BOSTON (SHNS) - Republican or Democrat, Beacon Hill lawmakers hoping for an assist from Washington on the ongoing migrant crisis are fixing their gaze on the other side of Election Day, with one Senate Republican saying he sees "a lot of election year politics" at play. The federal government has thus far not provided immigration reforms or monetary aid to ease the burden on state government as Massachusetts and other states continue to house thousands of migrants in its shelters and overflow sites. Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues, asked this week about the feds stepping up to ..read more

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Hampden DA's annual Youth Advisory Board Conference was held at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield Friday morning. Suspect in 24-year-old sexual assault case in Holland arraigned More than 50 high school students from Hampden County discussed the work that they've accomplished this year while serving on the DA's Youth Advisory Board. Students worked with the DA's office on projects they believe affect their community. The projects ranged from healthy relationships to the dangers of vaping. "What we gain from our Youth Advisory Board in terms of knowledge ..read more

(NEXSTAR) — Just like some will get an extra paycheck in May, some Social Security recipients will get two checks this month. It’s all because of a quirk in the Social Security Administration’s payment schedule. A few times a year, two Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks will go out in a month instead of the usual one. May happens to be the first of three double-payment months of 2024. The first SSI check went out on May 1, according to the agency’s calendar. The final check will go out on May 31.  This doesn’t mean recipients are flush with extra funds. Because of May’s double paym ..read more

SOUTHWICK, Mass. (WWLP) - It was on the cooler side Friday but the growing season is now well underway. Overall things are in good shape but there have been some challenges this spring. The recent weather we've had has affected the growing season. Last month when the temperatures dropped, farmers had to cover the crops to keep the ground warmer. Massachusetts could see the northern lights amid ‘very rare’ geomagnetic storm watch "The rain has been a challenge too, we'll get in there and try and get everything planted because we know the next day it's going to rain again," said Joe Calabrese of ..read more

(NEXSTAR) - During Teacher Appreciation Week every teacher should be thanked and praised for helping to mold and nurture the minds of America's youth. But anyone with kids always wants to know, "Where can my child get the best education?" An annual study performed by Niche was able to determine where the school districts with the best teachers can be found in the U.S ..read more

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A juvenile boy will receive a criminal summons after a fight outside of the Chestnut Middle School on Thursday afternoon. Investigation underway at home on Mapledell Street in Springfield According to Springfield Police Ryan Walsh, a school resource officer helped break up a fight on Plainfield Street around 3:10 p.m. An investigation into the fight found that one student allegedly used pepper spray on the victim and then assaulted them. A crossing guard in the area also suffered from the pepper spray. A bystander helped the resource officer in breaking up the fight ..read more

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - Following UMass Chancellor Javier Reyes' decision to use police to disperse a pro-Palestinian encampment earlier this week, student-led groups are showing their support for those demonstrators. UMass Amherst commencement speaker Colson Whitehead drops out Over 20 student organizations on campus that are collectively made up of hundreds of students have condemned what they believe to be violence that Chancellor Reyes brought to campus. Student-led groups like the Arab Cultural Association, Latinos Unidos and the Japanese Student Association have all released statements o ..read more

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Springfield Police Youth Aide Bureau is asking for the public's help in locating a missing runaway. Hampden County DA’s Youth Advisory students present projects impacting community According to the Springfield Police Department 14-year-old Esmeralda Perez ran away from home on Monday, April 29th. She was reported missing three days later, Thursday, May 2nd. Esmeralda is approximately 5’3” tall and weighs 110 pounds. Police say she dyes her hair often and was last known to have black and blue hair. (Springfield Police Department)(Springfield Police Department) He ..read more

ENFIELD, Conn. (WWLP) - The Enfield Police Department is cautioning residents on using social media to list items for sale after a rise in theft. These cars and trucks are thieves’ biggest targets in Massachusetts, national data shows According to the department, there has been an increase in dirt bikes stolen that may have been targeted using Facebook profile information to obtain the seller's location. Police say that when you list items for sale on Facebook Marketplace, or other social media sites, thieves can associate your name and use public information websites to determine your address ..read more

(WTNH) -- A Connecticut dog recovery organization has issued a warning to pet owners: Missing dogs are being found with altered appearances. "It didn't even look like the same dog," said Melanie Heltke, with the Connecticut Dog Gone Recovery Volunteer Network. "There was a white dog that was completely shaved, so you didn't even know it was the same dog." Inside a makeshift shelter saving hundreds of dogs from floods in southern Brazil Heltke, a volunteer with the group, said there have been several incidents across the state in recent weeks in which missing dogs have been found with thei ..read more