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Police & Fire
Armed Suspect Fires On Officers, Bystanders In Western Mass, Police Say Armed Suspect Fires On Officers, Bystanders In Western Mass, Police Say
Armed Suspect Fires On Officers, Bystanders In Western Mass, Police Say A Western Massachusetts man has been arrested for allegedly firing a gun at police officers and bystanders on a city street before being arrested. Jose Montanez, age 43, of Springfield was apprehended around 7:25 p.m., Sunday, June 20,  Montanez, who is well-known to police, was arrested after officers responded to the 0-100 block of High Street for a ShotSpotter Activation indicating five rounds of gunfire, said Ryan Walsh, spokesman for the Springfield Police Department. Jose MontanezSpringfield Police Department When officers arrived Montanez began fleeing, as is seen in but continu…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Teen Trio Nabbed Breaking Into Vehicles In Western Mass, Police Say Teen Trio Nabbed Breaking Into Vehicles In Western Mass, Police Say
Teen Trio Nabbed Breaking Into Vehicles In Western Mass, Police Say Three Western Mass teens were arrested for allegedly breaking into a parked vehicle and then fleeing in stolen cars. The incident took place around 1 a.m., Tuesday, June 8, when Ludlow Police officers responded to the area of Walnut and Oak streets for a report of a motor vehicle break-in and vandalism, said Ludlow Police Chief Daniel Valadas. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a witness who identified one of the juveniles as a suspect, who was later taken into custody. During their initial investigation, officers located a 2008 Nissan Maxima with its driver’s side window smashed out. …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Increase In Thefts, Break-Ins From Vehicles Sparks Concern In Western Mass Town Increase In Thefts, Break-Ins From Vehicles Sparks Concern In Western Mass Town
Increase In Thefts, Break-Ins From Vehicles Sparks Concern In Western Mass Town A recent rash of vehicle thefts and break-ins have caused police in Western Massachusetts to advise residents to lock up their cars at night. The Ludlow Police Department issued an alert this week following an uptick in stolen cars and break-ins in the area surrounding State Street in recent weeks in the town in Hampden County. In each incident, the cars were left open or unlocked with the keys left inside, police noted. At least two stolen vehicles were later recovered in Springfield. “Never leave a car unlocked, keys in the ignition, or valuables in plain view. Taking steps to secure yo…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
CT Man Facing Charges After Fatal Mass Turnpike Crash CT Man Facing Charges After Fatal Mass Turnpike Crash
CT Man Facing Charges After Fatal Mass Turnpike Crash One person was killed in a crash involving a Freightliner tractor-trailer, a 2020 Toyota Camry, and a 2008 Toyota Sienna van in Western Massachusetts. At 3:22 p.m. Friday, April 23, troopers from the Massachusetts State Police Barracks in Lee responded to the crash on the eastbound side of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Becket.  Preliminary investigation by state police and the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office indicates that the tractor-trailer was eastbound approaching Mile Marker 15 when traffic in front of the truck began to slow because of traffic. Evidence suggests the truck s…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: New List Released Of Western Mass Zones At High Risk For Spread COVID-19: New List Released Of Western Mass Zones At High Risk For Spread
Covid-19: New List Released Of Western Mass Zones At High Risk For Spread More communities in Western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, April 8, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the latest…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
CT Stolen-Vehicle Suspect Caught While Pumping Gas, Police Say CT Stolen-Vehicle Suspect Caught While Pumping Gas, Police Say
CT Stolen-Vehicle Suspect Caught While Pumping Gas, Police Say A Connecticut man was arrested for allegedly stealing a vehicle while he was pumping gas in Massachusetts. Hartford County resident Yves Sorokobi, age 50, of Manchester, was arrested around 4 p.m., Saturday, April 3, in Hampden County after Ludlow Police received a 911 call for a report of a motor vehicle that had just been stolen, Ludlow Police said. The owners of the vehicle said they were currently tracking the stolen vehicle via a mobile phone application.  Ludlow Police dispatchers were able to remain on the line gathering real-time data and location updates. Shortly therea…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
COVID-19: 11 Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Virus Spread COVID-19: 11 Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Virus Spread
Covid-19: 11 Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Virus Spread More communities in Western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, April 1, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the latest…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: These Five Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Spread, DPH Says COVID-19: These Five Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Spread, DPH Says
Covid-19: These Five Western Mass Communities At High Risk For Spread, DPH Says Five communities in western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, March 25, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the lates…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Two Western Mass Communities Placed In Red Zone; New Rundown Of 20 High-Risk Areas COVID-19: Two Western Mass Communities Placed In Red Zone; New Rundown Of 20 High-Risk Areas
Covid-19: Two Western Mass Communities Placed In Red Zone; New Rundown Of 20 High-Risk Areas Two communities in western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, March 18, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the late…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Virus Outbreaks Recorded In 11 School Districts Last Week COVID-19: Virus Outbreaks Recorded In 11 School Districts Last Week
Covid-19: Virus Outbreaks Recorded In 11 School Districts Last Week This past week, 11 Massachusetts public schools experienced COVID-19 outbreaks of 9 or more students and staff coming down with the virus. The largest outbreak was recorded in Leominster. From March 4-10, 21 of the school district’s students (15) and staff (6) reported positive cases. The Massachusetts Department of Secondary and Elementary Education produces weekly reports on positive COVID-19 cases reported in each school district. The Thursday, March 11 report found about 140 school districts - out of more than 350 - had at least one student or staff member test positive for COVID-19. C…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
COVID-19: Four 'Red' Western Mass Cities At High Risk, Town-By-Town Trends, Rates COVID-19: Four 'Red' Western Mass Cities At High Risk, Town-By-Town Trends, Rates
Covid-19: Four 'Red' Western Mass Cities At High Risk, Town-By-Town Trends, Rates Keeping with the trend of declining COVID-19 infections, the Pioneer Valley has only 4 “red” communities - cities and towns with the highest risk of virus transmission. On Thursday, March 4, Massachusetts unveiled its latest weekly update on COVID-19 incidents by the municipality.  Red communities in Western Massachusetts for the week of March 4 are: Chicopee with a rate of 33.4, Hadley, 32 Ludlow, 33.4, and Springfield, 40.3. Springfield was the only city out of the four that was in the red but experienced a decline in COVID-19 incidents, according to state data. Statewide, the…

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by Kristin Palpini
Police & Fire
Suspect In 'Magic Lantern' Strip Club Shooting Is Arrested Suspect In 'Magic Lantern' Strip Club Shooting Is Arrested
Suspect In 'Magic Lantern' Strip Club Shooting Is Arrested An arrest has been made in connection with a February shooting at a rural strip club. On Sunday, Feb. 21, gunfire broke out in the parking lot of the Magic Lantern, a topless bar on Route 20 in Monson by the Palmer town line, at around 1 a.m. The incident wasn’t reported until at least 12 hours later. Now Ethan Fitzgerald, 25, of Ludlow, has been arrested in connection with the shooting, Monson Police said. Fitzgerald was arrested Monday, March 1, on the charges of possession of a firearm without an FID card or license to carry, possession of ammunition with no FID card or license to …

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by Kristin Palpini