Springfield
Neal addresses passage of healthcare tax credits, ICE shooting
SPRINGFIELD — After months of back-and-forth, a federal government shutdown and the U.S. House of Representatives voted 230-196 to resurrect the expired Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years.
Gonzalez wants to support microbusinesses in 2026, fears federal cuts
SPRINGFIELD — The Massachusetts Legislature often deals with big-picture challenges, but state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez is thinking small for 2026.
Time to restore dignity to emergency food assistance, says advocate
SPRINGFIELD — Hunger is a growing problem across Massachusetts.
Forest Park Zoo seeks donations to care for animals
SPRINGFIELD — Exotic birds, camels, bison and alligators. The Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center offers people in the greater Springfield area a chance to visit and learn about animals they may not otherwise ever encounter.
Ramos to focus on facial recognition, economic development in 2026
SPRINGFIELD — January 2026 marks the midway point of the current session in the state Legislature and state Rep. Orlando Ramos said he is continuing to make progress on some of his main goals, despite the challenges that exist.
Springfield City Council elects Whitfield as first Black woman president
SPRINGFIELD — The City of Firsts again earned its moniker on Jan. 5 when the City Council elected Tracye Whitfield to serve as its president, the first Black woman to do so.
‘Diverse’ Springfield School Committee welcomes members
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield School Committee welcomed three new members at its swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 5.
Oliveira sees affordability as state’s main challenge in 2026
This is the second year of the 2025-2026 legislative session. Typically, the first year of the session sees a flurry of activity, with about 7,000 bills filed. State Sen. Jake Oliveira filed more than 700 bills himself in 2025.
Toy for Joy campaign rides late surge to strong finish
A late surge of generosity gave a strong finishing kick to the 103rd edition of the Toy for Joy Christmas campaign.
Springfield to pay record $14.8 million in child sex abuse civil suits
SPRINGFIELD — The city of Springfield has reached a settlement with the families of two children in two civil suits stemming from 2023 criminal child sex abuse charges against Robert Gayle, a then-social studies teacher at STEM Middle Academy in Springfield.
