To be very clear, these photos weren't cries for help or something mournful in reaction to the WNE news (we've known since early May). I was at the Mt. Holyoke Summit House for a story!

shitty idea for a Curb Your Enthusiasm C-plot: Larry gets into a feud with a Starbucks drive-thru employee. he suspects the worker's purposely jostling the card reader when holding it for him, "forcing" Larry to accidentally press the $5 option instead of "no tip" when paying

My favorite past time as a reporter; going to a small town's select board meeting for one item, only for the board to take items out of order and push it to the back.

For @wamc.org: Teen sentenced in connection with 2025 Holyoke Mall shooting www.wamc.org/news/2026-05...

For @wamc.org: A resolution aimed at getting Springfield City Council members to attend more meetings in person led to a spat in council chambers this week. www.wamc.org/news/2026-05...

With bigger East Longmeadow Frigo’s, developer plans 1st walkable, mixed-use neighborhood at town center

For @wamc.org: I spent Saturday on the campus of Hampshire College where, despite its pending closure, there was plenty of joy during spring commencement. www.wamc.org/news/2026-05...

I will die for western Mass, but I declare on this day that there is one community I will not set foot in until: its pedestrians get their act together, their drivers figure out what turn signals are and The Bistro Box has sane hours of operation

For @wamc.org: Hampshire College's spring '26 commencement is underway, celebrating 192 students completing their Div 3 work as the Amherst, Mass. school prepares to close later this year and sell of its property to meet debts

For @wamc.org: I stopped by the undergraduate commencement at the University of Massachusetts Amherst! About 7000 undergraduate students are getting their degree today.

For @wamc.org: They let me write about soccer again! Or rather, talk to someone who does for a living. Now online; my interview with @leanderalphabet.bsky.social on his new book "The Long Game," documenting the U.S. men's national team and its ups and downs www.wamc.org/news/2026-05...

Sunderland, Mass. crash involving two vehicles, cow leaves 11 people injured

Springfield Mayor criticizes owners of former hospital following fire at property

We have a little bit of everything in today's Midday Magazine at @wamc.org

For @wamc.org: 'Dark money,' anti-municipal fiber effort spotlighted ahead of Longmeadow town meeting www.wamc.org/2026-05-12/d...

Oddly enough, the rabbits take care of them. The one that lives by my condo no longer fears people and associates us with the food. we call him "Splooty."

For @wamc.org: Holyoke teachers union hopes for quick ratification of long-sought contract www.wamc.org/news/2026-05...

Hokum is a fantastic movie, and not just because I have very specific criteria

CRRC extends worker layoff, as car shells, parts blocked by customs head to Springfield

For the first time ever, I'm going to be 10 minutes late to a story because I locked myself out of my car, then locked myself out of my car's phone app for guessing the wrong password three times

For @wamc.org: Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno says the city's police department is no longer under a DOJ consent decree. The city & Springfield PD had both been seeking to end the four year arrangement that saw federally sanctioned improvements to training, recordkeeping & more

For @wamc.org: Holyoke Public Schools and its teachers union have reached a tentative agreement, following a year of contract negotiations. www.wamc.org/news/2026-05...

UPDATE: Both the teachers union and Mayor Garcia announced late last night that a tentative agreement is in place, following Wednesday's mediation session

For @wamc.org: Across Massachusetts, golf courses have been closing up shop. It’s led to some communities getting creative with the former fairways. As WAMC reports, that includes Northampton, which is on track to make over a dozen greens even greener. www.wamc.org/news/2026-05...

was searching for something sciencey in the nyt archives and found a form of eugenics i'd never even heard of www.nytimes.com/1927/03/27/a...

The Greenfield community Facebook group that flooded my feed with anti-housing posts last year is now directing people on how to oppose a library project in a separate town

I interviewed Leander Schaerlaeckens about his new USMNT book, which is due out ahead of the World Cup! It had a little bit of everything! Like me mispronouncing Marist! And mispronouncing Leander's last name even after getting it right! And me saying Jose Goncalves when I meant Billy Gonsalves!

For @wamc.org: Education Department alleges Smith's admission of trans students violates Title IX www.wamc.org/news/2026-05...

Much love for our partners at @ctmirror.org! It’s great to share this prize with y’all! CT Mirror wins first Pulitzer Prize for 'On the Hook' series

For @wamc.org: As strike fears cool, Holyoke teachers and city leaders still at odds www.wamc.org/news/2026-05...

An update from Foster's Daily Democrat: the city of Rochester, NH is really looking to continue its litigation targeting Northampton supt. pick Annie Azarloza, which she's seeking to have dismissed. This appears to be a separate lawsuit/complaint from February www.fosters.com/story/news/c...

Happy Bruce Diner Ham Day

For @wamc.org: The Northampton Public Schools district is one step closer to getting a new superintendent. The school committee agreed on a final candidate this week, though the selection did not come without controversy. www.wamc.org/news/2026-05...

For @wamc.org : UMass Amherst says a vigil is planned for Tuesday at 3 p.m., honoring Emma MacDonald (Pasterczyk) an employee killed in the university hotel. This, after another vigil was held by her colleagues, recalling a beloved mother, coworker & friend www.wamc.org/news/2026-04...

For @wamc.org: I'm at JFK Middle School in Northampton where the school committee may very well vote on a superintendent candidate tonight. The meeting started 30 minutes ago and the committee is debating having a straw poll on the three candidates they interviewed this week

For @wamc.org: Hampshire College's leadership says the private school needs to sell off parts of its 800-acre campus to meet debt demands. www.wamc.org/news/2026-04...

Roller Derby leagues have moved to be more inclusive of all gender minorities. For @wamc.org I report on the local Albany All Stars Roller Derby Team on what that looks like in practice. www.wamc.org/news/2026-04...

I would like to remind everyone that while I do mostly write 9-minute stories about canoes and summer camps, I am also capable of mid-quality copy like this

LATEST: For @wamc.org: Mercy Medical Center's current operator, Trinity Health of New England, says both they and Baystate Health have signed a “definitive agreement” to “transition” the 182-bed acute care hospital to Baystate’s ownership, along with other assets. www.wamc.org/news/2026-04...

My wife is blowing up my phone because John Hamm went on Amy Poehler's podcast and apparently spoiled Betty's final character arc in Mad Men. We only had three episodes left. I don't know a lot about this Hamm person, but he's hurt my wife and that's unforgivable.

BREAKING: @wamc.org has confirmed Baystate Health and Trinity Health of New England have agreed to Baystate acquiring Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, pending regulatory approval.

For @wamc.org: Officials seek end to Springfield Police Department's consent decree www.wamc.org/news/2026-04...

The City of #Springfield and the US Government have filed a motion to end the consent decree and settlement that brought in a monitor to oversee reforms at the Police Department. #mapoli #spfldpoli wmasspi.com/2026/04/spri...

Springfield Pharmacy to open grocery story in McKnight neighborhood, ending food desert

For @wamc.org : A massive American flag, the French national anthem and a few dozen veterans all marked a special anniversary in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was all part of “Apremont Day” www.wamc.org/news/2026-04...

For @wamc.org : A massive American flag, the French national anthem and a few dozen veterans all marked a special anniversary in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was all part of “Apremont Day” www.wamc.org/news/2026-04...