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GOP lieutenant governor nominee Shawn Oliver suspends campaign after OUI arrest

Oliver stepped aside Sunday after a Saturday night crash in New Bedford and an OUI charge. His name will remain on the ballot.

Politics

Shawn Oliver, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, suspended his campaign Sunday after being charged with drunk driving in New Bedford.Catch up quick: Police say Oliver&#x27;s vehicle hit five parked cars on Dartmouth Street around 11:40pm Saturday and overturned.

Here's how many in Massachusetts signed up for Trump Accounts

The new federal Trump Accounts program offers $1,000 to eligible babies.

Money

Tens of thousands of Massachusetts families are among the first to apply for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump Accounts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cincinnati/2026/10/14/ohio-trump-accounts-eligibility-privacy" data-vars-content-id="c49a2008-1cf0-41db-91e2-8078c33845a3" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s how many in Massachusetts signed up for Trump Accounts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cincinnati/2026/10/14/ohio-trump-accounts-eligibility-privacy" target="_self">Trump Accounts</a>, a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal investment program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/18/trump-accounts-for-kids-what-to-know-how-sign-up" data-vars-content-id="c49a2008-1cf0-41db-91e2-8078c33845a3" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s how many in Massachusetts signed up for Trump Accounts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/18/trump-accounts-for-kids-what-to-know-how-sign-up" target="_self">federal investment program</a> for babies. Why it matters: The program, which offers $1,000 to eligible babies, is meant to give American children a financial head start.

Mass. fraud scheme made $6M off "sham" marriages, feds say

Authorities charged six people in connection with the alleged immigration marriage fraud ring.

Federal authorities accused six Massachusetts residents of orchestrating a decade-long marriage fraud ring, marrying themselves off to immigrants repeatedly to help them obtain green card status.The big picture: The charges put a spotlight on Massachusetts&#x27; status as a welcoming state for immigrants regardless of legal status, weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.<ul><li>The lead defendant, Jennifer Gonzalez of Fall River, allegedly exploited the state&#x27;s reputation, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said.</li><li>Gonzalez allegedly told a witness, whom she believed to be an undocumented immigrant, &quot;Massachusetts is the best place for you to be.&quot;</li></ul>

The rising costs that Massachusetts' poverty rate overlooks

On paper, Massachusetts fared better than other states. Rising costs tell a different story.

On paper, the poverty rate looks worse in Ohio, West Virginia and Oklahoma than in Massachusetts.<ul><li>But factor in the cost of living, and all three states fared better in recent years, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new U.S. Census Bureau data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/16/us-economy-income-census" data-vars-content-id="3e9c97a4-e989-4dab-9919-7a8a3da5fe5a" data-vars-headline="The rising costs that Massachusetts&#x27; poverty rate overlooks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/16/us-economy-income-census" target="_self">new U.S. Census Bureau data</a>.</li></ul>

The "pharm-to-table" blind spot employers may be missing

Connected benefits can help members find lower-cost pharmacy options.

Partners

The consumer experience has changed faster than many employer benefits strategies, giving employees more ways to find prescription drug options outside the traditional plan experience.<ul><li>Direct pharmaceutical channels now extend across a growing range of conditions, including chronic and specialty care like migraines, fertility and arthritis.</li></ul>Why it&#x27;s important: Pharmaceutical companies are spending more to reach people where they already spend time — through social feeds, digital prescribing services and direct purchasing channels.

Cancer's age shift is changing the benefits equation

Younger adults are facing cancer earlier, making coordinated care increasingly important.

Cancer is becoming more common among adults under 50, reshaping assumptions about who is most likely to need high-cost care — and complicating the benefits math for employers that may associate younger workforces with lower health care risk.Why it&#x27;s important: Cancer already ranks among the top three health care cost drivers for 86% of large employers, according to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (Blue Cross).

How local restaurant owners redirect surplus food across Boston

Boston-area Chick-fil-A restaurants have helped turn surplus food into more than 330,000 meals.

A record 40% of Massachusetts households experienced food insecurity in 2025, with more than half of those households turning to food charities for support.<ul><li>That rate has more than doubled since 2019, increasing pressure on community organizations to help fill the gap.</li></ul>The story: Hunger is a year-round challenge that requires sustained support — but locally owned businesses can play a practical role in strengthening that network.

Affordability meets opportunity in Greenville-Pitt County, NC

Build a life sciences career in NC without sacrificing quality of life

Expensive metropolitan hubs like Boston aren&#x27;t the only cities offering meaningful career growth for professionals in high-demand fields like life sciences and health care.What you need to know: Greenville-Pitt County in North Carolina is home to a growing life sciences and health care ecosystem.<ul><li>Residents, many of them transplants from cities like Boston, enjoy well-paying career opportunities and a welcoming place to put down roots.</li></ul>

A founding-era university for America's next builders

William & Mary helped shape America's past — and continues preparing its future leaders.

As America reflects on its 250th anniversary, the milestone has special resonance in Boston, where revolutionary history is part of daily life.<ul><li>But the moment is more than a commemoration of the past. It&#x27;s a chance to ask what kind of nation we hope to become — and who will help build it.</li></ul>The story: Before a new nation took shape in cities like Boston, William &amp; Mary, the Alma Mater of the Nation, was helping prepare the builders who would carry America&#x27;s founding ideas forward.<ul><li>That gives the university a singular place in America&#x27;s founding story. Its history provides credibility, but its mission remains focused on tomorrow.</li></ul>

Biotech's next leap is AI-driven, and Greater Seattle is ready

Seattle combines top research institutions and AI infrastructure to reduce the time from discovery to viable therapies.

AI and advanced computing are increasingly driving breakthroughs in life sciences, and Greater Seattle is accelerating that shift.Why it&#x27;s important: Regions that integrate scientific research with advanced software infrastructure can bring therapies closer to clinical use more quickly.

How to get the most out of spring in Boston

Outdoor projects are moving to the top of Boston's to-do lists — and Lowe's spring deals events help maximize the budget.

The first warm stretch of spring in Boston means it&#x27;s finally time to bring those outdoor spaces back to life after a long winter.<ul><li>Homeowners are refreshing flower beds, re-mulching, cleaning up yards and getting patios ready for the season.</li></ul>Why it&#x27;s important: Outdoor spaces can transform how you live and how you feel, from small refreshes to full backyard makeovers.

The next must-have leadership skills are uniquely human

Babson  College Professional & Executive Education is preparing those leaders with new programs that combine data-driven strategy with empathy, creativity and resilience — uniquely human skills essential for navigating today's evolving workplace.

Education

AI and automation are changing the way people work — and what it takes to lead.<ul><li>As technology reshapes industries, leaders who combine analytical thinking with emotional intelligence will rise to the top.</li></ul>Babson College Professional &amp; Executive Education is preparing those leaders with new programs that combine data-driven strategy with empathy, creativity and resilience — uniquely human skills essential for navigating today&#x27;s evolving workplace.

Fighting Hunger with care in Boston

Chick-fil-A turns surplus ingredients into new meals for neighbors in need in your city.

Chick-fil-A&#x27;s mission goes far beyond the drive-thru, and has real impact in every community the restaurant calls home.<ul><li>Locally owned and operated restaurants invest in people by mentoring team members, supporting schools and nonprofits and building connections that last.</li><li>They also encourage team members to pursue growth by developing leadership skills and applying for Chick-fil-A scholarships.</li></ul>

Boys & Girls Clubs and Thermo Fisher Scientific fuel the future of STEM

Next-generation STEM leaders are made at Boston's Boys & Girls Clubs.

Every student has the potential to become an innovator in STEM.The challenge: As the demand for STEM talent grows remarkably in the United States, access to high-quality STEM education lags.<ul><li>Industry and STEM leaders foresee a skills crisis in the labor market, according to the National Science Foundation.</li><li>This presents a risk to society&#x27;s ability to keep up with technological advances and address crucial global challenges.</li></ul>