For @wamcradio.bsky.social: A team of lawyers say they have secured a massive settlement for a child victim's family, following a sex abuse case involving a former Springfield, Mass. teacher and a middle school student. www.wamc.org/news/2026-01...

For @wamcradio.bsky.social: Springfield, Mass., has new leadership in its council chambers. Both the new president and vice president say they’re focusing on a few key issues this term, including the local economy. www.wamc.org/news/2026-01...

IT NEVER STOPS

For years, the Northwestern DA’s Office has declined to release the names of some local police officers accused of criminal offenses. But last week, a judge ruled in favor of journalist @andrewqmr.bsky.social, who sought to make that information public. Our latest from @dustyc123.bsky.social:

FROM YESTERDAY: For @wamcradio.bsky.social: Within hours of the United States capturing the head of Venezuela, and as questions emerged over what comes next, “emergency protests” came together across the country, including in western Massachusetts. www.wamc.org/news/2026-01...

For @wamcradio.bsky.social: History made as Springfield City Council formally picks Whitfield to lead www.wamc.org/news/2026-01...

For @wamcradio.bsky.social: In an absolutely-packed Springfield City Hall Council Chamber, the new class of councilors has been sworn in and has selected Councilor Tracye Whitfield to serve as its president and Jose Delgado as Council VP!

the administration wants to frame this (bizarrely) as law enforcement. but if law enforcement conducted a raid for a suspect and killed 40 people, including an unknown number of unarmed civilians, it would be treated as a clear disaster like Waco.

For @wamcradio.bsky.social: A rally against U.S. actions in Venezuela is underway in downtown Holyoke. It's an "emergency protest" w/a number of groups denouncing Maduro's capture as well as the campaign striking vessels/alleged drug boats. Vets4Peace, local DSA & other organizers are here

Why did it take a week of people demonstrating Grok generates CSAM to post this? And why did it come after taunting users for pointing it out?

Clinton appointee Judge Alvin Hellerstein has Maduro’s case. Last spring, he barred the Trump admin from removing Venezuelans from the US under the Alien Enemies Act, which he said had been applied unlawfully “These people are being thrown out of the country because of tattoos”

FROM LAST MONTH: For @wamcradio.bsky.social: It took weeks of planning and measuring, but after a fleet of tow trucks spent hours pulling it, a piece of locomotive history arrived at its new home in western Mass. www.wamc.org/news/2025-12...

One today and one tomorrow. Join both!

For @wamcradio.bsky.social: In MA, the latest influenza numbers show the state could soon surpass last flu season's record hospitalization rate. Health experts say the situation's likely to get worse before it gets better – and that there’s still time to get a flu shot. www.wamc.org/news/2026-01...

LISTEN: Our editor-in-chief Matt Szafranski spoke with @wamcradio.bsky.social's @jpaleolo.bsky.social about the big political stories of 2025 in the Valley. www.wamc.org/news/2025-12...

Chris Rea, the singer-songwriter best known for "Driving Home for Christmas," has died at 74.

For @wamcradio.bsky.social : I'm in Chester, Mass. this morning where, after a month of planning, moving and going back to the drawing board, crews are getting ready to move the latest addition to the Chester Railway Station & Museum through the narrowest tunnel you ever did see

For @wamcradio.bsky.social : I'm at another city council meeting! But not in Springfield. I'm in Northampton where a number of residents are saying their goodbyes to departing city councilors, including VFW Post 8006, which just presented honors to Ward 6's Marianne LaBarge

Last note because MassLive/The Republican also made this error: the clerk accidentally said it was a 7-5 vote at the end of the tally. For record: Hurst, Martin, Govan, Walsh, Brown, Whitfield, Delgado and Santaniello voted Whitfield. Edwards, Davila, Fenton, Perez and Click-Bruce voted for Edwards

I absolutely appreciate the iPhone feature that automatically mutes spam callers using unidentified #'s like these shitheads. but, I've also missed two separate interview calls already because of it so I'm somehow even more mad than I was before

ZIPPING. ZIPPING THROUGH

For @wamcradio.bsky.social : i'm back at Springfield City Hall! It's the last council meeting of the year & we're likely to see an unofficial vote on next year's leadership. Councilor at Large Tracye Whitfield seems primed to be prez and Councilor at Large Jose Delgado's likely to get VP role

East Granby, CT!

Maine's loons are on the mend, filling more of the lakes and ponds in the state with their haunting calls.

For @wamcradio.bsky.social: After year of high demand for its services, Hilltown nonprofit preps for holiday giveaway www.wamc.org/news/2025-12...

There's a real chance UMass Amherst's football program improves just enough to make a bowl game the same year most college football programs decide they're not worth it anymore.

When Netflix announced a blockbuster $83 billion deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery on Friday, among the elements not included in the purchase was a conspicuous one: CNN. Here’s what the deal means for the cable news giant:

NPR wants to speak with swing voters across the political spectrum.

For @wamcradio.bsky.social: Multiple fire crews are working to put out the remainder of a massive apartment building fire in Holyoke at the corner of Franklin and High streets. No details yet on injuries or displaced, but it's the second such fire in the city in less than 24 hours.

For @wamcradio.bsky.social: After coming close to unseating Springfield State Rep. Bud Williams last year, Johnnie Ray McKnight says he's running again. Last November, he came about 250 votes short of an upset in the state's 11th Hampden district. #mapoli #spfldpoli

For @wamcradio.bsky.social : I'm at the @mabroadcasters.bsky.social 's Sound Bites 2025 award ceremony in Milford! Got in just as they were honoring the memory of western Mass's Barbara Bernard www.masslive.com/westernmass/...

A minute ago, I was singing part of "Tupelo Honey" as I worked in my office, writing the worst story you've ever heard. I then stopped when the man using the bathroom next to my office for the past hour finally came out and slammed the door at decibels I didn't know were possible

For @wamcradio.bsky.social : In Easthampton, it looks like Salem Derby's been elected the city's 4th mayor in its history since its charter change in 96. He collected at least 40% in the 1st round of the rank choice vote. Lindsi Sekula was 2nd, and says she was 600 votes short in the 2nd round

For @wamcradio.bsky.social: Authorities say a top staffer for Governor Maura Healey – an aide who's often been a liaison for Healey in western Massachusetts - is facing drug trafficking and firearms charges, following seizures of over 20 kilograms of suspected cocaine. www.wamc.org/news/2025-10...

42 million Americans who rely on SNAP will go w/out benefits on Nov 1 because of Trump & GOP. 🍞🥛🍎 "Federal cuts or not, western MA food bank & partners continue hunger-fighting mission," 9/1/2025 DONATE TO EASTHAMPTON COMMUNITY CENTER: easthamptoncommunitycenter.org www.wamc.org/news/2025-09...

Amherst Cinema: where you can't sit next to your fiancée at a sold out movie because 10 undergrads planted their backpacks on the seats next to them, claiming someone's going to sit there five minutes into the movie

Been watching The Chair Company and I now understand a core tenet of Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin's approach to writing and developing characters/conflict: that if you work in an office, you're an inherently weird person.

A headline-grabbing study touting apple cider vinegar for weight loss has been retracted. Other claims for the internet-famous remedy are also under fire.

I don't have an opinion on it and won't because I have to report on it at some point, but I'll note the following: Never have I seen a city councilor invoke the strife and struggles of immigrants and working poor to say a disused parking lot shouldn't be redeveloped.

WE DID IT!

Folks! We're in the final, final stretch! If you wanted to pitch in and help @wamcradio.bsky.social wrap up its fund drive in near-record time, now's the time!

For @wamcradio.bsky.social: In Chicopee, several college presidents have gathered at the College of Our Lady of the Elms. The reason: to sign an MoU allowing @stccspringfield.bsky.social and HCC students to make use of the @elmscollege.bsky.social campus via room and board

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Kill it with fire: "A feature called 'Relentless Follow-up' automatically pesters journalists who have not replied to the emails." pressgazette.co.uk/news/automat...

WE DID IT

FOLKS! WE ARE SO CLOSE TO HITTING 750,000 DURING MY FUNDRAISING SHIFT! CHIP IN IF YOU CAN IN THE NEXT 40 MINUTES! wamc.secureallegiance.com/wamc/WebModu...