Local

Firefighters battling blaze at multi-family house near Tufts campus

By Estelle Anderson | 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 Josue Perez | 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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Local

Medford City Council, Board of Health take action to combat growing rodent problem

By Julia Rich | October 10

The Medford City Council is working to combat the city’s rodent problem with new ordinances and enforcement tactics, in partnership with the Medford Health Department. The efforts come amid a recent increase in rodents and wild animals such as rats and raccoons, causing concerns about sanitation issues and the spread of disease.

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Local

Medford receives $750,000 grant for Medford Connects expansion

By Zach Halverstam | October 4

The Massachusetts state government provided $750,000 in funding for the expansion of City of Medford’s “Medford Connects” project, an environmental justice initiative introduced by Mayor Brianna Lungo-Koehn in 2020. The funding comes from the fourth round of Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness ...

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Local

Somerville launches second year of participatory budgeting, with changes from first cycle

By Amelia Sammons | October 3

Somerville officially launched its second-ever round of participatory budgeting on Sept. 20, allocating $1 million of the city’s budget toward city improvement projects that will be voted on by residents. Participatory budgeting, which Somerville first implemented in 2023, strives to involve more community members in the democratic process by giving them a voice in how the city’s budget is spent. 

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Local

Medford mayor to select new fire chief in January 2025 using new examination process

By Josue Perez | September 30

The City of Medford announced on Sept. 18 that it would move forward with the search for a new fire chief and deputy chief with “assessment center” examinations. Deputy Fire Chief Todd Evans has been the acting fire chief since March, when former Fire Chief John Freedman retired following a period of mass sick leaves by firefighters in February. 

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Local

Medford receives $250,000 grant to expand, maintain Bluebikes network

By Aaron Gruen | September 26

The City of Medford has received a $250,000 grant to expand and maintain Bluebikes stations within the city. The city announced it had received funding from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in an Aug. 14 press release.

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Local

Rep. Uyterhoeven defeats challenger Hornby in Democratic primary

By Nicholas Prather | September 25

Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven defeated Kathleen Hornbyin the Sept. 3 Democratic primary for Somerville’s 27th Middlesex District, winning 69% of the vote. Uyterhoven earned 5,705 votes, while Hornby earned 2,571 votes.

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