HAMPDEN COUNTY

Because of COVID-19, this year's Three County Fair was far different than in past years. There was no demolition derby, carnival rides, games — or the public. The fair was limited to arts and crafts exhibits and youth livestock competitions.

Much of western New England continues to suffer from a moderate to severe drought. But over the last week there was improvement in some spots.

The Springfield, Massachusetts, City Council will hold a hearing on electricity costs Thursday. That’s after constituents complained their bills went up.

The polls are closed in the 2020 Massachusetts state primary. This campaign season has brought serious challenges to a sitting U.S. senator and the chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. There are also contested primaries in a handful of state legislative districts in Hampden County.

Three weeks after signing on to a letter that shook up a congressional race in perhaps unexpected ways, leaders of the College Democrats at UMass Amherst are apologizing to Alex Morse.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal of Springfield is seeing a stiff challenge from Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse in the Democratic race for the 1st Congressional District in Massachusetts. And Neal hasn't had to deal with many close races during his political career.

Many workers still furloughed from the MGM Springfield casino will lose their health insurance as of August 31.

Updated Aug. 30 

Voters across western Massachusetts will have an opportunity to vote on September 1 in the state primary  — if they haven't already taken advantage of early voting or the expanded mail-in option.

Worcester Bishop Robert McManus will oversee the Springfield, Massachusetts, Roman Catholic Diocese until a new bishop is named.

The MGM Springfield casino collected $10.7 million in revenue over the final three weeks of July, as it reopened from a nearly four-month shutdown due to COVID-19. 

A Massachusetts public health official said people need to stay vigilant against the mosquito-born Eastern Equine Encephalitis. This weekend, the state confirmed the first human case of the virus this year in western Massachusetts.

A new survey from the MassINC details the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latinos in Massachusetts, and finds Latinos living in the western and central parts of the state may have more of a buffer.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association says it will continue to support Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse's campaign for Congress in the state's 1st District.

A Massachusetts civil rights group has asked the Hampden County District Attorney’s office to divulge how much it knew about misconduct by Springfield police officers, and how it’s responded.

Alex Morse says he is staying in the race for Congress. In a statement posted to social media Sunday night, the mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts, defended himself against allegations he engaged in inappropriate behavior involving college students, while again apologizing for "making some students feel uncomfortable."

Updated at 3:56 p.m.

Calling the allegations "serious and deeply concerning," UMass Amherst said Saturday it was investigating whether Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse violated university policy or federal law during his time teaching on campus.

This comes after the Massachusetts Daily Collegian reported that the College Democrats of Massachusetts wrote the mayor a letter accusing him of using his “position of power for romantic or sexual gain.” 

The public schools in Springfield, Massachusetts, will keep classes remote-only through at least the first few months of the year. 

Springfield's police commissioner, Cheryl Clapprood, has acknowledged no changes have been made to the department's use-of-force policy. This comes two months after the department said Clapprood accepted suggestions offered by the City Council.