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Massachusetts health officials closed several beaches ahead of the Fourth of July weekend due to elevated bacteria levels. The state updates its beach water quality dashboard hourly, ensuring visitors can check the status of over 1,100 monitored beaches. Heavy rainfall and harmful algae blooms can cause these closures.
Boston Police arrested Marc Lamothe, 46, on Tuesday for the 2021 murder of Joshua Smith in Roxbury. Lamothe faces charges of murder and illegal firearm possession and is held without bail pending a July 8 court hearing. Police identified Lamothe through video surveillance and witness statements.
Boston's Licensing Board approved 21 new liquor licenses for restaurants across eight neighborhoods, enhancing local economic growth. Mayor Michelle Wu emphasized the importance of these licenses for small businesses and community vibrancy. The move follows legislation that added 225 new liquor licenses to the city, the largest increase since Prohibition.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora criticized his team's defensive errors following an 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, which prevented a three-game sweep. The defeat leaves Boston at 43-45, six games behind the division leaders. Cora emphasized the need to capitalize on leads, stating, "A three-run lead in the seventh, we expect to win those games."
Advocates in Massachusetts fear that proposed changes in a tax and spending bill could strip health insurance from a quarter of the 400,000 people enrolled in the state's Health Connector. The Trump administration claims these changes aim to eliminate fraud, but local leaders warn that they threaten the state's health care achievements and could leave many residents uninsured.
A fisherman captured video of a mother bear swimming across Quabbin Reservoir with her two cubs on June 25. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife noted that black bears often swim to cool off during the summer. Officials remind residents to secure food sources to prevent bear encounters.
Multiple explosions during fireworks setup in Mashpee, Massachusetts, injured eight people ahead of the Fourth of July celebration. One individual sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to a Rhode Island hospital, while others received treatment on-site. Authorities are investigating the incident, which preliminary reports suggest was caused by a vehicle offloading fireworks that caught fire.
Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a 21-year-old UMass Amherst student, was fatally shot in Washington, D.C., while interning for Rep. Ron Estes. Authorities reported he was not the intended target of the shooting, which left two others wounded. The incident occurred late Monday night, and police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Global Partners challenges Massachusetts' decision to award service plaza control to Applegreen, arguing it will cost taxpayers millions. Despite public support and appeals, the decision remains intact, with only the governor able to reverse it. Applegreen plans a $750 million investment to renovate the plazas, which have not been updated since the 1950s.
The Westbrook Police Department in Maine apologized for unintentionally sharing an AI-edited photo of drug evidence on social media. The department initially denied using AI but later confirmed it employed the chatbot ChatGPT to alter the image, which led to public criticism.