Federal immigration mandates rattle Boston as visa pause, TPS uncertainty grip communities
The pause comes from a Jan. 14 State Department memo halting the issuance of immigration visas for nationals from 38% of the world’s countries. The memo states: “President Trump has made clear that immigrants must be financially self-sufficient and not be a financial burden to Americans.

The 98th Academy Awards is dominated by ‘Sinners’
That long-awaited moment has finally arrived. “Sinners” has made Oscar history, earning 16 Academy Award nominations, the most ever for a single film in the Oscars’ 98-year history.

In State of the Commonwealth, Healey touts sucesses, goals for affordability, housing
“The reality is these are really tough times, people are feeling it,” she said at a joint session of the Legislature on Jan. 22. “Everything is more expensive — groceries, a cup of coffee, the new coat or boots you want, the hot water heater you need.”.

Community push brings $5k to JP food access efforts
Community members, elected officials and organizers from a local social justice advocacy and mutual aid coalition assembled Jan. 22 at Jamaica Plain’s Heal the Hood People’s Free Store.

As federal health care subsidies expire, state and city efforts aim to lower insurance costs
It didn’t take long for Massachusetts officials to spring into action after the federal subsidies for health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expired at the end of 2025.

Gov. Healey fights the good fight while steering the ship of state
Running a state government these days is like being captain of a ship under hostile fire. The best you can do at times is repair damage from land, sea and air assaults to keep the vessel afloat. Survival becomes the first order of business. The rest can mostly wait.

The State of the Commonwealth is strong, even if D.C. isn’t.
The State of the Commonwealth is strong, even if D.C. isn’t..

IN THE NEWS
Gray, Gray & Gray, LLP, a premier accounting and business consulting firm, is proud to announce that Venice Williams, CPA, MST, has been elected a Partner in the firm’s Tax Department.

Blacks still face the worst heart disease outcomes
First, the good news: new data shows medical advances are helping people with cardiovascular disease live longer, and the number of Americans who die from the disease has decreased every year since the pandemic.

When Washington walks away, we must step up
More than 60 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his powerful speech “How Long, Not Long.” In it, he reminded us that “we shall overcome because the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

At 105, her faith, family and friends keep her going
Born in 1921, Eva Mae Smith celebrated her birthday on Jan. 9, making her 105. Full of wisdom from having witnessed over a century of change, though there is one thing that has remained constant for many decades: her faith and connection to Morning Star Baptist Church.

One woman, one refusal, and the future of the Fed
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments that could reshape the global financial system. The case before the justices asks a deceptively simple question: Can the President of the United States fire Dr. Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, before the end of her statutory term?.

Majority of Americans disapprove of Trump as economy outlook turns dark
The survey finds that 63% of Americans disapprove of the way Trump is handling his job as president, while 35% approve. Those figures are unchanged from December and match his standing in January 2018, indicating that public opinion has remained largely fixed during his time in office.

Training the next generation of ballers
At the tender age of nine, Carlos Miranda came from Honduras to Brooklyn, New York. The son of the late Tuleo (father) and Matilda Miranda, who spoke no English, forged a life for himself in one of the toughest boroughs of New York City.

Chilled to perfection: Patriots freeze out Broncos
The New England Patriots are back where many of their fans feel they belong, on the Super Bowl stage, following their “not pretty, but effective” 10-7 victory over the top-seeded Denver Broncos in the snowy and wind-swirling conditions before a raucous sellout crowd of 76,000 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium.

R&B singer Angelena Hightower celebrates her birthday with a philanthropic party
A well-known local musician is throwing her annual birthday bash for the community — with a purpose. The party, better known as “Angelena’s Double Nickel Celebration,” will be held at Florian Hall on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. This year’s theme is “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Nostalgia takes the wheel at the new Retro Room cocktail lounge
The vintage vibes don’t fall into an exact decade. The circular wallpaper feels ’70s, but decor like lava lamps date to the ’60s and old Nat Geo issues lean more ’80s. Overwhelmingly, the trendy clientele was not alive during the period they’re nostalgic for.

Clarins Galantine’s Day
Clarins USA, a plant-based skincare and makeup company, celebrated Valentine’s Day early with a “Galantine’s Day” event at Bubble Bath in Boston. Montillo’s bakery and EPC champagne sponsored the soiree, complete with a caviar station and tasty desserts.

High-energy South Asian dance contest coming to the Strand Theatre
Next month, the Strand Theatre in Dorchester will host the highly energetic, suspenseful dance competition South Asian Showdown.

Operatic eloquence
French soprano Axelle Fanyo, who draws upon her European-Caribbean-African history as inspiration for her work as an opera singer, will perform for one night only on Feb. 3 at the Edward M. Pickman Concert Hall at Longy School of Music in Cambridge.

More than a smile: Remembering Smiler Q. Haynes and her lasting legacy
From early on, she had always been rather creative, with a major interest in fashion even as a young girl in West Virginia. Whether it was clothing alterations or designs, Haynes had a particular knack for creativity when it came to clothing design. So, while in Boston, she worked to make her dream a reality.