More Massachusetts criminal defendants released amid bar advocate strike

More criminal defendants without representation were released from custody on Wednesday — including one facing charges of assault and battery with a deadly weapon — as state courts prepare for an onslaught of cases that could be dropped entirely...

Massachusetts beach that had swimming ban due to ‘persistent’ shark sightings adding ‘several safety measures’

A North Shore beach that had a swimming ban last year due to “persistent” shark sightings has added “several safety measures” this summer. Ipswich’s Crane Beach, which was shut down to swimming for several weeks due to white shark sightings last...

Fresh numbers show sharp decline in opioid overdose deaths in Massachusetts

BOSTON — Massachusetts experienced a more than 36% decrease in opioid-related overdose deaths in 2024, the state Substance Addiction Services Bureau reported Wednesday. The federal data shows that opioid-related overdose deaths dropped to the...

Massachusetts city councilor linked to brothel bust will not run for re-election

(WJAR) — A city councilor in Cambridge, Massachusetts will not run for re-election after being named as one of the alleged clients in a high-end brothel. Paul Toner announced yesterday that he would leave office at the end of his term. The brothel...

Massachusetts landlords adjust pricing ahead of new broker fee rule

BOSTON — A new rule on broker fees in Massachusetts is set to take effect on August 1 and will shift the responsibility from the tenant to the landlord. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed the bill into law on Friday. It eliminates...

Massachusetts bill seeks to ban ICE agents from wearing masks

A new bill aims to ban Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from covering their faces in Massachusetts.State Rep. Jim Hawkins, a Democrat representing Attleboro, is proposing legislation to ban law enforcement officers from wearing masks and...

Massachusetts Judge Halts Planned Parenthood Medicaid Cut In “Big, Beautiful Bill”

Temporary Restraining Order Freezes Key Provision of “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” Amid Lawsuit A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from immediately revoking Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood. U.S. District Judge...

Tariff fallout leads to layoffs at Massachusetts concrete firm

Dive Brief: Pittsfield, Massachusetts-based Unistress Corp. and its subsidiary, Berkshire Concrete Corp., are laying off 233 workers, according to a Massachusetts Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification notice filed for the week ending June 27....

Paddleboarders encounter great white shark off Massachusetts beach

WCVB, MADELEINE CRONIN, SHARKTIVITY, CNN By Emily Maher Click here for updates on this story FALMOUTH, Massachusetts (WCVB) — Two college students who were paddleboarding off the coast of Cape Cod photographed a surprising close encounter with a...

FKO Celebrates First-ever Graduation of OST Apprenticeship Program in Massachusetts

For Kids Only Afterschool (FKO) proudly celebrated a historic milestone on June 5, 2025, with the graduation of the first cohort of its registered apprenticeship program for the Out-of-School Time (OST) workforce- Massachusetts and the country’s...

Massachusetts barred tenant-paid broker fees. It’s part of a wider war on ‘junk fees.’

Write to us at startingpoint@globe.com. To subscribe, sign up here. Three years ago, when Mark Martinez found what would become his apartment in Roxbury, the situation seemed ideal. Martinez knew the person vacating the apartment. He also knew his...

Towns To Stay Away From If You're Buying A Home In Massachusetts

Here's a quick question for my fellow Massachusetts residents: Are you getting ready to, or are already in the process of, buying your first home? Consider yourself lucky if you're doing it in Berkshire County. As many of you know who have already...

Massachusetts landlords adjust pricing ahead of new broker fee rule

Nationwide Ritz Cracker Recall Absolutely Includes Massachusetts

Listen up, Massachusetts residents! Another voluntary recall has been announced on a food product. This particular snack cracker is being pulled from stores nationwide as it has an undeclared allergen that over 3 million Americans suffer from....

Massachusetts May Require 988 on Student IDs

Legislation pending in Massachusetts would require the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number to be included on all new or replacement student ID cards for public school students in grades 6-12, as well as on ID cards for public and private higher...

This Massachusetts Pizza Chef Made List of Best in the World

Massachusetts is a spectacular place to live. Residents and visitors alike enjoy vast and various landscapes from sandy Cape Cod beaches to the iconic Boston skyline, and the hidden beauty of the Berkshire mountains. From historic landmarks,...

The Best Hangout Spots For Middle Aged Residents In Massachusetts

Do you and your friends ever wonder what to do on the weekend? Of course, you could go for dinner or visit your favorite bar where you enjoy spending time. These activities might be enjoyable for those in their 20s and 30s, but they can quickly...

How much rain fell across Massachusetts overnight?

How much rain fell across Massachusetts overnight? See latest rainfall reports LAWNS AND THE GARDENS OVERNIGHT ESPECIALLY. WE PICKED UP SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT RAIN. YOU CAN SEE FROM HINGHAM TO WESTPORT, NEAR AND OVER 2.5IN OF RAINFALL. DUDLEY UP...

Massachusetts Drafts New Rules for How Cops Interact With Youth

Young people think and act differently than adults. They may be more easily intimidated by officers and not know their rights or how processes work. And experts say youth who seem like they’re deliberately defying officers may really just be...

Buried Under a Western Massachusetts Cemetery is an Amazing Waterfall

Many towns and cities across the country contain a hidden treasure. Something that perhaps only the local community knows about. When you discover what it is, you feel like you're part of the secret club. A western Massachusetts town contains a...