Man dies after accident at Yankee Candle
SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) - A Springfield man is dead after he fell from a forklift at Yankee Candle Thursday.
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Big Y Co-Founder Gerald D'Amour Passes Away
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) - A western Massachusetts business pioneer has died. Big Y co-founder, Gerald D'Amour, passed away Sunday at his home in Somers.
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Shoppers flock for Tax-free weekend
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB) – Tax-free shopping brought out the crowds this weekend.
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Some Oil Customers Locking In Prices for the Winter
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) -- While we may be in the heat of the summer season, now may be the right time for folks to start thinking about home heating oil for the summer.
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Tobacco farms flourish this summer
HADLEY, Mass. (WGGB) --It's been a hot summer and that's been a good thing for tobacco farmers.
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Governor Patrick Signs Tax Holiday into Law
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) -- Shoppers, get ready. Governor Patrick has signed the sales tax holiday into law.
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Valley experiences busy summer tourist season
REGION (WGGB) -- Whether it's by plane, train, or automobile, people are coming to the Pioneer Valley to experience the sights and sounds of western Massachusetts.
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Recovery loses speed as consumers turn cautious
The recovery lost momentum in the second quarter as growth slowed to a 2.4 percent pace, its most sluggish showing in nearly a year and too weak to drive down unemployment.
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Delta announces new flights from Conn
Associated Press - July 28, 2010 5:04 PM ET WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (AP) - Delta Airlines says it is adding flights from Bradley International Airport to Las Vegas and Washington D.C.
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Willimansett Bridge to Shut Down
Business owners attending a public hearing at Holyoke City Hall Monday night learned that the Willimansett Bridge, also known as the Old Chicopee Bridge, will be closed
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Heating oil prices expected to climb gradually
Associated Press - July 27, 2010 12:54 PM ET PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Energy analysts say heating oil prices are projected to rise only modestly this coming winter, giving homeowners in the...
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Home sales rise sharply in Mass. in June
Associated Press - July 27, 2010 6:54 AM ET WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) - Sales of single-family homes in Massachusetts rose to a 4-year high in June as many buyers took advantage of tax credits that...
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Pelosi, McConnell give different views on stimulus
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday urged state lawmakers to lobby for House-passed initiatives endangered in the Senate, while Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell complained congressional Democrats were out of...
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Holyoke's outdoor music venue bringing in big names and customers for local businesses
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB) -- A one-time amusement park location has now become a summer concert venue, and some hope it could bring an economic boost to the Paper City.
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Mass. Gov. says he wants jobs bills to pass
Associated Press - July 26, 2010 12:24 PM ET BOSTON (AP) - Gov. Deval Patrick says he wants to see the Legislature pass four bills that will help create jobs during the last week of the state's...
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Fed chief to Congress: Don't end stimulus spending
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress Thursday that the fragile economy needs government stimulus spending to strengthen the recovery and help reduce unemployment.
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Web ad sales help New York Times Co. halt declines
The New York Times Co. has managed to steady itself after more than two years of watching its main source of revenue - newspaper advertising - drop at an alarming rate.
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Report: Bankruptcy filings up 25% in Mass.
Associated Press - July 22, 2010 12:54 PM ET BOSTON (AP) - A new report shows bankruptcy filings in Massachusetts surged by 25% during the first half of the year, as more individuals struggled...
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Tax on alcohol in public's hands
LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WGGB) - In November, voters will decide whether they want to continue paying tax on alcohol.
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Tomato blight found in Hampshire County
HADLEY, Mass. (WGGB) -- Tomato blight is once again a concern for farmers in the Pioneer Valley.
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Honda plans electric vehicle, plug-in in 2012
Honda will start selling an electric vehicle as well as a plug-in hybrid in 2012 in the U.S. and Japan, joining the race to manufacture green cars in which rivals have already taken slight leads.
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Federal agency OK's Bradley for full body scanner
WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (AP) - Bradley International Airport is 1 of more than two dozen U.S. airports to receive full body-scanning equipment promoted as a defense against threats, but criticized because it sees through passengers' clothing.
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Vt.'s jobless rate drops again
Associated Press - July 20, 2010 2:05 PM ET MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Vermont's unemployment rate continues to inch downward.
The state Department of Labor says the jobless rate for June...
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Obama to GOP: Restore unemployment benefits now
President Barack Obama took aim at Republican lawmakers Monday, accusing them of holding the public hostage to Washington politics by blocking extended unemployment benefits for millions of out of work Americans.
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Congress acts on bank overhaul, but work ahead
In the end, it's only a beginning. The far-reaching new banking and consumer protection bill that President Barack Obama intends to sign on Wednesday now shifts from the politicians to the technocrats.
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Blueberries In Early
Fran Sobieski says the grass is dying along his raspberry patch. He's seen it like that in August, but he can't remember it being that way in early July.
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Official: Vt. jobs saved by federal stimulus money
Associated Press - July 16, 2010 1:45 PM ET BARRE, Vt. (AP) - A White House official says a Vermont company that's the recipient of $9.1 million in federal stimulus money would have taken its...
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Senate clears sweeping bank bill for final passage
A sweeping crackdown on banking and high-finance broke through a Senate Republican blockade Thursday, setting the stage for Congress to send the massive regulation overhaul to President Barack Obama.
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Less funding for fewer teen summer jobs
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB) -- While the state's unemployment rate fell to 9 percent in May, unemployment among teenagers is at 26 percent, according to analysts, and government funding for opportunities for youth employment has been on the wane.
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Mortgage rates remain at lowest level in decades
Mortgage rates were unchanged this week at the lowest point in decades, but it hasn't been enough to jump-start the housing market.
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Sky-High Airline Fees - Lawmakers Grilling Airline CEO's
Air travel is picking up as the economy shakes "off" the recession but it feels more like a shake "down" to passengers, who find airline fees taking off faster than the planes. Now, a government panel wants to know if the sky is the limit.
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Major banking bill faces final vote this week
President Barack Obama on Tuesday secured the 60 votes he needs in the Senate to pass a sweeping overhaul of financial regulations, all but ensuring that he soon will sign into law one of the top initiatives of his...
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US retail sales drop hurts world stock markets
European and U.S. stock markets fell Wednesday after weaker than expected U.S. retail sales figures for June reignited fears about the pace of the recovery in the world's largest economy.
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More Americans' credit scores sink to new lows
The credit scores of millions more Americans are sinking to new lows.
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Analysis: How 2 million lost jobless benefits
Keeping unemployment benefits flowing for millions of workers whose jobs were eaten by the recession should have been a slam dunk in an election year.
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Mass. governor pledges $9M for teen summer jobs
BOSTON (AP) - Gov. Deval Patrick is pledging $9 million in state and federal dollars to help provide thousands of summer jobs to low income teens across Massachusetts.
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Western Mass Gets Broadband
The federal government is investing in Western Mass. The Massachusetts Broadband Institute is receive $45.5 million to bring broadband to 123 towns in Western Mass.
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Obama urges increase in clean energy tax credits
Mixing policy and politics, President Barack Obama called on Congress Friday to expand a clean energy tax credit that could pay off in Nevada, where Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is struggling in his re-election campaign.
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Toyota adding more time to new vehicle development
Toyota Motor Corp. is extending the time it takes to develop new vehicles by about four weeks for more quality checks in the wake of its massive safety-related recalls, a top executive said Wednesday.
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Striking Mass. market workers accept new contract
Associated Press - July 9, 2010 6:34 AM ET METHUEN, Mass. (AP) - A sometimes bitter four-month long strike by about 300 workers at a Shaw's Supermarkets Inc.
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ESPN moving magazine work to Connecticut
Associated Press - July 8, 2010 1:24 PM ET BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) - ESPN is relocating its magazine staff from New York to Connecticut, moving about 125 jobs.
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Debit Card Debacle
There's a financial reform package that's gone to the Senate that would change the demands banks make on merchants.
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Chrysler will make buyers' payments on new cars
Chrysler Group says it will make the first two months' payments on most new vehicles bought this month in a bid to boost sales after a weak June.
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BusinessWest honors "40 under 40"
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB) – Forty local business professionals were honored Thursday for their commitment to their profession and their community.
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Vt. seeks fingernail test of murder suspect
Associated Press - July 7, 2010 7:35 AM ET BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - Vermont prosecutors are asking a judge to allow the testing of fingernail clippings taken from an Essex Junction woman facing...
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Suffolk Downs makes its pitch for a casino
Associated Press - July 7, 2010 6:14 AM ET BOSTON (AP) - Owners of the Suffolk Downs horse track say investors are prepared to sink $600 million or more in a proposed resort-style casino at the...
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Farmers defend way of life with Facebook, Twitter
When a video of dairy cows being punched and prodded with pitchforks was recently released by an animal rights group, it made the rounds on YouTube and generated the expected angry responses.
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Farmers find opportunity in immigrant vegetables
Associated Press - July 5, 2010 3:14 AM ET SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass. (AP) - Maxixe (mah-SHEESH') is relatively unknown in the U.S., but the Brazilian relative of the cucumber may one day be as...
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Job market not growing fast enough for big rebound
A second straight month of lackluster hiring by American businesses is sapping strength from the economic rebound.
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Beleaguered Toyota to recall 270,000 cars globally
Toyota Motor Corp. will recall 270,000 Lexus and other vehicles worldwide to fix faulty engines in the latest quality lapse at the world's No. 1 automaker.
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NY-based Sikorsky Aircraft moving factory to Pa.
Associated Press - July 2, 2010 12:24 PM ET BIG FLATS, N.Y. (AP) - Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. says it is shutting down a commercial helicopter factory in upstate New York and moving production to...
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Toyota says 270,000 vehicles have faulty engines
Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday about 270,000 cars sold worldwide - including luxury Lexus sedans - have potentially faulty engines, the latest quality lapse to hit the automaker following massive global recalls of...
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Mass. to receive $45M from feds for broadband
Associated Press - July 2, 2010 6:04 AM ET BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts is set to receive $45 million in federal stimulus dollars to expand broadband access in the largely rural western part of...
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Chrysler sales drop 12 percent from May to June
Chrysler Group LLC says its sales slid about 12 percent from May to June as worries about the economy weighed on consumers.
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New Mass. law OKs Sunday morning alcohol sales
BOSTON (AP) - Early risers on Sundays will now have the chance to purchase Bloody Marys and Irish Coffees with their pancakes in Massachusetts.
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Private-equity firm suggests BJ's go private
Associated Press - July 1, 2010 11:24 AM ET PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A private-equity firm has taken a big stake in BJ's Wholesale Club and says it plans to talk with the warehouse club's...
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Gov't plans to double available wireless spectrum
The Obama administration is backing a plan to nearly double the space available on the airwaves for wireless high-speed Internet traffic to keep up with ever-growing demand for video and other cutting-edge applications on...
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Apple sells more than 1.7M iPhones in 3 days
Apple Inc. said Monday that it sold more than 1.7 million units of its new iPhone model in the first three days, making it the most successful product launch in the company's history from the standpoint of sales.
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Report: Ag research too focused on food production
American farmers are producing more food than ever, but agricultural research is too focused on increasing production and needs to do better at considering consequences such as water and air pollution, according to a report...
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Home prices rise 0.8 pct. in April from March
Home prices in April rose for the first time in seven months as government tax credits bolstered the housing market. But the rebound may be short-lived now that the incentives have expired.
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GOP senator's wariness puts banking bill in doubt
Associated Press - June 28, 2010 4:34 PM ET WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts is backing away from his support for a sweeping overhaul of the nation's financial...
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Ground is Broken for Springfield's New Data Center
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Tuesday afternoon for Springfield's new 110-million dollar state of the art data center.
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Job Market Looks Good in May
By: Jim ClineSPRINGFIELD, Mass (wggb) --The Office of Labor and Workforce Development is reporting that there have been job gains in the Commonwealth for four straight months. 15,800 jobs were added
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East Longmeadow Company Builds Green Homes
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Monday in East Longmeadow for Blu Homes. The company manufactures green, environmentally friendly modular homes.
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Walgreen and CVS strike new deal, avoiding split
CVS Caremark Corp. and Walgreen Co. have settled a dispute that threatened to change where millions of Americans can fill prescriptions.
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Springfield job fair attracts more than 500
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) -- Armed with resumes, job hunters in Western Massachusetts took to the Basketball Hall of Fame for a job fair, however, the outlook isn't all that bright with unemployment still high.
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New jobless claims up sharply as layoffs persist
The number of people filing new claims for jobless benefits jumped last week after three straight declines, another sign that the pace of layoffs has not slowed.
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Jobless aid, tax bill hits Senate roadblock again
Senate Democrats have failed again in their bid to provide further aid to the jobless and a reprieve for doctors about to get hit with a big cut in their Medicare payments.
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Mass. unemployment rate remains at 9.2%
Associated Press - June 17, 2010 11:14 AM ET BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts added more than 15,000 jobs last month, the fourth straight month of employment gains for the state, but the...
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Foreclosures surge in Mass., but petitions fall
BOSTON (AP) - A new report contains mixed signals about the foreclosure crisis in Massachusetts.
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German company closing Vt. plant, 80 jobs lost
Associated Press - June 16, 2010 7:15 AM ET WATERBURY CENTER, Vt. (AP) - A German high-technology company is going to close its Vermont plant in Waterbury Center and put 80 people out of...
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DirecTV to sell local ads for the first time
DirecTV Inc. is joining forces with a company owned by its cable rivals to sell local advertising spots coast-to-coast for the first time.
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Record Store Re-opens
Platterpus Records closed it's doors back in March.
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Foxwoods casino faces new demand for union
Associated Press - June 14, 2010 12:04 PM ET MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (AP) - Bartenders at Foxwoods casino have asked the National Labor Relations Board to supervise an election in a drive to...
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Obama urges Congress to help small businesses
President Barack Obama is again urging Congress to send him a package of tax breaks and other incentives to help small businesses grow and create jobs.
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State gains jobs as unemployment rate takes slight drop
SPRINGFIELD, Mass (abc40) - The state says 19,000 jobs were added in the month of April, and in the Pioneer Valley, many industries are expanding.
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Viva Chevy: GM puts brakes on memo nixing nickname
Relax, Chevrolet fanatics. Turns out you can take your "Chevy to the levee" or any other darn place you please.
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Conn. Governor candidates discuss economy, jobs
Associated Press - June 10, 2010 6:34 PM ET HARTFORD, Conn (AP) - Connecticut gubernatorial candidates are proposing competing ways to lower the state's multibillion dollar deficit, retain...
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Job outlook brightens for new grads _ just barely
By ERIC GORSKI AP Education Writer To get a sense of the job market new college graduates face, consider the latest crop of nurses from Santa Rosa Junior College. Just eight of the 55 students are leaving with...
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General Motors pulls back on dealership cuts
General Motors will keep open about 900 dealerships across the country that it had planned to close, a shift in corporate strategy that could preserve thousands of jobs.
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Job openings rise to highest level in 16 months
Job openings jumped in April to the highest level in 16 months, a sign that private employers may boost hiring in coming months.
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Mashantucket Pequots gambling business head quits
Associated Press - June 7, 2010 2:44 PM ET MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (AP) - The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council, which runs Foxwoods Resort Casino in eastern Connecticut, has announced that the...
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Publishers see signs the iPad can restore ad money
Good news for the news business: Companies are paying newspapers and magazines up to five times as much to place ads in their iPad applications as what similar advertising costs on regular websites.
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2 resign amid Greylock Federal Credit Union probe
Associated Press - June 5, 2010 11:44 AM ET PITTSFIELD, Mass. (AP) - Two members of the board of directors at Greylock Federal Credit Union have resigned amid separate investigations by the...
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Hewlett-Packard to cut 9K jobs in services unit
Hewlett-Packard Co., the world's largest information-technology company, plans to lay off about 9,000 employees as it tries to cut costs in its back-office computing centers and deepens its use of software, rather than...
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Geithner: US, Europe broadly agree on reform
The United States and Europe broadly agree on the need for reform of the financial system, but global cooperation is needed, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Thursday. He also said countries are working together...
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Confidence among Mass. employers seen improving
Associated Press - June 1, 2010 11:24 AM ET BOSTON (AP) - For the first time in more than two years, employers in Massachusetts appear to be slightly more optimistic than pessimistic about the...
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Consumers more cautious about spending in April
Consumers don't appear confident enough in the economy to open their wallets more freely.
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Mortgage rates are back near record low
Turmoil in the stock market and the European debt crisis are making life easier for American homebuyers and families looking to refinance: Mortgage rates are inching closer to a record low.
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BusinessWest Restaurant Guide
abc40 speaks to a local restaurant owner who hopes to aid in the revitalization of Open Square and the City of Holyoke
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Report: Recovery to be weak for Conn. economy
Associated Press - May 26, 2010 5:04 AM ET HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - A University of Connecticut study offers a gloomy outlook for the state's economy, citing high unemployment, personal income...
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Rising home sales likely to cool despite low rates
A now-expired homebuyer tax credit and low mortgage rates helped boost sales of previously occupied homes in April. The improvements aren't likely to last.
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Jobless rates drop in 34 states and DC
Unemployment rates fell in a majority of states last month as improved economic conditions spurred hiring.
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Fading of inflation helps buyers and borrowers
It's a good time to buy a car or refinance a mortgage, thanks to super-low inflation and interest rates.
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Lawmakers say Toyota trying to discredit critics
House lawmakers investigating Toyota's massive recalls say the company is more focused on discrediting its critics than trying to solve problems of vehicles suddenly accelerating.
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Senate fails to end debate on bank regulation bill
Senate Republicans on Wednesday delayed final action on a sweeping financial regulation bill, raising a last-minute obstacle to the legislation as it approached the home stretch.
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Mass. unemployment rate dips to 9.2%
Associated Press - May 20, 2010 10:14 AM ET BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts added more than 19,000 jobs last month, helping the state's unemployment rate drop to 9.2% from 9.3% the previous month,...
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Big Tobacco cutting contracts with US farmers
After years of faithfully supplying leaf to tobacco giant Philip Morris International, farmer Jess Burrier received a postcard, thanking him for his contributions and telling him his service wasn't needed this year.
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Final credits rolling for Movie Gallery
Final credits are rolling for the nation's second-largest movie rental chain as consumers increasingly get movies through the mail, vending machines and high-speed Internet connections.
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Cooley Dickinson Hospital announces staff reductions
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WGGB) -- Citing the recession, Cooley Dickinson Hospital has announced it will be shedding 30 full-time positions, slashing hours for another group of employees and eliminating unfilled positions.
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BusinessWest '40 Under 40' Issue
abc40's Eric Fisher features one of BusinessWest's '40 Under 40' honorees, Nancy Bazanchuk. The issue highlights 40 of the brightest minds in Western Massachusetts.
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High Speed Rail Is Coming to the Region
High speed rail service is coming to the region. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood joined local officials for a meeting Monday
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House Approves Casinos But No Guarantees for Western Mass.
The Massachusetts House is ready to roll the dice on casino gambling in the state.
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Mass. House approves bill to add 2 casinos, slots
BOSTON (AP) - House lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved a bill to license two resort-style casinos in Massachusetts and allow up to 3,000 slot machines at the state's four race tracks.
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Governor Patrick Brings Good Economic News to Holyoke
Governor Patrick brought good economic news to Holyoke on Monday.
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Deerfield company shaping future of airline security
By: Jim Cline DEERFIELD, Mass (abc40) -- Civil liberty advocates have privacy and health concerns over new screening systems to be used at airports across the country. Millivision, a company based
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