Massachusetts transportation officials this week announced funding for more north/south rail service in the Pioneer Valley, and for a long-awaited study examining trains between Boston and western Massachusetts.
Amtrak will operate the new service, which will run from Greenfield on down. And the east/west study has long been called for by many, including Longmeadow State Senator Eric Lesser, who pushed for a few years on Beacon Hill for this study.
Meanwhile, Massachusetts marijuana regulators said this week that they might not be ready to hand out retail marijuana licenses in time for July 1 sales after all. There's also some question among prospective pot shop operators about what the supply will look like when retail sales do get going.
And without much fanfare, the Worcester Art Museum has added signs next to the portraits of some early Americans, explaining how some of them may have benefitted or been involved with slavery.
- Rick Hurst, publisher, African American Point of View
- Kristin Palpini, reporter, The Berkshire Eagle
