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Grill Fire Guts Home In Western Mass, Injures 2, Leave 6 Homeless
Fire investigators say a two-alarm Hampden County blaze on Thursday, Aug. 3, started on a grill on a home's back porch.
The fire began just before 4 p.m. on Wilbraham Street in Palmer as a family was cooking dinner on their outside grill, the Palmer Fire Department said. The blaze quickly got out of control and spread to the home before crews could get there and battle the flames back.
The fire injured two people and displaced a family of six. Palmer Fire Department
Firefighters from Palmer responded with crews from Three Rivers, Bondsville, Wilbraham, Ludlow, Ware, Belchertown, Monso…
Tornado Watch Issued For Much Of Region, With 60 MPH Wind Gusts, Hail Also Possible
As a slow-moving storm system barrels through the Northeast, a Tornado Watch has now been issued for much of the region until 3 p.m. Sunday, July 16.
It includes parts of southeastern New York -- Long Island, as well as Westchester, and Putnam counties -- as well as all eight counties in Connecticut, and the following counties in Massachusetts: Berkshire, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, and Worcester.
A look at all areas under the watch, also including parts of Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine, is marked in yellow in the image above from the National Weather Service.
…
Nearly 2 Pounds Of Cocaine Seized In Western Mass Bust Following Gunshot: Police
A gunshot Monday night, March 27, led police to two people carrying almost a kilo of cocaine, authorities said.
Kelly McCarthy, 36, of Hampden, and Lennox Neath, 45, of Springfield, face several charges following their arrest, Springfield police said.
Officers received a ShotSpotter alert around 10 p.m. that led them to the area of Grand and Revere streets. Police searched the area and found McCarthy driving nearby. They pulled his car over and found a loaded gun and a large bag of cocaine stuffed between the driver and the passenger Neath.
Kelly McCarthy was charged with…
Courts Closed In Central, Western Mass Because Of Storm
Trial courts in Worcester, Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties are closed on Tuesday, March 14, because of the heavy snow burying much of the state.
The court posted a notice on its website that said the decision was "in the interest of safety for the public and staff, given the predicted impact of the storm."
All first day jurors are also canceled statewide, the notice continued.
Parts of Western Massachusetts could get as much as two feet of snow once the nor'easter finishes its assault on the region. As of Tuesday morning, thousands were without power, …
Gas Prices In Massachusetts Reach Record High, AAA Says
Gas prices in Massachusetts have reached a new record high as the country deals with rising oil prices and nationwide inflation amid tensions overseas.
On Monday, May 9, AAA was reporting that the average price per regular gallon of gas in the Commonwealth has hit $4.39, the highest recorded average price in history.
Likewise, truck drivers are also seeking relief at the pump, as the price of diesel fuel also set a record on May 9 when it hit $6.27 per gallon.
In Massachusetts, the price per gallon is up 18 cents from a week ago, 26 cents from a month ago, and $2.86 from May 9, 2021.
…
Nor'easter: Here's A Brand-New Rundown Of Snowfall Totals From Throughout Region
Snowfall totals from the powerful Nor'easter that slammed the region ranged from more than two feet to several inches.
Here are totals from the National Weather Service and other reports from at or around sunset on Saturday, Jan. 29. If you don't see your hometown, leave the total by posting a comment below.
New York
New York City
Central Park, 8.3 inches
Nassau County
Elmont, 17.3 inches
Jericho, 12 inches
Levittown, 19.2 inches
Massapequa, 16 inches
Plainedge, 16 inches
Seaford, 12 inches
Syosset, 14 inches
Wantagh, 14 inches
Suffolk County
Amit…
How Much Snow Did You Get? A Look At Totals Throughout Region
Much of the region saw the first significant snowfall of the season from a fast-moving winter storm that swept through the region overnight Thursday, Jan. 6 into Friday, Jan. 7.
Here are some totals from the National Weather Service and other reports. If you don't see your hometown, leave the total by posting a comment below.
New York
New York City
Central Park, 5.5 inches
Nassau County
East Williston, 8 inches
Elmont, 6.6 inches
Jericho, 7.1 inches
Massapequa, 7 inches
Syosset, 8.3 inches
Suffolk County
Islip Airport, 5.6 inches
Manorville, 6 i…
Covid-19: 11 Massachusetts Counties Now At High Risk For Spread; Here's Latest Info
All but one county in Massachusetts is now being designated as areas of “high transmission” for the spread of COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As variants of the virus surge throughout the country, the CDC is now monitoring 11 Massachusetts counties, with Franklin County the only to be dubbed a “substantial risk” to spread COVID-19. (See the image above.)
In the past seven days, according to the CDC, new COVID-19 cases were reported, by county, in:
Middlesex: 1,844 (1.62 percent);
Worcester: 1,637 (3.64 percent);
Essex: 1,234 (3.40 percent);
Hampden: 1,22…
Severe Thunderstorm Watch In Effect For Entire Region, With Damaging Wind Gusts Possible
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is now in effect for the entire region.
Damaging winds with gusts that could cause power outings are the main threat, the National Weather Service said in issuing the alert. Flash flooding, frequent lightning and large hail are possible.
It lasts until 11 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, for these areas:
Long Island,
Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster counties in the Hudson Valley,
All of New York City,
Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, New Haven, New London, Middlesex, Tolland, and New London counties in Connecticut.
Al…
Severe Thunderstorm Watch In Effect For Entire Region, With 65 MPH Wind Gusts Possible
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is now in effect for the entire region.
Damaging winds with gusts of 65 miles per hour that could cause power outings are the main threat, the National Weather Service said in issuing the alert. Frequent lightning and large hail are possible.
It lasts until 10 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, for these areas:
Long Island,
Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, and Orange counties
The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island,
Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties in Connecticut.
It last until 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, for these areas:
A…
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Now In Effect With Damaging Wind Gusts, Tornadoes Possible
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has now been issued for much of the region.
It lasts until 11 p.m. Wednesday, May 26 in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester, Middlesex,c and Essex counties in Massachusetts, until 8 p.m. in the Berkshires, and until 11 p.m. in Hartford, Tolland, and Windham counties in Connecticut, and until 10 p.m. in Litchfield and Fairfield counties.
"An approaching cold front will bring potential for scattered strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon into this evening," the National Weather Service said in a statement accompanying the alert. "Strong to dama…
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…
Man Who Crashed Car Into Sleeping Homeless Man Pleads Guilty, Faces More Charges
A driver has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from an incident in which he seriously injured a homeless person when he crashed a vehicle into the bus stop where the man was sleeping.
He is also facing related charges in Worcester and Hampden counties.
On Monday, March 1, Christopher Durham, 26, of Northampton, pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of personal injury, leaving the scene of property damage, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, and driving on a suspended license, the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office said.
The crash happened in June 2020 in…
How Much Snow Did You Get? A Look At Totals Throughout Region From Nor'easter
The second significant Nor'easter in the span of a week was a quick-moving system that swept through the region on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7 -- unlike the earlier storm.
Here are some totals from the National Weather Service and other reports. If you don't see your hometown, leave the total by posting a comment below.
New York
New York City
Central Park, 4.5 inches
JFK Airport, 6.5 inches
Nassau County
East Meadow, 4 inches
Syosset, 8.5 inches
West Hempstead, 7.5 inches
Suffolk County
Commack, 8 inches
Centereach, 7 inches
Islip, 5.5 inches
Manorville, 4.5 inches
Quo…
How Much Snow Did You Get? A Look At Totals Throughout Region From Nor'easter
The major, long-lasting Nor'easter slamming the region is far from over. But most areas have seen the brunt of snowfall from the system.
Here are some totals from the National Weather Service and other reports. If you don't see your hometown, leave the total by posting a comment below.
New York
New York City
Central Park, 17 inches
Nassau County
Garden City, 13 inches
Syosset, 15.3 inches
West Hempstead, 14.5 inches
Suffolk County
Islip, 16 inches
Manorville, 14 inches
Smithtown, 15 inches
Westchester County
Armonk, 18.5 inches
Harrison, 24 inches
Irvington, 20…
Covid-19: More Than 3,700 New Cases Reported Over Christmas Week, Worcester County
Over the last week, more than 3,700 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Worcester County.
The week of Christmas - Monday, Dec. 21 - Sunday, Dec. 27 - also saw 1,467 new deaths across the Central Massachusetts county.
Statewide, the number of new cases went up by 27,615 since last week (Dec. 21) and 383 new deaths have been reported, according to the most recent update to the Massachusetts COVID-19 Datadashboard, Dec. 27.
Below are new and cumulative case and death counts per county, Pioneer Valley, and statewide from Monday, Dec. 21 - Sunday, Dec. 27.
Berkshire 232 new cases rep…
Covid-19: 'Red' Communities More Than Double In Central, Western Mass - Local Rates And Trends
The number of COVID-19 “red” communities has more than doubled in Central and Western Massachusetts since last week, according to the most recent state data, Thursday, Nov. 19.
Last week there were 9 Central and Western Massachusetts communities in the red.
Now there are 21: Blackstone, Chicopee, Clinton, Douglas, Fitchburg Hampden, Holyoke, Lancaster, Leominster, Ludlow, Lunenburg, Milford, Northbridge, Southbridge, Southwick, Springfield, Sterling, Templeton, Uxbridge, West Springfield, Winchendon.
To see local rates and trends, scroll to the end of the article.
Among the red communitie…
