Ahead of election, racial equity, Supreme Court, abortion access are priorities for Banner readers
Among voters at-large across the U.S., priorities differed. Nationally, the economy was the most pressing issue for voters, according to a Pew Research report published last month. In that research, 81% of all voters surveyed identifying it as a “very important” issue.

Youth voter turnout on the rise as millions come of age
Simonini, a 20-year-old student at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, has been working as a poll worker in his hometown of Billerica since he was 17 years old, which catalyzed his decision to join MASSPIRG Students, a statewide nonpartisan...

The Reggie, BAA announce partnership, $1.3M investment
The four-year agreement will include a $700,000 direct monetary investment as well as entries to the marathon, the BAA said, which will contribute up to $1.3 million to the Reggie’s fundraising efforts as the community sports center seeks to expand its sports and wellness programming.

Mass. electorate to vote on five ballot questions
Ballot referenda allow activists to enact law without a vote of the Legislature by taking a question directly to voters. Groups seeking to place questions on the ballot had to secure 74,574 signatures from registered voters — 3% of the number of ballots cast in the most recent gubernatorial election — under Massachusetts law.

Residents say drug activity migrated into neighborhoods surrounding Mass. and Cass since tent removal
This “has made a quality of life in and around Andrew Square and … the South End and the adjoining neighborhoods even lower than what it has been. It is much more dangerous walking in our neighborhood,” she said. “We’re just moving a problem. We are not solving it.

NeighborHealth’s new radiology suite may increase access to care, reduce health inequities
Greg Wilmot, president and CEO of NeighborHealth, delivers remarks at the ribbon cutting of the new radiology suite at the company’s South End health center location. The new suite, which provides X-rays and mammograms, is expected to increase access to screening and care for patients at the health center with shorter wait times and easier access.

Corporatization of news media leads to bad choices
This week, two major newspapers declined to endorse a candidate for president of the United States. This was especially troubling because they are two of the most widely read and important papers in the country — the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post.

“Soon-Shiong and Bezos gave in to fear of Trump’s retribution.”
“Soon-Shiong and Bezos gave in to fear of Trump’s retribution.”.

Boston’s Black LGBTQ+ community wants to hear from Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris’ life as vice president took a 180-degree-turn in 24 hours, from her stumping for Joe Biden in Provincetown, an LGBTQ+ culture hub and haven, on Saturday, July 20, to becoming a potential presidential nominee on Sunday, July 21 when the news broke of Biden leaving the race.

Why Black kids need the Education Dept. — and why Trump wants it gone
Since it split off from the former Department of Health, Education and Welfare in the 1980s, the Education Department has been a frequent target for the far right, who see it as a wasteful, “woke” bureaucracy interfering with local control of schools.

IN THE NEWS
The former Apostolic Pentecostal Church that was founded in 1917 spent months looking for a new senior pastor, with candidates from myriad backgrounds and profiles. The search committee for Abundant Life Church had specific requirements in mind.

BPS looks to electrify bus fleet with diesel bus retrofits
Using new federal funding aimed at reducing diesel emissions, the city is now looking to buy 10 new electric buses and retrofit 15 existing diesel buses to run on electric batteries instead, a step Boston Public School’s transportation department said will be important to meet the 2030 goal of electrifying the whole fleet.

Temu or Shein could be hazardous to your health — especially if you’re Black
Every day, hundreds of social media fashion influencers inundate TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube with videos showing off eye-popping hauls from Temu, Shein, and other low-priced, fast-fashion brands.

15th Annual Interfaith Mini-Walk for Hunger
(left) Interfaith Walk for Hunger participant with four-legged friend. (right) Interfaith Walk for Hunger participants gather before the walk..

METCO Showcase
(left) Wayland representative La Toya Rover provides young people and parents with information about METCO at the annual METCO Showcase at the Boys & Girls Club – Blue Hill Club in Dorchester on October 26. (right) Walpole schools staff member Atisha Winslow provides information to attendees at the METCO Showcase.

MFA Late Nites
(left) Brandie Blaze performs at MFA Late Nites in the Shapiro Family Courtyard at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. (right) Two visitors dance to a performance at MFA Late Nites..

The Banner streaming newscast brings you the latest urban news in Boston
Topics include her election stumping for the Democrats, how elements from Pressley’s groundbreaking bill on small business grants are being incorporated into Vice President Kamala Harris’ Opportunity Agenda, and her congressional plans for the upcoming term.

Obfuscated boost to education rankings masks missed targets
Massachusetts ranks each public school and district. Our accountability system designates them as “school of recognition” or “meeting or exceeding targets” at the top, opposite “focused/targeted support” and “broad/comprehensive support.” The last carries the dreaded “chronically underperforming” tag.

Cathedral High School raises $60 million
Students gala with attendees for a photo at the gala. (front) Garina Rodriguez ‘25, Janiya Simpson ‘27 (middle) J. Keith Motley, Amirah Rodriguez ‘25, Kelsey Savignano ‘25, Preston Daley ‘25, (back) Noah Glemaud ‘25, Paul Francisco, Michael JeanPierre ‘29, Nancy Caruso, Cathedral H.

Slutty Vegan founder looks to create a lasting legacy
The crowd roared in applause and cheers as Pinky Cole Hayes came out to greet the audience, dancing to “Back That Thang Up,” by hip-hop artist Juvenile, as the keynote speaker for the 2024 Mass Black Expo conference, “Building Black Wealth, Empowering Black Voices,” held last weekend.

MCCA’s board names Marcel Vernon Sr. as chief executive
A 2023 independent report, commissioned by the Authority and produced by the law firm Prince Lobel, found multiple issues that continued to plague the MCCA, which included the fact that, since 2019, no Black and Hispanic employees served in senior...

Basketball news: Celtics raise banner no. 18, Lebron James and son make NBA history
After raising NBA Championship Banner No. 18, the most in NBA History, the Boston Celtics opened their 2024-25 regular season campaign by making a team record twenty-nine threepoint shots enroute to their 132- 109 victory over the New York Knickerbockers at the T.

Boston International Lions are City League champs
Last year, the team, coached by 2023 Coach of the Year Edmar Varela, lost a squeaker to Boston Latin School 3-2, ending their hopes of being Kings of the City. Against Dearborn, the team was led by forward Jerry Registe, who scored the only two goals needed for the win.

Dodgers take lead over Yankees in World Series
As of this writing, the Los Angeles Dodgers hold a 3-0 lead over the New York Yankees in the 2024 Major League Baseball World Series. A breakdown of this series shows the Dodgers’ comeback ability and the Yankees’ failure to hit with runners on base..

Local Puerto Ricans say Trump rally ‘joke’ ignores cultural contributions and struggles
At a Madison Square Garden rally in New York on Sunday, stand-up comic Tony Hinchcliffe said to the crowd, “I don’t know if you guys know this, but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.

DJ Jazzy Jeff returns to Boston to raise money for Berklee College of Music
“I’m tapped into so many producers, singers and songwriters, so many of them have had some kind of path at Berklee, from Joe Davis to Phil Beaudreau to Yaahn Hunter Jr. to The Pocket Queen. Every time I come across these people and you hear this story, ‘Oh, yeah.

Dancing ‘From Bach to Bowie’ with Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Entitled “From Bach to Bowie,” the company’s 90-minute program provided an exciting introduction to the dancers and their repertoire. Choreographed by company co-founder Dwight Rhoden, the program began with a suite of five short works and, following an intermission, continued with a performance of “STAR DUST: A Ballet Tribute to David Bowie” (2016).

Imagine a world without prisons
With approximately 2 million people incarcerated in the United States at any given time, the highest in the world, and about 10 million people worldwide, it’s an audacious inquiry. A forthcoming science fiction production dares to tackle the question by bringing to life a universe in which prisons are eradicated.

The 9-play ‘Ufot Family Cycle’ opens with ‘Sojourners’ at The Huntington
Playwright Mfoniso Udofia has been telling the stories of her characters in the Ufot family since 2009. Now, for the first time, her Ufot Family Cycle of nine plays will be performed consecutively at The Huntington over the course of two years. This all-encompassing art experience begins this month with “Sojourners.