This week, longtime Northampton State Representative Peter Kocot died at the age of 61. And State Rep. Solomon Goldstein-Rose announced he is leaving the Democratic Party and becoming an independent, or "unenrolled" as it's known in Massachusetts.
All of this comes on top of veteran western Massachuetts state representatives John Scibak and Steve Kulik announcing their retirements. So what will this mean for the region's delegation to Beacon Hill?
Also, the list of cities and towns in Massachusetts suing opioid makers and distributors continues to grow. They are seeking compensation from the opioid crisis and funding for future recovery programs. Pittsfield, Sturbridge, West Springfield, Palmer and Charlton are some of the communities taking part in the legal action.
And with warm temperatures during the middle of this week, it started to feel like baseball season around here. Spring training games are getting underway in Florida and Arizona. One of our panelists had a chance to meet with a high-ranking Red Sox official and likes what the team is doing, on and off the field.
This week's guests:
- Rick Hurst, publisher, AfAm Point of View
- Chris Collins, columnist, Greenfield Recorder
