Brookfield, CT
News
CT Man Admits To Stealing 17 Firearms From Gun Shop CT Man Admits To Stealing 17 Firearms From Gun Shop
CT Man Admits To Stealing 17 Firearms From Gun Shop A Connecticut man was charged and agreed to plead guilty to a variety of charges in connection with stealing 17 firearms from a Western Mass gun shop and making false statements to federal agents. Christian Castro, age 31, of New Britain, Connecticut, was charged and agreed to plead guilty on Tuesday, May 4, for the thefts from a West Springfield, Massachusetts gunshop, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell. In September 2020, Castro was charged with a criminal complaint with co-defendant Fernando Rivera, who is scheduled to plead guilty on Wednesday, May 5. According to …

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Brookfield, CT
Police & Fire
CT Man Facing Charges After Fatal Mass Turnpike Crash CT Man Facing Charges After Fatal Mass Turnpike Crash
CT Man Facing Charges After Fatal Mass Turnpike Crash One person was killed in a crash involving a Freightliner tractor-trailer, a 2020 Toyota Camry, and a 2008 Toyota Sienna van in Western Massachusetts. At 3:22 p.m. Friday, April 23, troopers from the Massachusetts State Police Barracks in Lee responded to the crash on the eastbound side of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Becket.  Preliminary investigation by state police and the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office indicates that the tractor-trailer was eastbound approaching Mile Marker 15 when traffic in front of the truck began to slow because of traffic. Evidence suggests the truck s…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Pittsfield, MA
News
COVID-19: New List Released Of Western Mass Zones At High Risk For Spread COVID-19: New List Released Of Western Mass Zones At High Risk For Spread
Covid-19: New List Released Of Western Mass Zones At High Risk For Spread More communities in Western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, April 8, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the latest…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Springfield, MA
News
COVID-19: Massachusetts Gets Big Shot In Arm With Huge Increase In Vaccine Supply COVID-19: Massachusetts Gets Big Shot In Arm With Huge Increase In Vaccine Supply
Covid-19: Massachusetts Gets Big Shot In Arm With Huge Increase In Vaccine Supply Hundreds of thousands of new COVID-19 vaccines are coming to Massachusetts as the state prepares to ramp up its vaccination program in the coming weeks. Pharmacies, health centers, and community vaccination sites across the state are expected to receive approximately 385,000 first doses, while state-run sites will receive 445,000 doses, as Massachusetts receives an increased allocation of nearly 850,000 vaccines from the federal government. The move comes as President Joe Biden advanced his deadline for states to make all adults eligible for the vaccine to Monday, April 9, the same day Mass…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Springfield, MA
Lifestyle
'Classic' Burger Joint Praised For Creamy, Homemade Ice Cream, Custom Burgers 'Classic' Burger Joint Praised For Creamy, Homemade Ice Cream, Custom Burgers
'Classic' Burger Joint Praised For Creamy, Homemade Ice Cream, Custom Burgers In a bright blue building on Route 20 in Western Massachusetts is a big slice of 1950s nostalgia, food, and ice cream. You can even dine in booths made to look like classic cars or vintage Coca-Cola machines. Classic Burgers in West Springfield is coming up on its 10-year anniversary. The burger and homemade ice cream joint was started by retired Westfield firefighter Barry Parker in 2011. When he opened the restaurant, Parker said it was the culmination of a dream he had to share his love of the '50s, classic cars, and good food. It’s not clear whether making some of the best ice …

SHARE

by Kristin Palpini
Springfield, MA
News
COVID-19: 11 Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Virus Spread COVID-19: 11 Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Virus Spread
Covid-19: 11 Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Virus Spread More communities in Western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, April 1, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the latest…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Pittsfield, MA
News
COVID-19: New Regional Vaccination Sites Approved For Western Mass COVID-19: New Regional Vaccination Sites Approved For Western Mass
Covid-19: New Regional Vaccination Sites Approved For Western Mass New state-run COVID-19 vaccination sites have been approved in Western Massachusetts. The announcements were made on Friday, March 26. The Eastern States Exposition (Big E) in West Springfield will also serve the communities of Agawam, Granville, Southwick, Tolland, and Westfield, Representative Joseph Wagner announced that Chicopee in Hampden County has been approved for the state-run Covid-19 vaccination site. The site will also include the surrounding communities of South Hadley and Granby, Wagner said. The opening dates of the sites will be dependent upon the number of v…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Pittsfield, MA
News
COVID-19: These Five Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Spread, DPH Says COVID-19: These Five Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Spread, DPH Says
Covid-19: These Five Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Spread, DPH Says Five communities in western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, March 25, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the lates…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Pittsfield, MA
Police & Fire
Suspect Nabbed For Cocaine Trafficking, Unlawful Weapons Possession After Raids In Western Mass Suspect Nabbed For Cocaine Trafficking, Unlawful Weapons Possession After Raids In Western Mass
Suspect Nabbed For Cocaine Trafficking, Unlawful Weapons Possession After Raids In Western Mass An extensive investigation into drug distribution in Western Massachusetts led to the arrest of a Springfield man and the seizure of multiple illegal firearms, the District Attorney’s Office announced. Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said that shortly before 2 p.m. on Monday, March 22, David Burris was arrested in Springfield and charged with multiple weapons and drug offenses following a lengthy investigation into drug distribution in the area. Burris was charged with: Trafficking more than 36 grams of cocaine; Two counts of possession of a firearm without an FID card; Possess…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Pittsfield, MA
News
COVID-19: Two Western Mass Communities Placed In Red Zone; New Rundown Of 20 High-Risk Areas COVID-19: Two Western Mass Communities Placed In Red Zone; New Rundown Of 20 High-Risk Areas
Covid-19: Two Western Mass Communities Placed In Red Zone; New Rundown Of 20 High-Risk Areas Two communities in western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, March 18, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the late…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Worcester, MA
Schools
COVID-19: Virus Outbreaks Recorded In 11 School Districts Last Week COVID-19: Virus Outbreaks Recorded In 11 School Districts Last Week
Covid-19: Virus Outbreaks Recorded In 11 School Districts Last Week This past week, 11 Massachusetts public schools experienced COVID-19 outbreaks of 9 or more students and staff coming down with the virus. The largest outbreak was recorded in Leominster. From March 4-10, 21 of the school district’s students (15) and staff (6) reported positive cases. The Massachusetts Department of Secondary and Elementary Education produces weekly reports on positive COVID-19 cases reported in each school district. The Thursday, March 11 report found about 140 school districts - out of more than 350 - had at least one student or staff member test positive for COVID-19. C…

SHARE

by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
News
DEP Fines Local Businesses Nearly $100K For Environmental Violations This Year DEP Fines Local Businesses Nearly $100K For Environmental Violations This Year
DEP Fines Local Businesses Nearly $100K For Environmental Violations This Year A Central Massachusetts man has been assessed the largest fine from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection so far in 2021. Nathaniel Odell of Upton has been fined a little over $40,000 for allegedly demolishing a Franklin residence without proper care for asbestos, according to a Feb. 8 “notice of intent to assess a civil administrative penalty.” Odell has a right to challenge the allegations and appeal the fine through a hearing. While Odell has been assessed the highest fine yet this year, he is not the only local company to receive a hefty penalty from the Massachusetts Dep…

SHARE

by Kristin Palpini