Columbus
Axios Boston
Grab the umbrella: Another storm's coming to Boston and eastern Mass.
Get ready for another wet one as a springtime nor'easter blows into the Boston area later todayWhy it matters: There's a distinct chance of coastal flooding, strong winds and lots of rain starting this afternoon and continuing through Thursday evening.Expect roughly two inches of rainfall around Boston and up to 40 mph winds.Zoom in: For areas west of Boston, forecasts predict a wintery mix that won't be able to decide whether to be freezing rain, sleet or snow.It'll be worse way out west in Franklin and Hampshire counties where a full "winter storm watch" is in effect, according to the National Weather Service. The rain is predicted to begin Wednesday morning and become steadier and heavier as the day goes on.If the rain is still pouring down by Thursday night's high tide, things will get messy in coastal areas.The strong winds and high tide could mean 8-14 foot surf.What's next: Forecasters warn some nasty weather could linger even after the storm moves on from Boston Thursday night, with rain forecast into the weekend.Yes, but: Skies should clear early next week, just in time for the eclipse.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston.
Nearly 5% of Mass. workforce is doing app-based work, study finds
4.6% of Massachusetts's overall workforce engages in app-based work, per a new study.Why it matters: App-based work offers a flexible way to earn a living or just make an extra buck — but many such workers are fighting for better pay, benefits and more.The big picture: About 4.3% of the overall U.S. workforce takes part in app-based work, demonstrating gig companies' influence.Zoom in: Work conditions could change for app workers later this year when voters decide whether to legally exempt companies like Uber, Lyft and DoorDash from state requirements on regular employment and benefits.Unions and Democrats say the gig economy...
Boston concerts this week: Olivia Rodrigo, Nicki Minaj, AJR and more
Boston's week in music starts with Olivia Rodrigo and ends with Nicki Minaj, both playing at the TD Garden.Rockers AJR and Hail The Sun also come to town, with legendary guitarists Joe Satriani and Steve Vai performing at the Orpheum.TuesdayOlivia Rodrigo plans to pack the TD Garden on her second night.Brooklyn rapper Erick The Architect plays at Brighton Music Hall.ThursdayIndie-pop darlings AJR come to the TD Garden.Darkest Hour, I Am, Filth Is Eternal and Somnuri play at the Middle East.FridayJoe Satriani & Steve Vai team up for guitar acrobatics at the Orpheum.The Strumbellas are at the Sinclair.SaturdayR&B singer Mariah The Scientist plays at House of Blues.Hail The Sun leads the bill at the Paradise.SundayReward For Excellence is a the Middle East.MondayNicki Minaj gives the first of two shows at the TD Garden.WednesdayNicki Minaj is back for night two of her doubleheader at the TD Garden.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston.
Pet allergies on the rise in Massachusetts
More pets in Massachusetts, particularly dogs, are being treated for itchy skin and allergies.Why it matters: Seasonal allergies can be terribly uncomfortable for furry friends, and they can snowball into secondary issues, including skin infections.By the numbers: Pet insurance company Trupanion reports a 43% increase in allergy claims for insured pets in Massachusetts in 2023 compared to 2019, with the data growth adjusted and measured on a per 1,000 pet basis.And insurer Nationwide says allergies top the list of health conditions that prompt vet visits.Dog allergy drugs Apoquel and Cytopoint have treated more than 20 million dogs in total since...
April Fools highlights: Dunkin's name change, Cambridge invading Boston
Some local businesses and at least one politician tried to get a rise out of Bostonians for April Fools' Day.Here are some highlights:Cambridge to annex BostonA Cambridge city councilor wants the nerds across the river to take over the state capitol and create "MegaCambridge."What they're saying: "In 1630 Cambridge was chosen to be capital. That was until Boston took that from us. It's time to fix that. Let's annex Boston," the ad says.Why it matters: Second-term Cambridge city councilor Burhan Azeem told the Globe he wants the joke to make a point about regional collaboration and how the area's...
The Bay State's below-average religiosity
If the church pews seemed emptier than usual for Easter yesterday, it wasn't just your imagination.Why it matters: 57% of Boston-area adults say they never or seldom attend church or religious services, compared to the national average of 49%, per a new analysis of Household Pulse Survey data from Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Alice Feng.And a survey by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute found 26% of Americans now consider themselves unaffiliated with a religion — 5 points higher than 2013.By the numbers: 14% of Greater Boston residents attend services 1-3 times a year, 4% attend 4-11 times per year,...
MBTA cuts fares for low-income riders
The MBTA Board approved a plan to offer half-priced fares for low-income riders at last week's board meeting.Why it matters: Subway, bus, ferry and train fares are going to get more affordable for some of the MBTA's neediest riders.Adults who aren't disabled or already eligible for youth or senior discounts and who make under around $30,000 a year, or about $62,000 for a family of four, will get half-off fares later this year.T officials peg the cost of the discounts at around $52 million a year and hope the lower prices will increase ridership.What's next: The T wants to launch an application process for the reduced fares this summer.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston.
The Bay State's below-average religiosity
If the church pews seemed emptier than usual for Easter yesterday, it wasn't just your imagination.Why it matters: 57% of Boston-area adults say they never or seldom attend church or religious services, compared to the national average of 49%, per a new analysis of Household Pulse Survey data from Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Alice Feng.And a survey by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute found 26% of Americans now consider themselves unaffiliated with a religion — 5 points higher than 2013.By the numbers: 14% of Greater Boston residents attend services 1-3 times a year, 4% attend 4-11 times per year,...
Cost of Orange, Red Line trains from CRRC could exceed $1 billion
Massachusetts may be paying an additional $148 million to China-based company CRRC for new Red and Orange Line trains the state ordered years ago—bringing the total costs for the long-delayed project to more than $1 billion.Why it matters: The deal, once considered an economical option, comes as the MBTA struggles with multi-billion-dollar debt and massive budget deficits.State of play: The MBTA board of directors yesterday approved a plan to pay CRRC up to $148 million more to deliver hundreds of new Red and Orange line cars by 2027, potentially pushing the total cost past $1 billion.The Orange Line cars would...
What to know about the Eastie ferry's return
The East Boston ferry returns Monday.Why it matters: The service opens up the harbor to commuters seeking a quick ride from Jeffries Point to downtown Boston, especially when the Sumner Tunnel closes again this summer for repairs.State of play: The East ferry will run seven days a week between the Lewis Mall Wharf in Jeffries Point and Long Wharf downtown.The service continues through Nov. 30.The ferry will be free in July and August while the Sumner is closed.When to go: The ferry will run 7am-7:30pm from downtown on weekdays (7:15am-7:45pm from Eastie), per the schedule.On weekends, it will run 9am-8:30pm...
Where Massachusetts ranks in women holding elected office
Massachusetts ranked 19th in the country for the number of women holding municipal office and far lower for female representation in the State House, according to a new report.Why it matters: Representation in public office is another measure used to analyze gender politics in a city or state at a time when Massachusetts leaders are touting the state as a safe haven for women.State of play: One-third of municipal office holders in Massachusetts identify as women, per the report from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. Between the lines: Massachusetts has seen its share of women trailblazers in recent years, electing its first female governor in Maura Healey and first female mayor of Boston in Michelle Wu.Everett elected Gerly Adrien to the city council in 2020, its second woman and the first Black woman in the role.Haverhill elected its first woman mayor, Melinda Barrett, in November.The State House's legislature is nearly one-third female. But the state ranked 29th for gender representation.Zoom out: Colorado, Connecticut and Arizona ranked higher than Massachusetts in both categories.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston.
91-year-old Coolidge Corner Theater Gets a facelift
The Coolidge Corner Theater may be known for its classic 1930s art deco decor, but a new $12.5 million expansion means the nearly century-old moviehouse will be ready for the 2030s and beyond.Why it matters: Brookline's beloved cinema just completed a 14,000-square-foot expansion that added a new lobby, two new moviehouses and event space that will boost the nonprofit's arts and community programming.The Coolidge cut the ribbon on the new digs yesterday.The gorgeous new Moviehouse 5 has 145 seats and the 53-seat Moviehouse 6 will cater to smaller screenings.Both new spaces feature new digital projectors.Zoom in: That long line for...
Banishing cars at 2024's Open Streets
Boston's Open Streets program will return for the warmer months, and this year the pedestrian-friendly street festival is expanding to Hyde Park.Why it matters: Now in its third year, Open Streets blocks off motor vehicle traffic along some of the city's busiest roads to let people enjoy their neighborhood's food, drink and shopping without all the cars and noise.The festivals bring in food trucks, face painting and other attractions.Six streets will be open across one Saturday and five Sundays from 10:30am to 5pm:May 5 in Dorchester — Dorchester AvenueJune 22 in Roxbury — Blue Hill AvenueJuly 21 in Jamaica Plain — Centre StreetAug. 11 in Hyde Park — River StreetSept. 15 in East Boston — Meridian Street and Bennington StreetOct. 20 in Allston-Brighton — Harvard AvenueMotor vehicle traffic will be closed from 9am to 6pm on Open Streets days.Newbury Street will also be pedestrian-only on select days this year, but the dates haven't been announced.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston.
Patriot Front propaganda, antisemitism rife in Massachusetts in 2023
Massachusetts was again one of the most active states for the Patriot Front as the Texas-based white supremacy group ramped up its use of antisemitic rhetoric, per a new report.The big picture: White supremacist propaganda and events are on the rise nationwide, with members sharing racist, antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ+ materials, per a report released Tuesday by the American Defamation League's Center on Extremism.Their activity has stoked tensions at a time when people are already fiercely divided over the Israel-Hamas war and its impact on Palestinian civilians.Between the lines: The Patriot Front veered away from explicit white supremacist language and antisemitic...
The Boston startup behind the next generation of smartphone lenses
The startup behind the next generation of smartphone lenses is testing the technology at a lab a few hundred feet away from TD Garden.Why it matters: Metalenz's technology not only verifies users' identity, but eventually will detect signs of poor air quality and dehydration through facial recognition, said co-founder and CEO Rob Devlin.Catch up quick: Metalenz inked a deal with Samsung earlier this year to use Samsung's image sensors in Metalenz's biometric security product, "Polar ID."Metalenz is focusing on getting Polar ID out to market in the next year.Flashback: The startup, born out of Harvard University, began mass producing its...
Boston concerts this week: Guster, Grouplove, Flipturn and more
Hometown boys Guster show the MGM Music Hall some love this week, along with classic groups like Girlschool and new acts like Flipturn, Stolen Gin and Grouplove.TuesdayAustralian indie singer Angie Mcmahon will be at The Sinclair.Worlds Biggest Army comes to the Rockwell.WednesdayThree hardcore bands — KOYO, Anxious and One Step Closer — perform at the Sinclair.ThursdayKenny Mason brings his combination of rap and indie rock to Brighton Music Hall.Arlo Parks is at Royale.Baltimore's Tomato Flower plays a softer, dreamier kind of indie rock at the Rockwell.FridayAlt rockers Grouplove come to Roadrunner.Flipturn plays at the House of Blues.Girlschool, one of the...
Massachusetts to limit shelter stays to one-month increments
Massachusetts will soon start making adults in shelter prove they're getting jobs, or at least work authorization and training, every month if their families want to keep receiving help.Why it matters: The state is trying to rein in its shelter spending, which has ballooned to $75 million a month.Thousands of families, just under half of the emergency family shelter population, are migrants.Starting May 1, families in the family shelter system will be evaluated monthly to see if they are taking steps toward becoming independent, per the Healey administration.Those steps could include applying for work permits, doing a workforce training program...
Logan Airport lagged in holiday timeliness
81% of flights out of Logan International Airport departed on time in December 2023, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report from the latest Transportation Department data.The big picture: Logan trailed the average national on-time departure rate for domestic U.S. flights of 83% in December 2023.The national average is a big upswing compared to December 2022, when Southwest Airlines' epic meltdown dragged the industry-wide average down to about 70% for the month.Zoom in: Florida's Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (89.5% on time), Salt Lake City International Airport (89.2%) and Hawai'i's Lihue Airport (88.8%) had the best on-time departure performance in December...
Logan Airport lagged in holiday timeliness
81% of flights out of Logan International Airport departed on time in December 2023, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report from the latest Transportation Department data.The big picture: Logan trailed the average national on-time departure rate for domestic U.S. flights of 83% in December 2023.The national average is a big upswing compared to December 2022, when Southwest Airlines' epic meltdown dragged the industry-wide average down to about 70% for the month.Zoom in: Florida's Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (89.5% on time), Salt Lake City International Airport (89.2%) and Hawai'i's Lihue Airport (88.8%) had the best on-time departure performance in December...
CIC, Basque Culinary Center team up to explore food science innovation
The Cambridge Innovation Center is teaming up with the Basque Culinary Center in Spain to explore innovation in gastronomy.Why it matters: The partnership supports researchers and entrepreneurs tackling some of the biggest challenges in farming, the plant-based market, restaurants and more.Zoom in: This is CIC's first food collaboration across multiple locations and, CEO Tim Rowe argues, the first food science collaboration of its kind.The partnership opens the door to networking opportunities, startup incubators and other collaborations between entrepreneurs in Boston's tech hub and academic researchers in San Sebastián, a culinary destination.CIC and Basque celebrated the partnership with a gastronomy showcase in Kendall Square.The showcase included a mixologist, a Boston-based vertical farming startup, a Spanish brewery specializing in alcohol made from fermented teas and other projects.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston.
Axios Boston
1K+
Posts
8M+
Views
Axios Boston is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.