State v. town of Milton as Mass. top court hears arguments in MBTA zoning fight
Representatives for the attorney general and town of Milton delivered arguments in front of the Supreme Judicial Court Oct. 7 about the attorney general’s ability to compel the municipality to adopt new zoning rules under a state law that would create more multifamily housing near public transit.

MGH partners with community for research on aging
The effort represents a push by a study team at Massachusetts General Hospital to partner with communities in the research and to focus on education and strategies to help older adults manage chronic pain and memory-related problems — two issues...

Boston hotel workers strike for better wages
Hotels, like many industries in the U.S., took a hit during the COVID pandemic as lockdowns and the absence of business conferences and tourism dried up demand for rooms. While business is back up now, hotel workers say they need higher wages to live within commuting distance of their places of work.

What’s fair in public education?
State law once allowed BESE to defund any district under certain criteria: test scores below average by 20 points, a basic skills test failure rate 50 points above average, the dropout rate 50% above the previous year or if the teacher-to-student ratio was 20% below average.

For pending Roxbury birth center, new maternal health legislation offers expanded potential
Gov. Maura Healey signs a bill expanding access to midwives, doulas and postpartum mental health in state at a ceremonial event, Aug. 26. Supporters of the new law said the legislation will help support the expansion of out-of-hospital births at home or in birth centers, which they hope will help reduce maternal health disparities.

As head of Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound, Sylvia McKinney focuses on climate resilience, growth
Cathleen Stone Island, one of Boston’s 34 harbor islands, is within shouting distance from South Boston, with Quincy to its south and Spectacle Island to its northeast. Renamed from Thompson Island for lawyer and environmental advocate Cathleen D. Stone, the island is home to Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound, an outdoor education nonprofit.

Why we Black men should support Kamala Harris now
Vice President Kamala Harris is a former district attorney and attorney general in California, where she was the first Black woman elected statewide, and also a former U.S. senator from the Golden State. The Democratic nominee is pitted against Republican businessman and former president Donald Trump.

It’s time for American to welcome our first female leader, like the rest of the Western world.
It’s time for American to welcome our first female leader, like the rest of the Western world..

IN THE NEWS
Visual media artist and Brown University professor Anthony Cokes was recently named as a recipient of the 2024 Genius Grant Fellowship, given by the MacArthur Foundation. Cokes is one of 22 individuals to receive the $800,000 grant from the foundation, money the recipient intends to use in pursuit of furthering his vision and career.

Indigenous communities continue to lead in some of our most crucial environmental fights
Contamination from lead, arsenic and the other toxins in Tar Creek in northeastern Oklahoma stole the potential of many children of the Quapaw Nation. As a parent, I can only imagine the anguish and the anger.

Preserving the path to success: Why the MCAS matters
As a parent and a former Cambridge School Committee member who cares deeply about setting up our children for success, I am deeply concerned about the proposed elimination of the 10th-grade assessment as a high school graduation requirement.

A girl from Roxbury in Paris for Fashion Week
The first recognized Paris Fashion Week was held in October 1973, organized by the Fédération Française de la Couture. Both American and Parisian designers attended the event, including Anne Klein, Bill Blass, Stephen Burrows, Oscar de la Renta, Hubert de Givenchy, and Yves Saint Laurent.

Bluebikes system surpasses 25 million rides
Now, there are Bluebike stands all around the commonwealth. Since starting with four bike stands in four cities, the mass transportation system has expanded to 13 cities across the state, including Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Medford, Malden, Newton, Revere, Salem, Somerville and Watertown.

How AI is shaping the future of education
People today must deal with the fact that those skilled in AI will undoubtedly replace those who are not. When it comes to education, how will education and learning be affected by the requirement that the workforce of the future be AI-ready? What matters more is how today’s educators and students are affected by AI’s growing use and acceptance.

Centering the Child & Childhood: Belonging in Park’s Upper Division
At Park, we intentionally call Grades 5 through 8 the “Upper Division.” Unlike at schools where the spotlight shines mainly on the efforts of high school students, students in Park’s Grades 5-8 are the leaders of the school – growing in confidence and accomplishment, finding joy in challenge.

Black Girls Love Math: Challenging gender and racial stereotypes
Harmon decided she wanted to stop this cycle. In 2020, she created Black Girls Love Math (BGLM), an organization based in Philadelphia that seeks to eradicate racial and gender inequality in mathematics.

Reading and moving: great ways to help young children grow
Before a child even steps into a classroom or child care center, their first life lessons occur within the walls of their home. During their formative years, from birth to age 5, children undergo significant cognitive, motor and behavioral development.

Four ways Black parents can get involved this school year
The 2024 school year will pass crucial milestones, including the end of federal COVID-19 relief funds in September, which helped schools hire extra teachers, and a November presidential election in which Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, has proposed eliminating the Department of Education.

Mass Black Expo aims to ‘meet the moment’
This year, the event, created by the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, or BECMA, will take place 10 days before the presidential election. As such, the organization will incorporate into its programming discussions at the intersection of small business matters and the current political climate.

When mental health awareness meets ‘working while Black’
But experts say the U.S. is grappling with a mental health crisis on the job, a problem that has grown exponentially since the COVID-19 pandemic. And while all employees face more barriers to getting mental health support at the office, the hurdle is higher for Black employees.

Liberty rout Lynx to tie WNBA finals
The New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx find themselves locked at one win apiece in their best of five Women’s National Basketball Association Championship series.

World Series race: And then there were four
Now, the Guardians are in an American League Pennant battle with the New York Yankees for the right to go to the World Series, which begins October 25. The best-of-seven AL Championship started this week with games one and two in New York on Monday and Tuesday.

O’Bryant girls’ volleyball team shines
Boston City sports eyes are on the John D. O’Bryant girls’ volleyball team this year with a 13-1 record. The Tigers have an unblemished home record at 8-0 and are 4-1 on the road with their only loss coming at the hands of the Boston Latin Academy Dragons.

Decade-old Heat-n-Eats program rescues food waste, curbs food insecurity
The nonprofit behind the initiative, Food for Free, is one of the nation’s oldest food rescue distribution programs. Founded back in 1981 and headquartered in Somerville, the organization aims to provide consistent and reliable access to fresh, nutritious food across Eastern Massachusetts.

Marvin Gilmore, the centenarian
“This event, which took place two days before his actual birthday, was actually called a ‘Turning 100 Centenarian Celebration’ because it was very clear that we can celebrate someone who is turning 100, and it puts a movement [in] perspective,” said Marque Gilmore, Gilmore’s son.

Salem launches guaranteed-income program
The city announced Tuesday that it is launching a guaranteed income pilot program, which will give $500 a month over the next year to 100 residents living at or below the federal poverty line. Residents can apply for the program beginning on Oct. 28, and participants will be chosen by a lottery.

Red Cross weighs in on aiding communities recovering from back-to-back hurricanes
Hurricane Helene touched down in Florida on Sept. 26 as a Category 4 storm that devastated communities across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Art and health intersect at an upcoming community activation
Harmony and Healing,” a celebration focusing on BIPOC communities, is an all-day affair, showcasing artists, performers, health care professionals and thought leaders from the greater Roxbury and Dorchester area.

MAAH Stone Book Award honors three authors of African American histories
Three books — a chronicle of Black Wall Street and biographies of W.E.B Du Bois and scholar Merze Tate — are the recipients of this year’s MAAH Stone Book Award, a collaboration between the Museum of African American History and the James M. and Cathleen D.

Mother-daughter bond: Mickalene Thomas’ portrait of her mother graces Gardner façade
On Evans Way in Fenway, there is a large portrait of a beautiful, regal Black woman. She is looking off to her right wearing a striking red and black outfit, while sitting on a loud multipatterned sofa. The background is a collage made up of a variety of prints and patterns, including zebra stripes and gray wood paneling.

Commonwealth Fest
Smino (left) and Cousin Stizz (right) hyped up the late night crowd..

Mass Music and Arts Summit
MMAS 2024 provided an exciting platform for emerging artists, producers, and creative entrepreneurs to connect with industry leaders and gain valuable insights to help elevate their careers. Toki Wright moderates a fireside chat with artist, LaRussell.

Commonwealth Fest
Commonwealth Fest was more than just a festival — it was a celebration of Boston’s vibrant culture, curated by local rapper and headliner Cousin Stizz (above)..

Justice George Lewis Ruffin Society Distinguished Fellows
The Justice George Lewis Ruffin Society celebrated its 40th Anniversary with the induction of 18 criminal justice leaders into its 2024 inaugural Class of “Distinguished Fellows” earlier this month at Northeastern University’s Alumni Center..

Mass Music and Arts Summit
Boston non-profit, Beat the Odds proudly held the inaugural Mass Music & Arts Summit (MMAS) last week. The event brought together leading figures from the music and entertainment industries. BTO Artist, Jo Saza performs..

Commonwealth Fest
The one day festival took over City Hall Plaza and featured local artists, DJs, food trucks, a flea market and much more..