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.

A NEW AMERICAN PROJECT

In the nationwide bipartisan blitz to privatize public housing, Boston’s giving billions worth of benefits to some of America’s largest ...
Read More

PANDEMIC HOUSING RELIEF: END OF AN ERA

Governor Charlie Baker tours the new Heights at Haverhill apartment community on Nov. 5, 2020. Joshua Qualls/Governor’s Press Office Mass ...
Read More

GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL SIGNALS LANDMARK COMMUTATION LOOMS

Tom Koonce (left) and his son, Thomas Andrews, circa 2018, taken at MCI Norfolk "You had one really horrible day ...
Read More

SOMERVILLE MAN SUES UBER FOR PARALYZING CRASH, ALLEGING THAT COMPANY IGNORED DRIVER’S HISTORY

(Photos courtesy of: Victoria Santoro Mair) The sound of the accident haunts William Good to this day A Somerville man ...
Read More

SOMERVILLE WIRE: JANUARY 25, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

An honoring of outgoing city councilors, a Gilman Square public art search, and a Somerville Museum exhibit on chocolate Articles ...
Read More

BUSINESS PROFILE: RAZORS BARBERSHOP & SHAVE CO.

Stop by Highland Avenue, when you need a trim (Somerville Wire) – Razors Barbershop is more than a place to ...
Read More

HOW DO WE KEEP ARTISTS IN SOMERVILLE?

The City held a discussion of the Somerville Arts Space Risk Assessment (Somerville Wire) – While artist studio buildings are ...
Read More

SOMERVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO FACE FOOD SHORTAGES

"We have to change our menus for schools because there is a lack of constant supply of food." On October ...
Read More

VACCINE MANDATE IN SOMERVILLE IS DEFEATED, 2-1

The Somerville policy would have required that proof of vaccination be shown at the door of certain indoor spaces A ...
Read More

SOMERVILLE VACCINE MANDATE VOTE WAS DISRUPTED BY A GROUP LED BY PEABODY INTERNET PERSONALITY

Officials expressed concern about comments that turned aggressive and violent Somerville’s Board of Health will try again Thursday to vote ...
Read More

SOMERVILLE WIRE: January 18, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day, banning hostile architecture, and Washington Street Gallery’s call for art Articles MAYOR KATJANA BALLANTYNE ...
Read More

MAYOR KATJANA BALLANTYNE RELEASES 100 DAY AGENDA

Addressing the COVID crisis stands as a chief concern (Somerville Wire) – Mayor Katjana Ballantyne announced her 100 Day “Somerville ...
Read More

THE LYNDELL’S TRANSCRIPT: WHAT LIES AHEAD

A look into the future of the historic bakery (Somerville Wire) – It wasn’t long ago that rumors began circling ...
Read More

BINJ HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER A SUCCESS

Raised over $40,000 thanks to our many supporters–and the work of our staff, board, journalists, and volunteers Finding funding for ...
Read More

WHAT SOMERVILLE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN UP TO DURING COVID

“We've built a really vibrant community, and it's very hard to tell whether that still exists.” The last main stage ...
Read More

THE SOMERVILLE COMMUNITY GROWING CENTER CULTIVATES A LOVE OF HERBS

A green space that grows plants that are unique to different parts of the world The Somerville Community Growing Center ...
Read More

THE LACK OF ON-CAMPUS HOUSING CREATES TENSIONS AND INSTABILITY IN SOMERVILLE

“Shortages and insecurity in on-campus housing continue to push students to look for housing elsewhere—in surrounding communities.” Housing instability within ...
Read More

BOSTON’S BOOMING LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY MOVES TO SOMERVILLE

Image by Boynton Yards "The more we can encourage developers to build commercial properties, ironically, I think the more affordable ...
Read More

SOMERVILLE MURALISTS REFLECT ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ART IN THE COMMUNITY

“You don't need to go to a museum to appreciate art.” If you visit Somerville, murals are plastered on every ...
Read More

SHOULD SOMERVILLE IMPLEMENT MORE PROTECTED BIKE LANES?

“The thing that keeps people from biking is just being scared of doing it.” Commuting comes in many forms. The ...
Read More

SOMERVILLE WIRE: January 11, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

A Nave Gallery exhibit, the Somerville Arts Space Risk Assessment, and a show at The Museum of Bad Art Articles ...
Read More

BUSINESS PROFILE: WAIKIKI

A new poke bar comes to Davis Square (Somerville Wire) – Waikiki opened very recently in Davis Square, bringing poke, ...
Read More

MEMBERS QUESTION ARTISAN’S ASYLUM RELOCATION FROM SOMERVILLE

Believe there were unspoken reasons for the move to Harvard’s Allston-Brighton campus (Somerville Wire) - Jacob LaRocca is a prop ...
Read More

THE NEW CRYSTAL BALLROOM IS KEEPING SOMERVILLE THEATER ALIVE

Catching up with Somerville’s new, much-needed live performance venue and function space On September 17, the Somerville Theatre reopened after ...
Read More

SPECIAL SEQUEL: DESACRALIZED

As another historic Black Boston institution is gentrified, a congregation displaced by condos reflects on this trend and what it ...
Read More

SOMERVILLE WIRE: January 4, 2022 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Katjana Ballantyne sworn in as mayor, Somerville recognized as a Global Climate-Action Leader, and the Co-Incidence Festival takes off Articles ...
Read More

OPINION: SOME HOPES AND WISHES FOR 2022 AND BEYOND

Photo by Eric Kilby, Flickr "I hope and trust that our city will continue to thrive as it has for ...
Read More

BOARD OF HEALTH TO VOTE ON PROOF OF VACCINATION POLICY

Photo by Marc A. Hermann While facing questions about the fate of small businesses, the Board postponed the vote to ...
Read More

BUSINESS PROFILE: DOÑA ESTELA

How a chef from Mexico started her own catering company (Somerville Wire) – Estela Calzada has been cooking for all ...
Read More

SOMERVILLE WIRE: December 21, 2021 WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Mayor Curtatone’s farewell speech, a campaign to support Somerville students, and the flag raising on Prospect Hill Announcement The Somerville ...
Read More