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The Shoestring
“Shame on Velis” campaign highlights senator’s role in controversial commission
Local organizers argue the state’s commission on antisemitism will chill free speech around Israel and Palestine in the state’s public schools.
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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.
No sprinklers installed before Holyoke fires — and none required
“The Holyoke Fire Department would like to have sprinklers in all our buildings, but we are bound by the building code and the law,” said Capt. David Rex, a department spokesperson.
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.