Springfield civil rights leader and former state rep, Benjamin Swan, dies at 92
From Selma, Alabama to Springfield, Massachusetts Ben Swan has been called a pillar of his community by national figures like Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and local leaders alike..

Minority, lower-income communities bear brunt of harmful power plant emissions
Most fossil fuel power plants in the Northeast are located near environmental justice communities, a new report has found.

State gives guidance for schools, religious places, public spaces on engaging with ICE
Since the start of the second administration of President Donald Trump in January 2025, increased immigration enforcement has spilled over into spaces where community members have generally felt safe. It’s a shift that has left many immigrants afraid to attend school and church or to seek medical or legal support.

Advocates push for bill that would limit religious vaccine exemptions
A decade ago when California legislators eliminated non-medical exemptions for childhood vaccines, Katie Blair thought the decision marked a successful move for public health in that state.

‘Mayor of Copley Square’ Bob Yearwood retires from Trinity Church after nearly six decades
When Bob Yearwood hung up his black cassock on Easter Sunday this year, it marked the end of an era. Yearwood, who arrived at Trinity Church in the Back Bay in 1970, is retiring — but his name will live across town, in a building that houses some of Boston’s most vulnerable residents.

Arrival of summer brings attention to drowning prevention
Yet as millions of Americans plan to head to pools and beaches during the summer, public health experts warn that Black children remain far more likely to drown than white kids. And the Trump administration has targeted federal programs designed to track and prevent those deaths for major budget cuts.

“This summer, conversations at family...
“This summer, conversations at family picnics are bound to be confrontational with this much political diversity in the DA race.”.

Battle royale for Suffolk County DA looms in Democratic primary
The incumbent, Kevin Hayden, was appointed by Gov. Charlie Baker as the county’s chief prosecutor in 2022 after Rachel Rollins, the first Black woman to hold the job, resigned to become U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts.

A ‘Main Street’ bank bill that would really hurt Main Street
The current $250,000 limit already covers 99 out of every 100 bank accounts in this country. A study by JPMorgan Chase found that the typical small business keeps about $12,100 in its account on a normal day. The new limit would be more than 400 times higher than that.

Black Women built the workforce. Why are we locked out of it?
We are living through rising costs, unstable childcare, attacks on workplace protections, and shifting federal priorities that are pulling resources away from the very people who need them most. And in the middle of all of that, more than 600,000 Black women are out of work in the United States.

IN THE NEWS
The Center for Engaged Scholarship (CES) has officially announced the selection of Keisha N. Blain as its next President, succeeding founder Fred Block. A full professor of history and Africana Studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, Blain will officially begin her term in Fall 2026.

Time for college and pro Black athletes to join the fight for Black people’s right to vote
I begin this article with a direct call to action: Today’s Black athletes must unite and actively resist efforts by the U.S. government aimed at undermining the voting rights of Black people — YOUR PEOPLE!

Hunger by policy: SNAP cuts hit hardest in Black America
The “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law in 2025, slashed $187 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, over the next decade — triggering new work requirements, restricting what recipients can buy, and stripping benefits from legal immigrants.

Titus Foundation salutes local heroes who made an impact on Boston’s youth
The nonprofit, which was “established to aid young people and place-based initiatives in underserved communities,” primarily focuses on “scholarships, academic support, athletics, recreation, and employment and training, with a mission to nurture...

Lee Pelton to step down from Boston Foundation after five years at the helm
Pelton joined the Boston Foundation five years ago after leaving Emerson College. He served as college president for 10 years, including overseeing operations during the pandemic and navigating financial and enrollment challenges confronting lots of smaller private colleges.

43rd Annual Elliot Norton Awards celebrates Greater Boston theater community
Named for distinguished Boston theater critic Elliot Norton (1903-2003), the Elliot Norton Awards are presented annually by the Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA) to honor the outstanding work of the season in Greater Boston.

Activist art campaign demands an ICE-free World Cup
“All art is political,” said Lu. Here she chose to embrace and harness that politicism. “I hope that Massachusetts and the rest of the nation have a joyful, fearless and safe World Cup experience.”

Lucy Raven at ICA Watershed explores industrialization, environment
“Murderers Bar” is a moving image installation, a film projected onto a massive, curved screen that confronts the viewer and creates a visual sense of the force of the rushing water depicted.

Haley House celebrates 60 years with 21st annual block party
The celebration and fundraising event will feature food, live music, beer and wine, garden tours and interactive games for the youth. There will also be a silent auction, which will open one week before the party.

Any way you slice it, Sugar’s Hot Pizza is a welcome addition to Seaport
The menu at Sugar’s includes New York-style pizza by the pie and the slice as well as deli-style sandwiches and classic desserts like brownie sundaes and oversize chocolate chip cookies.

Boston Arts Academy Foundation Rising Stars Scholarships & Prizes Luncheon
The Boston Arts Academy Foundation awarded $253,500 total in scholarships, prizes and gift cards to the Boston Arts Academy’s graduating class of 2026 at the inaugural Rising Stars Scholarships & Prizes Luncheon held at MGM Music Hall, June 1..

Official Tony Rose Day and Street Memorial Dedication
The ceremony was opened by Asha Janay, Roxbury Liaison, who welcomed attendees and presented the mayoral proclamation to Tony Rose’s widow, Yvonne Rose. The inaugural Tony Rose Day concluded at Slade’s Bar and Grill, where family members, friends, and longtime associates gathered to celebrate his life, share memories, and enjoy music.

City of Cambridge Legacy Business Award
Earlier this month, Nortoh accepted a 2026 City of Cambridge Legacy Business Award in honor of the firm’s nearly-50 year history of serving homeowners in Cambridge and beyond..