22News at 4PM: Digital Edition 2/21/2025

streaming from the 22 News broadcast Center this is 22 News at 400 p.m. digital Edition hey happy Friday I'm Nic aresco and thank you for joining us for 22 News at 4:00 we finally almost made it to the freezing Mark today first time in at least a few days let's bring in meteorologist Adam Shmo now a touch warmer than yesterday the wind is relatively calm out there what is it looking like yeah I mean it's a little bit Breezy and uh 31° is our high temperature right now so we're very close to it pretty good but as we headed the weekend we're going to get up into the 30s and by next week we're talking 40s but let's take a look right now and show you the traffic and really no issues out there no weather problems you can see traffic moving pretty smoothly Interstate 91 the Mass Pike really no problems not much in the way of slowdowns uh looks like perhaps on Route 20 uh in wilam and low there might be a bit of a Slowdown and there was a bit of construction on 91 and 291 let's show you the wind gusts out there because it has been pretty Breezy you can see some wind gust over 30 mph Westfield with a wind gust there at 32 31 right now in Northampton wind gust at Pittsfield at 3525 in North Adams 21 in Springfield we are tracking quiet weather as we head into the weekend and milder temperatures we'll show that to you in just a couple minutes Nick okay Adam thank you the State Department of Public Utilities is now responding to the high utility bills people are seeing across the area lawmakers asked the dpu to take immediate action to bring relief to customers and now they're asking utility companies to lower prices by at least 5% for March and April in a letter to local gas companies the dpu called current prices unsustainable and said there needs to be immediate action taken to provide relief they're suggesting that those costs cut now are deferred to warmer months to help spread out those bills members of the Teamsters Union protested outside stop and shops Distribution Center in Southeastern Massachusetts early this morning the teamsters have threatened to go on strike and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union which represents Stop and Shop store employees said they would honor the teamsters picket lines if they went on strike Stop and Shop said if a new contract is not ratified by February 28th they will move forward with an Outsourcing agreement and Clos the facility in Freetown Massachusetts Springfield Fire responded to Monrovia Street in Springfield today for a house fire according to authorities there is no word if there are any injuries the cause remains under investigation Monrovia Street and Fresno Street are closed and residents are asked to seek alterate Roots 22 News will continue to provide updates as soon as more information inform becomes available the woman who was struck and killed by a vehicle on Abbey Memorial Drive in chicke has now been identified according to Hampton County district attorney spokesperson pton North the victim has been identified as 34-year-old Vanessa Perez of Springfield chapi police responded to a motor vehicle crash on February 9th at around 7:45 p.m. for a motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian she later died from her injuries and authorities say the case remains under investigation I guess I should spend some more time outside I thought the winds were calm but apparently they're gusting out there right now you know I didn't really notice it too much when I was coming in until I got here and I looked at some of the wind gusts and saw the flags there at Park Square so it is on the windy side depending on where you are but at least we have that Sunshine out there we're going to be tracking some sunshine as we head into the weekend as well here's a look at our skycast so as we head towards 7:00 this evening mostly clear skies and winds are going to diminish as we head through tonight and temperatures really going to drop off getting down into the single digits as we head into tomorrow morning but there we are tomorrow morning 7: a.m. lots of sunshine we'll see a good deal of sunshine as we head into tomorrow afternoon 3:00 and tomorrow I think we have a pretty good chance of getting above freezing uh getting up the low to perhaps even mid-30s during the afternoon and then a few clouds tomorrow night won't be quite as cold temperatures in the teens and 20s and then as we head into Sunday we are tracking a little bit more in the way of clouds during the day on Sunday with temperatures Sunday for the most part that will be getting up into the upper 30s to right around 40° Nick well maple syrup season is officially underway in Western Massachusetts Williams Farm Sugar House in South Deerfield was already serving breakfast this morning with this year's batch according to owner chip Williams the extensive syrup making takes about 45 to 50 gallons of sap just to make one gallon of syrup the family run Farm serves pancakes and waffles top with their very own maple syrup through the beginning of April breakfast is served Friday through Sunday morning and tomorrow is national Margarita day and chilies is helping you celebrate thanks to the latest lifetime romance special the short film I'll be home for National Margarita day was produced in partnership with the restaurant it's about former love interests rekindling their love over the special holiday National Margarita day is celebrated on February 22nd of 2008 the goal is to spread the love for margaritas which is now one of the most popular drinks around the world and hey thankfully it's happening on a Saturday right well tonight on 22 News starting at 5: 5:00 the bird flu virus has continued to make the prices of eggs sore with prices nearly doubling in the last six weeks we have a look at its impact on local businesses and the City of Springfield is looking to add a new global war on terrorism Monument how you can help donate plus with the shortage of rock salt and ice melt the town of Wilbraham is giving away free Supply to its residents tonight a look at how you can get yours here's look at the traffic map and really not too much of issues uh being reported at least at uh right now but uh chances are things will pick up a bit as we head uh into the evening hours but 91 traffic moving pretty smoothly there also on the Mass Pike just a little bit of construction a few slowdowns on 291 and 91 in the Springfield uh chicke area the long metal curve and also the chickabee curve you may have some slowdowns there Nick pancakes maple syrup and margaritas what better combination right well hey thank you for joining us for 22 News at 4:00 latest news and weather on our website at wwlp.com and the free 22 News app we'll see you tonight at 5 [Music]