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The Big E has unveiled some new food options for the fair coming in a few weeks. Some of the items featured were deep fried calzones, push-pop sushi, tater tot buckets, gluten free funnel cakes and more.

A situation that would've made any parent uneasy...a Holyoke bus breakdown, and an app glitch left a family searching for their child. The app incorrectly marked a first-grade student as delivered after his school bus broke down, leaving the family unaware of his whereabouts for nearly an hour. The following day, the principle red with the child both to and from school, wanting to ensure he him his safety

Holyoke High School was placed on lockdown for about 2 hours yesterday as police investigated a potential firearm threat. Police responded and deemed it non-credible. Chief Keenan said there is no immediate threat to students or the public, and it is unknown at this time whether this is a swatting call, a false emergency report.

This wasn't the way one Springfield homeowner envisioned yesterday morning starting...a two-car crash on Allen Street has damaged a Springfield home. No word on if the home is unlivable for the time-being, but the front of the home looked pretty mangled. One person was brought to a local hospital to be treated for injuries and is expected to recover. The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.

Shoutout to local EMT's working to keep the community safe. Springfield Mayor Sarno just met with local EMT graduates yesterday to congratulate them. The initiative, 'Earn While You Learn' is designed to create an easier transition for local men and women entering the health care field. Upon completing the training and earning certification, graduates are promoted to EMT-B status, which includes a pay increase.

With the back to school season here, Chicopee has launched the AI powered school bus safety program. The program issues tickets to drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. All 119 Chicopee Public School Buses with ai powered stop-arm cameras that capture license plates and video when a driver passes a bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm out.

While the nation is mourning the passing of Dolly Parton, her impact is still felt here at home. About 600 children in the Springfield area are still getting free books in the mail every month, a gift from country music legend. Over 11,000 kids in Hartford/New Britian CT area benefit from the program since it started in 2020. Local leaders said the program was Dolly’s way of doing something specific. She wanted every child to have a home library — and she wanted it before they ever step into a classroom.

Speaking of AI use, Westfield Public Schools have adopted a policy outlining how students and faculty should use artificial intelligence, including a traffic light model that shows when AI is allowed on assignments. The director of human resources said, “If AI is to be used, we want it to enhance the experience and the relationships between our students and our faculty and staff, not to replace them."

The intersection of Stony Hill Road and Springfield Street in Wilbraham is expected to reopen today, following paving work. However, construction is expected to continue in the area, and you should expect delays

Officials have given an update on the Memorial Ave reconstruction project as the Big E quickly approaches. The daytime paving will run through this Friday and finish up on Monday. However is was announced that the decade long project still won’t be fully complete until next year, with more curbing and sidewalk work to be done

A $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta will require design changes to Instagram and Facebook, including new default protections for teen users. The changes for teens include a daily time limit of two hours, restricted access between midnight and 6 a.m., and automatically silenced notifications during school hours.

AI is everywhere, that's just the world now...and Kiley Prep Middle School in Springfield is launching a classroom pilot that will use artificial intelligence tools to help teach students, while educators raise concerns about the role of AI in schools. Under the model, students will spend about two hours a day on laptops learning with AI. The afternoon will be devoted to other hands-on projects.

The city of Westfield held a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday for a new police station after receiving a $45 million bond last summer. The building at 6 Union Street will sit on more than three acres of land. It is expected to be much larger than the previous station and include additional technology. It should be ready in 18 months

The Big E is almost here, but a video is going viral after a longtime vendor says they were surprised to learn they won't be invited to return to the Big E after nearly 20 years at the fair. Organizers haven't publicly shared details about the decision, but the vendor says they're thankful for the customers and memories they've built over the years.

I don't know about you but frozen chicken patties and nuggets were the standard for school meals when I grew up. But Chicopee Comp Highs' cafeteria staff is preparing for the school year with training focused on scratch-cooking and restaurant-style meals. The district’s nutrition team spent yesterday training with professional chefs. The goal is to create versions of popular dishes like Chipotle bowls but keep them healthy

A local agency is encouraging families to apply early for heating assistance instead of waiting until colder weather arrives. Organizers say getting the paperwork started now can make the process smoother and help households avoid last-minute stress when winter sets in.

Going to the RMV can already be a long experience...but could it now get longer in Springfield? The RMV branch in Chicopee will close it's door September 5th, and those services will be transfered to the Springfield RMV. MassDOT noted that the move will not impact RMV services already offered to the public at the Springfield branch.

Yesterday was the first day of school for thousands of students in Springfield and Holyoke and it’s also the start of a new era for Springfield Public Schools. Springfield is the first district in the state to launch an Innovation School Zone which is bringing together eight schools under a unified district framework.  This year, the district’s theme is “Good News Starts With Belief.”

We'll see if this makes the location official, or if there will be more legal hurdles...but a judge has denied motions challenging the new Springfield courthouse location. Those motions aimed to stop the state from finalizing a lease agreement for thee 125 Liberty Street location. Mayor Sarno is on record saying the site does not meet his desire for a transformative project for Springfield and the region.

Invasive spotted lantern flies have been invading Western Mass and you may have seen these bugs....but no ones been invaded worse than this Chicopee homeowner. They've taken over her backyard and she's been forced to move plants and lawn furniture. The invasive species was first found in the U.S. in 2014 out in Pennsylvania, but they've made their way out here. The bugs release a sticky honeydew that turns anything it touches into black mold

With Hartford schools returning today, and with more children riding e-bikes across Connecticut, local leaders, doctors and state police are urging families to focus on safety as youth injuries involving the bikes rise. Last year alone, there were over 100 injuries reported with children on e bikes

The Zoo at Forest Park has officially reopened after the macroburst earlier this month cause extensive damage. The storm, which brought winds between 60 and 70 mph, knocked down trees, including six large oaks, and spreading debris throughout the zoo.

Springfield’s youngest CEO’s took over Kenefick Park on Saturday, as kids launched their own businesses at the Springfield Children’s Business Fair. Children ages 6-14 introduced their brands, pitched ideas, interacted with people and sold products they’ve been working on to develop. It was through a summer entrepreneurship program called Elevate Together

Two teens in Chicopee are facing charges after crashing a stolen car into a gas station. It was the FL Roberts on Montgomery seat. The driver decided to flee the car before putting it in park, which led to the accident. They were not able to get very far, before police caught up to them

It's the first day of school in Springfield today, and city officials are reminding everyone to drive safely. They specifically mentioned the 20-mph limit through school zones. You'll notice traffic patterns beginning to shift as Springfield goes back today, Hartford tomorrow and other area towns to follow

Early voting is underway across Massachusetts ahead of the state primary election scheduled for September 1st. Saturday marked the deadline to register to vote in the state. Election workers reported a quieter turnout to start the early voting period, compared to last year

40 years is a long time, and after 40 years, all 13 locations of Smithland Pet & Garden Center will close. The company originally known as myAgway and Dave’s Soda and Pet City said this decision was difficult but necessary. They have locations in both western Massachusetts and across Connecticut, but there's no public timetable for the closure