Kristin Burnell
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Kristin Burnell joined Western Mass News in October 2021 as a Multimedia Journalist and Digital Content Producer.
Kristin graduated from Sacred Heart University in 2021 with a M.A. in Broadcast Journalism and in 2019, she received her B.A. in Journalism and a minor in Public Relations.
During her time at SHU, she was a Reporter and Anchor for Sacred Heart University’s television magazine program, The Pulse. Kristin was also a member of the Division One Dance Team for 4 years. She was a College Associate with Fox News Media and an editorial intern for Greenwich Lifestyle Magazine.
Born and raised in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Kristin is excited to tell inspiring stories within the Western Massachusetts community.
In her free time, she loves watching new movies, hanging with friends and family, traveling to new places and spending time with her dog, Chase.
Updated: May. 26, 2023 at 7:37 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
As National Safe Boating Week comes to an end and the holiday weekend kicks off, local marinas gear up for their busy season.
Updated: May. 26, 2023 at 6:46 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
We’re less than a week away from the debt ceiling deadline. We’re hearing White House officials and Republican negotiators are moving closer to an agreement to raise the debt ceiling while also capping spending.
Updated: May. 25, 2023 at 4:17 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
We’re learning new information on the seven suspects busted in a widespread string of catalytic converter thefts across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Two of the suspects have now pleaded guilty in a federal courthouse in Boston.
Updated: May. 24, 2023 at 9:16 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
The Ludlow school district in the spotlight after a school committee meeting on Tuesday night. One of the items on their agenda, a proposed library book policy that could lead to certain books being banned in Ludlow Public Schools.
Updated: May. 24, 2023 at 4:55 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Ryan Trowbridge
Western Mass News is getting answers after a concerned parent reached out to our newsroom regarding a proposed policy in Ludlow Public Schools
Updated: May. 23, 2023 at 6:18 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse
Western Mass News is getting answers on a new social media warning from the United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who is warning people that social media is contributing to a ‘youth mental health crisis’ in a major advisory released on Tuesday.
Updated: May. 23, 2023 at 5:19 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Ryan Trowbridge
A new advisory from the United States Surgeon General is warning of an urgent public health issue regarding teen social media use and their mental health after a bipartisan bill was introduced in Congress that would ban kids under 13 years old from using social media.
Updated: May. 22, 2023 at 6:32 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Jeremy Fair
With Memorial Day just one week away, millions of people are expected to hit the road this upcoming holiday weekend.
Updated: May. 22, 2023 at 6:31 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse
Western Mass News is getting answers on how an influx of migrants in Massachusetts is impacting the Bay State. This comes as border control policy Title 42 has officially expired.
Updated: May. 22, 2023 at 5:37 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Ryan Trowbridge and Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse
The ongoing debt ceiling debate continues as President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy prepare to meet Monday to try to strike a budget deal to avert an economic crisis.
Updated: May. 20, 2023 at 9:36 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Andrew Wellmann and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
We continue to follow the latest in Foxborough where day two of Taylor Swift’s concert tour stop in the Bay State is underway.
Updated: May. 19, 2023 at 8:11 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
The ongoing debt ceiling debate continues as negotiators try to strike a budget deal to avert an economic crisis.
Updated: May. 19, 2023 at 3:15 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Ryan Trowbridge
The Amherst regional school district has named a new acting superintendent.
Updated: May. 18, 2023 at 8:36 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Erik Rosario and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
Preparations are underway in Foxborough as Grammy-award-winning pop star Taylor Swift is set to begin her 3-day concert at Gillette Stadium.
Updated: May. 18, 2023 at 6:37 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Erik Rosario and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
One local business has conducted active shooter training for years, but as more mass shootings happen each day, they are seeing more businesses ask to take part in this training exercise.
Updated: May. 18, 2023 at 3:22 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Erik Rosario and Ryan Trowbridge
Preparations are underway for this weekend’s Taylor Swift concerts.
Updated: May. 18, 2023 at 1:27 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Erik Rosario and Ryan Trowbridge
The countdown is on for Taylor Swift’s three-day concert stop at Gillette Stadium
Updated: May. 16, 2023 at 6:30 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue
Holyoke Police Captain Manuel Reyes is back in the spotlight as the city’s police department confirmed Monday that there is an open investigation into allegations that he performed an unwarranted background check on a man who was speaking to his estranged wife.
Updated: May. 16, 2023 at 5:11 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Ryan Trowbridge
Massachusetts State Police are now speaking out about a growing string of car break-ins in western Massachusetts.
Updated: May. 15, 2023 at 6:15 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Ryan Trowbridge
Last week, many communities fell victim and now, many towns in both Hampshire and Hampden County have reported car break-ins as well.
Updated: May. 15, 2023 at 6:13 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse, Ryan Trowbridge, Maria Wilson and Samantha O'Connor
The Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools superintendent has gone on leave citing health concerns and it has sparked concern among teachers in the Amherst-Pelham Education Association.
Updated: May. 15, 2023 at 9:57 AM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Erik Rosario and Ryan Trowbridge
Between 2009 and 2019, depression rates doubled for all teenagers across the United States and local experts said the use of social media has contributed to those higher numbers.
Updated: May. 12, 2023 at 1:29 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Jeremy Fair and Ryan Trowbridge
The Turners Falls music department has received nearly 100 instruments donated from all over the east coast after they found themselves needing more instruments when the interest in band grew much bigger than they ever anticipated.
Updated: May. 11, 2023 at 10:23 AM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell and Ryan Trowbridge
An 11-year-old girl from Springfield is battling brain cancer and now the western Massachusetts community is coming together to support her.
Updated: May. 10, 2023 at 7:35 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
The Springfield Board of Police Commissioners has taken up issues potentially reinstating two convicted police officers to the city’s police department. Recently, they have discussed how to handle the suspension of another Springfield Police officer.
Updated: May. 10, 2023 at 3:35 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Ryan Trowbridge
The community of Springfield is mourning the loss of one of their teachers who was killed in a car crash in Palmer last week.
Updated: May. 9, 2023 at 4:11 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell and David Winstrom
A teacher strike has closed down a Springfield day care for a second day on Tuesday.
Updated: May. 8, 2023 at 6:20 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Ryan Trowbridge and Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse
A teacher strike closed down a Springfield day care on Monday.
Updated: May. 5, 2023 at 4:08 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Ryan Trowbridge
We’re digging deeper into next year’s Springfield Public Schools budget, which was approved Thursday night and, specifically, the dollars set aside for mental health resources.
Updated: May. 3, 2023 at 8:30 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
South Hadley residents have voted down a budget increase for the town’s fire district #1, impacting firefighter and first responder salaries.
Updated: May. 3, 2023 at 3:56 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Ryan Trowbridge
Residents in South Hadley have voted down a budget increase for the town’s fire district #1.
Updated: May. 2, 2023 at 6:20 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Erik Rosario
Local legislators have now stepped up to advocate for more laws surrounding school bus safety as these parents’ calls for action become more urgent each day.
Updated: May. 1, 2023 at 6:29 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Ryan Trowbridge
A second Easthampton school committee member has now resigned in the midst of a superintendent search controversy.
Updated: May. 1, 2023 at 5:27 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Ryan Trowbridge
The city of Easthampton has introduced a novel tool to stop students from vaping in the bathrooms: vape detectors. The sensors have been installed in the city’s high school and middle school.
Updated: Apr. 28, 2023 at 2:44 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Ryan Trowbridge
A Massachusetts Air National guardsman, who is accused of leaking highly classified military documents, appeared in federal court in Worcester on Thursday for a detention hearing.
Updated: Apr. 28, 2023 at 10:54 AM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Jeremy Fair and Ryan Trowbridge
A 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National guardsman accused in the leaked military documents case appeared in federal court Thursday in Worcester.
Updated: Apr. 26, 2023 at 9:23 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has weighed in on breathalyzer tests, setting the stage for the possible dismissal of tens of thousands of drunk driving cases.
Updated: Apr. 26, 2023 at 2:38 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Ryan Trowbridge
Homebuyers with good credit will soon start paying higher mortgage rates when a federal change takes effect next week, on May 1.
Updated: Apr. 25, 2023 at 6:35 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Ryan Trowbridge
The Chicopee Police Department is hoping to lure officers from other departments with sign-on bonuses.
Updated: Apr. 25, 2023 at 4:57 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Ryan Trowbridge
They said Tuesday that cases in the United States are the highest they have been since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Updated: Apr. 24, 2023 at 5:01 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell and Samantha O'Connor
Attention Taylor Swift fans – local police are urging people to be on the lookout for ticket scams on social media.
Updated: Apr. 24, 2023 at 4:30 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell and Samantha O'Connor
The rail would connect Pittsfield to Boston via a high-speed train, with potential stops along the way in Chester, Springfield, Palmer, Worcester, and Boston.
Updated: Apr. 22, 2023 at 5:25 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
The search continues for a new Easthampton superintendent of schools, following weeks of public outrage and debate. Now, one school committee member is speaking out about the matter.
Updated: Apr. 21, 2023 at 3:47 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
A ring of seven men from western Mass. accused of stealing catalytic converters from hundreds of vehicles in Massachusetts and New Hampshire appeared in federal court for a detention hearing on Friday.
Updated: Apr. 20, 2023 at 7:32 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
The search for a new Easthampton school superintendent continues, after the latest candidate to be offered the job, Dr. Erica Faginski-Stark, has withdrawn her name.
Updated: Apr. 20, 2023 at 6:07 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
Eversource has announced their proposal for reduced electric rates for their customers this summer.
Updated: Apr. 19, 2023 at 7:24 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
We’re digging deeper into the revenue collected from sports betting in Massachusetts. The latest report from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission shows the commonwealth collected over $9 million in taxes from wagering in the month of March.
Updated: Apr. 19, 2023 at 5:48 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Abigail Murillo Villacorta
Wednesday’s detention hearing was postponed for Massachusetts Air National Guard Jack Teixeira accused of leaking highly classified military documents. But he did appear in a Boston courtroom.
Updated: Apr. 18, 2023 at 6:32 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue
City leaders in Holyoke are pushing for safer roads and better driving after a 10-year-old boy was hit by a Holyoke Department of Public Works truck last week on Lyman Street.
Updated: Apr. 18, 2023 at 5:12 PM EDT
|By Kristin Burnell, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue
Paul Traficante was arraigned in Eastern Hampshire District Court Tuesday morning, but he will not face any criminal charges regarding those chemicals that were seized from his Riverboat Village apartment.
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