Massachusetts News & Current Events

Since the Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program began in 2017, SNAP households have purchased more than $63 million from local farmers in healthy, local foods. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

MA farmers, families brace for cuts to fresh produce benefits

Massachusetts farmers said they are bracing for revenue losses due to cuts in fresh produce SNAP benefits. Starting Dec. 1, families who utilize the …

According to a United Nations 2015 report, food system emissions were responsible for 18 billion tons of carbon dioxide, making up 34% of global emissions. (Pattadis/Adobe Stock)

Shareholders step up to shape climate goals in corporate world

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Commonwealth News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

The Santana Family of Shrewsbury adopted their then 19-year-old daughter Marisol last year after she spent about 15 years in the foster care system. Marisol calls her adoption a

MA families encouraged to explore foster care adoption

Advocates for foster children in Massachusetts are encouraging people to open their homes and hearts to adoption. More than 8,000 children in the …

Passage of Massachusetts Question 2 eliminated the requirement students pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System tests in English, math, science and technology to receive a high school diploma, although educators will still use the test as a diagnostic tool. (Adobe Stock)<br />

MA educators, parents celebrate end of MCAS graduation requirement

Parents and educators in Massachusetts are celebrating an end to the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System graduation requirement. Nearly 60%…

Rideshare drivers said they are looking to share in the wealth of their work. U.S. rideshare sales at Uber climbed 10% from 2023 to 2024, while Lyft's sales were up 3% year-over-year, according to Bloomberg. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Massachusetts rideshare drivers win the right to unionize

Voters in Massachusetts have passed a first of its kind ballot measure allowing rideshare drivers to unionize as independent contractors. Question 3 …

Eligibility for heating assistance is based on several factors, including household size and combined gross annual income of residents 18 and older. The program provides assistance for all sources of heat, including oil, electricity, natural gas, propane, kerosene, wood and coal. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Chills vs. bills: MA kicks off home heating aid program

Temperatures are dropping in the Commonwealth and community action agencies said help is available for those struggling to pay their heating bills…

More than 35% of Massachusetts families with young children could not afford enough diapers during the pandemic, even with federal stimulus payouts, according to a 2022 Health Equity study. (Adobe Stock) <br /><br />

Federal funds expand successful MA diaper distribution program

A federal pilot program distributing diapers to Massachusetts families in need is expanding. The program has already distributed more than two …

Medicare payment rates have fallen by 29% over the last two decades, when adjusting for the costs of running a practice, according to the American Medical Association. (Adobe Stock)

Medicare payment cuts leave New England private practices in critical condition

Ongoing cuts to Medicare reimbursement rates are leaving New England private practices in critical condition. Doctors said the outdated payment …

Online resources including JustPlainClear.com and MedicareMadeClear.com can offer Massachusetts residents insights into the best Medicare plan for their individual needs. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Medicare open enrollment in MA brings prescription drug savings

Medicare open enrollment is underway and Massachusetts residents over 65 are encouraged to consider their health plan options. Changes this year …

Gas stoves emit toxic pollutants in the home, including nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide, and have been attributed to 15% of childhood asthma cases in Massachusetts, according to a study from the Rocky Mountain Institute. (Adobe Stock)

More MA communities strive for building decarbonization

By Sarah Shemkus for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pub…

More than 80% of the 62,557 taps tested from 1,738 schools and child care centers across Massachusetts since 2016 have tested positive for lead, according to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. (Adobe Stock) <br />

EPA omits schools from new lead rule but federal funds could help

Clean water advocates in Massachusetts are applauding the Environmental Protection Agency's new rule on lead pipe removals but warned drinking water i…

Lowell, Massachusetts, teacher Jessica Lander's book,

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MA educators: Down with anti-immigrant rhetoric, up with students

Many Massachusetts educators are denouncing the growing chorus of anti-immigrant rhetoric this election season. They cited an uptick in reports of …

The New England Fishery Management Council is developing new management strategies for important forage fish stock off the Massachusetts coast, with the goal of improving river herring conservation. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

River herring loss in MA part of greater forage stock decline

Members of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head are asking federal regulators to help restore the river herring, a forage fish they said is vital to the …

Restaurants and food businesses in the U.S. use nearly 1 trillion pieces of disposable plasticware and packaging annually, according to Upstream, a reuse advocacy organization. (Adobe Stock)

Takeout with a side of sustainability: MA restaurants avoid single-use plastic

By Meg Wilcox for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Commonwealth News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public N…

Student protests against the Israeli war in Gaza rocked college campuses nationwide last school year. More than 3,200 students were arrested. (Adobe Stock) <br /> <br />

College students press Israeli divestment campaign as school year begins

As college anti-war protests enter a second school year, students are maintaining pressure on administrators to cut all financial ties with the …

Lawmakers are considering a provision in the current Farm Bill to incorporate

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MA fishermen see opportunity as Farm Bill advances

Massachusetts fishermen said they are optimistic the next Farm Bill will provide greater support to smaller, community-based fishing fleets. The …

A 2023 Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce survey of adults ages 20 to 30 found that Black women and LGBTQ+ people were more likely to consider leaving the region due to economic concerns. (Adobe Stock) <br />

New MA wage equity law tackles gender, racial wage gap

Supporters of a new wage equity law in Massachusetts say it will help close the state's gender and racial wage gap. Starting next year, companies …

There have been 2,097,915 FAFSA applications completed for the 2024-2025 school year. That's a 9.5% decline from the previous school year, according to the National College Attainment Network. (Adobe Stock)<br />

MA college aid experts optimistic FAFSA rollout will be glitch-free

College financial aid experts in Massachusetts say this year's phased rollout of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid should be error free…

College students are leading the call for a ceasefire in the Israeli war in Gaza. Since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, the United States has enacted legislation providing at least $12.5 billion in military aid to Israel, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. (Ehn)

MA peace activists call for Israeli arms embargo at DNC

Massachusetts peace activists will join the tens of thousands of protesters expected at this week's Democratic National Convention in Chicago…

More than 300,000 whales and dolphins die annually due to entanglement in fishing gear, with additional unknown numbers also entangled in marine debris, according to the International Whaling Commission. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

MA scientists tackle marine debris harming historic sites, critical habitats

Scientists in Massachusetts are working to protect historic shipwrecks and the habitats they provide from dangerous marine debris. There's more …

A Massachusetts Teachers Association poll found 74% of poll respondents support a policy in which students would still take the MCAS, but would not need a passing grade to earn their diploma. (Adobe Stock)

English-language learners struggle to meet MCAS graduation requirement

Educators in Massachusetts say the MCAS high school graduation requirement is disproportionately affecting English language learners, the fastest …

Massachusetts is now the eighth state to adopt a permanent universal meals program, which will be paid for by monies raised through the Fair Share Amendment, or

MA 'millionaire’s tax' generates windfall for public education

The Massachusetts state budget has been finalized and public education leaders say students came out on top. More than $1 billion generated by the …

In Boston, African Americans represent 24% of the population but account for only 12% to 14% of the workforce on large construction projects, according to a report from Climate Jobs Massachusetts. (Adobe Stock)

MA labor groups tackle climate crisis, income inequality

Massachusetts labor leaders say the state can meet its ambitious climate goals while creating quality jobs in communities facing the greatest threats …

U.S. per capita consumption of fish and shellfish rose from nearly 16 lbs. in 2002 to more than 20 lbs. in 2021, a 31% increase according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. (Adobe Stock) <br />

New guidelines aim for sustainable growth of MA aquaculture

New global guidelines for aquaculture aim to address growing concerns about the industry's impact on the oceans. Scientists have suggested ways to …

Scientists say in order to avert the worst effects of climate change, global temperature increase must be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius and emissions cut by 45% by 2030 to reach net zero by 2050. (Adobe Stock)

Scientists reconsider net-zero pledges to reach climate goals

By Stephen Battersby for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Commonwealth News Service…

At least 36% of U.S. bridges need repair, including more than 76,000 in need of replacement, according to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association. (Adobe Stock)<br />

MA secures $1 billion in federal funds for Cape Cod bridges

Massachusetts will receive close to $1 billion in federal funding to replace the Cape Cod bridges. Lawmakers said it is the largest single bridge …

In 2015, the Supreme Court extended marriage equality to all 50 states in Obergefell v. Hodges. A new survey reveals the vast majority of same-sex couples married for love while 75% said they also married for legal protections. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Majority of married same-sex couples say marriage equality threatened

Twenty years after Massachusetts became the first state to permit marriage equality, a majority of same-sex married couples say it had a profound …

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among children between the ages of 15 and 19, and the leading cause of death for 14- to 15-year-olds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

MA boosts funding for 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline services

Community groups in Massachusetts will see continued funding to support the state's 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Public health officials have …

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimated up to 89.5% of the world's fish stocks are exploited at or beyond their maximum sustainable levels. (Adobe Stock)

Marine national monument off MA coast protects ocean biodiversity

A new marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean aims to protect one of the most biodiverse spots on the planet from overfishing. Located 130 …

A 2015 study by the Boston Federal Reserve Bank found the median net worth for white households in Greater Boston was $250,000, while for Black households it was just $8. Researchers are currently updating those findings. (Adobe Stock)

MA Commission on Poverty tackles historic wealth gap

A Legislature-backed Commission on Poverty in Massachusetts aims to address the state's historic wealth gap. The commission will study demographic …

Of the nearly 2.5 million people living within the 78 coastal communities in Massachusetts, roughly 55% are in state-designated Environmental Justice Block Groups, communities of color and low-income populations dealing with the effects of climate change. (Adobe Stock)

Federal funds help build Boston’s climate-ready workforce

The City of Boston has been awarded nearly $10 million in federal funding to help build a Climate-Ready Workforce. More than 1,000 people will …

Over the past two decades, 5,329 patients in the United States have utilized medical aid-in-dying laws, while at least 8,451 patients received a prescription, according to the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. (Adobe Stock)

MA could become 11th state with medical aid-in-dying law

Lawmakers in Massachusetts are considering legislation to allow medical aid in dying as an option for mentally capable, terminally ill adults…

Up to $31 trillion in U.S. economic activity hinges on helping young people complete learning delayed by the pandemic, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Research shows that students who don't advance beyond lower levels of math may be 50% more likely to be unemployed after high school. (Adobe Stock)<br />

High housing costs in MA impacting childrens’ overall well-being

Massachusetts is known for its quality education and health care systems, but high housing costs are straining family budgets and impacting …

MassEducate would invest $75.5 million in new spending to cover tuition and fees for all residents, and offer an up to $1,200 stipend for books, supplies and other costs to students who make 125% or less of median income in the state. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br />

Free community college plan in MA burdens underpaid, overworked staff

The Massachusetts Senate has proposed free community college for all residents, but educators say an influx of new students could overwhelm the …

Economic factors often influence access to health care. In Massachusetts, adults age 65 and older with less than a high school education are more than 11 times as likely to have teeth extracted than those with a college degree, according to United Health Foundation's 2024 Senior Report. (Adobe Stock)

Housing, transportation limit MA seniors' access to quality health care

High housing and transportation costs are preventing some Massachusetts seniors from seeing their health care providers, according to a new report…

Federal regulators are considering the effects modernizing America's energy grid will have on wildlife. A 2023 NatureServe report showed 40% of animals are at risk of extinction and 41% of ecosystems are at risk of range-wide collapse. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New transmission planning rule takes MA wildlife into account

Conservation groups in Massachusetts are backing the Biden Administration's new plan to update the nation's power grid. Studies show the U.S…

States are increasingly dropping high school standardized exit exams in favor of alternative assessment methods. In 2014, 24 states required students to pass a standardized test to receive their diploma. Now, only eight maintain the requirement. (Adobe Stock)

MA ballot measure would end MCAS graduation requirement

Massachusetts voters could face a possible ballot measure this November to end the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System graduation requiremen…

Parents of young people harmed by social media platforms are urging Congress to pass the

Parents press for online child safety reforms amid Congressional reform

Massachusetts parents of children harmed by social media platforms are calling on Congress to advance the bipartisan "Kids Online Safety Act." The bi…

A recent Federal Trade Commission report found major grocers nationwide are overcharging customers for groceries. Retailers' revenues were 6% higher than their total costs in 2021, and then jumped to 7%, despite an easing of pandemic-related supply-chain disruptions. (Adobe Stock)

MA household debt grows as grocery prices remain at post-pandemic highs

Massachusetts residents struggling to pay high food prices are acquiring a growing amount of debt to pay their bills, according to a new report…

Communities nationwide are facing a shortage of maternity health care providers with nearly 7 million women living in so-called

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MA lawmakers push Medicaid expansion to improve maternal mortality rates

On the heels of Mother's Day, Massachusetts lawmakers are backing legislation to address the country's high rates of maternal mortality. The "Mamas …

Students and faculty at Northeastern University in Boston surround a pro-Palestinian encampment on their school's campus, which stood for two days before administrators called in police to remove it. (Ehn)

Northeastern University students, staff condemn arrests, charges of antisemitism

Students and faculty at Northeastern University are demanding their school issue a public apology for what they say are false charges of antisemitism …

The federal government invests just 5 cents in civic education - about such things as voter turnout - for every 50 dollars that goes to education in STEM subjects, according to the Carnegie Corporation of New York. (Adobe Stock). <br />

MA municipalities aim to lower voting age for local elections

Cities and towns across Massachusetts hope to increase young voter turnout in local elections by lowering the voting age to sixteen or seventeen…

More than six in every 1,000 people in the U.S. are behind bars, the highest incarceration rate in the world, despite the U.S. having lower crime rates than other countries. (Adobe Stock)<br /> <br />

Boston U. Prison Education Program celebrates 50 years of changing lives

Boston University's Prison Education Program is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and is hoping to expand. Students at Massachusetts Correctional …

128 of the 351 cities and towns in the state have had a change in their local clerk or chief election official since the 2020 presidential election, according to the Massachusetts Secretary of State. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Turnover in MA election officials as presidential election nears

Heightened scrutiny and harassment are helping fuel an increasing turnover rate of election officials in Massachusetts and beyond, according to a new …

The United Nations reported security threats in Haiti have forced the closure of some 900 schools, depriving approximately 200,000 children of their right to education. (Adobe Stock)

MA Haitian-led groups call for end to deportations as terror grips island

Haitian-led groups in Massachusetts are calling for a temporary pause in deportations as political instability and violence engulf the island…

Studies show the Earned Income Tax Credit and other rebates improve the health of mothers and infants, educational outcomes for children and future earnings of parents. But tax-prep volunteers say up to 20% of Massachusetts families who qualify for the refunds don't claim them. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br />

MA taxpayers benefit from IRS Direct File pilot program

Massachusetts residents can take advantage of a new pilot program from the Internal Revenue Service, which allows people to file their taxes online …

Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group Student advocates say the Hunger-Free Campus Initiative has already helped to grow cultural food options at Middlesex Community College, enroll eligible students for SNAP benefits at UMass Boston and provide meals for homeless students during breaks at Salem State University. (MASSPIRG)

MA students urge lawmakers to fund campus anti-hunger efforts

A coalition of college students and administrators is asking state lawmakers to help fight food insecurity on campus. The group is asking for $2 …

Massachusetts residents can call the MassHealth Service Center to speak with a counselor and determine if they qualify for a dual-eligible special-needs plan at 800-841-2900. (Adobe Stock)<br />

MA seniors encouraged to take advantage of dual-use special needs plans

Health care advocates in Massachusetts said special health care plans are available for seniors and people with disabilities to help ensure they get t…

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