News

  For the countless individuals seeking to maximize their health and who consider vitamins to be the keys to well-being, Catherine Price's new book: Vitamania offers some context by looking into the roots of America's ongoing nutritional confusion.

Price traveled to vitamin manufacturers and food laboratories and military testing kitchens—and dove into the history of nutritional science. Vitamania explores the history, science, hype, and future of nutrition.

Former Westfield State University President Evan Dobelle has dropped a federal lawsuit claiming state officials forced him out of his job in 2013. 

    The agreement to drop the suit came days after Dobelle’s attorneys tried to exit his case claiming they had not been paid.  Dobelle’s lawyer said the cost of continuing the litigation was too great for both sides.  Westfield State spokesperson Molly Watson said the school has already paid for expenses related to the investigations into Dobelle’s lavish spending, which ultimately led to his departure.

  The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond.

Today's panelists are WAMC’s Alan Chartock, SUNY at Albany journalism professor and investigative journalist, Rosemary Armao, and WAMC newsman, Ray Graf.

Topics include: Jihadi John; potential sale of New York’s Daily News; FCC Okays Net Neutrality, Congressional Republicans against legalized marijuana in D.C.

WAMC's Dr. Alan Chartock discusses New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's "failing" schools and New Yorkers trust in local officials.

Here's NewsChannel 13 Meteorologist Paul Caiano's WAMC Regional Forecast:

Partly sunny today.  Highs in the upper teens.

Clear tonight.  Lows 0 to 10 below.

Sunny tomorrow.  Highs in the lower to mid 20's.

NBA:

In the NBA, LeBron James scored a season-high 42 points and had 11 rebounds to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to their 18th victory in 20 games, 110-99 over Golden State and it was Phoenix over Oklahoma City in overtime 117-113.

A committee appointed to find a new president for the University of Massachusetts is scheduled to meet for the first time Friday.

The 21-member committee, at a meeting in Boston, is expected to vote to hire a search firm to recruit and recommend candidates for the top job in the five campus UMass system.  UMass spokesman Robert Connolly said the search committee is operating with a sense of urgency.

" The timeframe is going to be an ambitious one. The hope is to have a new president selected by July 1st.," said Connolly.

Catch up with The Academic Minute from 2.23 - 2.27

The state of Vermont is working with a conservation group to create a 1,346-acre stretch of state forest in Shrewsbury and name it after the late U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords.

Former Westfield State University President Evan Dobelle has withdrawn his federal lawsuit against state and school officials blaming them for his departure, saying the legal fight's cost was too great.

The Republican of Springfield reports that Dobelle and defendants filed a motion in federal court Thursday saying they agreed to dismiss the lawsuit.