HAMPDEN COUNTY

Merriam-Webster has released its list of the most looked-up words of 2020, and it’s no surprise that words related to virus and disease figure prominently.

With virus rates rising across the state and the holidays looming, western Massachusetts residents who want to get a COVID test are often waiting in hours-long lines, if they can get one at all.

Massachusetts recently passed a grim milestone in the coronavirus pandemic: the deaths of more than 10,000 residents.

When someone gets diagnosed with COVID-19, they must separate from others — maybe hole up in a room, or the basement — in order to not spread the virus to others. But for folks without homes in western Massachusetts, that's nothing like what they may have to go through this winter.

Westfield State University has spent years in leadership crises.

Well over 3 million voters cast ballots this election in Massachusetts — a tally Secretary of State Bill Galvin expected will set a record turnout when all are counted.

In Tuesday's election, three candidates are on the ballot for the 4th Hampden District in the Massachusetts House, representing Westfield. And a write-in candidate has emerged.

The pandemic has disrupted virtually all sectors of the Massachusetts economy, including manufacturing. CRRC, the Chinese company making trains for the MBTA, said the pandemic will further delay delivery of new trains for its two busiest lines.

Campaign finance records show a political action committee representing the owners of a Springfield, Massachusetts, televsion station made a donation to U.S. Rep. Richard Neal — who beat Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse in last month's Democratic primary for the state's 1st Congressional District.

The donation came right before a debate WWLP hosted.

For the first time in more than three decades, the 7th Hampden District seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives is up for grabs.

The City Council in Springfield, Massachusetts, has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Domenic Sarno as it tries to bring back the city's police commission. 

Massachusetts officials report the rate of COVID-19 infections in the state has been relatively steady in recent days. But the head of Baystate Health Systems says the number of patients admitted to his hospital has increased slightly during the same period.

Walking into Olive Tree Books-n-Voices on Hancock Street in Springfield, Massachusetts, is like walking into someone’s home. It's one of only a few Black-owned bookstores in the state.