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Missed yesterday's partial solar eclipse? The moon took a little nibble out of the sun here, but it was nothing like the total eclipse Europe saw. Check out photos from across the Atlantic (and in our own backyard) here. Now, the news: Discretion matters: When a newborn baby tests positive for opioids, doctors in Massachusetts are no longer required to automatically make a report to the Department of Children and Families. A new study finds that flexibility can have a big impact on families. BMC researchers say that when the hospital evaluated each family's situation — rather than automatically reporting them for a positive test — nearly 50% fewer babies were reported to the state, as compared to other hospitals, WBUR's Martha Bebinger reports. Lead author Dr. Rohan Khazanchi told Martha that BMC developed guidelines to determine when the infant would be safe with their birth family. "For those families that we know are low risk because they’re in stable recovery, on medications for opioid use disorder, we can make an evidence-based decision not to report. And it’s one less stressor for the family," he said. - A positive opioid test in a newborn doesn't necessarily mean the mother is taking illegal drugs. She could be taking addiction treatment medication like buprenorphine, also known as Suboxone, or methadone. Khazanchi said more research is needed on the long-term welfare of these kids.
- BMC stopped reflexively reporting families with positive tests in 2021. Mass. General Brigham followed in April 2024. The mandatory reporting requirement for all hospitals was lifted in December 2024.
- What's next: The Department of Public Health is drafting updated guidelines for hospitals to give them more clarity on when they should report to child welfare authorities.
In other newborn news: Adding genetic testing to other routine newborn blood screenings could help catch childhood cancers early. That's according to a new study out of Dana-Farber and Boston Children's Hospital. Researchers estimated about one in 27,000 children would develop a kind of cancer that could've been predicted through newborn screenings. - Researcher Dr. Richard Parad, of Harvard Medical School, said monitoring babies early could stave off more serious treatments. "It could save the life of the child and could help [them from] being exposed to more toxic therapies," he told WBUR's Amy Sokolow.
- Newborns are already screened for several disorders using a blood test, including congenital hypothyroidism and sickle cell anemia.
He said, she said: The embattled Stoughton Police Department is bringing in an outside investigator to suss out what's really going on in the dispute between the town manager and police chief, who are both on leave. The town has hired Ed Davis, the former Boston police commissioner, to determine whether anyone violated laws or town policies. The investigation is expected to last at least two months. Davis will submit a report to the select board, which has the final say over what happens next. - How'd we get here? Town Manager Tom Calter and Police Chief Donna McNamara were both put on leave last month after the pair traded accusations. Calter said a complaint was made against McNamara and he replaced her with an acting chief. McNamara then filed a lawsuit accusing Calter of discriminating against her because she's a woman and interfering in her running of the police department.
- Bubbling behind the surface of it all is the investigation into the death of Sandra Birchmore, the 23-year-old pregnant woman allegedly killed by her former boyfriend, a Stoughton police officer. McNamara claims Calter ordered her to destroy an internal affairs investigation about Birchmore. Calter refutes this.
Rush hour stabbing: Boston police say a man was fatally stabbed on an escalator inside South Station yesterday around 5:30 p.m. The victim, an adult man, hasn’t yet been identified. Police say they’re still looking for a suspect, and that it appears the victim and suspect were in a fight on an escalator exiting the station when the assault occurred. P.S. — The most famous author to ever write about New Bedford is getting some extra attention starting today. The city is kicking off a four-day cultural and literary festival honoring Herman Melville and his epic "Moby-Dick," hosted by the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The festival includes public conversations with artists inspired by Melville's work — including the author's great-great-great-granddaughter, a playwright — and the unveiling of a public statue of Melville at the city's Seamen's Bethel. |
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Medical experts and women who’ve experienced the disorder say the trial shows the need for more research and education about this little-discussed but severe psychological illness. Read more. |
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Though many Massachusetts families find themselves on strong financial footing, nearly 16% have zero or negative net wealth. And one in three people say they can't afford a $400 unexpected expense. Read more. |
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The company that makes the gloves, Compliant Technologies, says they're a nonlethal tool to make individuals compliant during arrests. Read more. |
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The Healey administration said it will take on the cost of hormone therapy and counseling for transgender children and teenagers covered by two public insurance programs if a federal rule out Tuesday takes effect on Oct. 13, 2026, as proposed. Read more.
MUST READ! |
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Utah-based Our Rescue was founded by activist Tim Ballard. It was previously known as Operation Underground Railroad and it says it helps law enforcement perform sting operations and rescues human trafficking survivors. Read more. excerpt: The Trump administration has awarded a controversial anti-human trafficking organization a no-bid $158 million contract to provide legal services to unaccompanied migrant children, according to a notice posted Friday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. |
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- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, is leaving her role at the end of the month to spend more time with her family, NPR reports. She gave birth to her second child in May.
- Starring Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson, "Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma" follows a director hired to reboot a moribund 1980s slasher franchise. "There's not much emotional ballast or storytelling suspense in this self-congratulatory index of reference," film critic Sean Burns reviews.
- Samantha Paige Rosen assumed moving in with her parents at 29 meant she was doing something wrong. Instead, it helped her understand how great communal living really is, she writes in this Cognoscenti essay.
- Good news, my elder Millennial sad boys and girls: Death Cab for Cutie is the latest band to take to the Tiny Desk. Listen and watch here.
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- Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have mutated in cringy ways that are tarnishing their legacies (The Boston Globe)
- The Flawed Logic of Trump’s Airplane Escape (The Atlantic)
- With Big Choices Ahead, Ocasio-Cortez Navigates New Territory (The New York Times)
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Families from around the US travel to New Hampshire to celebrate their ties to Kazakhstan and eat traditional Kazakh food. Read more. |
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