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By Josh Landes
WAMC Northeast Public Radio, April 6, 2026
In March, a former teacher at a Pittsfield, Massachusetts, all-girls boarding school was indicted on three counts of rape two years after his accusers took their allegations public. The situation has highlighted loopholes in state laws around age of consent that can shield adults in positions of authority from facing legal consequences for sexual misconduct with students in their care.
A Berkshire County legislator is involved in the ongoing effort.
“The legislation has been years in the making. It was first filed back in the ’21 - ‘22 session, and now it's in the third session that it's been worked on," said Democrat Leigh Davis, who took office in 2025 and serves the Southern Berkshires as the 3rd Berkshire District state representative in Boston. “It's a collaborative effort across the legislature, and along with the advocates and law enforcement and educators, we're all working to address the gaps in the law, and that this process didn't happen in a vacuum. The recent indictment of Matthew Rutledge was a stark and sobering reminder for me, personally, why this work matters. And working with Hillary Simon and Melissa Fares, it reinforces what so many survivors have been saying, that we need clearer protections and stronger boundaries in the law.”
The long history of the W.E.B. Du Bois Boyhood Homesite in Great Barrington
By Bernard Drew
The Berkshire Eagle, April 3, 2026
Before clear signage was installed at the small parking lot on Route 23 in Great Barrington, some folks mistook the home of the white Hitchcocks for the House of the Black Burghardts.
It was an honest mistake, as the modest two-story dwelling sits square in the center of the W.E.B. Du Bois Boyhood Homesite, a park established with controversy in 1969 but since has drawn visitors almost daily.
The park’s owner, the University of Massachusetts, acquired the Hitchcock property in March, preserving the integrity of the entire site and presaging an expanded educational mission.
“This was an example of the right place at the right time,” she said of the property coming on the market last fall. “It looks like over the next two years we will be seriously upgrading the Homesite.”
“As a member of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, this matters,” said state Rep. Leigh Davis, D-Great Barrington. “It’s a real opportunity to do right by this history in the Berkshires. The W.E.B. Du Bois Boyhood Homesite sits at the center of that story, and this is a smart, forward-looking investment in preserving and telling that story more fully.”
BUILDING COMMUNITY: Solving the Berkshire housing challenge, one project at a time
By Eric Bruun
The Berkshire Edge, April 3, 2026
For many people in the Berkshires, the housing challenge is no longer an abstract policy issue.It appears in everyday conversations, job searches that fall through because housing cannot be found, longer commutes, and the growing difficulty young families and longtime residents face when trying to remain in the communities they love.
Rising home prices, limited rental availability, and an increasing number of seasonal homes have made it harder for workers, families, seniors, and local employers to find stability. While the challenge can feel overwhelming, housing leaders emphasize that progress often happens incrementally, through practical steps that build momentum over time.
State Representative Leigh Davis has seen this process from several perspectives. Before entering the State House, she worked on housing development projects in the Berkshires,vincluding the Eagle Mill redevelopment in Lee and later with Construct, a nonprofit housing organization serving southern Berkshire County. Through that work, she gained firsthand insight into how housing projects move from concept to completion.
BUILDING COMMUNITY: Solving the Berkshire housing challenge, one project at a time
By Eric Bruun
The Berkshire Edge, April 3, 2026
For many people in the Berkshires, the housing challenge is no longer an abstract policy issue.It appears in everyday conversations, job searches that fall through because housing cannot be found, longer commutes, and the growing difficulty young families and longtime residents face when trying to remain in the communities they love.
Rising home prices, limited rental availability, and an increasing number of seasonal homes have made it harder for workers, families, seniors, and local employers to find stability. While the challenge can feel overwhelming, housing leaders emphasize that progress often happens incrementally, through practical steps that build momentum over time.
State Representative Leigh Davis has seen this process from several perspectives. Before entering the State House, she worked on housing development projects in the Berkshires,vincluding the Eagle Mill redevelopment in Lee and later with Construct, a nonprofit housing organization serving southern Berkshire County. Through that work, she gained firsthand insight into how housing projects move from concept to completion.
Berkshire lawmakers scramble for education funding to help Pittsfield avoid layoffs
By Greg Sukiennik
The Berkshire Eagle, March 31, 2026
The city’s delegation to Beacon Hill is working to find additional funding for the Pittsfield Public Schools as the district works to make up more than $4 million in budget cuts for next school year.
A supplemental budget passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives on March 18 includes a $300,000 earmark for Pittsfield for special education transportation costs. It's one of several efforts by lawmakers to find dollars to help the Pittsfield district and neighboring rural districts.
And state Rep. Leigh Davis, D-Great Barrington, is a House co-sponsor of a Senate bill seeking to better align the funding formula with actual costs for expenses such as special education, transportation and communities' ability to pay.
Massachusetts Teacher Charged With Raping Two Students
By Jenna Russel
The New York Times, March 24, 2026
A former teacher at Miss Hall’s School, a private girls’ boarding school in western Massachusetts, was indicted by a Berkshire County grand jury on three counts of rape on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting two students.
The case had incited outrage about the teacher’s long history of alleged abuse and had prompted legislative efforts to change the state’s age of consent.
A bill that would update the law to prevent sexual misconduct and abuse by educators is awaiting consideration in a Massachusetts House committee, said Leigh Davis, a state lawmaker from Berkshire County who sponsored the bill after hearing the stories of Miss Hall’s survivors.
Former Dalton fire chief questions district’s compliance with firefighter retirement law
By Dylan Thompson
The Berkshire Eagle, March 23, 2026
Former Fire Chief Chris Tobin is seeking a state review of whether the Dalton Fire District is complying with mandatory firefighter retirement laws.
In an email to state agencies and officials on March 13, Tobin referenced reporting by iBerkshires indicating that Interim Fire Chief Chris Cachat, age 68, continues to serve while the district seeks special legislation that would allow him to remain in the role beyond the statutory retirement age.
Massachusetts law establishes a mandatory retirement age of 65 for firefighters employed by municipalities and fire districts.
State Rep. Leigh Davis filed a home-rule bill in March 2025 that would allow the Dalton Fire District to continue Cachat's employment until he reaches the age of 70, as long as he remains physically and mentally capable of performing the duties of the position. As of last week, the bill had been ordered to a third reading, which means it is moving through the review and debate process before being put up for a vote.
Local and state officials call on Lenco Industries to reconsider future contracts with ICE
By Tara Monatesse
The Berkshire Eagle, March 16, 2026
While she emphasized her continued opposition to ICE’s recent actions and the militarization of police forces, state Rep. Leigh Davis said she hesitated to call for a private company to make any specific business decisions.
“If Lenco were to walk away from the federal contracts, the work doesn’t disappear,” she said. “Lenco is a significant local employer, and I don't think they're defined by one single client. … I wouldn't want to scapegoat a Berkshire company to make a point.”
“I feel that targeting one local employer might feel satisfying in the moment, but it sets a slippery precedent,” she added. She said she felt immigration enforcement reform should instead be carried out in Congress and the court system.
Dalton Fire District Seeks State OK for Permanent Chief
By Sabrina Damms
iBerkshires.com, March 11, 2026
The Fire District is considering interim Fire Chief Christopher Francis Cachat for the permanent chief position, pending required state approval.
State Rep. Leigh Davis filed a home-rule bill last March on the district's behalf to allow Cachat, who has been with the department for four decades, to continue serving until age 70, provided he remains physically and mentally capable of fulfilling the role’s duties.
Berkshire legislators say 'yes, but' to Statehouse audit
By Talia Lissauer
The Berkshire Eagle, March 9, 2026
All four members of the Berkshire legislative delegation said they support allowing the state auditor to audit the Massachusetts Legislature and its accounts, but several expressed concern that the specific process authorized by voters may conflict with the state constitution.
The ballot question was certified by state Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell before it was approved by more than 70 percent of voters. It's currently being disputed in the courts as DiZoglio and supporters seek to implement the measure.
Davis, who was elected in the same election in which the ballot measure passed, said she respects the will of voters and supports accountability in government, provided it upholds the state constitution.
By Amelia Ellis
The Berkshire Edge, March 3, 2026
State Rep. Leigh Davis (D – 3rd Berkshire District) briefed West Stockbridge Select Board members on the town’s seasonal community designation during the board’s March 2 meeting. Seasonal community designation is part of the Affordable Homes Act signed by Gov. Maura Healey in August 2024. The legislation authorized $5.16 billion in spending over five years and includes provisions for municipalities designated as “seasonal communities.” In order for a town to access these provisions, it must vote to adopt the designation.
“So why this matters is that we’re really addressing housing from a regional perspective and obviously with West Stockbridge, we are focused on: What does that mean? If a town were to adopt a seasonal community designation and bring it in so quickly—the real framing about adopting a seasonal community designation is that we’re not approving swaths of development,” Rep. Davis explained.
BRTA Accepting Public Comments on Route Realignments
By Breanna Steele
iBerkshires.com, March 1, 2026
Berkshire Regional Transit Authority is accepting community comments on its proposed route realignment, developed to address ongoing driver shortages and frequent service cancellations.
The route realignment was first brought up in the authorities meeting in late January.
At Wednesday’s informational and public comment session, a number of public officials—including State Rep. Leigh Davis, Great Barrington Train Campaign President Karen Christensen, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Principal Planner Anuja Koirala, and Pittsfield Commission on Disabilities Chair Catherine Carchedi—offered their perspectives on the proposed changes.
Davis raised numerous questions about the routes, noting that her constituents are struggling to follow the new proposals. She requested that revised changes be made more visible—prominently displayed at the top, rather than buried in announcements.
With vote pending on less frequent buses, BRTA eyes expanding proposed countywide route
By Tara Monastesse
The Berkshire Eagle, February 26, 2026
Since first proposing cuts to several major bus routes in late January, the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority has fielded criticisms from community members concerned about less frequent runs on some of the county’s most popular routes.
In response, the authority has slightly revised the proposed timetables twice in recent weeks to incorporate feedback raised during public hearings. Most notably, a proposed countywide route, Route 999, would be expanded even further to compensate for losses on other routes.
Two more public hearings are scheduled for February: one in-person was held yesterday at BRTA’s Columbus Avenue headquarters, and another will be held virtually today.
State Rep. Leigh Davis, D-Great Barrington, released a statement earlier this week urging constituents who rely on bus services to voice their concerns at the meetings.
She noted the importance of public transportation for those who rely on it for work, education and medical appointments, stating, “A decline in ridership is not a decline in need.”
Attorney general targets propane companies after customers report empty tanks, no heat
By Talia Lissauer
The Berkshire Eagle, February 25, 2026
Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell is pressing Superior Plus Propane to correct delivery delays after consumers reported empty tanks, long waits for help and contracts that made it hard to switch providers during emergencies.
In a demand letters sent Tuesday, Campbell’s office said it has received more than 67 complaints this heating season from Massachusetts customers of the company and another provider, AmeriGas, who said deliveries didn’t arrive as expected and their propane levels dropped to dangerous lows.
The move follows a surge of complaints from Berkshire County residents who rely on Superior Plus Propane, a Toronto-based company serving customers across North America. State Sen. Paul Mark, D-Becket, and Rep. Leigh Davis, D-Great Barrington, said their offices have been inundated with reports from customers running low or out of propane, including some enrolled in the company’s automatic delivery program.
By Jane Kaufman
The Berkshire Eagle, February 23, 2026
Maura Healey’s proposed budget for the state Department of Conservation & Recreation would trim funding for state parks and seasonal labor in a move that could endanger one of the state’s — and Berkshire County’s — key economic drivers.
State Rep. Leigh Davis of Great Barrington said there’s pressure across the entire state budget based on deep federal cuts to health care and other areas. She understands the need to take a close look at spending.
"We have a lot of open space here,” said Davis. “It functions as kind of the lungs of the commonwealth from a sequestering carbon standpoint.”
“And just because we have this vast land and these open resources and our population is smaller, that is an automatic default for reductions,” she said. "My biggest fear is that the Berkshires shouldn’t be seen as kind of low-hanging fruit."
By Nate Harrington
The Berkshire Eagle, February 20, 2026
Not every high-ranking state official with an office on Beacon Hill makes a lasting impression in the Berkshires.
But local elected officials and housing stakeholders said Ed Augustus, who announced Thursday that he's stepping down as secretary of housing and livable communities, served the county well and set the bar high for his successor.
"He was just one of those types of people that really, really got the issues," said state Rep. Leigh Davis, D-Great Barrington, of Augustus, who is leaving state government to become the CEO of UniBank. "He's going to be a tough act to follow."
'Superior dropped the ball:' Berkshire residents left in cold amid propane delivery issues
By Talia Lissauer
The Berkshire Eagle, February 12, 2026
Complaints have flooded the offices of state Sen. Paul Mark, D-Becket, and Rep. Leigh Davis, D-Great Barrington, in recent days from Berkshire County residents running low or out of propane supplied by Superior Plus Propane, a Toronto-based company serving customers across North America.
Davis said her office began receiving complaints around Feb. 2 from residents in Sheffield, Hinsdale, Peru, Washington and Becket. She is sharing information about companies that have offered assistance, including George’s Propane, Propane Gas Association of New England and Lipton Energy.
“We have consumer protection laws in place for a reason, and the AG's Office has told us to make sure that people are submitting their claims online or over the phone so she can build a case,” Davis said. “So we're trying to build a case, and we're working very closely with the AG's Office to do that.”
I commend Rep. Davis for pushing bridge program's renewal
Letter to the Editor by Christopher Hodgkins
The Berkshire Eagle, February 6, 2026
To the editor: I would like to extend sincere congratulations to The Berkshire Eagle for its insightful editorial that rightly acknowledges state Rep. Leigh Davis’ commendable efforts to address the urgent need for repairs to structurally deficient bridges throughout the commonwealth, which she has so diligently championed through the legislation she has introduced. ("Our Opinion: Accelerated Bridge Program's renewal is overdue good news on rural infrastructure," Eagle, Jan. 29.)
We are all thrilled to witness Gov. Maura Healey prioritizing this crucial issue during her recent state of the commonwealth address, and it resonates profoundly with all of us residing in the Berkshires.
Bad water, broken promises: Inside Housatonic’s century-long struggle with waterworks
By Talia Lissauer
The Berkshire Eagle, February 2, 2026
While Select Board members are unable to discuss the potential acquisition because it remains the subject of executive session, state Rep. Leigh Davis — who served on the board for six years before becoming a representative — said multiple parties are working to bring about meaningful change as quickly as possible.
“I think things are starting to move, but unfortunately it’s really frustrating because it’s taking much, much longer than it should have,” Davis said. “We just want clean water for our residents, and that's the most frustrating thing.”
Our Opinion: Accelerated Bridge Program's renewal is overdue good news on rural infrastructure
By The Editors
The Berkshire Eagle, January 29 2026
We’ve written a lot about the bridges of Berkshire County in recent years, and it’s rarely been good news. So we were heartened to hear that Gov. Maura Healey is reviving the state’s Accelerated Bridge Program.
The governor’s attention to this matter is welcome, though of course the Beacon Hill spotlight was only thrown on this issue because of tireless regional advocates who for years have highlighted infrastructure struggles in Berkshire County and other rural corners of Western Massachusetts. While those advocates are too many to name here, one voice deserving particular praise is Rep. Leigh Davis, a former Great Barrington municipal official who prioritized the push for a renewed Accelerated Bridge Program in her first term representing the 3rd Berkshire District. We give credit to Rep. Davis for forwarding an issue clearly germane to her hometown and district’s quality of life, and as a result, we finally have some good news about bridges to report in Berkshire County.
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By Greta Jochem
Updated January 29, 2026
Originally published August 10, 2025
In late June, she spoke in support of legislation that would make it a crime for adults in positions of authority, including teachers, substitute teachers, coaches and mentors, to have sexual relationships with 16- and 17-year-olds in their care.
It would close what advocates like House sponsor Rep. Leigh Davis, D-Great Barrington, have called a “loophole” in the age of consent law.
“Right now, in Massachusetts, a teacher, a coach or a priest can legally have sex with a 16 of 17-year-old in their care and claim it was consensual,” Davis said at the legislative hearing in June. “That’s not consent. It’s exploitation.
“Real consent isn’t possible when there’s a power imbalance,” Davis said. “I really wanted to hone in on: Anyone under 18 is incapable of consent when there is a context of an adult in a position of trust or authority."
Berkshire County leaders cheer Gov. Healey’s plan to fast-track rural bridge repairs
By Josh Landes
WAMC Northeast Public Radio January 23, 2026
State Rep. Leigh Davis, who represents the Southern Berkshires in the State House, said she was elated when Healey brought up bridges in her State of the Commonwealth.
“Governor Healey gave a great and unexpected shout out to the Accelerated Bridge Program, which was something that, a piece of legislation that I actually filed this year, as well as a program that I pitched to her when she came out on March 18 of last year to Great Barrington and Lenox and Becket to talk about her transportation plan,” she told WAMC.
The first-term Democrat says the program will fast track long-overdue bridge upgrades in Western Massachusetts, a region well-versed in facing a distinct lack of investment compared to the commonwealth’s more densely populated urban East.
Great Barrington residents, police discuss trust and ICE response
By Talia Lissauer
The Berkshire Eagle, January 23, 2026
As a small town like Great Barrington works to keep its residents feeling safe, it’s important to remember that sometimes it’s best to be “smarter and not necessarily louder," said state Rep. Leigh Davis, who also attended Monday's meeting.
“I keep thinking about the Underground Railroad and how they came together and they helped the most vulnerable,” Davis said. “I feel like this is one version of that, of pulling together, going underground, in a sense that we want to make it work, but we don't necessarily want to bring the wrath of the federal government down on this.”
Davis added that there are a number of bills before the state House of Representatives that are trying to combat the federal government’s immigration efforts in Massachusetts, including one that would end voluntary ICE contracts with local officials and one that prohibits questioning by court and police officials about immigration status.
Press Release
January 23, 2026
Boston — State Representative Leigh Davis (D–3rd Berkshire) praised Governor Maura Healey for remarks delivered during last night’s State of the Commonwealth address at the Massachusetts State House that align with advocacy raised by Rep. Davis and legislation she has filed to renew and expand the Accelerated Bridge Program.
During the address, the Governor emphasized the need to reopen closed bridges and accelerate repairs across Western Massachusetts, citing the urgency of addressing aging infrastructure statewide. She noted that 27 bridges in Western Massachusetts—many within the 3rd Berkshire District—are slated to benefit, reinforcing the importance of faster, more equitable repairs.
Great Barrington Police Department reaccredited, former chief honored
By Talia Lissauer
The Berkshire Eagle, January 13, 2026
Former Police Chief Paul Storti received recognition from the Select Board and state Rep. Leigh Davis at Monday’s meeting, where the police department also announced it has once again earned state reaccreditation.
Storti retired Jan. 4 after more than 35 years in law enforcement, most of which he spent in the Great Barrington department. Second-in-command Capt. Adam Carlotto was named interim chief of the department for one year.
Davis presented a citation on behalf of the House of Representatives that congratulated Storti on his many years of "exemplary service."
"You've touched so many lives, and you're one of these role models that when I think of someone in law enforcement, I think if we had a Paul Storti in every single town as a nation, as a community, and we're so lucky and so fortunate to have you here," Davis said.
South County Celebrates 250th Anniversary of the Knox Trail
By Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires, January 11, 2026
The 250th celebration of American independence began in the tiny town of Alford on Saturday morning.
Later that afternoon, a small contingent of re-enactors, community members and officials marched from the Great Barrington Historical Society to the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center to recognize the Berkshire towns that were part of that significant event in the nation's history.
State Rep. Leigh Davis called Knox "an unlikely hero, he was someone that rose up to the occasion. ... this is really honoring someone that stepped into a role because he was called to serve, and that is something that resonates."
By Greg Sukkienik
The Berkshire Eagle, January 11, 2026
The crack of a cannon rolled across a snow-covered field on Saturday, as draft horses hauled replica artillery across the Massachusetts-New York line.
About a hundred people watched as a sliver of a 250-year-old journey to deliver captured artillery to Revolutionary War front was reenacted before them, and listened as speakers discussed the still relevant lessons of that treacherous journey.
State Rep. Leigh Davis spoke of Knox as an "accidental hero" whose story resonates with anyone called to serve.
"It's about feeling that you have something to live for and have a purpose and you have a goal," she said. "And Henry Knox had that goal. He was an unlikely hero. He was an accidental hero in the Revolution. He had a task, and he carried through that task, 300 miles."
By Amanda Burke
The Berkshire Eagle, January 11, 2026
A new set of proposed statewide graduation requirements has lawmakers and educators asking questions about continued reliance on testing — even if, as Gov. Maura Healey insists, those tests won’t be “high stakes.”
The Berkshire delegation to Beacon Hill includes a pair of former teachers: Rep. John Barrett III, who taught at Johnson Elementary School in North Adams before his long tenure as mayor of North Adams, and Rep. Leigh Davis, who taught in Ireland for 10 years before moving with her family to Great Barrington.
Davis is withholding judgement until she sees the final proposal in June. That’s when she’ll be looking for input, especially from educators, on how new statewide standards would be rolled out. She'll be looking for funding support for local school districts, especially rural districts such as those educating Berkshire County children, to help implement new standards.
“The next phase of the council’s work is crucial,” Davis said. “It’s the final details that will that bring this into focus for me.”
