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.

Food pantries in the 413 are seeing an increase in need; we unpack why that is and what local legislators are saying and doing to address it. And, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern pushes back on Veterans Administration Secretary Douglas A. Collins for allegedly restricting the speech of VA chaplains who are memorializing Alex Pretti, a VA nurse who was killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. Plus, long-time water woes have plagued a Berkshire County community come to a head as a town considers buying the private utility company in charge of the drinking supply. We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel Talia Lissauer, Berkshire Eagle reporter; Adam Frenier, NEPM news reporter; political consultant Ryan McCollum of RMC Strategies; and special appearance by resident Bad Bunny correspondent Elizabeth Román, executive news editor for NEPM.

Hydropower is in the news this week as a Hampden County utility company secures a contract extension to continue hydropower use, while an energy company in Franklin County clears a hurdle in its quest to open two facilities despite concerns from locals.And some 413 high schools look to an app to reign in cell phone use, while local municipalities seek to curtail nicotine use by young people. We unpack the details.This week’s panel for The Rundown includes Greenfield Recorder reporter Erin-Leigh Hoffman, Paul Tuthill, reporter emeritus; and Rich Parr, Vice President at the MassINC Polling Group.

The state’s largest snowfall in four years hit 413 hard earlier this week. We plow through the impact of the storm on cities, residents and workers.And, the Trump administration is targeting the government's primary program to address homelessness, and the effects could have a big impact in western Massachusetts cities.Plus, we look at the rising costs of utility bills in the state and what it means for local energy users.We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel, Hallie Claflin, reporter for Commonwealth Beacon; Dave Eisenstatder, state editor for MassLive; Ryan McCollum, political consultant for RMC Strategies; and NEPM’s own Monte Belmonte of The Fabulous 413.

Gov. Maura Healey delivers the annual State of the Commonwealth Address, and our panel puts what she said in context for western Massachusetts.And, water levels at the Quabbin Reservoir are 10 feet lower than normal, and surrounding communities are questioning water use and stewardship of the reservoir. Should public policy be changed to address their concerns?Plus, a decision made by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection could result in a temporary furlough of work and production for a Springfield manufacturing company. Will we see a broader impact on the 413?We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel, Jim Kinney, reporter for the Springfield Republican newspaper; Matt Szafranski, founder and editor for Western Mass. Politics & Insight; and Bridgette Davis, assistant professor of public policy at UMass Amherst.

Low enrollment could cost the Pittsfield school district millions in state education aid as statewide public school enrollment has decreased to its lowest level in over a decade.And whether they like it or not, the residents of Agawam may be getting a new battery storage plant in town. We explore why they can’t say no.Plus, we talk about the transparency, or lack thereof, in public records and ballot question funding.This week’s panel for The Rundown include Eric Lesser, senior counsel with WilmerHale; Greg Sukiennik, news editor for The Berkshire Eagle; and Dusty Christensen, investigations editor at The Shoestring.