Data centers & more

Quabbin Reservoir inequity, Hampden County courthouse controversy

The inequity [https://www.nepm.org/regional-news/2026-07-13/residents-express-concerns-over-lack-of-resources-for-quabbin-maintenance] of being the clean air and water resource for the state is bubbling to the surface [https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2026/07/not-one-drop-frustrated-quabbin-communities-thirst-for-water-money-access-cooperation.html] in western Mass. in at least two recent news stories about the communities of the Quabbin Reservoir. We’ll unpack the details.  And, on heels of last week’s discussion about the controversy surrounding the winning bid to develop a new court house in Springfield, detailed reporting [https://www.masslive.com/news/2026/07/some-say-springfield-courthouse-decision-smacks-of-typical-boston-politics.html] from the Springfield Republican newspaper reveals that the winning bidder, in the state’s eyes, was the third place choice among court house officials. Plus, as The World Cup winds down this weekend, and a soccer mystery [https://theshoestring.org/2026/06/06/a-developer-built-northampton-a-soccer-field-20-years-later-where-is-it/] in the 413 that’s proving to be less whodunnit and more "why wasn’t it done…”  We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: Dusty Christensen [https://theshoestring.org/author/dusty-christensen/], investigations editor at The Shoestring; Erin-Leigh Hoffman [https://recorder.com/author/erin-leigh-hoffman/], reporter with the Greenfield Recorder; Phil Bishop [https://www.nepm.org/people/phillip-bishop], NEPM news reporter; and Rich Parr [https://massinc.org/author/richparr/], vice president at the MassINC Polling Group.

Springfield courthouse controversy, U.S. Senate debate, sherrif budget

The proposal [https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2026/07/state-picks-cheapest-site-for-new-600m-springfield-courthouse.html] for Springfield’s new $600 million courthouse sparks conversation and controversy [https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2026/07/springfield-court-officials-disappointed-with-courthouse-pick.html] over its planned location. We unpack the details of a lawsuit filed [https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2026/07/springfield-developers-file-lawsuit-to-block-courthouse-selection.html] to block the selection. Meanwhile, western Mass. was the location for the first Democratic U.S. Senate debate earlier this week, and our panel will breakdown the candidates’ performances [https://www.nepm.org/regional-news/2026-07-08/first-u-s-senate-debate-between-markey-and-moulton-here-are-five-takeaways].  And, should [https://commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/its-time-to-act-on-the-states-pfas-problem/] Massachusetts ban so-called forever chemicals? We weigh in on how to mitigate toxic PFAS contamination. Plus, we debut a new segment, The Rundown Rewind! We look back on the Inspector General’s report [https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2026/06/time-for-the-chaos-to-stop-inspector-general-releases-final-report-on-sheriffs-budget.html] on the sheriff’s budget. We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: G. Michael Dobbs [https://focusspringfield.com/govmatters/], host at Focus Springfield; Greta Jochem [https://www.masslive.com/staff/greta-jochem/], investigations editor at The Springfield Republican; and reporter emeritus Paul Tuthill [https://www.wamc.org/people/paul-tuthill].

Data centers & more

Holyoke becomes one of the first cities in the state to ban [https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2026/06/holyoke-becomes-1st-city-in-state-to-fully-ban-data-centers.html] data centers, while another 413 city considers a moratorium [https://www.nepm.org/regional-news/2026-06-17/holyoke-bans-future-data-centers-as-westfield-mulls-a-moratorium] on them – we’ll unpack why communities in western Mass. are having concerns about their impact.  Meanwhile, municipalities in Berkshire County face difficult decisions as they struggle [https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/aging-communties-impact-berkshire-county/article_ac7ae957-d330-4a7c-82bf-00f1e9b2896d.html] to find enough volunteers to fill government positions.  And, new standards are being considered by the state for high school graduation requirements [https://www.nepm.org/regional-news/2026-06-17/mass-k-12-graduation-council-urges-long-runway-to-introduce-new-standards].  Plus, Mass Audubon has developed a new wildlife preserve [https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/mass-audubon-wildlife-preserve-becket-palmer-brook/article_058a4c00-4c6f-4408-b7b1-4b6e417bb154.html] in the 413.  We’re running down all of that and more this week with panelists Berkshire Eagle reporter Clarence Fanto [https://www.berkshireeagle.com/users/profile/clarence%20fanto/]; Aprell May Munford [https://www.masslive.com/staff/amunford/], reporter for The Springfield Republican Newspaper; and former State Senator Adam Hinds [https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/AGH0/].

Deep dive into higher ed.

In this special edition of The Rundown, we take a closer look at higher education.  The 413 is a hotbed of higher education in the state. Massachusetts already ranks number one as the most [https://www.businessinsider.com/massachusetts-most-educated-us-state-per-degrees] educated state for adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher, and now two [https://www.wgbh.org/news/education-news/2024-12-27/free-community-college-faces-growing-pains] and four year college degrees are free or low cost [https://www.mass.gov/info-details/fair-share-is-making-higher-education-more-affordable] for many people here. We examine what impact [https://www.mass.gov/news/mass-degrees-deliver-new-report-highlights-economic-impact-of-governor-healeys-college-affordability-investments]that’s having, for better and for worse. And, with rising tuition [https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/20/business/college-costs-in-massachusetts-new-england/] costs, what new federal loan caps could mean for college students here in western Mass. and beyond. Plus, the job market is thawing [https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/08/newsletters/massachusetts-job-market/] a bit; what does that mean for recent and future grads? We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: Laura Colarusso [https://commonwealthbeacon.org/about/people/laura-colarusso/], editor for the Commonwealth Beacon; Phil Bishop [https://www.nepm.org/people/phillip-bishop], reporter for NEPM news; and recent UMass Journalism and Public Policy graduate Lucy Postera [https://dailycollegian.com/staff_name/lucy-postera/].

Rising sewer costs, license plate surveillance, remembering the 2011 tornado

Our panel explores the hidden reason why [https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/northern_berkshires/pfas-concerns-drive-up-sewage-sludge-disposal-costs-berkshire-county/article_9b52920b-fb3d-479b-a9a6-718d0c729b41.html] your sewer bill is getting more expensive, and what, if anything, can be done about it.  And, General Electric outlines the final pages of its plan to clean up [https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/central_berkshires/ge-rest-of-river-cleanup-reach-5a-pittsfield/article_b272e74e-6ed0-44f1-b562-e8da3adc0397.html] PCBs in the Housatonic River.  Then, license plate cameras raise privacy concerns [https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2026/06/after-residents-raise-concerns-agawam-councilors-question-new-license-plate-cameras.html] in Agawam.  Plus, a look back [https://medium.com/@gordonmdobbs/heres-hoping-we-don-t-need-fema-assistance-this-summer-dd69e496801f] as we mark the 15th anniversary [https://www.nepm.org/regional-news/2026-06-01/15-years-after-a-tornado-tore-through-springfield-mayor-sarno-reflects-on-the-citys-past-present] of the devastating tornado that touched down in western Massachusetts on June 1, 2011 [https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2026/05/springfield-to-commemorate-15th-anniversary-of-tornado.html].  We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: G. Michael Dobbs [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLolIYDZfz1YJdfXhvKQiI9igy3Ls5En3Z], host of “Government Matters” at Focus Springfield; Greg Sukiennik [https://www.berkshireeagle.com/users/profile/greg%20f.%20sukiennik], news editor for The Berkshire Eagle; and Elizabeth Román [https://www.nepm.org/people/elizabeth-roman], executive news editor at NEPM.