Boston

blue

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Boston with Mike Deehan and Steph Solis.

Axios Boston

Standard

Axios Boston Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Boston Alerts

Alert

Axios Boston Partners

Boston Members

Membership

Massachusetts inches toward automated speed cameras

A Senate-backed plan for automated speed cameras is headed to House negotiations.

News

Massachusetts could be on the verge of allowing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="automated speed cameras" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/01/21/exclusive-dcs-most-lucrative-speed-cameras" data-vars-content-id="e447aba9-f39c-4873-bcef-3be950887e38" data-vars-headline="Massachusetts inches toward automated speed cameras" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/01/21/exclusive-dcs-most-lucrative-speed-cameras" target="_self">automated speed cameras</a> on the commonwealth&#x27;s streets for the first time.Why it matters: The shift — after a decade of political gridlock — could reshape how the state polices its deadliest roads.

New England arts orgs lost over $13M in funding in 2025

They reported losses in state funding, individual donations and private-sector grants.

Business

New England arts and culture organizations estimate losing a combined $13.5 million in 2025, the vast majority due to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal funding cuts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/07/21/arts-funding-cuts-trump-pennsylvania-pa-humanities" data-vars-content-id="62a091a3-e5e3-4fc9-92f3-c34c62aa3723" data-vars-headline="New England arts orgs lost over $13M in funding in 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/07/21/arts-funding-cuts-trump-pennsylvania-pa-humanities" target="_self">federal funding cuts</a>, a new regional survey found.Why it matters: The funding cuts led to 720 job losses across the region, according to employers across 125 organizations.

Mass. passes law limiting ICE. Now comes the backlash

Gov. Maura Healey signed a bill limiting local police from interacting with federal immigration agents.

Immigration

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed a bill Wednesday that limits local police from interacting with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal immigration agents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/13/boston-prepares-ice-surge-wu-plans" data-vars-content-id="e2b06598-2e1d-4964-9f6f-43b83500d070" data-vars-headline="Mass. passes law limiting ICE. Now comes the backlash" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/13/boston-prepares-ice-surge-wu-plans" target="_self">federal immigration agents</a>.The big picture: The signing ceremony drew cheers from hundreds who packed into La Collaborativa in Chelsea.<ul><li>And it swiftly drew rebukes from critics accusing Healey of doubling down on the sanctuary label she&#x27;s shied away from during her reelection campaign.</li></ul>

Take the Axios Boston news quiz!

Things to Do

Think you&#x27;re up to speed on the week&#x27;s news? Take our quiz to prove it!

What to know about the 2026 Massachusetts sales tax holiday

The sales tax holiday falls on Aug. 8 and 9.

Money

This weekend is your only chance in 2026 to bypass the Massachusett&#x27;s sales tax.The intrigue: If you know what to look for, you could be in for some hefty savings, like I did when I bought a bicycle a few years back.

Boston cafe turns into phone bank for Haitian TPS bill

The chances of Congress voting to extend temporary protections for Haiti become slimmer.

Dozens of people gathered inside <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ula Cafe" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/ulacafe/p/DbdeVu1lUsT/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="133e6eff-94f2-4c4b-8614-9a8ca0a985a6" data-vars-headline="Boston cafe turns into phone bank for Haitian TPS bill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/ulacafe/p/DbdeVu1lUsT/?hl=en" target="_blank">Ula Cafe</a> and called a list of U.S. senators Tuesday, urging them to pass a bill extending <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Temporary Protected Status" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/07/temporary-protected-status-tps-trump-immigration" data-vars-content-id="133e6eff-94f2-4c4b-8614-9a8ca0a985a6" data-vars-headline="Boston cafe turns into phone bank for Haitian TPS bill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/07/temporary-protected-status-tps-trump-immigration" target="_self">Temporary Protected Status</a> for Haiti.The big picture: This Jamaica Plain cafe is one of several businesses and nonprofits nationwide pushing for congressional intervention now that TPS has expired for some 350,000 Haitians.

Doing Dine Out Boston on a budget

Long gone are the days where customers could try an upscale dinner for under $30.

Food and Drink

Dine Out Boston returns Saturday with nearly 200 restaurants participating.Why it matters: The semi-annual dining event comes as restaurants are hungry for customers — and as some of those <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="would-be customers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/16/groceries-volumes-decline-prices-bain" data-vars-content-id="1a0a25ea-cb97-4222-b850-66b513a7b1c9" data-vars-headline="Doing Dine Out Boston on a budget" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/16/groceries-volumes-decline-prices-bain" target="_self">would-be customers</a> are tightening their budgets.

Scoop: Human composting biz plans Mass. expansion

Earth Funeral is planning to operate in Mass., but it needs lawmakers to legalize its services.

Earth Funeral, a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="human composting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/21/human-composting" data-vars-content-id="b712a9da-655d-43b8-b5c9-25917355fedd" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Human composting biz plans Mass. expansion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/21/human-composting" target="_self">human composting</a> company, plans to expand into Massachusetts, Axios confirmed.The big picture: While some companies are moving out of Massachusetts, Earth Funeral wants to break into the Bay State — as long as lawmakers legalize its work.

The last Boloco will close in September

It's the end of an era for the beloved, once booming burrito chain.

The last <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Boloco" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/08/19/boston-restaurant-news-bakey-opens-in-faneuil-hall" data-vars-content-id="2e1221cb-f2ec-49da-b586-d11f15d456e1" data-vars-headline="The last Boloco will close in September" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/08/19/boston-restaurant-news-bakey-opens-in-faneuil-hall" target="_self">Boloco</a> will close in two months, ending the Boston-bred burrito seller&#x27;s 29-year run.Why it matters: Boloco fed generations of Bostonians and college students their signature buffalo chicken burritos and Nutella milkshakes (including to yours truly).

First look: BizGrow Central, a hub for underserved entrepreneurs, to open downtown

BizGrow Central is set to open in October across the street from the Boston Common.

The nonprofit Lawyers for Civil Rights plans to open a brick-and-mortar resource center for historically <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="underrepresented entrepreneurs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/29/boston-cash-mobs-small-businesses" data-vars-content-id="e6065753-84f3-44f4-8dfa-ffbdbbe6ae15" data-vars-headline="First look: BizGrow Central, a hub for underserved entrepreneurs, to open downtown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/29/boston-cash-mobs-small-businesses" target="_self">underrepresented entrepreneurs</a> across from the Boston Common in October.Why it matters: BizGrow has supported people of color, immigrants, women and low-income residents as they break into historically wealthy, white and male industries for a quarter century.<ul><li>Now they have a physical space downtown, alongside financial services giants and other power players in Boston.</li></ul>

What to know about the Mass. ballot question to repeal legal pot

Ten years after legalizing adult-use cannabis, Mass. voters are being asked to reconsider.

Massachusetts voters are being asked to revisit legal cannabis at the ballot box this fall.The big picture: The Bay State has become a key battleground state for opponents of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="adult-use cannabis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/06/25/massachusetts-cannabis-industry-repeal-opposition" data-vars-content-id="f89b417a-6332-404e-90e9-7b7f2992e8af" data-vars-headline="What to know about the Mass. ballot question to repeal legal pot" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/06/25/massachusetts-cannabis-industry-repeal-opposition" target="_self">adult-use cannabis</a> who want to outlaw recreational sales nationwide.

World Cup boosted train ridership, but the financial picture's unclear

Amtrak saw a roughly 9% increase in ridership last month compared to June 2025.

Transit

The Northeast saw a boost in train ridership during the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/09/world-cup-boston-economic-impact" data-vars-content-id="2310e1b2-9bde-4d8f-9afa-ccd649236924" data-vars-headline="World Cup boosted train ridership, but the financial picture&#x27;s unclear" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/09/world-cup-boston-economic-impact" target="_self">World Cup</a>, from Amtrak rides to and from Boston to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Commuter Rail" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/03/30/commuter-rail-world-cup-tickets" data-vars-content-id="2310e1b2-9bde-4d8f-9afa-ccd649236924" data-vars-headline="World Cup boosted train ridership, but the financial picture&#x27;s unclear" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/03/30/commuter-rail-world-cup-tickets" target="_self">Commuter Rail</a> to Foxborough.The big picture: State and federal officials consider the ridership increase a win, but it remains to be seen whether these public transit systems actually profited from the international tournament.

Sail250 begins: Your Parade of Sail and tall ships cheat sheet

Dozens of ships, including 50-plus military vessels from 21 countries, are coming to Boston.

Boston welcomes more than 50 military ships from 21 countries starting Saturday for Sail250, the culmination of the multicity tall ships celebration.The intrigue: You don&#x27;t have to know the difference between a bow and a flying jib to appreciate the spectacle.

Business 🏦

What to know about the 2026 Massachusetts sales tax holiday

New England arts orgs lost over $13M in funding in 2025

Boston cafe turns into phone bank for Haitian TPS bill

Doing Dine Out Boston on a budget

Scoop: Human composting biz plans Mass. expansion