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News

Think you&#x27;re up to speed on the week&#x27;s news? <ul><li>Take our quiz to prove it.</li></ul>

Beacon Hill is on the ballot this year — 9 times

Eight citizen petitions and one firearms referendum are before Mass. voters Nov. 3, raising a question about who makes policy: lawmakers or voters.

Politics

Deehan here with Spill of the Hill, my column unraveling Massachusetts politics.Few Massachusetts lawmakers have any competition in this year&#x27;s election, but voters can still voice their dissatisfaction with the Legislature through the long list of ballot questions they need to weigh in on.Why it matters: The initiative process lets citizens act when lawmakers won&#x27;t.

Question 7 would allow Mass. "starter homes" on smaller lots

Massachusetts' housing crisis shows no signs of abating.

Massachusetts voters will decide whether to override local laws to let single-family homes be built on lots as small as 5,000 square feet.Why it matters: Question 7 will test whether voters are willing to give up a degree of local control to help address the housing crisis.

Boston's tourism spots, expecting summer boon, saw mixed results

Mayor Michelle Wu called it the city's "best summer ever." The results were mixed.

America at 250

Boston-area tourism attractions usually perform best in the summer.<ul><li>Not so much this year.</li></ul>

Massachusetts Question 6 may be more nuanced than you think

Even the least controversial proposals, like one on conservation funding, can spark debate.

There are no lawsuits or bitter attack ads against Question 6, which would set aside state funding for conservation efforts.<ul><li>But the ballot measure has sparked speculation about state spending and unintended consequences.</li></ul>

Mass. wants to get flounder back on the menu. They enlisted Boston chefs

The flounder population has bounced back, but demand hasn't.

Business

Sāsha Coleman&#x27;s cooking has filled tables at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Comfort Kitchen" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2024/06/10/james-beard-awards-boston-cambridge-restaurants" data-vars-content-id="f0bbb0e7-e8ca-4f6c-8896-81cd92359ebe" data-vars-headline="Mass. wants to get flounder back on the menu. They enlisted Boston chefs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2024/06/10/james-beard-awards-boston-cambridge-restaurants" target="_self">Comfort Kitchen</a> and earned her a James Beard Award <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nomination" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/21/james-beard-boston-semifinalists" data-vars-content-id="f0bbb0e7-e8ca-4f6c-8896-81cd92359ebe" data-vars-headline="Mass. wants to get flounder back on the menu. They enlisted Boston chefs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/21/james-beard-boston-semifinalists" target="_self">nomination</a>.<ul><li>Now the executive chef is using her talents to reintroduce locals to flounder, serving cassava flounder croquettes with shito aioli at the Pavilion Pier.</li></ul>

A dangerous heat wave rolls into Mass. this week

Temperatures could reach as high as 103 on Thursday.

Climate

A &quot;heat dome&quot; is forecast to bring dangerously high temperatures to much of the eastern half of the U.S. this week.<ul><li>The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="extreme heat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/26/heat-wave-dome-july" data-vars-content-id="82942e1f-9e39-4dbf-965c-27750c5bb37d" data-vars-headline="A dangerous heat wave rolls into Mass. this week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/26/heat-wave-dome-july" target="_self">extreme heat</a> could last through July 4 celebrations.</li></ul>

Why chaos gardening with native plants is taking over Massachusetts yards

Local experts say you need a little intention to help native plants thrive.

Chaos gardening — the viral TikTok trend of scattering seeds and &quot;letting nature decide&quot; — is surging across the country as demand for native plants reaches new heights.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Native" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/04/16/native-plants-michigan-yards-wildlife-experts" data-vars-content-id="f24ea706-ed8e-427b-a8d3-cb6ef9703542" data-vars-headline="Why chaos gardening with native plants is taking over Massachusetts yards" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2026/04/16/native-plants-michigan-yards-wildlife-experts" target="_self">Native</a> chaos gardens appeal to New England homeowners seeking lower-maintenance yards that also help local wildlife thrive.

Mass. Senate previews rival energy savings plan

Senate president Karen Spilka previewed a plan for $10 billion in ratepayer savings over 10 years.

The Senate could be headed for a collision with the House over how to lower <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="energy costs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/04/27/massachusetts-electric-bills" data-vars-content-id="dff4ae43-8a78-47e5-9189-2bacb8eb419d" data-vars-headline="Mass. Senate previews rival energy savings plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/04/27/massachusetts-electric-bills" target="_self">energy costs</a> for Massachusetts residents, one of the top issues for voters this year.Why it matters: Senate president Karen Spilka previewed the Senate&#x27;s new energy bill Thursday.<ul><li>It differs from the House-passed plan on how much Massachusetts should cut climate programs in pursuit of ratepayer relief.</li></ul>

Greater Boston's sewage problem may continue through 2050

A state proposal would reduce, but not eliminate, combined sewer overflows in major storms.

Environment

Cambridge and Arlington residents find themselves running and pushing strollers through sewage-tainted waters every time heavy rains flood the Alewife Brook Reservation.<ul><li>A state proposal would reduce, but not eliminate, the amount of sewage overflow from certain pipes into Boston-area waterways by 2050.</li></ul>

Blizzard dumps 2 feet of snow over Greater Boston

Flight cancellations, power outages and other disruptions may take several days to fully resolve.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="blizzard" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/02/17/winter-storms-boston" data-vars-content-id="37929781-6095-4982-b396-7cc6beb43788" data-vars-headline="Blizzard dumps 2 feet of snow over Greater Boston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/02/17/winter-storms-boston" target="_self">blizzard</a> is over, and now comes the hard part: digging out, getting power back and resuming the work week.Why it matters: Flight cancellations, power outages and other storm-related disruptions may take several days to fully resolve, state officials say.

Bostonians slashed tires and egged cars over parking spots after snowstorm

Tensions heated up on Boston's streets in the two weeks after the Jan. 25 storm.

Public Safety

To say Bostonians lost their cool after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="last month&#x27;s snowstorm" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/26/massachusetts-snowfall-storm" data-vars-content-id="f8fe85d3-e46e-46a8-8f59-a5130a4015dc" data-vars-headline="Bostonians slashed tires and egged cars over parking spots after snowstorm" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/26/massachusetts-snowfall-storm" target="_self">last month&#x27;s snowstorm</a> is an understatement.<ul><li>Dozens of people got involved in spats over shoveled spaces, with some finding their tires slashed, cars egged or other damage, per records reviewed by Axios.</li></ul>

Boston area braces for back-to-back storms this week

Greater Boston is in for back-to-back storms across six days.

Boston-area residents should brace for messy commutes Wednesday night and Thursday morning as the first of three storms passes through Massachusetts.The big picture: Greater Boston is in for back-to-back storms across six days, and forecasts suggest they will bring wetter snowfall than the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="previous storms" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/26/massachusetts-snowfall-storm" data-vars-content-id="0343aacd-c267-461e-bd96-74ac6ef8deeb" data-vars-headline="Boston area braces for back-to-back storms this week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/26/massachusetts-snowfall-storm" target="_self">previous storms</a>.

Utilities change course on charging interest on winter relief

Utilities asked state regulators early this week to let them charge interest on the deferred amount.

The Healey administration fended off an attempt by utility companies to charge interest on energy costs deferred under the governor&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="winter relief plan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/22/healey-energy-bill-cut-massachusetts-winter-electric-gas-relief-fund" data-vars-content-id="06acfa04-cbd0-4312-bd58-5c95341bd51d" data-vars-headline="Utilities change course on charging interest on winter relief" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/22/healey-energy-bill-cut-massachusetts-winter-electric-gas-relief-fund" target="_self">winter relief plan</a>.Why it matters: The relief plan could have cost households more in the long run if utilities charged interest on the deferred amount.

Climate 🌿

Massachusetts Question 6 may be more nuanced than you think

Mass. wants to get flounder back on the menu. They enlisted Boston chefs

A dangerous heat wave rolls into Mass. this week

Why chaos gardening with native plants is taking over Massachusetts yards

Mass. Senate previews rival energy savings plan