Nirvani Williams (@nirv4ni) header
Nirvani Williams (@nirv4ni) profile picture

Nirvani Williams

@nirv4ni

equity reporter @nepublicmedia • send me tips at: [email protected]

 Northampton, MA
Joined October 2016
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Photo by Nirvani Williams (@nirv4ni)Photo by Nirvani Williams (@nirv4ni)Photo by Nirvani Williams (@nirv4ni)Photo by Nirvani Williams (@nirv4ni)Photo by Nirvani Williams (@nirv4ni)Photo by Nirvani Williams (@nirv4ni)Photo by Nirvani Williams (@nirv4ni)Photo by Nirvani Williams (@nirv4ni)Photo by Nirvani Williams (@nirv4ni)Photo by Nirvani Williams (@nirv4ni)
“I’m a Brat. I'm a Brat fan, my friends know that. So I think just seeing that was really funny." We check in @UMassAmherst students about all those @KamalaHarris memes — and the VP embracing @charli_xcx's endorsement. nepm.org/regional-news/2024-…
Coconut trees, Kesha and Charli XCX: Young people respond to Democrats' first 'Brat' candidate

Coconut trees, Kesha and Charli XCX: Young people respond to Democrats' first 'Brat' candidate

President Joe Biden stepped aside as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate this week and has endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, for the job. The announcement sparked a barrage of...

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incredibly grateful to have won my first PMJA award for this story: nepm.org/regional-news/2023-… the law was passed a year ago now I could not have achieved this without detailed editing and support from @samhudzik & @Lizro27 – at Springfield, MA
New law takes effect, but still not easy for undocumented immigrants to get Mass. driver’s licenses

New law takes effect, but still not easy for undocumented immigrants to get Mass. driver’s licenses

A Massachusetts law will take effect on Saturday giving a new right to people who have entered the country illegally. Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles offices will begin accepting appointme...

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After months of waiting, Haitian migrants in Greenfield start getting work authorizations, UMass jobs. @nirv4ni wbur.org/news/2024/06/05/hai…
After months of waiting, Haitian migrants in Greenfield start getting work authorizations, UMass...

After months of waiting, Haitian migrants in Greenfield start getting work authorizations, UMass...

Many new arrivals to western Massachusetts have anxiously waited months for federal work authorizations. Some Haitians living in Greenfield have finally received their documents and are now finding...

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Western Massachusetts residents will have to travel north on Monday to witness eclipse "totality" first-hand, but there are still plenty of opportunities nearby to see the moon block as much as 95% of the sun. nepm.org/regional-news/2024-…
'A fantastic event' but a risk for eye damage: Western Mass. preps for partial solar eclipse

'A fantastic event' but a risk for eye damage: Western Mass. preps for partial solar eclipse

As the region prepares for a total eclipse of the sun on April 8, many are billing it as a must-see, once-in-a-generation event. Hundreds of thousands are expected to travel to places in Vermont, New...

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Nirvani Williams retweeted
Greta Jochem (@greta_h_jochem) profile picture
Greta Jochem@greta_h_jochem25 Mar 2024
Fighting the ‘forever’ problem: How Westfield is coping with PFAS contamination. There’s mounting evidence firefighting foam containing PFAS used at Barnes Air Base years ago polluted city water. Now, health concerns, lawsuits and a cleanup remain. masslive.com/westernmass/202…
Fighting the ‘forever’ problem: How Westfield is coping with PFAS contamination

Fighting the ‘forever’ problem: How Westfield is coping with PFAS contamination

In the 1970s, the military started using firefighting foam that contained PFAS, including at Barnes Air National Guard Base. The chemicals seeped into the ground and there’s mounting evidence it...

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In a landmark split ruling, Massachusetts' highest court declared it unconstitutional for judges to sentence anyone under the age of 21 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The latest from @wburdebbecker: nepm.org/regional-news/2024-…
Adults younger than 21 cannot be sentenced to life without parole, Mass. high court rules

Adults younger than 21 cannot be sentenced to life without parole, Mass. high court rules

In a landmark split ruling, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court declared it unconstitutional for judges to sentence anyone under the age of 21 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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Some 5th graders at Milton Bradley elementary school put their comp sci skills to the test. They brought to life mythological creatures they learned about in class by using block coding to make their designs move. Check out the full story during Friday’s Morning Edition on NEPM! – at Springfield, MA
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Nirvani Williams retweeted
Greta Jochem (@greta_h_jochem) profile picture
Greta Jochem@greta_h_jochem19 Dec 2023
Her eviction is delayed, but Kate Irwin is still trying to buy her Springfield home back. “I tripped. I fell. I admit that. Everybody messes up,” she said. “But I’m saying, I can do it now. ... Can I just please have a chance?” @SpringfieldNOL masslive.com/news/2023/12/wi…
With the eviction paused, she’s still trying to buy back her Springfield home

With the eviction paused, she’s still trying to buy back her Springfield home

The eviction was originally scheduled for Tuesday, days before Christmas.

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Nirvani Williams retweeted
Nancy Eve Cohen (@NancyEveCohen) profile picture
Nancy Eve Cohen@NancyEveCohen17 Jul 2023
'I don't know who is stopping this' Advocates of clergy sexual abuse survivors urge @MassAGO to issue report on 2021 investigation of Massachusetts dioceses nepm.org/regional-news/2023-… @SachaPfeiffer @MikeRezendes @davidgclohessy @skipshea2 @SNAPNetwork @Bishop_Tracker @PostBaron
'I don't know who is stopping this': Advocates urge Mass. AG to issue report on clergy sexual abuse

'I don't know who is stopping this': Advocates urge Mass. AG to issue report on clergy sexual abuse

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse and their advocates provided information about their abuse to investigators from the Massachusetts attorney general's office in 2021. They were led to believe the...

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Federal protections were extended in February allowing Haitian migrants to stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation and also get work permits. But some resettling in Agawam, Massachusetts are still waiting. ✍🏽 @nepublicmedia & @Report4America nepm.org/regional-news/2023-…
'Anybody's guess how long it will take': Haitians resettling in Agawam wait for federal protections

'Anybody's guess how long it will take': Haitians resettling in Agawam wait for federal protections

It was a big relief for many when the Biden administration extended protections from deportation for Haitians. But some who are trying to resettle in western Massachusetts are still waiting for these...

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Big News 🚨 Immigrant Doctors in Queens Successfully Win A New Contract After Vowing to Walk off the Job for the First Time in 33 Years. A Stike Still Looms at another Queens Hospital My latest for @Documentedny/ @Report4America documentedny.com/2023/05/15/…
Why Immigrant Doctors Threatened to Strike at Two Hospitals in Queens - Documented

Why Immigrant Doctors Threatened to Strike at Two Hospitals in Queens - Documented

The Queens doctors threatened to strike because they say they can no longer afford to live in the communities they serve.

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I’m so happy I got to contribute to @JillKNEPM’s incredible story on how music lessons help incarcerated folk while facing jail time with a quick video of a guitar class at the Franklin County Jail in Greenfield, MA. Check it out below!
New England Public Media (@nepublicmedia) profile pictureNew England Public Media@nepublicmedia25 Apr 2023
In a county jail in western #Massachusetts, officials are encouraging #music lessons. Incarcerated men and women are finding the payoff is evident while locked up, and — research shows — also after they're released. nepm.org/regional-news/2023-…
'A lot of bang for your buck' with jail-based arts programs

'A lot of bang for your buck' with jail-based arts programs

In a county jail in western Massachusetts, like in others around the U.S., officials are encouraging music lessons. Incarcerated men and women are finding the payoff is evident while locked up, and —...

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Sam said it all!!! It was such a blast hosting @nepublicmedia @npratc with the support of our amazing team ❤️
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Holyoke Police Dept. Captain Manuel Reyes has been placed on paid administrative leave amidst sexual harassments allegations. #HolyokeMa Investigative reporter @dustyc123 shares more details with NEPM's Kari Njiiri. bit.ly/3ZpN0p5
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Political and civil unrest continues to disrupt life in Haiti. Many in the country lack access to adequate health care, but an @ElmsCollege program is seeking to train more nurse educators in the country. My latest for @nepublicmedia & @Report4America nepm.org/regional-news/2023-…
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Nirvani Williams retweeted
Karen Brown (@kbrownreports) profile picture
Karen Brown@kbrownreports17 Mar 2023
Grateful to my plumber Frank for letting me record his (often funny) musings on living, dying… and corned beef hash. My story on @nepublicmedia. nepm.org/regional-news/2023-…
Life, death and plumbing: Western Massachusetts man keeps working throughout cancer treatment

Life, death and plumbing: Western Massachusetts man keeps working throughout cancer treatment

Plumber Frank Marchand of Whately, Massachusetts, died on Aug. 23, 2024. For years, he continued working while receiving treatment for colon cancer. Marchand said he would rather spend time with his...

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Nirvani Williams retweeted
Nancy Eve Cohen (@NancyEveCohen) profile picture
Nancy Eve Cohen@NancyEveCohen15 Mar 2023
Uploading a resume is a barrier to employment for some job seekers, even during a labor shortage: here's what I learned talking to those who want to work, but have trouble applying nepm.org/regional-news/2023-… @nepublicmedia @masshirecentral @USDOL @TechGoesHome @Apple @netinclusion
Image from Nancy Eve Cohen (@NancyEveCohen)
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I’m the designated snow reporter for @nepublicmedia today and have been talking to folks shoveling their walkway and enjoying, for the most part, snow that they’ve missed this season. What’s happening in your neighborhood? Let me know in the comments!
Image from Nirvani Williams (@nirv4ni)
Image from Nirvani Williams (@nirv4ni)
Image from Nirvani Williams (@nirv4ni)
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Top-ranking state lawmakers want to remove obstacles that make it difficult for those who win a housing voucher to actually use it. Hearst recently revealed that half of the vouchers being issued are going unused. “It is a deeply, deeply broken system,” said @GeoffLux
Image from Jacqueline Rabe Thomas (@jacquelinerabe)
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“We have thousands of people on the waiting list for [section 8] vouchers” said @WayFindersMA CEO Keith Fairey in our first of a 3-part series on the challenges facing people looking for affordable rentals with @kbrownreports for @nepublicmedia 🧵 nepm.org/regional-news/2023-…
In tight market, low-income renters can wait years for federal vouchers and still not find a home

In tight market, low-income renters can wait years for federal vouchers and still not find a home

Rents have gone up during the pandemic, often beyond what the government considers "fair market" prices, which leaves many people in limbo.

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In our final story, we look at how scarcity in affordable housing has led to a market where landlord’s have their pick of tenants. Housing advocates say they get many complaints about landlords not renting to tenants with housing vouchers. Part 3: nepm.org/regional-news/2023-…

Despite vouchers, low-income tenants struggle to find landlords willing to rent to them

In today’s market, where available housing is scarce, landlords have their choice of tenants. Housing advocates say they get a lot of complaints about landlords not renting to low-income tenants.

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If you've faced any challenges finding an affordable place to rent in western Massachusetts, we'd like to hear your story! Click on any of the stories in this thread and fill out the form at the bottom of the page or DM me!
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