The Short List

Tuesday was preliminary election day in a few western Massachusetts communities. In the race for Holyoke mayor, City Councilor Michael Sullivan and Joshua Garcia, who's the town administrator in Blandford, advanced to November's general election.

Calling the spike "alarming and scary," Mayor Domenic Sarno said there were more then 250 new cases of COVID-19 in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Tuesday and Wednesday combined.

Despite what officials have called extensive mold cleanup and environmental testing at the Roderick Ireland Courthouse in Springfield, Massachusetts, Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi this week said he believes the courthouse still isn't safe. He's refusing to send people in his department's custody there.

This week, some health officials in western Massachusetts issued mask mandates or advisories amid rising COVID-19 rates.

This week, the Centers for Disease Control recommended people go back to wearing masks indoors in places where the delta variant of COVID-19 is surging — including those who have been vaccinated.

COVID-19 case rates have been on the rise over the last few weeks in Massachusetts and elsewhere.

You might be thinking about your vacation plans or backyard barbecues, but there are several mayoral races heating up across western Massachusetts.

On Thursday, possession of marijuana became legal for recreational use in Connecticut. That's after the General Assembly and Governor Ned Lamont signed off on the legislation last month.

This week, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced a COVID-19 vaccine lottery, designed to encourage people to continue to get their shots.

This week, a group of seniors gathered in downtown Springfield t0 renew their call for Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood to be removed from her job.

This week marks 10 years since a devastating tornado ripped through a swath of western Massachusetts. Three people were killed and 200 injured, and it caused more than $200 million in damages.

This weekend, nearly all COVID-19 safety restrictions will be lifted in Massachusetts. That includes mask requirements — at least for people who are vaccinated.

Massachusetts public health officials announced this week opioid overdose deaths climbed by 5% in the state last year.

Massachusetts announced changes this week to its COVID-19 vaccine distribution strategy. More shots will be provided to regional sites, mobile clinics and doctor's offices.

This week, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced a further rollback of the state's COVID-19 restrictions.

A Massachusetts superior court judge has largely sided with the Springfield City Council in its lawsuit against Mayor Domenic Sarno over a 2018 ordinance seeking to establish a police commission.

This week on The Short List: Many children in western Massachusetts in a mental health crisis are struggling to get services they need.

Many Massachusetts schools will open for full, in-person learning on April 5. Others, including Springfield, will start with a hybrid model, and bring back younger students first.

This week Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker was grilled by a legislative oversight committee looking into his administration's COVID-19 response.

There was stunning news this week of a series of murders in the Atlanta area, where a white man killed eight people including six Asian women.