Latest news with #RichardNeal
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grant termination endangers Holyoke energy project
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Top U.S. lawmakers are sounding the alarm as the Trump Administration rolls back on grants impacting our region. Iconic 'Plantation Man' statue to be restored in East Longmeadow for Fourth of July The termination could jeopardize the construction and jobs of a low-carbon cement plant in Holyoke. Mass. clean cement company hopes to win back $87M federal award A major clean energy project in Holyoke could be facing some serious delays after a federal grant was terminated by the Trump administration, cutting $3.7 billion in clean energy grants, including $87 million that was promised to Sublime Systems, a start-up company out of Somerville. They were scheduled to open a 16-acre facility on Water Street in Holyoke within the next couple of years. It would produce tens of thousands of tons of low-carbon cement annually. It's also set to create about 70 jobs . Congressman Richard Neal helped draft the Inflation Reduction Act, which funded the a statement, he tells 22News, 'Scrapping funding for projects like sublime systems in Holyoke undercuts years of progress in decarbonizing heavy industry, jeopardizes good-paying jobs and economic development in communities that need it most.' A spokesperson for Sublime Systems tells 22News that they are 'surprised' and 'disappointed' by this decision, adding that their company is in alignment with the trump administration its goal to reduce imports. 'Sublime was surprised and disappointed to receive the news about the termination of our Industrial Demonstrations Program award, given the clear progress we've made in scaling our American-invented technology, partnering with some of the Western World's largest cement producers, and generating a bankable customer base. We've heard the policymakers in DC say loud and clear that they desire to displace foreign imports with products that can be made here in America, by dominant American innovation, for America's economy.' Erin Glablets, Sublime Systems As for what's next, they go on to say, 'Scenarios that leave our scale-up unimpeded,' and as the company explores their options, Neal says he will continue to urge the trump administration to reverse this decision and recommit to a forward-looking energy strategy. 22News has reached out to the office of Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia. We will have their response as soon as we hear back. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bay Meadow Apartments in Springfield get high-speed internet boost
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – State officials and agencies are celebrating the delivery of high-speed internet to the preservation of the affordable housing's Bay Meadow apartments in Springfield. This is the first housing development to get connected through the residential retrofit program, a statewide initiative to upgrade broadband infrastructure in public and affordable housing properties. The funds will allow a telecommunications company to deliver high-speed, affordable internet to 148 households in Bay Meadow, which Congressman Richard Neal says is a civil right, given the current digital economy. 'It remains a challenge in rural America,' Neal said. 'The last mile has been a challenge across the country, largely because of the payment system. But we keep expanding it and expanding it, and as you heard MBI say today, there's going to be more grid announcements coming.' Both the president and CEO add that internet access is pivotal to our economy, providing a means for increased mobility in our society. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Turning a blind eye to genocide': Mass. Rep. Neal's visit to Ireland protested
Wielding signs that read "Richard Neal, you can't hide. You're supporting genocide," protesters made their voices heard this week as a Western Massachusetts lawmaker visited Ireland. Around 50 pro-Palestinian protesters greeted U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-1st District, as he was hosted by the Killarney County Council, according to reports by The Journal, an Irish news organization. Neal, the top Democrat on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, is among the ranks of U.S. House lawmakers who have backed Israel's ongoing siege of Gaza. Protesters took Neal to task for that support, along with his vote in favor of a controversial antisemitism awareness bill that critics say is a pretext for cracking down on support for the Palestinian cause, the Irish news outlet reported. Neal, of Springfield, was one of six of the Bay State's nine House lawmakers who voted in favor of the bill. The protesters, who gathered outside Muckross House, a historic Victorian mansion in an Irish national park, accused Neal of hypocrisy because he played a key role in facilitating the talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement, which ended the longest period of conflict in Irish history, the newspaper reported. The 1998 peace pact also ensured there would not be a return to a 'hard border' between British-controlled Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Neal, 76, is the top Democrat on Congress's Friends of Ireland Caucus, according to his official biography. One of those protesters, whom The Journal identified only as Maria, told the news outlet that 'obviously the peace process is really important to Northern Ireland, which is still under occupation.' 'We're put in a really horrible position by having him here, having him hosted, and having people stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel because of his position,' Maria, who helped organize the protest, continued. Neal was among the scores of high-profile pols and business leaders who traveled to Ireland for the Global Economic Summit, which ran through Wednesday. The Springfield lawmaker also has ancestral ties to the area, according to the Irish news outlet. RFK Jr. slammed raw milk shots with podcast host in the White House Major Trump foe says Republicans keep approaching her with shocking message 'Incredibly ironic': Trump antisemitism effort may force out Harvard's Israeli Jews 'We're not sanctuary cities': WMass mayors push back at feds over DHS target list New poll shows who Dems want in 2028 — and it's not Kamala Harris Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
OneHolyoke to host event on community challenges amid federal cutbacks
HOLYOKE — OneHolyoke Community Development Corp. will host a lunch event — 'Building & Sustaining Livable Communities' — on June 16 that will address challenges and opportunities for Gateway Cities amid federal cutbacks and economic uncertainty. Speakers at the event at the Wyckoff Country Club include U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who will headline the event, Michael Moriarty, executive director of OneHolyoke, who will serve as moderator, Richard Sullivan, president and CEO of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, and Elise Rapoza, senior research associate at MassINC Policy Center. Topics will cover the role of resources, innovation, advocacy and how working together can addressing the current economic challenges. Rapoza will present her report on fostering mixed-income neighborhoods. The event begins at 12 p.m. with a suggested donation of $50, which includes lunch. Registration is available at Read the original article on MassLive.
The Journal
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
'Turning a blind eye to genocide': Pro-Palestine group protests US congressman's Killarney visit
Mairead Maguire reports from Killarney A GROUP OF around 50 pro-Palestinian protesters held a demonstration at Muckross House in Killarney this afternoon, condemning the county council's hosting of US congressman Richard Neal. Neal was among the members of the US House of Representatives who voted in favour of financially supporting Israel's siege of Gaza. He also supported a controversial antisemitism awareness bill, which critics say only serves to silence pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses. Today's protest was primarily organised by the Kerry branch of the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign group, with many attendees being natives of the county. There were six gardaí visibly present at the protest. Demonstrators were some distance from the walls of Muckross House, as they congregated in the sunken garden to the west of it. However, their chants could be heard from nearly a kilometre away. These included: 'Richard Neal, you can't hide. You're supporting genocide.' A sign at the protest Saoirse, an intensive care nurse, said she was there to condemn the targeting of healthcare workers in Gaza, more than 1400 of whom have been killed by Israel's army since October 2023. She said it isn't appropriate for Kerry County Council to welcome Neal. 'Of course, we'll have céad míle fáilte … we're the best at doing that. But we can't sit silent while Kerry County Council hosts Richard Neal today. 'You can't fathom the crimes that are happening … targeting journalists, nurses, doctors. You can't deny it.' A conservative estimate of the death toll so far is above 53,000 people. Advertisement One protester held baby shoes covered in fake blood Saoirse said Ireland is also complicit in the genocide, as it continues to to trade with Israel. She called on the government to pass the long-awaited Occupied Territories Bill, which has been 'sitting on a shelf' since the general election in November. The Bill in its original form would have banned all trade with illegally occupied territories, including illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine. The revised bill is expected to cover goods but not services. Neal, the 76-year-old who represents a rural area of Massachusetts, played an key role in facilitating talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement. For this reason, one protester says his continued support of Israel amounts to 'hypocrisy'. Maria McCarthy, a retailer in Tralee who helped organise today's demonstration, said: 'Obviously the peace process is really important to Northern Ireland, which is still under occupation. 'We're put in a really horrible position by having him here, having him hosted, and having people stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel because of his position.' Neal has a connection to the county. His family on his mother's side came from Ventry, near Dingle. He is among a host of high-profile politicians and businesspeople in town for the Global Economic Summit, which is taking place from Monday 26 May to Wednesday 28 May at the five-star Europe Hotel and Resort just outside Killarney town. Attendees include Taoiseach Micheál Martin, European Commissioner Michael McGrath, and former White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, as well as Irish presenters such as Miriam O'Callaghan and Ivan Yates. This year's conference will have panel discussions on issues such as trade, artificial intelligence and renewable energy. There is no mention in the programme of the crisis in Gaza. Muckross House is a Victorian-era country home on Muckross Lake within Killarney National Park. The house is now owned by the State and open to the public during the day. Neal was to be hosted at an event in the house itself, before a dinner with councillors in one of the old farm cottages on the property. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
