Sterling pastor: ‘The people of Minneapolis are my heroes’
The day after Rev. Robin Bartlett returned from gathering with fellow clergy in Minneapolis, the city that is heartbroken yet uprising in record numbers, another person was shot dead in the streets by ICE. “My first reaction was guilt,” the First Church in Sterling senior pastor said upon hearing the...
Panera Bread bakery in Mass. to close next month; nearly 100 jobs lost
The Panera Bread bakery in Franklin is set to close down in March and put the facility’s 92 employees out of a job, according to Boston Business Journal (BBJ). The closure is part of a “baked goods model changeup” at the fast-casual restaurant chain, BBJ reported. Panera Bread is in the process of shifting from using...
State Police arrest 7, seize over 4.5 kilos of drugs, 3 firearms, multiple extended...
The Rhode Island State Police have announced that the Rhode Island State Police HIDTA Task Force, assisted by members of the RISP Detective Bureau, Pawtucket Police Department Special Squad Narcotics Unit, Providence Police Department, Central Falls Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration Providence...
MA cafe owner in ICE custody is currently on probation. What to know
The owner of Stow Cafe who was taken into custody on Jan. 28 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement is currently on probation from a case out of Concord District Court. According to Concord District Court records, Max Fernandes was charged in May 2024 with indecent assault and battery on a person older than 14;...
Mass. auditor report uncovers more than $12M in SNAP, MassHealth fraud in 2025
A new report by the state auditor’s Bureau of Special Investigations details nearly $12 million in public assistance fraud in the 2025 budget year. The largest portion of that fraud, $4.1 million, was found in the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The program is often known by its former...
Allegation of special parking access for elected official leads to heated exchange at Charlton...
CHARLTON — A scheduled discussion about overnight parking at the town library escalated into a tense exchange between Select Board member David Singer and Chair Karen Spiewak during the Jan. 27, 2026, Charlton Select Board meeting, after Singer alleged that a special arrangement had been made for an elected...
This Unassuming Diner In Massachusetts Serves Up The Best Home Fries You’ll Ever Taste
Sometimes culinary perfection hides in plain sight, nestled between strip malls and gas stations, with nothing but a modest sign and a parking lot full of loyal customers to hint at the treasures within. Such is the case with Iron Town Diner in Saugus, where an unassuming exterior conceals what...
Fire damages commercial building on Wachusett Street in Holden
HOLDEN — On Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at approximately 2:58 p.m., Holden firefighters responded to a report of smoke and fire coming from a commercial building located at 789 Wachusett Street. According to the Holden Fire Department, the first engine to arrive on scene confirmed smoke conditions inside the...
FIRST ALERT: Coastal storm to bring gusty winds, flooding, up to 5 inches of...
The coastal storm we’ve been watching for Sunday continues to trend farther offshore. That said, it will still graze the coast, bringing gusty wind, snow and the risk of coastal flooding for the Cape, and the south and north shores. The greatest impacts will be focused on Cape Cod and the Islands. How much snow will...
Winter weather advisory in place for 3 Massachusetts counties for Sunday and Monday –...
A winter weather advisory was issued by the National Weather Service on Friday at 11:35 p.m. valid from Sunday 4 a.m. until Monday 4 a.m. for Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties. The weather service says to prepare for, “Total snow accumulations between 3 and 6 inches. Winds gusting as high...
