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Ballot Question 1 — to allow the state auditor to audit the Legislature — sounded simple and reasonable enough at first. Then I read the Majority Report in the red “Information for Voters” booklet — a real eye-opener. While the current state auditor...

By SAM DRYSDALE

The program meant to give students a head start on their college enrollment is expanding, which officials say will save students money, make them more likely to attend college than their peers and increase lifelong earning potential.University of...

By RUSS VERNON-JONES

 When we think about the climate crisis, our minds often, quite rightly, go to how greenhouse gas emissions are causing the global temperature to rise, causing catastrophic storms, floods, fires and hunger. What we sometimes forget is that burning...

By ALEXA LEWIS

AMHERST — “Growing up poor, all I’ve ever wanted was financial freedom,” said Beatrice Rogers, a third-year psychology and holistic health major at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. But that freedom might be far away for Rogers, whose college...

By JOHANNA NEUMANN

It can sometimes be challenging to find clean energy solutions that all stakeholders support. For example, California utility companies and their unions have fought against policies that support rooftop solar panels, successfully lobbying for a policy...

By MICKEY RATHBUN

Late summer isn’t a pretty time in the garden, at least not in my garden. The recent mini-drought has bleached out what passes for lawn, several large hydrangeas are drooping as they beg me for water, the daylily borders are shriveled and brown....

By CHRIS LARABEE

AMHERST — The Karuna Center for Peacebuilding is welcoming people from around the region to celebrate its 30 years of work in the Pioneer Valley and around the world.To highlight the nonprofit’s significant milestone, the Karuna Center will welcome...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

A steep drop in the number of Black students in the Class of 2028 at Amherst College compared to the preceding year’s incoming class, and less racial diversity in the first-year class, is likely a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Music from centuries-old folk songs and contemporary and classical tunes emanates through the hallway at the Bangs Community Center on a recent morning, as some of the autoharp players hold the instrument upright against their shoulders and below...

By PAIGE HANSON

During his sophomore year of college in November 2021, Charley Blacker wanted to start an organization that was unique and new to the University of Massachusetts Amherst community: a group dedicated to promoting local musicians through playlists,...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — The Campus Demonstration Policy Task Force at the University of Massachusetts has released an 11-page report with recommendations for how to best protect the First Amendment rights of campus protesters while also remaining in compliance with...

By LISA GOODRICH

Sunset Farm in Amherst is a neighborhood farm that emphasizes the social aspects of farming in community. Owners Connie and Bill Gillen grow vegetables and flowers on 10 acres, within walking and biking distance of the University of Massachusetts...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — After a spring semester that came to a close with the arrests of 134 students, faculty and community members at a pro-Palestinian encampment, and nearly 500 faculty members and librarians subsequently taking a no-confidence in Chancellor...

By RAZVAN SIBII

Among the countries that take in a lot of immigrants, the United States stands out for its heavy emphasis on “family reunification.” What that means is that many people who become naturalized Americans do so because they have a spouse or a close...

By MARIA JOSÉ BOTELHO

 We are rejoicing at our house much like the rest of New England because our three hydrangea bushes are in full bloom this summer. These bushes have produced gorgeous foliage over the years but no blossoms. The flowers make me feel at home.Hydrangeas...

By LAURA ROJO MACLEOD

 After a pitiful performance by our elected representatives, this legislative session was a missed opportunity to make the commonwealth a climate leader. Our lawmakers had a chance to make significant progress slowing the expansion of our dirty and...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A University of Massachusetts Amherst union representing 1,500 employees is calling out the administration for “authoritarian” actions and cracking down on free speech after learning that two student leaders of the Students for Justice in...

By DOMENIC POLI

With many Franklin County and North Quabbin towns lacking bylaws specific to food trucks, some municipalities are looking to neighboring communities to find models that have proven successful.Randy Crochier, cooperative public health service program...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Another $800,000 in Community Preservation Act money is being recommended by Amherst officials so the $4.41 million plan to rebuild and reorient the Amherst-Pelham Regional High School’s track and its interior field can proceed.While...

By PAIGE HANSON

Earlier this week, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Fine Arts Center announced its lineup of performances for its 2024-2025 season, which includes quite a few notable offerings, including “a one-time Grateful Dead keyboardist, two of the...