Massachusetts

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Health Officials Send Up a Red Flag on West Nile Virus

Cases are 40% higher than normal, with health officials warning to protect oneself against skeeters

(Newser) - West Nile virus infections are intense so far this year, with case counts running 40% higher than normal, health officials say. More than 770 cases, including about 490 severe cases, were reported as of early September, according to CDC data posted this week. About 550 cases—350 of them severe—...

Why Some Cranberry Farmers Are Giving Up Their Bogs

In Massachusetts, a push to give some a second life as wetlands

(Newser) - About this time of the year, Jarrod Rhodes should be checking on the vines of cranberries that have grown on his bog for decades in southeastern Massachusetts. Instead, he is watching a backhoe tear up the cranberry bog, exposing the dark peat underneath that will eventually become a meandering stream...

Supreme Court Gives Trump Partial Win on DEI Health Cuts

Justices split on process for challenging federal research grant reductions

(Newser) - The Supreme Court on Thursday gave partial approval to the Trump administration's cuts to National Institutes of Health grants as part of efforts against diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. In a 5-4 decision, the justices allowed certain funding cuts to proceed but left in place a ruling that...

Feds: 400 Grandparents Were Bilked Out of Millions

Accused posed as grandkids in dire straits to swindle unsuspecting seniors

(Newser) - Federal prosecutors have charged 13 Dominican Republic nationals with orchestrating a scheme that defrauded more than 400 American grandparents out of $5 million by pretending to be grandchildren in distress. According to authorities, the suspects operated organized call centers in the Dominican Republic, where English-speaking callers contacted elderly victims—...

As Cops Carried Out Eviction, She Broke Out the Bees

Woman accused of unleashing insects on deputies arrested in Tennessee for missing her Mass. trial

(Newser) - A Massachusetts woman who was set to go to trial for allegedly unleashing a swarm of bees upon sheriff's deputies trying to carry out an eviction has been arrested in Tennessee after ditching that trial. MassLive.com reports that Rebecca "Rorie" Woods, in her late 50s and hailing...

10 Wealthiest States by Household Income

Massachusetts is No. 1 at more than $106K

(Newser) - Median household income in the US has ticked up above $80,000, notes Yahoo Finance , but residents in some states tend to pull in more. Using data from the Federal Reserve, the outlet has ranked the top 10 wealthiest states in that regard:

Woman Opens Door to 'a Giant Ball of Viciousness'

Massachusetts resident receives face scratches, then rabies treatment

(Newser) - A Massachusetts woman's late-night encounter with an aggressive assailant left her bloodied—and in need of rabies treatment. Katharine VanBuskirk, 69, says she was attacked by a relentless raccoon outside her Somerville home around 1am Saturday while letting her two dogs into the backyard, per the Boston Globe...

Geoffrey Epstein Is Causing Some Confusion

Massachusetts man is running for mayor, causing some consternation with his famous name

(Newser) - Sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein continues to dominate headlines some six years after his death—which is rather inconvenient for a man of the same-ish name running for office in Massachusetts. Geoffrey Epstein, an Australian-born mayoral candidate in Framingham, says most locals know him as a former theoretical physics professor and...

US States That Are Home to Best Public Schools

Massachusetts is No. 1 on WalletHub's list of best public school systems

(Newser) - The preschool-to-college pipeline can be a conduit to lifetime success for kids, though it may depend on where exactly the majority of that pipe runs through. To determine what US states boast the best public school systems, WalletHub compared all 50, plus DC, across 32 metrics in two main categories:...

8 Choir Kids Hospitalized After Mystery Illness at Concert

French singers fell ill after reporting strange odor inside Mass. church; no one else was affected

(Newser) - Eight children were hospitalized Tuesday evening in Cambridge, Massachusetts, after exhibiting seizure-like symptoms during a choir concert held at St. Paul's Parish. According to Fire Chief Thomas Cahill, the incident began around 7pm when a call came in about a child experiencing a seizure while participating in the...

Smoking May Have Caused Fire That Killed 10 Seniors

Medical oxygen helped Massachusetts fire spread rapidly, authorities say

(Newser) - A fire that killed 10 people at a Massachusetts assisted-living facility was unintentionally caused by someone smoking or an electrical issue with an oxygen machine, investigators said Tuesday. The state's deadliest blaze in more than four decades has highlighted the lack of regulations governing assisted-living facilities that often care...

Guy Hits Jackpot Twice—by Accident
Guy Hits Jackpot
Twice—by Accident
Jul 21, 2025 11:22 AM CDT

Guy Hits Jackpot Twice—by Accident

Man thought one drawing had already occurred, so he bought second ticket, scored $2M

(Newser) - There are people who hit the jackpot twice, and then there are people who hit the jackpot twice and one of those times is by accident. Such is the tale of Paul Corcoran of Finchburg, Massachusetts, who ABC News reports finds himself in the possession of $2 million after a...

Several Dead in Fire at Senior Living Facility
9 Dead in Fire
at Senior Living Facility
UPDATED
Jul 14, 2025 6:51 AM CDT

9 Dead in Fire at Senior Living Facility

Another in critical condition in Fall River, Massachusetts

(Newser) - The fire chief calls it an "unfathomable tragedy:" A blaze at a senior living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, on Sunday night has left nine people dead, reports NBC Boston . Another person is in critical condition, and more than 30 were taken to the hospital for treatment. Firefighters...

Thief Pulls Off Lucrative 30-Second Pokemon Heist

Burglar made off with $100K in trading cards from collectibles shop in New Bedford, Massachusetts

(Newser) - A Massachusetts shop specializing in trading cards is reeling after a fast-moving burglar made off with more than $100,000 worth of rare Pokemon cards and box sets. The break-in occurred early Tuesday at 1st Edition Collectibles in New Bedford, where security footage showed a thief smashing through the...

States Where the Drive-Thru Is What's for Dinner

Mississippians spend the most on fast food, per WalletHub

(Newser) - After a hard day at work or school, it's sometimes easier to just pick up a fast-food feast. In some states, that reliance on Mickey D's, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, and the like seems to be more the rule than the exception. WalletHub ran the numbers on the price...

The Trouble Isn't Over for Karen Read

She's now likely to be deposed amid wrongful death lawsuit

(Newser) - Moments after she was acquitted of murdering her police officer boyfriend, Karen Read addressed a crowd of hundreds of supporters gathered outside Norfolk Superior Court on Wednesday. "No one has fought harder for justice for John O'Keefe than I have and my team," she said, per MassLive...

Teen Released by ICE Describes Conditions

'I don't wanna cry—but I wanna say that that place is not good,' says Massachusetts' Marcelo Gomes da Silva

(Newser) - A Massachusetts high school junior who was detained by ICE on his way to volleyball practice last weekend has been released from custody. An immigration judge found that Marcelo Gomes da Silva, an 18-year-old with no criminal record, was not a danger to the community and released him on $2,...

ICE Targets Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard

'They were just grabbing people out of their cars'

(Newser) - In 2022, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flew dozens of undocumented migrants to Martha's Vineyard. On Tuesday, the Massachusetts island was targeted by federal authorities, as was nearby Nantucket. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said around 40 people were arrested on the two islands. Witnesses said they saw masked officers...

DOJ: Scientist's Texts on Frog Embryos Did Her In
Judge:
Let Detained
Scientist
Out on Bail
UPDATED
May 29, 2025 7:00 AM CDT

Judge: Let Detained Scientist Out on Bail

Russian-born Harvard researcher accused of sneaking lab samples through Boston airport

(Newser) - A federal judge says a Harvard scientist from Russia should be released on bail after she was detained by immigration officials, reports the New York Times . "There does not seem to be either a factual or legal basis for the immigration officer's actions" against Kseniia Petrova, the judge...

'Dr. Beach' Ranks His Top 10
The Best Beaches in America
May 23, 2025 9:57 AM CDT

The Best Beaches in America

Coopers Beach in Long Island's Southampton is No. 1 in Dr. Beach's annual rankings

(Newser) - Memorial Day weekend is here, which means the unofficial start of summer—which also means many of you will start hitting the shore. Stephen Leatherman, better known to most as "Dr. Beach," is back for the occasion with his annual roundup of what he considers to be America'...

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