New England Public Radio

Sign posted outside Converse Hall at Amherst College, on Dec. 12, 2016.
(Photo Credit: Nancy Eve Cohen for NEPR)

The Short List: MA Transportation, Workers’ Buyout, ‘Vile’ Messages At Amherst College

NEPR'S WEEK IN REVIEW

What made The Short List this week?

  • A transportation conference was held this week at MIT in Cambridge called “Reviving Federal Investment in Public Transit: Build Subways, Not Submarines.” Former Massachusetts Governor Mike Dukakis, and his Secretary of Transportation and current MIT Professor, Fred Salvucci, presented at the conference that panelist Matt Szafranski attended. At first glance, it seemed pretty Boston-centric, but Matt said, they did not forget about Western Massachusetts.
  • Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s voluntary separation program for state workers had 900 takers. Certain branches of government will feel the losses sooner than others.
  • Amherst College joined the ranks of Harvard, Columbia, Yale and Princeton this week, as the men’s cross country team was found to have circulated  messages described by College President Biddy Martin as “vile.”

Click the audio player above to hear New England Public Radio’s Carrie Healy explore these issues with the Springfield Republican’s Ron Chimelis and Matt Szafranski of Western Mass Politics and Insight.