Western Mass Politics & Insight https://www.wmasspi.com/ Springfield...and the World... Sat, 07 Nov 2026 17:42:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://wmasspi.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/cropped-wmasspilogo-32x32.jpg Western Mass Politics & Insight https://www.wmasspi.com/ 32 32 Despite Few Local Election Day Shocks, National Results Ripple into the 413… https://wmasspi.com/2026/11/despite-few-local-election-day-shocks-national-results-ripple-into-the-413.html https://wmasspi.com/2026/11/despite-few-local-election-day-shocks-national-results-ripple-into-the-413.html#respond Fri, 06 Nov 2026 03:33:03 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25987 EAST LONGMEADOW—Echoing much of the nation and sticking to its preferences, Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly reelected Democrats up and down the ballot. Even challengers who eschewed the GOP label faltered. Governor Maura Healey and Senator Ed Markey, who topped the ticket, stomped their opponents on the way to new terms. Both were declared the winners almost immediately. Down ballot, it was not quite instantaneous.

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]]> https://wmasspi.com/2026/11/despite-few-local-election-day-shocks-national-results-ripple-into-the-413.html/feed 0 A Long Cycle for the First Congressional District Reaches the Finish Line… https://wmasspi.com/2026/11/a-long-cycle-for-the-first-congressional-district-reaches-the-finish-line.html https://wmasspi.com/2026/11/a-long-cycle-for-the-first-congressional-district-reaches-the-finish-line.html#respond Tue, 03 Nov 2026 07:55:44 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25978 After besting Jeromie Whalen in the primary, Congressman Richard Neal faces one-time Sheffield lawyer Nadia Milleron on Tuesday. If Whalen campaigned on sheer force of personality, Milleron has been firing off rounds of dubious claims and assertions while beating back allegations she is too conservative for the district.

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]]> https://wmasspi.com/2026/11/a-long-cycle-for-the-first-congressional-district-reaches-the-finish-line.html/feed 0 Analysis: The Courthouse Battle in the Court of Public Opinion… https://wmasspi.com/2026/11/analysis-the-courthouse-battle-in-the-court-of-public-opinion.html https://wmasspi.com/2026/11/analysis-the-courthouse-battle-in-the-court-of-public-opinion.html#respond Sun, 01 Nov 2026 19:19:32 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25972 UPDATED 11/7/26 12:42: To include the date of the next hearing. For several weeks now, both sides of the battle over Springfield’s new courthouse have been taking their case to the people. Dinesh Patel and James Balise, the owners of companies formally suing over the

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]]> https://wmasspi.com/2026/11/analysis-the-courthouse-battle-in-the-court-of-public-opinion.html/feed 0 Ups, Downs and Ending Where the Ride Started: A Roller Coaster Debate Story… https://wmasspi.com/2026/10/ups-downs-and-ending-where-the-ride-started-a-roller-coaster-debate-story.html https://wmasspi.com/2026/10/ups-downs-and-ending-where-the-ride-started-a-roller-coaster-debate-story.html#respond Sun, 25 Oct 2026 21:57:07 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25963 Neither the station itself nor Nexstar, the corporate behemoth that owns WWLP, are perfect. However, both have been hit in this cycle’s political crossfire. In both cases, it occurred during the race for Congress.

Congressman Richard general election opponent, Nadia Milleron, had some criticism for the TV station. The moderator was letting Neal talk about her positions.

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]]> https://wmasspi.com/2026/10/ups-downs-and-ending-where-the-ride-started-a-roller-coaster-debate-story.html/feed 0 Op-Ed: Platner Was Forced Out—So Why Has Deaton Escaped Scrutiny? https://wmasspi.com/2026/10/op-ed-platner-was-forced-out-so-why-has-deaton-escaped-scrutiny.html Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:20:09 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25956 There should be a simple standard for politicians' bad behavior: sexual misconduct allegations deserve serious scrutiny. We rely on news media and reporters to shine a light on legitimate allegations so that the voting public can make an informed decision.

But apparently, that scrutiny has limits—or at least a double standard.

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]]> Judge Refuses Springfield’s Plea for Stay of Arbitration over MGM Sale… https://wmasspi.com/2026/10/judge-refuses-springfields-plea-for-stay-of-arbitration-over-mgm-sale.html Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:46:18 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25947 UPDATED 10/23/26 4:35PM: To include comment from the City Solicitor and the president of MGM. The City of Springfield suffered a setback in its bid to avoid arbitration over the planned sale of MGM’s casino to Clairvest. Earlier this year, the gaming giant initiated arbitration

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]]> Plaintiffs Aim to Breathe New Life into Noho Divestment Suit with New Complaint… https://wmasspi.com/2026/10/plaintiffs-aim-to-breath-new-life-into-noho-divestment-suit-with-new-complaint.html Wed, 21 Oct 2026 03:52:59 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25935 Over a month after a Hampshire Superior Court judge dismissed the case, plaintiffs seeking to void a Northampton City Council action that urged municipal divestment from Israel-connected assets are going back to court. Opponents of the Council’s September 2025 resolution hope a recent Supreme Judicial Court ruling and a new complaint will be enough to revive the suit.

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]]> Take My Council, Please: A Head Start of Something… https://wmasspi.com/2026/10/take-my-council-please-a-head-start-of-something.html Mon, 19 Oct 2026 03:23:40 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25928 The Springfield City Council’s October 5 meeting was brief and uncontroversial, lacking the drama a snarky blog might later mock. Indeed, a report on it—especially nearly two weeks afterward—may seem unnecessary. However, the meeting does stand out for its intergovernmental flavor. Last week, the City

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]]> Briefings: Amid Springfield Courthouse Drama, Trial Court Administrator Retires… https://wmasspi.com/2026/10/briefings-amid-springfield-courthouse-drama-trial-court-administrator-retires.html Sun, 11 Oct 2026 02:36:02 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25922 The battle over the courthouse in Springfield is as much a battle with the Trial Court’s administration as it is with executive branch agency that manages the Commonwealth’s real estate. Thomas Ambrosino, in his capacity as administrator for the Trial Court, had sworn out a

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]]> Analysis: As MGM Tries to Cash out, Sarno Raises Legal Wager to Play a Risky Hand… https://wmasspi.com/2026/10/analysis-as-mgm-tries-to-cash-out-sarno-raises-legal-wager-to-play-a-risky-hand.html Tue, 06 Oct 2026 05:33:10 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25906 The mayor is pushing back on the gaming giant’s attempt to force the city into arbitration over the approval of the sale of the eight-year-old operation. Therein lies the problem.

After years of rumors, the Las Vegas company officially wants out. Contrary to what Sarno might claim, too many of the city’s eggs were in the MGM basket.

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