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Boston sees bump in daily bike rides post COVID
Data: StreetLight Data; Map: Alice Feng/AxiosThe Boston metro region is one of several cities that has seen a bump in urban cycling since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.Why it matters: The increase in popularity comes as Boston plans to add 9.4 miles of new bike lanes around the city in the next few years, and as a proposal to add more bike lanes in Cambridge sparks controversy over the potential impact on traffic and parking.Driving the news: The number of average daily bike trips per 1,000 people in the Boston metro area rose by 9 — from 26 to...
The Museum of Science wants to install a tribute to Star Trek's Leonard Nimoy
The Museum of Science wants to add a memorial dedicated to one of the West End's most famous natives to live long and prosper.Why it matters: "Star Trek" actor Leonard Nimoy doesn't have a memorial in his hometown, and as anyone familiar with the original Omni Theater introduction can tell you, he grew up only three blocks from the museum's Charles River Dam location.According to the museum, he was involved with the institution later in his life and dedicated to science education.What they're saying: "Having this monument outside of our building will be a physical embodiment of our values of intellectual curiosity, generosity, inclusion, exploration, and logic," the museum's website says."It will also honor a member of our own Boston community, which we are so proud to do as your local science destination."The latest: The MoS says it has raised more than three quarters of its $500,000 goal to install a statue of Nimoy's famous four-fingered "Vulcan salute" by its entrance.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston.
Latino poverty rate in Massachusetts higher than rest of state
Poverty thresholds vary based on family size and composition. Data: Census Bureau; Chart: Alice Feng/AxiosMassachusetts has relatively low poverty rates compared to other states — except when it comes to Latinos.Driving the news: The state's Latino poverty rate has declined over the past two decades, from 29.9% in 2005 to 19.9% in 2022, but it remains twice as high as the state's overall rate, according to new census data.The Latino poverty rate in Massachusetts is also higher than the national rate, write Axios' Russell Contreras and Alice Feng.Why it matters: Latinos are one of the fastest-growing groups in Massachusetts and...
Reggie Watts, Sistine Chapel exhibit and more to do in Boston this week
Here's what's happening around Boston this week:🎨 If you can't make it to Rome, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel The Exhibition brings the classic ceiling mural to Boston with high-definition life-size photos and special printing techniques to emulate the original frescoes.Thursday - Sunday, 11am-6pm until January 14 at 121 Webster Ave. in Chelsea.Tickets start at $20 for adults.📽️ "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," filmmaker Dick Fontaine's documentary following writer James Baldwin through the sites of the Civil Rights-era South will be screened at the Harvard Film Archive.Monday at 7pm and Sunday at 3pm. $10 tickets.📖 Alternative humorist and musician Reggie Watts will be at First Parish Church to discuss his new book "Great Falls, MT: Fast Times, Post-Punk Weirdos, and a Tale of Coming Home Again'' with fellow alternative comedian Eugene Mirman.Thursday at 7pm. A $40 ticket includes a copy of the book.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston.
$20 is the new $15 in the minimum wage battle
Less than a year after Massachusetts raised its minimum wage to $15, some lawmakers are determined to raise it again — to $20 or more.Why it matters: Dozens of Democratic lawmakers and a coalition of worker advocates and labor groups are proposing the new legislation because they say inflation has cut into the $15 hourly rate, even though it is already one of the highest wage floors in the country.Driving the news: Bills heard last month by the Legislature's Labor and Workforce Development Committee would increase the minimum wage $1.25 every year until it reaches $20 in 2027, the same...
Undocumented students can now get in-state tuition in Massachusetts
More than 11,000 undocumented students now qualify for in-state tuition and state financial aid at Massachusetts colleges as schools start to implement the new policy.Why it matters: The law that passed this summer makes higher education more accessible to undocumented people who have grown up in Massachusetts.Business leaders and advocates also hope the new benefits help foster more skilled workers for emerging industries in the state.What's happening: Colleges can start processing requests from undocumented students seeking in-state tuition, according to newly-released state guidance.The state has not yet detailed the financial aid expansion but expects to do so this fall.What they're...
Boston cafes and bakeries see a business boom
Boston-area cafes and bakeries have seen a bigger uptick in business over the last year than similar businesses in the rest of the country, according to data analyzed by Boston-based transaction company Toast.Why it matters: Boston is regarded as one of the country's most coffee-filled cities, and quick eats at bakeries and cafes represent a good portion of the local economy.The higher sales rates suggest remote workers are getting outside the home more often than last year, according to Toast.Zoom in: Bakeries and cafes in the Boston area made 6% more sales transactions in the second quarter of 2023 compared...
Things to do in Boston this weekend
Still looking for something to do in Boston this weekend? We have you covered. 🎥 The Loring Greenough House in Jamaica Plain is hosting a screening of Young Frankenstein Friday at 7pm.Cost: $7.Be smart: Bring your own blankets and lawn chairs. Seating is first come, first served.🌟 The HONK! Festival of Activist Street Bands returns to Davis Square this weekend.The festival, which is free, runs Friday through Sunday and includes bands from across the country.There are a range of activities, from lantern parades on Friday to a songwriting workshop on Sunday.Protip: Wear bike lights, glow sticks or any other kind of glittering ornaments you'd like.💿 Snag some cheap books or CDs (if you still use those) at the Boston Public Library book sale.The sale runs 10am-2pm Saturday at the Central Library in Copley Square.Admission is free, and several items sell for as low as $1. Proceeds benefit BPL programming.Sign up for Axios Boston for free.
"Little Women" is Boston's best novel
Chart: Axios VisualsAfter a week of voting, Axios Boston readers have declared Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" as Boston's best novel.Driving the news: The story of the March sisters during the Civil War beat "The Weight of Water" by Anita Shreve with 83% of the vote.Why it matters: Massachusetts has a long literary history and has been home to some of the finest American writers. Our readers had some strong opinions about those literary greats.What's next: Since you can't congratulate Ms. Alcott directly (she's been dead for 135 years,) go check out her house in Concord for the full historical experience.Thank you to the hundreds of you who voted!Sign up for Axios Boston for free.
Black Bostonians have twice the average infant mortality rate
Black Boston residents experience the highest rates of infant mortality, preterm births and low birth rates, according to a new city report.Driving the news: The mortality rate among Black infants in Boston was 9.7 deaths per 1,000 births in 2021 — more than twice the city average of 4.6 deaths per 1,000 — per new data released today by the Boston Public Health Commission.It's more than three times the rate among white infants (3.2 deaths per 1,000).Zoom out: Black infants had the highest mortality rate of any racial or ethnic group in the city between 2017 and 2021.Plus: In 2021,...
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