News across Greater Boston
The Topsfield Fair kicks off Friday — with a bid to break pumpkin records
Topsfield Fair organizers say some of the giant pumpkins could at Friday's contest break fair — or even world — records.
2 men behind explosion inside a Harvard Medical School building avoid jail time
Two Massachusetts men have been sentenced to probation and given fines after they pleaded guilty to setting off fireworks at an empty Harvard Medical School building in 2025.
The love story behind every pair of cowboy boots
Robin Schoenthaler wanted to buy cowboy boots for a Texas wedding. “I had a pretty specific request,” she writes. She needed size 9. Extra points for bright colors, sparkles, low heels, not too pointy. "I figured it was a long shot. But I was wrong.”
Flock is just one part of the new surveillance state
"Flock and other companies are building an omnipresent digital dragnet without democratic consent, enabling law enforcement to track people across the country with the click of a mouse," writes Gideon Epstein, of the ACLU of Massachusetts.
Mixed signals: Nextdoor villains and the holiday you've never heard of
The internet is the great connector. Talk with nearly anyone at any time about anything. But that kind of freedom can lead to misunderstandings. Maybe your neighbors discover your cruder, less friendly persona online. Maybe a debate over holiday lore becomes a battle front.…
Mayor Wu wants to find balance on AI
This week, the attorney general's office released its investigation on clergy sexual abuse in the Worcester, Springfield and Fall River dioceses. And new polling gives a sense of where voters stand on the gubernatorial race and the ballot questions for this election. WBUR's…
An Indigenous history ‘not in the books’
About 600 middle schoolers got out of classes Wednesday to learn about traditional Wampanoag dance and culture – along with the tragic history of abuse for thousands of kids their age – at an hour-long assembly in the gym at Plymouth Community Intermediate School. The assembly…
YOUR VIEW: In response to letter about The Drew
Birgitta Kuehn brings up an excellent point regarding Rick Vayo’s new hotel. While she does not seem to know anything about where the residents of the former Chilton House Rest Home actually relocated to, and whether they are happy in their new lodgings – and so is happy to imply…
Affordability in Massachusetts takes center stage as midterms approach
Republican candidates in Massachusetts have made affordability a central message for their campaigns as part of an effort to distance themselves from President Donald Trump and his administration. Affordability continues to be one of the most prominent concerns for voters…
‘Worst landlords’ survey in Allston-Brighton aims to assess rental property conditions, residents respond
Last week, Boston City Councilor Liz Breadon released a survey titled “Worst Landlords in Allston-Brighton,” to identify poor rental conditions in the neighborhoods and the landlords responsible for them. More than six in ten housing units are renter-occupied in Boston, according…
Green Line shuts down again to update signals, leaving students reliant on MBTA shuttles
The Green Line’s Boston College Branch service is suspended between Babcock Street Station and North Station from Sept. 26 to Oct. 4, marking the sixth planned suspension period in the last year, according to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Over the 12-month…
Old quarterbacks can still learn new tricks | Inside the Pocket
Wearing a jersey adorned with a golden “C,” the newly named captain and backup quarterback Marcus Mariota showed once again why he’s the answer to the Washington Commanders’ problems.