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WGBH News

Menino Will Not Run


GET COMPLETE COVERAGE
After 20 years as Boston’s mayor, Thomas Menino announced that he will not seek a sixth term.
Intelligence Squared

Debate: Should Drugs Be Legalized?


WGBH WORLD
President Nixon declared a "war on drugs" in 1971. Now drug abuse is half of what it was, yet 20 million Americans still use illegal drugs. Is it time to legalize these drugs, or is this a war we're winning?


Seafood

Lobster: Cheaper than Bologna


By Toni Waterman
After a perfect storm of high yields and soft shells, local lobstermen are struggling to stay afloat in a sea of surplus, low-priced crustaceans. Toni Waterman went out on a lobster boat to see the problem firsthand. 
Boston

From the Archives: The Sumner Tunnel


Greater Boston's weekly feature goes inside the photo archives from the Globe for a glimpse into the city's past. This week, we trace the evolution of a key transportation artery.
Boston

Starting a Takeout: A Recipe for Change


By Val Wang
Whether you're buying an established takeout or starting from scratch, it can be challenging to build the trust and community these neighborhood joints require to succeed. Val Wang checks out the progress at Hong Kong Chef and Wok N Talk.
Business

1 Guest: David D'Alessandro


By Sanjay Salomon
The Boston business leader opens up to host Emily Rooney about growing up in upstate New York, his father's gambling addiction, his early jobs and much more. Watch the interview online.
Technology

A Ride in a Cab That's Optimized for the Blind


By Cristina Quinn
Blind passengers have one big problem taking taxis: They don't know what's on the fare box. The City of Boston is poised to roll out technology that will solve that problem. We take it for a spin.
Courts, Crime & Police

From the Archives: The Blackfriars Massacre


We look back to the 1978 Blackfriars Massacre. It claimed the lives of five people, including an investigative journalist.
Boston

From the Archives: The Hotel Vendome Fire


Our weekly feature goes inside the photo archives from the Boston Globe for a glimpse into the city's past. This week, we go back 40 years to the deadliest event in Boston Fire Department history.
Boston

Planned Makeover for Roxbury Receives Mixed Reactions


MORE: REVIVING DUDLEY
By Adam Reilly
After the approval of a $95 million project, Dudley Square will soon have a hotel, restaurants and residencies. But in Roxbury, this transformation has been met with an equal fill of both excitement and hesitation.
Greater Boston

From the Archives — the Boston Strangler


Our new weekly feature goes inside the photo archives from the Boston Globe for a glimpse into the city's past. We start off with an image from the terrifying crime wave of 1962.
Desserts

One Stop at Home: Makin' the Donuts


By Danielle Dreilinger
Going to Betty Ann's at Wood Island, as we did for the WGBH "One Stop" series, is not just about donuts. But if you sleep late, you might settle for the food half of the equation.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

MBTA One Stop: Wood Island


ONE STOP AT HOME: MAKIN' THE DONUTS
By Danielle Dreilinger
This week, attention is on the Suffolk Downs stop of the Blue Line. But what happens near the stations you might not know as much about? To launch our web feature MBTA One Stop, we go to Wood Island and a small, storied donut shop. With photos and a recipe.
WGBH NEWS

The Food Revolution That Ate New England


By Cristina Quinn
Food trucks have come to Boston, Cambridge and Paris. And now the food world's hottest phenomenon is now moving into the suburbs.
Gambling

Suffolk Downs Announces Casino Plan


By Sarah Birnbaum
The racing center unveiled plans for a $1 billion resort-style complex with approximately 200,000 square feet of gaming space, a hotel and up to 10 restaurants.
Election 2012

Obama, Romney Supporters Face Off at State House


By Sarah Birnbaum
About 100 people shouted slogans as Obama strategist David Axelrod tried to address the crowd.
Boston

Is Boston Stodgy?


By Will Roseliep
A video from the Future Boston Alliance has reawakened the debate over whether Boston is a stodgy city — and whether that could make a difference in new grads' decisions to leave or stay.
WGBH Local News

VIDEO: The Common Blooms with Flags


WATCH
By WGBH News
Watch the Boston Common turn from green to a patriotic red, white and blue for Memorial Day.
Local Voices

Planet Takeout: Dinner, and a Cultural Crossroads


MORE PLANET TAKEOUT
By Val Wang
The Chinese takeout is more than a quick stop to grab dinner. In every neighborhood, it's a place where people from opposite sides of the globe meet to learn something about who we are and how we live.
Local Voices

Val Wang Talks About Planet Takeout


By Val Wang & Bob Seay
Thursday is the first installment of Planet Takeout, Val Wang's exploration into Boston Chinese takeout joints as a nexus of community. She talks to Bob Seay about how she got the idea for the project. 
Religion

Presentation School Opens to Community


THE SCHOOL IN 2010
By Toni Waterman
Shuttered in 2005 by the Boston Archdiocese, a beloved parochial school has reopened its doors as a community center. Volunteers talk about the journey.
Poverty

An Affordable Home for Seniors


By Phillip Martin
The elderly can have a hard time finding housing in Boston, one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country. We report on a unique partnership that's making a difference. 
Animals

Managing Boston's Stray Cats: Part 2—The Clinic


READ STRAY CATS: PART 1
By Ibby Caputo
In some neighborhoods, the stray cat population is out of control. Often these animals are killed — part of a debate about how to best handle the problem. We go into a free clinic that's making a difference.
Animals

Managing Boston's Stray Cats: Part 1


LISTEN TO PART 2
By Ibby Caputo
Yowling stray cats aren't just a headache: if they're not neutered, males can get into fights and females have litters of kittens who struggle to survive. Some volunteers are trying to change their fates.
Immigration

Boston and the Great Potato Famine


By Jordan Weinstein
We talk to Michael Higgins, the president of Ireland, during his trip to Boston to commemorate the famine that forever changed the face of the city.
Election 2012

Local Latino Voters Talk About Election 2012


ON THE GROWING LATINO VOTE
By Michelle Figueroa
Latinos have become the largest and fastest-growing minority group in the country — and a pivotal one for Obama and likely Republican nominee Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential race.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

MBTA Chief Mulls Your Ideas


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Bob Seay
Could the state take back the Big Dig debt? Could the MBTA expand service? Richard Davey, secretary of MassDOT, responds to WGBH listeners' ideas.
Health Care

Leading the Fight Against Childhood Cancer


By Jordan Weinstein
There's been a hopeful development in treatment for soft-tissue sarcoma. A doctor talks about how small foundations play a crucial role in cancer research.
Courts, Crime & Police

In Southie, Police Promise a New Focus on Drugs


By Adam Reilly
Police are promising to crack down on drug dealing as residents talked about the dangers they see in their neighborhood.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

MBTA Cuts: The Impact on Communities of Color


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By WGBH News
Service cuts will reduce families' access to work, health care and education, warned Marvin Venay of the Mass. Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.
Social Issues

Occupy Boston Protests on May Day


MORE WGBH OCCUPY COVERAGE
By Phillip Martin
Though they didn't go on strike in protest, some workers in Boston's Financial District agreed with the Occupy's message about income inequality.
Transportation & Infrastructure

Who Wins in Boston: Bikes Vs. Cars


By Michelle Figueroa & WGBH News
With success comes conflict: In the last five years, bicycling in Boston has increased by 50 percent. But some drivers are madder than ever as everyone tries to find room on the road. 
Poetry Month

Riding Routes of Poetry


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
In a collection of poetry by Liam Day, inspired by riding the MBTA bus routes, we learn something from the routine views of the city about what it means to be human.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Racial Disparities and the MBTA


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Phillip Martin
The old elevated train from Dudley to downtown was ugly — but fast. Now, with service cuts going into effect, riders are asking why minority neighborhoods get the short end of the transit stick.
Boston

Former Celtic Chris Herren Turns Boston Purple


WATCH ON GREATER BOSTON
Former NBA star Chris Herren has launched an intiative to prevent youth from the ravages of substance abuse.
CALLIE CROSSLEY SHOW

Kirsten Greenidge and "Luck of the Irish"


HEAR JARED BOWEN'S REVIEW
SEE MORE ON BASIC BLACK
Playwright Kirsten Greenidge's latest play, "The Luck of the Irish," is about an upwardly mobile African American family in the 1950s that moves from inner-city Boston to a white part of town.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

MBTA Riders Disrupt Budget Debate


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Jordan Weinstein
Mass. House officers closed down public access to the chambers after a group of seniors and people with disabilities interrupted proceedings to protest MBTA fare hikes.
Health

From Fat Boston to Fit Boston?


By Adam Reilly
Mayor Tom Menino is introducing an ambitious program to get residents to collectively drop 1 million pounds in the next year. But will it fly?
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Just Another Rush Hour on the MBTA


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Danielle Dreilinger
In the old days, you couldn't complain about your commute until you (finally) reached your destination. With Twitter, you can. We look at an ordinary morning's sights, sounds and situations on the T.
WGBH News Focus: The MBTA

Riders React to the MBTA Fare Evasion Crackdown


WGBH NEWS FOCUS: THE MBTA
By Danielle Dreilinger
This week, the MBTA launched a new initiative to address fare evasion on the Green Line: In off-peak hours, D Branch passengers will be allowed to board and depart using the front door only. And Twitter said ....
People & Profiles

'No Dame Ever Ran No Marathon'


By Annie Shreffler
In 1967 Katherine Switzer helped to change the course of women's athletic history, much to the dismay of men who favored the status quo. Her brave move cleared a path and made her a lifelong advocate for women in sports.
WGBH Local News

Franco Garcia 'A Remarkable Young Man'


By Cristina Quinn
Family and friends of a Boston College student who went missing on Feb. 22 mourned after a body found in Chestnut Hill Reservoir was preliminarily identified as that of Franco Garcia. 
Communications & Media

The Herald's New Square


By Emily Rooney
Boston's tabloid has moved into new digs in the sleek, up-and-coming Seaport District — shedding its presses and maybe, someday, even newsprint itself.
Technology

Gamers Invade Massachusetts


WGBH NEWS: PAX EAST SIGNS DEAL
By Will Roseliep
As 75,000 video game fans descend on the Seaport for the PAX East conference, locals say the Bay State has become a major player in the industry. 
Transportation & Infrastructure

T Riders Make Last Push to Influence Board


BOARD PASSES FARE HIKE
By WGBH News & Wires
In the final hours leading up to a key Mass. Bay Transportation Authority board meeting, protesters gathered to decry a fare hike plan.
Courts, Crime & Police

The Aftermath in Mattapan


THE MATTAPAN VERDICT
By Tonia Magras
Four days after an unpopular verdict, Woolson Street was still reverberating with shock, anger — and a sense of business-as-usual.
Courts, Crime & Police

The Mattapan Murder Verdict


SOLVING VIOLENCE IN THE INNER CITY
By Toni Waterman & Adam Reilly
Shouting, swearing, rage, tears: The verdict in the Mattapan quadruple-murder trial stunned the victims' families. But one of the defendants could be back in court soon.
Courts, Crime & Police

Stanching Violence in Boston's Inner City


THE MATTAPAN SURVIVOR'S STORY
By Will Roseliep & Danielle Dreilinger
A policeman and a preacher talk about working together to combat an increase in violence in the inner city — a problem brought home this week as jurors struggled to come to a verdict in the Mattapan trial. 
Boston

Reviving a 'Downtown for Uptown' in Dudley Square


By Will Roseliep
City councilor Tito Jackson welcomes the renovation of the Ferdinand Building, saying, "Having such a significant and large parcel in the middle of our community offline for 35 or 40 years has had a great negative effect."
Boston

Councilor Ross: 'This Is Disturbing'


MORE BLACKOUT COVERAGE
By WGBH News & Wires
With the blackout a memory, now everyone can focus on the cause and questions.
WGBH Local News

Cause Not Yet Known for Back Bay Blackout


By WGBH News
NStar spokesman Michael Durand and city councilor Stephen Murphy share what they know about the blackout.
Boston

Blackout Cost Estimated at $2.5 Million


GREATER BOSTON COVERS THE BLACKOUT TONIGHT
MORE VIDEOS AND STORIES
By Toni Waterman & Wires
The day after a transformer fire cut off power in Boston's Back Bay, about 4,000 customers still remain without power.
Boston

The Back Bay Fire: Aftermath


By WGBH News & Wires
On Wednesday morning, NStar said it wouldn't have all power back until after the evening commute.
Transportation & Infrastructure

MBTA Plans to Raise Fares, Cut Service


By Danielle Dreilinger
State transportation secretary Richard Davey said that despite public outcry, major changes were needed to close a $159 million budget gap. 
Courts, Crime & Police

The Mattapan Survivor Tells His Story


By Toni Waterman
Marcus Hurd, the sole survivor of a brutal mass shooting in Mattapan, testified in court this week against the men accused of paralyzing him and killing four people, including a 2-year-old boy.
Transportation & Infrastructure

Yet More Fears over MBTA Fares


By WGBH News
As crowds gather at MBTA hearings to protest proposed service cuts and fare hikes, a policy group is saying the state should lose the former but go ahead with the latter.
Business

Your Cafe, My Office


By Phillip Martin
In a sign of the times, your neighborhood café has become an office space -- and a new cultural tension is brewing.
Innovation Hub

Bringing More Women To The Top Of The Business World


MORE INNOVATION HUB
By Kara Miller
We talk to a filmmaker, a vice president at Google and a national news anchor about the future of women in business.
Transportation & Infrastructure

Boston Builds to 2020

By Jordan Weinstein
The Hub seems poised for a new burst of changes, including major developments along the Charles. We asked Tim Love of Northeastern University's School of Architecture to imagine what the Boston of 2020 might look like.
Boston

City Chickens' Goose Is Far from Cooked


By Adam Reilly
Boston is considering changing its codes to foster urban agriculture. It could bring everything from rooftop gardens to beehives to chicken coops to the city’s neighborhoods. But some pioneers have already dug in.
Education

Digging into BU's 'Hockey Culture'


By Toni Waterman & Danielle Dreilinger
Do hockey players really get special treatment at Boston University? Some students and experts say the reputation is deserved.
Social Issues

The 100th Night with the 99 Percent


By WGBH News
Now that Occupy Boston's encampment is gone from downtown and the front page, Boston Phoenix reporter Chris Faraone reflects on the experience in his new book and asks: What's next?
Gambling

Setting the Odds on an Eastie Casino


By Adam Reilly
So far the debate over the proposed casino at Suffolk Downs has been pretty quiet. But with the Foxboro idea going nowhere, that may be about to change.
WGBH Local News

Revisiting School Desegregation in Charlestown


By Phillip Martin
In Kevin White's era, Charlestown made headlines for its opposition to court-ordered school desegregation. Today's high school looks very different. With exclusive archival footage.
Business

Game Conference Sparks Hope in Local Industry


By Toni Waterman & Sanjay Salomon
Officials say the video game conference PAX East’s 10-year commitment to Boston could make Massachusetts the center of the rapidly growing, multi-billion-dollar gaming industry.
Boston

Many Residents Of Unsafe Building Still Need Homes


By Adam Reilly
Boston officials met Monday with dozens of Chinatown residents forced to evacuate an unsafe building last week.
Innovation Hub

Crowdsourcing For Science, Medicine And Government


By Kara Miller
The power of crowdsourcing isn't limited to start-ups. Next, we explore the role it plays in science, medicine and even municipal affairs.
Boston

New Owner Means New Hope At Downtown Crossing


By Toni Waterman
Boston mayor Tom Menino is confident the new owner of the Filene's site will have the project off the ground within a year.
Courts, Crime & Police

'Three Strikes' Inches Toward Compromise

By Sarah Birnbaum
Progress this week on the so-called "three strikes" habitual offenders bill is leading observers to believe some version of the law will pass this year, despite ongoing criticism from communities of color.
WGBH Local News

In The Crowd For James Brown And Kevin White


COMPLETE WGBH COVERAGE
By Jordan Weinstein
In 1968, mayor Kevin White spoke at a James Brown concert to promote interracial peace. Attendee (and now WGBH host) Al Davis talks about how that message sounded from the audience.
WGBH Special Reports

Mayor Kevin White: Complete WGBH News Coverage


By WGBH News
Former Boston mayor Kevin White died on Jan. 27, 2012 at the age of 82. We look back at his legacy over four terms of change with interviews, analysis and exclusive WGBH archival footage.
Boston

Kevin White And The Toll Of The Tregor Bill


By Ted Canova
The 1981 political standoff pitted every conceivable stakeholder against one another. There was money, politics, gamesmanship and personalities. In the end, Boston may have won ... but its mayor lost.
Race & Ethnicity

Insights Into Mayor Kevin White And His Era


By WGBH News
Watch and hear analysis and memories from people who experienced the changes under White's tenure — whether they were attacked on City Hall Plaza or arguing inside the building.
Race & Ethnicity

Boston's School Desegregation Era


By Phillip Martin
Civil rights leaders, politicians and residents examine mayor White's role in one of the most tumultuous periods in Boston's history.
Biology & Chemistry

Controversy Continues To Rage Over BU Biolab


GREATER BOSTON: TOUR THE BIOLAB
By Will Roseliep
A mid-February public hearing has been pushed back, but the public isn't keeping quiet on concerns over a center that could be studying deadly bioagents.

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