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By MADISON SCHOFIELD

By PAYTON RENEGAR

With unpredictability surrounding federal funding and the tough on crime rhetoric under President Donald Trump’s administration, Massachusetts advocates are pushing for alternatives that seek rehabilitation rather than punishment for criminal offenders.

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

SOUTH DEERFIELD — Despite persistent rain showers, 92 Frontier Regional High School seniors graduated on Friday and were encouraged to break barriers.

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — Who better to give a graduation pep talk than a former NFL cheerleader?

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — Police Chief Kristin Burgess has been placed on administrative leave, according to a message sent to the community by the Select Board on Friday.

NORTHAMPTON — A Greenfield man has been sentenced to state prison for 1 to 3 years for robbing two Northampton package stores last summer, including once at knifepoint, the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

GREENFIELD – Stoneleigh-Burnham School seniors reflected on their academic achievements and relationships during the 156th commencement ceremony Friday morning.

By SAM DRYSDALE

Hundreds of private attorneys who represent indigent defendants across Massachusetts announced Tuesday that they will stop accepting new court-appointed cases until the Legislature raises their pay to match rates in neighboring states.

By CHRIS LISINSKI

Tens of thousands of Bay Staters could lose subsidized health insurance through the Massachusetts Health Connector and premiums could rise for most other members under a suite of reforms in the U.S. House-approved reconciliation bill that Gov. Maura Healey dubbed “devastating.”

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

TURNERS FALLS — On a warm and partly sunny Thursday evening at Franklin County Technical School graduation, Superintendent Richard Martin reminded the Class of 2025 when they kayaked on a pond that formed on the lawn of the school on a cold and icy New England morning.

By CHRIS LARABEE

CHARLEMONT – The curriculum at Hawlemont Regional School has all the basics one might expect math, English, arts and music – and, beginning a decade ago, more unique ones, like taking care of sheep and growing plants in the greenhouse.

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

ERVING – Since December, Brian Knight of Brian Knight Research has been visiting residences and cultural locations in Ervingside, Farley and along the major routes of Route 63 and Route 2, and he is now finishing a cultural resources report as part of the town’s Historic Properties Survey project.

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

LEYDEN — Voters will consider a $2.22 million operating budget at this year’s annual Town Meeting, set for June 2. 

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE – An arrest has been made in connection with the fraudulent invoices that drained $338,000 from the town’s coffers in the summer of 2023.

By CHRIS LARABEE

As the national art and celebrity worlds coalesced at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Met Gala in early May, the exhibition coinciding with the event at the nation’s most-visited museum also featured several local ties.

By STEVE PFARRER

Stephen Platt, who teaches 19th and 20th century Chinese history at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, made a significant name for himself with his two last books.

By JACOB NELSON

‘It’s usually around April 20 when I plant things in the field that can handle light frost,” says farmer Dan Greene of Good Bunch Farm. “Then there’s about a longer wait until the next big planting date in late May. By then the threat of frost is gone and you can finally plant all the warm-loving crops. After that, you really don’t have any time except for weeding and harvesting.”

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Local youngsters wishing to develop fiber arts, textile, and other creative skills have a chance at being mentored by an Ashfield woman who – for about a decade – made a living in New York City by running an unusual business. “I made chain mail, professionally,” said Lisa Fortin. Readers may be wondering how Fortin made a go of it; after all, how many knights in shining armor populate the Big Apple?

By PASTOR BENJIMAN DURFEE

The other day, as the submission date for this column loomed, I opened up the Artificial Intelligence app ChatGPT and asked: “What would readers of a newspaper in Franklin County, Massachusetts want to read in a Faith column written by a Christian clergyperson?”

By ANN REED

The familiar 41 North Main St. edifice overlooking the town center has good reason to “stand tall” in 2025. The Orange Historical Society, established in 1895 by eight determined townsfolk, will celebrate its 130th anniversary this year.