The plan is called 'Compass Rail', and residents will see the earliest project materialize around 2030, with the so-called Inland Route — or what officials are calling the first phase of West -East Rail — connecting Springfield to Worcester and Boston.

The shells, shipped from China, are used at CRRC's Springfield manufacturing facility to create subway cars for the MBTA. They had been impounded by the Department of Homeland Security this past summer, over concerns they had been made with forced labor.

The UMass Amherst poll, released on Monday, found respondents did not approve of President Donald Trump's handling of the war in Iran, immigration, inflation and tariffs.

In NEPM's weekly chat with U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, he talks about the ongoing war on Iran, ICE agents being called to serve at local airports and more.

The average price of home heating oil in Massachusetts has spiked since the start of the year by nearly $2 to $5.38 a gallon as of last week.

House Speaker Ron Mariano expects voters to pass an income tax cut this year. He warns that if it passes, the state may have to hike other taxes or slash spending.

The rail car shells coming from China and bound for Springfield had been held by federal authorities amid a dispute. This led to the company, CRRC, furloughing more than 140 workers this week.

Chinese-owned CRRC manufactures rail cars in Springfield for the Boston-area transit agency, the MBTA, and for a system in Los Angeles. Necessary parts and materials coming from China have been held up by the government, leading to the furloughs.

Population growth is important for a thriving community. A recent UMass Donahue Wayfinders report projected population declines in all four WMass counties between 2020 and 2035.

The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.31 a gallon in Massachusetts this week, up 40 cents from a week ago. That's according to the weekly survey from the auto club AAA.