Tara Jacobs has built a progressive reputation for herself in her four years representing western Mass on the Governor’s Council, a unique-to-Massachusetts elected council of eight that confirms judges and Parole Board appointments. But former Springfield City Council President Michael Fenton argues she has pushed too hard against the governor, jeopardizing the region’s representation in state courts and leaving too many vacancies locally.

In a race that one advocate for the incarcerated called “the most important race no one’s ever heard of,” the two will rematch after Jacobs defeated Fenton four years ago by only 2,300 votes. Read this first installment in The Shoestring’s 2026 election coverage, reported by Dylan Vrins.

Hollis Hills Farm brought a burst of late-summer color to Fitchburg with its annual Sunflower Festival. Visitors explored rows of towering blooms, picked their own sunflowers and enjoyed the farm as summer begins to give way to the first signs of fall.

This episode covers Fitchburg’s Regional Housing Summit; where housing experts, lenders, nonprofits, city leaders and residents discussed homeownership and the city’s broader housing challenges.