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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.

Business

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.

Healey blasts ICE, presses GOP rivals

Gov. Healey is demanding her Republican challengers denounce the agency's tactics.

Politics

Gov. Maura Healey blasted <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ICE&#x27;s deadly enforcement tactics" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/07/13/ice-deaths-continue-to-climb-in-2026" data-vars-content-id="3ddbb820-ed79-45f3-9612-8c33a5bafda4" data-vars-headline="Healey blasts ICE, presses GOP rivals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/07/13/ice-deaths-continue-to-climb-in-2026" target="_self">ICE&#x27;s deadly enforcement tactics</a> yesterday and demanded her Republican gubernatorial rivals denounce the federal agency.Why it matters: Healey&#x27;s comments came after ICE agents fatally shot two people in one week — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="one in Maine, one in Texas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cbsnews.com/video/man-shot-and-killed-by-ice-agent-in-maine-was-not-the-subject-of-a-warrant-lawmakers-say/" data-vars-content-id="3ddbb820-ed79-45f3-9612-8c33a5bafda4" data-vars-headline="Healey blasts ICE, presses GOP rivals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/video/man-shot-and-killed-by-ice-agent-in-maine-was-not-the-subject-of-a-warrant-lawmakers-say/" target="_blank">one in Maine, one in Texas</a> — intensifying a national debate over the agency&#x27;s tactics.

New faces challenge sitting DAs across four Mass. counties

From Suffolk to Bristol, primaries are testing whether voters want continuity or a reset.

Massachusetts district attorney races in 2026 are pulling in fresh faces and familiar names, with contested races in four counties testing whether voters want change in local prosecutions.Why it matters: These races will decide how prosecutors approach criminal diversion, police accountability and victim advocacy for the remainder of the decade.

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Brigham and Women's Hospital nurses locked out after strike

The clash escalates already strained talks between over 4,000 nurses and Mass General Brigham.

Health

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Brigham and Women&#x27;s Hospital" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/07/29/mgh-brigham-top-u-s-news-hospital-rankings" data-vars-content-id="dda17c4d-1700-4f0b-bf20-7f7df31826e1" data-vars-headline="Brigham and Women&#x27;s Hospital nurses locked out after strike" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/07/29/mgh-brigham-top-u-s-news-hospital-rankings" target="_self">Brigham and Women&#x27;s Hospital</a> nurses ended their one-day strike at 7am Thursday, only to be barred from re-entering the hospital.The big picture: The clash escalates already-strained negotiations between over 4,000 nurses and Mass General Brigham&#x27;s administration during the largest nurses&#x27; walkout in state history.

Boston sues Meta, Snap, ByteDance over youth mental health

The city is suing the companies behind Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Education

Boston is suing three social media giants, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Meta" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/07/ai-meta-image-generator" data-vars-content-id="72600bde-60c0-43d9-91fb-6cbad17f7fef" data-vars-headline="Boston sues Meta, Snap, ByteDance over youth mental health" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/07/ai-meta-image-generator" target="_self">Meta</a>, Snap and ByteDance, alleging they use addictive features to get children hooked on their platforms and harm their mental health.Why it matters: Boston joins more than 1,500 school districts taking on social media companies over their effect on minors.

As interest in midwives rises, Cambridge birth center reopens

The Cambridge Health Alliance is reopening its birth center six years after it shuttered.

Cambridge Health Alliance reopens its birth center next month.Why it matters: The Boston area once again has a health care facility dedicated to services by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="midwives and doulas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/04/30/massachusetts-midwives-doulas-industry" data-vars-content-id="35d85eca-7ac0-48b8-bd26-d0087e6d77cf" data-vars-headline="As interest in midwives rises, Cambridge birth center reopens" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/04/30/massachusetts-midwives-doulas-industry" target="_self">midwives and doulas</a> — six years after CHA&#x27;s original birth center closed.

Mass. Senate primary care bill raises financial questions

State lawmakers want to increase primary care spending, but industry leaders raise questions over how.

Massachusetts state senators plan to vote on a bill seeking to increase <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="primary care access" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2023/01/25/massachusetts-doctos-family-drain" data-vars-content-id="1d8f22c4-8e24-4db7-9293-cd0755507bd3" data-vars-headline="Mass. Senate primary care bill raises financial questions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2023/01/25/massachusetts-doctos-family-drain" target="_self">primary care access</a>, but questions remain about how it will be funded.Why it matters: 75% of Massachusetts residents surveyed last year reported having a preventive care appointment in the last 12 months, down from over 81% in 2023.

Public health experts tracking infectious disease risks this summer

Thousands are heading here for the World Cup, the 250th July 4th and Tall Ships.

Infectious disease experts will be keeping an eye on the trio of events drawing hundreds of thousands in Massachusetts this summer, starting with the 2026 FIFA <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/06/03/world-cup-host-cities-preparations" data-vars-content-id="9ab96483-df03-4669-b161-8b85f381c2be" data-vars-headline="Public health experts tracking infectious disease risks this summer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2026/06/03/world-cup-host-cities-preparations" target="_self">World Cup</a>.Why it matters: Mass gatherings, from FIFA&#x27;s tournament to July 4th to Tall Ships, may become vectors for airborne diseases, sexually transmitted infections and other illnesses.

Mass. health officials probe potential breast cancer cluster at Uxbridge High School

DPH investigators are testing the building and grounds for potential environmental risks.

Massachusetts public health officials are investigating Uxbridge High School after several <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="breast cancer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/11/ai-breast-cancer-risk-mammogram-guidelines" data-vars-content-id="b7b8adf8-cf94-4d35-8179-86a5c9a64508" data-vars-headline="Mass. health officials probe potential breast cancer cluster at Uxbridge High School" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/11/ai-breast-cancer-risk-mammogram-guidelines" target="_self">breast cancer</a> and precancerous diagnoses among female faculty.State of play: DPH investigators are testing the building and grounds for potential environmental risks connected to cancer.

2 customers accuse Harvard Pilgrim of having "ghost networks"

Two people are suing Point32Health, accusing it of misleading Harvard Pilgrim policyholders.

Two Massachusetts residents filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Harvard Pilgrim" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2018/05/04/partners-healthcare-harvard-pilgrim-acquisition-1525445206" data-vars-content-id="0ccb29d0-17ee-4393-9188-245b3359e222" data-vars-headline="2 customers accuse Harvard Pilgrim of having &quot;ghost networks&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2018/05/04/partners-healthcare-harvard-pilgrim-acquisition-1525445206" target="_self">Harvard Pilgrim</a> is skirting laws requiring accurate provider directories.Why it matters: State and federal laws ban &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ghost networks" data-vars-click-url="https://www.propublica.org/article/ghost-networks-health-insurance-regulators" data-vars-content-id="0ccb29d0-17ee-4393-9188-245b3359e222" data-vars-headline="2 customers accuse Harvard Pilgrim of having &quot;ghost networks&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/ghost-networks-health-insurance-regulators" target="_blank">ghost networks</a>,&quot; but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="several reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.propublica.org/article/ghost-networks-health-insurance-regulators" data-vars-content-id="0ccb29d0-17ee-4393-9188-245b3359e222" data-vars-headline="2 customers accuse Harvard Pilgrim of having &quot;ghost networks&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.propublica.org/article/ghost-networks-health-insurance-regulators" target="_blank">several reports</a> in recent years have found that they <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="haven&#x27;t gone away" data-vars-click-url="https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2026/attorney-general-james-secures-sweeping-reforms-improving-access-mental-health" data-vars-content-id="0ccb29d0-17ee-4393-9188-245b3359e222" data-vars-headline="2 customers accuse Harvard Pilgrim of having &quot;ghost networks&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2026/attorney-general-james-secures-sweeping-reforms-improving-access-mental-health" target="_blank">haven&#x27;t gone away</a>.<ul><li>Now two Bay Staters are pointing the finger at the insurer owned by Canton-based Point32Health.</li></ul>

Mass. biotech firms join alliance to counter competition from China

China's fast biotech growth has prompted 27 U.S. companies to join forces.

A group of biotech leaders, including three based in Massachusetts, have joined forces to try to maintain the nation&#x27;s lead on biotech innovation.Why it matters: Unlike China, the United States has no national strategy on biotech innovation — and competitors in China are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="catching up quickly," data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/29/china-biotech-boom-us-drug-trials" data-vars-content-id="262a1e72-a4c3-4423-8d3c-c627331e490b" data-vars-headline="Mass. biotech firms join alliance to counter competition from China" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/29/china-biotech-boom-us-drug-trials" target="_self">catching up quickly,</a> Patroski Lawson, CEO of the firm KPM Group DC, tells Axios.

Massachusetts midwives, doulas push for funding, cultural shift

Funding is just part of the battle, midwives and doulas say.

Midwives, doulas and maternal health advocates say Massachusetts needs a cultural shift if it&#x27;s serious about expanding services to pregnant patients.The big picture: Massachusetts is home to world-class hospitals, yet Black women are more than twice as likely to die from childbirth-related complications compared to their white counterparts.

Midwives question insurance rates as birth centers ramp up

Mass., like much of the U.S., falls far behind developed nations in healthy pregnancies and births.

Massachusetts stands to get more birth centers in the next year, but midwives and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="doulas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/21/doula-maternal-health-crisis" data-vars-content-id="c05fb1f8-cb90-4ec2-939c-54a4268e26de" data-vars-headline="Midwives question insurance rates as birth centers ramp up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/21/doula-maternal-health-crisis" target="_self">doulas</a> will struggle to scale up their work without more funding, their advocates say. Why it matters: Massachusetts, like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="much of the nation," data-vars-click-url="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2024/jun/insights-us-maternal-mortality-crisis-international-comparison" data-vars-content-id="c05fb1f8-cb90-4ec2-939c-54a4268e26de" data-vars-headline="Midwives question insurance rates as birth centers ramp up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2024/jun/insights-us-maternal-mortality-crisis-international-comparison" target="_blank">much of the nation,</a> lags behind other developed countries when it comes to safe pregnancies and births.

Health 🩺

Brigham and Women's Hospital nurses locked out after strike

Boston sues Meta, Snap, ByteDance over youth mental health

As interest in midwives rises, Cambridge birth center reopens

Mass. Senate primary care bill raises financial questions

Public health experts tracking infectious disease risks this summer