Over the past 12 months, WBUR has been tracking prices at Boston-area groceries stores to see how they've changed, amid President Trump's pledges to lower costs. Scroll below for our story on the results. But first, the news: And the Milken goes to... Elizabeth Metts, a ninth grade history teacher at Excel Academy Charter High School in East Boston, got a big surprise when she arrived at work yesterday. What was staged as an all-school assembly to host Massachusetts Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler instead revealed itself to be an award ceremony — for her. Metts is this year's only Massachusetts recipient of the the Milken Educator Award, a $25,000 prize that's nicknamed the "Oscars of Teaching." " I thought we were there to celebrate our MCAS scores ... then all of a sudden I start to hear my name," Metts told WBUR's Kevin Vu. (WCVB has footage of the moment here.) - Why she won: In a press release, the Milken Family Foundation credited Metts for making her world history class engaging and enjoyable through gallery walks, debates and "innovative" approaches like "Writing Wednesdays" and "Map Analysis Thursdays." Since her arrival at Excel Academy eight years ago, student participation in AP World History has doubled, according to the foundation.
- What she's saying: Metts said all the hard work she has put in over 11 years of teaching feels like it's getting rare recognition. " Teacher burnout is real," she told Kevin. "A lot of people don't make it past year five. And so to be in year 11, when it looked doubtful in year one, and then just to be recognized and seen for that, and pushing through, just means everything."
- The plan for the money: The $25,000 award is unrestricted, meaning she can do anything with it. Metts wants to give it back to her students. " I definitely will invest it in my classroom and what my students need, especially given the financial landscape," Metts said. "I don't have a roof to repair right now."
On Beacon Hill: As President Trump’s push to acquire Greenland has created tensions with the Denmark, Massachusetts is looking to smooth things over with the Nordic country. As WBUR's Chris Van Buskirk reports, Gov. Maura Healey and Danish Ambassador Jesper Møller Sørensen signed an agreement yesterday at the State House that calls for collaboration in the research, business and non-profit sectors. Sørensen said it's the third state-level agreement he's signed in the last three years. Entering Patriots country: The town of Maynard is temporarily changing the spelling of its name to "Mayenard" in honor of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. The Maynard Select Board voted unanimously last night in favor of the change, which was proposed by its chair, David Gavin. Gavin told WBUR's Fausto Menard he had joked about the idea if the Patriots won the Super Bowl. But then it garnered so much excitement that he decided to propose it for game day Sunday. "In this world that we live in that sometimes brings on such negativity, to have an opportunity to have something that is overwhelmingly positive is very unique and special," Gavin said. - Gavin said the new spelling will be in effect on one day only and " will be immediately switched back to our beloved M-A-Y-N-A-R-D" on Monday. However, town officials did create new signs reflecting the change that Gavin said will be " displayed throughout our community" on Sunday.
On the campaign trail: Rep. Jake Auchincloss has drawn a primary challenger — and she's a familiar foe. Ihssane Leckey, a former Wall Street regulator and democratic socialist who finished fifth in the 4th District's open Democratic primary in 2020, announced yesterday that she's taking another shot at the seat. - Meanwhile: Massachusetts state Rep. Vanna Howard appears poised to fill the state Senate seat held by the late Edward Kennedy. The Lowell Sun reports that unofficial results from yesterday's Democratic primary in the special election for the 1st Middlesex District seat show Howard beat fellow state Rep. Rodney Elliott by nearly 1,000 votes. She's set to take on Republican Sam Meas, whose write-in campaign got enough votes to make the March 3 general election ballot.
Off the court: The Celtics are trading guard Anfernee Simons (less than a year after acquiring him) to the Chicago Bulls for 35-year-old former All-Star center Nikola Vucevic. As the Associated Press reports, the move gives the Celtics both frontcourt depth for a playoff run and a lot more financial flexibility for future moves. P.S.— Our readers' (and staffers' ) favorite hot chocolate spot has landed at Boston's Logan Airport. L.A. Burdick opened the airport's first ever pop-up in Terminal C, the airport announced yesterday. It will be there through March 3. |
