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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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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.
“Increase your profit”: Westfield police-landlord meeting draws criticism from tenants
The meetings have been ongoing for years, but a recent Facebook post about them has prompted some to question the cozy relationship between police and landlords.
Judge sides with journalist against Northwestern DA
The top cop for Hampshire and Franklin counties must now turn over unredacted disclosures of criminal police misconduct, or appeal the case to a higher court.
AI Hallucination? Proposed Westfield data center appears abandoned by developers
The Shoestring’s investigation uncovered signs the project’s developers may have abandoned it, even after local officials spent years arranging for significant tax breaks.
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.