We take a look at the impending closure of post offices in the 413 and the impact that could have on two communities in Hampden and Franklin Counties. In education news, a conservative group files a civil rights complaint against UMass Amherst to give white students access to programs for minority students. And, we examine how some schools in western Mass. have been impacted by a nationwide cyberattack. Plus, the U.S. Department of Education investigates Smith College for accepting transgender students. We explore what it could mean. We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: Paul Tuthill, reporter emeritus; Ryan McCollum, principal of RMC Strategies; and NEPM reporter Phil Bishop.

Today's show has an environmental impact focus: polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) contamination has long been a problem in the 413, particularly in the Berkshires. The state claimed it wasn’t testing blood for PCBs, but it has been for years. We unpack the details. While renewable energy is popular in many circles, some residents of western Mass. have concerns over battery and solar permitting. We examine why some are seeing red over green. And, proposed changes to environmental protections at the federal level could have direct impacts right here in the 413. We explore what it could mean.Plus, from the big questions file: What the heck is pee-cycling? We’re running down all of that with this week’s panel: Adam Hinds, senior advisor at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute; Bill Shein, founder of Reason Gone Mad; Greta Jochem, investigations editor at The Springfield Republican; and Sarah Robertson, independent reporter.

Healthcare in the 413 takes center stage this week as Baystate Health announces plans to take over Mercy Medical Center. What will the impact be? We unpack the details.And, the Massachusetts Republican Party held its convention this past weekend, and we explore how the local arm of the GOP will be positioning itself heading into the November midterm elections.Plus, what does the recent prosecution of a former teacher at a Berkshires school on rape charges mean for the future of the state’s age of consent laws?We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: Greg Sukiennik, news editor for The Berkshire Eagle; Jim Kinney, reporter for The Springfield Republican; and Principal of MLB Research Associates Matt Barron.

The Massachusetts Public Record Law – what is it and how is it supposed to work? And how are journalists using, or trying to use, it to dig into stories? We answer those questions and look at a few examples right here in the 413 of where public records requests have helped generate news and support the public’s right to know. We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: Greta Jochem, Springfield Republican newspaper investigations editor; Bridgette Davis, UMass Amherst assistant professor of public policy; and Dusty Christensen, investigations editor at The Shoestring.

Hampshire College has announced it will close its doors in the fall of 2026. We discuss the whys, the hows, and what it means in the greater higher education landscape, especially for the future of the 5-college consortium.Then, we take a look at the impact of artificial intelligence on the inner workings of Massachusetts government departments and examine which state agency functions are currently using AI. Is your data at risk?Plus, with several proposition 2.5 overrides on local ballots, western Mass. leaders urge more state funding for rural areas.We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel, former State Sen. Eric Lesser, senior counsel at WilmerHale; Rich Parr, vice president of MassInc Polling Group; freelance journalist Jon Gerhardson, and NEPM Executive Editor for News Elizabeth Román.

We dive into two different issues on the ballot, the state legislature’s push to ban social media use for many teens as awareness rises on the psychological and addictive qualities of extended screen use. And in the category of closing the barn door after the horses have left, an initiative that would – once again – make recreational marijuana use illegal. Then, while affordable housing can be hard to come by for many these days, we discuss the latest challenges that one western Mass. housing authority is facing to fill its empty units. Plus, nuclear arms and the surge of money and jobs that it's bringing to Pittsfield, without much public discussion. We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel Jim Kinney, reporter at The Springfield Republican newspaper; Anthony Cammalleri, reporter for The Daily Hampshire Gazette; Bill Shein, founder of Reason Gone Mad; and Phil Bishop, reporter for NEPM news.

Our panel’s reaction to President Trump’s address to the nation about the War in Iran. That war was one of many reasons regional protestors raised their voices in the third ‘No Kings’ rally.Then, an "opportunity to own?" State Senator Paul Mark has filed a new bill hoping to encourage business owners to transition to a co-operative model. Western Mass. is home to several worker-owned co-ops, will we see a similar push statewide? And, with gender affirming care halted by the area’s largest healthcare organization, Baystate Health, how are families coping? And what are folks doing to seek care? We will discuss. Plus, how the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is encouraging ‘responsible gaming.’We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel, Elizabeth Román, NEPM’s executive news editor; G. Michael Dobbs of Focus Springfield; and Evan Garber, architect of political strategy, A. L. Cignoli & Associates.

Why did the Hampden County Sheriff announce 50 job cuts and up to $4 million in budget cuts this week? And which cities and towns in the 413 will be impacted? We discuss. And, Springfield’s joint effort to claw back climate grants cut by the Trump administration hits federal appeals court.Plus, criticizing a system they alone hold the power to change, lawmakers from the 413 and beyond sound off complaints about how schools are funded, and how they say that in western Mass., school districts get shortchanged because of it. We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel, Elizabeth Román, executive editor of NEPM news; reporter emeritus Paul Tuthill; and Matt Szafranski, editor-in-chief of Western Mass Politics & Insight.

On this episode of The Rundown with Carrie Saldo: After 142 workers were furloughed by a Springfield rail car manufacturer, the parts needed to do their job have at last been cleared by customs. But was a months-long delay needed? And how soon might employees be back at work?And in the wake of the federal government’s intensified deportation policies, some local and state leaders want Lenco Industries, a Pittsfield armored vehicle company, to stop taking contracts from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Plus, a drug dealer’s confiscated holdings could be a multimillion-dollar windfall for the Hampden County District Attorney’s office.We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: Chris Maza, the executive editor of Reminder Publishing; Springfield Republican reporter Stephanie Barry, and Bridgette Davis, assistant professor of public policy at UMass Amherst.

This week on The Rundown with Carrie Saldo, the panel unpacks the effects the war in Iran is having here in the 413, from increased prices at the gas pumps to reaction from Iranian students in the U.S. — and how local legislators are reacting.And we explore a state budget hearing at UMass Amherst on road repair funds, west-east rail, and many other local issues. Plus, plans to address health care needs throughout western Mass.We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: Aprell May Munford, reporter at the Springfield Republican; Greg Sukiennik, news editor for the Berkshire Eagle; and former state Sen. Eric Lesser, senior counsel for WilmerHale.

In for Carrie Saldo, NEPM reporter Jill Kaufman talks with panelists about changes among Governor Maura Healey’s top appointed leaders and what it means for western Massachusetts. The newly appointed secretary of the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED), Eric Paley, was just in Greenfield on his first official visit. Franklin County movers and shakers explained to him how this most rural part of the state works – and how it doesn’t. We also talk about the departure of State Housing Secretary Ed Augustus, a described ally to Berkshire County lawmakers. And, we look at a new ordinance from the town of Amherst, asking Massachusetts officials to hold ICE agents accountable if they violate state criminal laws. Is this measure a political statement? A plea to pay attention? Or both?Plus, who doesn’t like to talk about the weather? And in the wake of this week’s storm, we will!This week’s panel includes reporter emeritus Mike Dobbs of Focus Springfield; Anthony Cammelleri, reporter for the Greenfield Recorder; and Evan Garber, political consultant from A.L. Cignoli and Associates.

Our panel explores how several communities western Mass. are addressing health insurance costs that are affecting the bottom lines of school and municipal budgets.And, we take a look at how business in the 413 is impacting the future of computing.Plus, we examine two very different sides of nuclear as a bill to prohibit nuclear weapons gains traction on Beacon Hill and as power companies take a second look at nuclear energy to bolster electricity needs in the state.We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel, Adam Hinds, senior advisor at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate; Clarence Fanto, reporter for the Berkshire Eagle; and Jim Kinney, reporter for the Springfield Republican.