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Boston Children's Hospital tops U.S. News rankings in 7 specialties

The survey included 40,000 pediatric specialists and 100 hospitals.

Health

Boston Children&#x27;s Hospital topped <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2026-27 U.S. News&#x27; 2026-27 rankings" data-vars-click-url="https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/pediatric-rankings?src=usn_pr" data-vars-content-id="56f49179-3444-43c5-b27e-ce40b83d425d" data-vars-headline="Boston Children&#x27;s Hospital tops U.S. News rankings in 7 specialties" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/pediatric-rankings?src=usn_pr" target="_blank">2026-27 U.S. News&#x27; 2026-27 rankings</a> for several pediatrics specialties in its best children&#x27;s hospitals list.Why it matters: Boston is considered one of the nation&#x27;s top health care hubs, despite recent federal funding cuts and other economic hurdles.

Fluff Festival turns 21 with music, vendors and road closures

Somerville's sticky-sweet tradition returns Saturday with live music, 100+ vendors, games and a full slate of Union Square road closures to plan around.

Things to Do

It&#x27;s a special year for Somerville&#x27;s &quot;What the Fluff?&quot; Festival as it returns to Union Square on Saturday.Why it matters: If the annual celebration of the marshmallow topping were a person, the 21-year-old festival could legally drink.<ul><li>It&#x27;s this Saturday from 1-5pm.</li></ul>

Massachusetts colleges still fail FIRE's 2027 free speech rankings

Clark University leads the state, Northeastern scores lowest, and Harvard posted the region's biggest jump in this year's FIRE report.

Education

American colleges are largely failing to create a healthy <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="free speech" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/08/24/fiu-students-ice-free-speech-aclu-florida" data-vars-content-id="53ecf7c3-4c52-4b38-b360-13bf203f9f41" data-vars-headline="Massachusetts colleges still fail FIRE&#x27;s 2027 free speech rankings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/08/24/fiu-students-ice-free-speech-aclu-florida" target="_self">free speech</a> climate on campus, according to a new national ranking.Why it matters: Students are self-censoring at high rates amid intense <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="political pressure" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/21/trump-higher-ed-shakeup-colleges-fall-semester" data-vars-content-id="53ecf7c3-4c52-4b38-b360-13bf203f9f41" data-vars-headline="Massachusetts colleges still fail FIRE&#x27;s 2027 free speech rankings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/21/trump-higher-ed-shakeup-colleges-fall-semester" target="_self">political pressure</a> from the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="53ecf7c3-4c52-4b38-b360-13bf203f9f41" data-vars-headline="Massachusetts colleges still fail FIRE&#x27;s 2027 free speech rankings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump</a> administration and efforts by some universities to change policies in response.

Eastie cowboy bar, Lao pop-up and more Boston restaurant news

After a months-long wait, The Spur Cowboy Bar in Maverick Square is preparing to open.

Food and Drink

Darling, a Chinese-inspired cocktail bar in Cambridge, hosts Green Zone, a Middle Eastern cocktail bar in Washington, D.C., for Boston Rum Week.<ul><li>Darling will pair Green Zone&#x27;s drinks with the &quot;Filet O Fish&quot; bao, Hunanese pork ribs and other dishes. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Reservations encouraged" data-vars-click-url="https://resy.com/cities/cambridge-ma/venues/darling-ma?seats=2&amp;date=2026-09-13" data-vars-content-id="1dec6989-538f-4658-a6f9-4a4a1d58e07f" data-vars-headline="Eastie cowboy bar, Lao pop-up and more Boston restaurant news" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://resy.com/cities/cambridge-ma/venues/darling-ma?seats=2&amp;date=2026-09-13" target="_blank">Reservations encouraged</a>.</li></ul>

Converse apologizes, pulls ad that drew KKK comparisons

The Boston-based sneaker maker faced backlash for the ad.

Business

Boston-based sneaker maker <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Converse" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/11/06/converse-archives-sam-smallidge" data-vars-content-id="1df94f5c-2f8a-4813-99a7-90032ea2ad30" data-vars-headline="Converse apologizes, pulls ad that drew KKK comparisons" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/11/06/converse-archives-sam-smallidge" target="_self">Converse</a> sparked outrage last week after releasing a social media ad that critics say evokes the Ku Klux Klan and lynching.The big picture: Converse is the latest company under fire for racist imagery in ads at a time when <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recent hanging deaths" data-vars-click-url="https://capitalbnews.org/black-hanging-deaths/" data-vars-content-id="1df94f5c-2f8a-4813-99a7-90032ea2ad30" data-vars-headline="Converse apologizes, pulls ad that drew KKK comparisons" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://capitalbnews.org/black-hanging-deaths/" target="_blank">recent hanging deaths</a> of Black people have made national headlines, most recently last week in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mississippi" data-vars-click-url="https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/cases-black-people-found-hanged-us-south-reminder-136524632" data-vars-content-id="1df94f5c-2f8a-4813-99a7-90032ea2ad30" data-vars-headline="Converse apologizes, pulls ad that drew KKK comparisons" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/cases-black-people-found-hanged-us-south-reminder-136524632" target="_blank">Mississippi</a>.

How Wu's incentives to build housing work

Housing development has drastically slowed in Boston post-pandemic.

Politics

Boston&#x27;s tax breaks for new housing construction are one of five tools the city is considering to encourage development in a sluggish market, Mayor Michelle Wu told business leaders Wednesday.Why it matters: Housing development has slowed since the pandemic, due to higher materials costs, tariffs, interest rates and, developers say, the city&#x27;s affordable housing requirements.<ul><li>The Wu administration is considering drastically lowering its housing construction target from 13,000 in her first term to 3,000 annually in her second term, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Boston Globe" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/08/business/michelle-wu-housing-plan/" data-vars-content-id="1e6ecc19-9a9b-4a5a-ab47-a2084e74fede" data-vars-headline="How Wu&#x27;s incentives to build housing work" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/08/business/michelle-wu-housing-plan/" target="_blank">Boston Globe</a> reported last week.</li></ul>

Mass. tries to rein in data centers but leaves open questions

Massachusetts is steering away from the moratoriums other states are considering.

Gov. Maura Healey&#x27;s latest executive order will test what regulating <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data centers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/25/data-centers-ai-electricity-water-politics" data-vars-content-id="cd41bc1d-f7c7-4c07-b87f-c65a7211cb7f" data-vars-headline="Mass. tries to rein in data centers but leaves open questions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/25/data-centers-ai-electricity-water-politics" target="_self">data centers</a> could look like, in lieu of banning them altogether.The big picture: Massachusetts is steering away from the moratoriums <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="eight states" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ncsl.org/fiscal/which-states-are-banning-data-centers" data-vars-content-id="cd41bc1d-f7c7-4c07-b87f-c65a7211cb7f" data-vars-headline="Mass. tries to rein in data centers but leaves open questions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ncsl.org/fiscal/which-states-are-banning-data-centers" target="_blank">eight states</a> are considering this year for a middle-of-the-road approach to data center infrastructure, specifically for data centers with peak electricity demand exceeding 25 megawatts.<ul><li>Its success depends on whether the state will give the order&#x27;s restrictions some teeth, researchers and industry leaders say.</li></ul>

Fenway Health hit with "IT incident," affecting service

It's unclear when the incident was first detected or how it affected patient data.

Fenway Health experienced an &quot;IT incident&quot; last week, but it has been mum on the details.Why it matters: The hospital system serves more than 30,000 patients, including longtime Fenway residents and LGBTQ+ patients.

Hawksmoor comes to Fort Point with Boston spin on its menu

Hawksmoor's consciously sourced beef is the main event, but it's also serving seafood staples.

London steakhouse Hawksmoor is bringing new life to Necco Street with carefully sourced beef and Boston-inspired dishes.The intrigue: The Fort Point restaurant is aiming for an upscale ($$$), but not stuffy, vibe in its third U.S. location.

Scoop: Roxbury's Madrugada, a celeb go-to, eyes South End storefront

An upcoming South End boutique grew out of a Roxbury shed. Now it's a go-to for stars.

Madrugada, a beloved Roxbury-born clothing brand, is returning with a permanent brick-and-mortar.Why it matters: What began as a homegrown side hustle sold out of a backyard shed may soon become the South End&#x27;s newest upscale boutique.

Where Trump's tariffs hit Massachusetts the hardest

States bear wildly different burdens from President Trump's $342 billion in tariffs.

Money

States bear wildly different estimated <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tariff" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/economy/tariffs" data-vars-content-id="db19257b-07fb-4b99-a86c-b43ba5fd096d" data-vars-headline="Where Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit Massachusetts the hardest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/economy/tariffs" target="_self">tariff</a> burdens from President <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump&#x27;s " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="db19257b-07fb-4b99-a86c-b43ba5fd096d" data-vars-headline="Where Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit Massachusetts the hardest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump&#x27;s </a>trade actions since the start of 2025, from California&#x27;s<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" $62.8 billion" data-vars-click-url="https://tariffs.org/" data-vars-content-id="db19257b-07fb-4b99-a86c-b43ba5fd096d" data-vars-headline="Where Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit Massachusetts the hardest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tariffs.org/" target="_blank"> $62.8 billion</a> share to Wyoming&#x27;s $107 million.Why it matters: Local industries dictate how and how hard communities have been hit — in this case, the impact on Massachusetts&#x27; health care industry.

The Hawksmoor, La Petite Maison open in Boston this month

At least two Boston restaurants are set to open in September, while others announced closures.

The Hawksmoor, a British steakhouse, officially opens in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fort Point" data-vars-click-url="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hawksmoor+Boston/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xbc17e67b0d20868b?sa=X&amp;ved=1t:2428&amp;ictx=111" data-vars-content-id="6eb47ac7-7426-42b2-a5b7-857bfba2a5f4" data-vars-headline="The Hawksmoor, La Petite Maison open in Boston this month" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hawksmoor+Boston/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xbc17e67b0d20868b?sa=X&amp;ved=1t:2428&amp;ictx=111" target="_blank">Fort Point</a> on Sept. 8 at 15 Necco St. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="La Petite Maison" data-vars-click-url="https://lpmrestaurants.com/" data-vars-content-id="6eb47ac7-7426-42b2-a5b7-857bfba2a5f4" data-vars-headline="The Hawksmoor, La Petite Maison open in Boston this month" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://lpmrestaurants.com/" target="_blank">La Petite Maison</a> (LPM), an international French Riviera-inspired restaurant chain, opens Sept. 19 at Four Seasons Hotel in the Back Bay.

Meta settlement pays Mass. $516M, bolsters teen restrictions

Meta agreed to pay 29 states up to $17.1 billion as part of the settelement.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Meta" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/18/meta-trial-social-media-children-facebook-instagram" data-vars-content-id="7c49adad-8af1-4bd5-989c-9acfbb85687d" data-vars-headline="Meta settlement pays Mass. $516M, bolsters teen restrictions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/18/meta-trial-social-media-children-facebook-instagram" target="_self">Meta</a> agreed to settle with U.S. states for up to $17.1 billion in a landmark deal over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that harm children.Why it matters: This is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="social" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/technology/social-media" data-vars-content-id="7c49adad-8af1-4bd5-989c-9acfbb85687d" data-vars-headline="Meta settlement pays Mass. $516M, bolsters teen restrictions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/technology/social-media" target="_self">social</a> media&#x27;s version of the landmark 1990s tobacco settlement. It effectively reshapes the industry and potentially the user experience.

Business 🏦

Converse apologizes, pulls ad that drew KKK comparisons

How Wu's incentives to build housing work

Mass. tries to rein in data centers but leaves open questions

Eastie cowboy bar, Lao pop-up and more Boston restaurant news

Fenway Health hit with "IT incident," affecting service