LOCAL NEWS

Mattapan forum tallies high cost of dropouts

High dropout rates among Boston's inner-city high school students can prove costly on a number of levels, from missed opportunities and delayed development to actual lost dollars, according to speakers at a Mattapan roundtable held Monday. More »

Henriquez eyes upset in District 7 race

Earlier this month, several dozen smartly-dressed supporters converged at the Cape Verdean restaurant Ka Carlos during a fundraiser for District 7 City Council candidate Carlos Henriquez. The crowd was young and change was the operative word. More »

At Science Club for Girls, confidence a key element

The school day is over at Roxbury's Tobin School, but little girls are busy with science experiments. More »

Critics see race inequity in new school assignment plan

Concerned parents, educators and activists packed the student center at Roxbury Community College last Thursday night to discuss a controversial proposal to change the way students are assigned to the Boston Public Schools (BPS) - a proposal that some critics say could open the door to resegregation. More »

Hub residents air budget cut worries at Roxbury forum

With Massachusetts feeling the effects of the nationwide economic crisis, state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz hosted a community forum in Roxbury last Thursday evening to hear constituents' concerns and shed some light on the slashed state budget now making its way through the Legislature. More »

Black gay couples in Mass. mark marriage anniversary

Hundreds of gay and lesbian couples across Massachusetts are celebrating their fifth wedding anniversaries this week and, while same-sex marriage remains a contentious issue, the state's black gay community wants opponents to know that the lingering anger and confusion toward their unions are much ado about nothing. More »

Vermont dairy farms count on illegal immigrants

HIGHGATE, Vt. - A room off the milking parlor of a sprawling farm near the U.S.-Canada border offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the changing face of Vermont's dairy industry. More »

Ex-offenders learn ins and outs of CORI sealing

When it was passed back in 1972, the state's Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) law had two aims - making the criminal justice system more efficient and protecting the privacy of people with criminal records. More »