Here are the five stories from the past year that most widely resonated with WGBH News' readers.
1. Baby Anacondas Born At New England Aquarium — Without Any Male Snakes Involved
In May, Boston's New England Aquarium unveiled two new baby anacondas. But the arrival of these little ones took everyone at the aquarium by surprise. Why? They were born in a tank that only held four female snakes — no male snakes were involved in the conception. Read on to learn more about the rare way these anacondas came into the world.
2. State Officials Warn Infants, Pregnant And Breastfeeding Women To Avoid Some Bottled Water Brands
Though state officials issued an advisory warning in July that infants and pregnant or breastfeeding women should not drink water from Spring Hill Farm Dairy in Haverhill, Mass., the water was still being sold in various supermarkets under different brand names. The water was found to have unsafe levels of PFAS, a very common man-made chemical that has been associated with a litany of health concerns.
3. 'The Pressures On Kids — They're Born Into It'
Over the past 10 years, researchers have found, the rate of anxiety and depression among college-age students has doubled. One of the root causes of this is the expectation of extremely high levels of achievement from a young age — in some cases, starting before a child is even born. The story is the first in a four-part series looking at students' mental health issues on university campuses.
4. Artist Cages 'Make Way for Ducklings' Statue To Protest Child Detention Centers
The famous "Make Way for Ducklings" statue in Boston's public gardens gets a lot of attention. It's a popular photo spot for tourists, and the bronze ducks are often decorated with sports gear before or after a big game. But in August, a local artist sent a political message with the landmark. In the early morning, she wrapped each duck in emergency blankets and placed cages around them, separating the ducklings from their mother, in protest of immigrant children being separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border.
5. Defense Attorney For 'Straight Pride' Counter-Protester Released After Being Held In Contempt
In late August, about 200 marchers gathered for a so-called "straight pride" parade in Boston. Defense Attorney Susan Church, who was representing one of the more than 30 counter-protesters who were arrested on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to resisting arrest, was held in contempt by Municipal Court Judge Richard Sinnott after she began reading case law in her argument on her client's behalf. Church was detained for about two hours before being released.
