Local

Medford Comprehensive High School Building Committee presents new educational plan to city

By Owen Chin-Rust and Evan Vezmar | March 24

The construction plan for Medford’s new high school is in full swing following the presentation of its educational plan in January. Written by the Medford Comprehensive High School Building Committee, the plan envisions improved learning spaces and programming for students, faculty and community members.

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Local

Somerville holds public hearing on future of Out of the Blue Community Arts Gallery at the Armory

By Alexandra Tse | March 13

The Somerville City Council’s Housing, Community Development and Equity Committee held a public hearing on March 4 at City Hall regarding a petition submitted by 52 registered voters about the future of the Out of the Blue Community Arts Gallery. During the hearing, artists and community members urged the city to allow the long-running gallery and its tenants to remain in the Center for the Arts at the Armory building.

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Local

Here’s how the Medford community is responding to ICE fears

By Evan Vezmar | March 9

As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence ramps up in cities across the country, the Medford community has been organizing resources and systems to anticipate activity within the city. While the City Council has enacted several ordinances to curb ICE powers, including the Welcoming City ordinance from early last year, community movements have stepped up efforts to recruit members and establish networks should ICE activity become more apparent.

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Local

Greg Jenkins, director of Somerville Arts Council, fired after 25 years of service

By Josh Litvak | March 9

After 25 years leading the Somerville Arts Council, Executive Director Greg Jenkins was fired by Mayor Jake Wilson’s administration in February. The leadership change comes as part of Wilson’s government restructuring at the start of his mayoral term, but it has rattled the city’s arts community and prompted public responses from Wilson, the Arts Council board and local elected officials.

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Local

Seth Moulton discusses Senate campaign with the Daily

By Evan Vezmar and Katherine Kelton | March 6

On March 1, the Daily sat down with U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat who is currently challenging two-term incumbent U.S. Sen. Edward Markey for the Democratic nomination in the upcoming Senate race.

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Local

State Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven announces state Senate campaign at Medford/Tufts station

By Julian Glickman | March 5

State Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, who represents Somerville in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, announced a bid for state Senate in front of the Medford/Tufts station on Monday.

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Local

Tufts students propose Somerville ordinance to fight off-campus housing rush

By Will Pinto | March 5

The rush for Tufts sophomores to secure off-campus housing for the following year and the lack of restrictions on lease signing dates have led many desirable housing options to be taken shortly after students return to campus. Three seniors are hoping to fix that.

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Local

Medford aims to improve transparency with Community Outreach Task Force

By Nandeesh Jain | March 3

The City of Medford announced the launch of a Community Outreach Task Force to enhance communication between city officials and residents. The initiative will create a group of neighborhood ambassadors from seven of Medford’s neighborhoods: Haines Square, Hillside, Lawrence Estates, North Medford, South Medford, West Medford and Wellington.

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Local

East Somerville Community Bites relaunches to combat food insecurity, support immigrant-owned restaurants

By Alexandra Tse | February 25

Seeing the struggles of immigrant-owned businesses and an increasing number of food-insecure residents in East Somerville, Rev. Jordan Harris of the Connexion United Methodist Church saw an opportunity to address both issues at once by founding the East Somerville Community Bites program.

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Local

Somerville community ramps up discussions for ArtFarm public park design

By Anika Parr | February 23

The City of Somerville hosted a community meeting on Feb. 9 about the latest design updates to the ArtFarm public park. The park’s construction is set to begin in 2027 on top of the Poplar Street pump station — a stormwater management structure currently under construction — to provide a community space for Somerville residents in the Brickbottom neighborhood.

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Local

Medford residents sue city to block divestment ordinance

By Josh Litvak | February 20

Two Medford residents have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to strike down the city’s newly enacted Values-Aligned Local Investments Ordinance, which requires the city to divest public funds from companies involved in weapons manufacturing, fossil fuels, private prisons and entities accused of human rights violations. The lawsuit sets up a legal and political battle over the limits of municipal authority and the role of local government in international affairs.

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Local

Somerville to decrease budget by $5 million, residents share priorities in community hearing

By Jones Millstone-Rivo and Katherine Kelton | February 19

The Somerville city budget is expected to be reduced by nearly $5 million this year due to a slowing economy and federal funding cuts.

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Local

Inside Tufts, local responses to historic January snowstorm

By Angela Palma and Jessica Michael | February 17

Medford and Somerville were hit with more than 20 inches of snow in late January, marking the largest snowfall in the area since 2022.

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Local

Medford considers new requirements for vacant buildings

By Carlos Del Cañal Fernández | February 10

The Medford City Council’s Planning and Permitting Committee is reviewing a proposed update to the city’s Vacant Building Ordinance, aiming to reduce long-term commercial vacancies. Sponsors argue that such vacancies harm neighborhood vibrancy and stifle local business activity.

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Local

Somerville police department continues investigation of recent overdose spike in the city

By Anika Parr | February 6

The City of Somerville saw a recent spike in overdoses, prompting the Somerville Police Department to publish an overdose warning on Jan.19. Five overdoses occurred on the weekend prior to the warning, three of which were fatal.

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Local

Local and state officials push back against federal immigration enforcement efforts

By Katherine Kelton | February 5

Elected officials in Medford and Somerville, as well as state leaders across Massachusetts, are ramping up efforts to curb the effects of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s presence in the state.

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Local

Medford Square rezoning project commences

By Evan Vezmar | February 5

The city of Medford restarted its rezoning project last month with a primary focus on rezoning Medford Square. It is the first proposal heard in the new City Council term, and the first since the city signed a contract extension with Innes Land Strategies Group — the consulting group that provides analysis and recommendations for the city’s rezoning.

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Local

Somerville School Construction Advisory Group delivers final recommendation for PK–8 school following Winter Hill School closure

By Alexandra Tse | February 3

Following over a year of deliberation, the Somerville School Construction Advisory Group delivered its final recommendation to the mayor for a new PK–8 school building, addressing the absence of the Winter Hill Community Innovation School. In June 2023, a piece of concrete collapsed from the ceiling of the Winter Hill School after prolonged maintenance issues, forcing it to close.

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Local

Organ transplant technology leader TransMedics to move headquarters to Somerville

By Jessica Michael | February 2

Organ transplant technology leader TransMedics, a medium-sized company that brings in hundreds of millions in revenue annually, recently announced it will be moving its headquarters to Somerville in 2028. Somerville anticipates the move will add 900 jobs and $75 million in tax revenue over the course of six years. The city of Somerville, along with the state of Massachusetts, provided TransMedics with tax breaks to encourage the move.

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Local

Copper Mill Development submits application for 25-story tower in Davis Square

By Anika Parr | January 30

Copper Mill Development submitted an application to the state of Massachusetts on Dec. 22 seeking approval to build a 25-story, primarily residential, tower in Davis Square. Many residents have raised concerns about the limited time allotted for public comment on the development. In response, the Davis Square Neighborhood Council voted on Monday to urge the city to ask Copper Mill to withdraw the proposal and resubmit only once a neighborhood plan has been made.

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