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By Staff Report

SPRINGFIELD — As it continues to recover from more than $300 million in operating losses over the past few years, Baystate Health this week took a first step in what it calls “transformational change” by eliminating 134 leadership positions.That...

By EMILEE KLEIN

In a “People’s Town Hall” that attracted over 300 attendees from 25 cities and towns across the region, state Sen. Jo Comerford reminded her “bosses” — the people — that they are the force behind democracy and to make their voices heard as the country...

By SOPHIA FALBO

BOSTON — A spike in whooping cough and pneumonia cases has prompted public health officials to closely monitor case levels at the local and state levels and emphasize vaccinations.Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said last week that these...

By ALEXA LEWIS

AMHERST — When Ann Becker told local public health nurses about a new program that will provide them with support and mentorship, she said she got one common response: “It’s about time.”Becker, clinical associate professor and program leader at the...

By EMILEE KLEIN

BELCHERTOWN — The town’s Board of Health will vote to draft a generational nicotine sales ban on Wednesday, preventing anyone born after Jan 1, 2004 from ever purchasing tobacco products in town.Board members, along with Director of Public Health...

By ALEXA LEWIS

AMHERST — As rural western Massachusetts watches its populations steadily age, reliable, accessible health care only becomes more important. But since the COVID-19 pandemic, workforce shortages in the industry have been more pronounced than before,...

By CHRIS LARABEE

A big change will be coming to families who take advantage of the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP).Beginning in December, all families using HIP benefits, regardless of their household size, will see their monthly incentives reduced to $20, which is,...

By EMILEE KLEIN

HOLYOKE — U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren toured the Holyoke Health Center on Thursday afternoon to meet with health care professionals and trainees who will benefit from the $1 million she helped secure in March to begin a workforce training facility....

By NAOMI SCULLY-BRISTOL

NORTHAMPTON — Death is rarely planned, but Dan Winter knew he wanted to not only plan his death, but also share the story of it.Winter, 62, had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, and after watching his father die slowly from the same illness...

By CHRIS LARABEE

SOUTH DEERFIELD — The BBA Deli Market’s owner pledged Monday to address the numerous health code violations that led to its closure in late September.In a brief hearing held by the Deerfield Board of Health last week, Alex Gjekaj, the Polish deli’s...

By SAMUEL GELINAS

NORTHAMPTON — The words “fun” and “meditation” may seem like conflicting or dissonant experiences, but according to breast cancer survivors Andrea Kandel and Rachel Levey, dragon boating can be both.Kandel and Levey are members of Paradise City’s...

By ZICHANG LIU

BOSTON — Not long after state Sen. Jo Comerford took office in 2019, a constituent reached out for help after they received a bill from MassHealth in the wake of a family member’s death.The state was seeking to recover expenses associated with caring...

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

DEERFIELD — Larry, Moe and Curly are settling in at ServiceNet’s group home and are embracing their role not as a comedic trio, but as therapy professionals.The three Alpine goats, named after The Three Stooges, are providing residents with emotional...

By SAMUEL GELINAS

NORTHAMPTON — State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa says doulas are the “gold standard” of birthing resources — and now access to these “birthing coaches” is set to expand thanks to provisions included in a new sweeping maternal health bill signed into law late...

By ALEXA LEWIS

NORTHAMPTON — Election season is quickly approaching, but for some community members, making their voices heard at the polls can come with unexpected challenges.Among those at Transhealth, increasingly strict voter ID laws and a feeling of burgeoning...

By Staff Report

Saying that its responsibility as a grocer “goes far beyond our aisles,” Stop & Shop will stop selling all cigarettes and tobacco products at its 360 stores on Saturday, including stores in Northampton, Hadley, Belchertown and two in Holyoke.The...

By ALISON KUZNITZ

Massachusetts is about to get a new law to shield firefighters from toxic chemicals in their protective equipment and eventually phase out the use of PFAS that’s been linked to cancer.Gov. Maura Healey announced Wednesday that she planned to sign...

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

WILLIAMSBURG — Over the period of a single year, Osa and Christopher Flory found themselves cycling through three different primary care physicians.After their longtime doctor retired, the Williamsburg couple found another Cooley Dickinson Hospital...

By EMILEE KLEIN

SOUTH HADLEY — The state has temporarily taken over a beleaguered nursing home in South Hadley that came under scrutiny last week after a variety of complaints were lodged against it, including unpaid wages, staffing shortages and unpaid taxes to the...

By EMILEE KLEIN

SOUTH HADLEY — A week after a group of nurses stood outside in blistering heat to call attention to the working conditions at the Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center off Route 202, the two state politicians who represent the town are...

By ALEXA LEWIS

NORTHAMPTON — For over 25 years, Tina Champagne has been a pioneer of change and research in the occupational therapy sphere. Now, she has been awarded the highest honor the profession has to offer.“It’s my passion,” she said. “If it takes even more...