Massachusetts News

<p>Public schools need far more psychologists to serve student caseloads, as districts across Massachusetts grapple with rising youth mental health needs and persistent hiring challenges.</p>

<p>For Kathryn Hamilton, volunteering at the Berkshire Carousel brings her closer to her father Dan Hermanski.</p>

<p>The rail sidings would allow GE’s contractors to load lined, sealed shipping containers full of contaminated sediments for transport — south to a landfill in Lee, or north for higher levels of contamination bound for out-of-area disposal.</p>

<p>Two Berkshire County nonprofits are exploring a potential merger aimed at strengthening services and long-term sustainability, with leaders emphasizing that discussions remain preliminary and no final decision has been made.</p>

<p>Two long-established Berkshire County banks plan to merge by year’s end, creating a larger community lender with $1.5 billion in assets, 15 branches and nearly 200 employees. The deal would keep jobs and branches in place while shifting the combined bank’s headquarters to downtown Pittsfield.</p>