Stories
Returning to Maple Ave In Cambridge, Less Fear But Lots of Trepidation As Pandemic Rages On
Seven months ago, I walked up and down my block in Cambridge to find out how my neighbors were faring weeks into the lockdown ordered by Gov. Charlie Baker. Few people were wearing masks, but even fewer people were on the streets at that time. Quite a bit has changed on Maple Avenue since March.…
Read MoreFor most people, buying a home is not an easy thing to do. But Jennifer Brogan didn’t think it would be this hard. “I was hoping it would be like those HGTV episodes where you see like three houses and you get to pick the one you like the best, but that did not happen,”…
Read MoreWhen Marvin Moreno lost his job at a fish processing plant last spring, he knew he’d have to scramble to pay rent on the East Boston apartment he shared with his wife. He should have been OK for a while. That’s because a statewide ban on evictions was in place, to protect tenants like Moreno…
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How Segregation Persists In ‘Progressive’ New England
Despite New England’s progressive reputation, residential segregation still exists in communities throughout the region. In this second episode of a special radio series on “Racism In New England,” we look at how housing laws and discrimination influence where we live — from the predominantly white states of northern New England to cities and suburbs in…
Read MoreBrandon Bradley was job-hunting in Tennessee two weeks ago, when he got a text from his landlord’s daughter. It read: “Brandon, my husband said you need to get your stuff out by tomorrow or he will put it in storage for you in the garage. The power and gas will be shut tomorrow.” Brandon and…
Read MoreVermont has one of the lowest rates of coronavirus infections in the country. People from more urban and more infected areas have noticed, and real estate agents report a surge in interest in Vermont property. Out-of-state buyers are looking for a safe and relatively disease-free place to live, a trend spurred in part because many…
Read MoreSenior Living Facilities Are Coronavirus Hotspots. Now, Families Wonder If They Should Bring Loved Ones Home
In March, not long after Bill Passman’s parents moved into an assisted living residence in Maryland, his 94-year-old father developed a cough. At first the family didn’t think much of it, even though fears about the coronavirus had recently sent the facility into lockdown. Bill was more concerned about helping his parents figure out how…
Read MoreMavericks Pitch Novel Buyout Plan For Flood-Prone Warren
Tidal rivers and bays surround Warren. The Palmer River runs up the town’s west side, Belcher Cove curls around the town center, and the Kickemuit River and Mount Hope Bay hug the eastern part of town. This makes Warren vulnerable. If a major storm were to hit today, the town projects almost half of the…
Read MoreAdvocates Fear Domestic Abuse Survivors Are ‘Trapped With Their Abusers’ During Pandemic
While the state’s social distancing and quarantine measures help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, these same measures have created new challenges for people living in violent households. Domestic violence support groups said they’re trying to adapt to this new reality by finding new ways of connecting with survivors. Read the rest of this story…
Read MoreDaily life has changed drastically as Mainers take steps to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. Preparing and maintaining needed services for homeless clients has proven to be a challenge for shelters, who are dealing with limited space, supplies and a dramatic decline in the numbers of volunteers. On a recent morning, Katie Spencer…
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