Italians are fascinated by Trump. Tuscany is very liberal, but even my more conservative friends here and in Sicily and Milan cannot understand why he continually changes his policies on a daily basis.
Reps. William 'Smitty' Pignatelli and John Barrett worked to lobby Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who agreed to place a Berkshire County resident on the commission.
' ... we cannot wait for studies and commissions to repeat findings of scientific literature that already exist when we could be actively utilizing effective research-based tools to decrease the circulation of prescription opiates in the market and improve the scope of substance abuse treatments in our communities.' --Rep William 'Smitty' Pignatelli, D-Lenox
During deliberations in the U.S. Senate, the chamber's parliamentarian blocked language that would have repealed the Johnson Amendment, a provision in the current U.S. tax code that prohibits charitable organizations from endorsing candidates for political office.
Berkshire County's legislative delegation testified before the Joint Committee on Transportation in favor of a bill that would authorize the study of high-speed rail access between Boston and Springfield.
The Worthington Broadband Committee and municipal light board will present residents with at least two possible options for bringing broadband internet to the town.
Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli, D-Lenox, will serve as the game-day announcer of the Community At Bat charity softball game; and Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, and Great Barrington town manager Jennifer Tabakin will be the team captains.
The 'Lenox Throughout the Years' parade will step off from Triangle Park on Main Street, making its way down Walker and Kemble streets to finish at the entrance to Shakespeare & Company.
Attendees were encouraged to wear black, dress as zombies and bring headstone-shaped signs to emphasize the danger the proposed healthcare bill embodies.
"It was unfathomable to me that this president could do something so cruel, so un-American and, quite honestly, something that's just bad policy."
-- Brooke Mead, director of the Berkshire Immigrant Center
State Sen. Adam Hinds: "If anybody's learned anything from this election, it's that elections have consequences – serious policy consequences. They are absolutely gutting the EPA at a rate that even the most pessimistic person would be surprised about right now." Hinds was also sharply critical of the state in allowing the pipeline project to move through the Otis State Forest, which is state-owned land ostensibly protected from development.
Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli, D-Lenox, will serve as the House chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. The position was previously held by late Rep. Gailanne Cariddi.
As part of its Last Mile initiative, MBI will provide Charter with a grant of more than $4.4 million to defray the costs of wiring the rural towns of Egremont, Tyringham, Hancock and Peru. State Rep. Pignatelli also noted that Egremont and perhaps Monterey will have a 1 Gbps connection through Fiber Connect, 12 times faster than what Charter offers in Great Barrington.
