Amherst

A legal dispute known as the Newell court case is raising the question of when an attic space can be counted as an accessory dwelling unit. The case, covered by the Amherst Indy, touches on how local zoning rules define ADUs and could shape what homeowners in the area are allowed to build or rent within their existing houses.

Biologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst report the possible discovery of two of the loudest bird species in the world. The finding is drawing attention online, with people joking in relief that the exceptionally loud birds are not the ones waking them before sunrise each morning. Details of the research were released via EurekAlert, the science news distribution service.

Voters in Pulaski and Amherst, Virginia, will decide on ballots whether to allow Rosie's Gaming Emporium to operate in their localities. The measures would permit the gaming venue, which offers historical horse racing machines, to open facilities there. The outcome will determine whether the towns join other Virginia localities that already host Rosie's locations and receive associated tax revenue.

Biologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst report that two bird species may rank among the loudest in the world, a finding announced in a science news release. The claim is drawing attention for what it suggests about the limits of animal sound production. Details on the species and measurements remain limited, but the finding adds to debates about how and why some birds produce such extreme calls.