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Massachusetts

Mass. Food Banks Brace For Surge Of Need As $600 Unemployment Benefit Expires Soon

It’s a busy weekday at the Greater Boston Food Bank, where a large warehouse in Boston’s South End supplies some 350 soup kitchens and food pantries throughout the region. At the heart of the operation are about 25 workers — the ones who unpack food pallets and pack up orders for shipment. Damian Reynoso of Hyde Park knows from his own experience why the work he does matters, why he gets to work at 4 in the morning. Ive been homeless, a few years ago, so I was food insecure, Reynoso says...

Tanisha Wright (30) looks for an opening as she's guarded by Chiney Ogwumike (13) in a July 2018 Lynx vs Sun game at Target Center. — Lorie Shaull / Creative Commons / flickr.com/people/number7cloud/

Conn. Sun Prep To Play As WNBA, Ga. Senator Clash Over Black Lives Matter Movement

The Connecticut Sun continue preparations for the 2020 WNBA season despite recent controversial comments from Georgia Senator and Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler about the Black Lives Matter movement.

Mitchell Rozanski during a press conference introducing him as archbishop of St. Louis. — screenshot / Archdiocese of St. Louis

Complaint Alleges Springfield Bishop Covered Up Clergy Abuse

Despite Coronavirus, Some Hikers Go The Distance On The Appalachian Trail

White House

Trump Downplays Police Violence, Deaths Of Black Americans

Updated at 5:45 p.m. ET President Trump dismissed outrage over police killings, saying Tuesday that "more white people" are killed by police than Black people. "So are white people!" Trump said when asked in an interview with CBS News about why so many African Americans have been killed at the hands of police. "So are white people! What a terrible question to ask." Trump added that "more white people, by the way" are killed by police than Black people. More white people may be killed by...

Amherst Town Manager: UMass Students Could Spread COVID-19 Without Off-Campus Rules

By Karen Brown • Jul 14, 2020

The UMass Amherst campus. — Rhobite / Creative Commons / en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Rhobite

The town manager for Amherst warns that the influx of UMass students in the fall could spread COVID-19 in a town that, up until now, has had relatively few cases. He's asking the university to change its reopening plan to avoid making things worse.

Massachusetts Senate Approves Policing Reform After Overnight Session

By Matt Murphy / State House News Service • Jul 14, 2020

Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka speaks to reporters early Tuesday morning, alongside Sen. William Brownsberger, after the branch passed a wide-ranging police reform bill during a marathon 16-hour session. — Sam Doran / State House News Service

The Massachusetts Senate overcame a difficult rollout and several false starts to pass a far-reaching reform of policing on Tuesday.

Residential Schools — After Months Of Elevated Risk — Get Help From Baker Administration

By Max Larkin • Jul 13, 2020

Thirty-two residential schools that serve students with the most severe disabilities will receive much-needed aid from the state.

This spring, as other schools in Massachusetts closed their doors and moved instruction online, those schools stayed open — exposing students and staff to the virus and incurring millions in unmet costs. And even with this support, the risk isn’t over.

'Keep The Momentum': How Mass. Companies Say They'll Start — And Continue — To Fight Racism

By Zeninjor Enwemeka • Jul 13, 2020

George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis, but his death hit home for Boston Scientific because the company has nearly 9,000 employees in Minnesota.

“We immediately held listening sessions with our executives,” said Desiree Ralls-Morrison, a senior vice president and general counsel for the medical device maker.

With or without a link to the Twin Cities, many Massachusetts firms say they are committed to confronting racism — even within their own organizations — after Floyd’s death sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and racial inequality.

18 Attorneys General File Suit Over ICE Rule

By Chris Van Buskirk / State House News Service • Jul 13, 2020

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. — Jesse Costa / WBUR

A coalition of 18 attorneys general — including those representing Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island — is suing the Trump administration to block a new federal rule that bars international higher education students from studying in the United States if they are taking online-only courses this fall.

More Regional News

western massachusetts

The Self-Defense Brigade Anti-Oppression Rally for George Floyd, at the Keney Park Woodland entrance in Hartford, Connecticut, on June 1, 2020. — Joe Amon / Connecticut Public / NENC

How Cities' Use-Of-Force Policies Vary, And A Police Culture Persists

After more than a month of protests against racial injustice by police and the killing of George Floyd, some police departments are considering revising their policies on use of force.

ICE Agrees To Rescind Policy Barring Foreign Students From Online Study In The U.S.

Updated at 6:34 p.m. ET In a swift reversal, the Trump administration has agreed to rescind a directive that would have barred international college students from the U.S. if their colleges offered classes entirely online in the fall semester. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement rule change , released last week, would have prohibited foreign students from entering or remaining in the country to take fully online course loads. A number of colleges and universities had already...

NEPM Now

Our Commitment: Civil Dialogue, Context and Conversation

We are deeply saddened by the tragic events of the last several weeks which have shaken the Black community. The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and too many other Black Americans have triggered national and international outrage and calls for systemic change. We once again see the bitter truths about racism, inequality, and injustice. This is a difficult time in our Nation’s history. Unlike many countries around the world which have experienced similar horrific...