PBS, NPR and local perspective for western Mass.

Doubling North-South Rail Service, And Closing In On Retail Pot Operations

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A train sitting on the platform at Union Station in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Adam Frenier

Starting next weekend, and continuing into next week, rail service will double on a daily basis between Springfield, Hartford and New Haven. We talk about that news and more in this week's panel.

Amtrak and CT Rail, a new state service, will haveabout a dozen runs each dayon the new Hartford Line. They will also synch up with service to and from New York City.

Massachusetts marijuana regulators have announced the locations of more than 50 applicants seeking to run retail pot operations. In the four western counties of the state, there are just ten, compared to 16 in Worcester county.

A recent article in The Valley Advocatesays some voters blame gender bias for the large field of write-in candidates for Stan Rosenberg's former state Senate seat. Some feel there wouldn't be as many if the only candidate who will be listed on the ballot, Chelsea Kline, was a man. Others feel it's more of a matter of qualifications. 

And finally, lawmakers in Massachusetts have started negotiating a compromise bill which could mandate civics education in the state's public schools. The House and Senate have already passed separate bills. 

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Adam joined NEPM as a freelance reporter and fill-in operations assistant during the summer of 2011. For more than 15 years, Adam has had a number stops throughout his broadcast career, including as a news reporter and anchor, sports host and play-by-play announcer as well as a producer and technician.