New England News

Casino operators who have expressed interest in building in Springfield Massachusetts are facing a Thursday deadline to make their intentions known.   WAMC’s Paul Tuthill reports

   Companies that want in on the competition to build a casino in Springfield have until 5pm Thursday to put in a bid, which includes a statement of qualifications and preliminary plans.  Mayor Domenic Sarno said this first phase will separate the contenders from the pretenders.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick says the specialty pharmacy linked to a deadly meningitis outbreak may have misled regulators and done work beyond the scope of its state license.

The New England Compounding Center in Framingham made a steroid that was used in contaminated injections that have sickened more than 130 people in 10 states. Twelve have died.

Patrick told reporters Wednesday that state and federal agencies "may have been misled by some of the information we were given."

The Governor of Massachusetts has announced an updated five-year strategic investment plan that includes funding for infrastructure improvement to encourage economic growth. WAMC’s Berkshire Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports…

Governor Deval Patrick’s FY 2013 to 2017 Capital Investment Plan calls for billions of public dollars to be invested in transportation, housing, higher education, and infrastructure to boost long-term economic development.

Vermont U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders says cuts in a federal emergency hunger program have resulted in a 50 percent reduction in food supplies from that program for the Vermont Foodbank.

Sanders, who calls the situation "unconscionable," appeared Tuesday with representatives from the Vermont Foodbank and Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf to highlight the issue.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program provides food at no cost to low-income Americans in need of short-term hunger relief, through organizations like the Vermont Foodbank.

The top transportation official in Massachusetts has announced a goal to triple the share of travel done in the state by transit, biking and walking.    WAMC”s Paul Tuthill reports    

   MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey  rode a bus from his Boston office to downtown Springfield Tuesday to announce the state will pursue transportation policies designed to get  more people out from behind the wheel of their cars.