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Massachusetts lawmakers call on the Pentagon to ground the Osprey again until crash causes are fixed
WASHINGTON (AP) — Three Massachusetts lawmakers are pressing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to ground the V-22 Osprey aircraft again until the military can fix the root causes of multiple recent accidents, including a deadly crash in Japan. In a letter sent to Austin on Thursday, Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and Rep. Richard Neal called the decision to return Ospreys to limited flight status “misguided.” In March, Naval Air Systems Command said the aircraft had been approved to return to limited flight operations, but only with tight restrictions in place that currently keep it from doing some of the aircraft carrier, amphibious transport and special operations missions it was purchased for. The Osprey’s joint program office within the Pentagon has said those restrictions are likely to remain in place until mid-2025. The Ospreys had been grounded military-wide for three months following a horrific crash in Japan in November that killed eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members.
Last eBay Employee Sentenced in Cyberstalking Campaign Against Massachusetts Couple
The final chapter in a harrowing tale of corporate overreach and cyberstalking has closed with the sentencing of Brian Gilbert, the last of seven former eBay employees embroiled in a campaign of harassment against a Massachusetts couple. Gilbert, who served as eBay’s Senior Manager of Special Operations for the Global Security Team, faced U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young in Boston and was handed a sentence that included time served, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $20,000, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Massachusetts.
Measles hits Massachusetts for first time in years
Measles has reappeared in Massachusetts for the first time in four years. Why it matters: The deadly respiratory infection has been surging around the world and international efforts to vaccinate every child against the disease have stalled out since the pandemic. The latest: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said...
Sens. Markey and Sanders Plan to Force Steward CEO to Answer Questions in Congress
A congressional committee led by Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey plans to subpoena Steward Health Care CEO Ralph de la Torre, after reports of financial mismanagement have led to the hospital chain declaring bankruptcy. In the course of its bankruptcy proceedings, Steward opened bids on its seven hospitals operating in Massachusetts,...
Western Mass. town gets $10 million to convert abandoned mill buildings to riverfront park
The western Massachusetts town of Montague will receive nearly $10 million in state and federal funding to convert an abandoned mill into a riverfront park. The town is one of 13 Massachusetts communities receiving funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up former industrial sites known as brownfields. EPA...
Chester water supply discoloration suspected to be manganese
CHESTER — A Chester water commissioner has confirmed that the town’s drinking water supply is discolored and said that naturally occurring manganese is suspected to be the cause. Commissioner Robert Daley said in an email to The Republican Saturday that the town tested the water supply in June...
2024 All-Western Mass. Girls Tennis: Belchertown, Lenox among leaders for Class A, B & C lists
MassLive announced its 2024 All-Western Mass. for girls tennis on Saturday, July 20. Longmeadow and Minnechaug led the way in Class A, with Belchertown outpacing its competition in Class B. Lenox and Mount Greylock are featured heavily in Class C as well. If you purchase a product or register for...
Valley Green Energy launches in Amherst, offering residents cleaner electricity
The town of Amherst has announced the upcoming launch of Valley Green Energy, a new program designed to offer Amherst residents and businesses a more sustainable and cost-effective electrical supply.
Young entrepreneur brings soft-serve treats to Westfield’s East Main Street
WESTFIELD — Natalie Collins has never owned a store before. At first, she was nervous. But since Mrs. C’s Soft Serve and Cafe opened on Tuesday at 192 E. Main St., Westfield, she’s become more confident and excited about the venture. Collins, 19, a West Springfield native...
Months after 25 mph switch, police to review speed limits on Westfield streets
WESTFIELD — To address the confusion many city residents have expressed since nearly every 30 mph speed limit sign in the city was swapped to 25 mph three months ago, the Police Department has announced it will analyze the speed limits posted on city streets to determine if they are correct.
What’s In This Issue?
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Indy Rewind: Will Most of the Jones Library’s Original Millwork Survive the Renovation?
Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Historical Commission, January 8, 2024. Editor’s Note: At the meeting of the Jones Library Building Committee on July 17, 2024, Library Director Sharon Sharry and Jones Trustees President Austin Sarat announced that they had directed the project architects to retain the origjnal millwork, nearly all of which had been slated in early June to be discarded as part of a value engineering plan. The article below originally appeared in the Indy on January 17, 2024. It offers an inventory of the priceless millwork in the Jones and an indication of what was to be saved and what was to be discarded in the original design. The trustees have yet to specify what will be retained and what will be discarded in the latest design changes.
Hospitals impacted by technology outage, experts weigh in
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - Beyond flight delays and cancellations, the global tech outage impacted other things here in western Mass. The outage affected several hospitals across the state. We know that Mass General Brigham across the state in Boston was forced to cancel all elective surgeries and more locally, Cooley Dickinson also saw the impacts. Even operations here at Western Mass News were affected this morning.
Annual League of Women Voters Book Sale Begins Friday, July 26
The Annual League of Women Voters Books sale opens on Friday July 26 in the gym at the Fort River Elementary School, 70 Southeast Street. Opening day hours are 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The sale will continue on Saturday July 27 and Sunday July 28 and Saturday August 3 and Sunday August 4 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
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