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By EMILEE KLEIN

HOLYOKE — Congressman Richard Neal often frequented the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke years ago to visit his grandfather and uncle — the latter of whom served in the Korean War for exactly one year, one month and one day — and witnessed firsthand the...

By RUIHAN YANG

After years of being homeless, Amy “adapted” to living on the streets under insecurity.“I thought I wasn’t going to wake up, but I woke up, and I’m fine. The more I feel adapted to staying outside without a person that stays with me, the more I...

By MADDIE FABIAN

As the state considers the governor’s proposed $4.13 billion Affordable Homes Act — a comprehensive roadmap for affordable housing across the Commonwealth — a group of 16 western Massachusetts legislators are advocating for amendments to meet housing...

By CHRIS LARABEE

A trend of warm years further cemented itself in 2023, as Massachusetts experienced, on average, its warmest year on record, according to new data from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.The average temperature around Massachusetts for the year...

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – As the new year approaches, Sara Lyman, owner of Athol’s Hometown Realtors, said those in need of housing or are first-time homebuyers should direct their search where competition is light.“Here in New England,” she continued, “that rings true...

By COLIN A. YOUNG

BOSTON — Single-family home sales in Massachusetts were down markedly in November while housing prices set record highs for the month.And if that sounds familiar, it’s probably because it was the sixth consecutive month to post a double-digit...

By JACOB NELSON

“So much was just about to bloom,” says Suna Turgay of Flowerwork Farm in Northampton. “And then the flooding came.”Warmer, wetter, and less predictable weather are all on the rise in New England as our climate changes. The idea of normal is...

By Alison Kuznitz

BOSTON — About 450 families have left the state’s emergency assistance shelter system since Sept. 1, and the state’s top housing official says there could be momentum in moving even more families out of the strained system.“We think we can...

By JACOB NELSON

In many ways, farming is an act of faith. Faith that nature will provide for a harvest, and a farmer’s faith in themselves to figure out whatever challenges arise. Some years bring bumper crops, others disappointment, but with climate change fueling...

By JACOB NELSON

It’s hard to throw water on a burning house while trying to rebuild it at the same time, but that’s exactly what addressing climate change requires. Rising greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are already changing the planet. The choice is whether or...

By SAM DRYSDALE and ALISON KUZNITZ

BOSTON—The House seeks to steer more funds to the state’s strained emergency shelter system as part of a spending bill it plans to consider on Wednesday.Gov. Maura Healey requested $250 million from the Legislature in September to supplement $325...

By Sam Drysdale

BOSTON — Massachusetts needs to shift from an era of statewide planning for climate policy to the key details of implementing it, according to a new report from the state’s top climate official, which includes sweeping recommendations to accelerate...

By Colin A. Young

BOSTON — Fifty years from now, Massachusetts could see as much as 42% more winter precipitation, average summertime temperatures in line with North Carolina’s current climate, and a 4.3 feet rise in sea levels along the its coast as coastal flooding...

By DOMENIC POLI

The Flood of 1936 caused widespread devastation in the Northeast and led to the passage of federal legislation aimed at mitigating damage caused by natural disasters. But the lawmakers who greenlighted the work would likely never have predicted that...

By MADDIE FABIAN

In July 2021, heavy rainfall caused a beaver dam to burst, leading to the collapse of a 20-foot-long portion of East Street in Belchertown and causing property damage to nearly half a dozen homes.While the beavers faced the brunt of the blame,...

By Sam Drysdale

BOSTON — Facilities that burn wood to create energy should not be eligible for credits under a state program that rewards generators of “clean heat,” advocates said last week, arguing that two bills would close loopholes in the state’s climate laws....

By GREG VINE

ROYALSTON – In small towns, a seemingly small amount of money can be a big deal.On April 30, a mobile home located at 79 Athol Road in Royalston was consumed by fire. Now, town officials are trying to determine where money to clean up the site will...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HOLYOKE — Twice facing the trauma of eviction and once making a vehicle home for herself and her four children, as well as living inside a mold-filled apartment, Shaundell Diaz of Springfield brings firsthand knowledge of homelessness.Now the...

By Max Bowen

ROYALSTON — A mobile home was destroyed by fire early Sunday morning on Athol Road, drawing more than a half dozen fire departments to the scene.The fire was determined to be accidental, though the exact cause is not known, according to state fire...

By EMILEE KLEIN

GREENFIELD — For the past 30 years, the construction industry has incorporated renewable energy, increased efficiency of heating and cooling systems, engineered air-tight installation and pursued other efforts to reduce greenhouse gasses emitted from...

By Taylor Brokesh

The term “urban forest” may sound like an oxymoron, but it actually might be the key to mitigating climate change. A bill proposed in the state Senate aims to create a program that would increase tree canopy cover in cities to combat excessive heat in...