The Rundown with Carrie Saldo

This week, some local organizations and towns have received news that federal funding grants have been cut. The email from the Trump administration goes something like this: “Your award was terminated.” Western Massachusetts libraries , museums and historical societies are getting word out that tens of thousands of expected dollars in funding won’ t be available for certain arts events or digital...

Today on The Rundown with Carrie Saldo, panelists discuss proposed federal funding cuts that could hit schools in Springfield and other western Massachusetts districts hard. What options, if any, does the city have? In other education news, we analyze why leadership turnover has reached critical mass at some Berkshire County school districts. Plus, the latest roadbump in the ongoing saga of a long...

In Holyoke, Mayor Joshua A. Garcia seeks to garner $1.8 million through Payments in Lieu of Taxes ( PILOTs ), a voluntary program for tax-exempt organizations to contribute payments to the city. Will it stick? Plus, two different approaches for creating more places to live in the 413, accessory dwellings and affordable housing. We rundown the latest on both.  Today’s panel includes Claire O’Callah...

This week, Gov. Maura Healey was in the 413 announcing $8.4 billion in new transportation and infrastructure funding. She says this package won’t raise taxes, but how’s that possible? What’s the money for? We’ll dig in and find out. Despite uncertainty on federal funding, Healey says the commuter rail from western Massachusetts to Boston is on track for continued development.  And, we discuss how...

Today on The Rundown with Carrie Saldo, panelists discuss Gov. Maura Healey’s plans to provide relief for Massachusetts residents with high energy bills.  The Democratic National Committee has elected a new executive director with ties to western Massachusetts,  Roger Lau. We offer our analysis on this news as the Springfield Republican editorial board says that Democrats should not “ play dead ”...

Today on The Rundown, panelists react to President Donald Trump's address to Congress about the savings the Trump administration says it has identified through its efforts and how federal funding cuts are impacting western Massachusetts. And, we discuss state demands for the Southwick School District to amend its bullying policy following a civil rights violation. Plus, it’s time for another round...

It has been increasingly difficult to find a primary care physician in Massachusetts, but why is the issue worse in the 413 than the rest of the state? And, while area manufacturers look to local vocational and technical schools for recruiting new talent, many school districts struggle with teacher burnout and attracting new educators. Plus, panelists break down the battle between employers and em...

Skates seemed like the most efficient means of travel after much of western Mass. received icy weather this week. Why is it so hard to clean-up after winter storms this season? After a large donation to construct a new art center for the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, State Rep. John Barrett says it is time to look a gift horse in the mouth, but not everyone agrees. We discuss who this don...

Why does the hymn, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” spark debate ? We discuss what its author, James Weldon Johnson of Great Barrington, really intended. Towns in Berkshire County never added fluoride to drinking water. Is this a good thing or a missed opportunity? Plus, we reflect on the life of Bishop Bryant Robinson who demonstrated calm in the face of adversity. This week’s panel includes Jim Kinn...

A Massachusetts attorney general report into alleged child sexual abuse at some Catholic dioceses has been kept private for years. New reporting delves into what survivors know and what they’re eager to find out. And Baystate Health eliminates 98 corporate jobs as budget cutbacks continue, but how might that move impact healthcare in the region?  Plus, as part of the future west-east commuter rail...

President Donald Trump has been in the oval office for over a week, and his directives on immigration, environmen t, and federal spending have prompted questions for many. Today on The Rundown with Carrie Saldo, panelists unpack what some of these orders could mean for residents in western Massachusetts. The cost of living in mobile home parks is rising, how are residents trying to combat this iss...

In for Carrie Saldo, NEPM reporter Jill Kaufman and panelists breakdown a few of President Donald Trump’s many executive orders signed this week, and how those signatures could impact western Massachusetts. Trump’s executive order attempting to redefine birthright citizenship drew immediate lawsuits from the ACLU of Massachusetts and Attorney General Andrea Campbell .  And, the president’s call fo...

Today on The Rundown with Carrie Saldo, panelists react to Gov. Maura Healey’s State of the Commonwealth . Where are all the electric vehicle charging stations? Despite a rise in electric vehicles we discuss why there aren’t more EV chargers in the Berkshires. And, after the Massachusetts Healthy Incentive Program suffered funding cuts, some western Massachusetts farms say decreased support for lo...

Today on The Rundown, panelists unpack stories of the new year.  Newly-released body camera footage sheds new light on Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi’s OUI arrest. Meanwhile, Franklin County’s Sheriff Christopher Donelan announces his retirement after 14 years of service. And, we discuss the latest environmental news in western Massachusetts with a proposed city-wide ban of fossil fuels in con...

Today on The Rundown, NEPM’s Adam Frenier is in for Carrie Saldo for part-two of News from the 413 Retrospective, where panelists review some of the biggest news stories of 2024 and discuss how those stories might develop into 2025.  The cleanup of PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, a highly toxic manmade chemical, is ongoing in the Berkshires. How have these efforts progressed, and is it enough?...

What were the biggest news stories of 2024 in western Mass.? The Rundown is recapping some of the most impactful events of the year — and discuss and debate where those issues might end up in 2025. In part one of two, panelists take on the big news in local education. After nearly a decade in state receivership, Holyoke Public Schools is transitioning back to local control . In Springfield Public...

Drought conditions are responsible for wildfires across western Massachusetts. We investigate why these fires have been burning bigger and for longer than typical. We discuss how the town of Windsor hopes to teach climate resiliency by turning a long-closed landfill into an educational forest . And, why are local cases of alleged deed fraud being traced back to a Florida prison? We dig in and find...

Today on The Rundown with Carrie Saldo, panelists discuss concerns among western Massachusetts immigrant advocacy groups about the possible end of a key federal program, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), under Donald Trump’s presidency. We dig into the latest on the push for a passenger rail across northern Massachusetts, the Northern Tier project. Will this momentum catch wind after finding succe...

A local healthcare provider, Baystate Health, cuts over 130 leadership jobs. We break down what it means for the workforce and healthcare in our area. Today, computer access is extremely important to stay connected, expand job opportunities, and so much more. The city of Springfield looks to ensure digital equity for all of its residents, and we discuss the next steps toward that goal. And, with R...

We dive into the aftermath of the 2024 election and take a look at what voters, both nationally and locally, had to say with the ballots they cast.   Nationally, voters went big on President-elect Donald Trump . While Bay State voters were true to their blue roots with big support for Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump made gains. And, all three U.S. congressional incumbents, Sen. Elizabeth Warre...

Today on The Rundown with Carrie Saldo, panelists wade into the state and congressional races on the ballot next week.  Three incumbent congressional seat holders have challengers. We rundown what’s known about Sen. Elizabeth Warren ’s race against Republican John Deaton , Rep. Jim McGovern ’s race against Independent Cornelius Shea , and Rep. Richard Neal ’s race against Independent Nadia Millero...

Today on The Rundown, we host a ballot question extravaganza. Massachusetts voters will decide on different proposals this time round the ballot box.  We help you dissect the ballot bids including auditing state legislature; removing MCAS testing, or Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, as a graduation requirement; unionization for rideshare workers; legalization of some psychedelics; an...

Today on The Rundown with Carrie Saldo, panelists unpack yesterday’s congressional debate between incumbent Democrat Elizabeth Warren and her Republican challenger John Deaton. For decades, a federal consent decree has governed hiring practices in many Massachusetts police and fire departments. With those court-ordered hiring rules set to expire, panelists unpack concerns of 'backsliding' on diver...

Today on The Rundown with Carrie Saldo, panelists discuss protests against proposed logging plans as forest management concerns arise for Notch Reservoir , Mount Washington and  October Mountain in the Berkshires. In Franklin County, pushback on proposed plans to use the Connecticut River for hydropower for another 50 years following a state-hosted informational event on hydropower relicensing lef...

Today on The Rundown with Carrie Saldo, panelists react to Governor Maura Healey’s executive power to implement a new gun law in Massachusetts. This action swiftly bypasses opponent suspension efforts against tighter gun restriction. More details about Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi’s recent drunk driving arrest, and the questions that remain. We digest the disciplinary actions taken following...