 This program is brought to you by Cable Franchise Vs and generous donations from viewers like you. I'm Claire Healy. This is the Amherst Weekly Report from Amherst Media, bringing you the news from this past week in Amherst, Massachusetts. As we enter the new year, we want to share your stories of triumph and community from a year unlike any other. Please contact us at infoatamherstmedia.org with the interactions, innovations or moments that got you through this year and the stories from around the Amherst community that you want to share. This past Wednesday, January 6th, the country witnessed an assault on the Capitol at the hands of a pro-Trump right-wing mob. All 11 of the Massachusetts congressional leaders are now calling for President Trump's removal from office. Amherst Congressman Jim McGovern and our Senators Markey and Warren were in the Capitol building but are all safe. Senator Markey tweeted, quote, Donald Trump is responsible for today's coup at the Capitol and the attack on our government and democracy. He has a direct threat to our country. He needs to be impeached, removed from office and barred from ever holding office again. Senator Warren tweeted, quote, The violence at the Capitol today was an attempted coup, an act of insurrection, egged on by a corrupt president to overthrow our democracy. Following the assault, Congress proceeded to ratify the results of the election. And earlier today on Twitter, Trump said he would ensure a transition of power. In his first press conference of the new year about the coronavirus pandemic, Governor Charlie Baker gave updates on the state's vaccination efforts. Baker said that as of January 3, there were over 287,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines that have been provided to providers in Massachusetts. As of earlier this week, over 116,000 of those doses were reported by the governor as being administered. Baker added that reported numbers can lag by several days. And that quote, we expect that the actual number that's been administered is higher. According to Baker, 74 out of 76 hospitals statewide have begun vaccinating their staff in addition to long-term care facilities such as soldiers homes in Chelsea and Holyoke. Beginning Monday, January 11, about 45,000 first responders, including firemen, police and EMTs in Massachusetts, will become eligible to receive vaccine doses. Over 60 vaccination sites will become available for first responders to set up appointments to get vaccinated across the state. According to a map from the state's website, this includes sites at the Bangs Community Center, the Northampton Senior Center and the UMass Amherst Campus Center. Baker has said that vaccine distribution quote, can't happen fast enough, but that it must also be thoughtful and thorough. Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services, Mary Lou Sutters, added in the same press conference that the state has updated prioritization for those over the age of 75 to now be included in the Phase 2 Group 1 set of vaccine distribution. This change impacts approximately 170,000 people in the state and includes them in a group with individuals of all ages who have two or more chronic diseases. The Department of Public Health is also updating the dashboard on the state's website for COVID-19 data in Massachusetts to be more accessible, according to Baker. The changes will now allow users to review criteria such as hospitalizations and case numbers over specific time periods. New daily numbers concerning COVID-19 will continue to be posted at 5 p.m. each day. On Thursday, Baker held a second coronavirus update where he extended the restrictions around gatherings and businesses in Massachusetts until January 24. Testing remains open to the public at the UMass Public Health Promotion Center located at the Mullen Center. Updated days for testing will continue to allow members of the public and the UMass community to receive free testing Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. through January 21. Tests are available by appointment only and are available to be scheduled at uma.force.com slash COVID testing. The program will change after January 21 to more limited hours for the general public as students begin to return to campus and UMass adjusts to provide twice weekly testing to all students. Anyone ages 10 and older without symptoms of COVID-19 is eligible for asymptomatic testing. Springfield Police arrested a man this past Sunday in connection to the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church fire in Springfield. Dashko Volchev of Holton, Maine is being charged with three accounts of attempted arson. Volchev is also being charged with several counts of malicious damage according to the Department of Fire Services. He is scheduled to appear Monday morning at Pittsfield District Court. Springfield fire officials consider this to be a potential hate crime and the investigation is still ongoing. Cooley Dickinson Hospital received an anonymous donation of $100,000 that will help support local businesses and nearly 2,000 employees. President and CEO Joanne Mercosi told the Daily Hampshire Gazette that the hospital wanted to express gratitude for its staff and all of their hard work, but their finances have been strained. This anonymous donation will put $50 gift cards in the hands of the hospital's doctors, nurses, receptionists and cleaning staff. According to Mercosi, the benefactor requested the donation be used as a way to, quote, show deep appreciation for the staff. The gift cards are from local small businesses so that they can also be supported during this difficult time. Thank you for tuning in to the Amherst Weekly Report from Amherst Media. I'm Claire Healy. Stay safe and join us again at the same time next week.