Do you remember what happened in 2025? Here is our countdown of the top 10 most read local news stories published this year, based on page views:

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Dalton Fire Chief Christian Tobin was fired in January in the wake of an independent investigation by Comprehensive Investigations Consulting that concluded he had engaged in "inappropriate workplace behavior."

In May, Tobin filed a wrongful termination and whistleblower lawsuit against the town's fire district, and in July filed two complaints with the state Attorney General's Office alleging violations of the state's Open Meeting Law.

In September the state Attorney Generals office concluded that the Dalton Fire District violated the state's Open Meeting Law by failing to announce and record the results of any periodic review of its executive session minutes. The Attorney General’s Office ordered the fire district’s "immediate and future compliance with the Open Meeting Law.

The vote by the three-member Dalton Fire and Water District Commission took place following receipt of consultant's report titled, "Sexual harassment and inappropriate workplace behavior in the Dalton Fire District."

10 people in the Berkshires were detained by ICE on March 19, including two brothers — one of whom was in the US legally — plucked from a work site in Monterey, three people at an auto body shop in Pittsfield, and five people in other places in the Berkshires. The arrests were among 370 across Massachusetts as part of a statewide operation by federal immigration and law enforcement officials.

Most of the arrests happened in Pittsfield and Lenox. But two men were also pulled off their worksite in Monterey.

Christopher Barton, a well-known musical artist in the area and owner of Klipper Kingz barbershop in North Adams, killed in "freak accident" in January when his car rolled over him while he was working on it. Friends and family remembered him as a community activist, mentor, friend and father of five.

Police say Christopher Barton, a well-known musical artist in the area and owner of Klipper Kingz barbershop, was working on his car on Bradley Street on Sunday evening when the vehicle pinned him, trapping and killing him.

Accessory dwelling units are now permitted by right in single-family zoning districts across Massachusetts. While Massachusetts homeowners overall have rushed to take advantage of the new law, in Berkshire County, homeowners aren't rushing to build.

Massachusetts now allows ADUs by-right in single-family zoning, but many Berkshire County towns are still updating their bylaws. How are local officials responding, and what challenges remain?

Faced with an unfathomable tragedy in the accidental death of production manager Kat Sirico in early August, Jacob's Pillow canceled the remainder of the festival season.

"The Jacob’s Pillow Board of Trustees and institutional leadership has decided that Festival 2025 will not continue," the organization said. "We have come to this difficult decision following the tragic accident on our campus on August 1."

A morning raid in the heart of Great Barrington shook bystanders and drew people out from nearby businesses. Videos shared with The Eagle show people videotaping the arrests and asking ICE officers questions about warrants and due process. Others taunted the officers, most of whom were masked and heavily armed.

The arrests this morning in Great Barrington were witnessed and videotaped by multiple bystanders in The Triplex Cinema parking lot. Tenants of the building say ICE has surveilled the building all week.

4: Herberg Middle School's new principal has been placed on leave just days before classes are set to begin

Herberg Middle School’s new principal, Ian T. Brown, was placed on administrative leave just days before the first day of classes — after just two months on the job. Former Herberg Middle School teacher Mike Taber was asked to step in as interim principal, a role that was made permanent just days later.

Falls, Lyme disease and a hurricane couldn’t stop Betty Kellenberger. This summer, the 80-year-old from Michigan officially became the oldest woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.

"Betty The Legend" becomes the oldest woman to complete a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail at the age of 80. The path to that milestone for Betty Kellenberger was far from simple, and not exactly textbook.

Federal agents arrested one of two men at a landscaping job site in May, but their clients confronted the agents and prevented the second man from being taken into custody. The arrest followed a series of detentions of Berkshire County immigrants since the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies were put into motion.

ICE made another visit to Great Barrington. One man was arrested. But two business owners say they prevented the arrest of a second man.

It looks so benign.

The reminder appears to come from EZDriveMA, the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority’s electronic tolling program.

“Your bill for $6.99 is due soon.” The text message contains a link and instructs you to “pay and avoid additional fees” by replying with a Y and activating a link or copying the link into your browser.

This is smishing, a text message scam, technically referred to as a tactic at social engineering.

“Your bill for $6.99 is due soon.” The text message contains a link and instructs you to “pay and avoid additional fees” by replying with a Y and activating a link or copying the link into your browser. This is smishing, a text message scam, technically referred to as a tactic at social engineering.