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Sunrise 6:25 a.m. Sunset 4:41 p.m.

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  1. 6 a.m.Partly cloudy.47°
  2. NoonPartly cloudy.66°
  3. 6 p.m.Cloudy.62°
  4. MidnightPartly cloudy.53°
  1. TodayPartly cloudy. High 71° Low 48°
  2. WedClear. High 76° Low 55°
  3. ThuShowers. High 72° Low 59°
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Sunrise 6:25 a.m. Sunset 4:41 p.m.

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Today’s edition · Tues., Nov. 3

A $30 million federal grant will fund a West Springfield rail overpass

Plus, Suffield Academy's head of school is on leave and MassMutual expects a record dividend.

The Springfield Morning News team2 stories16 sources5 min read

TransportationTop story

Massachusetts wins $30 million to replace two blocked West Springfield rail crossings

Springfield's hub grant is $130 million, the overpass grant $30 million

Source: BusinessWest

View as table
Value
Union Station hub$130 million
Front and First St. overpass$30 million

If you've ever sat at the Front Street and First Street crossings in West Springfield waiting on a train, this one's for you. State and federal officials announced Friday, Oct. 30 that a $30 million federal grant will replace the two crossings with a single overpass. Trains entering and leaving the nearby block them, sometimes several times a day.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation won the money through the Federal Railroad Administration's Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program. Gov. Maura Healey said the award will make train service safer and more reliable while reducing congestion. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal put the figure at $30.3 million.

  • Total cost: about $40 million, per a March MassDOT presentation
  • CSX contribution: $2 million
  • federal funding: now more than $320 million
  • Construction timeline: not included in the announcement

The federal grant covers most of a roughly $40 million project

$30 millionFederal grant toward a project costing about $40 million

Source: This Week in Worcester

View as table
Value
Federal grant toward a project costing about $40 million$30 million

Asked

Tap an answer to see how Springfield answered.

Asked

If west-east rail ran between Springfield and Boston, how often would you ride it?

Around Springfield

Suffield Academy's longtime head of school is on leave amid an IRS investigation

If you know , you've likely heard the news. Charles Cahn III, known as Charlie, has led the school for 22 years and had planned to retire next summer. On Oct. 22, the school told its community he was on immediate leave after it learned of an IRS investigation involving him.

Cahn led a big transformation at Suffield

22 years
as head of school
$120 million
in construction and renovations during his tenure
$100 million
endowment mark the board announced the school passed last year

Little else is public. The Boston Globe reported Sunday that the school has declined its questions and hired a crisis PR firm. Board member Tracy O'Keefe said officials told the board the probe concerns Cahn's personal finances, not the school's. Board chair Frederic B. Powers III called it "a private matter." Cahn and the IRS didn't respond to requests for comment.

  • Enrollment: about 420 students, about two-thirds boarding
  • Boarding tuition: $79,400 a year
  • Cahn's total pay: over $1 million each year, 2020 to 2024

The school has said little since announcing Cahn's leave

  1. 2004Cahn becomes Suffield's head of school at age 34.
  2. Oct. 22The school tells its community Cahn is on immediate leave.
  3. Oct. 27New head Casey Bobo emails the school without mentioning Cahn.
  4. Nov. 1The Boston Globe reports the school hired a crisis PR firm.
  5. Summer '27Cahn had planned to retire at the end of the school year.

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News Notes · More

MassMutual

MassMutual expects to pay a record $3.3 billion dividend to eligible participating policyowners in 2027, topping $3 billion for the first time. Rutland Herald

$3.3 billionMassMutual's expected 2027 dividend to eligible participating policyowners

It's the first time the company's dividend has topped $3 billion.

Veterans

A new state veterans services office is open at 1550 Main St. downtown, with help on financial benefits, employment and training, and services for women veterans. It runs under a 10-year lease at about $52,000 a year. WWLP

Lead safety

If you want to learn about lead poisoning prevention and housing safety, the city is hosting a free event Thu., Nov. 5, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Brightwood Branch Library, 359 Plainfield St. Stop by any time. WWLP

Forest Park

Florence Bank donated $5,000 toward bringing back the Forest Park train, which took visitors to and from the zoo until it was taken out of service in 2016. The new train is expected to run in 2027. It would be the second nostalgic attraction revived at the park after the swan boats on Porter Lake. WWLPWestern Mass News

High school

Pope Francis beat Northampton 3-2 in Monday night's Western Mass. Class A girls soccer final at Springfield Central High School. Northampton fell behind twice and tied twice before the Cardinals scored the winner with 10 minutes to play. Separately, Springfield Central edged Pope Francis at the Citywide Cross Country Championships, with a tie broken by each team's sixth runner. Daily Hampshire GazetteMassLive.com

Home

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The Buy

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Local

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Around Massachusetts · More

Chicopee

A rent fight at Chicopee's BlueBird Acres Mobile Home Park reached the state's highest court Monday, where justices sharply questioned the attorney for the Rent Control Board. The board approved the increase in 2022 after the park switched from septic to sewer, raising rents from $296 to $416. MassLive.com

Courts

The Massachusetts Trial Court launched the voluntary Blue Card Initiative at courthouses statewide to support people with autism spectrum disorder during court visits. The card helps visitors organize paperwork and signals they may have communication or sensory needs. WWLP

Grants

The Mass Cultural Council and MassDevelopment opened a 2027 round of grants of up to $200,000. Applications are due Thu., Dec. 10, at 11:59 p.m. El Planeta

Cultural Facilities Fund applications are due Dec. 10

  1. OctoberThe Mass Cultural Council and MassDevelopment open the 2027 grant round.
  2. Dec. 10Applications are due at 11:59 p.m.
  3. June 2027Grant recipients will be announced.

Source: El Planeta

Quoted

The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you.

— David Foster Wallace

The Buy

Asked

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Asked

Will you ride the Forest Park train when it returns?

Be the first to answer.

Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Things to Do

Things to Do

Springfield, MA

Tuesday, Nov. 3

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Around the Block

Around the Block

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Neighbors

Update: The little library is fixed and back up waiting for visitors.

“Thank you for all the comments and wishes to help. The Breckwood neighborhood little library is down for repairs or replacement. If anyone knows who these guys are, let us know. Happened Halloween night just before the time change.”

— A neighbor, Pine Point/Seymour Ave
Photo from the neighbor’s post

60 likes · 49 comments

View post

The Wrap

Hope you didn't pack away the short sleeves just yet. This week is running unseasonably warm in western Massachusetts, with afternoon highs expected in the mid-70s, well above the typical 57-degree average for early November. Mornings stay cooler, so layers are still smart. Close to some records, the meteorologist says. Flip-flops in November, we'll allow it.

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Every source in this edition16 links · 12 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. BusinessWestbusinesswest.com
  3. This Week in Worcesterthisweekinworcester.com
  4. 보스톤코리아bostonkorea.com
  5. The Boston Globebostonglobe.com
  6. Rutland Heraldrutlandherald.com
  7. WWLPwwlp.com
  8. WWLPwwlp.com
  9. WWLPwwlp.com
  10. Western Mass Newswesternmassnews.com
  11. Daily Hampshire Gazettegazettenet.com
  12. MassLive.commasslive.com
  13. MassLive.commasslive.com
  14. WWLPwwlp.com
  15. El Planetaelplaneta.com
  16. Springfield events calendarspringfieldmorningnews.com

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Springfield Morning Newsto me · Tues., Nov. 36:00 a.m.

A $30 million federal grant will fund a West Springfield rail overpass

Plus, Suffield Academy's head of school is on leave and MassMutual expects a record dividend.

The TLDR

  1. A $30 million federal grant will replace two blocked West Springfield rail crossings
  2. Suffield Academy's longtime head of school is on leave amid an IRS investigation
  3. MassMutual expects to pay a record $3.3 billion dividend in 2027
Read this edition

Around Springfield

From Daily Hampshire Gazette, WWLP and Western Mass News, gathered by TMI, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news
  1. Daily Hampshire Gazette6 hours ago

    WMass boys soccer: Will Senn-McNally stars for Northampton in 1-0 win over Agawam for Class A crown, on Daily Hampshire Gazette

    SPRINGFIELD — After his team raised the Western Mass. championship plaque, Northampton boys soccer senior Will Senn-McNally summed up the team's season with a declaration on the sideline. "It's been...

  2. Daily Hampshire Gazette6 hours ago

    WMass boys soccer: Gateway downs Hopkins in PKs, earns fifth sectional title in program history, on Daily Hampshire Gazette

    WEST SPRINGFIELD -- It couldn't have ended any other way. After 80 minutes of scoreless regulation, then another 20 minutes of overtime where no goals were had, Monday's Western Mass....

  3. Daily Hampshire Gazette7 hours ago

    WMass girls soccer: Pope Francis outlasts Northampton, 3-2, in Class A title match, on Daily Hampshire Gazette

    SPRINGFIELD — The Western Mass. Class A girls soccer final had everything you could ask for in a championship bout. Northampton (13-3-3) poured everything they had into the 80-minute contest,...

  4. Daily Hampshire Gazette7 hours ago

    A Look Back, Nov. 3, on Daily Hampshire Gazette

    50 Years Ago A heavy turnout marked the early voting today as Americans chose between Jimmy Carter and Gerald R. Ford to lead the nation as president over the next...

  5. WWLP7 hours ago

    Chicopee educators raise concerns over student and staff safety in schools, on WWLP

    Educators in Chicopee are calling for immediate action to address school safety concerns, reporting that teachers and staff members have been injured during incidents involving students across the district.

  6. Western Mass News8 hours ago

    Florence Bank donates $5k to help bring back Forest Park train, on Western Mass News

    The new train is expected to start running next year

    Also reported byWWLP