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Medford City Council and school committee begin discussion on fiscal year 2026 budget

By Anika Parr | April 1

The Medford City Council began discussions on the budget for fiscal year 2026 in its March 18 meeting of the Committee of the Whole. Amid uncertainty over federal funding, the council’s priorities included increasing support for public safety, maintaining budget allocations for schools and the library and funding affordable housing research programs, among otherinitiatives.

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Medford City Council votes unanimously to support Tufts full-time lecturers

By Josué Pérez | March 31

The Medford City Council unanimously passed a resolution in support of a contract for Tufts School of Arts and Sciences full-time lecturers in their meeting on Tuesday. The resolution was brought forward by City Council Vice President Kit Collins (LA’15), a Tufts alum. Two lecturers presented at the meeting.

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Local

New ordinance proposal aims to reform Medford’s Human Rights Commission

By Evan Vezmar | March 31

After a yearlong process, the Medford City Council proposed a new draft of the ordinance for the city’s Human Rights Commission. Established to protect the civil rights of Medford residents, particularly on issues of housing, the current version of the ordinance required modernizing, according to City Councilor Justin Tseng, who led the proposal.

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Local

Somerville City Council decision leaves inclusion of divestment ballot question to community

By Samantha Eng and Josué Pérez | March 28

Somerville City Council voted to file a ballot initiative for Somerville’s divestment from companies in business with Israel on Thursday night, requiring activists to collect about 5,500 voter signatures to secure the question a spot on the city’s November ballot. The council’s 9–2 vote was preceded by a rally organized by Somerville for Palestine, attended by hundreds of Somerville community members outside Somerville City Hall.

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Local

Todd Evans inaugurated as Medford fire chief after 11 months as interim chief

By Josué Pérez | March 26

Medford Fire Chief Todd Evans was sworn into his role on Feb. 24, with the inauguration ceremony taking place on Mar. 12. He had served as interim chief for 11 months, following the retirement of Chief John Freedman. The chief was chosen via assessment center examination. According to the city’s press release, Chief Evans earned the highest score out of two candidates on the assessment center exam. Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn had interviewed all five deputy chiefs, including Evans, in March 2024 to choose an interim chief.

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Local

Updated Medford City Charter moves forward with district-based council composition plan

By Julian Glickman | March 13

The Medford City Council Committee of the Whole approved updates to the City Charter on March 4, sending the new charter to a final vote. The updates include a highly-debated district-based council composition plan, setting it up to be sent to the state legislature for final authorization.

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Local

Nontoxic rat fertility control to be studied on properties in Lincoln Park

By Amelia Sammons | March 7

The city of Somerville announced on Feb. 19 that it is participating in a Rodent Fertility Control Study using Evolve, which is a hormonal fertility control product designed to curb rat reproduction in a humane manner. This is in partnership with the Cambridge Public Health Department and Cambridge Inspectional Services Department.

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Local

Somerville entrepreneur Jason Mackey to join mayoral race

By Grayton Goldsmith | March 7

Somerville-based entrepreneur and community advocate Jason Mackey announced on Feb. 20 his candidacy for mayor, joining other candidates, including the incumbent Mayor Katjana Ballantyne; City Councilors at-Large Jake Wilson and Willie Burnley Jr.; and perennial candidate William Tauro.

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Local

Somerville, Chelsea sue Trump administration to protect sanctuary city policies

By Anika Parr | March 6

The cities of Somerville and Chelsea filed a lawsuit in a Massachusetts district court challenging federal immigration policy on Feb. 24. The cities, represented by Lawyers for Civil Rights, argue that recent federal actions unconstitutionally pressure sanctuary cities to participate in federal immigration enforcement. 

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Local

Somerville City Council approves allocation of nearly $3 million in funding from Community Preservation Act

By Carly Hope | February 28

The Somerville City Council voted to approve the allocation of nearly $3 million in funding collected through the Community Preservation Act on Feb. 13. These funds will go to various projects throughout Somerville related to the preservation of historic buildings, maintenance of public open spaces, affordable housing initiatives and support for local nonprofits and community organizations.

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Local

Somerville City Council passes resolution supporting Tufts full-time lecturers in contract negotiations

By Varya Karpinskaya | February 28

The Somerville City Council passed a resolution in support of a contract for Tufts full-time lecturers in a meeting on Feb. 13. The resolution was sponsored by City Councilor at-Large Willie Burnley Jr., who also participated in the union’s walkout in January. Two full-time lecturers were invited to speak at the meeting, where council members expressed overwhelming support for Tufts FTLs.

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Local

Pedestrian deaths raise concerns about Medford road safety

By Julian Glickman | February 27

Concerns are growing over pedestrian safety among Medford residents and elected officials after two elderly men were fatally struck by vehicles in recent months.

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Local

Green Line collision at East Somerville station hospitalizes 5

By Grayton Goldsmith | February 24

In the early hours of Feb. 9, an MBTA Green Line train struck another train at the East Somerville station, hospitalizing five.

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Local

Copper Mill Development hears community feedback on Elm and Grove Street development

By Zoe Herrmann | February 21

Copper Mill Development hosted an open meeting at Somerville Community Baptist Church on Feb. 12 to discuss plans to develop their Elm and Grove Street property to include retail and residential apartments. This was the fifth event Copper Mill has hosted seeking community feedback.

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Local

Somerville’s Willie Burnley Jr. joins mayoral race

By Grayton Goldsmith | February 20

Sitting Somerville City Councilor-at-Large Willie Burnley Jr. announced on Feb. 2 his candidacy for mayor of Somerville, joining fellow Councilor Jake Wilson and two-term incumbent Mayor Katjana Ballantyne in the mayoral race. Burnley emphasized his background as a community organizer as well as his legislative record on the City Council when discussing his decision to run for mayor.

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Local

Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition hosts name change clinic in Cambridge

By Anika Parr | February 18

The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition held a drop-in name change clinic on Feb. 11 in collaboration with the City of Cambridge LGBTQ+ Commission. This clinic was hosted at the Cambridge Public Library.

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Local

Medford, Somerville school leaders reaffirm immigration enforcement policies

By Marlee Stout | February 13

Superintendents in both the Medford and Somerville school districts sent messages to students and families in late January reaffirming existing policies on immigration enforcement after President Donald Trump rescinded a federal policy that prevented immigration raids in schools.

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Local

New Boston Avenue dorm approved by Community Development Board, construction to begin this spring

By Julian Glickman | February 13

The Medford Community Development Board approved Tufts’ proposed new dorm at 401 Boston Ave. on Feb. 5, allowing construction to begin this spring. The dorm will be a two-building complex with 299 units, and will house almost 700 upperclassmen when it is scheduled to open in 2027. The board expressed their reluctance to make the decision, recognizing the project’s strong public opposition, but focused the decision on whether existing legal restrictions were enough to deny the proposal.

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Local

Medford leaders deliver 2025 State of the City Address

By Julian Glickman and Josué Pérez | February 11

Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn delivered her annual State of the City Address on Feb. 5 in City Hall, covering housing, zoning and transportation issues while reassuring residents about changes to federal policy.School Committee Vice Chair Jenny Graham and City Council President Zac Bears also provided updates from their respective body’s work.

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Local

Somerville’s Jake Wilson to challenge Ballantyne in 2025 municipal election

By Grayton Goldsmith | February 7

Sitting Somerville City Councilor-at-Large Jake Wilson announced his intention to run for mayor in the upcoming November election, on Dec. 16, 2024, becoming the first to challenge two-term incumbent Mayor Katjana Ballantyne.

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