Free Republic

Western Massachusetts’ poorest residents have less buying power now than they had in 1979, according to a study released Monday by the University of Massachusetts. In 1979, the poorest 20 percent of Pioneer Valley residents earned $20,983 once figures are adjusted for inflation to represent 2009 dollars, according MassBenchmarks, a study of the state’s economy prepared by the University of Massachusetts’ Donahue Institute and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. By 2008, that annual income had fallen to an inflation adjusted $15,992. “Meaning that a poor family was doing significantly better in 1979,” said Michael D. Goodman, an author of...

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- Two women, including a Smith College student, pleaded innocent to charges they raped and handcuffed another female student and slashed her with knives. Rachel Ann Klobertanz, 22, and Augusta Claire Kendall, 22, were ordered held on $25,000 bail at their arraignment Tuesday in Northampton District Court. Both were charged with two counts of aggravated rape, three counts of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and aggravated assault and battery.