Paris Dunford
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Paris Dunford joined the Western Mass News team in June of 2021 as a morning reporter.
Paris is excited to return to her home state of Massachusetts. Before coming to Western Mass News, she was a multimedia journalist in the mountains of West Virginia for WVNS-TV.
During her time in West Virginia, Paris was passionate about telling the community's stories and covering all the latest crime in the area.
Paris moved here with her fiancé, Zack and her two dogs, Mully and Boomer. When she's not live in the morning shows, Paris can be found out walking her dogs or checking out a local restaurant.
Paris is thrilled to be back in New England and can't wait to tell your story! You can connect with Paris on Facebook or Twitter.
Updated: 11 hours ago
|By Paris Dunford and Ryan Trowbridge
The city of Springfield was in the Fourth of July spirit Monday night for their annual event Star Spangled Springfield.
Updated: 16 hours ago
|By Paris Dunford, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Erik Rosario
The park already started filling up in the afternoon with people staking out their spots to get the best view of the fireworks which start at 9:30 p.m.
Updated: Jun. 30, 2022 at 8:01 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Olivia Hickey and Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski
Litigation has been ongoing for years, about the reliability of breathalyzer tests in the Baystate.
Updated: Jun. 30, 2022 at 7:54 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Olivia Hickey and Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski
Plans for a proposed for a new courthouse in Springfield unveiled
Updated: Jun. 29, 2022 at 9:16 PM EDT
|By Samantha O'Connor and Paris Dunford
The Massachusetts House of Representatives has officially passed legislation that will provide legal protections to out-of-state patients traveling to the Bay State for abortion-related care.
Updated: Jun. 29, 2022 at 6:25 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski
With the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, what could be next? Concerns are growing that same-sex marriage and contraception could be in jeopardy.
Updated: Jun. 29, 2022 at 4:19 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski
Lawmakers said that this legislation would further protect doctors who administer abortions, and women who come from others state to Massachusetts to get an abortion.
Updated: Jun. 28, 2022 at 6:29 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski
Dominick Gardner just finished his junior year at Tantasqua Regional High School. His sisters spoke exclusively with Western Mass News Tuesday about how great of a kid he was and how much he is already missed.
Updated: Jun. 27, 2022 at 10:17 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford and Samantha O'Connor
The veterans hospital set to close in Leeds will now remain open, a great victory for local veterans and legislators.
Updated: Jun. 27, 2022 at 6:36 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford and Samantha O'Connor
Monday’s meeting was with the City Council’s Public Safety Committee. Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi answered questions about their 911 dispatch center.
Updated: Jun. 26, 2022 at 6:16 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Matt Lafreniere
Community members gathered Sunday in support of their friend who was injured in a motorcycle accident.
Updated: Jun. 24, 2022 at 6:00 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Ryan Trowbridge
Governor Charlie Baker signed an executive order on Friday to protect women’s rights to abortion.
Updated: Jun. 24, 2022 at 4:00 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Ryan Trowbridge
Governor Charlie Baker signed an executive order Friday morning after learning about the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Updated: Jun. 23, 2022 at 10:35 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Olivia Hickey
The case brought in front of the supreme court was the National Rifle Association’s affiliate New York State Rifle & Pistol Association vs. New York State. It focused on a century old New York law that requires gun owners to show ‘proper cause’ to carry a handgun in public.
Updated: Jun. 23, 2022 at 5:00 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Ryan Trowbridge
The ruling will have an effect on the nation’s gun laws, including in Massachusetts.
Updated: Jun. 22, 2022 at 6:15 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Ryan Trowbridge
A Belchertown woman said she was attacked by a fisher cat and now, she may need her foot amputated.
Updated: Jun. 22, 2022 at 5:00 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Ryan Trowbridge
Over the weekend, a driver hit a man on a bicycle in Granby and forced him off the road. Now, the town’s police chief is asking for the public’s help.
Updated: Jun. 21, 2022 at 6:52 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski
Local pediatrician offices and other vaccination sites are preparing for an influx of patients following the CDC’s recommendation of the COVID-19 vaccine for those 6 months and older.
Updated: Jun. 21, 2022 at 4:20 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski and Ryan Trowbridge
A monumental step in the fight against COVID-19 was taken Tuesday as children ages six months and up can now get vaccinated.
Updated: Jun. 20, 2022 at 10:34 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Josh Daley
One local expert said that this move may seem like a great thing, but it will not be much at the end of the day.
Updated: Jun. 20, 2022 at 7:00 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Josh Daley
The Thunderbirds won 5 to 4 in overtime in Game 1 on Sunday against the Chicago Wolves.
Updated: Jun. 17, 2022 at 6:00 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski and Ryan Trowbridge
If you’re traveling through West Springfield, from Westfield or Springfield, you may be experiencing some delays.
Updated: Jun. 17, 2022 at 4:24 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski and Ryan Trowbridge
The FDA has authorized the COVID-19 vaccine for the youngest population in the upcoming week.
Updated: Jun. 16, 2022 at 6:24 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Olivia Hickey and Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski
A Western Mass News viewer reached out to us looking for help, as she’s trying to adjust her lifestyle, to adapt to the rising costs of just about everything. We did some research and found resources that may help her and other senior citizens.
Updated: Jun. 16, 2022 at 3:00 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford and Ryan Trowbridge
State officials reported Thursday that a seventh case of monkeypox has been confirmed in Massachusetts.
Updated: Jun. 15, 2022 at 6:46 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse
They said that some changes caused by the legislation have people waiting months for affordable housing.
Updated: Jun. 15, 2022 at 5:00 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Ryan Trowbridge
Holyoke Public Schools could see a big change in the next year.
Updated: Jun. 14, 2022 at 6:40 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski
Part of the police reform bill passed in 2020 required more training of police officers across the state.
Updated: Jun. 14, 2022 at 4:13 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski and Ryan Trowbridge
A Western Mass News viewer from East Longmeadow reached out to our newsroom, frustrated with how his trash has sat at the end of his driveway for what he said is far too long and he’s not alone.
Updated: Jun. 13, 2022 at 6:32 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse
The Springfield Police Department seized 6 guns out of the hands of 5 men, all who they said are repeat offenders.
Updated: Jun. 11, 2022 at 11:13 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford and Olivia Hickey
In the Westfield high school auditorium, community members anxiously waited to view the end result of a three-year-long project.
Updated: Jun. 10, 2022 at 6:43 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Olivia Hickey and Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski
“Stop texting. Stop the distracted driving. Please, save motorcyclists’ lives,” said Haymond.
Updated: Jun. 10, 2022 at 2:52 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski and Ryan Trowbridge
A deadly crash Friday morning in East Longmeadow is under investigation.
Updated: Jun. 9, 2022 at 6:54 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Ryan Trowbridge
Shocking new data shows the number of opioid related deaths increased in the Bay State over the last year.
Updated: Jun. 9, 2022 at 5:00 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Ryan Trowbridge and Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue
A crash involving a Holyoke DPW truck and a motorcyclist has residents talking about the speeding issues on Dwight Street in Holyoke.
Updated: Jun. 8, 2022 at 6:00 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Ryan Trowbridge
A concerned parent reached out to our newsroom after a student brought a BB gun inside her daughter’s school.
Updated: Jun. 8, 2022 at 5:00 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Ryan Trowbridge
New details are emerging from the deadly crash in Holyoke on Sunday.
Updated: Jun. 8, 2022 at 4:25 PM EDT
|By Ryan Trowbridge, Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse and Olivia Hickey
There is a heavy police presence along a busy Holyoke roadway.
Updated: Jun. 7, 2022 at 6:51 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Ryan Trowbridge
We spoke with local police to see what their protocols are for an active shooter inside a school building.
Updated: Jun. 7, 2022 at 5:00 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Ryan Trowbridge
Local school officials are taking a hard look at their active shooter drills currently in place.
Updated: Jun. 2, 2022 at 7:49 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Olivia Hickey and Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski
A former employee of the cannabis dispensary HEKA Incorporated, out of Westfield, sent Western Mass News a video of the cannabis plants at the growing facility. They report seeing spider mites, mold, and mildew, covering the marijuana plant.
Updated: Jun. 2, 2022 at 3:59 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Jeff Allen and Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski
One organization said the Tulsa shooting marks the twentieth mass shooting since the massacre in Uvalde, TX last week.
Updated: Jun. 1, 2022 at 6:43 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Kevin Culverhouse
Alexander Yee was arrested in Milford, Massachusetts, while he was out on bail for multiple crimes he allegedly committed here in the western part of the state.
Updated: May. 31, 2022 at 6:33 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski
Ryan O’Farrell was in court Tuesday for charges related to this latest crash. One local motorcycle rider said accidents like these are becoming far too common.
Updated: May. 31, 2022 at 4:53 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: Jeff Kurowski and Ryan Trowbridge
A Rhode Island man charged with driving under influence and allegedly crashing into a group of motorcyclists and endangering two children in his car appeared in court on Tuesday.
Updated: May. 27, 2022 at 8:33 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Olivia Hickey
Local officials said these threats are becoming increasingly more common, and they tend to increase around high-profile events like the tragic one in Texas.
Updated: May. 26, 2022 at 7:38 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Olivia Hickey
“It’s a privilege to carry a gun in the state of Massachusetts. We have a strict standard and it works well,” said Chief Validas.
Updated: May. 26, 2022 at 5:00 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Photojournalist: John O'Donoghue and Ryan Trowbridge
In the wake of the Texas school shooting, Western Mass News is looking at the role resource officers play in local schools and, more importantly, what is their training in these active shooter situations.
Updated: May. 25, 2022 at 7:12 PM EDT
|By Paris Dunford, Samantha O'Connor and Photojournalist: Don Henry
Two local retired law enforcement officers started the company four years ago to help teachers, students, and staff protect themselves if a tragedy like this one were to ever take place here.
Updated: May. 25, 2022 at 4:23 PM EDT
|By Jenna Reyes, Ryan Trowbridge, Paris Dunford and Photojournalist: Don Henry
In the wake of the tragedy in Texas, many local school officials are reminding their communities of their own safety protocols.