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Massachusetts

Extreme Heat Forces Amtrak To Slow Northeast Trains: What To Know Extreme Heat Forces Amtrak To Slow Northeast Trains: What To Know
Extreme Heat Forces Amtrak To Slow Northeast Trains: What To Know Oppressive heat across the Northeast is forcing Amtrak to slow down its trains. Amtrak sent out a warning to travelers about the heat-related restrictions on Tuesday, June 24. Many Northeast cities along the East Coast from Massachusetts to Virginia were forecasted to have high temperatures at or above 100 degrees. The slowdowns come amid the first heat wave of the year in New England and the mid-Atlantic. "Due to temperature-related speed restrictions from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm, customers traveling in the Northeast may experience delays," Amtrak said. "Affected customers will be communicate…
Hidden Risk Prompts Recall For Apricots Sold In MA Hidden Risk Prompts Recall For Apricots Sold In MA
Hidden Risk Prompts Recall For Apricots Sold In MA A dried fruit product sold in 19 states has been recalled due to a labeling issue that could pose a risk to some consumers. Turkana Food Inc., based in Kenilworth, New Jersey, is recalling 352 cases of Floria Dried Apricots because the product contains sulfites that were not listed on the package label, according to the company’s announcement on Thursday, June 12. The recalled 200-gram Floria Dried Apricots were distributed in retail locations across: Florida Kentucky Virginia New York New Jersey Tennessee Massachusetts Texas Illinois Indiana Michigan Rhode Island Pennsylvania North Carol…
MA Ranked Best State For Working Dads In New Study: Here's Why MA Ranked Best State For Working Dads In New Study: Here's Why
MA Ranked Best State For Working Dads In New Study: Here's Why This Father's Day, many Northeast states are getting recognized as having some of the best conditions for working dads. WalletHub released its 2025 list of Best & Worst States for Working Dads on Tuesday, June 10. The study compared all 50 states and Washington, DC, across 22 metrics tied to economic stability, child care quality, parental leave policies, health care, and overall work-life balance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says 94.3% of married fathers are employed. "Working dads have to worry about much more than just how much income they're bringing home to support th…
MA Among 10 Best States For Environmental Protections, New Study Says: Here's Why MA Among 10 Best States For Environmental Protections, New Study Says: Here's Why
MA Among 10 Best States For Environmental Protections, New Study Says: Here's Why Many Northeast states are among the nation's leaders in protecting the environment, according to a new study. SmileHub released its 2025 list of Best States for Environmental Protection on Tuesday, June 10. The website ranked all 50 states based on environmental protection programs, energy use, waste reduction, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. The analysis included whether states have water reuse rules, how many environmental charities they support, and how vulnerable they are to climate shifts like record-breaking heat. "The US produces over 292 million tons of waste per…
Braintree Man Who Led Drug Ring Gets 10 Years For Fentanyl Trafficking After ICE Probe Braintree Man Who Led Drug Ring Gets 10 Years For Fentanyl Trafficking After ICE Probe
Braintree Man Who Led Drug Ring Gets 10 Years For Fentanyl Trafficking After ICE Probe A Braintree man is heading to prison after federal investigators uncovered his role as the leader of a major drug trafficking ring that brought opioids into Massachusetts from Latin America. Jonathan Melendez Decatro, also known as “Jacha,” was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release following a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation. Officials say he was the head of a large-scale drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in the Brockton area. Authorities said Melendez Decatro was getting his drugs from Colombia, Mexico, and the…
Mass College Student Secretly Filmed Semi-Nude Women: DA; Push On For Tougher Punishments Mass College Student Secretly Filmed Semi-Nude Women: DA; Push On For Tougher Punishments
Mass College Student Secretly Filmed Semi-Nude Women: DA; Push On For Tougher Punishments A Williams College student faces multiple charges after investigators said he used a hidden camera to film women without their knowledge, authorities said. Now, the Berkshire County District Attorney is joining an effort for harsher sentences.  Maxwell Hall is accused of using a hidden camera disguised as a USB stick to record 16 people without their knowledge over six hours, the Berkshire DA's office said. Williamstown police are handling the investigation.  Once called "upskirting," the practice is just a misdemeanor in Massachusetts.  Bershire District Attorney Timothy Sh…
MA Among Top 10 In Nation's Highest Income Rankings, Study Says: Here's Why MA Among Top 10 In Nation's Highest Income Rankings, Study Says: Here's Why
MA Among Top 10 In Nation's Highest Income Rankings, Study Says: Here's Why Many Northeast residents are bringing home some of the highest incomes in the country, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 list of States Where People Have the Highest Income. The study compared all 50 states and Washington, DC, based on the average annual income of the top 5% and bottom 20% of earners, along with the median income for all residents. The report highlights wealthier communities and those facing financial hardship, showing wide wealth gaps in some areas. "The highest-earning 10% of individuals in the United States earn over 12 times more than thos…
Mass Teacher Lied About Having Purple Heart, College Degrees: DA Mass Teacher Lied About Having Purple Heart, College Degrees: DA
Mass Teacher Lied About Having Purple Heart, College Degrees: DA A Massachusetts teacher was arrested after police said she lied about her college education and military past for years to get a job in public schools, authorities said.  Lissa Lagasse, 57, of Lowell, was arrested Friday, June 6, and faces 21 charges linked to her work in Haverhill schools, the Essex County District Attorney's Office said. She was being held on a $25,000 bond.  Prosecutors say Lagasse falsely claimed she had both undergraduate and graduate degrees. She also allegedly told employers that she was a decorated US military veteran and Purple Heart recipient — none of w…
New Jobless Claims Climb To Eight-Month High Amid Trump Tariff Fallout New Jobless Claims Climb To Eight-Month High Amid Trump Tariff Fallout
New Jobless Claims Climb To Eight-Month High Amid Trump Tariff Fallout Unemployment claims rose to their highest level in eight months, with more workers across the Northeast filing for benefits as President Donald Trump's tariffs fuel economic uncertainty. The number of new application filings for unemployment benefits jumped to 247,000 in the week ending Saturday, May 31, according to Labor Department data released on Thursday, June 5. That's the largest number of new claims since early October 2024 and above the 237,000 forecasted by analysts, the Associated Press reported. Initial claims increased by 8,000 from the week ending Saturday, May 24. The fo…
Trendy Hot Chicken Chain Started In Parking Lot Sold After Passing $600M Sales Mark Trendy Hot Chicken Chain Started In Parking Lot Sold After Passing $600M Sales Mark
Trendy Hot Chicken Chain Started In Parking Lot Sold After Passing $600M Sales Mark A private equity giant is buying a hot chicken restaurant chain that grew from a parking lot to an international brand that's very popular on TikTok. Roark Capital has purchased a majority stake in Dave's Hot Chicken, the restaurant said in a news release on Monday, June 2. Dave's said the sale will help the Los Angeles-based chain grow to more than 400 restaurants worldwide by the end of 2025. The company said it'll remain committed to delivering an "exceptional experience" for customers, employees, and franchise partners. "This is one of the great entrepreneurial journeys …
45 Sickened As Salmonella Outbreak In Cucumbers Expands To 18 States, Including MA 45 Sickened As Salmonella Outbreak In Cucumbers Expands To 18 States, Including MA
45 Sickened As Salmonella Outbreak In Cucumbers Expands To 18 States, Including MA A Salmonella outbreak linked to a cucumber producer has now expanded to 18 states with 45 illnesses and 16 hospitalizations now reported. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a new recall for Bedner Growers cucumbers on Friday, May 30.  The recalled cucumbers, grown in Boynton Beach, Florida, and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, were shipped to retailers, distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service dealers from Tuesday, April 29, to Monday, May 19. The products were labeled as either being “supers,” “selects,” or “plains." Target had issued…
Big Lots Reopening 78 Stores As Retailer Finishes Bankruptcy Comeback: See The Full List Big Lots Reopening 78 Stores As Retailer Finishes Bankruptcy Comeback: See The Full List
Big Lots Reopening 78 Stores As Retailer Finishes Bankruptcy Comeback: See The Full List Dozens of more Big Lots stores will reopen, finishing a nationwide comeback months after the discount chain filed for bankruptcy. Big Lots will open 78 stores on Wednesday, June 5, the company said in a news release on Friday, May 30. The chain began reopening locations in April after it was purchased by Variety Wholesalers in December 2024. After this wave of reopenings, Big Lots will have 219 stores back in business in the mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and South. Nine stores were the first to open on Thursday, April 10, and 132 locations joined in May. Big Lots said its reop…
VA Doctor At Bedford Medical Center Indicted for Child Porn Charges: DOJ VA Doctor At Bedford Medical Center Indicted for Child Porn Charges: DOJ
VA Doctor At Bedford Medical Center Indicted for Child Porn Charges: DOJ A doctor at the Bedford Veterans Affairs Medical Center is facing federal charges after investigators say they found child sexual abuse material on his personal devices, including a phone inside his VA office, authorities said.  Dr. Sven Knudsen Ljaamo, 70, has been indicted on two federal charges: one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Authorities say they were tipped off when over 100 files of suspected child sexual abuse material were uploaded to Ljaamo’s Google account. During questio…
David Ortiz Launches New Rum Available In MA: See What Inspired 'Big Papi' David Ortiz Launches New Rum Available In MA: See What Inspired 'Big Papi'
David Ortiz Launches New Rum Available In MA: See What Inspired 'Big Papi' "Big Papi" is taking a big swing with a new spirit that has deep roots in his native Dominican Republic. Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz officially launched Ozama Rum, according to a news release on Wednesday, May 28. The Baseball Hall-of-Famer also hosted pre-launch parties with distributors and influencers in Boston, Miami, New York City, and Santo Domingo. The premium liquor is made entirely in the Dominican Republic using 100% local sugarcane. The rum is aged for at least one year in oak barrels before being bottled locally and labeled with the official "Ron D…
J.P. Morgan Opening Luxury Bank In Wellesley To Attract Wealthy Clients: Look Inside (PHOTOS) J.P. Morgan Opening Luxury Bank In Wellesley To Attract Wealthy Clients: Look Inside (PHOTOS)
J.P. Morgan Opening Luxury Bank In Wellesley To Attract Wealthy Clients: Look Inside (Photos) JPMorganChase is catering to wealthier clients with more than a dozen high-end financial centers, including some in the Northeast. The banking giant will open 14 new J.P. Morgan Financial Centers throughout the last week of May, according to a news release on Tuesday, May 27. The luxury banks will be in Massachusetts, New York, California, and Florida. JPMorgan opened two locations in 2024 and plans to reach a total of 31 by the end of 2026. "Through these financial centers, we are redefining how affluent clients are served, offering a highly personalized level of service that is back…
Federal Judge From Massachusetts Blocks Trump From Dismantling Education Department Federal Judge From Massachusetts Blocks Trump From Dismantling Education Department
Federal Judge From Massachusetts Blocks Trump From Dismantling Education Department In a decisive legal ruling, a federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from dismantling the Department of Education, mandating the reinstatement of employees who were terminated.  US District Judge Myong Joun of Massachusetts said the department cannot be shut down without Congressional approval. In his injunction, Joun also told the administration to reinstate Education Department employees who lost their jobs during the reduction-in-force announced on Tuesday, March 11, "to restore the Department to the status quo." President Trump issued an executive order on Thursda…
These Are Top 10 Most, Least Obese States, Study Reveals These Are Top 10 Most, Least Obese States, Study Reveals
These Are Top 10 Most, Least Obese States, Study Reveals A new nationwide analysis is shedding light on how states compare when it comes to a major public health challenge, and the results show striking geographic patterns. The report from U.S. News reveals which states are most affected by obesity and which are faring better — a factor that plays a critical role in overall health rankings. The data is part of the 2025 Best States rankings. It is based on self-reported obesity rates from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments. Obesi…
See How Much Each Song Really Costs At 2025's Biggest Concerts, According To Study See How Much Each Song Really Costs At 2025's Biggest Concerts, According To Study
See How Much Each Song Really Costs At 2025's Biggest Concerts, According To Study If you're heading to a summer concert, you might be paying more than ever – not just for the ticket, but for each song you hear. GigaCalculator released a new study about the economics of 2025's biggest tours. The mathematics website tried to find out what fans are actually paying per song and per minute. Concert ticket prices have jumped 45% over the past five years, causing the value of each minute and song to rise. "While fans debate whether concerts are worth the splurge, the numbers expose exactly what you're getting for your hard-earned cash – and it's not a great look for some …
Walgreens Announces Dozens Of Upcoming Store Closures, Including 11 MA Locations Walgreens Announces Dozens Of Upcoming Store Closures, Including 11 MA Locations
Walgreens Announces Dozens Of Upcoming Store Closures, Including 11 MA Locations Walgreens announced this past fall that it will close about 1,200 stores over three years amid a decline in prescription drug payments and a rise in online competition. About 500 of those closures will be in 2025. Now, the locations of some of the specific stores slated to go out of business are emerging and being posted at walgreens.com. Connecticut East Hartford, 922 Silver Lane: Permanently closing on Tuesday, May 20. East Haven, 157 Main Street: Permanently closing on Thursday, May 22. New Britain, 1350 Stanley Street: Permanently closing on Monday, May 19. New Milford, 173 Danbury R…
Bahama Breeze Suddenly Closes 15 Locations: Here's Where Bahama Breeze Suddenly Closes 15 Locations: Here's Where
Bahama Breeze Suddenly Closes 15 Locations: Here's Where Bahama Breeze has suddenly shut down more than a third of its restaurants across the United States, with 15 locations quietly closed this week, according to multiple reports. The closures span 11 states, including Florida, New Jersey (Woodbridge, Toms River, Paramus, Wayne), New York (Lake Grove), Illinois, Massachusetts (Tyngsborough), Michigan, Nevada, and Tennessee, according to USA Today. In a statement to CNN, parent company Darden Restaurants said the closures were “the right decision because it will allow Bahama Breeze to focus on its highest performing restaurants and strengthen the…
Stillborns, Organs From Harvard Sold Across State Lines: DOJ Secures Guilty Plea Stillborns, Organs From Harvard Sold Across State Lines: DOJ Secures Guilty Plea
Stillborns, Organs From Harvard Sold Across State Lines: DOJ Secures Guilty Plea A Berks County man has pleaded guilty to trafficking human remains stolen from Harvard Medical School’s cadaver program, federal prosecutors announced on Friday, May 16, 2025. Joshua Taylor, 46, of Wernersville, admitted to transporting stolen human body parts across state lines and reselling them in Pennsylvania as part of a shocking, multi-year black-market operation. The U.S. Department of Justice says the body parts—meant for education and medical research—were transported from Massachusetts to New Hampshire and then into Pennsylvania, where they were resold. Stolen Remains Included Or…
Wrap Products Sold In MA Linked To Potential Contamination Risk Wrap Products Sold In MA Linked To Potential Contamination Risk
Wrap Products Sold In MA Linked To Potential Contamination Risk A public health alert has been issued for a pair of ready-to-eat wrap products due to possible Listeria contamination, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced. The items — chicken and bacon ranch wraps sold under two brand labels — are no longer being sold, but officials are concerned some may still be in consumer refrigerators. The wraps were produced on Friday, May 2, and distributed to retail locations in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The affected items include: 10-ounce packages labeled “Big Y quick easy meals CHICKEN BACON RANCH WRAP” with a Sell By date of Tue…
Burberry Laying Off 1,700 Workers As High-End Fashion Designer's Sales Plunge Burberry Laying Off 1,700 Workers As High-End Fashion Designer's Sales Plunge
Burberry Laying Off 1,700 Workers As High-End Fashion Designer's Sales Plunge Burberry is cutting more than 1,500 jobs worldwide after the British luxury fashion brand saw a steep drop in profits. The company will lay off about 1,700 workers by 2027, Burberry said in an earnings report on Wednesday, May 14. The job cuts are part of a broader restructuring plan, aiming to save 100 million British pounds. The cuts will come from operational expenses, including procurement, real estate, and staffing. Burberry said the changes are "subject to consultation where applicable." The layoffs follow a difficult year for Burberry, which reported a 94% drop in adjusted oper…
Tufts Student Must Be Freed After ICE Detained Her For Pro-Palestine Op-Ed, Judge Rules Tufts Student Must Be Freed After ICE Detained Her For Pro-Palestine Op-Ed, Judge Rules
Tufts Student Must Be Freed After ICE Detained Her For Pro-Palestine Op-Ed, Judge Rules A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to release a Tufts University doctoral student who has been in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody for more than six weeks after she wrote a pro-Palestine op-ed. The judge in Vermont granted bail to Rumeysa Öztürk on Friday, May 9. US District Judge William Sessions said the federal government had proven no basis for detaining Öztürk other than her student newspaper op-ed, criticizing the university's response to Israel's occupation of Gaza. The 30-year-old was detained by six masked, plainclothes officers whil…
Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter Dies; Massachusetts Native, Harvard. Grad Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter Dies; Massachusetts Native, Harvard. Grad
Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter Dies; Massachusetts Native, Harvard. Grad David Souter, a Republican-appointed Supreme Court justice who became known for siding with its liberal wing in nearly two decades as a justice, has died. He was age 85. The court announced he died "peacefully" on Thursday, May 8, at his home in Concord, New Hampshire. No cause of death was given. The Harvard University graduate and Melrose, Massachusetts native joined the high court in 1990 after being nominated by former President George H.W. Bush. Souter served on the Supreme Court until 2009, when he retired at age 69. He had served as New Hampshire's attorney general and was a …
On The Border Finds Buyer After Tex-Mex Restaurant Chain Declared Bankruptcy On The Border Finds Buyer After Tex-Mex Restaurant Chain Declared Bankruptcy
On The Border Finds Buyer After Tex-Mex Restaurant Chain Declared Bankruptcy A Texas restaurant company is set to buy On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina after the Tex-Mex chain filed for bankruptcy, closing more than 70 locations – including more than a dozen in the Northeast. Pappas Restaurants won an auction for On The Border, the Houston-based group said in a news release on Wednesday, May 7. The deal needs court approval and is expected to be finalized "in the coming weeks." The price wasn't mentioned in Pappas' announcement. The company previously submitted a $15.9 million stalking horse bid to buy On The Border, FSR Magazine reported in A…
Here's Where MA Ranks Among Best States In US, And Why Here's Where MA Ranks Among Best States In US, And Why
Here's Where MA Ranks Among Best States In US, And Why A newly released report has ranked all 50 states in the United States from top to bottom based on a variety of factors, providing insight into the best states to live in. Utah has been recognized as No. 1 in the U.S. News Best States rankings for the third consecutive year. However, the report encompasses a broader scope, highlighting various states that also excel in several key areas. Historically, Utah was often associated with three main attributes: the film Footloose,’ green Jell-O, and a youthful workforce. Curtis Blair, president and CEO of the Provo-based Utah Valley Chamber of Comm…
Trump Lies About $1.98 Gas: See Where That Number Likely Came From Trump Lies About $1.98 Gas: See Where That Number Likely Came From
Trump Lies About $1.98 Gas: See Where That Number Likely Came From President Donald Trump says gas is down to $1.98 a gallon, but that number doesn't exist at any pump in the country. In early May, Trump has repeatedly claimed gas has fallen below $2 a gallon. He made the claim in the White House, social media posts, and during an interview with NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, May 4. Trump also said gas was $1.98 a gallon when speaking with ABC News on Tuesday, April 29, at the end of his first 100 days back in the Oval Office. "So now, if you look at what's happened, energy is down," Trump said. "Gasoline hit $1.98 in a few states during the last co…
MA's Foster Care System Ranked In Nation's Bottom Half, New Study Says: Here's Why MA's Foster Care System Ranked In Nation's Bottom Half, New Study Says: Here's Why
MA's Foster Care System Ranked In Nation's Bottom Half, New Study Says: Here's Why Northeast and mid-Atlantic states showed wide disparities in foster care quality, with some ranking among the nation's best and others falling behind, according to a new study. SmileHub released its 2025 list of States With the Best Foster Care Systems on Tuesday, April 29. The study analyzed every state using 19 key foster care metrics, from adoption timelines and high school graduation rates to monthly stipends. The ranking used a weighted scoring system across three categories: foster youth baselines, community environment and support systems, and legal support. …
NY Man Claims Massachusetts Woman He Killed Is Alive, Gets Max 40 Years For Motel Murder: AG NY Man Claims Massachusetts Woman He Killed Is Alive, Gets Max 40 Years For Motel Murder: AG
NY Man Claims Massachusetts Woman He Killed Is Alive, Gets Max 40 Years For Motel Murder: AG A New York native who claimed his victim was still alive has been sentenced to the maximum prison term for beating her to death in a Luzerne County motel room, authorities announced. Joseph Alan Sarmiento, 40, of Quakertown, was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in state prison on Thursday, May 1, for the third-degree murder of Helena Johnson, 38, of Massachusetts, according to Attorney General Dave Sunday. Sarmiento had been staying with Johnson at the Red Carpet Inn on North Church Street in Hazle Township in June 2021 when, investigators say, he fatally beat her and left her body in the bathtu…
Kohl's Fires CEO Over Vendor Deal Conflict, Reportedly With Former Romantic Partner Kohl's Fires CEO Over Vendor Deal Conflict, Reportedly With Former Romantic Partner
Kohl's Fires CEO Over Vendor Deal Conflict, Reportedly With Former Romantic Partner Kohl's has removed its top executive after learning he steered the retailer into vendor deals involving undisclosed conflicts of interest, reportedly with a former romantic partner. Ashley Buchanan has been fired as CEO of Kohl's, the company announced on Thursday, May 1. The chain's board removed Buchanan based on findings from an outside counsel-led investigation overseen by the Kohl's audit committee. Board chair Michael Bender, the former CEO of Eyemart Express, will step in as interim CEO. "Working with our talented leadership team, board, and thousands of associates, I am c…
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