Massachusetts
The Sad Truth of Happy Hour in Massachusetts
A stalled push to repeal a ban on happy hour in Massachusetts has reignited a debate over the state’s drinking laws and nightlife.
Painting a Brighter Future with ArtLifting
In 2013, Elizabeth J. “Liz” Powers ’10 founded ArtLifting through Harvard Innovation Labs with her brother, Spencer Powers, to help artists with disabilities and financial insecurity. The organization’s mission is to connect artists with opportunities to share and sell their work. Eleven years after its inception, ArtLifting now represents more than 190 artists in 35 states. For Billy M. Megargel and Lisa Murphy, two artists based in Massachusetts, ArtLifting supports them in a different ways.
MassDOT Adds Unpopular Train Layover to Allston I-90 Project in Sudden Reversal
A massive project to realign the I-90 highway in Allston will include a train layover for Amtrak and the MBTA, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced last week, an unexpected reversal after the MassDOT secretary said the layover would not be included in the project in April.
Biden Pledged Massive Grants for Massachusetts Projects. Trump Might Not Follow Through.
Hundreds of millions of dollars in federal transportation grants for Massachusetts could be axed under President-elect Donald Trump’s second administration, according to former Mass. Secretary of Transportation Jim Aloisi.
Cambridge Will Ask State Legislature to Allow Use of Traffic Cameras
The Cambridge City Council unanimously voted on Monday to draft a petition asking the Massachusetts State Assembly to allow the city to implement automatic traffic enforcement.
State Asks Cambridge Residents to Minimize Water Use Amid ‘Critical’ Drought
State officials banned nonessential outdoor water uses and asked Cambridge residents to minimize all other water use after declaring a level three “critical” drought status for the northeast region of Massachusetts on Thursday.
Cambridge, Allston Voters Send Uncontested State Representatives Back to Beacon Hill
Cambridge and Allston voters sent nine uncontested Democratic incumbents back to Beacon Hill, according to the Associated Press — including State Rep. Marjorie C. Decker, who narrowly won re-election in the 25th Democratic Party against her progressive challenger Evan C. MacKay ’19.
Elizabeth Warren Glides to Victory, Returns to Senate for Third Term
Senator Elizabeth A. Warren (D-Mass.) cruised to reelection on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press, winning a third six-year term and roundly defeating her Republican opponent John Deaton in deep-blue Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Voters Weighed in on 5 Ballot Questions. Here’s What They Chose.
Voters approved a ballot measure to eliminate the MCAS exam as a high school graduation requirement but rejected pushes to legalize psychedelics and raise the minimum wage for tipped workers. The election also saw votes in favor of expanding the state auditor’s power to investigate the state legislature and allowing rideshare drivers to unionize.
Matt Damon, Mike Bloomberg Weigh In On MCAS Ballot Question
In a sprint to the finish line, celebrities, elected officials, and millions of dollars in new donations have flooded the hotly-contested race over Ballot Question 2 over the last two weeks.
With Ballot Question 1, A Test of Trust in the Massachusetts State Legislature
The Massachusetts State Legislature is facing a referendum of sorts on Nov. 5 after a chaotic last two years has sparked a drumbeat of negative headlines.
‘Up at Night’: Tipped Workers Fearful About Mass. Ballot Question to Hike Minimum Wage
Tipped workers in Massachusetts might see their minimum wage increase by more than $8 an hour if voters approve Ballot Question 5 during the Nov. 5 elections. They’re not thrilled.
Protesters Interrupt Mass. Chief Climate Officer at Radcliffe Institute Talk
Six climate protesters interrupted a conversation featuring Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer at the Radcliffe Institute Monday evening to challenge the proposed expansion of Hanscom Field, a publicly owned airport in Bedford, Mass.
Ballot Question 2 to Eliminate MCAS Graduation Requirement Divides Cambridge
When Massachusetts voters head to the polls on Nov. 5, all eyes will be on a hotly contested referendum: whether to eliminate a statewide exam as a high school graduation requirement.
Cambridge City Council Declines to Endorse Eliminating MCAS Requirement
The Cambridge City Council rejected a policy order to endorse a ballot question to remove the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System standardized test as a graduation requirement for high schoolers at a meeting Monday evening.
Mass. DCR to Begin $1.5 Million Safety Upgrades to Memorial Drive Monday
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation will begin a $1.5 million road safety construction project on Monday along a stretch of Memorial Drive that has long been considered unsafe for cyclists, according to DCR commissioner Brian M. Arrigo.
Families in Cambridge Shelter Begin to Find Housing, Easing Bottleneck
The monthslong bottleneck in Massachussetts’ emergency shelter system is finally beginning to dissipate after state officials imposed a five-day limit on families’ stays in temporary respite centers.
Evan MacKay ’19 Files for Recount as Decker Holds on to 41-Vote Lead
Former Harvard labor leader Evan MacKay ’19 filed a recount petition for the 25th Middlesex Democratic primary on Friday.
Dolan Upsets Devaney in Primary Rematch for Governor’s Council
Public defender Mara Dolan beat 25-year incumbent Marilyn P. Devaney in a rematch for Cambridge’s District 3 seat on the Governor’s Council during Tuesday’s primary elections, according to the Associated Press.
After 2 Fatal Collisions, Cambridge City Council Calls for Stronger Truck Regulations
The Cambridge City Council voted unanimously Monday to ask City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 to work with state and federal representatives to push for legislation mandating safety measures for trucks.
Harvard Square Homeless Shelter Debuts Renovations To Adapt To 6-Month Stays
The Harvard Square Homeless Shelter unveiled the renovation of their space on Friday — and with it, a dramatic shift in their model to allow shelter guests to stay for the entirety of the 6-month operational season.
The State Legislature Is Considering an Endowment Tax. Experts Say It Could ‘Cripple’ Harvard
The Massachusetts state legislature is set to move ahead later this month with a university endowment tax bill that some experts described as potentially catastrophic for academic institutions like Harvard and MIT.
Cambridge’s Weed Policy Prioritized Social Justice. Some Dispensary Owners Say It’s Left Them High and Dry.
Since legalizing marijuana for adult recreational use in 2018, Massachusetts has seen nearly $6 billion in recreational marijuana sales. But to some, Cambridge has failed to capitalize on this momentum.
Despite Federal Grant, Mass. Turnpike Realignment Project Still Short $165 Million
Though the federal government granted Massachusetts $335 million to divert the Massachusetts Turnpike earlier this month, the project is still short $165 million.
Healey Administration Puts Limits on Stays in Overflow Homeless Shelters
For months, Massachusetts has struggled to accommodate an influx of unhoused families, who have a right to shelter under state law. Now, state officials are looking to put limits on families’ stays in some state-run shelters.