MASSWIRE

MassWire—a project of the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism—is a web-based news service covering the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. All BINJ articles published on the Wire are available for republishing by independent community news outlets for free—and by larger commercial news outlets and chains for a fee. Interested news organizations can contact us at masswire@binjonline.org for more information.

The public at large has free access to all MassWire articles here at masswire.news. BINJ’s Somerville Wire municipal news service is also part of MassWire.

“What's a ‘Neighborway?’” Photo by Jason Pramas. Copyright 2022 Jason Pramas.

SOMERVILLE WIRE: June 28, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Fourth of July Festivities, Tackling Sewer Overflows, and More! Article COMPREHENSIVE BICYCLE NETWORK PLANNED Streets throughout Somerville to be designated ...
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Draft City of Somerville Draft Bike Network Vision. Image courtesy of the City of Somerville, Mass.

COMPREHENSIVE BICYCLE NETWORK PLANNED

Streets throughout Somerville to be designated “Neighborways” with reduced vehicle speeds (Somerville Wire) - The City is currently planning a ...
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HACKS, FACTS & CONTRACTS

As trains broke down, the MBTA’s million-dollar marketing campaign kept running In 2019, a politically-connected state contractor laid out a ...
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"Nope, still in Somerville ... or am I?" Photo by Jason Pramas. Copyright 2022 Jason Pramas.

SOMERVILLE WIRE: June 22, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Teen Spaces, Tenant Protection, and More! Article URBAN RENEWAL FOR WINTER HILL Mixed-use development planned at former Star Market on ...
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URBAN RENEWAL FOR WINTER HILL

Mixed-use development planned at former Star Market on Broadway (Somerville Wire) - The long-abandoned Star Market on Broadway in Winter ...
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HIGH DRAMA

Unruly, argumentative Governor’s Council inflames Parole Board Hearings There was high drama on display again at a Massachusetts Governor’s Council ...
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Former phone reflects the day in Somerville. Photo by Jason Pramas. Copyright 2022 Jason Pramas.

SOMERVILLE WIRE: June 14, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Money for Your Guns, a More Inclusive Farmers Market, and More! Articles NEW LIFE FOR CLARENDON HILL City gives final ...
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Rendering of new Clarendon Hill development. Image courtesy of the City of Somerville.

NEW LIFE FOR CLARENDON HILL

City gives final approval for expansion, renovation of public housing Clarendon Hill, a 216-unit housing development in West Somerville, will ...
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"Firehouse Reels" exhibit at the Somerville Museum, June 2022. Photo by Jason Pramas. Copyright 2022 Jason Pramas.

OPINION: ‘FIREHOUSE REELS’ AT THE SOMERVILLE MUSEUM

Exhibit highlights the once-controversial practice of cities supporting free speech SCAT was born in controversy. When a utility comes in ...
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Theater@First performance of Shakespeare's Henry V at Nathan Tufts/Powderhouse Park on June 5. Photo by Jason Pramas. Copyright 2022 Jason Pramas.

SOMERVILLE WIRE: June 7, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Free Taxi Rides, Boynton Yard Concerts, and More! Articles CITY, STATE PLANNING SAFETY OVERHAUL FOR ROUTES 28 & 38 Officials ...
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CITY, STATE PLANNING SAFETY OVERHAUL FOR ROUTES 28 & 38

Officials hope to slow traffic, reduce crashes around high-traffic intersection Utilizing federal and state funding, the city and state are ...
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Somerville City Councilor-at-Large Willie Burnley, Jr. Courtesy photo.

OPINION: MY PRIDE IS A RIOT AGAINST WHITE SUPREMACY

"As a Black and queer person, I know that when a person’s very existence is criminalized it inevitably results in ...
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Somerville is free. Photo by Jason Pramas. Copyright 2022 Jason Pramas.

SOMERVILLE WIRE: June 1, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

40 Years of SCATV Exhibit, CARNAVAL, Big Gay Dance Party, and More! Articles NEIGHBORS SOUND OFF ON PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING ...
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Aerial View of 90 Washington St site courtesy of the City of Somerville

NEIGHBORS SOUND OFF ON PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING PLANS

Mayor announces “pause” in design process, seeking more community input (Somerville Wire) - Committed to siting a new police and ...
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Violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) at the 2022 Arts at the Armory Gala. Photo by Jesse Buckley. Copyright 2022 Jesse Buckley.

2022 ARTS IN THE ARMORY GALA PHOTOS

Photographer Jesse Buckley captures "A Night in Bloom" (Somerville Wire) - Last week, Arts in the Armory held its 2022 ...
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DREAM FELLOWSHIP DEFERRED

Photo via US Department of Homeland Security / Mani Albrecht Diabetes researcher claims she was unlawfully denied entry to US ...
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RECOGNITION FOR RELIGION REPORTING

The kind of deep read that gets people and communities talking while winning awards in the process Congratulations to Alyssa ...
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Somerville at sunset, May 2022. Photo by Jason Pramas. Copyright 2022 Jason Pramas.

SOMERVILLE WIRE: MAY 24, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Somerville Mourns Stephenson Aman … and More Articles DETOXIFIED CONWAY PARK RETURNS TO SERVICE Final ribbon-cutting to be held this ...
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DETOXIFIED CONWAY PARK RETURNS TO SERVICE

Final ribbon-cutting to be held this Friday, 11 a.m. (Somerville Wire) - It’s been five years since Conway Park was ...
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MORALE VIOLATION

Whistle-blowers report culture of “retaliation” and “nepotism” at Mass parole agency Over the past three months, seven staff members from ...
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DISPATCH FROM THE FIRST-ANNUAL BOSTON HOT SAUCE FESTIVAL

“Large or small, they may only have one or two sauces and it helps them get out in front of ...
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Somerville porch flower. Photo by Jason Pramas. Copyright 2022 Jason Pramas.

SOMERVILLE WIRE: MAY 17, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Can’t Eat at Jumbo's & A Night In Bloom This Friday Articles COUNCIL WANTS COPS OFF CONSTRUCTION DETAILS Final decision ...
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"A Message to the Future, 2021" by Julia Csekö, in collaboration with Eddie Maisonet. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Uhrhane.

SOMERVILLE ARTIST PAINTS MURAL IN JP

New work by Julia Csekö opens Saturday, May 21 (Somerville Wire) - As part of a long-term plan to uplift ...
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Road closure for Broadway bridge demolition March 2019. MassDOT, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

COUNCIL WANTS COPS OFF CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

Final decision on using civilian flaggers to be made by Mayor Ballantyne and City staff (Somerville Wire) - The City ...
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Screenshot of Marc Levy and Jason Pramas video. Image by Jason Pramas.

VIDEO: JOURNALISTS DISCUSS PROBLEMS REPORTING RECENT DAVIS SQUARE DEATH

Share concerns about collapse of local news media and stonewalling by Somerville officials Early on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, a ...
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The Prisoner? Photo by Jason Pramas. Copyright 2022 Jason Pramas.

SOMERVILLE WIRE: MAY 10, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

COVID-19 Risk High Again, Farmers Markets Reopening, and Library Offers Tech Support Article SECOND CHANCES FOR YOUR CLOTHES AND YOUR ...
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Andrea Shapiro (founder and CEO) and Jessica Callaghan (program manager) sort donations at Second Chances. Photo by Kat Rutkin.

SECOND CHANCES FOR YOUR CLOTHES AND YOUR NEIGHBORS

Somerville nonprofit partners with service providers to match used clothing with people in need Do you need some motivation to ...
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SACRED SPACES: SPECIAL MOSQUE EDITION

Photo of Nigerian Islamic Society of Massachusetts by Derek Kouyoumjian While many Christians have been pushed out of their longtime ...
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"Stop Abortion Bans Now" by Fibonacci Blue. CC-BY 2.0. Original photo cropped for the Somerville Wire by Jason Pramas.

OPINION: R.I.P. ROE?

Freedom is a constant struggle When my family moved to Massachusetts, my mother couldn't legally get birth control or even learn about ...
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Fish house, Somerville. Photo by Jason Pramas. Copyright 2022 Jason Pramas.

SOMERVILLE WIRE: MAY 3, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Proakis Seeking Job in Watertown, Youth March for Peace, and More Articles ANOTHER SEASON OF OUTDOOR DINING BEGINS City still ...
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