NORTHAMPTON — Soundslide: Senate Candidate Elizabeth Warren, Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz, Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, and the Pioneer Valley Gay Men’s Chorus graced the stage at the 31st Annual Noho Pride rally at the Three County Fairground on Saturday. Audio Mary Serreze; Photography Paul Shoul; full speeches at bottom of post. Audio: Elizabeth Warren Audio: [...]

Editor’s note: The following press release represents the IAFF Local 108′s response to Mayor David Narkewicz’ investigation of Fire Chief Brian Duggan, conducted by the city’s human resource director, which found no basis for eleven complaints filed by the firefighters’ union. Previous missives from the Local, the Mayor, and the Fire Chief can be found [...]

Because the agenda wasn’t posted for the BPW’s April 25 meeting, when hefty water and sewer rate hikes were adopted, the board was ordered to take a “re-vote” last night. This time, more than two dozen residents – most of them from Ward 6 – showed up to cry foul. By DAVID REID NORTHAMPTON – Last night, for [...]

Courtesy Northampton Community Television at northamptontv.org Live stream by Ustream

Editor’s note: The following press released was issued by Mayor David Narkewicz today. It announces the release of Human Resources Director Glenda Stoddard’s investigation into a series of complaints lodged against Fire Chief Brian Duggan by the International Association of Firefighters Local 108. Stoddard’s report can be viewed here. CITY OF NORTHAMPTON Mayor David J. [...]

NORTHAMPTON — Mayor David J. Narkewicz unveiled his fiscal 2013 municipal budget on Thursday, balanced with staff cuts and other savings. For the first time in many years, the proposed budget does not draw upon reserves. The $95.8 million budget, which represents a 3 percent increase over FY2012, includes the $79.4 million general fund and [...]

Editor’s note: Mayor David Narkewicz has issued the following response to the press release sent to various media outlets this morning by the International Association of Firefighters Local 108, in which they publicly announced their April 1 vote of no confidence in Fire Chief Brian Duggan. Duggan’s response to the Local 108 can be found [...]

Editor’s Note: The Northampton firefighters union took a vote of no confidence in Fire Chief Brian Duggan on April 1, and informed Mayor David Narkewicz and Council President Bill Dwight on April 5. This morning, the IAFF Local 108 issued a press release on the matter, which can be found here.  Duggan has responded with [...]

Editor’s Note: The following letter and resolution, issued in an April 27 press release by Michael Hatch, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 108, is presented here in its entirety for our readers. Chief Brian Duggan could not be reached for comment this morning. We’ll be following up on this story. — MCS [...]

One week from deadline, the mayor and his finance director are crunching numbers, identifying savings, and meeting with department heads in an effort to present a balanced budget to the City Council next Thursday.   NORTHAMPTON — It’s not going to be easy, but Mayor David Narkewicz says he’s confident he can find enough savings [...]

NORTHAMPTON — A Hampshire County Grand Jury has returned an indictment on one charge of murder against Ryan D. Welch in connection with the Feb. 20 death of Jessica Ann Pripstein. The case now moves to Hampshire Superior Court, where an arraignment is expected on Friday. Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan said his office [...]

It wasn’t your typical anti-nuke protest — nobody got arrested at the crowded, family-friendly event. And top elected officials, instead of ducking controversy, proudly briefed Vermonters on their battle to send the Entergy Corporation packing.   BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — Governor Peter Shumlin, Attorney General William Sorrell, and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders rallied a crowd of [...]

NORTHAMPTON — A proposal by Mayor David Narkewicz to change the way the city’s ambulance service is funded got a green light from the City Council’s Public Safety Committee last Monday night, and is now headed to the full City Council, despite concerns expressed by Fire Department management and labor. The committee voted 3-1 to [...]

As residents mobilize to rescue a sugar maple on their street, questions arise about the city and the utility’s compliance with a state law that seems to requires public notification before a mature street tree is cut down.   By MARY SERREZE NORTHAMPTON — A group of Harrison Avenue residents are fighting to save an [...]

A Northampton District Court Judge Again Denies Bail For Suspect Ryan Daniel Welch, While Prosecutor Says Welch Made an Earlier Knife Threat on Jessica Ann Pripstein’s Life, Telling Her that Police Would Never Take Him Alive. By DAVID REID NORTHAMPTON – Accused murderer Ryan Daniel Welch of Easthampton was again ordered held without bail today [...]