EPA announces Neponset Superfund cleanup plan
While activities like boating are allowed on the river, which traces Boston’s southern border with Milton, officials warn against swimming and wading. Public health guidance discourages eating fish from the river, though catch-and-release fishing is permitted.

Advocates push for ranked-choice voting option
Ranked-choice voting allows a voter to list their candidates on a ballot in order of preference. If voters’ first-choice candidate does not secure enough votes to win, their vote goes to their second-ranked candidate. Under most ranked-choice systems, voters can vote for just one candidate or as many others as they would like.

Roxbury workforce development conference tackles AI, equity in hiring
Massachusetts Life Science Center President and CEO Dr. Kirk Taylor delivers keynote remarks at the 2025 Roxbury Worx conference at Roxbury Community College, Nov. 13. The event brought together organizations, institutions and advocates to discuss how to expand access to biotech, health care and climate technology jobs in Roxbury.

Housing report card finds persistent challenges for renters, homeowners
At the state level, various efforts have aimed to close some of those gaps. The controversial 2021 MBTA Communities Act pushed communities to reconsider zoning to potentially allow for more housing.

Orchard Gardens seniors gather for a home-cooked Thanksgiving rooted in care
(Above) Seniors at Orchard Gardens share a Thanksgiving meal during the housing development’s annual holiday gathering on Nov. 14. (Right) Melissa Maharaj, who organizes and cooks the annual Thanksgiving meal for Orchard Gardens seniors serves food to a resident.

Harvard custodial workers go on two-day strike over pay
The union that represents the 800 workers, 32BJ SEIU, says that Harvard’s offer of an annual salary increase of 2.2% doesn’t address the cost of living and the worry about inflation increasing expenses for everyone. Union representatives say custodial staff currently make $28 an hour.

“Another Course to College changed my future.”
“Another Course to College changed my future.”.

Keep Another Course to College: Our students need as many programs as they can get
Almost 50 years ago, faculty members at UMass Boston, working with the Boston Public Schools, created a college prep school called Another Course to College. The innovative school offered rigorous courses, small classes and the chance to earn college credits.

IN THE NEWS
Bates College has appointed Kamal A. Kariem as a tenure-track assistant professor of anthropology, bringing a wide-ranging portfolio of scholarship to the liberal arts institution in Lewiston, Maine.

Good news in Gary and Pittsburgh — but still America declines
Thirty miles south of Chicago, the Gary Works steel mill is getting a $14 billion modernization, protecting tens of thousands of jobs. Similar investments are underway in Pittsburgh. On the surface, these are the headlines American manufacturing needs.

Mary Sheffield’s win expands the legacy of Black women mayors
Her victory is more than symbolic; it’s a testament to the transformative power of Black women’s leadership and a powerful addition to the growing sisterhood of Black women mayors who are redefining what executive power looks like in America’s cities.

LGBTQ+ Elders of Color hosts joyful storytelling day
Founded in 2013, early meetings were heavily focused on people who were affected by HIV and AIDS, according to Shirley Royster, one of the co-founders of the organization.

High-dosage tutoring helps struggling students
“Behavioral high-dosage tutoring is a successful component of our data-driven model that is accelerating student growth and serving as a cornerstone of our student support strategy,” testified Kate Lally, Haverhill Public Schools’ K-12 math supervisor.

Immigrants are vital community members. Let’s start acting like it
Somewhere between the wrenching ICE raids that separate families from places they call home and the fierce debates they ignite lies a question we have failed to adequately address:

For Black kids, childhood must include political education
No group of young people has borne more of this nation’s contradictions—its violence, hypocrisy, and broken promises—than they have. From the time they can walk, Black children are too often made to carry the weight of a society that refuses to see their innocence.

City’s Supplier Diversity dept. completes first term with successes and goals for the future
Boston’s Chief of Economic Opportunity Segun Idowu says the initiative has had “tremendous success” over the past four years when it comes to efforts to make sure that contracts are being awarded to Boston-based businesses, especially those owned by women and people of color.

A tribute to MIT Coach Larry Anderson
Question: Name the winningest men’s basketball coach in the history of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

MLB celebrates its best postseason awards
Major League Baseball held its annual postseason awards event before a sellout crowd in Las Vegas, with Aaron Judge (New York Yankees), Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers), Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers) taking home the top honors for their on-field performances of this past season.

Worrell Turkey Drive
The fifth annual Worrell Turkey Drive, organized by State Rep. Christopher Worrell (5th Suffolk District) and Boston City Councilor Brian Worrell, took place in Boston on Saturday, where they provided thousands of turkeys to local community members..

Teen Empowerment Change Begins with Youth Gala
Teen Empowerment’s Change Begins with Youth Gala was a tremendous success, raising $230,000. The event celebrated the powerful voices of TE youth, who shared their personal stories and demonstrated their talents through expressive arts performances and an interactive painting project.

Omega Pathways
In honor of Achievement Week, the brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. held Omega Pathways featuring panelists in Commercial Real Estate. Manhood to Fatherhood panel to address the value of Black men in the homes and community. Oratory Competition awarded scholarships to local students participating in the Essay Contest.

Boston restaurants stepped up to bridge SNAP gap
During the recent government shutdown, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits were in jeopardy and food insecurity rose dramatically across the country. 42 million Americans rely on SNAP for food assistance and for several weeks went without.

‘A Letter to Myself ’ brunch encourages Black women to reflect and connect
The BlackBrown Boston organization is preparing to host its second annual brunch, “A Letter To Myself, Vol. II,” on Nov. 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The gathering is described as “a soulful intentional brunch for women to close out the year with reflection, connection, and renewed motivation.

MFA restores ownership of enslaved artist’s ceramic works to his descendants
Descendants of David Drake attend a ceremony at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to celebrate a historic resolution regarding ownership of two works by the enslaved potter and poet.

Gregory Groover Jr. gets personal
Aided by four highly regarded musicians, the album, released Nov. 7 by the Dutch record company Criss Cross Jazz, shows Groover’s confidence by taking his music out of its previous thematic contexts. The recording is more about the band’s ease and trust in one another.

Cambridge Community Foundation invests $1.4 million in diverse arts organizations
The Cambridge Community Foundation launched a huge cultural initiative last month. Created in response to federal budget cuts, Culture Connects Cambridge is a $1.4 million, multi-year investment program supporting diverse arts and culture initiatives across the city.