Police in multiple Massachusetts communities are warning about a string of home break-ins.
Surveillance video shows a man casually walking into a garage in Bellingham, going into an unlocked vehicle.
Police told NBC10 Boston they need the public…
Massachusetts
Armed robberies at stores in Roxbury and Brighton under investigation
Dramatic surveillance video captured an armed robbery at a convenience store in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood.
A man armed with a gun tussled with a customer and stole her money.
He then made his way behind the counter, helping himself to …
Boston keeping its 3 fare-free bus routes free to ride for longer
Three of the MBTA’s most high-traffic bus routes will remain free-to-ride through March 2026, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced Tuesday, citing the positive impact the pilot program has had on riders’ savings and ridership numbers.
Routes 23, 28 and 29 have been fare-free since February 2022, when Wu announced a two-year extension to a pilot program on Route 28 that drastically increased ridership. The program, which uses funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to reimburse the MBTA for the free rides, was supposed to end in late February, but the success of the program influenced Wu to extend it, the city said in a news release.
“Fare free bus routes have been proven to make public transportation more convenient, accessible, and affordable for our residents who depend on transit to get to work and school,” Wu said in a statement. “Community members have emphasized that this program helps them save money, and encourages more trips without worrying about exact change or rationing travel.”
The city estimates that riders have saved around $6 million in bus fees over the last two years, with around half of riders saying they’ve saved an average of $35 a month.
The three routes have some of the highest ridership rates in the city. Route 23 (Ashmont to Dorchester Center, Grove Hall & Ruggles), Route 28 (Mattapan Square, up Blue Hill Ave. to Nubian Square & Ruggles) and Route 29 (Mattapan Square, up Blue Hill Ave. to Jackson Square) all run through areas with several schools and housing facilities but few options for public transportation.
Over half of the riders that consistently use these routes are classified as low income, according to the city. Additionally, despite the increase in ridership the lines have seen over the last two years, travel times have remained the same, the city said.
Since the initial implementation of the program, other public transportation agencies across Massachusetts have designed similar policies. Merrimack Valley Transit, which serves around 2.8 million riders annually, made all of its bus and paratransit routes fare-free in March 2022.
Wu campaigned on the promise of expanding affordable and accessible public transportation. In October, she announced a discounted annual Bluebikes pass that shaves off over half the cost of the normal annual rate.
Biden’s write-in win, Clyburn’s comments give NH Democrats hope amid DNC primary spat
In the wake of a primary win for President Joe Biden in South Carolina, Rep. Jim Clyburn is pointing to the Democratic National Committee and its feud with New Hampshire.
“Let the rules committee figure out a way to let those Democratic delegates up in New Hampshire have their vote at the convention,” Clyburn said. “Let’s just do that.”
The comments come after months of drama within the party. Biden and the DNC moved South Carolina higher up in the Democratic nominating process, ignoring New Hampshire and threatening not to count Granite State delegates.
But a robust write-in effort and solid turnout in favor of the president seem to be turning the tides.
“We’re obviously very grateful, um, surprised,” said Ray Buckley, chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.
“It was surprising that it came so quickly after the South Carolina presidential primary,” New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan said of Clyburn’s comments.
More on President Biden in New Hampshire
It’s bringing a sense of confidence for Granite Staters.
“We will be first just as we were this cycle, because it’s our state law,” said Buckley.
Speculation over how this back-and-forth will evolve over the next four years also rising to the surface.
“We know how to run elections in this state and the voters really engage and participate. That’s really hard to duplicate in other places,” said Scanlan.
“This calendar was for this cycle only, and they were going to start the conversation anew going into 2028,” said Buckley. “We look forward to that conversation.”
As for the here and now, attention is turning to how those delegates will be brought into the nominating process. The Democratic National Convention is scheduled for this summer in Chicago.
Fires keep springing up at unlicensed apartments, Lawrence finds
As the demand for housing grows and rent prices rise, unlicensed apartments are proliferating in Massachusetts.
Two illegal apartments were recently found in Lawrence after a fire broke out on Sunday morning. No one was hurt, but the city is worri…
Death of endangered right whale found off Martha’s Vineyard highlights troubling trend
Scientists say a North Atlantic right whale that was found dead in the surf off Martha’s Vineyard last week suffered from chronic entanglement.
NBC10 Boston is examining the efforts to save the critically endangered animals and their special significance to native people in Massachusetts.
“Whales in general, we consider them our relatives,” said Bettina Washington, the tribal historic preservation officer for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head in Aquinnah.
That’s why when a young female right whale or reproductive age washed up on the shores of Martha’s Vineyard last week, the Wampanoag people were devastated.
“They’re beyond critically endangered, truthfully, or, you know, in our eyes, they were critically endangered a long time ago,” said Washington.
The relationship is so entwined that the right whale is depicted on the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head’s flag. When scientists needed space to perform the necropsy on the whale, it was moved to tribal lands.
Biologists from a variety of organizations ultimately determined rope deeply embedded in the animal’s tail led to her poor health and death.
“For North Atlantic right whales, we are seeing premature deaths. There are far and few between deaths that are natural causes,” said Kathleen Collins, senior marine campaign manager at the International Fund for Animal Welfare. “We’re seeing deaths attributed to two things — entanglements in in fishing gear, as well as vessel strikes.”
This whale, identified as a calf born in 2021, was painfully entangled most of her short life. She was first spotted in 2022 off Canada’s coast and a year ago in Cape Cod Bay.
“They did everything they could, but couldn’t help her. And, and that was really painful to know that she was in trouble that long,” said Washington.
IFAW reports that since 2017, nine right whales have been reported dead due to entanglement — a troubling trend considering there are only about 350 left in existence.
“There is certainly hope for this species, but without concrete action for further protections, whether it be regulations of gear, and higher enforcement of those vessel speed rules, the species is going to continue to have to fight to survive, and we really need to do our part to save them before it’s too late,” said Collins.
Right now, annual speed and fishing restrictions are in place along the whale’s migration route in the Atlantic. It’s their calving season, and 17 baby right whales have been spotted so far.
The Wampanoag people held a ceremony for the deceased whale and plan to use its skeletal remains for cultural and educational purposes in hopes that positivity can come from this tragedy.
“Everybody did their part. And we were able to take care of this relative,” Washington said. “It’s not something that we wanted to do, it was something we were responsible for.”
Anyone who spots an injured or stranded whale, dead or alive, should maintain a 150-foot distance, according to NOAA Fisheries.
The sightings can be reported to The Greater Atlantic Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline can be reached at 866-755-6622 and the Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding Hotline at 877-942-5343.
