Local

Green Line to close for half of December as tracks are repaired, shuttle buses will run between Tufts and downtown Boston

By Julian Glickman | December 6

The Green Line will be closed from Dec. 6–20 between the Medford/Tufts and Park Street stations, along with Union Square, as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority continues repairs on tracks across the system.

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Local

Medford residents notified of lead pipes in their houses

By Josué Pérez | December 6

Starting in the beginning of November, many residents across Medford received notices that their residence is serviced by lead pipes.

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Local

Medford launches program to revive vacant storefronts throughout city

By Anastasiya Korovska | November 21

Medford is working to reduce its number of vacant storefronts through the Vacant Storefront District Program, which will award up to $10,000 worth of tax credits to businesses interested in moving into storefronts that have been vacant for 12 months or more. The eligible storefronts are located in six districts, which include Medford Square, Haines Square, Hillside, South Medford, Wellington and West Medford.

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Local

What the approved ballot initiatives mean for Medford, Somerville

By Evan Vezmar | November 14

Local election results in Medford and Somerville show a largely successful campaign for proponents of the ballot questions in both municipalities. Voters in Somerville approved Question 6, which will increase the surcharge on the Community Preservation Act from 1.5% to 3%.

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Local

Medford commemorates veterans with Purple Heart City designation, new memorial at City Hall

By Tanya Dev | November 14

The city of Medford has officially been named a Purple Heart City, a U.S. military honor that commemorates local residents — both living and deceased — who were the recipients of Purple Heart medals. Bestowed by the president, the Purple Heart is not only the oldest but also one of the most revered military decorations in the U.S.

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Local

Medford seeks resident feedback to shape next 5 years of community funding priorities

By Marlee Stout | November 14

Medford, along with seven other Boston suburbs, is asking for input from residents as it develops a new plan to spend funding it receives as part of two separate programs through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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Local

Here’s how Somerville emergency responders, Tufts administrators helped students in the Raymond Ave house fire

By Estelle Anderson and Samantha Eng | November 8

In an email sent to the Tufts community Friday afternoon, Executive Director of Public Safety Yolanda Smith provided further information about the fire. “At approximately 11:05 a.m. this morning, a fire was reported at 74 Raymond Avenue in Somerville, a privately owned property where 10 Tufts undergraduate students lived. Somerville Fire and Police, as well as Tufts University police, EMS, and paramedics responded quickly,”

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Local

Tufts community shaken after gunshots fired near Pizza Days early Friday morning

By Estelle Anderson | November 4

The Medford Police Department is searching for the individual who fired eight gunshots near 364 Boston Avenue around 1 a.m. on Friday morning. The incident occurred next to Pizza Days, a popular, late-night pizza shop frequented by Tufts students on weekend nights.

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Local

Somerville Ballot Question 6 will determine future of CPA

By Nicholas Prather | November 4

In addition to answering “Yes” or “No” on five statewide ballot questions, Somerville residents are voting on one local ballot question. Question 6 asks if the city of Somerville should “amend its acceptance of the Community Preservation Act.” 

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Local

Somerville, Medford city councils advocate ‘yes’ votes on Mass. Question 2

By Marlee Stout | October 30

The city councils of Medford and Somerville both voted unanimously to pass resolutions in support of Massachusetts Question 2 in October. If passed, the question — one of five on the ballot — would eliminate the statewide requirement that public school students must receive a passing score on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System in order to graduate from high school.

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Local

Medford divided on ballot Questions 7 and 8 asking $7.5 million override for schools and infrastructure

By Samantha Eng | October 28

Medford ballot Questions 7 and 8 will determine whether the city can collect an additional $7.5 million in personal property and real estate taxes to fund the public school system and infrastructure repairs. Questions 7 and 8 are two of three local ballot questions Medford residents will vote on this Election Day.

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Local

After Tufts pauses Master in Public Policy, future of Neighborhood Fellows Program remains unclear

By Eli Brigham | October 25

After Tufts’ Graduate School of Arts and Sciences paused its Master of Public Policy earlier this year, local community members have mobilized in support of the Neighborhood Fellows Program, which annually selects up to five urban leaders to participate in the masters program. The leaders come from underrepresented groups and have experience working in urban communities within the Boston area.

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Local

Medford ballot Question 6 proposes debt exclusion to fund new fire headquarters

By Josué Pérez | October 24

Medford residents will vote on three local ballot questions on Nov. 5, in addition to the five state-wide questions. The first of the three, Question 6, asks voters to approve a debt exclusion for a new fire headquarters that will replace the current one at 120 Main St. 

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Local

Union Square in Somerville named among ‘coolest’ neighborhoods in the world

By Tvisha Goel | October 22

Union Square in Somerville, Mass. is among 38 neighborhoods named in Time Out’s 2024 list of coolest neighborhoods in the world. Locals and business owners in the area seem to agree. From those who have been in Union Square for the majority of their life to those who have moved there in recent ...

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Local

Rising rent around Tufts worries students, residents of host communities

By Carly Cohen | October 17

Rent prices in neighborhoods surrounding Tufts are rising rapidly, raising concerns for Tufts students and local residents alike. In Massachusetts, a minimum wage worker must clock 120 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom rental home.

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Local

Somerville Central Library reopens with private security after weeks of midday closures

By Marlee Stout | October 16

The Somerville Central Library resumed its regular weekday schedule on Oct. 2, following over a month of reduced hours aimed at combating violent and disruptive behavior by some patrons. Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne announced the reopening, along with “updated safety measures” put in place to create “a safe and supportive library environment.”

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Local

Ballantyne, city leaders address homelessness and drug use in Somerville during community meeting

By Anika Parr | October 15

At least 200 residents gathered in the Somerville Community Baptist Church for a meeting on public safety in the Seven Hills and Davis Square area on Oct. 9. Amid rising concerns about homelessness and public drug use in these communities, Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, newly-appointed Police Chief Shumeane Benford and other city leaders tried to balance public safety concern with compassion for unhoused individuals struggling with addiction.

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