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Boston Public Schools will implement all recommendations from an independent review of school transportation safety following the tragic death of a kindergartener. Changes include enhanced driver training, daily safety meetings, and annual license checks for drivers, aimed at ensuring the safety of over 20,000 students.
Investigators in Dracut, Massachusetts, seek public assistance after a home was shot at early Saturday, with 12 shell casings found nearby. Surveillance footage shows a sedan passing the house while gunfire erupted, though the video lacks clarity for vehicle identification. No injuries occurred during the incident.
Watertown High School in Massachusetts will pilot the "Doorman" app, the first of its kind in the U.S., to limit students' screen time in class. The app uses VPN technology to block distracting content on students' smartphones during lessons, with an emergency unlock feature available. Teachers will train on the system before students use it in the second week of school.
Amtrak's NextGen Acela train made its inaugural arrival at Boston's South Station, achieving top speeds of 160 miles per hour. The new fleet promises increased reliability and capacity, with 80 additional seats per train and improved safety features. The first NextGen Acela service from South Station is scheduled for Thursday at 5 a.m.
Mayor Michelle Wu and BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper announced the adoption of all recommendations from an independent safety report following the death of a kindergartener struck by a school bus. The report, conducted by Mintz Attorney Natashia Tidwell, prompted immediate safety policy changes to protect Boston students.
A tractor-trailer rollover closed a section of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Framingham early Thursday morning. The crash, which occurred around 4:30 a.m., blocked all travel lanes, causing significant traffic delays during the morning commute. Officials reopened one lane just before 7 a.m., and the cause of the accident is under investigation.
A man died after being shot during a confrontation over graffiti at Jordan Park in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, on Thursday morning. The victim, who was walking his child to school, allegedly confronted the suspect, leading to the shooting. Police arrested a 26-year-old man in connection with the incident.
Massachusetts Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez visited Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School on its first day of school, highlighting the demand for vocational education. The school, which currently serves nearly 1,400 students despite a capacity of 900, will soon expand with a new facility to accommodate more programs and students.
North Andover police officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons, 28, received bail after being arraigned for pointing her gun at a colleague during a June incident. A grand jury indicted her on a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon, to which she pleaded not guilty. Fitzsimmons claims she did not point the gun and is seeking help for postpartum depression.
A car fire closed the eastbound side of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Boston on Thursday afternoon. Traffic halted shortly after 2 p.m. near Exit 133, with officials advising drivers to seek alternate routes.