spectrum News: State lawmaker proposes moratorium on new jail and prison construction

The Greenfield Recorder: Beacon Hill Roll Call: June 19 to June 23, 2023

June 29, 2023

97.9 WHAV: Payano Among Those Asking Wealthy to Pay Community College Fee for Admissions Favoring Rich

Daily Hampshire Gazette: College leaders, politicians condemn Supreme Court ruling banning affirmative action in college admissions

The Bharat Express News: Dozens of University of Massachusetts presidents call Supreme Court ruling ‘disappointing’

June 28, 2023

The Patch: MCI-Framingham Inmates Give Historic Testimony At Moratorium Hearing

WBUR: Inmates, advocates and lawmakers renew push for a prison moratorium

June 27, 2023

State House News Service: Prison Moratorium Supporters Start Over Again

WWLP 22 News: Debate over prison construction moratorium sparks controversy

June 26, 2023

The Reminder: Northampton mayor, other advocates testify in favor of voting bills

June 24, 2023

MassLive: Westfield Public Health Bulletin: State standards needed for health service in all towns

June 23, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Beacon Hill Roll Call: June 12 to June 16, 2023

June 22, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Amherst, Northampton residents push Legislature to OK ranked-choice and noncitizen voting; Northampton also seeks to lower voting age

June 20, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Literacy Project’s outgoing executive director honored by statewide coalition

June 19, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Amherst elementary students lead charge for Indigenous Peoples’ Day

June 16, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Beacon Hill Roll Call: June 5 to June 9, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Legislators push collaboration to solve rural challenges at annual breakfast

June 15, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Pathlight’s ‘This Is Me’ exhibit heads to State House, will feature photos of 20 people

June 14, 2023

Athol Daily News: Area activists urge Legislature to create commission to study existential threats of nuclear weapons, climate change

MassLive: ‘Portraits of Pathlight’ exhibit on display at Massachusetts State House

June 13, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Guiding Star Grange hosting 150th anniversary celebration

June 12, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Area activists urge Legislature to create commission to study existential threats of nuclear weapons, climate change

The Greenfield Recorder: Local activists urge Legislature to form commission to study threats of nuclear weapons, climate change

June 11, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: ‘Love will win’: LGBTQ community, allies push for acceptance at annual parade, rally

June 9, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Beacon Hill Roll Call: May 29 to June 2, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Greenfield residents urge council to pass ordinance on tax-taking process

June 7, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: State adds $1.69M in funding for Amherst’s Jones Library project; $472K for Tilton Library in Deerfield

Telegram & Gazette: Healey: Pride flag on Beacon Hill shows Mass. true colors

The Greenfield Recorder: Frontier students work with lawmakers to file bill on menstrual products

June 6, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Domb pushes for menstruation equity at legislative hearing

WWLP 22 News: Amherst and Deerfield libraries to receive $2.1M in additional funding

June 2, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Beacon Hill Roll Call: May 22 to May 26, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: ‘The power to change lives’: 18 graduates earn high-school equivalency diplomas

June 1, 2023

Amherst Bulletin: Comerford secures $1.1M for area groups: UMass Wet lab, doula program highlight list

May 2023

May 31, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Comerford secures $1.1M for area groups: UMass Wet lab, doula program highlight list

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Human services council, alliance for foster families separately honor Comerford with awards

The Greenfield Recorder: 11th GCC President Michelle Schutt lauded for ‘passion for higher education’ at inauguration

May 30, 2023

Amherst Bulletin: State politicians eye bill to protect soil, farms from PFAS

May 28, 2023

Athol Daily News: Comerford receives Legislator of the Year from Massachusetts Alliance for Foster Families

The Greenfield Recorder: GCC Day returns for second year; college president’s inauguration set for Wednesday

May 26, 2023

Fall River Reporter: Massachusetts Senate Democrats Push To Lower College Tuition For Undocumented Immigrants

The Greenfield Recorder: Activists hail Supreme Court ruling on ‘home equity theft’

May 25, 2023

GBH: Mass. Senate passes $56 billion budget, with focus on higher education access

The Shoestring: Proposed Law Would Aid Farms Polluted By PFAS-Tainted Sludge Fertilizers

Telegram & Gazette: Is this the year physician-assisted suicide becomes legal in Massachusetts?

May 23, 2023

New Boston Post: Massachusetts State Senator Anne Gobi Tapped To Become State’s First ‘Director of Rural Affairs’ By Governor Maura Healey

WBUR: State Sen. Gobi tapped for new post in Healey administration as director of rural affairs

May 22, 2023

GVS: Sen. Gobi Selected for Healey Admin Role

Telegram & Gazette: Anne Gobi to leave Senate for job as Gov. Healey’s rural affairs chief

May 21, 2023

Central Tibetan Administration: Tibetan Delegates from Massachusetts Attends Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration at State House Boston

May 19, 2023

Athol Daily News: Cannabis article for Athol Town Meeting generates questions

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Beacon Hill Roll Call

The Greenfield Recorder: Beacon Hill Roll Call: May 8 to May 12, 2023

May 18, 2023

Athol Daily News: Comerford Receives Caring Bear Award from the Providers’ Council

Athol Daily News: Athol Police to begin using body cams

WBZ News Radio: Climate Activists Say “Embodied Carbon” Escaping Oversight

May 17, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Climate activists say ‘embodied carbon’ escaping oversight

May 15, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Beacon Hill Roll Call: May 1 to May 5, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: State lawmakers eye bill to protect soil, farms from PFAS

May 11, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Sen. Comerford, locals urge state to update outdated mosquito-control plan

May 10, 2023

Athol Daily News: Comerford, Athol Selectboard review community’s needs

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Valley residents, senator advocate for home equity bill

The Greenfield Recorder: School officials, students advocate for more rural aid during ‘critical’ legislative session

WBUR: A legislative push to shore up transgender rights in Massachusetts

May 9, 2023

Athol Daily News: UMass Advancement unions taking case to governor

The Greenfield Recorder: Greenfield residents, senator advocate for home equity bill

MassLive: Northampton officials push for more help as Mass. education secretary visits

May 8, 2023

Athol Daily News: Senator Comerford hosts office hours in person and virtually

Daily Hampshire Gazette: State’s education secretary gets an earful from educators, politicians in Northampton stop

The Greenfield Recorder: Education secretary hears about rural school challenges

May 3, 2023

Amherst Bulletin: Leverett parents flag issue of drivers racing past stopped school buses

Amherst Bulletin: Celebrating a century: At 100 years old, town native Peter Kaslauskas still lives in the home he built with his father 80 years ago

Spectrum News 1: Legislators advocate for medical aid in dying to be legalized in Massachusetts

May 2, 2023

10 Boston: Farmer: Mass. Hemp Industry ‘May Not Survive’ Without Regulatory Changes

22 News WWLP: Local lawmakers working on stricter legislation for school bus passing

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Safety on the line: Local, state officials address school bus safety after Leverett family flags offenders 

MassLive: Here’s how your Mass. state legislators would like to improve your health care

NECN: Farmer: Mass. Hemp Industry ‘May Not Survive’ Without Regulatory Changes

The Greenfield Recorder: Safety on the line: Local, state officials address school bus safety after Leverett family flags offenders

WAMX Northeast Public Radio: Bill would compensate Quabbin watershed communities

Western Mass News: Leverett parents pushing for school bus safety legislation after too many close calls

May 1, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Celebrating a century: At 100 years old, town native Peter Kaslauskas still lives in the home he built with his father 80 years ago

Daily Hampshire Gazette: LGBTQ youth commission eyes ‘lighthouse’ role with call for legislation

April 2023

April 28, 2023

22 News: With ideas, LGBTQ youth commission eyes “lighthouse” role

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Beacon Hill Roll Call, April 17-21

The Greenfield Recorder: Beacon Hill Roll Call: April 17 to April 21, 2023

WBUR: Mass. LGBTQ youth commission propose policy changes amid nationwide threats

April 27, 2023

Athol Daily News: Senator Comerford hosts office hours in person and virtually

GBH: LGBTQ youth commission urges state to stand up against wave of discriminatory bills across US

Spectrum News 1: State lawmakers want to reimburse western Mass. towns for Quabbin Reservoir

State House News Service: With Ideas, LGBTQ Youth Commission Eyes “Lighthouse” Role

WBUR: Boston and eastern Mass. would reimburse rural communities for use of Quabbin water, under new bill

WBZ News Radio: Western Mass. Seeks Excise For Water Flowing East

April 26, 2023 

Daily Hampshire Gazette: State agency comes through with $40M for new Amherst elementary school

The Greenfield Recorder: Bill would compensate towns harmed by creation of Quabbin Reservoir

Western Mass News: Lawmakers hold hearing over proposed equity, payments for Quabbin watershed towns

April 12, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Legislature to honor Hatfield resident with Black Excellence award

The Greenfield Recorder: Final Shelburne Housing Authority members honored upon merger

April 11, 2023

The Reminder: Sciarra prepared to use city funds to help balance school budget in Northampton

April 7, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Beacon Hill Roll Call, March 27-31

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Lawmakers, architects push for multistall, gender-neutral bathroom bill for new construction, renovations statewide

April 6, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: $223K to aid in PFAS remediation for Franklin County, North Quabbin

The Greenfield Recorder: Beacon Hill Roll Call: March 27 to March 31, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Officials air views on state education funding

The Shoestring: State Officials Criticize UMass Privatization Plan

April 5, 2023

HCAM Television: Senate Passes Legislation Authorizing Chapter 90 Funding

April 2, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Education advocates call for better state funding formula

The Greenfield Recorder: League of Women Voters coffee social inspires talks on rural issues, state budget

March 2023

March 29, 2023

BusinessWest: Picture This

The Greenfield Recorder: Comerford, Domb weigh in against UMass move to privatize union jobs

March 28, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Lawmakers echo concerns they hear about PFAS

iBerkshires.com: Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership Want to Change Name

March 24, 2023

Cape Cod Times: Saving the lives of Mass. moms: These three bills focus on pregnancy, postpartum care gaps

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Beacon Hill Roll Call, March 13-17

March 23, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Progress report: McGovern addresses steps needed to end hunger in 7 years at western Mass. strategy session

The Greenfield Recorder: Legislators implore FirstLight to ‘do better’ following oil spill

March 21, 2023 

MassLive: Western Massachusetts Passenger Rail Commission meets at Northampton Senior Center

March 17, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Beacon Hill Roll Call, March 6-10

March 16, 2023

Amherst Bulletin: Sen. Comerford to fight for more school funding for region

Athol Daily News: At legislative hearing, Valley leaders say gratitude alone isn’t enough to make early education staff stay

The Greenfield Recorder: Beacon Hill Roll Call: March 6 to March 10, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Comerford affirms support to ban forever chemicals in Warwick

March 15, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: At legislative hearing, Valley leaders say gratitude alone isn’t enough to make early education staff stay

MassLive: Amherst school board passes a budget that cuts teachers and paraeducators

March 14, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Officials dissect governor’s education budget in hearing at UMass 

March 13, 2023

The Washington Post: Massachusetts could become the next state to allow aid in dying

March 10, 2023

Athol Daily News: Comerford sees good things in governor’s budget

March 9, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Sen. Comerford to fight for more school funding for region

March 8, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Regional Notebook: March 8, 2023

March 7, 2023

WAMC Northeast Public Radio: Gov. Maura Healey testifies about state budget before House and Senate lawmakers

March 5, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: State officials, families visit sugarhouse restaurants during Massachusetts Maple Month

March 4, 2023

The Boston Globe: Higher ed advocates laud Healey proposal, call for more effort to make college affordable

March 2, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: Beacon Hill Roll Call: Feb. 20 to Feb. 24, 2023

March 1, 2023

Boston University News Service: New agriculture committee puts focus on region

February 2023

February 28, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Jews, politicians taking action to ‘heal the world’

February 27, 2023

Milford Daily News: Will this be the year that medical aid in dying becomes law in Massachusetts?

February 26, 2023

CommonWealth Magazine: A renewed push to legalize ‘medical aid in dying’

Daily Hampshire Gazette: New agriculture committee puts focus on region

MetroWest Daily News: Are we really doing no harm by rejecting the End of Life Options Act?

Taunton Daily Gazette: Prison moratorium pushed as Taunton mental health system experiences strain

The Greenfield Recorder: My Turn: Death with dignity must not be denied

February 22, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Beacon Hill Roll Call, Feb. 13-17

February 21, 2023

WAMC – Northeast Public Radio: Sen. Comerford looks to make state’s PILOT program fairer for western Massachusetts

February 20, 2023

The Greenfield Recorder: ‘Death with dignity’ push continues: Lawmakers, supporters advocate for medically assisted dying

February 16, 2023

Axios Boston: Inside the “right to die” in Massachusetts

MassLive: Javier Reyes appointed next UMass Amherst chancellor, touts support for innovation 

Telegram & Gazette: Here’s where Worcester County lawmakers will serve on state Senate committees

The Greenfield Recorder: Beacon Hill Roll Call: Feb. 6 to Feb. 10, 2023

WWLP: Senator Comerford looks to address utility rates, PILOTs program

February 15, 2023

The Bay State Banner: Activists push Healey on prison moratorium

The Greenfield Recorder: Pushback: Supremes to hear home equity theft case

February 12, 2023

Boston Globe: Seizing home equity over unpaid taxes is unfair to homeowners

The Greenfield Recorder: Report finds fewer students heading to college; politicians call for more investment

February 9, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Report finds fewer students heading to college; pols call for more investment

The Greenfield Recorder: Support legislation to reduce energy costs

February 5, 2023

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Guest columnists Jo Comerford and Natalie Blais: Paying too much for energy? We agree

MassLive: Do you think Massachusetts energy costs are too high? We agree (Viewpoint)

MetroWest Daily News: Mass. criminal justice reform advocates push old argument on new Legislature

February 1, 2023

Amherst Bulletin: Bill seeking ban on PFAS could affect regional high school track turf decision

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