Talk Radio Host Bill Sturgeon Joining Taconic's WTBR

05:01PM / Thursday, May 24, 2012Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Taconic High School station 89.7 WTBR-FM is expanding its morning community talk segment with the arrival of Bill Sturgeon to the WTBR adult volunteer staff.

Beginning on Tuesday, May 29, Sturgeon will be handling the new morning talk segment from 8:30 to 10, immediately following the popular morning talk show "Good Morning Pittsfield," hosted by John Krol.

Following his recent departure from WBRK, Sturgeon appeared on "Good Morning Pittsfield" and publicly offered to bring his show to 89.7 WTBR-FM. Krol thought that was a good idea, since there was always the hope of expanding local talk on WTBR until the rock format kicks in at 10. Station manager and student adviser Larry Kratka, told Krol that Sturgeon would add a new dimension to the morning talk block, bringing years of talk radio experience to WTBR. Sturgeon also has a long list of community leaders ready to invite on his show.

Sturgeon is planning on doing straight interviews with a wide assortment of guests in the 90-minute time period but will not be taking phone calls. There is the possibility that Sturgeon will do some of his programs "live" on location, using the WTBR mobile studio.

WTBR-FM also has a new student program director in Shannon Moon, who will be entering her senior year at Taconic High School next fall. Moon has been on the air at WTBR for two years and is anxious to assume the duties of program director, which will include scheduling for daily broadcasts and WTBR special broadcasts such as Third Thursday, the Ethnic Fair and the station's 2nd annual 26-hour "Cop on Top" broadcast planned for December.

She takes over for PD Shane Reed, who is graduating this year and will continue as an adult volunteer with WTBR. Reed has been broadcasting on WTBR for four years, joining the station as a freshman.

WTBR-FM has also been asked by Pittsfield Cultural Director Megan Whilden, to be the official radio station of the "Moby-Dick" festival "Call Me Melville." Plans are in the works for WTBR to broadcast a chapter of the book on a daily basis.

Tags: radio, talk show, WTBR,

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State Wins $130M to Advance West-East Rail

03:03PM / Saturday, October 17, 2026

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Some $130 million in federal monies is being invested into passenger rail along the so-called Knowledge Corridor and for laying the groundwork to establish West-East Rail from Albany, N.Y., to Boston.

The funding for the Springfield Hub Modernization Project was announced on Friday by Gov. Maura Healey, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Reps. Richard Neal and James McGovern.

The project is part of the state's Compass Rail vision, centered on Springfield Union Station and building on existing Amtrak Vermonter, Hartford Line and Valley Flyer service.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation was awarded the funding through the Federal Railroad Administration's Fiscal Years 2025-2026 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program to support modernization of the rail infrastructure around Springfield Union Station.

"This is a major win for Western Massachusetts and a big step forward for West-East Rail," said Healey in a statement. "This $130 million investment in Springfield will help us improve transportation, reduce congestion and connect more communities to jobs, housing and economic opportunity. I'm grateful to Senators Markey and Warren, Congressmen Neal and McGovern, and all of our partners for helping us secure this critical funding and move us closer to expanded passenger rail service across Massachusetts."

The project will upgrade tracks, signals and other infrastructure to address a major rail bottleneck, reduce conflicts between freight and passenger trains, and allow more efficient operations and expanded rail service. This work is expected to improve on-time performance, reduce delays and provide more schedule flexibility for Amtrak Vermonter and Valley Flyer passengers. The project will also create capacity for future passenger rail service while reducing unnecessary train idling, emissions and operating costs.

"Building West-East rail is a once-in a-lifetime investment to connect Massachusetts' communities and our regional economies like never before. It will mean lower costs, less congestion, and access to opportunity for families across the state," said Markey. "I'm proud to have secured this $130 million in federal funding alongside Governor Healey, Senator Warren, Congressman Neal and Congressman McGovern, bringing our total federal investment to more than $280 million to date, which will build the track to this more affordable, cleaner, better connected future."

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