WBUR News

In the lead-up to November's elections, factions battled over a ballot question that would have changed overnight street parking rules in the Boston suburb of Newton. By only a few dozen votes, residents opted to keep the decades-old parking ordinance in place.

Rory Gilmore is the first television character to traverse the world as an unapologetic reader, writes Joanna Rakoff. She’s also the first small screen heroine to be celebrated, rather than mercilessly mocked for her intellectual proclivities.

Local coffee businesses are trying different things to reduce the sticker shock for coffee lovers. Some have switched up blends with coffee from lower cost countries. Others have increased the costs of other goods instead.

Mayor Michelle Wu was able to create three fare-free bus routes during her first term. But the money for the program is running out, and the long-term sustainability of the program is uncertain.

The MSPCA has seen a nearly 50% increase in animals being surrendered to their shelters for housing-related concerns over the last three years. The organization is now offering new resources for families and advocating for legislation to make housing more pet inclusive.

The addiction recovery program in Gardner, Mass., is part animal sanctuary, part therapy center. The men who stay there get assigned to care for one of dozens of animals — from chickens, pigs, goats and even ponies — as part of their treatment.

Leaders at art museums have been grappling with a cascade of existential challenges in 2025. We checked in with directors at four Massachusetts institutions to see how they fared.

Based on the best-selling children's novel of the same name, the show follows 7th-grader Auggie, who has a craniofacial difference. The two actors portraying the character relate to the part, and each other. "It feels really nice to have someone who has similar experiences and struggles as me."

Cedric Lodge was sentenced to eight years in prison for his central role in a nationwide network of human remains trading. His wife, Denise Lodge, was ordered to serve one year and one day in prison.

U.S. health officials like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tout San Patrignano, Europe's best-known rehab center, as a "beautiful model" of long-term drug treatment. But it and other therapeutic communities hold infamous, dark histories, and some addiction experts warn the style of care can leave residents vulnerable to abuse.

Matthews Arena was the original home of the Boston Bruins, and the site of the first-ever Boston Celtics game. Northeastern University is demolishing its 115-year-old hockey rink.

San Patrignano stands out among the "therapeutic communities" that treat drug addiction. The 700-acre campus is nestled in the Italian countryside, and features businesses — built on residents' labor. Critics worry this model could lead to exploitation.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said ICE activity has impacted hundreds of cases prosecuted by his office — noting instances in which defendants got detained during proceedings, as well as times when victims and witnesses were afraid to cooperate because of agents' presence.

The rally was a response to President Trump's remarks calling Somali immigrants "garbage." Most attendees were not Somali, but rallygoers said they turned out to show their solidarity.

The Strummerville Ukulele Club members know that many people think of their instrument as a toy. But that's part of the point. They're there to have fun, play songs badly and sing loudly.

Boston University's Warren Towers is the largest dorm in Massachusetts and one of the biggest in the country. Its three-and-a-half year, $550 million renovation will improve the living quarters and also the building's greenhouse gas emissions.

Addiction specialists, treatment programs and 12-step recovery groups tell WBUR they’re seeing a rise in young adults — ranging from their late 20s to early 30s — seeking help for serious gambling problems tied to sports betting apps.

Massachusetts officials are laying groundwork for a plan to offer coastal residents money for their homes as threats like flooding and erosion increase due to climate change. But it can be hard to convince people to leave or get enough money to buy expensive homes.

This won't end up being a blockbuster storm. But in true New England style, there will be a little rain, a little snow and a lot of variability.