The Massachusetts Senate passed police reform legislation this week that looks to ban chokeholds, create a certification process for police, and limit the use of tear gas, among other things. The bill now moves on the House.

An independent report looking into the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home was released this week. It said the facility's management, under superintendent Bennett Walsh, made "substantial errors," which led to the death toll rising.

This week, after pressure from many city councilors and some in the community, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno once again suspended five officers who are indicted on perjury charges.

This week, police brutality protests continued across western Massachusetts, in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. In Springfield, the city council is calling for changes to the police department's use of force policy.

This week has been filled with protests across the country over police brutality, after the death of George Floyd at police hands in Minnesota. There were several demonstrations in western Massachusetts, which were largely peaceful.

Colleges and universities across western Massachusetts are considering how to hold classes this fall, and whether in-person learning is a feasible idea amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced a phased approach to reopening much of the state's economy that had been shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week, Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin filed legislation looking to make it easier for people to vote amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker this week extended the state's shutdown of non-essential businesses until May 18. Baker said while some progress has been made fighting COVID-19, there's still more work that needs to be done.

Some western Massachusetts sheriffs said this week that with more inmates being released early due to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in correctional facilities, some have had trouble once they were out of jail.