THE MASS PAROLE BOARD HAS A TRANSPARENCY PROBLEM
From secret hiring practices to a revolving door of political appointees, the Mass Parole Board is a “black hole,” and “lives are at risk.” In the spring of 2021, Ms. Smith, whose name has been changed for this article, heard from a friend that there was a vacancy on the Massachusetts Parole Board. Board member […]
BATTLE: SGARS
Poisons used by Mass municipalities are killing more than just the rats they’re targeting. In practice, their controversial tactics may actually protect the rodent population. It was a sunny Friday morning in late July of this year when Jodi Sylvester, a wildlife photographer from central Massachusetts, drove into the Boston area to check in on a pair of […]
SOMERVILLE WIRE: December 14, 2021 WEEKLY ROUNDUP
A DavisNow presentation, a Foss Park ribbon cutting, and the Iluminaciones light sculpture Survey SOMERVILLE LOCAL NEWS SURVEY The Somerville Wire is part of the Somerville News Garden project of the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism. News garden volunteers and BINJ staffers are trying to figure out how to reverse the city’s descent toward becoming […]
JUSTICE FOR FLAVIA PRODUCES NEW MODEL MOU FOR SOMERVILLE SCHOOLS
The document causes officials and community members to ask, what should the role of police be in schools? (Somerville Wire) – Justice for Flavia, an organization that was established in the aftermath of a case where Somerville Public Schools called police on a 6-year-old boy, released a model MOU for school districts and police departments, […]
BUSINESS PROFILE: CAROLYN’S GIFT-WRAPPING SERVICES
The answer to all of your holiday needs! (Somerville Wire) – Somerville social worker Carolyn Harmeling always had a talent for designing beautifully wrapped gifts, and to make some extra money, she decided to open a business this season. Now, with the holidays approaching, you can message her on Facebook to have your last minute […]
HOW THE COMMONWEALTH CONTINUES DRIFT AWAY FROM TRANSPARENCY
This is what happens when you try asking the second largest city in Mass and state officials to adhere to basic public records laws Across Massachusetts, today is actually tomorrow. Except in Worcester, where it’s already the day after tomorrow. But if that would make it the weekend, then it’s the following Monday instead, […]
SOMERVILLE WIRE: December 7, 2021 WEEKLY ROUNDUP
Commemorating lives lost due to COVID, the College Avenue Mobility Improvements Project, and an Illuminations Bike Tour Survey SOMERVILLE LOCAL NEWS SURVEY The Somerville Wire is part of the Somerville News Garden project of the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism. News garden volunteers and BINJ staffers are trying to figure out how to reverse the […]
ARTIST PROFILE: STEPHANIE VECELLIO
Somerville creator sees brightly colored illustration as a form of storytelling (Somerville Wire) – Stephanie Vecellio is an illustrator who dreamed of living in Somerville ever since her college years, when she interned in Davis Square. Now, she finds inspiration in the world she observes around her and is known for designing vivid, playful images […]
INVESTIGATING THE INTERSTATE: ON THE I-93 SOUND WALL STUDY
The new MassDOT project is seen as both a step forward and a long overdue move The Somerville Wire recently received a Kozik Environmental Justice Reporting Grant, through the National Press Foundation and the National Press Club Journalism Institute. This article is the second to last in a series about how roadways like I-93 and […]
VIDEO: THE BINJ VIRTUAL MARATHON OPEN NEWSROOM & FUNDRAISER
Below is the lineup for our first-ever BINJ Virtual Marathon Open Newsroom & Fundraiser. We’ll be streaming from Facebook and sharing across social media channels and here at binjonline.org. If you want to support our reporting and other efforts in the local independent journalism space, make a contribution at givetobinj.org. Donations will be matched by […]