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Amherst, MA

Taylor Swift's Relatives Include This Iconic Poet, Ancestry Reveals Taylor Swift's Relatives Include This Iconic Poet, Ancestry Reveals
Taylor Swift's Relatives Include This Iconic Poet, Ancestry Reveals From one “tortured poet” to another: the uber-famous Taylor Swift is related to another famous wordsmith, who happens to be from Massachusetts. Taylor Swift, the internationally-loved pop star who recently announced her upcoming album “The Tortured Poets Department,” was discovered to be related to iconic poet Emily Dickinson, NBC’s TODAY Show announced on Monday, March 4. According to Ancestry, who revealed the star-studded lineage to TODAY, Swift and Dickinson are both descendants of a 17th-century English immigrant, who was an early settler in Connecticut, in the Hartford County t…
Western Mass Man Admits To Raping Child; Gets 6 To 7 Years In Prison: DA Western Mass Man Admits To Raping Child; Gets 6 To 7 Years In Prison: DA
Western Mass Man Admits To Raping Child; Gets 6 To 7 Years In Prison: DA A 44-year-old Hampshire County man admitted to repeatedly sexually assaulting a child, authorities said, and now he knows how long he'll spend in prison. Kemal Banatte, of Amherst, was sentenced to six to seven behind bars after he pleaded guilty to one count of statutory rape of a child, one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child over 14, and one count of witness intimidation, the Northwestern District Attorney said.  Banatte admitted to raping a child he knew multiple times from 2015 until 2019…
Emmy Awards: 3 Mass Actors Pick Up Statues Emmy Awards: 3 Mass Actors Pick Up Statues
Emmy Awards: 3 Mass Actors Pick Up Statues Congratulations are in order for two of Boston’s own funny ladies as well as an Amherst actor for their big wins at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, Jan. 15. Ayo Edebiri, who was born and raised in Dorchester, won her first Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for “The Bear.” Related: Boston’s Ayo Edebiri Wins 1st Golden Globe Award Jennifer Coolidge, who was born in Boston and raised in Norwell, took home the award for supporting actress in a drama series for her role in “The White Lotus.” Edebiri thanked her parents for immigrating to this country and al…
Amherst Man Who Admitted To Sharing Child Porn Gets Up To 5 Years In Prison: DA Amherst Man Who Admitted To Sharing Child Porn Gets Up To 5 Years In Prison: DA
Amherst Man Who Admitted To Sharing Child Porn Gets Up To 5 Years In Prison: DA An Amherst man who was convicted of sharing child sexual abuse material will spend at least four and a half years in prison, authorities announced on Thursday, Dec. 28.  Blake Lassiter pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material, nine counts of dissemination of child sexual abuse material, and one count of possession with intent to distribute child sexual abuse material, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.  He is currently serving a two-year sentence in Oregon for similar charges. His sentence in Massachusetts will begin when that is fi…
Man Who Tried To Kidnap Baby During Western Mass Burglary Spree Gets 8-10 Years In Prison: DA Man Who Tried To Kidnap Baby During Western Mass Burglary Spree Gets 8-10 Years In Prison: DA
Man Who Tried To Kidnap Baby During Western Mass Burglary Spree Gets 8-10 Years In Prison: DA A homeless man who broke into a Hampshire County family's home in the middle of the night in 2021 and tried to steal their 20-month-old infant along with their valuables will spend up to a decade behind bars, authorities announced on Monday, Dec. 18.  Jimmy Sanchez, 39, of Amherst, pleaded guilty on Monday to several felonies and was sentenced to 8-10 years in prison, the Northwestern District Attorney said. He had previously been held without bail after a judge ruled him too dangerous to be released.  A family at a home on Spring Street in Amherst heard a noise around 2 a.m. on M…
Western Mass Man Shared Child Porn Of Kid Under 12-Years-Old: Feds Western Mass Man Shared Child Porn Of Kid Under 12-Years-Old: Feds
Western Mass Man Shared Child Porn Of Kid Under 12-Years-Old: Feds A 25-year-old Amherst man was arrested Wednesday morning, Oct. 18, and charged with having and sharing child sexual abuse material last year, authorities said.  Bradley Driscoll faces one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  A federal indictment said that in August 2022, Driscoll had child sexual abuse videos that featured a kid under 12 years old.  Driscoll faces at least five years in prison and up to 40 years in prison if he is convicted, per federal sentencing guidelines…
These 7 Mass Liberal Arts Colleges Rank Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says These 7 Mass Liberal Arts Colleges Rank Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says
These 7 Mass Liberal Arts Colleges Rank Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says The grades are in, and these colleges are a cut above the rest. Of the top 20 liberal arts colleges in the United States, four can be found in Massachusetts, three in New York, and one in Connecticut, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 National Liberal Arts Colleges Rankings. They are: No. 1 - Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts No. 2 - Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts No. 4 - Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts (Tied with Pomona College in Claremont, California and Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania) No. 8 - United States Military …
Springfield Man Admits To Rape, Gets 3 Years In Prison: DA Springfield Man Admits To Rape, Gets 3 Years In Prison: DA
Springfield Man Admits To Rape, Gets 3 Years In Prison: DA A 32-year-old Springfield man told a Hampshire County court this week that he knew the woman he had sex with in 2021 was too drunk to consent, but he proceeded anyway, authorities said.  Michael Pope pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, two counts of indecent assault and battery, and one count of providing alcohol to a person under 21 years of age, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.  Pope pleaded guilty to raping the Amherst woman in an apartment before the prosecution began, sparing the victim a trial, the prosecutor said.  Judge Jane Mulqueen se…
Officials Tentatively ID Man Killed In Western Mass Fire Officials Tentatively ID Man Killed In Western Mass Fire
Officials Tentatively ID Man Killed In Western Mass Fire Authorities in Hampshire County on Thursday, July 13, released the name of the man believed to have died in a housefire in Belchertown earlier this week.  Wesley Korenewsky, 68, who lived at 42 Daniel Square, is believed to be the person that firefighters found after they put out a two-alarm blaze at that address, a spokesperson for the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will make the official identification.  Belchertown firefighters were called to the Daniel Square home just after 1:30 p.m. Monday. They found fire and smok…
Dead Body Found Inside Burning Belchertown Home Dead Body Found Inside Burning Belchertown Home
Dead Body Found Inside Burning Belchertown Home Fire crews in Hampshire County found a dead body inside a Belchertown home after they raced to put out the fire consuming a house at 42 Daniel Square, authorities said.  Belchertown crews called for mutual aid, and nearby firehouses in Amherst, Bondsville, Granby, Ludlow, Palmer, Pelham, Three Rivers, and Westover provided mutual assistance to fight the flames.   Once the flames were out and investigators could begin their inquiries, authorities found the body of an adult male inside the home. Police did not identify the man or say if he lived there.  They also did…
Ex-Priest Stole Over $100K From Granby Church To Buy Power Tools, Video Games: DA Ex-Priest Stole Over $100K From Granby Church To Buy Power Tools, Video Games: DA
Ex-Priest Stole Over $100K From Granby Church To Buy Power Tools, Video Games: DA A former Hampshire County Roman catholic priest is accused of spending more than $100,000 of the parish's money to buy himself video games, a riding lawn mower, power tools, and more, officials said.  Tomasz J. Gorny, 43, of Amherst, will be arraigned on a charge of larceny over $1,200 on Friday, June 16, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.  Gorny served as a priest of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Granby until the Diocese of Springfield began an internal audit after leaders noticed some accounting irregularities, authorities said. They turned ove…
Harrison Ford Forced To Make Quick Exit From Popular Farmers Market In New England Harrison Ford Forced To Make Quick Exit From Popular Farmers Market In New England
Harrison Ford Forced To Make Quick Exit From Popular Farmers Market In New England Harrison Ford left the wretched hive of scum and villainy that is Los Angeles for somewhere more quaint over the weekend when he visited Western Massachusetts for the Amherst Farmers Market.  The 80-year-old A-Lister was in town to see his youngest son Liam graduate from Amherst College.  While in Amherst, Ford stopped by the farmers market but didn't get a chance to buy anything because word quickly spread that Indiana Jones was about, said Joyce Douthwright, who runs Cold Spring Soapery with her husband. She snapped a photo of him just before he was mobbed by fans.  "…
Police Explode Car's Tires, But Driver Refused To Give Up Chase Through Western Mass: Troopers Police Explode Car's Tires, But Driver Refused To Give Up Chase Through Western Mass: Troopers
Police Explode Car's Tires, But Driver Refused To Give Up Chase Through Western Mass: Troopers Several police departments chased a man in an allegedly stolen Lexus through Western Mass late Monday night, April 17, before disabling his car and causing it to crash — eventually.  Atul Kumar Goswami, 26, of Flushing, New York, is charged with failure to stop for police, operating to endanger, and speeding, though more charges could be on the way, authorities said.  The chase began in Amherst when officers spotted a tan 2015 Lexus E35 speeding and driving recklessly with a license plate that didn't match the car, state police said. Amherst police tried to pull the luxury ca…
Iconic Blues Musician Bringing Kick-Ass Shows To Massachusetts This Spring Iconic Blues Musician Bringing Kick-Ass Shows To Massachusetts This Spring
Iconic Blues Musician Bringing Kick-Ass Shows To Massachusetts This Spring A New England Music Hall of Fame inductee is bringing his signature sound to several shows in Massachusetts later this year, and you better have the stamina to keep up with the 73-year-old James Montgomery has been performing and making blues music for several decades, and the New England musician is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.  "People should know that they're going to see an energetic show played by some of the best musicians on the planet," the Detroit, MI, native said in an interview with Daily Voice. "Everybody I have with my band has played with some of the biggest…
Child Porn: Amherst Doctor Had Thousands Of Videos, Secretly Filmed Medical Exams Child Porn: Amherst Doctor Had Thousands Of Videos, Secretly Filmed Medical Exams
Child Porn: Amherst Doctor Had Thousands Of Videos, Secretly Filmed Medical Exams A resident doctor with a Western Massachusetts family medical center was arrested this week after police found thousands of photos and videos featuring child pornography of kids on more than 70 devices, federal authorities said. He is also alleged to have secretly filmed medical exams of two minor patients, officials said.  Dr. Bradley Ferrick, age 32, of Winchester and Amherst, is charged with one count of possession of child pornography after he was arrested on Tuesday, March 14, the US Attorney for Massachusett said.  Ferrick is listed as a member of the inaugural residency cla…
Parking Bans In Effect For Central, Western Mass Cities, Towns Parking Bans In Effect For Central, Western Mass Cities, Towns
Parking Bans In Effect For Central, Western Mass Cities, Towns As much as 2 feet of snow fell overnight Monday, March 13, through Tuesday morning, leaving some roads impassable and knocking out power to thousands.  Because of the nor'easter's damage, several cities and towns in Central and Western Massachusetts have implemented parking bans.  Editor's Note: This list will be continually updated.  Franklin County Greenfield — A parking ban is in effect until 7 a.m. Wednesday  Hampden County Chicopee — A parking ban is in effect from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. That includes main and secondary roads.  Holyoke — No parking is allowed…
'Borgs' At Early St Paddy's Day Party At UMass Amherst Send 28 To Hospital 'Borgs' At Early St Paddy's Day Party At UMass Amherst Send 28 To Hospital
'Borgs' At Early St Paddy's Day Party At UMass Amherst Send 28 To Hospital More than two dozen students were hospitalized following early St. Patrick's Day celebrations at a university in Western Massachusetts that featured a dangerous drinking trend that is sweeping the nation.  University of Massachusetts Amherst said Amherst Fire handled 28 transports for alcohol intoxication during off-campus gatherings on Saturday, March 4, the school said in a statement.  Authorities said many students were carrying plastic gallon containers, believed to be "borgs." Borg stands for "black out rage gallons," and contain a mix of alcohol, electrolytes and water.  The purpose…
Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather
Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather As heavy snows bear down on most of the Northeast Friday, March 3, several towns in western Massachusetts have implemented parking bans.  Related: Updated Snow Fall Predictions For The Northeast Here is a collection of some of those bans. Violators may have their vehicles towed and ticketed.  AGAWAM No parking is allowed from 12 a.m. Saturday, March 4 until 12 p.m. Saturday, March 4. AMHERST A parking ban on all town streets and lots begins at 12 a.m. Saturday and remains in effect until 7 a.m. However, parking is allowed in three areas.  The lower level of the parking …
Amherst Man Guilty Of Indecent Assault On 2 Children Under 12: DA Amherst Man Guilty Of Indecent Assault On 2 Children Under 12: DA
Amherst Man Guilty Of Indecent Assault On 2 Children Under 12: DA A Northampton jury convicted a 41-year-old Amherst man this week on multiple counts of indecent assault on a child, officials said.  Jorge Castillo was convicted on Wednesday, Feb. 8, of five counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and one count of intimidating a witness following a five-day trial, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. A judge is set to sentence him on Monday.  The jury deliberated for three days, but they were unable to return verdicts of two counts of aggravated rape and abuse of a child and one count of open and gross lewdness, of…
Amherst Father Who Killed Infant Son With Sleeping Pill Sentenced To 5 To 7 Years In Jail: DA Amherst Father Who Killed Infant Son With Sleeping Pill Sentenced To 5 To 7 Years In Jail: DA
Amherst Father Who Killed Infant Son With Sleeping Pill Sentenced To 5 To 7 Years In Jail: DA A judge this week sentenced a 35-year-old Amherst dad who admitted to killing his son with sleeping pills to serve five and seven years behind bars, authorities said.  Isaac Villalobos, who also goes by Angel M. Carattini-Rivera, pleaded guilty to felony assault and battery on a child causing substantial injury, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday, Dec. 28.  "This was a horrific tragedy," Assistant District Attorney Andrew C. Covington said. "In this case, the Commonwealth wanted to provide a measure of closure for&nbs…
Retired State Police Captain In Western Mass Indicted On Child Porn Charges: AG Retired State Police Captain In Western Mass Indicted On Child Porn Charges: AG
Retired State Police Captain In Western Mass Indicted On Child Porn Charges: AG A retired Massachusetts State Police detective captain was indicted this week on multiple child pornography charges, authorities announced. Francis "Frank" Hart, 62, of Amherst, faces seven counts of possession of child porn and one count of disseminating the offending material, the Massachusetts Attorney General announced on Thursday, Dec. 22.   Police began investigating Hart in January 2021 after they received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an email registered to him had uploaded a file containing numerous images of suspected child p…
Judge Rejects Guilty Plea From Amherst Dad Accused Of Killing Infant Son: Report Judge Rejects Guilty Plea From Amherst Dad Accused Of Killing Infant Son: Report
Judge Rejects Guilty Plea From Amherst Dad Accused Of Killing Infant Son: Report Isaac Villalobos admitted on Monday, Dec. 12, to killing his 4-month-old son in 2019, but a judge rejected his plea, saying the prosecution hadn't presented enough evidence to make a manslaughter charge stick, reports said.  Villalobos, who also goes by the name Angel M. Carattini-Rivera, is accused of using an infant syringe to give his baby boy a lethal dose of adult sleeping medication, the Northwestern District Attorney said. The former Amherst resident pleaded not guilty in July to charges of manslaughter, assault and battery on a child causing substantial injury, reckles…
'I Deserve What I'm Getting': Central MA Man Gets 6-12 Years For Fatal 2019 Crash 'I Deserve What I'm Getting': Central MA Man Gets 6-12 Years For Fatal 2019 Crash
'I Deserve What I'm Getting': Central MA Man Gets 6-12 Years For Fatal 2019 Crash A Worcester County man has been sentenced to 6-12 years in state prison in connection with a fatal 2019 crash in Western Massachusetts, authorities said. Gary Gregoire, of Athol, was sentenced for his role in the crash that took the life of 70-year-old Stephen Karpovich of Amherst, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office reports.  This came after Gregoire changed his plea to guilty to charges of manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation and operating a motor vehicle on a suspended license. “He didn’t just kill Steve, he killed a little part of all of our…
Western Mass Man Who Said His Name During Armed Robbery Gets 8 Years In Prison: DA Western Mass Man Who Said His Name During Armed Robbery Gets 8 Years In Prison: DA
Western Mass Man Who Said His Name During Armed Robbery Gets 8 Years In Prison: DA A 24-year-old Amherst man learned the hard way that saying your name while robbing someone you know defeats the purpose of a mask, officials said.  Oscar Garcia Alvarado pleaded guilty to a 2019 armed robbery, and a judge sentenced him to between seven and eight years in prison on Thursday, Oct. 6, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.  Alvarado and another man who police have not identified broke into an Amherst man's apartment on Nov. 14, 2019, while he was playing video games with friends online, police said. The duo carried a pistol and a rifle and covered their fa…
Western Massachusetts Woman, 36, Killed In Multi-Vehicle Crash Western Massachusetts Woman, 36, Killed In Multi-Vehicle Crash
Western Massachusetts Woman, 36, Killed In Multi-Vehicle Crash A 36-year-old woman has died from a multi-vehicle crash in Western Massachusetts last week, authorities said. Carmen Henriquez, of Springfield, died in the crash that happened at the intersection of Route 116 and Sunderland Road in Amherst around 8:45 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 19, the Northwest District Attorney's Office said.  Initial investigation revealed Henriquez collided with two other vehicles that were going in the opposite direction as her. The impact caused her vehicle to roll over, the office reports.  Henriquez was the sole fatality of the crash.  The drivers of the …
Boston To Change Parking Payment Method: Here's What You Need To Know Boston To Change Parking Payment Method: Here's What You Need To Know
Boston To Change Parking Payment Method: Here's What You Need To Know Parking in Boston can be tricky, but city leaders say a new partnership could streamline the process of reserving and paying for a spot starting next month.  Officials announced the city would upgrade ParkBoston app on Aug. 15 to ParkMobile. Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Boston's chief of streets said in a press release that the new platform will be an upgrade and easier to use.  ParkMobile provides more payment options, mobile alerts for when your meter is about to expire, and it also includes a feature that shows you open spots nearby, the release said.  You must update the ParkB…
Western Mass Father Pleads Not Guilty To Infant Son's Death By Adult Sleep Medication Western Mass Father Pleads Not Guilty To Infant Son's Death By Adult Sleep Medication
Western Mass Father Pleads Not Guilty To Infant Son's Death By Adult Sleep Medication A father from Western Massachusetts has pleaded not guilty to several charges in connection with the death of his 4-month-old son almost three years ago, the Northwestern District Attorney's office said.  Isaac Villalobos, formerly of Amherst, is facing several charges after allegedly gave he after his infant son a lethal dose of adult sleep medication on September 15, 2019, the office reports.  After being indicted by a Grand Jury, Villalobos was arrested last week in Maryland and brought back to Massachusetts on Thursday, July 14, the office reports.  The charges…
These Massachusetts Colleges Rank Among Nation's 50 Most Expensive These Massachusetts Colleges Rank Among Nation's 50 Most Expensive
These Massachusetts Colleges Rank Among Nation's 50 Most Expensive Five Massachusetts colleges are among the most expensive four-year institutions in the United States, according to a report from CBS News. On March 10, the news outlet shared a ranking of the 50 most expensive colleges in the country based on information from The National Center for Education Statistics. The following Massachusetts colleges made the list: Amherst College, Amherst, ranked 3rd Tufts University, Medford, 5th Wellesley College, Wellesley, 10th Boston College, Chestnut Hill, 21st Boston University, Boston, 34th Read the full report from CBS News here.
Police In Western Mass Mourn Loss Of Comfort Dog Winston Before His Second Birthday Police In Western Mass Mourn Loss Of Comfort Dog Winston Before His Second Birthday
Police In Western Mass Mourn Loss Of Comfort Dog Winston Before His Second Birthday The Amherst Police Department is mourning the loss of their Comfort Dog Winston, who died after being diagnosed with lymphoma and leukemia last weekend, the department said on Facebook. "This progressed so aggressively that his handler, Officer Laramee, had to make the heartbreaking decision to end his pain and let him pass peacefully," on Wednesday, June 15, police said. Winston was just about to celebrate his second birthday.  "Officer Laramee had a vision for a comfort dog program here in Amherst and he was greeted with the perfectly tempered, incredibly happy, very sleepy, Winston," po…
Investigation Of Endangered Cattle Breed Results In Animal Cruelty Charges In Western Mass Investigation Of Endangered Cattle Breed Results In Animal Cruelty Charges In Western Mass
Investigation Of Endangered Cattle Breed Results In Animal Cruelty Charges In Western Mass An investigation into rare “Kerry” cattle in Western Massachusetts led to a host of charges for a woman accused of animal cruelty. The Massachusetts SPCA said that eight head of very rare “Kerry” cattle, along with one Holstein cow and 22 Saanen, Lamancha, and Alpine-mix goats are available for adoption at the MSPCA at Nevins Farm following an animal cruelty investigation in Hampshire County. Officials said that the investigation was launched in Amherst, leading to 35 counts of felony animal cruelty against Shannon Rice-Nichols, of Hadley. She is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges i…
Reports Of Black Students Receiving Racist Emails Under Investigation At UMass Reports Of Black Students Receiving Racist Emails Under Investigation At UMass
Reports Of Black Students Receiving Racist Emails Under Investigation At UMass UMass Amherst is reporting an increase in racially motivated anti-Black incidents, according to a statement by the university’s vice-chancellor. In a message sent to students on Thursday, Sept. 23, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Diversity Officer Nefertiti Walker, said a racist email was sent to numerous Black-centered student groups on campus on Friday, Sept. 17. The university is investigating the email which was reportedly sent from a non-student account and signed “UMass coalition for a better society." The content of the email, Walker said, was “vile, blatantly racist, and violently offens…