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The Shoestring
Internet outage exposes frayed equipment, relationships in Greenfield
Earlier this month, the internet went dark for customers of Greenfield’s GCET. The resulting mess revealed broader power struggles between the municipally owned internet provider and city officials.
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Hampden DA wiretaps suspects far more than other prosecutors, records show
Disclosures show that from 2021 to 2024, Anthony Gulluni’s office submitted 83 wiretap applications to judges. That’s almost as much as every other DA and the attorney general combined.
Staff dissent as education collaborative considers hiring NPS superintendent
Portia Bonner, who is leaving Northampton Public Schools after a polarizing stint as superintendent, is in negotiations to lead the Collaborative for Educational Services.
Unionized Holyoke educators decry lack of contract with district
Ten years after the state took over Holyoke’s schools, the district is now back under local control. But educators say they’re still without a fair contract that reflects the new era.
Parole in Massachusetts: Ignored, misunderstood, and misrepresented
How executive indifference, an overburdened board, and a sensationalist media are failing the promise of parole in the commonwealth.
Cannabis cafes are headed to western Mass. But who will profit?
Expanded cannabis regulations promise a head start to those harmed by the War on Drugs. That is, if they don’t get tangled in red tape.
ABOUT THE SHOESTRING
The Shoestring is an independent news publication in Western Massachusetts that provides in-depth and accurate journalism covering local politics, culture, and power. We bring you the stories, perspectives, and context that no one else does, from Northampton and across the Connecticut River Valley.