Michael Casey

Lawrence, Massachusetts mayor Brian DePena was arrested and charged with wire fraud and money laundering over allegations that he obtained $1.5 million in COVID-19 relief loans intended for his tire business and diverted the funds to personal tax obligations, high-interest mortgages and his 2021 mayoral campaign. He was released under conditions including surrendering his passport and obtaining court approval before seeking further loans. DePena did not comment on the allegations or say whether he would resign. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and up to 10 years for money laundering.

Phone data presented at Lindsay Clancy’s Massachusetts murder trial showed searches for suicide methods, bipolar disorder, insomnia, postpartum depression, hallucinations, psychosis and medication side effects before the January 2023 deaths of her three children. The defense acknowledges that Clancy killed the children but argues she was not criminally responsible because bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis caused her to hear voices and lose touch with reality. Prosecutors contend she planned the killings, had access to mental-health services, and did not display psychosis or mania to her providers. Clancy faces life without parole if convicted; a verdict of not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility would result in commitment to a state mental-health facility.

During Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial, psychiatric nurse practitioner Rebecca Jollotta testified that Clancy reported new intrusive thoughts, hopelessness, sleep problems, suicidal thoughts and concerns about medication side effects in late 2022. Jollotta said Clancy never disclosed a plan to harm herself or her children and did not display psychosis or mania, although she considered possible bipolar disorder and recommended more intensive treatment. Defense attorney Kevin Reddington challenged Jollotta’s limited knowledge of Clancy’s treatment by other psychiatrists and hospitals. Clancy has pleaded not guilty to killing her three children in January 2023; the defense acknowledges the killings but argues that bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis made her legally irresponsible, while prosecutors contend the deaths were intentional.

Robert Gilman, a former U.S. Marine detained in Russia since 2022, is reportedly gravely ill after spending 47 days in a dissociative stupor. He has developed a high fever and elevated blood pressure, been transferred to a civilian hospital, placed on a feeding tube and handcuffed to his bed. His family and advocacy group Global Reach allege abuse, forced drugging and torture, while Russian authorities have not publicly commented. Senator Edward Markey and the U.S. State Department are urging Russia to release Gilman on humanitarian grounds. Gilman’s sentence was extended to 10 years following convictions for assaulting Russian prison personnel.

Lindsay Clancy became visibly distressed when prosecutors showed jurors autopsy photos of her eight-month-old son during her Massachusetts murder trial. Witnesses described her postpartum mental-health struggles, insomnia and medication side effects, while prosecutors argue she deliberately killed her three children and her defense maintains that postpartum psychosis and an incompletely diagnosed bipolar disorder left her criminally irresponsible. The trial also brought attention to the retrial of Latarsha Sanders, whose Massachusetts murder conviction was overturned because jurors were not allowed to hear key psychiatric records supporting her schizophrenia-spectrum diagnosis. Clancy faces life without parole if convicted, or commitment to a state mental-health facility if found not criminally responsible.

Former nanny Elaine Rossi testified that Lindsay Clancy appeared to be a loving, attentive mother despite suffering weight loss, insomnia, anxiety and postpartum mental health problems before the deaths of her three children. The defense argues that Clancy was overcome by postpartum psychosis and had undiagnosed or inadequately treated bipolar disorder, while prosecutors contend she intentionally killed the children and should be held criminally responsible. Clancy’s lawyers acknowledge the killings but dispute her criminal responsibility; she faces life without parole if convicted and commitment to a state mental health facility if found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Jurors in Lindsay Clancy’s Massachusetts murder trial heard diary entries describing severe anxiety, guilt, insomnia and emotional disconnection before she killed her three children in January 2023. The defense argues that undiagnosed bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis left her unable to understand her actions, while prosecutors contend she intentionally planned the killings and should be held criminally responsible. Medical malpractice lawsuits allege that healthcare providers failed to recognize the danger she posed, claims the providers deny. If convicted, Clancy faces life without parole; if found not criminally responsible, she would be committed to a psychiatric hospital.

Diary entries presented at Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial described severe anxiety, guilt, insomnia, brain fog and pleas for help in the months before she killed her three children in 2023. Her defense acknowledges the killings but argues that undiagnosed bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis left her unable to understand her actions, while prosecutors contend she deliberately planned the deaths and should be held criminally responsible. The proceedings also examine allegations that healthcare providers failed to recognize the danger posed by her deteriorating mental health and medication regimen. If convicted, Clancy faces life without parole; if found not criminally responsible, she could be committed to a state psychiatric hospital.

Michigan reported cyberattack activity affecting nine water systems, following Minnesota's disclosure that more than 30 systems had been targeted. Most incidents involved remote monitoring and control technology, and officials said systems remained safe, though Braham temporarily lost control of its water plant and asked residents to reduce usage. The FBI, CISA and other agencies are investigating amid warnings that Iranian hackers have targeted U.S. water infrastructure, but no culprit has been publicly identified. The attacks highlight the cybersecurity weaknesses of underfunded local utilities, while Donald Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz exchanged conflicting claims over responsibility.

Savannah Guthrie appealed for someone with information to come forward six months after her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, disappeared from her home outside Tucson. Authorities released two ransom notes: an initial demand for $4 million in cryptocurrency claiming Nancy was alive, and a later note stating that she had died and was buried outdoors. The Pima County Sheriff's Department is examining the notes' distinctive language and reviewing doorbell-camera footage suggesting that an unidentified man may have prepared for the abduction. No suspects have been arrested, and investigators are asking the public to report unusual behavior, unexplained departures from the area, or other information that could identify the writer or those involved.

Police officers, firefighters and paramedics testified about discovering Lindsay Clancy’s three children in the basement of the family’s Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023. Prosecutors argue Clancy deliberately killed the children and is criminally responsible, while her attorneys contend that postpartum psychosis, bipolar disorder, medication effects and severe sleep deprivation impaired her judgment. Her former husband, Patrick Clancy, has said he forgives her and viewed her as mentally ill rather than evil. The trial’s outcome could result in life imprisonment without parole or commitment to a state mental health facility if she is found not criminally responsible.

First responders are expected to testify in Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial about finding the bodies of her three children. The defense argues that Clancy was experiencing postpartum psychosis, bipolar disorder and medication-related complications that caused her to hear commands to kill, while prosecutors contend that she acted intentionally and is criminally responsible. Her former husband, Patrick Clancy, has testified about her deteriorating mental health and attempts to obtain treatment. A murder conviction could result in life without parole, while a finding of not guilty due to lack of criminal responsibility could lead to commitment in a state mental health facility.

First responders are expected to testify in Lindsay Clancy’s Massachusetts murder trial about discovering the bodies of her three children and finding Clancy injured after she jumped from a second-story window. The defense argues that postpartum psychosis, bipolar disorder, sleep deprivation and medication effects left her unable to understand or control her actions, while prosecutors contend she intentionally killed the children and is criminally responsible. Her former husband, Patrick Clancy, has testified about her worsening mental health, intrusive thoughts and unsuccessful treatment. Clancy faces life without parole if convicted; if found not criminally responsible, she could be committed to a state mental health facility.

Lindsay Clancy sobbed in court as jurors heard her former husband Patrick Clancy’s emergency call after he returned home and discovered their three children had been strangled with exercise bands. Prosecutors argue that Clancy intentionally killed five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson and eight-month-old Callan after sending Patrick on errands, while her lawyers contend that postpartum psychosis, bipolar disorder and medication-related complications left her criminally irresponsible. A murder conviction could bring life without parole; an insanity-based acquittal would lead to commitment in a state mental health facility. Patrick has said he views Lindsay as ill rather than evil and forgives her.

Lindsay Clancy is facing trial in Massachusetts for allegedly strangling her three children in January 2023 and then attempting suicide. Prosecutors argue the killings were planned and that she is responsible, while her defense says she was experiencing severe postpartum psychosis, including voices instructing her to harm her children and herself. The rare condition affects an estimated one to two women per 1,000 births and can involve hallucinations, delusions, paranoia and dangerous thoughts, although most affected women do not harm their children. The verdict will depend on the jury’s assessment of Clancy’s intent and mental capacity, with possible outcomes including life imprisonment or commitment to a mental health facility.

Lindsay Clancy's murder trial begins in Massachusetts over prosecutors' allegations that she strangled her three children in January 2023. The defense argues that she was experiencing severe postpartum psychosis, including hallucinations and suicidal thoughts, and therefore lacked criminal responsibility. Prosecutors contend the killings were planned. The jury must determine whether Clancy had the intent and mental capacity required for a murder conviction; a conviction could result in life without parole, while an insanity finding would lead to commitment in a state psychiatric hospital. The case is expected to intensify debate over how postpartum psychosis is understood and handled by the criminal justice system.

More than two dozen states sued the Trump administration in Rhode Island, arguing that FEMA and DHS unlawfully tied billions of dollars in disaster and homeland security funding to election-system changes and cooperation with immigration enforcement. The challenged requirements include paper ballots, manual voting audits, citizenship verification and granting DHS broad authority to revoke funds. The states argue that the conditions violate the Administrative Procedure Act, the Constitution’s spending clause and state sovereignty. The lawsuit follows earlier court rulings blocking similar funding restrictions, while the administration had not immediately responded to the allegations.

A decade-long, $10 million conservation initiative involving 35 organizations across 16 states helped increase the American oystercatcher population along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts by 45 percent between 2008 and 2023. Efforts included protecting nesting habitat, educating beachgoers and reducing predator and human-related threats through locally tailored conservation plans. Climate change remains the species’ greatest long-term danger, while recent changes to Endangered Species Act regulations have raised concerns about future habitat protection.

American oystercatcher populations along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts rose 45% between 2008 and 2023 after a coordinated conservation campaign funded by about $10 million and involving 35 organizations across 16 states. Habitat protection, predator controls, public education and restrictions on vehicles, dogs and other disturbances have improved chick survival and breeding numbers. Conservationists caution that sea-level rise, stronger storms and potential changes to Endangered Species Act regulations could threaten the gains, making sustained habitat restoration and legal protections essential.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin in the murder trial of Massachusetts mother Lindsay Clancy, who has pleaded not guilty to strangling her three children—Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months—in January 2023. Her defense plans to argue that postpartum psychosis and severe postpartum psychiatric conditions caused her to lose control, while prosecutors allege the killings were intentional and premeditated. Her husband, Patrick Clancy, who has publicly forgiven her, is expected to testify for both sides.

Jury selection is set to begin in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, who has pleaded not guilty to killing her three children in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in January 2023. Her lawyer plans to pursue an insanity defense based on alleged postpartum psychosis, while prosecutors argue the killings were intentional and planned. The case is expected to examine Clancy’s psychiatric treatment, reported hallucinations and worsening symptoms, as well as claims by Clancy and her husband that medical providers failed to diagnose and monitor her condition. Clancy’s husband, Patrick, is expected to testify and has publicly said he forgives her.

Massachusetts resident Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi was convicted on three of five charges for conspiring to export electronic components to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. Prosecutors said he helped Iranian associate Mohammad Abedininajafabadi use a Swiss front company to obtain technology potentially used in navigation systems for Iran's Revolutionary Guard drone program. Sadeghi's defense argued that he merely offered business advice, that the parts were not proven to have reached Iran, and that the Swiss company was not a front. Abedini, who faces separate terrorism-related charges, was released from Italy and returned to Iran in an apparent exchange involving journalist Cecilia Sala. Sadeghi remains free pending sentencing on October 13.

A federal judge in Boston permanently blocked a key provision of Donald Trump’s first election executive order that would have required documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration. Judge Denise Casper ruled that election regulation belongs to Congress and the states, not the president, and found the requirement unconstitutional under separation-of-powers principles. The order’s other provisions, including restrictions on late-arriving mail ballots and financial penalties for noncompliant states, have also faced legal challenges. Trump is pursuing the SAVE America Act in Congress, but the bill has stalled in the Senate.

The House of Representatives approved a bipartisan housing affordability bill by a 358–32 vote, following the Senate’s 85–5 approval. The legislation is expected to be signed by President Donald Trump and seeks to address a national shortage of roughly 10 million homes and rising housing costs. Measures include reducing federal regulations, streamlining environmental reviews, accelerating construction, limiting the influence of corporate landlords, expanding innovative-housing financing, strengthening renter protections, funding local governments that increase housing supply, converting abandoned infrastructure into housing, and supporting zoning reform.

The House approved a sweeping bipartisan housing bill by a 358-32 vote after the Senate passed it 85-5, sending it to President Donald Trump for an expected signature. The legislation seeks to lower housing costs by reducing regulations, streamlining environmental reviews, accelerating construction, limiting corporate purchases of single-family homes, expanding financing, supporting modular housing, strengthening renter protections and funding local housing and homelessness programs. The measure responds to a severe affordability and supply crisis, including a reported shortage of 10 million homes, historically low existing-home sales and rents that remain well above pre-pandemic levels. A Senate provision requiring investors to sell newly built homes within seven years was excluded from the final package.

The Senate approved an $85 billion bipartisan housing bill by an 85-5 vote, sending it to the House and potentially to President Donald Trump, who supports it. The legislation seeks to lower costs by increasing housing supply, streamlining environmental reviews, encouraging local construction, reforming zoning, expanding affordable-housing financing and supporting manufactured homes. It also bans corporate investors from buying single-family homes, though a proposed requirement that investors sell newly built homes within seven years was removed. Lawmakers compromised on a three-year authorization for federal disaster-recovery grants, and housing groups broadly endorsed the measure as a significant but incomplete response to high prices, limited supply, homelessness and underfunded assistance programs.

The Senate is expected to approve a bipartisan housing bill designed to increase supply, reduce construction regulations and lower housing costs. The legislation would bar corporate investors from buying single-family homes, provide incentives for local housing construction, streamline environmental reviews, support manufactured housing and expand financing options for affordable housing and Section 8 properties. It represents a compromise between House and Senate lawmakers, including a three-year authorization for disaster-recovery grants rather than the Senate’s proposed permanent authorization. The House is expected to pass the measure and send it to President Donald Trump, who has indicated support. Housing groups across the political spectrum back the bill, while acknowledging that it cannot resolve the affordability crisis on its own.

Horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park were suspended at least until Tuesday after 18-year-old Indian tourist Romanch Mahajan died while jumping from a runaway carriage whose driver had stepped away to take a photograph. The Transport Workers Union Local 100 said it would review safety protocols, including driver presence, horse tethering and oversight. The Central Park Conservancy cited eight horse-related incidents in 13 months and urged a longer suspension, while industry leaders argued for stronger protections rather than abolition. Mayor Zohran Mamdani renewed his support for ending the carriage industry through a worker-protective transition, reviving a debate also pursued by former mayors Bill de Blasio and Eric Adams.

A federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration may replace the slavery exhibit at Philadelphia’s President’s House Site, overturning an injunction that required the National Park Service to reinstall the original panels. The court held that the city’s cooperation agreement with the federal government did not require the exhibit to remain unchanged and said the proposed replacement provides substantial historical context. Philadelphia had argued that it needed to be consulted after panels were removed under Trump’s executive order targeting displays deemed disparaging to Americans. Historians and city officials criticized the replacement as whitewashing the history of George and Martha Washington’s enslavement of nine people, while a related Massachusetts ruling could still affect the exhibit’s future.

Archaeologists in Boston’s Charlestown neighborhood have confirmed the location and shape of an earthen fortification built by American colonial forces before the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. Guided by a 1775 map and ground-penetrating radar, the excavation uncovered a defensive ditch, musket balls, gun flints and objects left by British troops after the battle. The findings provide tangible evidence of the battlefield’s layout and offer visitors a more direct connection to a pivotal early engagement of the American Revolution.

World Cup 2026 host cities in the United States and Canada are using the tournament to expand housing and shelter programmes, but results vary widely. Atlanta’s Downtown Rising initiative has housed nearly 500 people and aims to house 3,900 citywide, while Dallas says a $30 million campaign reduced downtown street homelessness by 87% and placed about 2,000 people in permanent housing. Seattle is adding tiny-home shelters but has fallen well short of its target. Toronto and Vancouver are largely relying on existing services, amid allegations of aggressive policing and encampment clearances. The report contrasts longer-term housing efforts with the recurring practice of removing homeless people before major events, and highlights continuing gaps for people facing documentation barriers, mental-health or substance-use challenges, and distrust of authorities.

World Cup host cities are taking varied approaches to homelessness, with Atlanta, Dallas and Seattle launching targeted housing initiatives while most of the 16 North American hosts rely on existing services without new tournament funding. Atlanta has housed nearly 500 people through Downtown Rising, Dallas says it has moved about 2,000 people into permanent housing and reduced downtown street homelessness by 87%, and Seattle is preparing 75 tiny homes despite a larger unmet shelter goal. Advocates criticize police-led encampment clearances and displacement concerns in Dallas, Toronto and Vancouver, while Canadian cities say they do not plan to relocate homeless people but face allegations of crackdowns and increased security.

A federal judge in Boston ruled that the Trump administration exceeded its authority by imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, finding that the charge functioned as an unauthorized tax and violated the Administrative Procedure Act. Twenty states argued that the fee would make it harder to hire doctors, teachers, university staff, and researchers. The ruling conflicts with an earlier decision upholding the fee, while separate lawsuits by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, religious groups, and labor organizations could produce conflicting appellate outcomes. The Department of Homeland Security condemned the decision and said it would defend Trump's immigration reforms.

Comedian and television host Conan O’Brien is scheduled to address Harvard graduates and receive an honorary degree amid heightened tensions between the university and the Trump administration. The administration has sued Harvard over its handling of alleged campus antisemitism, cut more than $2.6 billion in research funding and challenged the university’s policies on international students, while Harvard says it is being punished for political reasons. More than 4,000 striking graduate student workers plan to picket commencement over stalled contract negotiations, seeking better pay and stronger protections against harassment, discrimination and employment-related vulnerabilities. Other honorary-degree recipients include Geoffrey Hinton, Sir Noel Malcolm, Audra McDonald and Peggy Noonan.

Fair housing organizations, including the National Fair Housing Alliance and Rise Economy, sued in federal court in Washington, D.C., seeking to overturn a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule that removes the requirement for lenders to consider disparate impact under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. The plaintiffs argue the change could enable discriminatory marketing and lending, push minority communities toward predatory lenders, and depart from decades of legal precedent. They also cite broader Trump administration efforts to reduce fair-housing enforcement, including proposed cuts to a nonprofit housing program and staffing reductions at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The CFPB did not respond to a request for comment, while prior settlements involving City National Bank and BancorpSouth illustrate the continuing problem of alleged lending discrimination.

At 106, Freeman Johnson is described as the oldest living survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack. Serving aboard the USS St. Louis, he was below deck repairing a boiler and did not directly see or hear the assault. After decades of avoiding public attention, Johnson has become a prominent witness to the attack and World War II, sharing his memories with schoolchildren and attending remembrance events with his daughter Diane. His recollections also include helping commission the USS Iowa, transporting President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference, and witnessing Japan’s surrender in Tokyo Bay. As the number of Pearl Harbor survivors dwindles, Johnson’s testimony has taken on increasing importance, although he says his defining achievement was his family life rather than the attack itself.

Tyler Brown, 46, pleaded not guilty in Cambridge District Court to charges including armed assault with intent to murder after allegedly firing at least 70 rounds at traffic on a busy road near Boston. Two drivers were wounded, one in the head and another four times in the leg. Brown, who appeared from a hospital bed, was ordered held pending a May 21 hearing. Prosecutors say he had recently been released from psychiatric hospitalization, told his parole officer he had relapsed and wanted to die, and was on parole and probation for prior armed assault, gun and other convictions. The case has renewed criticism from local officials and the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association over his earlier sentencing.

A man identified as 46-year-old Tyler Brown allegedly fired more than 60 rounds from an assault-style rifle at passing cars on a busy road in Cambridge near Harvard University and MIT. Two people were wounded and at least a dozen vehicles, including a state police cruiser, were struck. A state trooper and a former Marine returned fire, injuring Brown, who is expected to face two counts of armed assault with intent to murder and other gun charges. Authorities said Brown had no known connection to the targeted motorists, and he was not medically ready for arraignment.

The National Transportation Safety Board is gathering information about the evacuation of Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 after the aircraft struck and killed a person who had breached the perimeter fence and entered a runway at Denver International Airport. The pilots aborted takeoff after reporting an engine fire and smoke in the cabin, and all 231 people aboard were evacuated via slides; 12 passengers suffered minor injuries and five were hospitalized. Authorities have not identified the deceased person, while Frontier, the airport and other agencies investigate the collision and evacuation procedures.

Jury selection is set to begin in Stefon Diggs’ Massachusetts assault trial. The former New England Patriots receiver has pleaded not guilty to felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery charges arising from an alleged dispute with his private chef over unpaid wages. The chef alleges that Diggs struck and attempted to choke her, while his attorney categorically denies the accusations and says they are unsubstantiated and financially motivated. Diggs was released by the Patriots in March after a strong season but has not signed with another team.

More than 1,500 property owners are negotiating with the Justice Department after an appeals court revived their claim that the federal COVID-19 eviction moratorium unlawfully deprived them of income without compensation. The landlords seek up to $1.5 billion, citing unpaid rent, debt, delayed maintenance and lasting changes to tenant screening, while tenant advocates argue that eviction bans kept millions housed and that landlords benefited from $46.5 billion in federal rental assistance. Research indicates the moratoriums reduced homelessness, but landlords say administrative delays and incomplete payments failed to cover their losses. The dispute remains unresolved as settlement talks continue.

Competitors Robson De Oliveira and Aaron Beggs carried Ajay Haridasse roughly 1,000 feet to the Boston Marathon finish after his legs gave out. In a separate incident, Jessica Kier, Meredith Rosenberg and William Bara-Jimenez helped Lan Nguyen reach the finish. The Boston Athletic Association praised the running community’s supportive spirit, noting that 29,101 of 29,470 racers completed the race.

A modern reenactment of Paul Revere’s 1775 midnight ride will follow much of the historic route from Boston to Lexington during daylight and with a police escort. Organizers say the event highlights how Revere and William Dawes helped mobilize colonial resistance, while modern roads, traffic and an accompanying horseman replace the dangers of the original journey. The National Lancer has organized the ride for more than 110 years as a way to connect local communities and children with Revolutionary War history.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, museums, reenactors and heritage organizations are bringing greater attention to Black and Indigenous people who supported the American Revolution. Prince Estabrook, an enslaved man who fought at Lexington and later served for eight years, is being commemorated alongside figures such as Crispus Attucks, Salem Poor and Paul Cuffe. Historians and the National Park Service say thousands of patriots of color served on the colonial side, although slavery shaped their choices and many others fought for the British in pursuit of freedom. New grants, exhibitions and educational programs seek to correct the Revolution’s traditional focus on white leaders, amid criticism that the Trump administration has censored or removed exhibits addressing slavery and Indigenous history.

Matthew Shifrin, who is blind, created Bricks for the Blind after receiving braille instructions that enabled him to build a Lego set independently as a teenager. The nonprofit now provides free accessible instructions for more than 540 sets, helping about 3,000 blind and visually impaired builders in the United States and abroad. The initiative contributed to the LEGO Group introducing audio and braille instructions and LEGO Braille Bricks. Builders and educators describe the resources as empowering, strengthening family connections, and helping blind children develop tactile skills and participate in a childhood activity previously inaccessible to many.

A federal judge in Boston temporarily blocked the Trump administration from requiring public universities in 17 states to submit extensive data proving that race is not being used in admissions. Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV said the government likely had authority to collect the information but found the 120-day rollout rushed and procedurally inadequate. The states argued that the policy threatened student privacy and could trigger unjustified investigations, while the Education Department said taxpayers deserve transparency from federally funded institutions. The administration is pursuing similar admissions-data demands against Harvard, while Brown and Columbia previously agreed to provide comparable information after federal research funding was restored.

Three Massachusetts State Police tactical-unit personnel pleaded not guilty to charges including involuntary manslaughter and causing serious bodily injury in connection with recruit Enrique Delgado-Garcia's death. Investigators allege that unsafe sparring caused a concussion and that staff failed to stop a subsequent boxing match, during which he suffered fatal head injuries and brain bleeding. A supervisor also faces a perjury charge, while a fourth trooper is scheduled for arraignment. The case is notable because criminal prosecutions over police-academy recruit deaths are exceptionally rare, amid broader scrutiny of dangerous law-enforcement training practices.

Students, faculty, alumni and survivors are pressuring universities to remove buildings and facilities named for donors and associates of Jeffrey Epstein. Les Wexner is the main focus at Ohio State University and Harvard, while names linked to Steve Tisch, Andrew Farkas, Howard Lutnick and others are also being challenged. The institutions are weighing formal renaming procedures, donor relationships and financial considerations against concerns that honoring these figures harms survivors and damages university credibility. Supporters describe the campaigns as an ethical reckoning, while critics argue universities are applying moral standards retrospectively after accepting the donations.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank is closely watching inflation expectations as energy prices rise בעקבות the Iran war, but noted that monetary policy has limited ability to respond to short-lived supply shocks. He also addressed the weak hiring environment facing young graduates, including the possible effects of artificial intelligence, while expressing long-term optimism about technology and economic opportunity. Powell emphasized the importance of Federal Reserve independence amid President Donald Trump’s repeated demands for lower interest rates and attacks linked to the cost of the Fed’s headquarters renovations. Tariffs and elevated energy prices are adding to the policy challenges confronting the central bank.

The USS Massachusetts, a Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, officially joined the United States Navy fleet in Boston after its commissioning ceremony. Built by General Dynamics Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding at a cost exceeding $2.8 billion, the 8,000-ton submarine can dive beyond 800 feet and carry up to 24 Tomahawk cruise missiles. Commanding officer Mike Siedsma highlighted the vessel’s capabilities and the broader geopolitical environment, while sponsor Sheryl Sandberg emphasized its gender-integrated crew, which includes 39 women among 147 sailors. The submarine is the fifth U.S. Navy vessel named after Massachusetts and is expected to undertake an undisclosed operational assignment.

The Virginia-class USS Massachusetts officially joined the U.S. Navy fleet after a commissioning ceremony. The $2.8 billion submarine can carry 24 Tomahawk cruise missiles, dive beyond 800 feet, and operate with a gender-integrated crew that includes 39 women among 147 sailors. Commanding Officer Mike Siedsma highlighted its arrival in Boston Harbor and its role in demonstrating U.S. naval power amid the war with Iran.

The USS Massachusetts, a Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, officially joined the U.S. Navy fleet after a commissioning ceremony in Boston. Built by General Dynamics Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding, the $2.8 billion, 8,000-ton submarine can dive beyond 800 feet and carry 24 Tomahawk missiles. Commanding Officer Mike Siedsma highlighted its capabilities and the broader geopolitical role of the Navy. The 147-member crew includes 39 women, reflecting the Navy’s gender integration of submarine service. The vessel is the fifth U.S. Navy ship named after Massachusetts and features design elements and memorabilia connected to the state.

Elijah Allman, Cher's son, is scheduled to appear in a New Hampshire court over allegations that he broke into a home. He also faces charges stemming from an earlier incident at St Paul's School, including simple assault, criminal trespass and criminal threatening, and is being held in preventive detention. The report also notes that a Los Angeles court denied Cher's request for temporary conservatorship over Allman's finances, which she attributed to his mental health and addiction struggles.

Elijah Blue Allman, Cher’s 49-year-old son, was scheduled for a New Hampshire court hearing over allegations that he forcibly entered a home in Windham on March 1. He faces charges including burglary, criminal mischief and breach of bail, following a separate incident at St. Paul’s School that resulted in misdemeanor charges. Allman remains in preventive detention, while his legal representation is unclear. The case follows Cher’s unsuccessful 2023 petition for temporary conservatorship, in which she cited her son’s mental health and substance-abuse struggles.

The Ig Nobel Prizes will move their 36th annual ceremony from the United States to Zurich, Switzerland, for the first time in 35 years because organizers believe international winners and journalists may face difficulties or risks obtaining US visas. Organizer Marc Abrahams said it would be irresponsible to ask guests to travel to the US amid heightened immigration scrutiny. The event, previously held at institutions including Harvard, MIT and Boston University, will be hosted by Zurich-based academic institutions and is expected to alternate between European cities in future years, with no immediate plans to return to the US.

Americans stranded across the Middle East after Israeli-U.S. attacks on Iran said they received little practical help from the U.S. government and had to arrange costly, complicated routes home themselves. Travelers relied on commercial flights, ground transport, local contacts and WhatsApp groups as airports closed and tens of thousands of flights were canceled. The State Department said it had directly assisted 10,000 citizens and repatriated about 20,000 Americans, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio attributed delays to airspace closures. Democratic lawmakers called the response unacceptable, and several evacuees said government warnings came too late or offered no workable evacuation option.

Michael Black describes lunging at Robert Dorgan’s handgun during a shooting at a Rhode Island ice rink, jamming the weapon and helping other bystanders subdue the shooter. Dorgan later died by suicide after drawing a second gun. Dorgan’s ex-wife, Rhonda, and adult son, Aidan, were killed, while three others remained critically injured. Police credited Black, Robert Rattenni and Ryan Cordeiro with preventing further injuries, while retired firefighters, an EMT and a nurse provided emergency aid. Black’s wife embraced him after the incident but criticized him for risking his life.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has proposed requiring every resident of HUD-funded housing to prove U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status, including residents aged 62 and older who previously only had to verify their age. The change could exclude mixed-status families and potentially cause up to 20,000 families, or as many as 80,000 people, to lose assistance. HUD Secretary Scott Turner said the rule would prevent ineligible residents from benefiting from public funds, while housing advocates warned that immigrant families could face eviction or separation and that many citizens may struggle to obtain the required documentation. The rule is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register, but HUD has not specified when it could take effect.

George Washington never had wooden teeth; his dentures were made from materials including ivory, gold and human teeth. The article places this myth alongside the fabricated cherry-tree story while recounting Washington’s first major command during the Siege of Boston in 1775–1776. His decision to send Henry Knox for cannons helped force the British evacuation, strengthening the Revolution and cementing Washington’s leadership. Historians also describe how the campaign prepared him for the presidency and contributed to a more geographically diverse and increasingly integrated army, while noting his long reliance on enslaved labor and initially hesitant acceptance of Black soldiers. Washington’s legacy remains central to Presidents’ Day celebrations across the United States.

A federal judge in Boston ordered the U.S. government to return 19-year-old Babson College student Any Lucia Lopez Belloza from Honduras within two weeks after officials acknowledged mistakenly deporting her during Thanksgiving travel. Judge Richard Stearns said the executive branch could not decide the legality of her removal without court review. The Department of Homeland Security maintains that Lopez Belloza received due process and had a final removal order, while Lopez Belloza says a former attorney told her no such order existed. She has no criminal history and has been staying with her grandparents in Honduras while continuing her business studies remotely.

Rose Byrne is set to receive Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 2026 Woman of the Year award after a parade and celebratory roast in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The honor follows her Golden Globe win and Oscar nomination for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. She will also attend a performance of the troupe’s 177th production, Salooney Tunes. Michael Keaton received the corresponding Man of the Year award earlier in February.

A Massachusetts State Police Academy supervisor and three defensive-tactics instructors were indicted over the death of recruit Enrique Delgado-Garcia, who became unresponsive during a boxing exercise and died in September 2024. Investigators allege that Delgado-Garcia was first concussed during unauthorized sparring and later suffered multiple head injuries and massive brain bleeding when staff failed to stop a training match. The four officials face involuntary manslaughter and serious-bodily-injury charges, while the supervisor also faces perjury charges. The recruit’s family and civil-rights advocates welcomed the indictments and called for accountability and reforms to academy training practices.

Michael Keaton will receive Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals 2026 Man of the Year award at a celebratory roast in Cambridge, followed by his attendance at the group’s 177th production, “Salooney Tunes.” The honor recognizes his lasting contributions to entertainment, including acclaimed roles in “Batman,” “Birdman,” “Beetlejuice” and “Spotlight,” as well as more recent work on “Sweetwater” and Hulu’s “Dopesick.” Rose Byrne will receive the group’s Woman of the Year award later in February.

The U.S. Coast Guard identified all seven people killed when the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank about 25 miles off Gloucester, Massachusetts, without issuing a mayday call. The victims included captain Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo, five crew members and NOAA fisheries observer Jada Samitt. After searching roughly 1,000 square miles amid freezing temperatures, stormy seas and an approaching nor’easter, authorities concluded that all reasonable efforts to find survivors had been exhausted. The Coast Guard has opened a formal district-level investigation, while NOAA Fisheries temporarily suspended observer deployments. The sinking has deeply affected Gloucester’s longstanding fishing community and renewed attention to the severe dangers of winter commercial fishing.

The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a round-the-clock search for the 72-foot fishing vessel Lily Jean, which issued a distress alert about 25 miles off Gloucester, Massachusetts, on Friday. A debris field and one body have been found, and the seven-person crew is presumed missing after the vessel likely sank. Severe cold, wind and open-ocean conditions are complicating the search. The captain, Gus Sanfilippo, and his crew were known locally and had previously appeared on the History Channel program Nor’Easter Men. Gloucester residents, officials and fishing organizations expressed grief while hoping for survivors. The incident highlights the persistent dangers of New England commercial fishing, particularly during winter.

The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search for the 72-foot fishing vessel Lily Jean after receiving an emergency alert about 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Crews found debris, an empty life raft and one unresponsive person, while the number of people aboard remained unclear. Cold, windy conditions and possible ice buildup may have contributed to the vessel becoming unstable. Local officials described the incident as a major tragedy for the Gloucester fishing community.

A federal judge in Boston allowed Vineyard Wind, a nearly completed offshore wind project south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, to resume construction after finding that delays could cause major economic losses and that the developers were likely to prevail in their legal challenge. The Trump administration had halted five East Coast wind projects over unspecified national-security concerns, but Vineyard Wind became the fourth cleared to proceed. The administration cites risks to radar and early-warning systems, while Massachusetts officials and developers emphasize the project’s potential to supply electricity to about 400,000 homes, reduce costs, support jobs and advance climate goals. The project has also faced criticism after a GE Vernova turbine blade failed in 2024, leading to beach debris and a $10.5 million settlement.

A lawyer for Babson College student Lucia Lopez Belloza asked a federal judge to order the Trump administration to create a plan within 14 days to return her to the United States. Belloza was deported to Honduras despite an emergency order barring her removal for at least 72 hours, and government attorneys acknowledged violating the order while arguing that the court lacks jurisdiction. Her lawyer proposed several possible routes for her return, including allowing her to pursue immigration proceedings, a pending T visa, or a student visa. The judge called the deportation a tragic bureaucratic mistake but questioned whether he had jurisdiction and appeared unlikely to hold the government in contempt.

Lawyer Todd Pomerleau asked a federal judge to require the government to develop, within 14 days, a plan to return Babson College student Any Lucia Lopez Belloza to the United States after she was deported to Honduras despite an emergency order requiring her detention in the country. The government acknowledged violating the order but argued that the court lacked jurisdiction and that the deportation was lawful under a prior removal order. Lopez Belloza’s lawyer said the removal denied her due process and proposed options including temporary return for immigration proceedings, a T visa, or a student visa. Judge Richard Stearns called the deportation a tragic bureaucratic mistake but questioned whether he could order a remedy or hold the government in contempt.

The Trump administration apologized in federal court for deporting Massachusetts college student Any Lucia Lopez Belloza despite an emergency order barring her removal, attributing the violation to an ICE officer’s mistaken belief that the order no longer applied after she left Massachusetts. Officials nevertheless argued that the deportation remained lawful under a 2016 removal order and that the court lacked jurisdiction because the legal action was filed after she had reached Texas. Belloza’s attorney said the government denied her due process and urged her return so she could complete her studies while he seeks to reopen the removal case. Judge Richard Stearns called the episode a tragic bureaucratic mistake and appeared unlikely to hold the government in contempt, while questioning the court’s jurisdiction.

Massachusetts will strengthen oversight of assisted living facilities after a fire at Fall River’s Gabriel House killed 10 residents, the state’s deadliest fire in more than 40 years. Reforms include annual inspections approved by fire, health and building officials; updated emergency plans; regular exercises and evacuation drills; a statewide database of compliance and ownership records; standardized information on costs, staffing and services; and a task force on affordability. The fire exposed longstanding concerns at Gabriel House, including a lost certification, resident mistreatment allegations, staffing and maintenance problems, emergency-response failures and numerous complaints involving abuse, neglect, financial exploitation and withheld medication.

A federal judge indicated that she plans to temporarily block the Trump administration from ending Family Reunification Parole protections for more than 10,000 relatives of U.S. citizens and green card holders from seven countries. Judge Indira Talwani questioned whether the Department of Homeland Security adequately notified recipients before terminating the program, while the government argued that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had authority to end it and that national-security and resource concerns justified the decision. The case could affect all participants in the program, many of whom have jobs, work authorization and children enrolled in U.S. schools. The dispute is part of a broader administration effort to revoke humanitarian protections, following Supreme Court decisions allowing the removal of protections for hundreds of thousands of other migrants.

Newly released U.S. Justice Department information indicates that Claudio Manuel Neves Valente planned the Brown University shooting for at least six semesters. The FBI recovered videos from a storage facility where Valente’s body was found, in which he acknowledged planning the attack but gave no motive for targeting Brown or MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro. Valente killed two Brown students and injured nine others on December 13 before killing Loureiro at his Brookline home two days later.

Pamela Smart has filed habeas corpus petitions in New York and New Hampshire seeking to overturn her life-without-parole conviction for helping orchestrate the 1990 murder of her husband, Gregory Smart. Her lawyers argue that prosecutors used inaccurate transcripts of secretly recorded conversations, that extensive media coverage compromised the trial, that jury instructions were faulty and that the mandatory sentence was unlawful. New Hampshire authorities maintain that Smart received a fair trial and that her convictions were properly upheld. Smart, who denied involvement for decades, accepted full responsibility in 2024. The teenage shooter, William Flynn, and accomplice Patrick Randall were later paroled after serving lengthy sentences.

Brian Walshe was sentenced to life in prison without parole in Massachusetts for the first-degree murder of his wife, Ana Walshe, whose body has never been found. Prosecutors presented online searches about dismembering and concealing a body, surveillance footage, DNA evidence and a possible financial motive involving Ana's life insurance policy. Walshe had admitted dismembering and disposing of her remains but claimed he acted after finding her dead. The sentence will begin after he completes a 37-month federal sentence for selling counterfeit Andy Warhol paintings. The couple's three children remain in state custody.

Brian Walshe received a life sentence in Massachusetts for the first-degree murder of his wife, Ana Walshe, whose body has not been recovered. Prosecutors relied on his online searches about dismemberment and body disposal, surveillance footage, and physical evidence linked to the couple. Possible motives included financial gain from Ana’s life-insurance policy and the couple’s failing marriage.

Brian Walshe is expected to receive a mandatory life sentence without parole after being convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of his wife, Ana Walshe. Prosecutors presented online searches about dismembering and disposing of a body, surveillance footage of someone resembling Walshe discarding heavy bags, and DNA evidence linking the couple to tools and protective clothing recovered from a trash facility. The prosecution suggested financial and marital motives, including Walshe's status as the beneficiary of Ana's $1 million life insurance policy. His defense argued that Ana's death was unexplained rather than murder, but called no witnesses and Walshe did not testify. The couple's three children are in state custody.

Massachusetts' highest court heard arguments in the state's lawsuit alleging that Meta deliberately designed Facebook and Instagram features, including constant notifications and endless scrolling, to make children and teenagers use the platforms addictively for profit. State officials argue that the case concerns product design and is not barred by the First Amendment, while Meta says the lawsuit would improperly impose liability for protected publishing functions. The case is part of broader federal and state litigation alleging that Meta failed to protect young users, including claims involving data collection and teen safety. Meta denies the allegations and says its efforts to support young people have been misrepresented.

William Fastow testified that he had an intimate relationship with Ana Walshe before her disappearance and that they had discussed a possible future together, though he knew of no plan for her to tell Brian Walshe about the affair. Fastow described Brian’s calls after Ana stopped responding, while prosecutors presented alleged internet searches, surveillance footage and discarded items containing DNA evidence as links to Ana’s death. The defense disputes the murder theory, portraying the couple as loving and suggesting Ana died suddenly and unexplainedly; her body has not been found.

Conservationists are urging stronger international controls on the growing exotic pet trade, particularly sales of reptiles, birds, amphibians and other wildlife through online marketplaces and social media. Proposals at the CITES conference in Samarkand would tighten or ban trade in species including Galápagos iguanas, sloths, vipers, geckos, Home’s Hinged-back Tortoises and numerous tarantulas. Conservation groups say illegal trade is expanding, captive-breeding and CITES permits are being abused to launder wild-caught animals, and demand from Europe, Asia and the United States is intensifying. Reptile traders argue that some proposals represent government overreach and could harm legitimate captive breeding. The debate highlights the difficulty of enforcing wildlife protections while regulating a rapidly expanding online market.

Brian Walshe is standing trial in Massachusetts for the alleged murder of his wife, Ana Walshe, who disappeared on New Year's Day 2023 and has not been found. Prosecutors cite online searches about dismembering and disposing of a body, surveillance footage, and discarded materials allegedly linked to Ana as evidence. They also point to a $2.7 million life-insurance policy naming Brian as beneficiary and his claims that Ana had traveled to Washington, D.C., for work, which her employer reportedly contradicted. The couple's three children are in state custody. The trial may also involve Massachusetts State Police witnesses, including former lead investigator Michael Proctor, whose credibility has been challenged because of alleged bias and misconduct in the separate Karen Read case.

Governments at a CITES wildlife trade conference in Uzbekistan approved stronger protections for more than 70 shark and ray species. The measures ban international trade in oceanic whitetip sharks, manta and devil rays, and whale sharks; tighten controls on several other shark species; and establish zero export quotas for various guitarfishes and wedgefishes. Conservationists said the changes are needed because overfishing for fins, meat, oil, and gills is driving more than 37% of shark and ray species toward extinction. The conference also rejected attempts to weaken protections for elephants and rhinos, while allowing limited saiga horn trade after the antelope’s conservation status improved.

The closure of Ammonoosuc Community Health Services’ Franconia, New Hampshire, facility is being attributed by its leadership and a Democratic senator to Medicaid cuts and reduced federal funding. The center served about 1,400 residents in small White Mountains communities, many of whom are older or medically vulnerable. CEO Ed Shanshala said a $500,000 budget shortfall left the network with few options, and closing the site will save about $250,000. Other rural facilities face similar financial strain, while patients fear longer waits, disrupted care and the loss of trusted relationships with local providers.

Ammonoosuc Community Health Services has permanently closed its Franconia, New Hampshire, health center after projecting a $500,000 budget shortfall linked partly to Medicaid funding cuts and rising insurance costs. About 1,400 mostly older or medically vulnerable patients must now travel at least 10 miles for care, disrupting long-standing relationships and raising concerns about delays, transportation and possible further closures. The closure reflects broader financial stress among rural hospitals and community health centers, which serve as a safety net for uninsured and low-income patients. Patients and local officials fear it could be the first of more health-care losses in the region.

Karen Read has filed a federal lawsuit against members of the Massachusetts State Police and people present at the house party where Boston police officer John O’Keefe was found dead. The complaint alleges that O’Keefe died during an altercation at the party and that investigators helped conceal the responsible parties, manufactured or mishandled evidence, and framed Read. Read was acquitted of murder and manslaughter in her second trial after an earlier mistrial, though she was convicted of drunken driving. The defendants deny all allegations, calling the lawsuit defamatory and a continuation of a baseless conspiracy theory.

Transit-oriented apartment development is being used in Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, D.C., and other U.S. regions to expand affordable housing, reduce car dependence and cut greenhouse-gas emissions. Projects such as Los Angeles’ Santa Monica and Vermont Apartments provide homes and support services for formerly homeless residents, while Massachusetts, California, Washington, Colorado and Utah have adopted zoning reforms to encourage denser construction near transit. The approach has attracted major public and private investment, including Amazon financing, but progress remains limited by local resistance, lawsuits, construction costs, interest rates and insufficient funding. Despite these obstacles, residents featured in the report say transit access improves affordability, independence and daily mobility.