In a news cycle full of political buffoonery, Prince’s passing and picket lines, let’s instead remember some good and interesting news for Berkshire County. Headlines, in case you hadn’t heard… Pipeline Goes Bust | Eagle Goes Local | HighSpeed Goes So Slow.  A Recap:

Kinder Morgan Stops Pipeline Plans. Holy Mackerel! On Wednesday we learned that Kinder Morgan voted to suspend further work and expenditures on the proposed 120-mile gas pipeline known as Northeast Energy Direct. It wasn’t from the protesters or petitions or even governmental delays that cause the decision, rather they cited low gas prices due and not enough supply agreements. The story published on MassLive and the Berkshire Eagle.

Berkshire Eagle was sold to local owners who have committed to more Berkshire news and adding jobs.  Bucking national trends,  The Berkshire Eagle will return to local ownership. Birdland Acquisition LLC, the purchaser, include three Stockbridge residents: John C. “Hans” Morris, former president of Visa Inc.; Fredric D. Rutberg, former Pittsfield District Court judge; and Robert G. Wilmers, chairman and CEO of M&T Bank. The fourth principal is Stanford Lipsey, publisher emeritus of The Buffalo News and former owner, publisher and Pulitzer Prize winner for The Sun Newspaper Group in Nebraska.  Included in the deal are the Bennington Banner, the Brattleboro Reformer and the Manchester Journal.  The story published by the BerkshireEagle.

Why aren’t we wired for high-speed yet?  The Boston Globe published a report developed by Harvard that outlines why the last mile has become a journey of 10 million steps for WiredWest.  Here is the Harvard Report.  Ben Downing committed to making progress on this issue the top priority for his remaining months of office, and we’re hopeful that shining some light on the nature of the problem will spur action!  The Government Affairs Committee, chaired by Franz Forster, is also committed to doing whatever it takes to make it a reality!