All articles tagged with #massachusetts
Massachusetts Uber and Lyft drivers have certified the first statewide ride-hailing union in the United States, the App Drivers Union, enabling collective bargaining for MA rideshare drivers as organizers rally outside the State House with Governor Healey in attendance amid concerns about automation and gig-economy changes.
A Massachusetts study of insured children aged 1–18 found anxiety diagnoses attached to pediatric primary care visits surged 300% from 2014 to 2023, with anxiety becoming a more common label even as total visits declined. ADHD remained the most frequent mental health diagnosis, and other conditions like autism and depression also rose modestly. The authors argue for more mental health training and integrated care in primary settings, while noting the study uses MA insurance billing data and may not generalize to other states.
Massachusetts will pause the State Police Academy's recruit training to implement urgent reforms from an independent review, including better injury tracking, new instructor training, the hiring of a civilian training director, and outside monitoring of progress, as the agency undertakes a five-year overhaul prompted by a trainee’s death in a boxing match.
Barney Frank, the longtime Massachusetts congressman and the first openly gay U.S. lawmaker, died at 86 after hospice care for congestive heart failure. Renowned for wit and policy influence, he championed gay rights—from repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell to expanding protections—and steered major financial reform as chair of the House Financial Services Committee, including the Dodd-Frank Act. He remained politically engaged with a forthcoming Yale University Press book on reforming the left, and he retired in 2013 after redistricting made reelection unlikely.
A 22-year-old Southbridge McDonald’s night manager, Kaylie Santos, is charged with distributing food with a harmful substance after allegedly placing her saliva on fries served to her ex‑girlfriend; police say a Snapchat video captured the act, and arraignment is set for June 5. Authorities say no other customers were affected and there were no public health concerns.
A Massachusetts McDonald’s employee who appeared in a viral clip stuffing fries into her mouth and returning them to a box will face criminal charges, with police saying she’ll be formally charged at Dudley District Court. The restaurant fired her and the coworker who filmed, while health officials reviewed the incident and found no public health violations; investigators are determining whether the fries were served to customers.
Massachusetts prosecutors blasted a judge for a five-to-six-year sentence with three years’ probation handed to Tyler Brown, a repeat offender who had pleaded guilty to armed assault with intent to murder and had previously fired on Boston officers. They had sought 12 years in prison plus five years’ probation. Brown, released in January, allegedly fired 50–60 rounds at cars along Memorial Drive in Cambridge on Monday, leaving two men critically injured, before being shot by a state trooper and a Marine licensed to carry, and hospitalized. He faces two counts of armed assault with intent to murder.
A shooter fired roughly 50–60 rounds along Memorial Drive in Cambridge, injuring two drivers who were hospitalized with life-threatening injuries; after a large police response and an exchange of gunfire with State Police, the suspect was taken into custody.
In broad daylight on Memorial Drive in Cambridge, a rifle-wielding suspect opened fire and engaged in a gunfight with police, prompting a large emergency response with multiple cruisers and ambulances; at least one person was treated for a gunshot wound; authorities say there is no ongoing threat, and state and local police are investigating with Gov. Healey monitoring the situation.
Forecasters expect a 'super' El Niño to form later this year, potentially one of the strongest on record, which could bring a milder, snow-light winter to Massachusetts, a quieter Atlantic hurricane season, and broader global shifts toward warmer temperatures, possibly making 2027 the warmest year on record as ocean warmth releases into the atmosphere.
A Massachusetts State Police trooper, 30-year-old Kevin Trainor, died after his cruiser was struck by a Jeep traveling the wrong way on Route 1 in Lynnfield while responding to a call; the other driver, Hernan Marrero, 50, of Roslindale, also died at the scene. Trainor, who had recently graduated from the MSP Academy, was remembered by officials as a hero, and the crash is under investigation.
A Massachusetts State Police trooper, Kevin Trainor, died from injuries after his cruiser was struck by a wrong-way driver on Route 1 northbound in Lynnfield, near Saugus. The other driver died at the scene; Route 1 northbound was closed for hours for an on-scene investigation. Gov. Maura Healey and police officials mourned his line-of-duty death.
A Massachusetts State Police trooper responding to reports of a wrong-way driver was killed when a southbound vehicle in the northbound lanes struck his cruiser on Route 1 in Lynnfield. The wrong-way driver died at the scene, and the trooper died later at Massachusetts General Hospital. Route 1 north was closed for about six hours during the morning rush as investigators worked; Gov. Healey offered condolences.
Colin Angle, the Roomba cofounder, is back with Familiar Machines & Magic to demo Familiar — an AI-powered pet robot designed for households — as he seeks to crack the home-robotics market once more from his Woburn, Massachusetts startup.
Opening statements have begun in the assault trial of former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from an alleged dispute with his former private chef, with jury selection underway in Dedham, Massachusetts.