New England News

By Charlie Deitz

Pittsfield, MA – Massachusetts is set to enact its new building energy codes this summer which call for 15 percent more efficient buildings. Some communities are adopting an even more rigorous standard known as the stretch code. WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief Charlie Deitz reports that Pittsfield recently adopted the stretch code, putting the city in line for more state funding, but the city council is split over the decision

By Paul Tuthill

Springfield, MA – Billy Collins, the former Poet Laureate of the United States and of New York State, was at Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield Massachusetts recently. He conducted a workshop with students and faculty and gave a public presentation. Collins also sat down with WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill .....

By Charlie Deitz

Berkshire County – Berkshire County will be hosting over 60 events to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief Charlie Deitz takes a look at some of the green efforts around the county
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Additional Links to Events: Events through out Berkshire County

and Some Western Mass regional events

By Charlie Deitz

Massachusetts – The Massachusetts House voted overwhelmingly in favor of the expanded gaming bill last week. Our Berkshire Bureau Chief Charlie Deitz reports that the Berkshire delegation was mostly against the bill, but as it moves on to the senate, the state's performance halls are trying to rally against its final passage

By Charlie Deitz

Housatonic, MA – The Massachusetts stimulus czar made a swing through Berkshire County this week to get a first-hand account of how federal dollars are being put to work. Our Berkshire Bureau Chief Charlie Deitz reports that some of the funding has gone to job training, homelessness prevention, waste water treatment and road projects

: For a list of stimulus funded projects in Massachusetts look at the Massachusetts Recovery Site

By Charlie Deitz

Massachusetts – The suicide of a South Hadley teenager has led lawmakers in Massachusetts to ratchet up protections against cyber-bullying and other cyber crimes. The problem is trying to enforce real world laws on a largely unregulated domain like the internet. WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief Charlie Deitz spoke with Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley about how her office is working to do just that. They begin their conversation by discussing the need to bring the legal system up to date

By Charlie Deitz

Stockbridge, MA – After spending more than a year on display in Washington DC, the life-sized model used to create the 19 foot Abraham Lincoln Statue on the national mall returns home to the Berkshires. WAMC's Charlie Deitz reports

: Chesterwood in Stockbridge, home of "The Lincoln".

By Charlie Deitz

Berkshire County – The four key economic development organizations in Berkshire County are collaborating to become a one-stop shop for prosperity. WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief Charlie Deitz reports on the newly created One-Berkshire

By Charlie Deitz

Williamstown, Ma – A federal agency says Northern Berkshire Health Care committed 11 labor violations toward workers trying to organize a union at a nursing home in Williamstown. WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief Charlie Deitz has the report

By Charlie Deitz

Pittsfield, MA – The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation hasn't had any luck trying to convince a private dam owner in Pittsfield to repair the hazardous structure. They now look to the state's Attorney General to get some legal muscle in the case. Our Berkshire Bureau Chief Charlie Deitz reports that the attorney general's office has filed a successful injunction against the owner