MA boosts high degree attainment rate but students question affordability Massachusetts remains a national leader in educational degree attainment, according to a new report.The latest data from Lumina Foundation showed 63% of residents hold a college degree or other credential compared to the national average of nearly 55%.Ginette Saimprevil, exec…

MA community action agencies aim to restore antipoverty funds Community action agencies in Massachusetts are asking state lawmakers to boost antipoverty programs as federal aid remains in limbo.Gov. Maura Healy chose not to fund the agencies' line item in her proposed budget, putting critical services for people coping with food and housing insecur…

Expanded tax credits, free tax service help MA families get ahead Community action agencies in Massachusetts called the state's expanded tax credits "powerful antipoverty tools" and they are offering free tax prep services to help families get ahead.The state's Earned Income Tax Credit grew to 40% of the federal rate last year, while the Child and …

MA educators cite chaos, fear following Trump’s directives Massachusetts educators say President Donald Trump's threat to pause all federal grant programs has created instability for schools and their students.A federal judge temporarily blocked the order and it was later paused by the White House, but not before affecting child care and Head Start…

Educator pay, medical leave top MA teachers union legislative priorities Establishing minimum salaries for educators and school staff will be a top priority for the Massachusetts Teachers Association this legislative session. The union is backing a bill to ensure K-12 support staff receive a minimum salary of $55,000 a year, while teachers would ea…

MA company ends production of genetically modified Atlantic salmon Conservation groups are celebrating the end of a Massachusetts-based biotech company's pursuit of bringing genetically altered Atlantic salmon to market. AquaBounty was the first company to get regulatory approval from the Food and Drug Administration to sell a genetically modified …

Southeast Asian refugees in MA fear deportation, seek Biden pardon Southeast Asian refugees at risk of deportation in Massachusetts are asking President Biden to pardon them before he leaves office.Deportations skyrocketed under the first Trump administration with removals of Cambodians up nearly 300%.Kevin Lam, campaign coordinator for the Southea…

Federal funds boost climate-focused MA transportation projects Massachusetts will benefit from more than $100 million in new federal funding for various transportation projects.Neighborhoods divided by busy roadways in Somerville, Mattapan and Pittsfield will be reconnected with new street-level pathways while more than 400 new electric-vehicle cha…

Rightward shifts in solid blue MA ignite Democrats’ ‘listening tour’ Massachusetts Democrats hope a virtual "listening tour" will help clarify voters' rightward shift in last year's election.While Vice President Kamala Harris easily won the deep-blue state with more than 60% of the vote, President-elect Donald Trump improved his 2020 results by rou…

Boston gun violence memorial reveals people behind statistics CORRECTION: The next stop for the exhibit is the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, not the Detroit Institute of Arts. (1:30 p.m. MDT, Jan. ...(Read More)

Report: Only half of phone companies use required anti-robocall technology More than three years after a federal law was passed requiring phone companies to install anti-robocall technology, fewer than half of those companies are in compliance.The latest report on scam calls and texts finds that while robocalls are down roughly 17%, Americans still…

Sindicatos y cooperativas de MA abordan histórica brecha de riqueza Sindicatos y cooperativas de trabajadores de Massachusetts unen sus fuerzas para ayudar a combatir la histórica brecha de riqueza del estado. Los datos del censo muestran que sólo un puñado de hogares tienen ingresos promedio casi 14 veces superiores a los del 20% más pobre. Kevin …

MA unions, worker co-ops tackle historic wealth gap Massachusetts unions and worker-owned cooperatives are joining forces to help tackle the state's historic wealth gap. Census data show just a handful of households now have average incomes nearly 14 times larger than the bottom 20%. Kevin O'Brien is a worker-owner with the unionized Worx Printing …

Federal regulators urged to consider wildlife in MA transmission plans Wildlife advocates want federal regulators to consider habitats and migratory routes, when planning new transmission infrastructure in Massachusetts and nationwide. Transmission lines can act like highways - interfering with wildlife's ability to move, reproduce, or find seasona…

MA state grants boost rural economies, climate resilience Rural communities across Massachusetts are benefiting from state grants aimed at strengthening the local food supply and building climate resilience.State officials have awarded nearly $4 million to help farmers improve soil health, upgrade irrigation systems and prepare for extreme weather …

MA worker co-op movement backs REI union contract efforts Union workers fighting for a fair contract at Recreational Equipment, Inc. Boston are drawing support from the state's growing worker co-op community. REI is the largest customer co-op brand, but many worker-owned co-ops say it has failed to live up to its stated values or bargain in good fa…

Unions: Green jobs are good paying jobs under new MA climate law Labor unions in Massachusetts say the state's new climate law will create good jobs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.The law streamlines the siting and permitting process for new clean energy infrastructure and ensures contracted companies pay a fair wage.Ryan Murphy, executive…

Federal investments help bolster MA workforce training programs Federal investments are helping the city of Boston develop greater workforce training programs.The city received $23 million in 2022 to develop pathways into quality child care, health care and energy jobs.Trinh Nguyen, chief of worker empowerment for the City of Boston, said city offi…

MA boosts educator diversity to improve student outcomes Massachusetts lawmakers are hoping a new teacher certification process will draw more diverse candidates to the classroom.The state recently passed legislation to create alternative pathways for teachers who struggle to pass the certification exam but can otherwise demonstrate competence in t…

MA farmers, families brace for cuts to fresh produce benefits Massachusetts farmers said they are bracing for revenue losses due to cuts in fresh produce SNAP benefits.Starting Dec. 1, families who utilize the state's Healthy Incentives Program to buy food directly from farmers will see their benefits cut to just $20 a month, regardless of househol…

Shareholders step up to shape climate goals in corporate world By Grace Hussain for Sentient. Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Commonwealth News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service CollaborationThe food we eat is responsible for as much as a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Most of that comes from beef — including …

MA families encouraged to explore foster care adoption Advocates for foster children in Massachusetts are encouraging people to open their homes and hearts to adoption.More than 8,000 children in the Commonwealth are currently living in foster care and seeking permanent, loving families.Rita Soronen, president of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adop…

Massachusetts rideshare drivers win the right to unionize Voters in Massachusetts have passed a first of its kind ballot measure allowing rideshare drivers to unionize as independent contractors.Question 3 narrowly passed with just 54% of the vote after a yearslong grassroots effort to gain greater protections for these gig workers.Roxana Rivera, a…

MA educators, parents celebrate end of MCAS graduation requirement Parents and educators in Massachusetts are celebrating an end to the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System graduation requirement.Nearly 60% of voters approved Question 2, which ensures students still take the standardized test but does not require passage to receive a high …

Chills vs. bills: MA kicks off home heating aid program Temperatures are dropping in the Commonwealth and community action agencies said help is available for those struggling to pay their heating bills.The federal Home Energy Assistance Program helps households making less than 60% of the state median income, which for a family of four is just und…

Federal funds expand successful MA diaper distribution program A federal pilot program distributing diapers to Massachusetts families in need is expanding.The program has already distributed more than two million diapers, along with wipes and other supplies, to roughly 2,500 children over the past year.Melissa White, director of programs for the Va…

In this conversation, Doug Jones interviews Keith Jones, an entrepreneur who shares his journey from the corporate world to creating impactful social initiatives. They discuss Keith's involvement in Bumrun, a creative campaign to raise awareness for colon cancer, and how his upbringing influenced his entrepreneurial spirit. Keith elaborates on his …

Medicare payment cuts leave New England private practices in critical condition Ongoing cuts to Medicare reimbursement rates are leaving New England private practices in critical condition.Doctors said the outdated payment system is forcing them to close or consolidate, limiting patient access to lifesaving treatments.Dr. ...(Read More)…

Medicare open enrollment in MA brings prescription drug savings Medicare open enrollment is underway and Massachusetts residents over 65 are encouraged to consider their health plan options.Changes this year include a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs.Cindy Phillips, director of the state's health insurance information program Serving …

More MA communities strive for building decarbonization By Sarah Shemkus for Energy News Network. Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service CollaborationA year and a half since Massachusetts introduced an optional new building code aimed at lowering fossil fuel use,…

EPA omits schools from new lead rule but federal funds could help Clean water advocates in Massachusetts are applauding the Environmental Protection Agency's new rule on lead pipe removals but warned drinking water in schools remains at risk.The agency set a 10-year deadline for most utilities to replace lead service lines but omitted requirements …

MA educators: Down with anti-immigrant rhetoric, up with students Many Massachusetts educators are denouncing the growing chorus of anti-immigrant rhetoric this election season.They cited an uptick in reports of bullying and concern among immigrant parents about whether their children are safe at school.Jessica Lander, a civics and history teacher …

River herring loss in MA part of greater forage stock decline Members of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head are asking federal regulators to help restore the river herring, a forage fish they said is vital to the regional food chain.A statewide moratorium on catching river herring remains in place but offshore commercial fishing trawlers continue to n…

Takeout with a side of sustainability: MA restaurants avoid single-use plastic By Meg Wilcox for Civil Eats. Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Commonwealth News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service CollaborationAt Johnny’s Luncheonette, a family-style diner in the greater Boston area serving sandwiches an…

College students press Israeli divestment campaign as school year begins As college anti-war protests enter a second school year, students are maintaining pressure on administrators to cut all financial ties with the Israeli government. Students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to…

MA fishermen see opportunity as Farm Bill advances Massachusetts fishermen said they are optimistic the next Farm Bill will provide greater support to smaller, community-based fishing fleets.The bill's framework includes provisions to increase the amount of domestic seafood purchased for federal nutrition programs and creates a special seafood liai…

New MA wage equity law tackles gender, racial wage gap Supporters of a new wage equity law in Massachusetts say it will help close the state's gender and racial wage gap. Starting next year, companies with more than 25 employees must disclose a salary range for all posted positions. Kimberly Borman, executive director of the Boston Women's Workforc…

MA college aid experts optimistic FAFSA rollout will be glitch-free College financial aid experts in Massachusetts say this year's phased rollout of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid should be error free.The revised form, which unlocks student loans and grants for millions of American students will be tested by select schools starting in…

MA peace activists call for Israeli arms embargo at DNC Massachusetts peace activists will join the tens of thousands of protesters expected at this week's Democratic National Convention in Chicago. At least two hundred social justice organizations plan to march near the convention site, with many protesting U.S. support for Israel's war in Gaza. .…

MA scientists tackle marine debris harming historic sites, critical habitats Scientists in Massachusetts are working to protect historic shipwrecks and the habitats they provide from dangerous marine debris. There's more than two hundred shipwrecks in the Stellwagen Bank Sanctuary near Cape Cod alone. It's also a popular whale watching and fishing …

English-language learners struggle to meet MCAS graduation requirement Educators in Massachusetts say the MCAS high school graduation requirement is disproportionately affecting English language learners, the fastest growing student population in the state.Failure to pass the required English, math and science tests means students do not receive a …

MA 'millionaire’s tax' generates windfall for public education The Massachusetts state budget has been finalized and public education leaders say students came out on top.More than $1 billion generated by the state's "millionaire's tax" allowed for increased per-student funding for districts, greater literacy education and most notably, free commun…

MA labor groups tackle climate crisis, income inequality Massachusetts labor leaders say the state can meet its ambitious climate goals while creating quality jobs in communities facing the greatest threats from climate change.A new report details how investments in electric rail networks, renewable energy and high-efficiency buildings can reduce e…

New guidelines aim for sustainable growth of MA aquaculture New global guidelines for aquaculture aim to address growing concerns about the industry's impact on the oceans. Scientists have suggested ways to protect aquatic ecosystems, reduce antibiotic use, and even prevent ocean litter from discarded aquaculture gear. Danielle Blacklock, director …

Scientists reconsider net-zero pledges to reach climate goals By Stephen Battersby for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Commonwealth News Service, reporting for the Pulitzer Center-Public News Service Collaboration.As a phrase and as a promise, net zero has been a great success. Hundreds o…

MA secures $1 billion in federal funds for Cape Cod bridges Massachusetts will receive close to $1 billion in federal funding to replace the Cape Cod bridges.Lawmakers said it is the largest single bridge funding grant in U.S. history and the biggest federal grant ever awarded to the Commonwealth....(Read More)…

Majority of married same-sex couples say marriage equality threatened Twenty years after Massachusetts became the first state to permit marriage equality, a majority of same-sex married couples say it had a profound positive impact on their lives. A new report finds it strengthened couples' relationships, provided legal protections, financial secur…

MA boosts funding for 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline services Community groups in Massachusetts will see continued funding to support the state's 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.Public health officials have announced more than $8 million in grants to better support those experiencing emotional distress or suicidal thoughts. Nearly 7,000 calls were…

Marine national monument off MA coast protects ocean biodiversity A new marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean aims to protect one of the most biodiverse spots on the planet from overfishing.Located 130 miles off Cape Cod, the area spans more than 3 million acres and is part of the Biden administration's plan to conserve at least 30% of U.S…

In this final episode of Season 3, Wade chats with Richard Piotrowski who is the publisher of Brewers Journal Canada. He is also the newly hired Executive Director of the Yarmouth and Area Chamber of Commerce. Richard describes himself as a Serial Entrepreneur, always looking for exciting opportunities. The story of his discovery of the Yarmouth ar…