INDYMASS: June 27, 2024

A roundup of recent articles from the Massachusetts independent press


Commentary: BINJ in the News! And BINJ (Still) Needs Your Support!

A surprise hearing on reviving the Mass. journalism commission that my BINJ colleagues, many allies, and I worked on passing a law to launch between 2019 and 2021, totally ended up dominating most of my week. So my commentary will be short again this time out (as will the roundup itself). 

But be sure to read the full testimony of our eight-person strong panel at a key State House hearing yesterday. And check out the great coverage we got:

Boston Globe Local news is in crisis. Massachusetts state government should take action, advocates say.

State House News ServiceMass. lawmakers eye revival of panel to help struggling journalism industry.

Then please read my colleague Chris Faraone’s appeal for summer donations to our Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism first (and consider giving whatever you can afford)! Then check out some of the best recent articles published by the Mass indy press!

CRIME
Newburyport Water Treatment Plant Superintendent Pays $13,000 Civil Penalty
The Local News (Ipswich)
Ooo, that’s a spicy meatball!

EDUCATION
Tense School Budget Debate Concludes In Northampton
The Shoestring
The saga is over … for now.

ENVIRONMENT
Select Board endorses electric vehicles for town fleet
yourArlington.com
Despite the controversy over electric vehicles not being as great for the environment as advertised, still a reasonably forward-thinking move.

FOOD
Coming soon to Fields Corner: A Dominican restaurant with traditional and fusion menus
Dorchester Reporter
A Dominican-Vietnamese joint? Wow, I’m all over that!

HISTORY
Historical Commission Discusses Tercentenary Markers
Sudbury Weekly
For those that, like me, find this kind of thing fascinating, enjoy!

HOUSING
Newtowne Court and Washington Elms tenants protest conditions and response by managers
Cambridge Day

A detailed piece on a situation that’s more complicated than first meets the eye.


IndyMass is produced for HorizonMass, the independent, student-driven, news outlet of the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism, by Jason Pramas and is syndicated by BINJ’s MassWire news service. Copyright 2024 Jason Pramas.


Jason Pramas is executive director of the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism and editor-in-chief of HorizonMass

BINJ-TYPE-BW-1024x576

The Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism produces bold independent journalism for Greater Boston and beyond.
Since 2015, BINJ has been producing hard-hitting news and analysis focusing on housing, criminal justice, the environment, government malfeasance, corporate corruption—and shedding light wherever it’s needed.

We work with some of the most experienced reporters in Greater Boston, and we also train dozens of emerging journalists each year to help them learn critical skills while providing quality reporting to our audience.

BINJ not only produces important stories; we also share our work for free with other community news outlets around Massachusetts, while organizing and leading at the regional and national levels of the nonprofit news industry.

We collaborate with other community publications and engage the public in civic educational initiatives

If you appreciate the work we are doing, please help us continue by making a tax-deductible donation today! With your support, BINJ can continue to provide more high-quality local journalism for years to come.