Racial tensions surface amid exam school debate
resignation of School Committee members Alexandra Oliver-Davila and Lorna Rivera, who left the body after text messages disparaging white West Roxbury parents were made public..

Pressley secures federal funding
U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley is fighting for funding for local community projects to help residents recover from several of last year’s hardships.

Millionaires tax campaign kicks off
While a recent poll showed 76% of voters approve the ballot initiative, activists with the group Raise Up Massachusetts are leaving nothing to chance. Over the last week, the group launched a series of organizing initiatives across the state to reach out to voters on the measure.

Juneteenth celebration
PHOTO: ANGELA ROWLINGS Twins Walter and Winston Mitchell, 6, salute Private members of the 54th Mass. Infantry Regiment Samuel Pierce, left, Corporal Dane Elliot-Lewis, and Capt. David Hencke during a Juneteenth celebration at the Martini Shell Park in Hyde Park.

Latinos underrepresented in state politics
The “Latinx Political Leadership in Massachusetts” report, released last week by UMass Boston’s Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, highlights the disparities in representation at both the municipal and state level, with the State House the most lacking in Latino representatives.

Legislators convene committee on race equity
“I think there’s a really unique opportunity for this committee, and in conjunction with the [Caucus] to really put pressure on the state powers, the Legislature and the governor’s office to make sure that those dollars are used equitably,” Fluker Oakley said.

A Texas holiday goes national
Rarely are individuals so honored. National holidays are usually just for annual events such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day and Independence Day. However, there was little question among reasonable people that King was worthy of the special distinction.

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The Christian church in the spotlight again
Later, the issue was how to embrace becoming the established church for the Roman people. By the time of Pope Gregory VII, the issue had become whether God’s vicar on earth ought to be a strident, temporal emperor over many lands, riches, armies and nations, in addition to his traditional role as the gentle spiritual leader of the voluntary faithful.

Boston needs an elected school committee
In October 2020, former Boston School Committee Chair Michael Loconto made racially charged comments about parents. He sparked a trend of what seems like episodes of a reality show, further highlighting the need for a fully elected school committee that is accountable to Boston Public School families and educators.

IN THE NEWS
Decibel Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to discovering and developing transformative treatments to restore and improve hearing and balance, announced the appointment of William Carson as chairman of the board of directors.

North Shore man fighting assault charge
After Haverhill resident Ernst Jean-Jacques was arrested following a December 2020 demonstration in Swampscott, the chair and vice chair of the town’s select board sent a letter to Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, urging him to drop the charges that Jean-Jacques had assaulted pro-Trump protestor Linda Greenberg.

America faces a housing crisis
Each year, Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) publishes a comprehensive report on the nation’s challenges and prospects in one of life’s most basic needs.

Few repercussions for cops who use excessive force
We had culled the videos from hundreds circulating on social media in the wake of the protests and highlighted the cases that seemed to clearly show officers using disproportionate force.

Committee grapples with exam schools
“To be honest, even though we’re talking about three schools, it’s really only one school that people are really anxious about, and that’s getting into Boston Latin School. And everybody who wants to go, can’t go, because there’s not enough space,” Robinson said.

Flynt-Banks joins Employment Commission
Meet Priscilla Flint-Banks. At 66, she is the co-founder of the Black Economic Justice Institute. And as of last Wednesday, Flint- Banks is the newest member of the seven-member Boston Employment Commission, which is supposed to make sure that Blacks,...

Growing a new beginning
Elizabeth James-Perry and Ekua Holmes are sowing the seeds of artistic healing on the front lawn of the Museum of Fine Arts. In “Garden for Boston,” running through September, the two local artists and activists are using nature to reimagine the way visitors are welcomed to the museum’s main entrance on Huntington Avenue.

Jamila Wignot’s ‘AILEY’ closes Rox. Film Festival
The 23rd annual Roxbury International Film Festival (RoxFilm) draws to a close on Saturday, June 26 with the inperson-only screening of the riveting documentary “AILEY” from award-winning director Jamila Wignot. The film screens at 6:30 p.m. at the Museum of Fine Arts.

Kenneth David Kaunda, 1924–2021
All day long on 17 June I was contacted by folks from all over the world, asking if I had heard that KK had died. Such as it should have been. Anybody that comes from or cares about Africa would have felt this loss. If Africa had a Mount Rushmore of iconic African leaders, Kenneth David Kaunda would be on it.