MGM Springfield Passes First Phase for Casino License

A rendering of MGM Resorts' proposed casino complex in Springfield.

BOSTON — MGM Resorts has passed the first phase in its pursuit of a gaming license for a proposed $800 million casino complex in Springfield.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission announced on Monday that the company, applying as MGM Springfield, and its qualifiers have earned a positive determination of suitability.

The commission held an adjudicatory hearing on Dec. 9 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center relative to the completion of the background investigation based on the Phase 1 application submitted by MGM Springfield.

As a result of the comprehensive background investigation and deliberation by the full five-member gaming commission, the commission voted unanimously that MGM Springfield had met its burden of proof.

The full determination can be read here.

Lee Represents Massachusetts in 50 in 50 Mural Project

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
01:10PM / Sunday, July 21, 2024

The mural features the town's history and beauty. Lee is representing the state in artist Cheyenne Renee's '50 in 50' project to paint a mural in one small town in each state. 

LEE, Mass. — Out of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts, Lee was selected to participate in the "50 in 50" Project. 

 

Artist Cheyenne Renee is working to paint a mural in a small town in all 50 states. As part of the project, there will also be a documentary that will incorporate interviews and footage from each town. 

 

Renee has already completed murals in towns in West Virginia, Wyoming, Idaho, and Iowa, among other places. 

 

Renee received close to 300 nominations but only has about 18 states accounted for, so she is still in need of more nominations for a state yet to be completed. More information here. 

 

When selecting a town, Renee looks at chamber of commerce websites and visitor center information to learn more about the area. 

 

Lee marks the 11th town she has completed and will now be moving on to Morristown, Vt., for her next project, which she will do with some schoolchildren.

 

The goal is to "highlight the community and small businesses within each town and really give people a reason to travel to all of the murals [and] get to know the area that they'd be going to," Renee said at Friday's celebration of the mural.