Our look back at the week's news kicks off with Hampshire College and staff layoffs coming early next week, as the school continues a search for a "strategic partner" to ensure its long-term future.
Hampshire currently employs 250 staff members. According to the college, decisions about the job status of 150 faculty members will be made later. This comes as school recently announced it was only taking 77 previously accepted early decision and gap year students in its incoming class next fall. And the search for a partner is taking place amid a tough financial forecast for Hampshire.
Also this week, five Springfield, Massachusetts, police officers were charged in their role in a bar room brawl in 2015. The officers are accused of beating and kicking four civilians during the off-duty encounter. And it's the latest round of criminal charges against Springfield police officers.
And the move to expand broadband internet service to rural communities in western Massachusetts is continuing, with four towns looking at a wireless option to get things up and running. We hear an update on where everything stands.
Guests:
- Mike Dobbs, managing editor, The Reminder
- Larry Parnass, investigations editor, The Berkshire Eagle
