Beacon Hill Democrats consider oversight over what some claim is "unsustainable" spending by local sheriff's offices. "No other state agency or department overspends their budget by 22%," said state Sen. Michael Rodrigues, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.And the latest student needs assessment in Franklin County finds that while substance use is down, suicide attempts have increased. We’ll examine the findings.Plus, we’ll explore some of the effects that the Trump administration is having on higher education institutions in Massachusetts, including drops in international student enrollment and threats to federal funding.And with thousands of No Kings protests held throughout the country this past weekend, we’ll discuss the impact here in the 413.We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: Dave Eisenstadter, state editor for MassLive; Greenfield Recorder reporter Anthony Cammalleri; and NEPM News reporter Adam Frenier.

Herd immunity is lacking at several schools across western Massachusetts. We’ll discuss what we know about why fewer children are being vaccinated, and the potential impact.And, a Pittsfield man is back in the Berkshires after a judge ruled he was unlawfully detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. And while his lawyer says it’s unlikely, the man fears he may be arrested again. Then, a pilot program that will pay for nips, those tiny alcohol containers that seem to multiple like rabbits. Should it be replicated or is there other trash to tackle instead? Plus, what’s pawpaw fever? We’ll find out.We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: Greta Jochem, investigations editor at the Springfield Republican ; G. Michael Dobbs of Focus Springfield; and NEPM reporter Nirvani Williams.

Amid peace plan talks, western Massachusetts and the world marks two years since war broke out between Hamas and Israel.A controversial immigration resolution in Holyoke fails as members of the city council raise concerns about a possible loss of federal funding. We’ll unpack the details.And towns that neighbor the MGM Springfield casino have been benefitting from mitigation payments they've received — but now that windfall is coming to an end. What might the impact be? Plus, is Massachusetts in a so-called “soft secession?” And what exactly does that term mean? We’ll explain.We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: John Micek, politics editor at MassLive; Aprell May Munford, Springfield Republican reporter; and political consultant Evan Garber of A.L. Cignoli and Associates.

On The Rundown, we look at government shutdown limbo. There’s a lot of uncertainty locally over the impact of the federal government shutdown. We’ll tick through some of the standing questions. Tracing a Legionella bacteria outbreak in Pittsfield. Did healthcare officials wait too long to report what they knew? Plus, the latest MCAS testing scores are in, and some of the biggest school districts in western Mass. are lagging behind state expectations. We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: Berkshire Eagle Executive Editor Kevin Moran, political consultant Ryan McCollum, and NEPM reporter Karen Brown.

Freedom of speech is in the news, up for debate, and drawing protestors in at least one western Massachusetts city. What does our panel think?And $2.5 million from the state was spent. But an investigation by the Springfield Republican found not much to show for that at the Paramount Theater. What happened? How much could a potential government shutdown impact western Massachusetts? And, how the current drought impacts farmers in the 413.We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: Adam Hinds, CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate; Dusty Christensen, investigations editor at The Shoestring; and NEPM reporter Jill Kaufman.

On this episode of The Rundown, why the former board chair of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, a Berkshire County resident, is calling for a “paradigm shift.”A troubling pyrrhotite problem on the ground in parts of New England might be sorted out from the sky. And, some schools in the northern Berkshires are eyeing regionalization. What could the impact be? In local politics, Democrats from across the state descended on Springfield this past weekend for their party convention.We’re running down all of that and more with our panel: Jane Kaufman, community voices editor at the Berkshire Eagle; Jim Kinney, reporter for the Springfield Republican; and Western Mass Politics & Insight Editor-in-Chief Matt Szafranski.

The 2026 elections are shaping up to have a record number of ballot questions, including one about rent control that is stirring Northampton, Easthampton and Springfield.And, as the kids are going back to school, there is much debate on the pros and cons around creating new schools versus maintaining existing schools in Pittsfield, Longmeadow and West Springfield.Plus, as students head back to school, it’s the final class bell for some as the leaders of two higher education institutions in the Berkshires, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) and Berkshire Community College (BCC) announce their exits.We’re running down all of that and more with this week’s panel, Greg Sukiennik, news editor of The Berkshire Eagle; Evan Garber, vice president of A.L. Cignoli & Associates; and NEPM reporter Nirvani Williams.

Governor Maura Healey has announced policies to enable pharmacies to administer COVID vaccinations for Massachusetts residents aged 5 and over, with the cost to be covered by insurance.We discuss local labor movement protests this past weekend that join nationwide concerns regarding the erosion of worker protections, federal funding cuts, governmental overreach and other issues.And, a new state ban on so-called “junk fees” aims to make purchases and transactions more transparent in Massachusetts.Plus, we're talking bugs! As the invasive Asian long-horned beetle is on its way out, the spotted lanternfly is fluttering in, perhaps in a sky near you. We discuss the environmental impacts. We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel, Eric Lesser, senior counsel at WilmerHale; former reporter Paul Tuthill; and Elizabeth Román, executive news editor for NEPM.

We examine the local impact of a recently passed state budget that could offer help to homeowners dealing with crumbling foundations.And, we discuss new developments on relicensing the Turners Falls Hydroelectric Project and Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Project.Plus, Beacon Hill looks at reinstating the so-called “happy hour” for Massachusetts restaurants and bars, but not everyone is advocating it. And you may be surprised to find out who has objections!We’re running down all of that and more this week with Larry Parnass, executive editor for The Springfield Republican; freelance journalist Sarah Robertson; and Elizabeth Román, NEPM executive news director.

The western Mass. Congressional delegation is outraged over President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb three nuclear sites in Iran, but not all Democrats from the 413 agree.Plus, Westover Job Corps students rallied earlier this month to decry lost opportunities, and this week a judge temporarily blocked the U.S. Labor Department from ending the program. We will look at the importance of Job Corps here in western Mass. And, western Mass. residents and legislators were on Beacon Hill this week to advocate for digital equity and more support for rural schools. What are they seeking, and is now the time?We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel, Dusty Christensen, investigative editor for The Shoestring; Mike Dobbs of FOCUS Springfield; and NEPM reporter Nirvani Williams.

As a military parade made its way through the nation’s capital last Saturday, millions across the country demonstrated against what they perceive to be the Trump administration’s overreach. We discuss the local reaction and involvement in the “No Kings” protests.And, as the cost of basic food and housing continues to rise for many, we explore how people living in the four counties of western Mass. are faring.Plus, we take a look at how the communities of the 413 celebrated Juneteenth this week.We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel, Adam Hinds, CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute; Aprell May Munford, reporter for the Springfield Republican; and NEPM reporter Karen Brown.

We’re presenting a “Legal Vices” edition of The Rundown, exploring the current status of legalized gambling and marijuana in the 413.As the cannabis industry faces challenges, growers and sellers raise issue with a 1970’s law they say are holding them back. Meanwhile, municipalities find themselves dealing with so-called “gas station weed,” a product is unregulated and available to people under 21 years of age.Plus, as state lawmakers seek to place limits on sports gambling, the gaming commission offers millions in compensation to western Mass. towns to mitigate impacts that the MGM Springfield casino has had on neighboring communities.We’re running all of that and more with this week’s panel, Jim Kinney, reporter for the Springfield Republican; Paul Tuthill, former Pioneer Valley bureau chief for WAMC; Adam Frenier, NEPM reporter; and former State Senator Eric Lesser, senior counsel at WilmerHale.