The state's most powerful politicians - DeLeo, Senate President Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst, and Gov. Charlie Baker – either sounded notes of caution or declined to weigh in on a commission's recommendations to change the education funding formula.

The same day as a commission recommended making major changes to the state's foundation budget formula, which is the way the state allocates money for education, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, said changing a formula like that "is one of the most difficult things to try to get done in the Statehouse."

"If you change something in one city, it affects another city or town, then that representative is sure to have her problem with it," DeLeo told reporters.

The report from the Foundation Budget Review Commission found that the formula used to establish the cost of educating a child in Massachusetts is out of date and does not accurately reflect the costs of health care and of special education. It recommended changes to the formula related to health care and special education, which, if implemented in fiscal year 2016, would result in the state and municipalities together spending an additional $568 million. It also recommended changes related to more funding for English language learners and low-income students.

Commission members, which included lawmakers, state education officials, representatives of school boards, superintendents and municipalities, and a range of other people involved in education, urged the Legislature to act on the recommendations.

But the state's most powerful politicians - DeLeo, Senate President Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst, and Gov. Charlie Baker - either sounded notes of caution or declined to weigh in on the commission's recommendations.

The most positive stance came from Rosenberg, who said he "believes absolutely" that the state needs to spend more money on education. He said the state needs to make a multi-year commitment, as it made when it reformed the state's education system in 1993, when the foundation budget was first established.

"We made the commitment, we stuck with it and we now have the best public education system in America, but we're not done yet, we have more to do," Rosenberg said. "It will cost more money and then we have to figure out how to pay for it."

Asked whether the budget formula needs to be revised, Rosenberg said, "I'm totally open to that," although he did not comment specifically on the recommendations made by the commission.

DeLeo, in addition to citing the difficulty of changing the funding formula, said lawmakers have always supported local aid, and he would be open to the idea of phasing in some new revenue over a period of time. But, he said a major jump in revenue over one year "may be a difficult task."

Meanwhile, Baker, a Republican, said he had not yet seen the report.

Baker said his administration in its last budget worked with the Legislature to increase state education and local government aid. But he said he would not comment on whether the formula should be changed until he reads the report.

Federal investigators on Monday identified wreckage found 15,000 feet deep in the sea as that of the ill-fated cargo ship El Faro.

Federal investigators on Monday identified wreckage found 15,000 feet deep in the sea as that of the ill-fated cargo ship El Faro.

The National Transportation Safety Board said on Twitter that the survey of the deep-water site will continue as investigators continue seeking more information about the final moments of the ship and its crew.

The El Faro sank in about 15,000 feet of water Oct. 1 during Hurricane Joaquin with 33 people aboard, east of the Bahamas. No survivors were found.

Sonar indicates the ship landed upright, which could help crews recover the ship's voyage data recorder, or "black box," the NTSB said.

Crews sent down a remotely operated vehicle to confirm the wreckage after sonar images picked it up on Saturday. The U.S. Navy will continue searching the wreck site and debris field on Tuesday with the vehicle and its underwater video cameras.

The "black box" could hold a wealth of key information including audio from the bridge during key decision-making moments, and comments from the captain and others about the condition of the ship.

So far, no bodies have been recovered. The Coast Guard spotted one body floating in a survival suit during its search in the days after the boat's disappearance, but there have been no traces of others.

Deb Roberts of Jay, Maine, the mother of El Faro engineer Michael Holland, said the positive identification of the cargo ship "was like losing Mike all over again." She had been trying to hold on to faint hopes that her son would be found alive.

"My head wants answers, but my heart wants to stick to my vision of hope, stick to my vision of him being out on an island out there," Roberts said. "It does make it very difficult."

Four families so far have filed lawsuits against the ship's owner, Tote Marine, and its captain, Michael Davidson. They allege the company failed to maintain the aged ship properly, and made decisions to sail with a strong storm brewing offshore that imperiled the lives of the crew.

Tote Marine defended itself in a complaint filed last week in U.S. District Court. The company is asking a judge to release it from liability, or to contain it.

"Prior to commencement of the voyage and at all times, plaintiffs exercised due diligence to make the S.S. El Faro seaworthy in all respects and to equip and supply (the vessel) with suitable engines, machinery, apparel, appliances, personnel, and other appropriate and necessary equipment, all in good order and condition and suitable for their intended purposes," the company's attorneys wrote.

While an increased law enforcement presence was visible at Holyoke High School, a threat allegedly made at school was deemed not credible, a school official said.

Principal Stephen Sullivan. 

HOLYOKE -- While an increased law enforcement presence was visible at Holyoke High School, a threat allegedly made within the school was deemed not credible, a school official said Monday.

District Receiver Stephen K. Zrike said late Monday afternoon that there were no issues related to the threat during the school day. He said students came to school, had safe and productive days in their classrooms. 

A Holyoke High school allegedly shared a threatening remark at school on Friday to other students, Zrike said. Fellow students reported the alleged remark and school administrators contacted the Holyoke Police Department. 

"The student has been identified and the police have extensively investigated the matter," Principal Stephen Sullivan wrote in a statement issued to parents and shared with the Holyoke School Committee this weekend. "At this time, we have no reason to believe that any student or staff member was or is in immediate danger. Please know that we will continue to investigate the alleged threat and the student in question will not return to school until the appropriate time."

Zrike said they're in talks with the student though declined to discuss the student's enrollment status due to confidentiality issues. 

Below is a message Sullivan shared with families Monday evening in English and Spanish. 

Chihuahuas in need of "complex medical treatments" may become the recipients of Grampy's Fund launched by the Dakin Humane Society in honor of former Executive Director Leslie Harris.

SPRINGFIELD - Chihuahuas in need of "complex medical treatments" may become the recipients of Grampy's Fund launched by the Dakin Humane Society in honor of former Executive
Director Leslie Harris.

The fund is named for Grampy, the elderly Chihuahua Harris adopted after it arrived at Dakin in need of medical help, according to a press release from Dakin.

After 20 years of service at Dakin, Harris recently left to take a job at Quonquont Farm & Orchard in Whately.

"As it turns out, we have already treated our first patient to be covered by Grampy's Fund," said Interim Executive Director Nancy Creed. "Just two days ago we received a Chihuahua named Delta Dawn, who had an exceptionally large inguinal hernia. This is a serious condition in which the abdominal contents protrude through the inguinal canal, and it requires surgery.

"Delta Dawn was operated on by one of Dakin's top-notch veterinarians, is recovering nicely and is expected to be available for adoption soon," according to the release.

Dakin, operating shelters in Springfield and Leverett, "treats and fosters more than 20,000 animals each year and has performed more than 62,000 spay/neuter surgeries since 2009. Dakin is a local non-profit organization that relies solely on contributions from individuals and businesses that care about animals to bring its services to the community," according to the release.

For more information, visit www.dakinhumane.org.

"We are very hopeful for a full and speedy recovery for the injured workers," Merrimac Police Chief Eric M. Shears said.

MERRIMAC — Authorities are investigating a wall collapse that injured multiple construction workers at a Merrimac home Tuesday afternoon, Merrimac Police Chief Eric M. Shears said.

"We are very hopeful for a full and speedy recovery for the injured workers," Shears said. "At this time the exact cause of the collapse remains under investigation."

Shortly before 1 p.m., police and firefighters responded to a report of a second-floor wall collapse at a home under construction in this Essex County town bordering New Hampshire.

The wall fell and crushed several workers, police said. Three people were hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while a fourth worker wasn't seriously injured and declined medical treatment, police said.

The incident is under investigation by the Merrimac building inspector and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, the federal agency charged with the enforcement of safety and health legislation.

Taiwan's president will meet Saturday with his counterpart from once icy political rival China, the Taiwanese side said, a historic first culminating nearly eight years of quickly improved relations despite wariness among many Taiwanese of the mainland government.

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan's president will meet Saturday with his counterpart from once icy political rival China, the Taiwanese side said, a historic first culminating nearly eight years of quickly improved relations despite wariness among many Taiwanese of the mainland government.

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Singapore to exchange ideas about relations between the two sides but not sign any deals, presidential spokesman Charles Chen said in a statement early Wednesday.

Presidents of the two sides have not met since Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists lost the Chinese civil war to Mao Zedong's Communists in the 1940s, and the Nationalists rebased in Taiwan 160 kilometers (100 miles) away. The two sides have been separately ruled since then.

China insists that the two sides eventually reunite, by force if necessary.

The two sides never talked formally until Ma, the Nationalist president since 2008, lay aside old hostilities to set up lower-level official meetings. China and Taiwan have signed 23 deals covering mainly trade, transit and investment, binding Taiwan closer to its top trading partner and the world's second-largest economy.

The announcement came overnight and there was no immediate reaction from the Chinese government at that hour, and officials in China could not immediately be reached for comment.

In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the U.S. would welcome steps taken on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to try to reduce tensions and improve relations, but added, "we'll have to see what actually comes out of the meeting."

Ma is stepping down as president next year after his maximum two terms. Since last year, many Taiwanese have criticized the Ma government for getting too close to the mainland. They fear China will eventually leverage economic relations to exert more power over the island.

China is likely to see the meeting as a final chance before elections in Taiwan to press its case for stronger ties in case the Nationalists lose the Jan. 16 presidential poll to an anti-Beijing opposition party, as widely forecast.

Xi warned Taiwan in 2013 against putting off political differences from generation to generation. Last year he suggested a one-country, two-system form of joint rule, in which Beijing controls Taiwan but the island retains some of its autonomy and political system -- as does Hong Kong.

The statement from Ma's spokesman said the two presidents will meet to "solidify Taiwan-mainland relations and keep the status quo across the Taiwan Strait," which refers to maintaining today's fragile de facto independence for Taiwan while taking no steps to formalize that independence and engaging in no aggression against China.

"To hold a meeting across the Taiwan Strait is the consistent goal of leaders on both sides," Ma's spokesman said in the statement. "President Ma recently has repeated many times that 'at the right time and on the right occasion and in the right capacity' he would not rule out a meeting."

But the meeting could hurt the Nationalist Party's already tough odds of winning the presidential election in January. Ma must step down in May due to term limits.

Election front runner Tsai Ing-wen of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party disputes the foundation for the talks that have taken place with China since 2008. Her party won a landslide victory a year ago in local elections.

"This meeting will only hurt the Nationalists at home, as it will cause them to even more be seen as Beijing's preferred Taiwan party," said Sean King, senior vice president with the consultancy Park Strategies in New York. "This could be the mainland's last chance to liaise with the Nationalist Party, while it's in power, for years to come."

China-Taiwan talks to date require each side to see the other as part of one country, yet with different ideas about what that means. Tsai says she also wants dialogue with Beijing but not on a one-China basis, making Beijing nervous about future relations.

Taiwanese officials planned to hold a news conference about the Singapore meeting later Wednesday, and Ma planned to hold one on Thursday.

Chicopee turnout is predicted to be 40 percent. Watch video

CHICOPEE - Voting was steady in every polling place on election, with the exception of Ward 1 where the pace was picking up by late afternoon.

City Clerk Keith Rattell said all polling places were reporting an average of 17 percent of voters had cast ballots, but in Ward 1 that number jumped to 26 percent in Precinct A and 28 percent in Precinct B.

"There is a pretty big City Council race and (the only) School Committee race," Rattell said.

Rattell predicted about 40 percent of voters would turn out at the polls but was hoping it might be higher.

"Everything is going very smoothly. We have had no problems at any of the polls," he said.

Outside the polling place a half-dozen candidates and many supporters gathered to hold signs, wave to voters and chat with each other at the end of a long and contentious election that involved lawsuits and other problems.

"I think everyone wants to make sure your city has good roads and the money goes to help your schools and police and fire," said Linda Disanti, who voted in Ward 1 at the Edward J. Bellamy Middle School.

She said the slate of candidates made her want to vote and the fact that the weather was warm and sunny helped.

"The biggest thing is no bickering. Stop the bickering so we can get things done," she said.

Sarah Gelinas came out to support incumbent Mayor Richard J. Kos, who ran against Michael D. Bissonnette, the Chicopee mayor from 2005 through 2013.

"I wanted to make sure I voted for Kos. I don't like how Bissonnette ran his campaign," she said.

Others said they also had specific candidates they wanted to support in the race.

"We like Adam (Lamontagne) as our alderman. He has done a lot of good work for us," said Jeff Labombard, referring to the City Council, which was called the Board of Aldermen in the past.

A former state senator, Brian Lees, who was at the polls to support certain candidates in Springfield and Holyoke, said it was too beautiful outside not to vote. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD — Voter turnout in Springfield was estimated as less than 9 percent at roughly mid-afternoon, a city official said Tuesday.

The polls are open until 8 p.m.

While the turnout was listed at 8.6 percent at mid-afternoon,"things are getting busier with people coming home from work," said Gladys Oyola, election commissioner.

She was still estimating that turnout would be about 14 percent in Springfield.

Those who did go to the polls on Tuesday, whether it was Alexander Aberdale, a 19-year-old voting for the first time, or Bill and Kathleen Grimes, who always vote, said there is no excuse for staying home on Election Day.

Nearly all of those interviewed at a few polling locations on Tuesday had a similar answer for why they vote - they see it as their civic duty.

"This is my first time voting," Aberdale said. The reason I voted today is I feel a sense of citizenship and duty to my city, the city of Springfield."

Aberdale, who was voting at the Van Sickle/Renaissance polling location on Carew Street, said he was interested in the mayor's race, and some council races.

"Aren't we supposed to vote?" said Mary Gilhooly, another voter at the Van Sickle site. "I will vote as long as I can."

Bill Jones, another voter, said he considers voting necessary, believing if you are going to say something about an issue, voters might as well get involved and "do something" that has an impact, namely voting for their representatives.

Brian Lees, a longtime former state senator, and retired clerk of courts, said that Tuesday's weather was ideal for voting

"I have never seen a more perfect day to vote," said Lees, who was at the polls to support certain candidates in Springfield and Holyoke. "All you have to do is go out, park, and go in."

One woman, who did not want her name used, said she is 89 years old and votes every year. "As a decent citizen, I should vote," the woman said.

Kate Carney, voting at the Springfield Boys & Girls Club, said she "just always votes."

"It's just a responsibility, I think," Carney said.

"I always vote because it's our duty," said Vera Murphy, also voting at the Boys & Girls Club.

The election includes a race for mayor between incumbent Domenic J. Sarno and challenger Salvatore Circosta. Eleven of the 13 city councilors face challengers on the ballot.

Ward 1 was very busy, and there was some verbal confrontations between the candidates and their supporters, Oyola said. Ward 1 Councilor Zaida Luna is being challenged by Adam Gomez, and there are at-large council races on the ballot.

Oyola saiod she was also aware of a dispute over a sign being too large outside a Ward 5 poll.

"Aside from that, it has been smooth sailing," Oyola said.

 

The option of a storm water runoff fee has been an issue in the battle between Mayor Alex Morse and Fran O'Connell.

HOLYOKE -- Candidates seem to have succeeded at getting out their supporters as voter turnout on Election Day Tuesday hit 34 percent and climbing with hours left until polls close at 8 p.m., City Clerk Brenna Murphy McGee said.

That included more than 800 voters in Ward 5A alone, where Murphy McGee said she expected the total would top 1,000.

"The candidates are really doing a great job getting the vote out today. (Wards) 7a and 7b are very steady as usual and 5a appears to be extremely busy with almost 800 voters by 3 pm. I'm guessing they will easily see 1,000 voters casting ballots by dinner time. 3b is constant and Ward 4 appears to be the slowest as of 3 p.m.," Murphy McGee said.

The ballot here lists races for mayor -- incumbent Mayor Alex B. Morse vs. business owner Fran O'Connell -- along with competitions for seats on the City Council and School Committee, city treasurer and five ballot questions.

Voter turnout as of 5:30 p.m. was 34 percent. That followed the 25 percent registered at 3 p.m., 19 percent at 1 p.m. and 10 percent at 10 a.m., she said.

The city clerk said she she has expected a turnout of 43 percent of the city's 24,753 registered voters by the time vohad closed.

A big issue in Ward 5 has been the possibility of the city imposing a storm water runoff fee to raise revenue to plug a $1.3 million deficit in the sewer fund.

Some Ward 5 residents in West Holyoke question why they would be subject to such a fee when their properties are private septic systems and not connected to the municipal sewer system.

Morse said such a fee in May was an option, but has said since that free cash -- money certified from the state from the previous fiscal year -- will allow for covering the sewer fund shortfall without a new fee.

But O'Connell pounced on the issue and said Morse wants to establish the fee, which he called a tax. Morse said that is false and O'Connell was trying to scare voters.

Such a fee would be imposed to pay to manage the runoff, which is water from rain and melting snow that runs off of roofs, roads, parking lots and other hard surfaces and filters into the municipal sewer system. The city wastewater treatment plant is on Berkshire Street.

Home owners would pay about $50 a year and business owners $100 to $1,000 a year under such a fee, officials have estimated.

Some have argued that everyone is responsible for maintaining storm water runoff. Regardless of whether homeowners have a municipal or private sewer connection, everyone uses roads that are cleared of storm water runoff thanks to the treatment system, they said.

Clerk is predicting a 38 percent turnout. Watch video

GREENFIELD - Voters are turning out in Greenfield to do their civic duty, to settle a mayoral race between incumbent William Martin and Patty Morey Walker and for environmental concerns raised on three non-binding ballot questions they say.

Peter Miller, a warden, joked that so many people were voting, he wondered if anyone was working.

Voters are being asked if the council should draft a local ordinance banning the sale of non-sparkling, unflavored drinking water in single-use plastic bottles less than one liter in size.

Another asks the council to draft a local ordinance banning the usage of non- biodegradable take-out food and beverage containers by retail food establishments, local hospitals and schools and at Town events.

The last non-binding questions asks if the council should draft an ordinance to ban the usage of thin film single-use plastic bags given at check out by retail establishments.

Also this is the first time voters are casting ballots at the new Greenfield High School. Clerk Deborah Tuttle is predicting that about 38 percent of  the town's 11,111 voters to turn out by the time polls close.

Worcester turnout looks to be in the teens as polls are set to close in the citywide election in about two hours.

WORCESTER - Worcester turnout looks to be in the teens as polls are set to close in the citywide election in about two hours.

While an exact turnout percentage is not available from city officials, a sampling from polling locations across thecity shows turnout averaging in the mid-teens so far for this election.

At May Street, where Ward 9's precincts 1, 2 and 3 all vote, turnout was at 19 percent, 12 percent and 14 percent respectively late Tuesday afternoon. Poll workers there said they are normally hit with a post-work rush after 5 p.m.

Other precincts, including Ward 2, Precinct 4 voting at Lincoln Towers, said the bulk of their voters visited during the day and workers weren't expecting much more of a rush. Turnout there was at 11 percent as of early afternoon.

Those on social media posting their ballot numbers show some higher turnouts in other parts of the city.

School Committee candidate Tracy Novick reported being the 605th voter in Ward 9, Precinct 4, which would mean a turnout of 25.7 percent there.

Ward 5 Precinct 5's turnout looks to be about 19 percent, according to a post from City Councilor George Russell.

The turnout so far is higher than that during the preliminary election in September, which saw only 11 percent of registered voters casting ballots.

In 2013's general election, more than 15,000 cast ballots for an at-large/mayoral race and two district contests.

Follow along with the MassLive election live blog for more updates.

MassLive reporter Michael Kane contributed to this report.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose nearly 90 to close at 17,918.

By KEN SWEET

NEW YORK -- A rally in energy companies helped push the U.S. stock market higher for a second straight day on Tuesday. Investors also worked through corporate news and prepared for key U.S. economic data later this week.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 89.39 points, or 0.5 percent, to 17,918.15. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 5.74 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,109.79 and the Nasdaq composite rose 17.98 points, or 0.4 percent, to 5,145.13.

Oil and gas companies, one of the most battered parts of the market, saw another wave of investor interest. The energy sector of the S&P 500 rallied 2.5 percent. The advance was mostly on the back of a jump in the price of oil, which climbed 4 percent.

Drilling and exploration companies were the biggest benefactors. Pioneer Natural Resources, Diamond Offshore and Anadarko Petroleum all rose more than 5 percent. Oil conglomerates Exxon Mobil and Chevron rose 2 percent and 3 percent respectively.

Investors found some good news in the monthly sales reports from the automakers. General Motors, Ford and others reported double-digit increases in sales from a year earlier, and some automakers are on pace to break annual sales records.

"Even with the market volatility this summer, there aren't the signs that consumers are hunkering down," said David Kelly, chief global strategist at JP Morgan Funds. "This could be good news heading into the holidays."

GM rose 21 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $35.78 and Ford rose six cents, or 0.4 percent, to $14.81.

In other company news, shares of King Digital Entertainment, the publisher of the Candy Crush Saga video game, jumped $2.31, or 15 percent, to $17.85 after Activision Blizzard announced it would buy the company for $5.9 billion. Activision Blizzard rose $1.25, or 3.6 percent, to $35.82.

Investors will be turning to economic data out later this week. The October jobs report comes out on Friday. If the survey comes in strong, it would raise market expectations that the Fed will raise interest rates at their December meeting. Economists surveyed by FactSet expect U.S. employers added 185,000 jobs in October and that the unemployment rate remained steady at 5.1 percent

U.S. government bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.21 percent from 2.17 percent late Monday. In currencies, the euro fell to $1.0963 from $1.1013 and the dollar rose to 120.99 yen from 120.76 yen.

In the metals market, gold fell $21.80, or 2 percent, to $1,114.10 an ounce, silver fell 17 cents, or 1 percent, to $15.24 an ounce and copper rose a penny to $2.33 a pound.

Benchmark U.S. crude added $1.76, or 3.8 percent, to close at $47.90 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, which is used to price international oils, rose $1.75, or 3.6 percent, to $50.54 a barrel in London.

Wholesale gasoline jumped seven cents to $1.446 a gallon in New York, heating oil rose 5.9 cents to $1.566 a gallon and natural gas fell 0.3 cents to $2.253 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Polls close at 8 p.m. in Agawam. There are 17 candidates running for 11 City Council seats and 7 candidates running for 6 School Committee seats. Mayor Richard Cohen is running unopposed, but he was out campaigning at the polls.

AGAWAM — With 17 candidates running for 11 City Council seats and seven candidates running for six School Committee seats, Dale Melanson, election warden at Phelps School, described voting Tuesday in Agawam as "very slow."

"Look at the number," she said. At about 4 p.m., 464 voters had cast ballots at Phelps School on Main Street, Precinct 5, out of 2,400 registered voters.

She said she doubted voting would become heavy before the polls close at 8 p.m.

"It's just not busy," she said.

That did not stop candidates from campaigning outside the school.

Mayor Richard Cohen, who is running unopposed for his eighth two-year term, said, "I'm out here every election. You should never be complacent."

People in other countries would give anything for the Democratic right to vote, Cohen said.

"If you don't vote, you have no right to complain," he added.

All 11 City Council candidates in Agawam are running for re-election. There also are some challengers trying to get on the council, including Bob Alves, Samuel DiSanti, Corrine Wingard, Michele Ann Calvanese, Robert Magovern and City Clerk Richard Theroux.

Theroux has announced that he will be leaving the city clerk position by Jan. 1.

Theroux is not overseeing this election, something he's done for more than three decades as city clerk, but he could be seen around town campaigning at the polls in his pickup truck, Incumbent City Councilor Joseph Mineo said.

"He's like Scott Brown," Mineo said.

"We call him the Democratic Scott Brown," Cohen said.

Mineo said he thinks Theroux has a good chance of being elected. "Everybody knows him," he said.

For any new councilors to be elected, some incumbents will have to be defeated, he said. "There could be some changes," Mineo predicted. "Whoever gets the vote out will win."

Incumbent City Councilors running for election are James Cichetti, Gina Letellier, Robert Rossi, Dennis Perry, Anthony Suffriti, Cecilia Calabrese, Christopher Johnson, George Bitzas, Donald Rheault, Mineo and Paul Cavallo.

There are six incumbents and one challenger running for School Committee. Incumbent School Committee members seeking re-election are Wendy Rua, Carmino Mineo, Anthony Bonavita, Robert Doering, Diane Juzba and Shelley Borgatti-Reed. The challenger is Brian Burbank.

The Church of the New Covenant purchased the Nativity Church, a former polling place, about three years ago.

CHICOPEE - City council Candidate William Courchesne calls Ward 7 the best place to vote, and he admits it has nothing to do with the fact that he wants to represent that ward.

Instead it is about the Church of New Covenant, whose members agreed to open the building as a polling place after they purchased the former Nativity Church building on 780 Chicopee St. about four years ago.

Voters traditionally cast ballots in that location, which is accessible to the disabled, and when City Clerk Keith Rattell approached the pastor, he said he would welcome the idea of helping the community.

As part of inviting neighbors to vote in the church, members also make and serve soup, coffee, tea and baked goods to people who come to cast ballots.

"We love people and we like to do something good for our neighborhood," said Vasily Tokarev, the church pastor.

Not only do they serve food, parish members also stop out to talk to candidates and supporters who are holding signs. Especially if it is cold, they make sure they are warm enough and encourage them to take a break and come inside for soup and coffee, Courchesne said.

"This is the place to come and vote. They don't have to do this," he said.

But Tokarev said the church simply wants to be part of the community. As voters were leaving, he handed each an invitation to a Christmas celebration that will include a concert and banquet.

"It is not just about voting, it is about people," he said.

Meeting will be rescheduled for Nov. 9.

AMHERST - The School Committee meeting scheduled Tuesday night at which the committee was to vote whether to establish a new educational program was canceled.

In an email, School Committee chairwoman Katherine Appy said that there was a posting glitch.

She wrote that it was posted on the district website but did not get posted on the town site.

She has rescheduled the meeting for Monday night.

The committee was to vote on whether to establish a new educational program that would educate second through grade six in a new school and close Wildwood and Fort River elementary schools.

Under this proposal, students in pre-school through first grade would go to Crocker Farm, which was renovated in 2002, and all second through sixth grade students would attend a new school.

 Both Wildwood and Fort River have issues with moisture and the heating system. Both have accessibility issues as well.

According to the latest fact sheet, building a new school for second through sixth grade would cost between $37 and $53 million with taxpayers paying $19.7 to $22.3 million - the cost not covered by the state.  

If the town replaced Wildwood and Fort River, the price tag for the two schools would be an estimated at $75 to $84 million with taxpayers paying between $43 and $67.

The Holyoke incumbent and challenger have battled over public safety, education, economic development and other issues.

HOLYOKE -- With less than two hours until polls closed, the candidates for mayor were claiming positive outlooks on Election Day Tuesday.

"Feeling very positive," Mayor Alex B. Morse said in a text message. "Our headquarters is packed with volunteers making calls and we have about a dozen others going door to door talking to voters. The response has been overwhelmingly positive and people are passionate about continuing the progress we have made over the last four years."

Morse is running for a third term against Fran O'Connell, owner of the business O'Connell Care at Home.

"It's a beautiful day, turnout appears to be high. People are optimistic. A lot of positive feedback. Voters will decide," O'Connell said, in a text message issued by Market Mentors public relations firm of West Springfield.

The seat has a two-year term and yearly salary of $85,000.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Morse, 26, and O'Connell, 56, have battled over public safety, education, economic development, the prospect of a storm water runoff fee, the sewer fund deficit of $1.3 million and how to deal with abandoned buildings.

Morse finished first with 43 percent of the vote and O'Connell second with 39 percent in the preliminary election for mayor Sept. 22. City Councilor Anthony Soto finished third with 18 percent of the vote in the three-candidate field and was eliminated from the race.

Ward 1 encompasses all of the North End and downtown Springfield. Watch video

SPRINGFIELD — Armando Olivares has been carrying a bull horn around all day in an effort to make people aware of the election.

"I have been using it strategically to get people's attention and I have had a pretty good response to it," said the 22-year-old voter and member of Neighbor to Neighbor, an organization which informs people about the voting process.

"I have met a lot of young people who didn't even know there was an election today, but they were 18 and registered to vote and we were able to get them to vote."

It seemed many young people were coming out to vote on Tuesday mostly in support of Ward 1 candidate Adam Gomez, a newcomer who reached out to young voters through social media and old school door-to-door campaigning.

Alpy Encarnacion has been holding signs for Gomez all afternoon outside of Baystate Place.

"Back in the day we used to grab our young and we raised them to be something powerful, to be a leader. It's time for the older folks to give it to the younger folks," he said.

Gomez is facing off against incumbent Zaida Luna who also had many supporters stopping by the polls to vote and holding signs.

"The reason why I came out to day is because my voice needs to be heard through voting," said Juan Santana after casting his vote in Ward 1. "It's good that young adults come out to vote because out voices near to be heard. We are the future of Springfield."

Seniors were out in full force today as well. Ines Rosario, who is 80 years old, stopped by the North End Youth Center on Dwight Street to cast her vote. She said she never misses an election.

"We have to be counted. Our vote absolutely makes a difference," she said in Spanish.

Many of the polling places had Spanish-speaking volunteers and poll workers on hand.

"I always tell people if you don't vote then you can't complain when things don't go your way," Rosario said.

The National Weather Service forecasts a low of 41 degrees for Massachusetts Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, followed by a high of 68 degrees Wednesday.

Meteorologists are predicting a cool night Tuesday into Wednesday, followed by another unseasonably warm day Wednesday.

In the Springfield area, tonight will be clear with temperatures dipping down to the low 40s, according to the National Weather Service.

Copious sunshine Wednesday means temperatures will rise to a high of 68 degrees in Springfield. Those warm temperatures will continue through the week, although clouds are expected to roll in Thursday and Friday, according to Dan Brown, meteorologist for Western Mass News.

"With high pressure building off shore and the jet stream lifting into Canada temperatures will remain 10-15 degrees above normal through Friday," Brown said Tuesday.

In the Worcester area, the National Weather Service predicts an overnight low of 44 degrees and a high Wednesday of 66 degrees.

Boston will also enjoy pleasant weather Wednesday with a high of 63 degrees. The overnight low in the capital region will be more moderate at 48 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Brown said a cold front will push through Saturday, bringing more seasonable, cool weather over the weekend.

Granby police use Narcan to revived

GRANBY -- Police used nasal Narcan Sunday night to revive an unresponsive male who is believed to have overdosed on heroin.

The victim was discovered in the passenger seat of a vehicle in the CVS parking lot on West State Street shortly after 5:30 p.m. , according to a post on the department's Facebook page.

Police spoke with the driver of the vehicle and learned that the victim had recently used heroin.

A dose of nasal Narcan was administered by the police officers and victim began breathing and regained consciousness.

Granby ambulance personnel arrived and the victim was transferred to their care. Narcan is a drug that counteracts the effects of opiate use.

Granby Police began carrying nasal Narcan in December 2014 and all officers have been trained in its use.

Funds for the medication were provided through a program started by the Northwestern District Attorney's office.

Womack, 20, is charged with three counts of aggravated rape in connection with an October, 2012 incident in which he and three other Pittsfield men traveled to UMass in October 2012 to party with the alleged victim, despite her wishes. After a night of drinking and marijuana smoking, they raped her while she phased in and out of consciousness, she testified at three separate trials.

NORTHAMPTON - Caleb Womack is scheduled to go on trial on rape charges Nov. 16, as scheduled. The trial date was finalized Wednesday during the call of the list, the court procedure that sets trial dates for that particular month.

Caleb M. Womack 

Adam Liccardi, Justin King and Emmanuel Bile, all 21, were each convicted and are serving minimum eight-year state prison sentences. Womack's lawyer, Jonah Goldsmith, asked Judge Bertha D. Josephson for a change of venue earlier this month. Josephson denied Goldsmith's request for a postponement and declined to hear arguments on the venue change, saying that was up to the presiding judge. However, Josephson will preside over the Womack case. She said in court Wednesday that she would revisit the request if there were problems trying to select a jury.

The lawyers for the other defendants tried unsuccessfully for a change of venue. It took only a day to seat 14 jurors for the trial of Liccardi, the most recently tried defendant. Josephson scheduled pretrial motions in the Womack case for Nov. 10.