Several Massachusetts ballot questions may have fallen by the wayside this week after action by the Supreme Judicial Court and state lawmakers.

Massachusetts transportation officials this week announced funding for more north/south rail service in the Pioneer Valley, and for a long-awaited study examining trains between Boston and western Massachusetts.

Starting next weekend, and continuing into next week, rail service will double on a daily basis between Springfield, Hartford and New Haven. We talk about that news and more in this week's panel.

Among news items this week, a study revealed out-of-state students have an easier time of getting into UMass Amherst than students from Massachusetts.

This week, more pieces of art from the Berkshire Musem's collection were sold at auction. Included was Norman Rockwell's "Blacksmith's Boy -- Heel and Toe", which sold for more than $8 million including fees.

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a law, opening the door to state legalizing sports gambling. And in Massachusetts, top state lawmakers say they should look into it, but stopped short of any commitment.

We start this week by taking a look at the Massachusetts state Senate seat formerly held by Amherst Democrat Stan Rosenberg. There are now at least four declared candidates: one on the ballot and three write-ins.

This week, embattled Massachusetts state Senator of Amherst resigned amid mounting pressure after a scathing ethics report came out.

This week, the highest court in Massachusetts heard arguments about whether Thomas Estes, a district court judge from the western part of the state, should face punishment for an affair with a court employee.

Recently, there's been rumblings that MGM, which is currently building a casino in Springfield, Massachusetts, is looking at buying a Boston-area casino also under construction. So what might this mean for Springfield?