Senator Hinds Tests Positive for COVID-19

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — State Sen. Adam Hinds says he and his wife have tested positive for COVID-19.
 
The senator is reporting mild symptoms and is isolating according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidelines. According to a statement released Thursday afternoon, he is vaccinated and boosted. His wife, Alicia Mireles Christoff, is an English professor at Amherst University.
 
"COVID is far from over, and I feel lucky to have been vaccinated and boosted," said the senator. "But there are still a lot of people, including my young son, who cannot get the vaccine. This points to an uneasy situation now that my wife has also tested positive. 
 
"So I want to encourage everyone to stay vigilant and to get vaccinated and boosted if you are eligible."
 
The number of positive cases in Massachusetts has continued to climb over the past six weeks, with nearly 20,000 new cases reported in the last week. Vaccination reduces the chance of infection — positive cases are less than 10 percent in those inoculated — but the the positivity rate is now more than 6 percent.
 
Hinds is a candidate for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts. He said will continue to work from home and campaign virtually while he adheres to CDC isolation guidelines. 
 
"I am the right candidate for LG because I have a record of bringing people together for progress," he said. "If I need a webcam to do that for now, so be it."

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Pittsfield Mayor Offers Police Chief Position to Unnamed Candidate

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A candidate has been offered the police chief position, and their name will be announced at an upcoming press conference. 

On Thursday, Mayor Peter Marchetti's office confirmed that an offer has been made for Thomas Dawley's successor.  The person has not been named, nor the date of the press conference. 

iBerkshires.com will provide coverage on that day. 

"The Mayor has made an offer to a candidate and that name will be released at an upcoming press conference," Director of Administrative Services and Public Information Officer Catherine VanBramer wrote via email. 

The mayor's office was unable to provide details about the chief's salary at this point, because they are working to finalize a contract, VanBramer said. 

Police Chief Thomas Dawley announced his intent to retire late last year after 24 years with the Pittsfield Police Department. He was appointed the interim police chief in June 2023 and permanent chief a year later. 

Marchetti was charged with appointing the new chief, and Capt. Marc Strout has led the department in the interim.  

In the fall, he requested that a Civil Service assessment be conducted for a new chief, and two candidates took the test. 

The two candidates who took the police chief exam in December were Lt. Marc Maddalena and Capt. John Murphy.

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