Sullivan has dropped pending arson and murder charges against Baye and will reconstruct the Commonwealth’s case in both the 2007 and 2009 Northampton fires. The announcement comes on the heels of a high court ruling that tosses the Commonwealth’s prime piece of evidence: a videotaped confession to state cops.   NORTHAMPTON – Alleged arsonist and [...]

  With only one legal taxi cab now operating in the city, Chief Sienkiewicz’ letter to unauthorized “livery” cabs has stirred activity at the city clerk’s office.   By DAVID REID NORTHAMPTON – Unauthorized cabs operating in the city as taxis but not registered with the city and operating outside its strict taxi cab regulations [...]

Police arrested the longtime insurance man last Thursday after his wife and a co-worker each said he threatened to kill them. Earlier that day, King’s wife requested and obtained a restraining order that forced the city native to leave the couple’s Florence home and stay 100 yards away from her, court documents state.   By [...]

Warren to Brown: “If that’s all you’ve got, I’m ready.” By MARY SERREZE SPRINGFIELD — More than 3,500 Democratic Party delegates from across Massachusetts made the pilgrimage to Springfield’s MassMutual Center Saturday to rally with big-name pols and choose their party’s nominee in what promises to be a knock-down-drag-out Senate race this year. When the [...]

By MARY SERREZE NORTHAMPTON — Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan confirmed today that a man was discovered deceased Friday afternoon next to the Pan Am railroad tracks between Hawley and Pleasant Streets behind Northampton Lumber. His death is not considered suspicious in nature. Sullivan has not yet released the man’s name or the circumstances of [...]

Citing Financial Losses, Peter Pan Pulls the Plug on its Fleet of Hybrid Taxis. The Departure Leaves the City with Only One Licensed Taxi Cab as City Officials Scramble To Enforce the Regulation of Illegal Operators.   By  DAVID REID NORTHAMPTON – The Green Cab Company, an off-shoot of Peter Pan Bus Lines from Springfield, [...]

NORTHAMPTON — Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan announced today that Hadley resident Harry Delmolino, 18, the bicyclist involved in Saturday night’s collision at the corner of Main and Pleasant streets Saturday night, died Tuesday afternoon at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. The crash occurred shortly after 7 p.m. at the intersection of Main and Pleasant [...]

The Commonwealth failed to prove that state police interrogation techniques were not overly coercive, wrote the judge who penned the decision.   NORTHAMPTON — The state’s Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that accused arsonist-murderer Anthony P. Baye’s taped “confession” to state police regarding his role in the downtown arson fires of Dec. 27, 2009 “should [...]

NORTHAMPTON — A man from Hadley is alive but in serious condition after a collision between his bicycle and a car Saturday evening at the city’s main downtown intersection. Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan identified the injured bicyclist as Harry Delmolino, 18, of Hadley. The crash occurred around 7:45 p.m. at the corner of [...]

NORTHAMPTON — A man riding his bicycle east on Main Street was hit by a car turning left onto Pleasant Street Saturday evening around 7:30 p.m. A state police spokesman said the cyclist’s injuries were “potentially fatal,” but declined to reveal any more details. Pleasant Street northbound from Hampton Avenue to Main Street was blocked [...]

NORTHAMPTON — Following up on a campaign promise, Mayor David J. Narkewicz has named an 11-member economic development commission to guide his decision-making when it comes to business growth and retention in the city. The commission, which will be advisory in nature, draws ambassadors from a number of different economic sectors — banking and finance, [...]

By AMANDA DRANE NORTHAMPTON — The city’s public health director, Ben Wood, will be leaving for another job after serving the city for two-and-a-half years. Wood accepted a higher-paying position with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Board of Health chairwoman Donna Salloom told Northampton Media. His last day will be June 7. At Thursday’s [...]

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: [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]