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Red Line speeds up after Ashmont branch reopens
Forty-thousand daily Red Line riders will see faster service after a lengthy closure of the branch serving Dorchester and Mattapan came to an end.What's happening: The T announced yesterday its 16-day shutdown of the Red Line between JFK/UMass and Ashmont resulted in track improvements and the removal of speed restrictions that had plagued riders for months.Why it matters: The Red Line is Boston's most popular subway line, and by some measures, its worst.The new tracks mean travel time on the branch will be about 10 minutes shorter.Of note: The T also improved the stations along the Ashmont line, replaced floors, fixed stairways, cleaned and gave some areas a fresh coat of paint.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston.
The Boston area's best trick-or-treat spots
We asked last week for the best trick-or-treat locations around Boston and for any tips about which neighborhoods to bring your little ones to this evening.What you said: Reader Gianna C. suggested Savin Hill "Over the Bridge," the hillside enclave neighborhood in Dorchester."The whole neighborhood commits to the bit — lots of fog machines and adults in lawn chairs and king-sized candy bars," she said.Be smart: Gianna recommends against driving there, since parking can be crazy.Luckily, the Red Line to the Savin Hill T stop is back open as of yesterday.Of note: Reader Marilyn T. suggested Beals Street in Brookline, since the road gets closed off to motor traffic for trick-or-treating.Even the National Park Service gets in on the fun by offering treats at 83 Beals St., President John F. Kennedy's birthplace.There are plenty of other street closures, block parties and other Halloween events spread across the city.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston.
Massachusetts braces to cap emergency family shelter as system reaches capacity
Massachusetts is bracing to start turning families away from shelter as early as this week, a first since the state's right-to-shelter law took effect in 1983.Why it matters: The cap could force families onto the street until they come off the state's waitlist, which civil rights advocates call a violation of the shelter law.Catch up fast: Gov. Maura Healey said the state won't be able to guarantee homeless people spots in the emergency family shelter system once it reaches capacity.She predicted the state would reach its threshold, about 7,500 families, by the end of the month. After that, families will...
In Bay State political fundraising, gender gaps persist
Reproduced from Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics; Note: States with top-two or top-four primary systems were also excluded; Map: Axios VisualsWomen are not only underrepresented as political candidates in Massachusetts, they're also underrepresented as donors.Driving the news: Women donors made up 38% of contributions to general election candidates at the statewide and state legislative levels between 2019 and 2022, Axios' Emma Hurt writes.That's according to a new report from Rutgers' Center for American Women and Politics using data from OpenSecrets.Massachusetts exceeded the national average, but still fell short of gender parity in a state where 51% of the...
Celtics fans pay highest beer prices in NBA
The basketball season just started, but the Celtics are already No. 1 in the NBA — in beer prices.What's happening: TD Garden has the most expensive beer in the NBA, according to research by Bookies.com.The price of one 16oz. beer is $19.87 at a Celtics game.The next most expensive is $19.01 at a Warriors game.Beer's cheapest in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers only charge $5.78.Why it matters: More than just beer prices are going up and attending an NBA game could cost you a lot more this year, Axios' Analis Bailey writes.A family of four will spend, on average, $536.69 at...
Maine mass shooting suspect Robert Card found dead, officials confirm
Law enforcement officials found the body of Robert Card, the man suspected of perpetrating dual mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine, police confirmed Friday night.Driving the news: Officials found Card dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at around 7:45pm in Lisbon Falls, Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck said during a press conference in Lewiston. The discovery ended a two-day manhunt.Authorities rescinded the shelter-in-place order earlier in the evening, WMUR reported.The big picture: Eighteen people were killed and 13 injured in the shooting, the deadliest mass shooting of 2023 so far. Catch up fast: Several towns in Maine were locked down for nearly two days as authorities searched for Card.Maine State Police said Thursday that an arrest warrant for eight counts of murder had been issued for the suspect, with the counts expected to increase as more victims were identified, Axios' Sareen Habeshian and Rebecca Falconer report.What they're saying: "I'm breathing a sigh of relief tonight, knowing that Robert Card is no longer a threat to anyone," Maine Gov. Janet Mills said."Now is the time to heal."Go deeper Editor's note: This is a breaking story and may be updated.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston.
How Cambridge will help feds bring medical moonshots to market
The federal government's effort to tackle some of the world's most challenging illnesses kicked off yesterday in a Kendall Square conference room.Why it matters: Cambridge is playing a major role in the feds' ambitious plan to bring some of the most innovative — and financially riskiest — treatments to market.Catch up fast: The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is already working on precision cancer surgery and proposals to reverse osteoarthritis.ARPA-H director Renee Wegrzyn visited Dallas last week to unveil an initiative to improve clinical trials.The latest: ARPA-H officials discussed their first steps for the new agency...
Duplicate Mass. plate issues persist
If you've ever gotten a ticket for a violation somewhere you've never been, you're not alone.Driving the news: The Registry of Motor Vehicles has issued more than 161,000 license plates that have the same letter and number combinations, WCVB's Mike Beaudet reported.These Massachusetts license plates have minute differences — like one being a commercial plate or vanity plate with stacked letters — but are so similar that local agencies have issued tickets to the wrong drivers.Flashback: Drivers have complained for years about mistakenly issued tickets related to duplicate license plates.The other side: The RMV has since acknowledged their existence and...
A possible infertility "game-changer"
A new, more expansive definition of "infertility" could lead to more help for Massachusetts residents who want to have children later.Why it matters: The new definition could lead to broader insurance coverage of fertility services like egg freezing and in vitro fertilization for all people who need help starting families, regardless of their age, sexual orientation, gender identity or medical history.What's happening: The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) now defines infertility as the inability to get pregnant because of the patient's medical, sexual and reproductive history, age, physical findings and diagnostic testing, writes Axios' Carly Mallenbaum.It also defines infertility...
Celts, "Unicorn" start new season
Expectations couldn't be higher for this year's Boston Celtics, after they nearly made the NBA finals last season.The Celtics open their season on the road tonight against the Knicks at 7pm on ESPN.Catch up quick: The Celtics had a productive offseason, picking up 7-foot-2 Kristaps Porzingis from the Wizards.Porzingis is huge and he can score from anywhere on the court, a rare enough combination that the 28-year-old Latvian has the nickname "the Unicorn."Zoom in: Stars from last year Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are back to lead the Celts.The team gave Brown a five-year, $303.7 million contract extension in July,...
Green Line Extension defects could take weeks to repair, GM says
MBTA General Manager Phil Eng says contractors could fix the defects on the Green Line Extension as soon as mid-November.Why it matters: The highly anticipated line, which runs through Somerville and Medford, already needs an overhaul less than a year after opening.Catch up fast: Eng said last week that more than half of the extension tracks need repairs because parts of the rails are too narrow.Driving the news: Eng told the board of directors yesterday that contractors responsible for the project proposed working 10-14 nights to repair the tracks, starting Nov. 1, per WCVB.Contractors would need to stop service on the line from 9pm to 5am every day, the Globe reported.Between the lines: Riders complained for months about the glacial pace of the Green Line Extension, only to learn about the narrow tracks.Eng said officials under former Gov. Charlie Baker knew that the rails were too narrow as early as April 2021, but that he didn't know until last week.After last week's announcement about the defects, the T shut down the entire extension for several hours Friday evening, forcing riders to walk along the tracks.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston.
Brockton called Boston's best suburb
The City of Champions is the champion of Boston's suburbs, according to a new study.Driving the news: Today's Homeowner analyzed nearly 600 suburbs around the 78 largest American cities to determine which have the best balance of affordability and quality of life.Brockton ranked highest among Boston suburbs, with Framingham, Quincy, Lowell and Newton following behind, according to the study.What they're saying: "Brockton offers a vibrant community with a rich cultural heritage, providing residents with a diverse and welcoming environment," the study's authors wrote.The study calls out Brockton's proximity to both Boston and the beautiful natural landscapes of the South Shore and Cape Cod as an ideal location.By the numbers: Brockton homeowners save an average of $344 per month in housing costs compared to Boston proper, per the study.Perhaps as a result, Brockston was one of the area's top-destinations for first-time homebuyers. 47% of its homeowners are under the age of 45.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston.
Massachusetts has a wet winter ahead
Data: NOAA; Map: Erin Davis/Axios VisualsWeather forecasters are warning of higher than average temperatures and more precipitation than usual this winter.Why it matters: We could be in for a rainy season if temperatures don't drop enough to make much snow.By the numbers: There's a 33% greater chance of precipitation and a 40% greater chance of warmer-than-average temps in Massachusetts this coming winter, Axios Generate's Andrew Freedman writes, based on a NOAA outlook.Zoom out: There are higher-than-average odds for unusually mild temperatures across much of the Lower 48 states, particularly along the northern tier and into the Northeast, as well as...
Massachusetts has a wet winter ahead
Data: NOAA; Map: Erin Davis/Axios VisualsWeather forecasters are warning of higher than average temperatures and more precipitation than usual this winter.Why it matters: We could be in for a rainy season if temperatures don't drop enough to make much snow.By the numbers: There's a 33% greater chance of precipitation and a 40% greater chance of warmer-than-average temps in Massachusetts this coming winter, Axios Generate's Andrew Freedman writes, based on a NOAA outlook.Zoom out: There are higher-than-average odds for unusually mild temperatures across much of the Lower 48 states, particularly along the northern tier and into the Northeast, as well as...
New college admissions guidance for Massachusetts in post-affirmative action landscape
Massachusetts issued guidance today to help colleges and K-12 school leaders pursue racial diversity without affirmative action.Why it matters: Colleges in the state are entering their first admissions season since the Supreme Court struck down race-based admissions.Driving the news: Colleges may factor in an applicant's life experiences, including how race-related experiences helped shape their lives, according to the new guidance — just like the federal guidance recommends.And the state is encouraging K-12 officials to continue targeting underserved communities in their districts to make sure all students get access to enrichment programs, coursework, counseling and other resources.The guidance also says K-12...
Wicked *what*? How New Englanders use wicked
Living in Boston in an age where patronizing marketers try to fool us into thinking their advertisements are genuinely local and targeted to New Englanders, Steph and I hear the word "wicked" misused and debased a lot.Where most out-of-towners make their mistake is treating the word like an adjective. It's not.What "wicked" is, at least around here, is an adverb.Wicked far. Wicked cheap. Wicked muggy. Wicked smart.A New Englander would rarely if ever use wicked literally, as in morally bad, like the dictionary's main definition of it would have you do.Yes, but: The nerds at Merriam-Webster aren't wrong in saying...
How common all-cash home sales are in the Boston area
Data: ATTOM; Note: Companies include LLCs, corporations and other entities. Individuals include personal trusts; Chart: Simran Parwani/AxiosCash buyers swooping up houses has become a common complaint around here since the pandemic sent the real estate market into a tizzy.Yes, but: It's a trend line that actually goes back at least 15 years.What's happening: Cash buyers made up 27.5% of Boston metro area home sales in 2022, compared with 21.6% in 2019, according to ATTOM, a real estate data firm.Offers from individuals accounted for the majority of the cash deals in 2022, the data shows. Corporate investors made up the remainder.Context:...
Boston's newest tech accelerator helps humanity reach new heights
MassChallenge's latest startup accelerator is helping entrepreneurs build technology that pushes the limits of human performance, the organization tells Axios exclusively.Driving the news: Participating companies are using AI, exoskeletons, wearable devices and other technology to build products they hope will help athletes, astronauts, soldiers and others take their skills to the next level.15 later-stage startups joined the six-week program earlier this month, the nonprofit's CEO Cait Brumme tells Axios.Why it matters: While business leaders worry tech hubs in lower-cost states are catching up to Greater Boston, they say the region can set itself apart by supporting startups in emerging fields...
Gen Z, boomers feel the pressure of Boston's rental market
Data: Census Bureau; Note: Based on household income.; Chart: Simran Parwani/AxiosNearly two-thirds of the Boston metro area's youngest renters are spending at least 30% of their income on rent, according to the latest U.S. census data. Why it matters: The data shows the financial pressure on the region's youngest workers and students at a time when Massachusetts is seeing the highest outmigration in three decades.Yes, but: It's not just Massachusetts. Spending 30% of your income on rent is "the new normal," according to economists at Moody's Analytics.The big picture: One in three Gen Z-ers (34%) surveyed nationally by Freddie Mac say owning a home feels impossible in their lifetime, up from 27% in 2019.Saving for a down payment is the biggest obstacle, they say. It's one reason the typical first-time homebuyer last year was a record-high 36-years-old, per the National Association of Realtors.Reality check: Renters over 65 in Boston are also facing a high cost burden. 58% said they're spending more than 30% of their income on housing.This is part of a national trend contributing to rising homelessness among Baby Boomers, The Wall Street Journal reports.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Boston.
Boston Tourist Traps to avoid for newcomers
Boston is chock-full of tourist attractions that the rest of us often forget about.Some might be worth recommending and some might be a waste of time and money.Driving the news: Here's our take on what to avoid — and what to make time for. Cheers - Beacon StreetTV's most famous pub.Zoom in: There's a bar that passes for a replica of the TV set at street level, while the former Bull & Finch Pub, the inspiration for the show, is down the iconic cellar stairs.Both bars are glorified gift shops for a show that ended its run over 30 years ago.Details:...
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