Mostly Cloudy 72°
News
Millions In MA Breathing Unhealthy Air, New Study Warns: Here's Why Millions In MA Breathing Unhealthy Air, New Study Warns: Here's Why
Millions In MA Breathing Unhealthy Air, New Study Warns: Here's Why Nearly half of all people in the United States, including millions across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, are breathing unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to a new study. The American Lung Association released its 2025 edition of the "State of the Air" report on Wednesday, April 23. The study, now in its 26th year, highlights troubling air quality trends in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The report found that 156 million people – about 46% of the U.S. population – are living in counties that earned failing grades f…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Business
Google Gained 'Monopoly Power' With Online Ad Technology, Judge Rules Google Gained 'Monopoly Power' With Online Ad Technology, Judge Rules
Google Gained 'Monopoly Power' With Online Ad Technology, Judge Rules A federal judge ruled that Google illegally cornered the online advertising market by linking its tools together to block out competition, a major win in a broader antitrust crackdown on Big Tech. The ruling found Google liable for willfully using a series of "anticompetitive acts" to dominate how digital ads are placed across the internet. The decision was handed down in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia on Thursday, April 17. In her decision, US District Judge Leonie Brinkema said Google's ad technology blocked out competitors and hurt consumers. "For over …

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
News
MA Ranked Among 10 Most Eco-Friendly States, New Study Says: Here's Why MA Ranked Among 10 Most Eco-Friendly States, New Study Says: Here's Why
MA Ranked Among 10 Most Eco-Friendly States, New Study Says: Here's Why Several Northeast states are among the most environmentally friendly in the nation, according to a new study. The Greenest States in 2025 list was released by WalletHub on Wednesday, April 9. The personal finance website compared all 50 states across key metrics like air and water quality, renewable energy use, green transportation, and carbon emissions. WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said infrastructure plays a big role in whether residents can make eco-friendly choices. "If a state doesn't have a great infrastructure for alternative-fuel vehicles, it becomes much harder for r…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
News
MA Leads Nation For Child Healthcare, New Study Says: Here's Why MA Leads Nation For Child Healthcare, New Study Says: Here's Why
MA Leads Nation For Child Healthcare, New Study Says: Here's Why Families in the Northeast are getting some of the best care in the country for their children, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 list of Best & Worst States for Children's Healthcare on Tuesday, April 8. The report compares all 50 states and Washington, DC, using 33 indicators of cost, access, and quality. Metrics range from the percentage of children in excellent health to the number of pediatricians per capita. "The quality of children's health care should be one of the most important considerations for parents when deciding where to live," said WalletHub ana…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
News
Butter Beware: Bacteria Found In Cabot Creamery's Popular Product Butter Beware: Bacteria Found In Cabot Creamery's Popular Product
Butter Beware: Bacteria Found In Cabot Creamery's Popular Product Butter lovers, beware. Cabot Creamery’s premium butter is being recalled after testing revealed elevated levels of coliform bacteria, a possible indicator of fecal contamination, officials said. Agri-Mark Inc., the Vermont-based maker of Cabot products, issued a voluntary recall for its 8oz Extra Creamy Premium Butter, Sea Salted after finished product testing detected high levels of bacteria, according to a federal release issued Wednesday, April 9. Cabot butter packaging. Cabot Creamery The impacted butter is packaged as two 4-ounce sticks in a cardboard shell and can be identifie…

SHARE

by Jillian Pikora
Business
Taco John's Expanding Into MA, CT With 22 New Restaurants On The Menu Taco John's Expanding Into MA, CT With 22 New Restaurants On The Menu
Taco John's Expanding Into MA, CT With 22 New Restaurants On The Menu A Tex-Mex fast food chain popular in the Midwest and Great Plains is making a sharp move east with expansion plans in New England. Taco John's is in the process of opening 22 restaurants across Massachusetts and Connecticut, the company said in a news release on Wednesday, April 9. Three locations have already opened in the Bay State, with the newest one at 77 Summer Street in Boston's Downtown Crossing section. The chain began its New England expansion in 2023 with the opening of restaurants in Lawrence and Leominster. Before 2023, the nearest Taco John's to Massachusetts was in Ohio.…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Business
Avelo To Fly ICE Deportation Flights, Sparking Boycott As Critics Slam 'Cruel' Policy Avelo To Fly ICE Deportation Flights, Sparking Boycott As Critics Slam 'Cruel' Policy
Avelo To Fly ICE Deportation Flights, Sparking Boycott As Critics Slam 'Cruel' Policy Avelo Airlines has received widespread criticism after agreeing to fly deportation charter flights for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. An Avelo spokesperson confirmed the airline's ICE partnership to the Daily Voice on Tuesday, April 8. The "long-term charter program" will be based at Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) in suburban Phoenix and begin on Monday, May 12. The Houston-based airline said its operations with the Department of Homeland Security will utilize three Boeing 737-800 planes. "Flights will be both domestic and international to support the department's deportat…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
News
MA Taxpayers Face One Of Nation's Steepest Burdens, New Study Says MA Taxpayers Face One Of Nation's Steepest Burdens, New Study Says
MA Taxpayers Face One Of Nation's Steepest Burdens, New Study Says Taxpayers in the Northeast are carrying some of the heaviest financial burdens in the country, according to a new study unveiled ahead of the 2025 filing deadline. WalletHub released its 2025 list of tax burdens by state on Tuesday, April 1. The study compared all 50 states by analyzing how much of each state's total personal income went to property taxes, individual income taxes, and sales and excise taxes. New York has the second-highest overall tax burden in the US, only lower than Hawaii. The Empire State also ranked first for individual income tax burden, with residents hand…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Lifestyle
MA Ranks Among Nation's Top 10 For Arts, New Study Says: Here's Why MA Ranks Among Nation's Top 10 For Arts, New Study Says: Here's Why
MA Ranks Among Nation's Top 10 For Arts, New Study Says: Here's Why From world-class museums to thriving nonprofits, the Northeast remains a national hub for the arts — but not every state in the region is keeping pace. SmileHub released its 2025 list of best states for the arts on Monday, April 1. The report compared all 50 states using 16 key measures — including access to arts nonprofits, artist pay, education programs, and public funding. Arts-based industries employ nearly 5.2 million people nationwide, according to SmileHub. "Engagement with the arts is shown to benefit mental health, improve the likelihood of young people being recognized for a…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Ex-CT High Coach Accused Of Assaulting Student Now Mass Police Officer Suspended Ex-CT High Coach Accused Of Assaulting Student Now Mass Police Officer Suspended
Ex-CT High Coach Accused Of Assaulting Student Now Mass Police Officer Suspended A police officer in Massachusetts has been suspended after a teenage student at a Connecticut High School accused them of sexual assault, a news report said.  Justin Perez, 27, who was an assistant coach at Somers High School last year, was charged this week with abusing his leadership position and sending a then 15-year-old girl nude photos and sexually suggestive texts, Connecticut authorities said.  Original Report: Ex-Somers High Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Student Springfield Police Supt. Larry Akers said he suspended Perez five days without pay, the longest punis…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
News
Rising Sea Levels Will Threaten 173K+ In MA By 2050, New Study Says: See The Map Rising Sea Levels Will Threaten 173K+ In MA By 2050, New Study Says: See The Map
Rising Sea Levels Will Threaten 173K+ In MA By 2050, New Study Says: See The Map Rising sea levels could put hundreds of thousands of homes underwater across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic within 25 years, according to new analysis. Climate Central released its Coastal Flood Risk Across the US study on Wednesday, April 2. The nonprofit scientific group said coastal flooding will threaten more than 2.5 million Americans in about 1.4 million homes by 2050. In a generation, a "100-year flood" could reach homes across dozens of coastal Northeast communities, threatening more than 1.1 million residents from the North Shore of Massachusetts to the Virginia…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
News
(Update) Stepmom Accused of Imprisoning Connecticut Man For 20 Years Back In Court Amid Outrage (Update) Stepmom Accused of Imprisoning Connecticut Man For 20 Years Back In Court Amid Outrage
(Update) Stepmom Accused of Imprisoning Connecticut Man For 20 Years Back In Court Amid Outrage Update: A judge ruled Friday, March 28, that Kimberly Sullivan must wear a GPS-monitoring device while out on bail.  Original: Donations continue to flood in for the 32-year-old man from Connecticut who was allegedly held captive inside a tiny room in a Waterbury home for two decades. The global outpouring of support comes as prosecutors seek harsher penalties for his stepmother, who is currently out on bail. Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury has raised nearly $200,000 on GoFundMe as of Thursday morning, March 27 — more than double its original goal. The funds will help cover the man's …

SHARE

by Josh Lanier