In this episode we take a deep dive into Massachusetts state politics. I discuss with two local residents, Alex Davidson Carroll and Matt Barron, proposals to increase public access and transparency of the goings-on in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Link to the Letter to the Editor in the January 28, 2021 edition: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/January-28-2021.pdf

Act On Mass, an organization working on the statehouse transparency issue:  https://actonmass.org/

Mike and Sarah discuss a proposed project in Northfield to allow dual-use solar on a farm. The discussion also turns to Mike’s experiences reporting long-form interviews, and the current (good!) state of the newspaper. Plus - speculations on the role of artificial intelligence at the paper.

Mike is taking applications for apprentices! You heard it here first. Contact him at [email protected] 

Reach out to the podcast: [email protected]

Thanks for listening! Tell a friend!

Join Sarah, Reporter Sarah Robertson, and Managing Editor Mike Jackson in a discussion of the newspaper’s recent reporting on goings-on in Montague and surrounding towns, as well as Sarah Robertson’s reporting on housing and the environment.

If you like the podcast, please leave us a review and subscribe.

Comments, questions, or suggestions? Reach out to us at [email protected]

March 25 edition of the Montague Reporter: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/March-25-2021.pdf

Sarah R’s reporting on PFAS in the March 11 edition: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/March-11-2021.pdf

Join us for a deep dive into Sarah Robertson's (and the Montague Reporter's) reporting on the FirstLight Power relicensing process for power production on the Connecticut River. Scientists Ken Sprankel (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with the CT River Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office) and Rodger Gwiazdowski (Department of Environmental Conservation, UMass, Amherst) join us for a discussion on environmental impacts on the CT River.

Ken’s website, Connecticut River Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office: https://www.fws.gov/r5crc/

U.S. Fish and Wildlife service page for Puritan Tiger Beetle: https://www.fws.gov/chesapeakebay/saving-wildlife/species/puritan-tiger-beetle/index.html

Daily Hampshire Gazette reporting on Puritan Tiger Beetle: https://www.gazettenet.com/Puritan-Tiger-Beetles-26525449

New York Times Puritan Tiger Beetle article: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/04/science/puritan-tiger-beetles-vicious-predators-may-soon-hunt-again.html

Sarah Robertson’s reporting on this issue in the Montague Reporter:

December 17, 2020 Page 1: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/December-17-2020.pdf

November 12, 2020, Page 1: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/November-12-2020.pdf

Other recent reporting on the FirstLight Power relicensing process:

https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/November-19-2020.pdf

https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/September-3-2020.pdf

Please feel free to reach out to Joe Parzych via email at [email protected]. His website is https://www.facebook.com/Jrparzych/.

Link to the Faces and Places feature: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/September-24-2020.pdf (Page A8).

Reach out to the podcast at [email protected]

Subscribe or donate to the paper! https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/

The Montague selectboard met to discuss reopening town buildings after fewer new COVID cases were reported. The selectboard also convinced Eversource to remove more redundant polls in town. Gill-Montague schools are set to reopen in a hybrid model starting February 22. The Montague Reporter continues to cover evictions and the housing crisis in the area. Plus - entertaining tidbits and non sequiturs!

If you like the podcast, please leave us a review and subscribe.

Comments, questions, or suggestions? Reach out to us at [email protected]

Read the Montague Reporter newspaper here: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/February-11-2021.pdf

Learn more about Valley Eye Radio on their website: https://valleyeyeradio.org/ and listen live here: https://valleyeyeradio.org/listen-live.html

Contact the Montague Reporter podcast: [email protected] or 413-863-8666

Subscribe to the Montague Reporter: https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/

Leveret Village Coop has their annual meeting coming up after a year in which it came back from the brink of closure. Vaccinations are taking place in Franklin County, but the availability of future supply of vaccine doses is unclear. The second round of Paycheck Protection Program funding is now available and the Montague Reporter is following the infusion of federal funds into the local economy.

If you like the podcast, please leave us a review and subscribe.

Comments, questions, or suggestions? Reach out to us at [email protected]

Read the Montague Reporter newspaper here: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/January-21-2021.pdf

Join host Sarah Brown-Anson, Reporter Sarah Robertson and MR Managing Editor Mike Jackson for a conversation about ongoing coverage of evictions and housing insecurity in Franklin County, and the relicensing of FirstLight’s operations along the Connecticut River.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us on our first year as a podcast! Like longer episodes? Like shorter episodes? Want us to talk about a certain topic? Reach out and let us know! [email protected] or 413-863-8666.

Visit https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/ to subscribe to the paper or to read a PDF of this week's paper.

Data point to COVID-19 cases being more widespread than ever in Franklin County. FirstLight Power’s quest to renew their license takes a step forward. Plus Mike explains his reporting and editorial on the Paycheck Protection Program’s impact on our county and its economy.

Preregister for free COVID testing: tinyurl.com/y6etuajc

Tests will be available, on demand and at no cost, on the Greenfield Community College campus Tuesday, December 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday, December 16 from 1 to 6 p.m. They are available without a medical referral and to those without symptoms. Pre-registration is required at tinyurl.com/y6etuajc

Order wrapping paper! https://montaguereporter.org/montague-reporter-special-wrapping-paper-edition/

Email us: [email protected]