Obituary
Grace Antoine – Of Malden, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on September 26, 2025. She was 57 years young. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Grace Antoine →

Obituary
Pamela L. (Hill) Hansen-Of Somerville, formerly of Idaho, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Pamela L. (Hill) Hansen →

Obituary
Mr. James A. O’Connell, of Medford, passed away following a long and hard fought battle against Alzheimer’s Disease on October 14, 2025, he was 94.

Complete obituary to be posted.

Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering James A. O’Connell →

SOMERVILLE – The Somerville Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is expanding access to free vaccination clinics to help residents stay healthy through the fall and winter. They are also sharing updated flu and COVID-19 vaccine guidance for the 2025–26 season. Clinics will be held throughout the city from October 2025 through April 2026. Continue reading Somerville Expands Free Vaccine Clinics, Shares Updated Flu & COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance →

By Bob Katzen

This bill would require all election ballots to be uniform in size.

“[My bill] requires all ballots be uniform in size, material and content for all voters, whether marked by hand or using a ballot-marking device,” said sponsor Rep. Sean Garballey (D-Arlington). Continue reading REQUIRE UNIFORM BALLOTS (H 832) →

By Bob Katzen

This bill would prohibit employers from obtaining the credit reports of existing or potential employees except in certain circumstances including hiring for a position that requires national security clearance; a position for which a person is required by federal or state law to obtain a consumer report; and some executive or managerial positions at a financial institution.
Continue reading BAN EMPLOYERS FROM ASKING FOR CREDIT REPORTS (H 4450) →

By Bob Katzen

This bill would require insurance companies that provide homeowners insurance to include insurance for heating oil releases to their customers. The measure also raises the required minimum coverage provided.
Continue reading MUST PROVIDE CUSTOMERS INSURANCE FOR HEATING OIL SPILLS (H 1302) →

By Bob Katzen

This bill would require that when candidates for Governor’s Council are listed on a voter ballot, the office they are seeking be listed as Governor’s Council. Under current law, the listing says simply “Council.”
Continue reading GOVERNOR’S COUNCILOR (H 805) →

By Bob Katzen

This bill would require that early voting and absentee ballots be identical to a regular ballot that voters use on Election Day.
Continue reading ABSENTEE BALLOTS (H 830) →

By Bob Katzen

This bill would allow cities and towns to require the installation of an automatic sprinkler system in any building with more than four units, which “undergoes a major alteration or modification and is occupied in whole or in part for residential purposes” including lodging houses, boarding houses, fraternity houses, dormitories, apartments, townhouses, condominiums, hotels, motels and group residences. Continue reading REQUIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS (H 2644) →

By Bob Katzen

This bill would require that any candidates for appointment to the position of Fire Chief, Fire Commissioner or head of a fire department in any city or town, must have been a uniformed member of the Massachusetts firefighting force of a Massachusetts Fire Department for a minimum of five years. Continue reading FIRE CHIEF MUST BE A FORMER FIREFIGHTER (H 2646) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 39-0, approved and sent to the Senate legislation that would require motorists to slow down if they are approaching a stationary utility truck or a stopped vehicle with flashing lights on the shoulder of a road or breakdown lane of a highway. Continue reading EXPAND THE “MOVE OVER” LAW (S 2653) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 39-0, approved and sent to the House a proposal that would require manufacturers of menstrual health products to clearly disclose and display a list of ingredients. The ingredients would have to be easily accessible on both retail packages and manufacturers’ websites.
Continue reading COMPANIES MUST DISCLOSED INGREDIENTS OF MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS (S 1483) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 39-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that would require all prisons, homeless shelters and public elementary and secondary schools to maintain free menstrual products, including sanitary napkins, tampons and underwear liners in private and public restrooms; and to make them available in a “convenient manner that does not stigmatize any persons seeking the products.”
Continue reading MAKE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS MORE AVAILABLE AT NO COST (S 2640) →

By Bob Katzen

House 141-14, approved and sent to the Senate a $2.25 billion fiscal 2025 supplemental budget designed to close out the books on fiscal year 2025. Continue reading $2.25 BILLION FISCAL 2025 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (H 4601) →

One candle glowing in a dark room
Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, the Somerville Commission for Women, RESPOND, Inc., and the Department of Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) invite residents to attend the City’s annual Domestic Violence Vigil on Tuesday, October 28, at Somernova (19 Properzi Way) at 6 p.m.
Continue reading Somerville to Honor Victims of Domestic Violence at Annual Vigil on October 28 →

Somerville to host two drop-off sites for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

SOMERVILLE— Keeping unused or expired medications at home can be unsafe for children, pets, and adults. Continue reading Safely Dispose of Old Medications at Somerville’s Take Back Events on 10/25 →

A Report by Joe Viglione

*Please note, Viglione does radio publicity for David Yarde and some consulting work.

The Karen Read case opened eyes, and came long after David Yarde was wrongfully imprisoned. But it is the Read case which has reactivated interest in Mr.Yarde’s story.
Continue reading The David Yarde Story RudeboiiidaArtist and His Quest for Freedom →