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The Shoestring
Who will represent western Massachusetts on the influential Governor’s Council?
Tara Jacobs, a progressive who has made her mark on the Governor’s Council over the last four years, faces a rematch from Michael Fenton, Springfield’s former City Council President.
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“Ban! Ban! Ban!”: Data-center discontent reaches western Massachusetts
Last month, amid protests from city residents, Holyoke became the first in the state to ban new data centers. Two days later, Westfield moved toward passing a data-center moratorium.
The fight for gender-affirming care in Massachusetts
Healthcare institutions, including Baystate Health, have stopped providing gender-affirming care for minors, leaving families scrambling. In part two of this series, The Shoestring hears from those fighting against those restrictions.
Mass. resident data may train the next generation of AI
The state has little to say about its “data commons” project, which it hopes will make Massachusetts a hub for tech development.
Who cares for trans youth?
As healthcare providers cease gender-affirming care for minors, families are left scrambling. In part one of this series, The Shoestring shares their stories.
As rent control campaign talks compromise, some tenant organizers feel “blindsided”
To avoid a grueling fight before November, the campaign for rent stabilization has worked on compromise legislation with developers and other opponents of the ballot initiative. Some tenant organizers see it as a betrayal.
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.