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An original illustration by Charles Forsman shows Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia setting a volleyball up into the air on the right side of a volleyball net in front of businessman Cesar Ruiz, who is getting ready to spike it. The volleyball reads "USAI." Both are wearing suits and volleyball knee pads. On the left side of the net, a team of protesters who are also wearing kneepads hold signs that read "Save Elmwood Forest," "No Sports Complex," and "Down With USAI." An original illustration by Charles Forsman shows Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia setting a volleyball up into the air on the right side of a volleyball net in front of businessman Cesar Ruiz, who is getting ready to spike it. The volleyball reads "USAI." Both are wearing suits and volleyball knee pads. On the left side of the net, a team of protesters who are also wearing kneepads hold signs that read "Save Elmwood Forest," "No Sports Complex," and "Down With USAI."

Investigations

Bump, set, spike: Will Holyoke residents block developer’s proposed sports complex?

Despite much initial fanfare, residents have been told that there are no formal plans for the project. But the city’s been busy, and some...

July 27, 2026
One of the city of Northampton's public newspaper boxes sits on Main Street, its white front containing graffiti and stickers. The only local news source present in the eight separate boxes is the Valley Advocate.

Community

Establishment allies back Northampton “Information Hub”

With city politics increasingly fraught, critics say the hub — a new nonprofit that won’t name its financial backers — isn’t giving residents the...

July 11, 2026
Protesters stand outside Holyoke City Hall on June 11, 2026, with signs in protest of AI data centers. They read: "Ban AI," "Ban! Ban! Ban!", "Ban Data Ceners." One says "Data center," which is crossed out in red ink.

Economy

“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...

July 2, 2026
Members of the Easthampton Tenants Union rally at City hall in December 2025. One speaker stands at a podium that says "Support Easthampton tenants" while others hold signs behind that read "The rent is wicked high," "Keep our elders in their homes," "Warm, cozy, affordable homes," and "Massahcusetts es nuestro hogar."

Housing

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...

June 18, 2026

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