By Bob Katzen

“The Wall Street Journal’s metrics – student outcomes, learning environments and diversity – directly measure student success during and after they earn their degree.

A college degree is an investment in your future and for UMass Lowell students and alumni, the Wall Street Journal rankings are one more proof point of what they experience every day.
—UMass Lowell Provost Joe Hartman on the announcement that the university was named the number one public school in Massachusetts in the 2024 Wall Street Journal Best Colleges in the United States ranking.

“Abortion costs are already well above the average out-of-pocket medical expenditures and in the post-Dobbs context, interstate travel costs are even higher. In states like Massachusetts, we know the state government as well as advocates and healthcare providers are very invested in ensuring abortion access. We hope the data from this study serves as an example of how states across the country that share this commitment can monitor the trends in and needs of interstate travelers.”
— Elizabeth Janiak, director of social science research at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts on a study that says that more patients are traveling to Massachusetts from other states for abortion care and that use of non-profit abortion funding in Massachusetts has increased following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision that xxxxxxx.

“The state has legislation that protects our beloved pets in extreme heat. It’s time to have the same protective measures in place for our students in classrooms … The heat conditions in our public schools throughout Massachusetts, which have led to school closures and early dismissals, are unacceptable.
— Massachusetts Teachers Association Vice President Deb McCarthy.

“The climate crisis is here and farmers are bearing the brunt of extreme weather. With the heavy losses that our farmers have recently suffered, it is critical for us to support their recovery efforts. These funds will help ensure our farms have the resources to salvage a difficult year and come back stronger than before”
—Gov. Maura Healey announcing $15 million in funding from the Natural Disaster Recovery Program for Agriculture to Massachusetts farms that were adversely affected by one or more of the extreme weather events in 2023.