Massachusetts
Massachusetts Awards SEAS $3 Million for Wearable Tech Research
The Innovation Institute at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, a state agency, has awarded Harvard $3 million to support the development of next-generation robotics and wearable technologies.
HGSE Professors Argue High Stakes Testing Detrimental to Students in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System has recently come under scrutiny following state legislators’ proposal to eliminate the test from being a graduation requirement for high school students.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court — the highest court in the Commonwealth — is comprised of a chief justice and six associate justices, who hear appeals on both criminal and civil cases.
MGB Invests $50 Million in Local Health Initiatives with Focus on Equity
Mass General Brigham will invest $50 million in a new initiative focused on mental health, chronic disease management, and nutrition security, the hospital network announced last week.
Danielle Allen Campaign Launch
Harvard Government professor Danielle S. Allen officially launches her 2022 campaign for Massachusetts governor on Boston Common Tuesday morning.
All Massachusetts Residents 16+ Eligible for Covid-19 Vaccine on April 19
Most Harvard affiliates will be eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine next month, following an announcement Wednesday by Massachusetts governor Charlie D. Baker ’79 that all residents over the age of 16 will become eligible April 19.
Massachusetts State Senator Discusses Police Reform Bill at HKS Event
Mass. Sen. William N. Brownsberger ’78 — a key player in the passage of the state’s recent police reform bill — spoke virtually to the Harvard Kennedy School as part of its Reimagining Community Safety Speaker Series on Wednesday.
First Massachusetts Case of South African Variant Detected in Cambridge
A Cambridge woman in her 20s became the first person in Massachusetts to test positive for the Covid-19 variant originally detected in South Africa, the city’s public health department announced last Thursday.
Behind Six-Year Harvard Alumni Push, Every Voice Bill Passes to Boost Campus Sexual Assault Prevention
A bill spearheaded by student organizers, including Harvard alumni, to establish protections for survivors of sexual harassment at colleges and universities in Massachusetts beyond existing provisions in Title IX was signed into law by Governor Charlie D. Baker ’79 last month.
Despite Vaccine Shortage, Cambridge Proceeds with Phased Reopening
In an update to the City Council on Monday, Cambridge officials announced that the city is moving forward with its reopening plans, despite an ongoing vaccine supply shortage in the city.
Massachusetts Court Dismisses Harvard Prison Divestment Campaign Lawsuit Over University Investments
A Massachusetts judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit from the Harvard Prison Divestment Campaign over Harvard’s investments in companies with ties to the prison industry.
As Pandemic Wears On, Massachusetts Residents Have Increased Risky Behaviors, Survey Finds
Over the past seven months, Massachusetts residents have relaxed their adherence to COVID-19 prevention guidelines, according to a new survey.
Markey Cruises to Re-Election; Democrats Sweep Congressional, State Races in Cambridge
U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) coasted past Republican challenger Kevin O'Connor with ease, winning his ticket back to the Senate.
Mass. Split on Referenda, Favoring Vehicle Repair Measure and Snubbing Ranked-Choice Voting
Seventy-five percent of Mass. voters voted to adopt a new “right-to-repair” law, but a law that would implement a ranked-choice voting system didn't win the same support.
Election Day 2020 Has Arrived At Last. Here’s What You Need to Know.
Few things at Harvard have felt more salient than the 2020 election. With countless John F. Kennedy Jr. Forums, dining hall debates, and organizing pushes, it’s dominated discussions on campus — and Zoom — for over a year.
Campus Sexual Violence Bill Expected to Pass State House
The Every Voice bill, which would mandate additional support structures for sexual violence survivors beyond existing Title IX provisions, is pending a vote in the Massachusetts State House.
As Eviction Moratorium Clock Runs Out, Local Legislators Push for Extension
As Massachusetts’s eviction moratorium is set to end in less than one month, state lawmakers are continuing to push for an extension.
West Nile Virus Emerges as a 'High Risk' in Cambridge, Newton, Somerville, and Watertown
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced Thursday four new human cases of West Nile virus in the state this year, bringing the state’s total case count in 2020 to seven.
Fauci Discusses COVID-19 Response, Vaccine Progress at HMS Grand Rounds
Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony S. Fauci discussed COVID-19 vaccine progress and the United States’ response to the pandemic in a talk at the Harvard Medical Grand Rounds on Thursday morning.
Cambridge City Council Passes Policy Order Endorsing Mass. Tenant Protections Act
The Cambridge City Council passed a policy order Monday that endorses H. 3924, a bill under consideration in the Massachusetts State Legislature that promotes tenant protections and would repeal a statewide ban on rent control.
Attorneys General, Major Companies Back Harvard Admissions Process on Appeal
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura T. Healey ’92, alongside attorneys general from 14 other states and the District of Columbia, filed a brief in a federal appeals court Thursday in support of Harvard University’s race-conscious admissions process.
Harvard Researchers Create Simulator to Help Policymakers, Public Understand COVID-19
Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Georgia Tech researchers have created an interactive online COVID-19 simulator to help policymakers better respond to the novel coronavirus.
Gov. Baker Extends Massachusetts Stay-at-Home Advisory
Massachusetts Governor Charlie D. Baker ’79 will extend a stay-at-home advisory through May 18 to control the spread of coronavirus in the state.
Cultural Organizations Report Quarter Billion in Revenue Losses Statewide
The Mass Cultural Council reported $264 million in revenue losses in the arts and cultural sector statewide due to the coronavirus pandemic in an April 15 press release.
Harvard Law School Clinic Calls for Equity in State Pandemic Response
The Harvard Law School Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation and the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts called on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to ensure equity and personal privacy in its response to the coronavirus pandemic in a letter late last week.