NEW ENGLAND

The deadly fire last Sunday that killed now 10 residents at an assisted living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, has lead to government officials ordering all 273 assisted living facilities in the state to send letters to residents and families detailing fire safety protocols, evacuation procedures and key points of contact.

We talk to NEPM President Matt Abramovitz to bring a local context to eliminated federal funding for public media, hear live music with Florence's Lucia Dostal and imbibe at Tip Top Wine Shop.

We learn about the new W.E.B. Du Bois statue that will be unveiled in Great Barrington this weekend and talk about the state of American politics with Rep. Jim McGovern.

An occupational therapist in western Massachusetts is campaigning to change the image depicted on handicap parking space signs, from a passive stick figure in a wheel chair to a stick figure leaning forward and in motion.

As part of a national class action lawsuit, drug companies and pharmacies have to pay $1 billion to Massachusetts over 18 years. Sixty percent of the money goes to the state to distribute, and 40 percent to cities and towns directly.

We learn about this weekend's Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival with live bagpipe music, talk to Word Nerd Emily Brewster about the suffixes "-ant" and "-aur," and listen to live music with Éilís Kennedy and Peter Blanchette.

Western Massachusetts and other parts of the region have been stuck in a hot, humid weather pattern over the last week, which has produced some heavy thunderstorms.

After a prospective deal to sell the long-vacant Calvin Theater in Northampton, Mass., evaporated, the city's license commission is offering up the building's liquor license.

We visit Maple Corner Farm for their pick-your-own blueberry season, chat with conductor Keith Lockhart as he celebrates 30 years with the Boston Pops and play pickleball to benefit the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity.

A similar bill passed the house in 2022, but was not taken up by the Senate. And there's another push on Beacon Hill to restrict how the technology is used by law enforcement.