Boston’s rat plan aims for coordinated effort to tackle the city’s rodent population
That plan encompasses a multi-departmental effort across the Boston government to reduce the rodent population, with steps including improving trash collection in spaces like public parks, monitoring and educating about littering in housing and public housing areas, and better data collection and monitoring.

As Brockton’s school money dried up, state raised the heat and split
“The district’s decision to reduce leadership … in order to protect teaching positions has resulted in unstable systems and practices to create and drive improvement initiatives,” the report concluded. Reviewers cited a “cascading impact” of reduced leadership and supervision.

Parks Commission backs Wu, votes in favor of White Stadium demolition
For months, the proposed overhaul has divided Franklin Park area residents, with some showing support for the project and others raising concerns about the environmental impact, noise and transportation.

State announces deals for transition of ownership at five Steward hospitals
At a press conference Friday, Aug. 16, Healey said that Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton, Morton Hospital in Taunton, St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Holy Family’s Haverhill and Methuen campuses, and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton are all in the process of being purchased and taken over by new hospital systems.

Upcoming elections causing stress? Experts say there are steps you can take
With the upcoming federal and state elections, stress around voting and the broader political landscape is growing. According to a report released in May by the American Psychiatric Association, nearly three-quarters of adults in the country are feeling anxious about November’s presidential election.

Biden passes the torch
Before Biden took the stage as the final speaker Monday night, the convention was already off to a dynamic start, thanks to remarks from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who delivered a ceremonial vote for the vice-presidential nominee.

DNC honors past, lays out bright future
This week, the Democratic Party is holding its quadrennial convention in Chicago Illinois, the 11th time that the party has held its conference in the Windy City, where it is presenting its best storytellers and having them share with the American people their past achievements and, even more important, their vision for the future.

The Democratic Party unites behind Harris.
The Democratic Party unites behind Harris..

IN THE NEWS
Natick Public Schools welcomes Audi Lynch as its new METCO director. With more than 55 years of participation in the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) program, the district is pleased to continue its commitment under Lynch’s leadership.

DNC’s love offers a sharp contrast to RNC’s hate
Convention co-chair Minyon Moore, a Black woman from Chicago, and Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison, a Black man from South Carolina, gaveled the convention to order.

The IRA is still our biggest step toward a brighter future for our children
I often think about a factory hallway in Dalton, Georgia that is filled with pictures drawn by children. It is a reminder of what can be, what will be, thanks to the historic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which celebrates its second anniversary this month.

New book explores the evolution of Black homeownership on Martha’s Vineyard
While many people know about the presence of Black people on the island, the history of that heritage is lesser known. Taylor and his friend Thomas Dresser, also an Oak Bluffs resident, set out to change that.

The Cottagers, Inc. support the Vineyard through service
Located on Martha’s Vineyard, The Cottagers, Inc. is a philanthropic volunteer organization of 100 African American female homeowners whose mission is to support charitable, educational and community service projects that improve the quality of life on the island.

Black Greek Week on Martha’s Vineyard
The Brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. pose for their annual group photo on the Vineyard..

Charles Ogletree Public Forum Series
One of the latest installments of the 2024 Charles Ogletree Public Forum Series took place on Aug. 7. The panel featuring Rashad Bilal, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Thea James and Ayanna Pressley tackled Economic Mobility as a Pathway to Health Equity. It was moderated by MSNBC’s.

Third Annual Vines & Vibes Day Party & Fundraiser
The ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® - Psi Iota Omega Chapter and the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.® - Eta Phi Chapter held their Third Annual Vines & Vibes Day Party & Fundraiser. The event raised money to help those experiencing food insecurity on the island.

BMC’s Elevating Health Equity Panel: Advancing Black Men’s Mental Health
Boston Medical Center held a series of events on the Vineyard this summer around elevating health equity. One of the panels, Advancing Black Men’s Mental Health, included Will Packard, Dr. David Henderson and Demond Martin with MSNBC’s “The Weekend” co-host Symone Sanders-Townsend serving as the moderator.

African American Film Festival
The Centerpiece of the 22nd annual Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, which took place August 2–10, was “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You- Can-Eat.” The film follows a trio of best friends played by Uzo Aduba, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Sanaa Lathan.

Dominican Parade
The Dominican House of Culture in Boston Inc. held the Dominican Parade and Festival on Sunday. The event began with a parade (above right) from Centre Street in Jamaica Plain to Franklin Park. The event included live entertainment, lots of dancing and, of course, lots of delicious food.

African Festival of Boston
The 14th Annual African Festival of Boston will take place August 17-18. The two day multi-cultural celebration featuring vibrant music, delicious food, and diverse aspects of African arts and culture was held in Boston Common.

Shellee Mendes’ White Party
Shellee Mendes, owner of Salon Monét, the only business on Boston’s Newbury Street owned by an African American woman, dedicated her annual White Party to EMPath. More than $15,000 was raised at this year’s event. The money will go towards programs that support moms with reaching their goals.

CDFI leader: Lending options are crucial for micro-businesses
A recent report from MassInc, a nonprofit focused on civic vitality, surveyed 22 CDFIs in the state and found that all of them have encountered challenges when securing funding, with 24% of survey respondents saying they’ve faced “significant challenges.

‘Supermarket redlining’: Why Black families pay more for food
Anyone wondering why it feels like grocery shopping requires taking out a small loan isn’t imagining things. Grocery prices, which soared due to pandemic-era inflation, are still just too blankity-blanking high, and the federal government suspects food producers might be engaged in some lucrative price-gouging.

The BIG3 Tournament and WNBA come to Boston
On Sunday, a capacity crowd turned out at the Garden for a tripleheader event, which began with a celebrity showcase game featuring Bachelor T.V. star Matt Jones, LSU basketball player Flau’jae Johnson, former NFL tight end Vernon Davis, and several famous rappers.

The other side of the game: Black athletes and mental health
Middleton knows all too well what can happen when Black athletes don’t have the support they need to cope with the pressures of life. In his second year with the New York Jets, his best friend, AJ, died by suicide.

The Negro League Legends Hall of Fame, USPS unveil Hank Aaron stamp
Nearly 100 attendees filled NLLHOF’s suite at Prince George’s Stadium to hear about Aaron’s legacy in both baseball and Black history and purchase envelopes bearing the stamp and the NLLHOF branding. Books of stamps were available on the stadium concourse for $14.

Bernice Johnson Reagon of The Freedom Singers and Sweet Honey in the Rock, 81
Bernice Johnson Reagon, a civil rights activist who cofounded The Freedom Singers and later started the African-American a capella vocal ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock, passed on recently at the age of 81. The world has lost a keeper of the pounding beat, resonant sound-song and lasting lyrics that can never be duplicated.

Earnings gap shrinks for poor Blacks while class differences expand for poor whites
The U.S. Census Bureau and Harvard University researchers released a report in late July that indicates that while the low-income earnings gap between Blacks and whites has narrowed, the gap between low-income and high-income young white adults has widened.

Primaries will decide several key local races
This week, many Democratic voters are laser-focused on their party’s national convention in Chicago. But while the party’s nomination of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz is a foregone conclusion, local Democrats in the Boston area face competitive races in the often-overlooked state primary, which this year takes place Sept.

Yssis Cano-Santiago wants more Latinx YA stories
In Yssis Cano-Santiago’s forthcoming young adult fiction novel, “A Hypochondriac’s Guide to Love,” two Latinx teenagers wrestle with the challenges of growing up in 1990s Miami against the backdrop of gentrification and racism.

‘Climate Monsters’ take over Boston Harbor
Tourists strolling along the HarborWalk will be surprised when they look into a series of viewfinders and, instead of seeing sweeping views of the Boston skyline, they’ll see primary-colored monsters emerging from the ocean.

Boston Jazz Festival showcases musical range
Showcasing local talent as well as performers from outside of Boston, the event, produced by Boss-Ten Productions and Larry J’s BBQ, is an opportunity to experience a range of music. Performers are reaching into the origins of jazz as well using music to express psychological concerns.