WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS

Public works officials in several western Massachusetts communities say they will have enough contractors to help with snow plowing this winter, although it will cost more than in the past.

"We're Still Here," depicting Native Americans who live in western Massachusetts, is a rare contemporary installation in the Springfield Science Museum's old Native American Hall. But the effort has sparked some backlash.

Despite falling temperatures, some people in western Massachusetts without homes are sleeping outside — camping on public or private land, or curling up outside of storefronts, churches and libraries. It takes resourcefulness and fellowship to survive.

The initiative, funded through a state grant, applies to all 15 regional transit authorities in Massachusetts, including Franklin and Berkshire counties. The program does not include the MBTA.

The Thanksgiving Angels program is a collaboration of food pantries, religious organizations and other groups in western Massachusetts.

WBUR found more than a dozen current Massachusetts police officers were previously fired or resigned from another department after the launch of a misconduct investigation.

Chelan Brown, a former employee of MGM Springfield filed a lawsuit last week, saying company officials retaliated against her after she raised concerns about reports sent to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Courts have disagreed on whether the method of surveilling a Springfield residence in 2017 was a violation of the occupants' Fourth Amendment rights. The ACLU has asked the Supreme Court to settle this search warrant issue.

Massachusetts Democrats captured all major offices on the ballot, and Massachusetts Republicans are re-grouping and taking a closer look at their messaging.