Greta Jochem
@gretajochem.bsky.social
Investigations editor at The Springfield Republican. Runner and potter by night. Western Mass. she/her.
Many states have involuntary commitment laws, but some legislators and advocates have said Massachusetts is the only state in the country where people facing no criminal charges can be involuntary committed for substance use disorder treatment in facilities run by prisons and jails.
Mass. sends people to correctional-run facilities for involuntary addiction treatment. A look inside the system and how it’s changing
Some legislators and advocates have said Massachusetts is the only state in the country where people facing no criminal charges are involuntary committed for substance use disorder treatment in facili...
www.masslive.com
June 25, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Many states have involuntary commitment laws, but some legislators and advocates have said Massachusetts is the only state in the country where people facing no criminal charges can be involuntary committed for substance use disorder treatment in facilities run by prisons and jails.
Greater Springfield suffers one of the highest rates of asthma in U.S. Trump has cut millions that would address it
Greater Springfield suffers one of the highest rates of asthma in U.S. Trump has cut millions that would address it
Why does the area have such high asthma rates?
www.masslive.com
May 12, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Greater Springfield suffers one of the highest rates of asthma in U.S. Trump has cut millions that would address it
Once billed as “America’s most beautiful playhouse,” the Victory Theatre in downtown Holyoke has been dormant since 1979. A nonprofit bought it 16 years ago from the city, but it remains vacant. Will it ever re-open?
Will the long-closed Victory Theater in Holyoke ever re-open?
“Every day I deal with: ‘When’s it going to open? Why is it taking so long?’” Donald Sanders said.
www.masslive.com
April 28, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Once billed as “America’s most beautiful playhouse,” the Victory Theatre in downtown Holyoke has been dormant since 1979. A nonprofit bought it 16 years ago from the city, but it remains vacant. Will it ever re-open?
When the Taliban marched into Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 15, 2021, Nazifa Safie and Safieullah Safie knew they had to evacuate their home country. “In 24 hours, everything changed,” Nazifa said.
How an Afghan family fled their home country as refugees and made a life in Western Massachusetts
As the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan, the Afghan government collapsed and the Taliban took over. Nazifa and Safieullah were targets.
www.masslive.com
March 26, 2025 at 1:40 PM
When the Taliban marched into Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 15, 2021, Nazifa Safie and Safieullah Safie knew they had to evacuate their home country. “In 24 hours, everything changed,” Nazifa said.
Clean energy experts say more battery storage in Mass. is key to become net-zero by 2050. Proposals have cropped up all over the state. But some have hit resistance as residents fear battery fires and local communities attempt to regulate them.
As the grid goes green and electrifies, residents fret over safety of battery storage
Projects have kicked up controversy in Westfield, Hadley, Wendel and elsewhere
www.masslive.com
March 24, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Clean energy experts say more battery storage in Mass. is key to become net-zero by 2050. Proposals have cropped up all over the state. But some have hit resistance as residents fear battery fires and local communities attempt to regulate them.
When a Northampton nursing home closed last year, Barbara Sours' 62-year-old brother had to move more than an hour away from home and lung cancer treatment. Many other residents also faced long moves, data from the state shows.
WMass advocates feared a nursing home closing would force long travel. They were right
Of the 68 residents moved to another Massachusetts nursing home, the new facilities were, on average, 53 miles away.
www.masslive.com
March 13, 2025 at 3:52 PM
When a Northampton nursing home closed last year, Barbara Sours' 62-year-old brother had to move more than an hour away from home and lung cancer treatment. Many other residents also faced long moves, data from the state shows.
Mass. Medicaid gives $73 allowance for nursing home residents. Legislation aims to change that
Mass. Medicaid gives $73 allowance for nursing home residents. Bill would add more
Advocates gathered for a briefing Monday at the State House and streamed online to rally support for legislation filed earlier this year that seeks to increase the allowance to $113.42.
www.masslive.com
March 12, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Mass. Medicaid gives $73 allowance for nursing home residents. Legislation aims to change that
Veteran was helping fellow troops at the Springfield Vet Center when the Trump administration fired him
“I wanted to be part of improving the VA. ... To be terminated the way I was, was a slap in the face.”
“I wanted to be part of improving the VA. ... To be terminated the way I was, was a slap in the face.”
Veteran was helping fellow troops at the Springfield Vet Center when the Trump administration fired him
Michael Slater was one of 2,400 employees at the VA fired by the Trump administration this month as part of federal workforce shrinkage.
www.masslive.com
February 26, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Veteran was helping fellow troops at the Springfield Vet Center when the Trump administration fired him
“I wanted to be part of improving the VA. ... To be terminated the way I was, was a slap in the face.”
“I wanted to be part of improving the VA. ... To be terminated the way I was, was a slap in the face.”
‘The system is buckling’: A look inside rising homelessness in WMass.
‘The system is buckling’: A look inside rising homelessness in WMass
This is the first of two articles on the increase in homelessness in the region.
www.masslive.com
February 25, 2025 at 2:45 PM
‘The system is buckling’: A look inside rising homelessness in WMass.
Reposted by Greta Jochem
For Western Mass. groups working with immigrants, a ‘roller coaster’ last few weeks
For Western Mass. groups working with immigrants, a ‘roller coaster’ last few weeks
How Trump’s crackdown on immigration is impacting Western Massachusetts
www.masslive.com
February 9, 2025 at 11:00 AM
For Western Mass. groups working with immigrants, a ‘roller coaster’ last few weeks