News

Young people played a huge role in passing a 2019 state law banning flavored vaping products and menthol cigarettes. Now teen advocates behind the scenes are tackling youth vaping through a racial equity lens.

Why it matters: Vaping has driven an increase in underage smoking over the past decade, which health experts and advocates attribute to online marketing and flavored vapes.

Spill of the Hill is Axios Boston's new column dedicated to the power players behind the politics at the State House and City Hall.

Mayor Wu's attempt to let Boston set an inflation-based rent control system already appeared in critical condition when it got to Beacon Hill last week.

• Less than a week later, it's more likely the plan was dead on arrival, State House leaders tell Axios.

Apple Maps, once known for its borderline unusable navigation, got a major facelift in Boston.

Driving the news: The California-based technology giant rolled out a "city experience" redesign last week that shows custom-designed 3D versions of Fenway Park, Quincy Market and South Station. (You can even spot Fenway's famed red seat in the app.)

Eviction filings in Boston have exceeded pre-pandemic levels, according to data from the Eviction Lab.

State of play: The Princeton University project recorded a weekly eviction filing rate for Boston of 111, based on the average of data over a four-week period ending March 4.

Legislators and tobacco inspectors are pushing to tighten the state's already rigorous tobacco and nicotine laws to curb vaping and crack down on a black market that's flourished since Massachusetts' historic flavor ban took effect.

Why it matters: While teen vaping has declined since Massachusetts passed a first-in-the-nation ban of menthol cigarettes and flavored e-cigarettes in 2019, state tobacco inspectors have found an influx in cross-state smuggling of those products.

It turns out the MSPCA has a secret weapon: Everyone give it up for America's favorite fighting Frenchman — er, domestic short-haired kitty — Lafayette!

Details: He's an outgoing 7-year-old with a fondness for ping pong balls and sitting around on the couch.

• And he needs to be the only pet around along with a selection of litter boxes for proper training.

Warning: Keep this kitty away from plastic bags, as they seem to be his favorite snack.

A mid-March storm is hitting the region with rain that may shift to snow this afternoon, leaving around 6 inches of snow by tomorrow morning.

Threat level: Last night's rain may get heavy and wet throughout today.

A new report has flagged practices that allow state troopers to rack up overtime while leaving their day jobs.

• Several troopers in 2019 left their regular shifts to take optional overtime shifts, claiming personal or vacation time for the hours not worked at their regular posts, per the report.