Sale of Benjamin Healthcare faces scrutiny at public hearing
Community members at the public hearing, which was held over a telephone conference call that lasted about an hour, were generally hesitant or opposed to the sale, which they said they worry could negatively impact residents or the facility. They also expressed concern about limited communication about the pending sale.

Open enrollment for health insurance begins
“Obviously we think it’s really important for everyone in Massachusetts to have health insurance,” said Jason Lefferts, senior director of external affairs at the Massachusetts Health Connector. “We want people to be able to have coverage, to be able to go to the doctor, to lead their healthiest lives possible.

State’s new pay-transparency law reshapes hiring for small businesses and job seekers
A new Massachusetts law that took effect Oct. 29 requires most employers to post pay ranges in job listings, a step designed to make wages fairer and narrow long-standing gender and racial pay gaps.

Culpepper wins D7 councilor seat
District 7 City Councilor-elect Miniard Culpepper talks with supporters at his election watch party at Hibernian Hall, Nov. 4. Culpepper won his bid to represent the district — which includes parts of Roxbury, Dorchester, the South End and Fenway — by 600 votes over his opponent Said Ahmed, according to unofficial results from the city of Boston.

Sarah Roberts Elementary School: Honoring the forgotten 5-year-old civic hero
Living in the West End of Boston in the 1840s, Roberts was required to attend the Abiel Smith School, an all-Black public elementary school. The city required all Black elementary schoolers to attend Smith, located on Joy Street on the north side of Beacon Hill where a sizable Black community lived.

Prosecutors will not retry man who spent more than 25 years in prison for a murder in Boston
Their findings spurred the prosecutor’s office to pick up its own investigation. The local district attorney’s office, led by Suffolk County’s Kevin Hayden, agreed that McGee deserved a new trial and filed a motion last month saying a combination of errors created “a substantial risk of a miscarriage of justice” in the original trial.

Democrats cave at their own peril
As the federal shutdown entered its fortieth day, the Republican-controlled Senate voted to end the shutdown after the capitulation of seven Democrats and one independent.

“Great, they held out long enough for people to lose SNAP benefits and still ended up caving.”
“Great, they held out long enough for people to lose SNAP benefits and still ended up caving.”.

Black history rises in the South
A new interest in Black history is rising in red, red, red states across the former Confederacy, from Florida to Texas.

Protect Massachusetts family homes and land
When someone dies without a will, their property is often inherited jointly by multiple family members as “tenants in common.” This type of intergenerational transfer of property is especially common among lower-income households.

To honor veterans this Veterans Day, increase their access to mental health care
Currently we are losing 17 veterans a day in this country to what President Biden has called the “silent scourge of suicide.” In 2020, the suicide rate among U.S. veterans was 31.7 per 100,000, 57.3% greater than nonveterans, and suicide was the second leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45.

IN THE NEWS
Winston Bodrick has been appointed executive director of the Roxbury YMCA. With extensive experience in leadership and his role as a civic leader in the community, Bodrick brings with him expertise that will guide the YMCA into a new chapter of growth and improvement for the benefit of the community.

Exhibit documents Arab American history in Boston
A hundred years back, the area around Chinatown had a distinctly Middle Eastern flavor. At the same time Chinese Americans began settling in the area between Essex Street and the right of way now occupied by Interstate 90, so too did immigrants from...

Doctors warn cost-cutting strategy could force them from independent practice
Cigna implemented a policy last week to flag bills that appear to be too high. The insurance company may reduce payouts by one billing level “when the encounter criteria on the claim does not support the higher-level” payment code, the new policy says.

Visit holiday markets for great gifts
Many holiday markets are outdoors rain or shine, so dress appropriately for the weather. In colder climates, layer up with hats, scarves and gloves. Wear closed-toe shoes, especially if the market is in a field or other non-paved area. Bring a tote bag for your purchases or for carrying layers as the day warms up.

SHOP LOCAL!
Small, independent businesses are more likely to, in turn, purchase goods and services from local suppliers and distributors, hire a local workforce and to do business with local financial institutions, the Labovitz School of Business and Economics at the University of Minnesota at Duluth says.

Give the gift of a membership
This holiday season, give a gift they can use all year round. A membership or subscription lets friends and family enjoy their present for months to come. Memberships or subscriptions offer the opportunity for an intensely personal and meaningful gift..

Herbie Hancock as ‘master griot, popular music high priest’
Jazz artistry is probably single-handedly one of the most “creative agency” forms of art. It just stands, represents and functions this way. Its very meaning is to create an experience for listeners and an expression for the artist, that is, by intention, reaching the highest level.

The mental health issues facing today’s athletes
When the news broke that 24-year-old Marshawn Kneeland of the Dallas Cowboys had taken his life, an all-too-familiar chill ran through me.

Two legendary sports figures died on the same day The lives of Paul Tagliabue and Lenny Wilkens
We will start with Paul Tagliabue, the former commissioner of the National Football League [1989-2006]. I met the man in 1990, shortly after he replaced Pete Rozelle. I was immediately impressed by his quiet demeanor as he took over for a man who drew strong opinions from his critics, particularly from the National Football League Players Association.

Coloring outside the lines: Nicole Wiggins’ journey from banking to business ownership
Given her additional experiences investing in real estate and running a small property management company since the 2000s, she connected with other successful real estate gurus to figure out her next steps.

The challenges of veteran-owned businesses
“We all go through this love-hate relationship with America — especially as veterans,” said Ducharme, executive director of the Massachusetts Veterans Chamber of Commerce. “We are at a moment where the people are mad at the government, therefore they’re mad at the veterans.

V!Healthy serves nutritious smoothies with a side of fitness in Roslindale
Husband and wife Hydn and Rossemary Vales decided to take a leap of faith and open their own cafe after years of dreaming of a community spot with healthier options. Their dream came true when V!Healthy opened to the public in May 2023.

All that glitters is Black owned
Boston is rapidly flipping through seasons, skipping Thanksgiving and going straight to the December holidays. The 50-foot Quincy Market holiday tree arrived last week and Snowport, one of the city’s biggest holiday markets, opened for the season on Friday.

Roxbury Court Cultural Appreciation Week Celebration
The Roxbury Court celebrated a Cultural Appreciation Week Celebration honoring the community’s legacy and contributions. The celebrations included cultural history lectures,panel discussions and music performances..

Sen. William Cowan portrait unveiling
A portrait of former Massachusetts Sen. William “Mo” Cowan, a beloved member of the Northeastern University community, now lives in the Boston campus’s Law Library. Thursday’s unveiling brought dignitaries including former Gov.

Supplier Diversity Week
On October 29, the City of Boston Department of Supplier Diversity held a Building Connections networking event for small businesses as part of city’s annual Supplier Diversity Week.

Hanscom Federal Credit Union honors veterans and military families
Hanscom Federal Credit Union joined the Boston Veterans Day Parade to honor veterans’ courage and commitment to the nation. The event brought together hundreds of participants and spectators, highlighting the city’s deep appreciation for those who have served.

Haitian folktales come alive in this puppetry performance
Haitian American actor, puppeteer and voice-over artist Emmanuel Elpenord will dazzle Boston audiences with two world-premiere performances at the Puppet Showplace Theater this month..

Steve McQueen: illuminating dark narratives
McQueen, who divides his time between London and Amsterdam, caught the attention of the world’s moviegoers with “12 Years A Slave,” which won an Academy Award in 2014 for Best Picture. For his work as an artist and filmmaker, he was knighted in 2020 by the British monarchy.

Cécile McLorin Salvant charms Boston audience
The rapt audience at Berklee Performance Center on Nov. 1 for a concert by vocalist and composer Cécile McLorin Salvant and her ensemble was treated to music that at times seemed to be a new art form—combining the emotional intensity and lyricism of an operatic aria with the improvisational spontaneity and rhythmic spine of jazz.