CITIES

Members unanimously gave the green light to a yearlong professional development plan —for themselves — focusing on school governance. Their progress is connected to a return of local control of the schools from the state.

The Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant was provided by the EPA under the Inflation Reduction Act in order to improve the the environment and promote well being of cities across the nation.

While the fee to get a trash permit in the city of Northampton, Massachusetts, increased by 66%, the cost of recycling for municipalities has been increasing for several years.

The event, designed to boost restaurant business, takes place from June 6 to 17.

Federal drug testing has come into conflict with states that have legalized cannabis.

Massachusetts' acting Commissioner of Education Russell Johnston was in Holyoke on Monday, meeting with school committee members. Holyoke Public Schools have been under state control since 2015.

Massachusetts officials said the future owners of the Iron Horse need to submit a certificate of good standing for former owner Eric Suher — and Suher has said it will be awhile.

A garage and retail space in Springfield hit a new milestone Tuesday, with a final slab of concrete placed at the top of the structure.

Springfield's new Chief Administration and Financial Officer was sworn in Monday.

Following her State of the Commonwealth address, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has begun offering a sketch of areas where she feels the state still has enough money to deliver critical improvements. She will file her budget with the Legislature by Wednesday.