The Rundown with Carrie Saldo

NEPM Podcasts
  • 5.0 (4)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

Dig into the week’s most important stories and know what’s up in western Mass. Join Carrie Saldo for The Rundown — where reporters from newsrooms across the region recap the biggest headlines and share their takes on the news and events that shaped the week in the 413. What do you think was the most important news event of the week? Share your thoughts at 413-225-4922 or via email at therundown@nepm.org.

  1. Rising sewer costs, license plate surveillance, remembering the 2011 tornado

    2d ago

    Rising sewer costs, license plate surveillance, remembering the 2011 tornado

    Our panel explores the hidden reason why your sewer bill is getting more expensive, and what, if anything, can be done about it.  And, General Electric outlines the final pages of its plan to clean up PCBs in the Housatonic River.  Then, license plate cameras raise privacy concerns in Agawam.  Plus, a look back as we mark the 15th anniversary of the devastating tornado that touched down in western Massachusetts on June 1, 2011.  We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: G. Michael Dobbs, host of “Government Matters” at Focus Springfield; Greg Sukiennik, news editor for The Berkshire Eagle; and Elizabeth Román, executive news editor at NEPM.

    29 min
  2. Behind college closures, future of public transit

    May 29

    Behind college closures, future of public transit

    Our panel takes a deep-dive into the reasons why two Massachusetts colleges, including one in the 413, are closing their doors. And fare-free transit in the Pioneer Valley was a big hit, so how will the PVTA follow up? Plus, we look back at the impact and legacy of two pioneering leaders that we lost this past week in western Massachusetts, former State Rep. Benjamin Swan and Henry M. Thomas III, former president and CEO of the Urban League of Springfield. We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: Aprell May Munford, reporter for the Springfield Republican; former state senator and senior counsel at WilmerHale, Eric Lesser; and Dave Eisenstadter, state editor for MassLive.

    29 min
  3. Alleged racial segregation in schools, fed. oversight of Springfield police dept. ends & more

    May 22

    Alleged racial segregation in schools, fed. oversight of Springfield police dept. ends & more

    A Springfield student is at the forefront of a lawsuit that alleges racial segregation in Massachusetts schools. We’ll unpack the details. In other Springfield news, while federal oversight of the police department draws to a close, reforming the department will continue.  And, the village known as Turners Falls marks the 350th anniversary of the Great Falls Massacre, we find out how the community is fighting to remember and reconnect with the true history. Plus, the iconic former U.S. Representative and Massachusetts’ own Barney Frank dies at age 86. We speak about the legacy he leaves behind. We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel, Greenfield Recorder reporter Erin-Leigh Hoffman; Matt Szafranski, editor-in-chief for Western Mass. Politics and Insight; and Springfield Republican reporter Jim Kinney.

    29 min
  4. Post office closures, education cyberattack, targets on DEI

    May 15

    Post office closures, education cyberattack, targets on DEI

    We take a look at the impending closure of post offices in the 413 and the impact that could have on two communities in Hampden and Franklin Counties.  In education news, a conservative group files a civil rights complaint against UMass Amherst to give white students access to programs for minority students.  And, we examine how some schools in western Mass. have been impacted by a nationwide cyberattack.  Plus, the U.S. Department of Education investigates Smith College for accepting transgender students. We explore what it could mean.  We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: Paul Tuthill, reporter emeritus; Ryan McCollum, principal of RMC Strategies; and NEPM reporter Phil Bishop.

    29 min
  5. Environmental impacts in the 413

    May 8

    Environmental impacts in the 413

    Today's show has an environmental impact focus: polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) contamination has long been a problem in the 413, particularly in the Berkshires. The state claimed it wasn’t testing blood for PCBs, but it has been for years. We unpack the details.  While renewable energy is popular in many circles, some residents of western Mass. have concerns over battery and solar permitting. We examine why some are seeing red over green.  And, proposed changes to environmental protections at the federal level could have direct impacts right here in the 413. We explore what it could mean. Plus, from the big questions file: What the heck is pee-cycling?  We’re running down all of that with this week’s panel: Adam Hinds, senior advisor at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute; Bill Shein, founder of Reason Gone Mad; Greta Jochem, investigations editor at The Springfield Republican; and Sarah Robertson, independent reporter.

    29 min
  6. Baystate takes over Mercy Medical, Mass. GOP convention

    May 1

    Baystate takes over Mercy Medical, Mass. GOP convention

    Healthcare in the 413 takes center stage this week as Baystate Health announces plans to take over Mercy Medical Center. What will the impact be? We unpack the details. And, the Massachusetts Republican Party held its convention this past weekend, and we explore how the local arm of the GOP will be positioning itself heading into the November midterm elections. Plus, what does the recent prosecution of a former teacher at a Berkshires school on rape charges mean for the future of the state’s age of consent laws? We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: Greg Sukiennik, news editor for The Berkshire Eagle; Jim Kinney, reporter for The Springfield Republican; and Principal of MLB Research Associates Matt Barron.

    29 min
  7. Mass. Public Record Law

    Apr 24

    Mass. Public Record Law

    The Massachusetts Public Record Law – what is it and how is it supposed to work? And how are journalists using, or trying to use, it to dig into stories?  We answer those questions and look at a few examples right here in the 413 of where public records requests have helped generate news and support the public’s right to know.  We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel: Greta Jochem, Springfield Republican newspaper investigations editor; Bridgette Davis, UMass Amherst assistant professor of public policy; and Dusty Christensen, investigations editor at The Shoestring.

    29 min
  8. Hampshire College closure, state use of AI, rural funding need

    Apr 17

    Hampshire College closure, state use of AI, rural funding need

    Hampshire College has announced it will close its doors in the fall of 2026. We discuss the whys, the hows, and what it means in the greater higher education landscape, especially for the future of the 5-college consortium. Then, we take a look at the impact of artificial intelligence on the inner workings of Massachusetts government departments and examine which state agency functions are currently using AI. Is your data at risk? Plus, with several proposition 2.5 overrides on local ballots, western Mass. leaders urge more state funding for rural areas. We’re running down all of that and more this week with our panel, former State Sen. Eric Lesser, senior counsel at WilmerHale; Rich Parr, vice president of MassInc Polling Group; freelance journalist Jon Gerhardson, and NEPM Executive Editor for News Elizabeth Román.

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Dig into the week’s most important stories and know what’s up in western Mass. Join Carrie Saldo for The Rundown — where reporters from newsrooms across the region recap the biggest headlines and share their takes on the news and events that shaped the week in the 413. What do you think was the most important news event of the week? Share your thoughts at 413-225-4922 or via email at therundown@nepm.org.

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