Friday, February 14, 2025

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School district looking to eliminate jobs in proposed fiscal 2026 budget, staff members express anger and frustration

“I worry about what happens to our students when their leaders lose sight of whom they serve," said Du Bois Middle School Spanish teacher Mercedes Girona. “I understand that there are budget cuts, but I feel like there needs to be a little bit more humanity."

100 brave Arctic chill to call for return of commuter rail service

"Sustainable economic development will occur because our regions will be far more attractive to young entrepreneurs and investors when we are connected again by passenger rail to New York, and to the world.” -- Train Campaign founder Karen Christensen of Great Barrington

Rising electricity rates explained: Tactic for natural gas pipeline

Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist David Cay Johnston wrote a prescient story last May about how electricity prices might soar if Wall Street succeeds in its attempts to manipulate power supply. New England will be a “test-case” for “Enron-style price-gouging,” which is “making a comeback. Under the rules of the electricity markets, the best way to earn huge profits is by reducing the supply of power.”

Connections: Second Coming of the Gilded Age

The United States does rank high in one category. Among 139 countries, according to the United Nations, we rank 12th in inequity. The Inequity Adjusted Human Development Index measures the extent to which human development is thwarted by inequitable distribution of wealth, health services and education. Evidently we do exceptionally well thwarting our citizens.

Book Review: ‘To the Village Square,’ a history of the safe energy movement

The book is homage to the power of grass roots democracy, organized protest movements and speakers, who are dedicated to a safe and clean environment creating power that is responsible and safe for people everywhere.

Connections: Legislating morality, Part I: Fornication

Premarital sex was sanctioned and encouraged when two people were engaged to be married so the couple could determine beforehand if the marriage would be fruitful. What the women in the fornication trials were actually being punished for was not the act but failing to marry the man afterward.

Electric rate hikes amount to blackmail on behalf of pipeline

In her letter, Edge environmental correspondent Mary Douglas writes: "Kinder Morgan would realize a 10 to 14 percent annual return on its investment as a regulated monopoly for the life of the pipeline — 100 years or more ... However, there is plenty of time to put together alternatives, such as a mix of renewables, demand reduction, energy efficiency, market adjustments."

Connections: Contagion

In 1785, the problem was that inoculation against Small Pox was outlawed in many states including Massachusetts. People who had suffered and survived a ravaging disease now faced prosecution.

Energy committee disputes Berkshire Edge analysis of gas pipeline decision

"The six New England states never, as the article stated, made “a decision to impose a charge of dubious legality on all New England ratepayers in order to support the funding of a natural gas pipeline that is planned to traverse Massachusetts." -- Heather Hunt, executive director of New England States Committee on Electricity

The Bottle Bill: An Ongoing Battle

According to the Massachusetts Sierra Club, the added incentive of a nickel deposit has enabled 35 billion bottles to be recycled in the Commonwealth.

Three Democrats, two Republicans compete in Tuesday primary

The latest Boston Globe poll shows the Democratic and Republican front-runners Martha Coakley and Charles Baker in a virtual dead heat, should the election be held today.

Grossman endorsed for governor

Other candidates are "fighting," while Steve Grossman is actually working to create positive change for all of us.

Don Berwick best Democratic candidate for Massachusetts governor

Don Berwick is the only gubernatorial candidate 'with a resume of such great executive experience and accomplishment.' -- Fred and Elaine Panitz, Sheffield
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