Public Affairs

War on Poverty

Stephen Huntley, Executive Director of the Valley Opportunity Council, discusses some specific measures he feels could be instituted to decrease the poverty in this country. Valley Opportunity...

The State We’re In: State Senator Ben Downing

State Sen. Ben Downing (D) – Pittsfield and the Berkshire/Hampshire/Franklin/Hampden District, discusses the coming 2015 legislative session and the Fiscal Year 2016 budget, with a special focus on energy issues and the Gateway Cities program aimed at providing...

The State We’re In: Brian Lees

Former State Senate Minority Leader Brian Lees discusses the passing of former U.S. Senator Edward Brooke–whom he served in Washington as a top aide. We’ll also discuss the start of the Baker Administration and the ascension of Amherst State Senator Stan...

Cuba-U.S. Relations

As Cuba and the United States move to restore diplomatic relations that were cut 54 years ago, former long-time Chicopee Alderman Timothy Sullivan discusses his service with the Navy in Cuba during the time of the Cuban Revolution as Fidel Castro came to...

New Sick Leave Law

Employment Law specialist Attorney Amelia Holstrom from Springfield law firm Skoler, Abbott, and Presser discusses the intricacies of the new Sick Time Law adopted by Massachusetts voters when they approved Ballot Question 4 in November. Information about Earned Sick...

CIA Torture Report

Mount Holyoke College Professor of Politics Christopher Pyle, a former US Senate Committee staffer and author of the 2009 book about the treatment of terrorist-prisoners entitled “Getting Away with Torture,” discusses the meaning and impact of the just-released...

Springfield Armory Clock Tower

Springfield Armory National Historic Park Superintendent James Woolsey and Wayne Phaneuf, from the Board of Directors of the Springfield Armory Alliance, discuss plans to repair the old clock in the tower of the Springfield Armory building. Springfield Armory National...

Common Capital

Chris Sikes, CEO of Common Capital, and businesswoman Susan Mastroianni, a Common Capital investor, discuss the work of that Holyoke-based organization: granting loans to local residents in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester Counties & providing...

Jewish Family Services Syrian Relief

Over the next year, the Obama administration has plans to take in 10,000 Syrian refugees fleeing from persecution in their war-torn country. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have fled to Europe. But many US politicians have raised serious concerns about letting in...

The State We’re In: Sen. Jim Welch

State Senator Jim Welch (D) – West Springfield and the Hampden District, discusses the state financial situation amid reports that the budget deficit may be higher than previously reported as well as anticipation surrounding the beginning of the new Republican...

Up Education Springfield

Scott Given, CEO of Boston-based Up Education Network, discusses that non-profit company’s proposal to take over one of Springfield’s troubled middle schools and operate it as a Horace Mann Charter School. Up Education Network Up Education Network on...