Phil Sisson News Today

“We have the money, and to not invest right now would be an unfortunate set of circumstances for the commonwealth," Senate President Karen Spilka said.

Senate Democrats on Monday unveiled plans to make community college free in Massachusetts, starting in the fall of 2025.

LOWELL — Dozens gathered in the Lowell Memorial Auditorium Thursday evening to see a performance by six-time Grammy Award-winner and recent Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dionne Warwick for Middlesex Community College’s annual Celebrity Forum.

A state program that makes community college free for residents over age 25 has helped enrollment at the schools rebound. The challenge will be retaining those students through graduation.

LOWELL — A company that operated the computer guidance system that helped land Apollo 11 on the moon is coming to Lowell, to be an anchor tenant in the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor project that was announced last week.

LOWELL — U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan was at Middlesex Community College Monday afternoon to highlight more than $400,000 in federal funding for STEM education as MCC looks to grow its computer-aided design programs.

If there was any question whether the MassReconnect program would connect with the adult population for which it was designed, that’s been answered by the overwhelming response it has generated with that target group.

LOWELL — After the COVID-19 pandemic caused a tangible decline in college enrollment across the board, Middlesex Community College President Phil Sisson said MCC has experienced a substantial rebound in enrollment thanks to the new MassReconnect program.

LOWELL — The resettlement of 46 migrant families to UMass Lowell's Inn & Conference Center from a site in Sturbridge is on hold, according to a communication obtained by The Sun.

LOWELL — A crowd packed into Taffeta at Western Avenue Studios Monday afternoon for the 25th annual Living the Dream Partners ceremony celebrating the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and honoring community leaders with the Living the Dream Award.