Latest news with #WWLP
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Florence man pleads guilty to illegal deer hunting in Northampton wildlife sanctuary
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – A Florence man has pleaded guilty to multiple wildlife violations following the illegal killing of a deer within Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary late last year. Amherst community face ICE arrests despite sanctuary status According to the Massachusetts Environmental Police, on the night of Nov. 30, 2024, an Environmental Police officer observed suspicious activity involving the use of artificial light to locate deer—an illegal tactic known as 'spotlighting'—within the boundaries of the protected sanctuary in Northampton. A subsequent traffic stop and investigation revealed a deceased white-tailed deer that had been unlawfully taken with a crossbow. The suspect, a 38-year-old Florence resident, admitted to the violations and recently entered a guilty plea in court. He was found guilty of several charges, including hunting during closed season (nighttime), unlawful killing of deer, hunting in a wildlife sanctuary, use of an automatic weapon (crossbow), and hunting with artificial light. As part of a plea agreement, the man was ordered to pay $850 in fines and $500 in restitution. He also received a one-year suspension of his hunting license, was placed on probation for one year, and forfeited the crossbow used in the offense. The Massachusetts Environmental Police emphasized the importance of protecting the state's wildlife and natural resources. The agency encourages the public to report suspicious or illegal environmental activity by calling 1-800-632-8075. 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
State House Spotlight: Money matters
BOSTON (WWLP) – Early in the week, private attorneys who defend the poor–known as bar advocates–announced at the State House that they will no longer be taking on new cases until their pay is raised to match what attorney's make in neighboring states. 'The right to counsel, which is in the US constitution and the Massachusetts declaration of rights will only be words,' said Lowell-based attorney Sean Delaney. Meanwhile, Governor Healey announced that her administration will be cutting down on regulations to make it easier to own and operate a profitable business in the Bay State. 'Just getting their way through the red tape is something that really takes the owner of that small business' eye off the ball of serving their customers,' said President and CEO of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts Jon Hurst. These business regulations come as Massachusetts leaders are voicing their rising fears about federal policy changes. As Trump's 'big beautiful bill' passed the House and moved on to the Senate, the Governor joined Congress people to sound the alarm. 'These guys are actually out there making history by taking away from hardworking families, from people down on their luck, from seniors, from little babies,' said Senator Elizabeth Warren. Movement from the Senate on the 'big beautiful bill' is expected by July 4th. Back on Beacon Hill, the House and Senate will be busy working on their combined version of the state budget, at least until the end of June. 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
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Advocates call for state action to address the western Massachusetts Homelessness Crisis
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Housing instability and homelessness is on the rise in western Massachusetts. 'I fell in urine, cracked two ribs, my rent was out of the roof, I'm on disability, new owners bought the building, raised my rent by $50 more, so I had to move,' said Bennita Watford, a housing advocate from Springfield. 'There are a lot of issues when it comes to the grown market in job creation, mental health crisis, or the lack of work, or rising costs,' said Senator Adam Gomez. The Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness has laid out its legislative priorities for the upcoming session. Their focus is to keep people inside their homes and off the streets. According to the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, 3,560 people experience homelessness in this part of the region. Since 2021, rent rose 32. 5% in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties, and 39.7% in Berkshire County. Eviction filings rose 66% between 2022 and 2024. This is the reason why 58-year-old Bennita Watford moved away to live with her family in Pittsfield. 'It's good, but who wants to depend on their children. That's the part that hurts me more,' said Watford. Hundreds of tenants, renters, state and local leaders came together on Friday for the 9th Annual Gathering of the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness. They want to change each other's pain into power. The network is seeking legislative action on 12 bills to help increase housing stability. 'Like my rent stabilization bill. I think we have to look towards the realization that individuals are struggling to pay their rent, and individuals who are not only working one job, but two or three jobs,' said Gomez. Other bills are looking to give tenants the opportunity to purchase their housing before being sold to an investment company, and enact a real estate transfer fee on the highest-selling homes to fund more affordable housing. You can join this fight at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Sunday marks 14 years since tornado hit in W. Mass.
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Sunday, June 1, marks the 14th anniversary of the June 1st Tornado. It's something many people still remember well after it caused extensive damage across the area. The EF-3 Tornado first touched down in Westfield, then it made its way to the most populated city in western Massachusetts. The tornado moved from West Springfield, then over the Memorial Bridge and into the South End of Springfield, causing major damage and destruction as it moved through the Island Pond section of the city. Mayor Domenic Sarno is asking the community to take a moment on Sunday to remember the exact time the tornado passed through the city. 'You don't celebrate this, you mark it,' Sarno says. 'I asked religious institutions, the houses of worship, if they have bells and chimes to ring them at 4:38 p.m. And then I asked everybody to take a moment of silence.' The June 1st tornado was on the ground for almost an hour and carved a 38-mile path of destruction. Three people were killed as a direct result of the tornado, and 200 people were injured. 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
12 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Rep. Orlando Ramos offers tie-tying lessons to Springfield students
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Representative Orlando Ramos is launching a new initiative to teach young men in Springfield Public Schools how to tie a tie. He and community mentors visited Putnam Academy on Friday morning to set students on the path to success. Ramos says that this is an important yet overlooked life skill and hopes to show students the importance of making a good impression. He told 22News, 'I hope they walk away with the experience of seeing people who look like them. And positive role models that are in the community, both in the private sector and the public sector, and learn about careers that they're not even aware of.' Ramos is a Putnam graduate and wanted to give back to the community there. He hopes to expand this initiative to all of Springfield's public schools, so that everyone can learn how to tie a tie. 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.
