Massachusetts
Massachusetts will get some federal money for EV chargers after all – The Boston Globe
Another $14 million or so expected in future years may never reach the state, however.
“We are working to utilize that funding as quickly and efficiently as possible,” the department said in a statement to the Globe. “We anticipate some NEVI projects coming online this year and substantial progress to be made on the rest.”
The federal agency declined to address Massachusetts specifically and said it is “working to fix” the program. “During this process, no new obligations may occur under the program, but reimbursement of existing obligations will continue,” the agency said in a statement to the Globe.
The state’s first five approved stations will be along I-495 in Wrentham and Littleton, along I-195 in Wareham, and along Route 2 in North Adams and Lancaster. The stations will be built by the three companies the state selected last year: Applegreen and Global Partners, which both operate gas stations and convenience stores statewide, as well as construction and engineering firm Weston & Sampson.
Another 16 sites have been selected by the contractors for new stations and are moving through the approval process, state officials said.
Global said it was building its stations at convenient locations with amenities. “Providing a reliable and convenient charging experience is crucial for adoption of electric vehicles,” said James Cater, Global’s senior director of sustainability strategy and innovation.
Applegreen highlighted that its chargers, unlike some rivals, will not require a special app or membership. “It’s a simple, open, and truly accessible charging experience for everyone,” a spokesperson said.
Weston & Sampson declined to comment.
Massachusetts is not using federal funds to add fast charging stations on one of the state’s most popular highways, the Mass Turnpike. Instead, the state is currently seeking a new operator to run the retail and refueling operations at Pike rest stops and will require that operator to build more EV fast chargers.
The number of EVs on the road in Massachusetts reached almost 90,000 at the beginning of the year, plus another 50,000 plug-in hybrids. Despite a nationwide slowdown in EV sales growth, the number of battery-powered vehicles increased 33 percent from the beginning of 2024.
Massachusetts’ effort to build rapid EV charging stations with federal money has progressed more slowly than most states, jeopardizing some or all of the funding once Trump was elected.
Massachusetts and only 14 other states, most deeply Republican and opposed to EVs, had yet to award any of their funding when Trump took office, according to research firm Paren. By that time, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, and Rhode Island had opened multiple stations and Ohio already had 19 new stations funded by the law.
Even without the federal subsidies, private companies have built hundreds of charging stations in Massachusetts in recent years. The subsidy program was supposed to fill in gaps, especially in low-income, rural, or other areas that did not attract private investment. A Globe survey of Boston-area census tracts last year found that the higher the Black population of an area, the fewer the car chargers.
Aaron Pressman can be reached at aaron.pressman@globe.com. Follow him @ampressman.
Massachusetts
Two stabbed at Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods plant in Haverhill
Two people were seriously injured in a stabbing at the Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods manufacturing facility in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on Tuesday morning.
Haverhill police said they responded to the Cedar’s plan on Foundation Avenue around 10:30 a.m. for a report of a disturbance involving a weapon. When they arrived, they found two people suffering from apparent stab wounds.
Both people were provided with medical assistance on scene and taken to area hospitals with what police described as serious injuries. Their names have not been released, and no update on their conditions was immediately available.
Preliminary investigation determined that the two people knew each other, and police said there is no ongoing threat to the public. They said their investigation into the incident remains active.
Massachusetts
Injured Massachusetts teen thanks rescuers who
Two Plymouth, Massachusetts teens were saved from the summit of Mount Washington after a leg injury stranded them.
Khang Nguyen,17, said he and his friend, 18-year-old Vaughn Webb, thought they were well prepared for their hike on Saturday. They brought trekking poles, layers, microspikes for their boots and more.
But halfway up the trail, Nguyen feared the worst when his leg began to hurt.
“It was just incredibly painful to lift up my right leg,” he explained. “I told [Vaughn] to leave me behind so I could go on my own pace and for him to reach the summit to get help at first.”
The pair managed to reach the top of the mountain but had to seek shelter next to a building as wind gusts increased, and the air temperature reached 38 degrees. Nguyen said they also ran out of food and water. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department received the 911 call around 7:30 p.m. and quickly alerted a State Park employee who began to search for the two teens.
“Conservation Officers then began responding in four-wheel-drive pickup trucks to try and get to the summit and back ahead of incoming snow,” the game department said in a statement.
After around 30 minutes of reaching both Webb and Nguyen were found. They were taken inside a building and Nguyen was being treated for his injury.
“The worker that was up there, [said] that they came in record time, and we appreciate their help a lot. It saved our lives potentially,” Nguyen explained.
The pair was successfully taken off the mountain by 10 p.m. The two teens are now safely back in Massachusetts and are incredibly grateful to their rescuers.
Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts libraries celebrating National Library Week – Athol Daily News
As libraries across western Massachusetts celebrate National Library Week from April 19 to April 25, they are honoring “the last real third space where everyone is welcome,” in the words of Greenfield Public Library Assistant Director Lisa Prolman.
According to the American Library Association, National Library Week is “an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries and library professionals play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.” This year, several libraries in the region will be hosting events to highlight the roles they play in their communities.
The Athol Public Library is among the venues engaging in National Library Week festivities, with a whole host of events starting on Tuesday, April 21, with Silly Goose Story Time at 10:30 a.m. The library will hold multiple events each day, including “Free Book Friday” on April 24, which Assistant Director Robin Shtulman said is “really fantastic.”
Shtulman said the week celebrates and emphasizes the “freedom to read, community outreach and celebrating the staff, without whom nothing would happen.”
The Athol Public Library said in an event announcement that “whatever brings you joy, the library has something for everyone,” and that aspect is being emphasized this National Library Week. To name a few of the events on tap, on Tuesday, April 21, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., there’s a volunteer opportunity where teens will make greeting cards for senior citizens; “A Minecraft Movie” will be shown at the same date and time; and on Thursday, April 23, the library will host Scavenger Hunt Bingo for all ages. For a full list of events at the Athol Public Library, visit atholpubliclibrary.com.
In Shelburne Falls, the Arms Library will feature a gallery from the Carlos Heiligmann Collection, a series of photos of public libraries across western Massachusetts. Also in collaboration with the Arms Library, Pothole Pictures and the Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club will partner for a screening of “Free For All: The Public Library” on Saturday, April 25, at 2 p.m. at the Shelburne Falls Theater at Memorial Hall.
The documentary focuses on the evolution of the public library from its origins in the 19th century and the challenges it faces today, with modern-day issues such as book bans, funding cuts and debates over censorship.
It also explores the role that women’s clubs, like the one in Shelburne Falls, played in creating the modern library system. To serve their communities, women’s clubs took the lead in fundraising, collecting books and advocating for library legislation.
“Our women’s club in this town started with a group of 60 women who were gathering for lessons. … Because of the support of women in the U.S., we established over 80% of the public libraries [in the country],” said Christin Couture, program chair for the Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club. “This film … I hear it’s so fascinating.”
Following the film’s screening, there will be a panel of local librarians who will engage in “lively conversation” about the history and future of public libraries. Tickets are $6, though school-age children will be admitted for free.
In Charlemont, Tyler Memorial Library will host an open house on Saturday, April 25, from noon to 2 p.m. featuring refreshments, a tour of the library and sun catcher crafting.
The Greenfield Public Library, meanwhile, is taking National Library Week in a bit of a different direction, as it is offering a book repair demonstration with Tom Hutcheson on Thursday, April 23, at 3:30 p.m. The day marks William Shakespeare’s birthday.
Although the book repair session required registration and is currently full, those who are interested may be placed on a waiting list at greenfieldpl.libcal.com/event/16460179.
Greenfield Public Library Director Anna Bognolo recognized the hard work that everyone has put into making the library a success, offering a “huge thank you” to the volunteers and staff who make its varied offerings possible.
“Stop by and support your library,” Bognolo said.
“Libraries, especially in this economy, are more important than ever,” Prolman said. Referencing the library’s role as a place where community members can go that is not work or home, she added, “They are the last real third space where everyone is welcome, and we don’t charge you for being here.”
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