For two weeks, state and city officials evaluated a number of sites. The Melnea Cass Recreational Complex had all the elements they needed, but everyone knew local residents would be angered at losing use of the facility until summer. Previously, temporary shelters were housed in unused buildings.

Since arriving in Massachusetts in mid-December, John's family has been on a harrowing journey. With their young daughter, he and his wife spent 12 nights sleeping on the hard floor at Logan Airport. Now, they're staying at an overflow shelter that's only open at night, and has just two bathrooms for roughly 200 people.

A team of Boston-based audiophiles crafted “A Gentleman of Istanbul,” which is up for Best Engineered Classical Album, and was recorded at a hidden gem of a studio in Roslindale.

Boston rapper Cliff Notez curated the two-night We Black Folk Festival, which features an expansive lineup of Black performers — many of them local — ranging from singer-songwriters to indie rockers.

The census gathers information that helps the government and nonprofits plan and fund anti-homelessness programming. Census teams also connect people on the streets with services and give them food and other supplies.

While the fate of Steward Health Care's nine hospitals in Massachusetts remains in doubt, lawmakers and others are discussing the precarious state of the medical system. Many are pointing fingers at the role of for-profit companies, like Steward, in health care.

Even as fewer teens are being prosecuted, the state is not providing enough intervention, rehabilitation and other help.

A Boston-based artist has made a one-of-a-kind jukebox in Cambridge — one that plays stories from local residents. Hear from the artist behind the project and the people who lent their voices.

The ripples of financial difficulties at Steward have been felt by its employees, vendors, state officials and patients for years, but the state is now scrambling to prepare for what could become a tsunami if the for-profit company shutters some, or all, of its Massachusetts hospitals.

Pharmacist’s Mate 2nd Class Merle Hillman died at Pearl Harbor in 1941, but his remains were only identified late last year, using DNA technology. This Saturday, several of his remaining family members will bury him in his hometown of Holyoke, accompanied by full military honors.

Between 100 and 200 people, including young children, have been sent by the state’s Family Welcome Centers to sleep in a baggage claim area. "I don't want to be rude, but I think the politicians and the government sometimes don't care,” said one father who had spent 10 nights at Logan with his wife and their three children.

After a year of historic flooding, some Vermont lawmakers and environmental advocates are pushing for the state to create a new program similar to the federal Superfund program to pay for climate damages with money from big oil companies.

New Hampshire voters on Tuesday gave former President Trump a big boost toward securing the Republican presidential nomination for the third time — even as his challenger, Nikki Haley, says she's not giving up. At least not yet.

More than 590 families are on the waitlist for the Massachusetts family shelter system. Recently created overflow sites have space for fewer than half of them. One homeless advocate called the situation "barbaric."

Anthony Brooks joins WBUR's Morning Edition to detail the results and feelings from voters in New Hampshire following the first-in-the-nation primary.

Falmouth's acting library director is volunteering to reorganize the library in the Barnstable County jail, which fell into neglect during the pandemic, when the jail lost its librarian.

The free tuition program has brought more than 5,000 new students to Massachusetts 15 community colleges. For many, the increase is exciting. But it's also straining some schools' short-staffed financial aid and enrollment offices.

Giant inflatable clown heads, a 60-foot whale and eerily realistic statues are part of a bid to increase wintertime foot traffic in downtown Boston.

Ahead of the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary on Tuesday, Haley has sharpened some of her comments on Trump: "At the end of the day, it's the drama and the vengeance and the vindictiveness that we want to get out of the way."

On churning out story after story and scooping many national news outlets: “We have a perspective as student journalists at Harvard that really nobody else has,” says managing editor Miles Herszenhorn.

Lawyers for John Doe #1-13 objected to documents about their alleged crimes being made public and said they were "private citizens who face adverse and embarrassing collateral consequences if their name and image are published."

The speech, delivered Wednesday evening, bounced between hailing the accomplishments of her first year and setting the agenda for her second, and was laden with specific figures and pitches for new legislation.

Wen-ti Tsen, 88, is undertaking the arduous task of transforming his clay models of Chinese workers into bronze statues.

Nikki Haley has a chance at an upset victory in the first-in-the-nation primary. But she'll need cross-over voters to help her defeat former President Trump.

Mark Feigenbaum of Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts, has been a Patriots season ticket holder since the 1970s and gone to all 11 Patriots Super Bowl appearances. In 1996, the Patriots named him Fan of the Year. Feigenbaum joined WBUR's Weekend Edition to share his thoughts on the end of the Bill Belichick era and hopes for the future.

Bill Belichick is a relic of a Patriots era that no longer exists and can no longer be recreated, writes Khari Thompson.

It's estimated that some 300 people in Massachusetts are serving life without parole sentences for murders committed before they were 21 years old.

The New England Patriots are looking for a new head coach after more than two decades.

Body, Stone and Soul is Boston's only Black-owned brick and mortar metaphysical shop. They sell spiritual items, from sage to candles and, of course, crystals.

It's unclear what the announcement might be, but Christie has been under intense pressure to exit the Republican presidential primary race as critics of Donald Trump work to unify behind a viable alternative to the former president.

Wu waited out protesters before touting her administration's efforts around combating addiction and homelessness, improving schools and pressing for more affordable housing in the city.

Flurries are expected to start Saturday afternoon, with the heaviest snow coming after 8 p.m. into early Sunday morning.

For the first time in nearly 15 years, a solo show of the artist's work comes to New England.

Simon Barker, who consults colleges and universities on crisis management, says Harvard committed several missteps in addressing the Hamas attack on Israel and resulting fallout, as well as plagiarism allegations against now-former President Claudine Gay.

WBUR reporters reached out to several members of Harvard’s faculty for their reactions to the news of Claudine Gay's resignation as president of Harvard University after only six months on the job. Here's what they said.

The decision comes after months of controversy about Gay's handling of pro-Palestinian protest on campus and mounting allegations of plagiarism in her academic work as a political scientist. And it represents a jolting reversal of course atop America's oldest university: Harvard's top governing board had announced plans to stand by Gay in mid-December.

A bunch of people wearing next to nothing gathered on a South Boston beach and jumped in the water on New Year's morning. Here's why.

The fines are one of the state's main tools to push local housing agencies to fill empty units, but they were largely meaningless for years because the state failed to enforce them.

A century-old steam pipe network provides heating for over 200 large buildings in Boston and Cambridge. Greening the steam generation could help building owners lower their carbon footprint, since heating accounts for roughly half of those building's emissions.

"Lay of the Land" at the Museum of Fine Arts is Dinorá Justice's first-ever museum show. Her paintings of feminine silhouettes, set over marbled backgrounds, reimagine art historical works from a feminist perspective.

Globe Santa has been delivering toys and books to children in need since 1956. This year, families asked for help due to fallout from the COVID pandemic, the war in Ukraine, homelessness, disability and other struggles.

Oysters became a bonafide holiday favorite in the late 19th century. “And the reason for that came with the celebration of Christmas becoming a more elaborate affair,” says food historian Susan Benjamin. “And how could you leave out – even for a moment – something that was so important, and so versatile, as the New England oyster?”

Mobile home parks have become an attractive investment for firms across the country, often leaving residents facing rent increases or even eviction. But in Massachusetts, park residents are able to stop these deals, by matching any bid that comes in.

Whether you like your cannoli to be traditional, a funky flavor, or the Florentine variety, there are lots of choices, special touches and loads of history that go into making Boston's cannolis the cream of the crop.

More than two centuries ago, silversmith Paul Revere helped start a group to boost skilled craftsmen. The Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association still exists today, but over all these years, the group has never welcomed a woman into its ranks — until now.

After two decades on the job, Sally Snowman plans to retire this month at age 72. The historic Boston Light will be sold to a private owner who will be required to preserve the lighthouse.

Local Catholics and advocates have mixed reactions to Pope Francis' decree allowing priests to bless same-sex couples. The new rule is a step toward inclusion, but doesn't allow priests to officiate gay weddings. Many see it as a welcome shift, even as the sting of the church's long opposition to gay unions remains. 

The musical, adapted from the play by Josefina López, blends comedy and drama to tell the story of Ana and the women she encounters at her sister’s garment factory.

This November, Pamerson Ifill became the first Black person appointed to head the Massachusetts Probation Service in the organizations 145 year history. He joins WBUR's Morning Edition to talk about his role, systemic racism in the criminal justice system and changes he wants to bring to the organization.

Sixty years after the town first floated a Bill Russell Day, advocates are pushing to finally make it happen — and to acknowledge the racist experiences the Russell family endured there.

The Boston Tea Party had very little do with tax hikes. And despite the name, it wasn't a party. But it drew the ire of colonial leaders like George Washington. Now, on the 250th anniversary, historians are hoping to revisit one of the most sensationalized moments in U.S. history.

Show producers Lizzie Sivitz and Zach Stewart launched the "Fruits by the Foot" comedy showcase at the start of the year, looking to create a dedicated performance space for queer comedians and audiences alike.

Dr. Stanley Sagov spent more than five decades as a primary care doctor. Now retired and spending more time playing the jazz piano he's loved since his teen years, he is doing it as he confronts a difficult diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer.

In Renae's backyard, people she loves trust that they can use drugs without fear of being raped, robbed or dying after an overdose. Renae keeps watch and revives people, if needed. 10 years ago, Renae couldn't have imagined doing this. That was before her own daughter got addicted to opioids.

This year, Haverhill Public Schools partnered with Merrimack College to offer district paraeducators entrance into a free, two-year special education master's degree program.

As is the case in so many American communities scarred by this kind of carnage, family members of victims have begun calling for stricter gun laws.

College radio is a vibe, a nexus for taste making, and a place that forges bonds among students and community members, argues Fitchburg State University history professor Katherine Rye Jewell in her new book, “Live from the Underground: A history of college radio.”

A large-scale, luminescent art installation returns this weekend Mount Auburn Cemetery. Last year, in its debut, it attracted more than 8,000 visitors. Now, what started as an experiment, has been dubbed a holiday tradition.

Her research showed women still face large gaps in pay and levels of employment.

David Litvak says he has no reservations about displaying the family menorah. "I'd say right now it's the opposite. I desperately want to show that I'm Jewish."

Joel Mackall says Black history in Boston is often overlooked. He's seeking to change that with his tours that shed light on the lives of past Black Bostonians.

The measure, tucked into the state's $3.1 billion supplemental budget, would allow some 4,000 health care workers not currently covered by the union to join.

Lear died Tuesday at the age of 101. He created some of the most iconic sitcoms in television history, including All in the Family and The Jeffersons. His shows used comedy to explore controversial issues.

Over the course of hours, university presidents from Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania faced leading questions, calls for greater student discipline — and at least one call to resign.

In the month since city workers cleared a large tent encampment near Boston's South End, the streets remain tent-free. Several law enforcement agencies are involved in the effort to keep it that way, raising concerns about the impact to people seeking services for substance use disorders and mental health care.

University presidents from Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania are headed to congress today to address accusations that they mishandled reports of antisemitism on their campuses following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas. Reporter Max Larkin joins WBUR's Morning Edition to discuss.

Massachusetts first annual climate report card shows that the state is making good progress in key sectors, but needs to ramp up decarbonization efforts.

The tradition dates back over a century, and serves as a token of thanks from the Canadian province for Boston's assistance after a disaster during World War I.

Holiday Pops was first introduced on December 21, 1973, under the name “A Pops Christmas Party.” Over the decades, the series has become more inclusive with diversified programming and grown from just three concerts to 39 at Symphony Hall.

More and more holiday shopping is done from the comfort of consumers' homes, but Black Friday traditions aren't dying out just yet.

A Needham man whose relatives were taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7 said two of his cousins, both minors, were among those released during the temporary truce Monday.

Scientists and Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal officials think a small population of striped bass could be defying their migratory nature. And that, in turn, could be impeding efforts to restore a second fish species: herring.

Rental application fees are on the rise in this high-priced market. At some apartment showings, dozens of people pay the fees. For brokers, it's unethical; for landlords, it's barred by law.

Solon Kelleher, an arts fellow for WBUR, grew up working in his family's Worcester restaurant kitchen. He shares some of his favorite recipes for how to put leftovers to good use.

Bradley Cooper directed and stars as 20th century conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein. Cooper filmed “Maestro” at actual locations from Bernstein's life, including Tanglewood in Lenox.

WBUR's Laney Ruckstuhl checked in with Carlene O'Garro, of Delectable Desires pastries, who said she was juggling hundred of orders, plus a few pies for her own family.

The war between Israel and Hamas has triggered a humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Medical facilities have not been spared. And the crisis feels personal for some doctors in Boston, who have strong  ties to the region.

Deb Libby applied for a place to live in the state's public housing system, which has many empty apartments, according to a WBUR and ProPublica investigation. The state has since pledged to fill the vacancies, but Libby is still waiting for a permanent home.

While the state's family shelter system is in crisis, adult shelters filled earlier than normal this fall. Many are operating over capacity, and advocates are calling for action from the state.

The success of addiction treatment often depends on the person struggling. But there may be a crucial — and often overlooked — factor. Some experts say loved ones can play a critical role in guiding a person toward recovery.

Sen. John Velis, a Democrat who represents parts of Hampden and Hampshire counties, was activated with the Massachusetts National Guard to serve for two weeks in hotels and motels that are being used as family shelters. He's also voting on the bill to provide an additional $250 million in funding for family shelter.

Saturday marks 20 years since Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to allow same sex couples to marry. Hillary Goodridge, a lead plaintiff in the case decided in 2003 by the Supreme Judicial Court, joins WBUR's Morning Edition to talk about the case and its legacy.

The fifth National Climate Assessment, produced every four years, details on the effects of climate change in the Northeast. Climate change will bring more heat waves, flooding and coastal erosion to the region.

The 45,000 people who live in Cape Cod's Old Kings Highway Historic District are required to get approval from local committees for visible solar installations. Those who have had their solar plans challenged or denied have described the committees’ decisions as inconsistent, arbitrary, and subjective.

WBUR's Morning Edition hears from Sam Mintz, editor of Brookline News, about a new zoning proposal that passed last night at a town meeting in Brookline. The plan will put the town in compliance with state regulations requiring multifamily zoning within communities serviced by the MBTA.

Impact Energy's plan is to install EV chargers in key locations to boost business and tourism in historical Black neighborhoods.

In 1967, the all-girl band Ace of Cups burst onto the San Francisco rock and roll scene, attracting a big following and touring with some of the most famous musicians of the era. Then, they disappeared. Now, more than a half-century later, the band members are back together, with an unlikely third act proving rock and roll dreams never die.

Three weeks ago, Gov. Maura Healey announced that once the system hits 7,500 households there would be no more room. Today, the state crossed that threshold. Homeless advocates worry the shelter waitlist forces families to stay in unsafe situations.

Diwali, India's biggest holiday, is Sunday, Nov. 12. To celebrate the festival of lights, an Indian-owned craft beer brand brewed in Boston is releasing its first India Pale Ale.

The MBTA is planning a series of brief shutdowns on different portions of the system to allow for necessary repairs and eliminate the speed restrictions that have frustrated riders throughout Greater Boston. In all, officials say there will be up to 188 days of closures through the end of 2024.

Renewed interest in silent films has provided Jeff Rapsis a vibrant second act as a silent film accompanist, crisscrossing New England all year round.

Recent staffing shortages at Head Start programs have forced centers across Massachusetts to cut slots for children, placing infants and toddlers on lengthy waitlists.

Chrissy Lynch takes the helm of the state AFL-CIO during a big moment for labor. She joined WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy to talk more about this.

The campaign hopes to appeal to moderates from both parties; people Phillips calls "the exhausted majority." But he's angering the leaders of his own party.

The city of Boston recently released a public database detailing people who were enslaved in the city. WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy speaks with curator Kyera Singleton to learn more about the database and the legacy of slavery in Massachusetts. 

To learn more about Dorchester's Little Saigon, WBUR's The Common host Darryl C. Murphy and visited the area with Annie Le, board president of the cultural district.

Massachusetts is encouraging "pollinator-friendly" solar farms as a way to encourage both renewable energy and biodiversity.

Natalie Jones is among lots of older people who are living their third act — either by choice or necessity or both — according to Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, a Harvard professor of education, and author of The Third Chapter: Passion, Risk and Adventure in the 25 years after 50.

The Boston accent is a many-splendored phenomenon, with details and highlights galore. But a few elements loom large. Here's what you should know:

Kooper, 79, is a multi-instrumentalist and composer who's played with the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Who and Jimi Hendrix and has created and produced for top bands.

The pugnacious city councilor said his style of politics come from Dorchester, where kids grow up to be fighters. That has been divisive throughout his tenure, and some wonder whether the next District 3 Councilor will take a different approach.

Several of Boston City Council's most outspoken members are departing. After Election Day on Tuesday, the balance of between progressives and moderates on the 13-member council could soon shift.

Construction on a rail project that will connect Boston to several South Coast communities is nearing completion, but questions remain about the impact and potential success of the commuter rail expansion.

WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy talks with Rachel Ohm, reporter for the Portland Press Herald, about what has come to light in the aftermath of the shootings in Lewiston, Maine.

City officials said they had about 14 tents or similar structures to dismantle at the beginning of the day. At noon, a handful of people in the area remained without concrete plans for where they would go next. And by around 2:30 p.m., city workers said all tents had been taken down. 

A Boston University graduate student believes he has a batch of 14 previously unattributed works written by the author of “Little Women” - under a pseudonym. Louisa May Alcott was known to publish under various names throughout her writing career, but this discovery marks the first time any new pseudonym has been linked to Alcott since the 1940s.

Many low-income residents say rent hikes are forcing them out of the city, or even to the brink of homelessness. That presents a sharp contrast with the official version of New Bedford: a city on the rise, and on the cusp of regaining the esteem it once knew.

City workers have handed out flyers explaining Boston's plan to remove tents on Wednesday from the "Mass. and Cass" area. Despite efforts to offer services, housing and storage to people in the encampment, some advocates remain concerned about what will happen once police sweep the tents away.

To learn about the potential impacts of waitlisting families in need of housing, WBUR’s Gabrielle Emanuel met one family that was stuck outside the shelter doors.

Before trick-or-treating became the holiday's tradition, pandemonium ruled the day. WBUR's Andrea Shea spoke with candy historian Susan Benjamin who ventures back to a time when Halloween saw children raging through the streets doing untold amounts of damage.

As authorities continue to search for the armed suspect in the Maine shootings, families of students at some area colleges are bringing their kids back to Massachusetts.

After chapters as a corporate lawyer and working in television, HistoryMakers became Julieanna Richardson's "third act." "You get to a point where you start asking, 'What is going to be your leave-behind?'" she said. "If we do this right, it will be something that hopefully makes society a richer place."

The exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum blends contemporary artworks, pop culture memorabilia and historical depictions to explore how people have loved and hated these winged mammals through the ages.

The pair will perform songs from their album, "Cantar." It's drummer Pietro's first project as a lyricist, writing songs Souza sings in English, Spanish and Portuguese

The manhunt for the alleged gunman in the Lewiston, Maine mass shooting — and the lockdown of surrounding communities — is reminding many people in the Boston area of the days following the marathon bombing in 2013.

At a press conference at Lewiston City Hall on Thursday, Golden said that though he had previously opposed similar bans, he had a "false confidence" that his community was above deadly incidents.

Aid groups are getting more details on a new waitlist for the state-run family shelter system — and they are sounding alarm bells.

WBUR's Anthony Brooks joined All Things Considered host Lynn Jolicoeur to give an update on the search for a suspect in Wednesday's mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine.

A bus driver shortage in Framingham has limited bus ridership for hundreds of students and upped absences. As families scramble to find alternative transportation for their kids, the district is exploring other fixes, from emerging tech platforms to securing city bus passes.

As the Israeli military action intensifies in Gaza, a Massachusetts family that's been stuck there says they're trying to remain hopeful that they'll be able to get out safely.

More than 3,000 homeless families are now in hotels and motels that often don’t have toys, books, or play spaces for children. There’s a new push to get these youngsters better access to stimulating environments and activities. Experts say it's key for brain development.

WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy talks with Gary Washburn, basketball reporter for the Boston Globe, about how the Celtics look ahead of the season opener.

Beech leaf disease was first identified in a few Massachusetts communities in 2020. It has since spread to over 90 communities. Because it's relatively new, researchers are trying different approaches to find a way to save the trees

Jim Tsihlis had just been assigned to the USS Leyte one week before an explosion on board, which was determined to be an accident, killed and injured sailors and civilians.

As climate change brings heavier storms to the Northeast, cities with combined sewer overflows will see more sewage water discharged into water bodies. There are ways to fix the problem, but they're not simple or cheap.

The traditional idea of three stages of life — learning, earning and retiring — is increasingly seen as outdated. Instead, many people like Tom Andrew are living their third act, discovering that life can reset at age 50, 60, 70, or even later.

Maria Prodan,14, from Ukraine, will compete at the Head of the Charles Sunday. You can say rowing is in her blood; Maria is trained by her father, Olympic coach Anton Prodan, who received his rowing wisdom from his own dad.

The Ukrainian team says it means so much for them to be supported in their host cities of Boston and Cambridge when life at home has changed so much.

As a woodworker and artist, Croney Moses has distinguished her style of curved wood veneer sculptures over the last several years, shaping wood almost as if it were clay.

Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo talks with WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy about the benefits and drawbacks of being an iconic Halloween destination.

For the 35-year-old painter, her work has provided an avenue to articulate feelings that may have been hard for her to speak or write about. "It's a way for me to not necessarily escape, but to understand what's happening around me," she said.

As you spend more time around Boston, the Charles River infuses into your consciousness, writes Fred Hewett, who's lived within a mile of the river for more than 40 years. The Charles can make the city yours, he writes.

The Roxbury native's b-boy name is El Niño because of his fast-paced and aggressive style. His talents have made him a Red Bull-sponsored athlete, multiple-time world breakdancing champion and earned him a spot on Team USA.

The artist might be best known for Black Cotton Club and her uncanny ability to draw people in. But beneath her warm stage presence is a politics of Black liberation.

Haley, the moderate former South Carolina governor and ambassador to the U.N., has jumped into second place in the Republican primary, according to recent polls. But political watchers say she now needs to reach beyond moderates to make her case to those still planning to vote for Trump.

Early in his career, the artist worked as a court translator where he witnessed how power can be exerted through words. Now, he probes that idea through murals, collages and community engagement.

The 125-page measure would strengthen the state's assault weapons ban, limit where guns can be carried, and crack down on unregistered, so-called "ghost guns."

Since arriving at the Longy School of Music two years ago, he's made it his mission to pursue social justice through his music. "And actually 'fight' is a good word because that's how I feel about my instrument — I feel like I'm on the front line of a war against barbarity," he said.

Hundreds of protesters marched from the Boston Public Library in Copley Square to the Israeli consulate for a rally in support of Palestinians on Monday evening. An array of young local Palestinians at the event spoke about the suffering of family members in Gaza.

The 22-year-old vocalist has been bringing back historic spirituals first sung by enslaved Black people in America. He says the works transcend time, “because they not only share what has happened in the past, but it paints a very similar picture to the world that we live in today.”

Growing up in Boston, the visual artist saw murals and graffiti and knew there was power in public art. Now, she paints her own works showcasing characters from an inclusive world she designed with the goal of creating a sense of belonging.

Overwhelmed by record-breaking growth of families in need, Gov. Maura Healey said that when the state family shelter system hits 7,500 households, it will no longer guarantee placements and instead prioritize housing families with health and safety risks.

Qu is the founder and executive director of CHUANG Stage, which tells stories bilingually and transculturally. In the five years since the company’s founding, Qu has grown into one of the leading voices in the Boston grassroots theater community.

The Easthampton musician's new songs are emotive, yet unsentimental. Kind of like Diggs herself.

While state officials and shelter providers work to avoid displacing longtime motel residents to make space for unhoused families, housing advocates say they are aware of cases where people have been pushed out of motels and into homelessness. 

Boston Rabbi Elaine Zecher reflected on a week of war in Israel Friday afternoon as she prepared to lead Shabbat services for the congregation.

In the fall, Harvard Square is host to thousands of students, neighbors and tourists. But this week, as violence unfolds in Israel and the Gaza Strip, the neighborhood has an unwelcome new visitor: a box truck with mounted LED screens, labeling some students "leading anti-Semites."

Cement production causes more carbon emissions than the entire European Union. For one Somerville start-up, the race is on to develop a more climate-friendly cement.

Deborah Becker speaks with Boston's MBTA board member Mary Skelton Roberts on WBUR's Morning Edition about what she hopes to achieve in this new role. 

With bombs going off in the distance, Wafaa Abuzayda describes the frightening reality in Gaza and how she has been pleading for help from U.S. officials to get out.

The café has become an informal gathering place for the area's Palestinian community as Israel pummels Gaza in retaliation for Hamas' brazen attack over the weekend.

A family from Medway, Mass. went to visit relatives in Gaza about two weeks ago, before Hamas launched its deadly attack into southern Israel. They were scheduled to fly back to the United States on Friday, but are now stuck as Israeli airstrikes pummel the Gaza Strip.

The controversial idea of “engineering the ocean” to remove atmospheric carbon dioxide has been around for decades, but it's gaining renewed interest as the climate crisis worsens. 

Ayman came to the U.S. from Gaza 12 years ago and has lived in Massachusetts for five years. He lives here with his wife and children, but the rest of their family members live in Gaza.

After losing beloved veterans Patrice Bergeron and David Krejčí this offseason, WBUR's Morning Edition caught up with longtime Bruins reporter Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic for a preview of what to expect from the Bruins as they enter a year of “generational change.”

In the past few weeks, authorities say a neo-Nazi group has staged more than a half-dozen demonstrations at Massachusetts hotels and motels sheltering newly arrived families. The actions have sparked questions about what more can be done to protect immigrants from hate groups.

Andrew Jacobson, a Swampscott native who graduated from Brandeis University and lives in Israel, is sheltering with a friend in Tel Aviv. He told WBUR's All Things Considered host Lisa Mullins about his experience. 

In Connecticut and across the United States, ‘wind phones’ provide spaces for people to hold one-way conversations with their loved ones who’ve died.

Indigenous activist Mahtowin Munro, the co-lead for United American Indians of New England, spoke with WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy about the effort to recognize the holiday observed on the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Lucy Hutyra discovered that urban trees are about twice as productive in absorbing carbon dioxide than trees in the country.

New England's wet summer means the region's fall foliage will likely be less vibrant than usual.

Local jazz ensembles of all kinds will converge Saturday, Oct. 7 along a 1.5 mile walking loop on the Charles River. That's already pretty cool, but beginning at 2 pm they'll also embark on exploring the same list of 16 songs — at the same time.

Nicole Obi, President and CEO of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts joined WBUR’s Morning Edition ahead of the council's annual Mass Black Expo to talk more about the pandemic’s impact on Black Bostonians. 

The technology is used in everything from TV screens and solar energy technology to medicine.

Massachusetts is funding nature-based solutions to help make communities more resilient to climate change. Reading is using the state grant money to construct a wetland to reduce flood damage, and the project could be a showcase for other initiatives.

A new analysis from Harvard Forest and Mass Audubon argues that Massachusetts could meet its ambitious goals for solar power while preserving forests and farmland.

The exhibit, titled "In What Way Wham?," marks the first time the museum has curated audio descriptions that enhance the artwork for both seeing visitors and those who are blind. Additionally, the museum has local members of the Deaf and hard of hearing community leading ASL tours.

For the past decade or so, Massachusetts taxpayers have spent between $100 million and $200 million a year on family shelters. This year, lawmakers allocated more than $325 million, an all-time high. And the Healey Administration says more is needed. Here's a look at where the money is going, and how it fits into the state's budget.

Paul Jahnige, the director of the newly created Office of Outdoor Recreation, spoke with WBUR’s Morning Edition about the new department and what Massachusetts has to offer.

WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy spoke with House Minority Whip and Massachusetts Congresswoman Katherine Clark about the looming shutdown and what her colleagues on Capitol Hill need to do to avert it.

Gov. Maura Healey said Massachusetts will do "everything we can" to keep food aid benefits flowing even if Congress fails this week to stave off a federal government shutdown.

The Berklee duo's performance of their song "You'd Like Me More" is WBUR's favorite local entry to NPR's Tiny Desk Contest.

The local chapter of a historic, national magicians organization — once led by Houdini himself — is facing a shortage of members. Now its ranks are rallying with events to woo new magicians.

The start of fall marks the beginning of respiratory virus season. COVID has been on an upswing for much of the past couple months — and other viruses, including flu and RSV, are still to come.

WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy talks with Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper about her first year leading Massachusetts' largest school district and what she is thinking about in the new year. 

New Paris Bakery, which has been in business for more than 100 years, shut its doors for good on Saturday.

Geri Denterlein's husband Jack Thomas spent his final days much the same way he spent most days in their 34-year relationship: reading, writing, collecting recipes, gardening and planning ahead. "It was my life that changed," Geri writes.

The longest road in the U.S. starts in Boston. Or ends here, depending on which direction you're heading.

The order calls for the state Department of Fish and Game to draw up a set of biodiversity conservation targets for state agencies to implement in 2030, 2040 and 2050.

WBUR's Todd Wallack explains that local housing agencies have repurposed 120 subsidized apartments across the state despite a long waitlist for affordable housing and why officials say they need the units for alternative uses. 

Salem High School began requiring students to lock up their cellphones for most of the school day starting this fall. The crackdown is part of a larger trend in Massachusetts schools to minimize distractions during school hours.

WBUR's Christine Willmsen explains that the biggest reason state-subsidized units are vacant is a backlog of maintenance and renovation, which public housing authorities say it’s hard to complete because they're cash-strapped and short-staffed.

The number of families in need of shelter in Massachusetts has almost doubled in the past year. Yet an investigation by WBUR and ProPublica finds many state-subsidized apartments are sitting empty.

WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy spoke with Dave Wattles, biologist with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, about whether large wildlife encounters are occurring more frequently and what people should do if they come across a coyote or bear. 

Each night, workers at Logan Airport provide cots for travelers with canceled flights. But lately, they’re also providing temporary beds for immigrants seeking refuge in Massachusetts. Since July 11, Logan’s Crisis Response Team has assisted over 1,600 new arrivals.

WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy talked with 'The Common' host Darryl C. Murphy his trip to Mattapan for the 'Field Guide to Boston' and the local culinary institutions that are part of the community.

Lee will pass a couple hundred miles to Massachusetts' east, and likely make landfall somewhere near the western tip of Nova Scotia. The primary effects will be felt along the immediate coast, especially for Cape Cod and the Islands.

WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy talks with Truro’s harbormaster Tony Jacket to learn more about what he’s seeing Friday morning and how the Cape has been preparing for the storm.

Hurricane Lee is expected to cause 50- to 60-mph wind gusts along the Massachusetts coastline as it passes by, far off coast, overnight Friday into Saturday.

Chaim Bloom is looking for a job. The Boston Red Sox fired Bloom, its chief baseball officer, on Thursday.

Hurricane Lee is spinning approximately 840 miles south of Nantucket as of Thursday morning, and remains a large and powerful Category 2 storm. It's so large that Massachusetts doen't need to take a direct hit to experience effects. Danielle Noyes has the forecast as Lee approaches.

WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy spoke with Leominster Mayor Mazzarella to learn about how the city is recovering from Monday's intense storm and flash flood.

WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy talked with reporter Zeninjor Enwemeka to talk about the potential ballot questions and what it takes to get them to the voters in 2024. 

If you’re new to Boston, you probably just survived the move-in process. So now it’s time to think about settling in and finding your community. That can be hard. So here at WBUR we’ve put together a new project that makes it easier to become a Bostonian. It’s called Field Guide to Boston.

The Sept. 12 preliminary election will decide which two candidates move on to the Nov. 7 general election in four Boston City Council races. Here's what voters in Districts 3, 5, 6 and 7 should know before heading to the polls.

Councilors Kendra Lara and Ricardo Arroyo are fighting to advance in Tuesday's preliminary election after weathering months of negative headlines related to ethics scandals.

WBUR's Weekend Edition host Sharon Brody talks with WBUR Radio Boston producer and a veteran sports journalist Khari Thompson about Tom Brady's legacy and how the Patriots move forward as a team. 

ESPN reporter Mike Reiss joined WBUR’s Morning Edition for a primer on this year’s Patriots as they enter the 2023 season. If you’re tuning in for their first game of the year Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, here’s what you need to know.

Members of a neo-Nazi hate group have demonstrated outside several hotels where the state is renting rooms for homeless families.

The Dorchester artist is making a name for herself with her unique aggressive sound, pushing against expectations. "As a young Black woman, there's this stigma behind what a woman in general in music should sound like or do."

Dennis Varley, the new chief of stations joins the T after a three-decade career in transportation in New York. Varley is tasked with helping make Boston's subway, commuter rail and buses safe, secure and clean for riders.

Since her first steps at the Syrian border, 12-foot tall puppet Little Amal has become a symbol of refugee displaced populations now widely recognized across the world. Amal arrives in Boston Thursday to begin a nine-week journey across the United States.

In the lead up to the 50-year anniversary of the Boston busing crisis, a group of more than three dozen community leaders are launching a new three-year initiative to remember the busing program and educate Bostonians on its legacy through conversations and exhibits. 

Hundreds of years ago, the invasive European green crab first arrived in the region. Today, they’re everywhere, and that is putting pressure on other seafood industries. One solution? Eat them. “It’s a good story, you’re eating an invasive species that actually tastes good, so it’s an easy sell,” said Row 34 Chef Jeremy Sewall.

The effort to vaccinate newly arrived immigrant children, enroll them in school and equip schools with translators and transportation plans has proved daunting. Even as the first day of school arrives, it remains a work in progress. The result: Some kids won't start on time.

State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver talked with about WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy the reopening of the Sumner Tunnel and what drivers should expect following the nearly two-month shutdown. 

Increasingly hot summers and warming winters could allow for new plant varieties and a longer growing season in the Northeast.

Retired art teacher Gary White uses an endless supply of sand, saltwater, random recyclables, and some dollar-store tools to create sculptural masterpieces on Nahant Beach. These sculptures deliver surprise jolts of joy before the ocean swallows them up again.

For decades, federal rules prohibited men who have sex with men from donating blood, but those rules have finally changed.

Public health experts aren't sure how many people die because of the heat each year, because there's no standard for what constitutes a "heat-related" death.

WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy talked with Elizabeth Warren about her takeaways from the trip and why the fight against Russia matters to the United States.

Heavy rains have caused massive damage for New England farmers this summer. Problems from heat, pests and drought are common. Some farmers are changing their practices to become more resilient to climate change.

The dreaded three-leafed vine is expected to take full advantage of warmer temperatures and rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to grow faster and bigger — and become even more toxic. Some New Englanders are seeing changes on the ground: a lot more poison ivy and a season that starts significantly earlier.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu will give law enforcement more authority to remove tents, and add more shelter beds, as the city looks to address worsening conditions in an area that's become a stubborn symbol of the region's opioid crisis.

Nantucket, with its dark sky, is unique: it’s one of the few places in eastern Massachusetts where people can see the Milky Way with the naked eye. But light pollution is threatening that clear view _ and increasing health risks.

City officials and health care professionals on Wednesday toured the now-dilapidated facilities. Inside, the buildings are in an eerie state of disrepair, nine years after being abandoned when the Long Island bridge shut down.

"People are so isolated and so lonely, and that has such a negative impact on their quality of life," said Jeff Keilson, senior vice president at Advocates, the human services agency that runs the Friendship Project.

In the state-funded family shelter system, more than 10% of the households are now in hotels and motels without the usual support staff and services. Many families in these units do not have easy access to translation, transportation and case management, among other services. 

EPA announced that it is planning to discontinue the Outfall Monitoring Science Advisory Panel (OMSAP) when it renews Deer Island’s discharge permit this year. OMSAP has monitored the effects of the outfall pipe on Massachusetts Bay for more than twenty years.

Cape and Islands District Attorney named retired detective Meredith Lobur to a "Brady List," alerting prosecutors to alleged misconduct that could make an officer's testimony unreliable in legal cases.

With intensive academic instruction and pre-college counseling, Thrive Scholars is on a mission to see its students — overwhelmingly students of color from low-income households — win seats at the nation’s top schools.

Last week, Massachusetts became the eighth state in the country to fund free school meals for all public school children, regardless of household income. Advocates hope it will reduce the stigma around free meals and remove the barrier to nourishment at school.

Families and community activists are questioning the decision, arguing the closures in two of Boston’s poorest neighborhoods underline a history of public underinvestment and neglect.

A federal judge in Texas has challenged the FDA's approval of one of two drugs used to cause an abortion. A contradictory ruling out of Washington state complicates the picture.

Lowell Public Schools have teamed up with the University of Massachusetts Lowell to offer college credit and potential scholarships to high schoolers interested in teaching. It’s a push for students to dream of becoming teachers.

Executive Director of the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce Grace Moreno is one of the 40 members on the Latino council. She speaks with WBUR's Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy about the council's priorities, and how it will address the diverse needs of a "Latino" population, which is made up of people of different nationalities.

More than 300 works spanning genres, cultures and eras fill room after room in the massive exhibition “Hokusai: Inspiration and Influence.”

On Thursday, former president Donald Trump was indicted on charges involving hush payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign. WBUR's Steve Brown talks with MassGOP chair Amy Carnevale for her reactions on the news.

The ongoing effort to address a backlog of maintenance projects inside the country’s oldest subway system has created mounting headaches for riders.

WBUR's Anthony Brooks was inside the park, speaking with fans about the Sox's prospects for the upcoming season, the new pitch clock that has baseball fans abuzz and more.

WBUR's Deborah Becker speaks with Kelly Turley, of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, about how the end of the policy will impact Massachusetts residents. 

Guthrie, a resident of western Massachusetts, will share stories from his life in music and entertainment. His short tour begins in Boston.

WBUR's Deborah Becker speaks with Boston Globe sports writer Chad Finn ahead of Thursday's Red Sox home opener, covering a range of topics including rookies to know and new rules. The Sox host the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park.

About half the wastewater sludge in the United States is turned into fertilizer. Some want to ban the practice because the sludge contains PFAS and can contaminate food crops. Others say the problem is not so simple.

Byron Rushing took over the legislative seat Mel King vacated in 1983. Rushing says King believed in bringing all races together to work on social justice issues.

In a city that touts its history as a temporary home to two giants of the Civil Rights Movement, Mel King was 100% home-grown: a tireless organizer against apartheid and multiple wars, and in favor of affordable housing, good paying jobs and more.

In the wake of the Feb. 16 fire, residents want to know what they breathed in, and what local and state officials are going to do to keep them safe in the future.

The class-action settlement aims to address long waits for families applying for shelter. It also creates a more robust system for moving families closer to communities where they have ties through work, school and family.

Attorneys suspect brain disease and illegal drugs could have been factors in the former NFL player's death. But experts warn that suicide is complicated and can rarely be distilled to a singular trigger.

Tim Pettit is a manager at the Red Sox Team Store. The business across the street from Fenway was founded in 1947 by Arthur and Henry D’Angelo and is still owned by the D’Angelo family; Pettit has been working there since he was a teenager in the mid-1990s. He says hope does indeed spring eternal for the Red Sox.

Educators and special education advocates hope this will improve the special education planning process, leading to more high-quality individual education program documents for students.

For the past nine months, Polina Makarenko has lived in Hampton Falls with her mother, Nina. They are refugees from the Ukrainian war; a family divided and forced to flee to New Hampshire, a place they’d never heard of.

The report calls for international caps on plastic production and reductions in the toxicity of chemicals in plastics.