Springfield, MA
News
Earthquake Hits Southern New England Earthquake Hits Southern New England
Earthquake Hits Southern New England If you were suddenly awoken by a shaking sensation this weekend - it wasn’t a dream - you felt an earthquake. On Sunday, Nov. 8, around 9 a.m., an earthquake was detected at a magnitude 3.6 centered off the coast of New Bedford in Buzzard’s Bay, according to the Associated Press. Shockwaves, which don’t appear to have caused much damage, were felt in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, as well as some parts of Connecticut and New York. Still, 21 people in New Bedford required assistance from the Red Cross after being displaced by the quake. This is the strongest earthquake that has hit the area s…

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by Kristin Palpini
Springfield, MA
News
COVID-19: Only 3 'Red' Communities In Western/Central MA Under New System COVID-19: Only 3 'Red' Communities In Western/Central MA Under New System
Covid-19: Only 3 'Red' Communities In Western/Central MA Under New System Massachusetts has changed the system for local COVID-19 rates and infections in a move Gov. Charlie Baker will provide cities and towns with a more accurate picture of the risk. Last week (Oct. 30) there were around 30 red cities and towns in central and western Massachusetts.  In this reporting period (Nov. 6), there are 3: Fitchburg, Ludlow, and Springfield. Baker cited the influence the state’s reporting has on whether a community’s schools offer in-person, a hybrid, or distance learning. The governor has said that too many schools have been making the switch to distance learning e…

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by Kristin Palpini
Springfield, MA
Business
COVID-19: Businesses Forced To Close - Again - In 13 'High-Risk' Communities COVID-19: Businesses Forced To Close - Again - In 13 'High-Risk' Communities
Covid-19: Businesses Forced To Close - Again - In 13 'High-Risk' Communities Some businesses that opened just a few weeks ago will be closed as 13 Massachusetts cities and towns take a step back in reopening their local economies. COVID-19 rates that have spiked over the last several weeks are forcing 13 cities and towns to rollback their local economies to Step 1 of Phase 3. The closures and restrictions are temporary until the community can bring its COVID-19 positive test rate down. There are 26 other Massachusetts municipalities that were sent back to Step 1 of Phase 3 earlier. In total, that's 38 cities and towns with additional economic restrictions due to COV…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
Business
These 21 Communities Can't Take Next Step To Reopen State Economy These 21 Communities Can't Take Next Step To Reopen State Economy
These 21 Communities Can't Take Next Step To Reopen State Economy There are 21 communities, including several in Western and Central Massachusetts, that won’t be moving on to the next step in the state economy’s reopening. On Monday, Oct. 5, communities will be able to move onto Step 2 of Phase 3 in Massachusetts re-opening plan if they are considered low-risk for COVID-19 infection. On Tuesday, Sept. 29, Gov. Charlie Baker said commonwealth communities that have not been “red” for the last three weeks can proceed to Step 2. Being a “red” community refers to the state’s COVID-19 infection, color-coded maps. Communities in the red have the highest rate of…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
News
COVID-19: Worcester Is On Newest List Of 'High-Risk' Communities COVID-19: Worcester Is On Newest List Of 'High-Risk' Communities
Covid-19: Worcester Is On Newest List Of 'High-Risk' Communities The people of Worcester are at high-risk of catching COVID-19, according to new information from the state. On Wednesday, Sept. 16, Massachusetts released an updated COVID-19 map showing where the “hot-spots” or areas with high infection rates are located. Worcester has made the state's “red” list, so named for the state’s color-coded risk assessment. Red is reserved for the communities with the highest risk of COVID-19 infection. Worcester's infection rate is 9.5 COVID-19 infections per 100,000 people. The most recently listed high-risk communities in Massachusetts are: Chelsea Dedham …

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by Kristin Palpini
Springfield, MA
Business
Industrial Contamination Cleanup Effort In Chicopee Gets $300K Industrial Contamination Cleanup Effort In Chicopee Gets $300K
Industrial Contamination Cleanup Effort In Chicopee Gets $300K Chicopee is getting $300,000 to help clean up environmentally damaged places in the Willimansett, industrial area. Among the sites slated for clean-up are the Spalding sports equipment manufacturing facility on Meadow Street and properties along the North Chicopee Street Corridor, said Congressman Richard Neal. The money is coming from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “brownfields” program, which provides funds for areas that have been severely polluted. To be named a brownfield property, the area has to be available for demolition, redevelopment or other reuse once the environme…

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by Kristin Palpini
Springfield, MA
News
COVID-19: Free Testing Coming To Worcester County, Western Massachusetts COVID-19: Free Testing Coming To Worcester County, Western Massachusetts
Covid-19: Free Testing Coming To Worcester County, Western Massachusetts Targetted COVID-19 testing sites are being dispatched to hot spots in Worcester County and Western Massachusetts. On Monday, July 27, Gov. Charlie Baker announced the expansion of the “Stop the Spread” initiative, which provides free COVID-19 testing where it’s most needed. New testing sites in the Western part of the state include: Agawam Springfield Worcester. The sites are now being launched and will be available through Aug. 14. More information about the location will be provided at mass.gov/stopthespread. Other communities included in the expansion are Brockton, Methuen, Randolp…

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by Kristin Palpini
Fairfield, CT
News
IDs Released For Man, Woman Killed After Small Plane Crashes On Long Island IDs Released For Man, Woman Killed After Small Plane Crashes On Long Island
IDs Released For Man, Woman Killed After Small Plane Crashes On Long Island The two people killed when a small plane crashed on the field of a farm on the North Fork of Long Island have been identified. Emergency responders rushed to the scene of the crash, which occurred around 9:15 a.m., Saturday, June 8 on a field at Harbes Family Farm on Sound Avenue in the hamlet of Mattituck in the Town of Southold. The two occupants in the plane, a six-seat Beechcraft Bonanza A36, were pronounced dead at the scene. They have been identified as Suffolk County residents Robert Mark, 66, and Susan Quagliano, 57, who both lived at the same address in the hamlet of Oakdale …

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by Joe Lombardi