A former Franklin resident has been charged with setting fire to her Maple Street home late last year, said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine and Franklin Fire Chief Charles Allen.State Police fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office arrested 48-year old Melissa Brown with the assistance of …

New Bedford Guide and Fall River Reporter will host a Massachusetts Republican Gubernatorial Debate live on Facebook on April 15 starting at 2 pm. Two of the three official Republican candidates, Brian Shortsleeve and Michael Kennealy, have confirmed their attendance. Michael Minogue has declined the invitation. Michael Silvia, who has …

Once a revenue generator, unlimited “free” prison and jail phone calls now costing Massachusetts tax payers $24+ million a year Signed by Governor Maura Healey in 2023 as part of broader budget legislation, the the No Cost Communications law eliminated fees for phone calls — and in many cases video or electronic …

BY SOPHIE QUINTON, State Affairs National Reporter Key Points The Supreme Court ruled state bans violate practitioners’ free speech rights Lawmakers in several states may reassess conversion therapy bans Major medical organizations say conversion therapy has no medical basis Policymakers in almost half the states may need to reassess laws …

Today, Republican candidate for governor Brian Shortsleeve announced that New Bedford City Councilor Shawn Oliver will join the ticket as his candidate for lieutenant governor, calling Oliver a man of “conviction, common sense, and service” who understands the pressures facing working families and the consequences of failed leadership on Beacon …

BY ALISON KUZNITZ, STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE The number of abortions performed by Massachusetts providers more than doubled between 2023 and 2024, driven by a sharp increase in out-of-state patients accessing care via telehealth, according to state data.  The Department of Public Health counted 49,450 abortions in 2024, according to …

By Michael P. Norton, State House News Service U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton issued a statement Sunday to “condemn” Sen. Edward Markey for collecting his salary during a partial federal government shutdown. “Air traffic controllers and TSA are doing double shifts without pay because the government is shut down again,” …

A former science teacher at Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for coercing and enticing at least one underage female to engage in sexual conversations online and requesting that she produce and send child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of herself. Defendant, who …

I was shocked this week to learn that forcible rape does not carry a minimum mandatory sentence in Massachusetts, but many drug and gun charges do. There are minimum sentences for rape with a weapon, of children, and other special circumstances, but not straight rape charges. Last week, Elias Rodrigues …

Over the past 5 years, Massachusetts has lost private sector jobs while Texas, Florida, and North Carolina have surged. Massachusetts is only a handful (alongside Vermont, and Hawaii) that remain below pre-pandemic private-sector levels from 2020 into 2026. According to analyses drawing from Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Massachusetts experienced …