Topping the short list of news this week is Springfield police commissioner John Barbieri's retirement from the post. The move comes amid fresh accussations of police brutality and several officers facing state and federal charges.

Our look back at the week's news kicks off with Hampshire College and staff layoffs coming early next week, as the school continues a search for a "strategic partner" to ensure its long-term future.

The Massachusetts Democratic Party is bringing its convention this year to Springfield, but the city's mayor, Domenic Sarno, is not invited to speak.

The operators of the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos in Connecticut say they want to move ahead with a joint casino in East Windsor, designed to compete with the MGM Springfield resort, just a few miles away.

Connecticut officials seem less concerned about potential impacts the MGM Springfield casino is having on slot machine revenue at the two tribal casinos in their state. Our panel takes a look at that and other news of the week.

Hampshire College says it's looking for a "strategic partnership" as it faces a tough financial foreceast. Our Short List panel takes a look at that and other news of the week.

Two state lawmakers from western Massachusetts, Jo Comerford and Mindy Domb, sent Governor Charlie Baker a letter asking him to provide emergency funding for food banks if the federal shutdown goes on long enough to impact food stamp benefits.

Massachusetts U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren kicked off a busy political week with her announcement that she's forming an exploratory committee into a 2020 presidential run.

There's an ongoing effort in Berkshire County to look at how trauma is dealt with, in areas including education and law enforcement.

Hundreds of jobs are coming to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, while an affordable housing crisis continues throughout Berkshire County.