Massachusetts news

• Commentary: The future will be battery-operated

  19-07-2023 21:40
  As we decarbonize our society to avert the worst effects of climate change, we’re swiftly moving toward a future where we electrify everything from the vehicles we drive to home heating to industrial processes. We know how to produce clean electricity and we know how to distribute it. It’s just a matter of building the infrastructure. And as anybody who’s ever used an electronic device knows, batteries are an important part of the equation.We’re going to need some really
  
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• BHCA’s Fundraiser Set for March 5 at The Liberty Hotel

  05-02-2026 16:39 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Photo Courtesy of the Liberty Hotel
  A look inside The Liberty Hotel, which will be the venue for the Beacon Hill Civic Association’s annual fundraiser, ‘Bricks & Bubbles: A Celebration of Preservation’ on Thursday, March 5.
  
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• Wu Announces Ailin Sha as Boston’s Next Youth Poet Laureate

  05-02-2026 16:37 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesCourtesy Photo
  Ailin Sha.
  Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture announced that after a competitive search process, 18-year-old poet and writer Ailin Sha has been selected as Boston’s next Youth Poet Laureate. Sha officially started the role on February 1 and will serve until January 2028. Sha is an accomplished young writer whose poetry explores identity, voice, and belonging. “I’m honored to announce Ailin Sha as Boston&rsq
  
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• Eversource Manhole Fire in West End Causes Power and Traffic Disruptions

  05-02-2026 16:36 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Times staffAn Eversource manhole on Cambridge Street in the West End caught fire on Friday morning, Jan. 30, temporarily interrupting power for several hundred customers and causing traffic disruptions in the immediate area, according to published reports.Around 10:15 a.m., firefighters first responded to a report of a blaze in a manhole at Cambridge and Staniford streets, near the Bowdoin MBTA station, and remained on the scene for an extended time.On the early morning of Jan. 31, Eversource
  
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• Gibson House Museum to Offer all-ages ‘Victorian Valentines’ Event Feb. 7

  05-02-2026 16:35 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Times StaffJust ahead of Valentine’s Day, the Gibson House Museum, located at 137 Beacon St. in the Back Bay, will be celebrating the occasion with a special all-ages event, ‘Victorian Valentines’ on Saturday, Feb. 7,  from 1-4 p.m.“Centered around the lacy and elaborate Valentine’s Day cards of the Victorian era, with supplies provided so that visitors may craft their own,” the event will also highlight some of the Gibson House’s own love storie
  
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• Healey takes Action to Keep ICE Out of Schools, Hospitals, Courthouses, and Places of Worship

  05-02-2026 16:34 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the Times Governor Maura Healey took action to protect the people of Massachusetts from abuses by President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She filed legislation to keep ICE out of courthouses, schools, child care programs, hospitals and churches; make it unlawful for another state to deploy its National Guard in Massachusetts without the Governor’s permission; and allow parents to pre-arrange guardianship for their children in case they are detai
  
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• AFT Massachusetts Stands with State House Efforts to Protect Residents from ICE

  05-02-2026 16:34 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts recently joined Governor Maura Healey as she unveiled an Executive Order to protect Massachusetts residents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who continue to operate with unchecked authority fulfilling the immigration agenda of the White House.“Masked ICE agents have been raiding communities across the Commonwealth for months, ignoring the Constitution and our basic human rights. Immigrant families
  
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• Foodie’s Markets to Close Longstanding South End Location this June

  05-02-2026 16:28 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Dan MurphyFoodie’s Markets will close its at location of more than 30 years at 1421 Washington St. in the South End in June, the company announced this week.“We’ve made the difficult decision to close our South End location this spring at the end of our lease,” Victor G. Leon, general manager of Foodie’s Markets, said in a Feb. 2 press release. “Working alongside my father and a group of incredibly hardworking employees to build and operate this business has b
  
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• Captured by Love: Valentine’s Season at The Liberty Hotel

  05-02-2026 16:28 via beaconhilltimes.com
  This February, The Liberty Hotel, 215 Charles Street, Boston, invites guests to celebrate Valentine’s Day with Captured by Love, a thoughtfully curated season of romantic experiences spanning luxurious overnight stays, intimate dining, restorative spa treatments, and a signature Valentine’s fashion show. From indulgent escapes to stylish nights out, The Liberty sets the stage for a month devoted to romance, design, and indulgence.Room Packages are available throughout February.Spa Po
  
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• Aquarium Welcomes New Members to Board of Trustees and Ambassador Council

  05-02-2026 16:28 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe New England Aquarium is beginning 2026 with six new members joining its Board of Trustees and Ambassador Council.The Board of Trustees recently elected Danny Kalmar and Jane Willis to its ranks. Kalmar, who has served on the Aquarium’s Ambassador Council since 2018, is a partner at McKinsey & Company with significant experience in AI and digital transformation, operational excellence, and leadership development. Jane Willis is a partner at Ropes & Gray where
  
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• Acclimating to Our Local Ice Age

  05-02-2026 16:27 via beaconhilltimes.com
  The bitterly cold weather that we’ve been experiencing day-after-day this winter has been oppressive (not to mention costly because of our high heating bills).The daily lows in the single digits, coupled with the strong winds that have brought the wind-chills well below zero, have tested even the hardiest New Englanders among us.We are fortunate to live on an island near the coast, where the ice-bound harbor has created an Arctic-like seascape that is peaceful and calming, leaving us awest
  
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• Go Pats!

  05-02-2026 16:25 via beaconhilltimes.com
  It seems like it was just yesterday that Patriot Nation looked forward to our Patriots making it to the Super Bowl almost every year. From 2002-2019, the Pats went to nine Super Bowls in 18 years, winning six of them, a dynastic record of consistency spearheaded by Bill Belichick and Tom Brady that we feel confident in saying will never be equaled in the NFL.But after a bit of a drought for the past half-decade, the Patriots once again are back in the big game and Patriot Nation is at the center
  
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• Turning Bad Weather into Fun

  28-01-2026 20:29 via beaconhilltimes.com
  A major snowstorm arrived in Boston Sunday, blanketing the neighborhood over the course of two days with more than 20 inches of snowSledders enjoying the snow on the Boston Common.
  Kenjiro Kanagy and Lucas Belfanz tube down a hill on the Boston Common.
  
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• Author Sets Second Novel in her Adopted Beacon Hill Neighborhood

  28-01-2026 20:24 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Dan MurphyCourtesy of Karen Winn
  Karen Winn holding a copy of her
  just-published second novel, ‘The
  Society.’
  While Karen Winn set her first novel in a fictionalized depiction of her New Jersey hometown, ‘The Society,’ her second full-length work of fiction published by Dutton and out now, instead takes place in her adopted neighborhood of Beacon Hill.Winn grew up in Mendham, a small town in Morris County, N.J., about 45 minutes outside of Manhattan. She received an MF
  
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• Wu Urges Caution as Bitter Cold Weather Remains

  28-01-2026 20:23 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesMayor Michelle Wu has announced a cold weather advisory and shared winter safety tips through Saturday, January 31, due to the extreme cold weather forecasted for this time period. Boston is forecasted to experience wind chills reaching as low as -5 degrees tonight into Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Due to the anticipated frigid cold weather that is following the snowfall, it’s important for residents and property owners to clear snow before it fr
  
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• Massport Releases Draft 2025 Strategic Plan; Public Input will Help Shape the Authority’s Vision for the Next Decade

  28-01-2026 20:22 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) has announced the release of its draft Strategic Plan and is seeking public comment to help shape Massport’s path forward. The Plan builds on Massport’s strengths and a decade of progress, assesses current conditions and trends, and identifies future challenges and opportunities. It balances operational excellence with inclusive forward-looking growth, reaffirming the Authority’s commitment to safe, efficient, sust
  
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• Residents Now able to Apply for Home Heating and Energy Assistance

  28-01-2026 20:20 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe Massachusetts’ home energy assistance program (HEAP) is a free resource to help eligible households pay a portion of winter heating bills.Homeowners and renters, including households whose cost of heat is included in the rent, can apply in person at the agency in their area or through the online application.Eligibility is based on household size and the gross annual income of every household member, 18 years of age or older.Household income cannot exceed 60% of esti
  
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• City of Boston Conducts 46th Annual Homelessness Census 

  28-01-2026 20:20 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesMayor Michelle Wu, Chief of Housing Sheila Dillon and Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Bisola Ojikutu led more than 300 volunteers, including state and city officials, homelessness service providers, public health representatives, and first responders, in conducting the City of Boston’s 46th annual homelessness census. This comprehensive annual effort is part of Boston’s yearly work to assess and address homelessness by counting individuals and families experienc
  
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• National Grid Offers Safety Reminders for Clearing Snow at your Home or Business

  28-01-2026 20:19 via beaconhilltimes.com
   Special to the TimesNational Grid reminds its customers to exercise caution near the energy equipment outside of their homes as they clear snow left behind from Winter Storm Fern. Over a foot of snow has fallen across our Massachusetts service area with additional snow forecast throughout the afternoon. National Grid’s top priority is safety, including the safety and well-being of our crews and customers, and we offer the following reminders to assist with removing snow from your pro
  
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• Boston Food Access Council Awarded Community Power Grant from Project Bread to Advance Food Justice and Systems Change

  28-01-2026 20:19 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesBoston Food Access Council, of Boston, has been named a recipient of Project Bread’s inaugural Community Power Grants program. The funding will help to drive grassroots advocacy and systems change to address the root causes of food insecurity, building capacity for smaller organizations where it would not be otherwise possible. Boston Food Access Council was selected from over 40 proposals for its proven impact, advocacy wins, and strong potential to build power across
  
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• Owner Makes Difficult Decision to Close Charles Street Liquors

  22-01-2026 15:41 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Dan MurphyD. Murphy Photo
  The now-closed Charles Street Liquors at 143 Charles St.
  The decision to close Charles Street Liquors, the longstanding business at 143 Charles St., didn’t come easily for its owner.“For the past year, my wife and I have wrestled with this difficult decision,” Chris Pedersen told this reporter in an email. “After more than 20 years of following my passion for bringing fine wine and spirits to Beacon Hill, I have decided to close the store.&rdq
  
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• Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast

  22-01-2026 15:40 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesWith great reverence and pride in our city, Mayor Michelle Wu joined in Boston’s 56th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast.Derek Kouyoumjian Photos
  The Boston Arts Academy Spiritual Ensemble performed Bright Mansions Above.
  Mayor Wu offered these thoughts: Dr. King knew that when fundamental rights come under attack—when hard-won progress must be defended again and again—it becomes difficult to imagine a better future.But he insisted that we are
  
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• Edwards Advances Legislation to Ensure fairness, due Process, and Access to the Courts for All 

  22-01-2026 15:39 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesSenator Lydia Edwards has filed legislation reaffirming a fundamental promise of our democracy: that everyone has fair and safe access to the courts. At a time when increased immigration enforcement activity has created fear around courthouses, the legislation ensures that all residents can participate in legal proceedings, assert their rights, and seek justice without intimidation or obstruction.This legislation is one of two major initiatives introduced by Senator Edwards t
  
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• Area A-1 Sees 4-percent drop in Part One Crime in ’25 from Previous Year

  22-01-2026 15:39 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Dan MurphyAs 2025 was drawing to a close, Part One crime in Area A-1 was down 4 percent from the previous year.According to Boston Police, 2,174 incidents of Part One crime were reported in the district, which includes Beacon Hill, Chinatown, Downtown, and the North End, between Jan. 1 and Dec. 28, 2025, compared with 2,258 incidents during the same timeframe the previous year. 2025 marked a slight increase from the district’s five-year average of 2,121 Part One crime incidents, however
  
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• RMV Unveils Redesigned Disability Placard to Improve Efficiency  

  22-01-2026 15:38 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) announced the introduction of a newly redesigned Disability Placard, created to improve security, curb fraud, and expedite delivery. Current placards will remain valid until their expiration date.  The updated placard features several key improvements: · A modern design incorporating the widely accepted universal accessibility logo · Durable material embedded with security
  
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• Boston Public Market welcomes Marzae Cellar + Provisions, Opening Spring 2026

  22-01-2026 15:38 via beaconhilltimes.com
   Special to the TimesBoston Public Market is proud to announce a new partnership with Marzae, the first and only natural winery in Massachusetts, which will open Marzae Cellar + Provisions in the Market’s largest retail space in Spring 2026. The addition represents a significant expansion of the Market’s offerings and reflects its continued commitment to supporting New England producers through innovative, mission-aligned concepts.Founded in 2023 by husband-and-wife team Eliot M
  
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• BHAC Votes by Majority to Dismiss Violation for Unapproved Window decals at Proposed Charles Street Cosmetics Shop

  22-01-2026 15:37 via beaconhilltimes.com
  By Dan MurphyThe Beacon Hill Architectural Commission voted by a majority to dismiss a violation for the unapproved temporary window decals now adorning the proposed future home of a Charles Street shop that will sell luxury skin-care products and cosmetics at the commission’s first monthly public hearing of 2026, which was held virtually on Thursday, Jan. 15.Sisley Paris Boutique intends to open a retail store in a street-level retail space at 31-33 Charles St. last occupied by Benefit Co
  
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• Developer Releases Schedule and Construction management Plan for 27/29 Hancock St. Project

  15-01-2026 19:06 via beaconhilltimes.com
  D. Murphy Photo
  Two adjacent properties at 27/29 Hancock St., which are poised to
  be redeveloped by the nonprofit, Fenway Forward, into a total of 15
  affordable homeownership units.
  Representatives for the newly rebranded Fenway Forward (formerly Fenway CDC) were on hand for a virtual meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 6, to outline their schedule and construction management plan for a home-ownership project planned for 27/29 Hancock St. Per its agreement with developer JDMD, Fenway Forward -a nonprofit
  
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• Massachusetts Wins $10 million Federal Grant for Early Literacy Tutoring

  15-01-2026 19:03 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the SunThe Healey-Driscoll Administration is  celebrating that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has been awarded $10 million from the U.S. Education Department in a new Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant. The state plans to use this funding for early literacy tutoring as part of the administration’s comprehensive strategy to improve literacy for all Massachusetts students.The funding for the 2026-27 school year will support Massac
  
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• Wu and the OYEA Announce Mayor’s Youth Council Cohort

  15-01-2026 19:02 via beaconhilltimes.com
  Special to the TimesThe 31st cohort of the Mayor’s Youth Council includes 20 high school students from schools across Boston who will represent their peers in City government.
  Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement (OYEA) recently welcomed the 31st cohort of the Mayor’s Youth Council (MYC). The 20 high school students in the new council cohort were inaugurated with a swearing-in ceremony hosted by the Mayor. “For over 30 years, the Mayor&rsquo
  
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