Springfield
Morning News
Wednesday, May 21st, 2025
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Good morning, Springfield. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 21st of May.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ State Rep. Orlando Ramos and community partners secured $100,000 from the state's fiscal year 2025 budget to launch the Indian Orchard Restaurant District Pilot Program on Main Street. The program will offer rent assistance and grants to help start or upgrade restaurants in the neighborhood—aiming to bring more business and visitors to Indian Orchard. The Reminder
- ➤ Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno praised Glenn Altro of the Parks Department for rescuing a lost fawn stuck in the Walker grandstand construction area in Forest Park—Altro later reunited the fawn with its mother. Western Mass News
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ After a staff member received threatening calls Tuesday morning, Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield went on brief lockdown — local law enforcement and Baystate Health security confirmed there was no threat — and resumed full operations. Western Mass News
- ➤ Family members claimed that rings were taken from their late mother's swollen fingers while she was a patient at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield in March, prompting Springfield Police to file a report and investigate similar past thefts (with two earlier incidents reported involving older patients). Western Mass News
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ On May 12, the Springfield City Council passed a resolution urging the EPA to restore a $20 million grant cut from Springfield’s Community Change Grants Program—aimed at improving air quality, rehabilitating homes, and supporting community health. Councilors warned that eliminating these funds would harm efforts to address pollution and asthma in our city. The Reminder
- ➤ On May 12, Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni announced that the Massachusetts National Guard donated $285,000 to fund new equipment for local drug investigations in Springfield. The funds are earmarked for new tools—like a gray key, TruNarc, Cellebrite and a handheld drug analyzer—to help law enforcement fight drug trafficking. The Reminder
- ➤ On May 12, the Springfield City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting Clean Slate legislation that would automate the sealing of criminal records for eligible residents — a change that advocates say is needed as only 10% of those eligible have sealed their records. The resolution urges state lawmakers to pass two bills that would remove barriers to housing and jobs — a step aimed at simplifying the complex and costly sealing process. The Reminder
- ➤ West Springfield Mayor William C. Reichelt proposed a $134.3 million operating budget starting July 1 that boosts funding for road repairs—such as $2 million for resurfacing and $1.5 million for a roundabout—and public safety improvements including new police station designs, upgraded 911 services, and fire station upgrades. The plan relies on additional tax revenue from cannabis and tourism and will be voted on by the Town Council on June 2. MassLive
- ➤ An audit released Tuesday found mismanagement in the state’s emergency shelter system that led to overpayments for food and transportation services – two vendors earned over $14 million in eight months from no-bid contracts, with the review covering data from July 2021 to June 2024. State auditor Diana DiZoglio urged reforms to manage taxpayer funds better, while Governor Healey defended the reforms that have helped lower shelter numbers below 5,000. Western Mass News
SHOP NEWS
- ➤ TODAY'S SPONSOR We never have to worry about dead batteries and missed calls thanks to this portable power bank that can charge up to five devices at once. The Buy
Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Springfield Morning News.
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Comedy Night with Nicky Smigs
8-11 p.m. — MGM Springfield — Ticket prices vary — Experience laughs with a talented comedian who started at Second City Chicago.
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30th Anniversary Self Advocacy Conference
9 AM – 4 PM — Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel — Registration required — Celebrate three decades of self advocacy and connect with like-minded individuals.
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Open Home Tour
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. — 47 Garfield St, Springfield, MA — Free entry — Explore a charming property listed by J Barrett & Company.
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On-Site Tour of Best Senior Living Amenities
9 a.m. - 7 p.m. — 370 Pine St, Springfield — Free entry — Explore exceptional senior living dining and activities at this informative tour.
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IRONMAN 70.3 Western Massachusetts
8 AM — Downtown Springfield, MA — Various costs for bike rentals — Compete in a scenic triathlon with a swim in the Connecticut River and bike through charming New England landscapes.
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Walking Tour: Springfield’s Lost Riverfront
10:30 a.m. — Riverfront Park — Free entry — Explore the historical significance of Springfield’s Lost Riverfront with local historians and experts.
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David O’Connell: Live Music
6-9 p.m. — Irish House Restaurant and Trinity Pub at the Irish Cultural Center — Dinner reservations available — Enjoy an evening of live music while dining on Irish delights.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
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Supporting our sponsors is one of the best ways to support Springfield Morning News.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.
~ Beverly Sills
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