Paul Tuthill

Dozens of activists from labor, faith-based and community groups rallied on Main Street in Springfield Massachusetts Thursday to send a message to budget negotiators in Washington.  WAMC’s Paul Tuthill reports.

Speakers at the noon time rally said there should be no cuts to Medicare, Medicaid or other social safety net programs  as a way to avoid the so-called “ fiscal cliff”.  Tim Carpenter, executive director of Progressive Democrats of America urged President Obama to back Main Street, not Wall Street.

The president of the University of Massachusetts is promising more accountability and transparency at the five campus system..  WAMC”s Paul Tuthill reports

The three companies competing to build a resort casino in Springfield Massachusetts will each make a presentation at a public forum next month.   WAMC”s  Paul Tuthill reports

The natural gas explosion in downtown Springfield Massachusetts last week dealt a blow to the homeless.  There is a shortage of beds at a time of year when demand for accommodations typically increases.   WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports

An 18 room single occupancy apartment building for low income tenants and  a 60 bed nighttime shelter for the homeless were damaged by the blast and ordered by building inspectors to close pending repairs.

The mayor of  Holyoke Massachusetts earlier this week, shockingly, opened the door to a casino development in his city.  Now a plan to build a resort casino on a golf course is being revived.  But is Holyoke too late in the casino game in western Massachusetts?     WAMC”s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.

A plan to build a resort casino on a golf course in Holyoke Massachusetts is being revived, now that the city’s mayor has changed his position on the casino issue.  WAMC’s Paul Tuthill reports

Almost ten months after newly elected Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse  almost literally slammed the door on their casino proposal, Paper City Development Company managing partner Joe Lashinger has asked for another meeting with the mayor.

Property tax bills for a majority of  homeowners and business owners in Springfield Massachusetts are expected to be lower in 2013.  But the reason won’t make most homeowners happy. WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief  Paul Tuthill reports.

Public utility regulators in Massachusetts will investigate the  natural gas explosion that rocked downtown Springfield last Friday evening.  The blast leveled a strip club and damaged several other buildings. 18 people sustained injuries including some with broken bones and third degree burns. 

WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief spoke with Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities Chair Ann Berwick.

A new city is entering the casino sweepstakes in western Massachusetts. It’s the result of a dramatic shift in the political climate in Holyoke, as we hear from WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill

Tens of thousands of people will usher in the holiday season in downtown Springfield Massachusetts Friday morning with the annual Tower Square Parade of Big Balloons.  WAMC”s Paul Tuthill reports