JPaleoWAMCNews

Springfield Bishop Emeritus Timothy McDonnell dies at 88 Following a battle with cancer, Springfield Bishop Emeritus Timothy McDonnell -- the 8th bishop of Springfield -- has died.With his appointment, McDonnell was tasked with leading western Massachusetts...

For @wamc.org: Springfield Bishop Emeritus Timothy McDonnell dies at 88

www.wamc.org/news/2026-03...

Six Flags announces sale of Great Escape EPR plans to run the parks, which also include sites in four other states and Canada, in partnership with Enchanted Parks, which already runs four parks and lodging locations in Old Forge, New York.

Six Flags announces sale of Great Escape

Bishop Byrne tells me McDonell's spirit remained high until the end as he received hospice care in Holyoke. Despite the cancer he suffered from, McDonell remained a whiz at the New York Times's "Spelling Bee" game, Byrne added

EDIT: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield has informed me there was an issue with the announcement: Bishop McDonnell died last night, not this morning.

For @wamc.org: Per the diocese, former Springfield Bishop Timothy McDonnell has died.

Springfield City Council calls for ‘HoopHall Classic’ to stay Despite recent divisions, Springfield's city council was unanimous in calling for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to keep its biggest high school basketball showcase in the city.

For @wamc.org: Despite recent divisions, Springfield's city council unanimously called for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to keep one of its biggest high school basketball showcases in the city.

www.wamc.org/news/2026-03...

State IG: Plenty of lessons for MassDOT to learn from Applegreen travel plaza debacle In 2025, travel plaza operator Applegreen withdrew from plans to redevelop services areas across Massachusetts. A state watchdog says the road MassDOT took to picking the Irish company had more than j...

For @wamc.org: State IG says there are plenty of lessons for MassDOT to learn from Applegreen travel plaza debacle

www.wamc.org/news/2026-03...

Sounding the Alarm: Locals rally in Holyoke for return of air-raid siren’s sound A loud weekly tradition in Holyoke, Massachusetts recently went quiet, but instead of it being an end of an era, locals are filling the silence while calling for change at city hall.

More info on why folks are honking here: www.wamc.org/news/2026-03...

For @wamc.org: The Holyoke City Council could take up an amendment that would mean less car honking downtown on Friday. Some councilors want to restore the air-raid siren at the Wherehouse? that was silenced in January, adjusting city code to allow its weekly 2-min. blares again

One moment of levity; Hurst and Davila appearing to be joking around a bit minutes after going for each other's jugulars. Can't say the same for Fenton, who got completely thrown under the bus by Hurst in a way I don't think anyone was expecting.

Toymaker Hasbro, which used a WMass facility amid trade worries, seeks tariff refund The toymaker is one of thousands to seek refunds from the federal government. It contracts with a company in East Longmeadow to make some of its toys and board games.

Toymaker Hasbro, which used a WMass facility amid trade worries, seeks tariff refund

Amid trading of barbs, Springfield City Councilors affirm confidence in Whitfield Following weeks of press conferences, legal memos and debates, the Springfield City Council rejected a “no confidence” resolution targeting its president, Councilor Tracye Whitfield – but not before s...

For @wamc.org: Following weeks of press conferences, legal memos and debates, the Springfield City Council rejected a “no confidence” resolution targeting its president, Councilor Tracye Whitfield – but not before some confrontations in the council chambers.

www.wamc.org/news/2026-03...

Springfield City Council votes down 'no confidence' resolution targeting Council Prez Whitfield The Springfield City Council President has cleared a "no confidence" vote, with most councilors deeming her fit to lead as they wait to hear back from the State Ethics Commission.

For @wamc.org: Springfield City Council votes down 'no confidence' resolution targeting Council Prez Whitfield (longer story to come)

www.wamc.org/news/2026-03...

Springfield City Council to take ‘no confidence’ vote in wake of prez’s conflict of interest controversy Tonight, city councilors in Springfield will vote on a “no confidence” resolution concerning Council President Tracye Whitfield.Whitfield has been at the center of a lengthy city legal review – one de...

Context: www.wamc.org/news/2026-03...

For @wamc.org: In Springfield City Council Chambers, following an intense back-and-forth, a "no confidence" resolution re: Council President Tracye Whitfield has failed

Hey, guess what I'm writing up?

lol at the tourists in dubai being like ‘what do you mean i took my vacation at The Neiman-Marcus That Kills You’

Springfield City Council to take ‘no confidence’ vote in wake of prez’s conflict of interest controversy Tonight, city councilors in Springfield will vote on a “no confidence” resolution concerning Council President Tracye Whitfield.Whitfield has been at the center of a lengthy city legal review – one de...

For @wamc.org: Tonight, city councilors in Springfield will vote on a “no confidence” resolution concerning Council President Tracye Whitfield.

www.wamc.org/news/2026-03...

Platner sat for lengthy interview with antisemitic conspiracy theorist, said he was ‘longtime fan’ of his show Weeks before Graham Platner promoted an antisemitic conspiracy theorist in a now-deleted social media post on Thursday, the controversial Maine Senate candidate appeared on a popular YouTube show whos...

This is a joke at this point right?

After 10 Years, Politico Leaves Massachusetts Politics All on the Field… — Western Mass Politics & Insight This past Monday Massachusetts’s pundits and commentariat opened their inboxes and found something missing. The Bay State’s own version of Politico’s Playbook was not there. It was not a holiday or on...

The end of the Politico Massachusetts newsletter after nearly 11 years comes amid changes for the company, but could have broader impacts for Bay State political media. #mapoli wmasspi.com/2026/02/afte...

Hampden DA: State police sergeant charged with assault over Springfield traffic stop A Massachusetts state police sergeant is facing assault and battery charges following a use-of-force investigation.

For @wamc.org: A Massachusetts state police sergeant is facing assault and battery charges following a use-of-force investigation.

www.wamc.org/news/2026-02...

we finally reached the end of this calendar event i accidentally made 12 years ago

‘Dropped the Ball’: Springfield Mayor calls out Basketball Hall of Fame Prez over exploring ‘HoopHall Classic' move The mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts says he's concerned and disappointed with the Basketball Hall of Fame, following reports that its leadership put out feelers for moving a major high school bask...

For @wamc.org: The mayor of Springfield, Mass. says he's concerned and disappointed with the Basketball Hall of Fame, following reports that its leadership put out feelers for moving a major high school basketball showcase out of the city.

www.wamc.org/news/2026-02...

And I'm saying I'm tweaking from a Dunkin cold brew I had two hours ago on an empty stomach. Apologies, Jon

Oh man it merged the back-and-forth between the reporter into a weird amalgamation. The reporter does ask "per bus?" at one point and he says "Yes."

It is, apparently. Here's a VERY ROUGH otter.ai transcript of Gorman answering a costs question from Western Mass News

I swear to God if 3,200. HAng on

Chicopee launches state’s first-ever, violator-funded ‘School Bus Stop-Arm Safety Program’ Last year, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed legislation that would let towns and cities use video monitoring to track drivers who fail to stop for school buses. This week, a city in western ...

For @wamc.org: Chicopee launches state’s first-ever, violator-funded ‘School Bus Stop-Arm Safety Program’

www.wamc.org/news/2026-02...

For @wamc.org: In Chicopee, city, school & bus co. officials are unveiling the city's bus stop arm safety program, which goes live on April 1. Five Star Buses have been outfitted w/cameras designed to capture drivers passing while stop signs are extended with a $250 fine to boot

For context, we’re right down the hill from Worcester Airport