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Texas chain behind Morton's, Bubba Gump looks to buy Oyster House

The hospitality giant behind Morton's and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. wants Boston's oldest restaurant.

News

Boston&#x27;s Licensing Board will weigh a sale of Union Oyster House, the 200-year-old Union Street institution.<ul><li>The buyer: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Houston-based hospitality company" data-vars-click-url="https://www.universalhub.com/2026/texan-restaurant-chain-operator-angling-buy-union-oyster-house" data-vars-content-id="3670926f-9951-4c67-9445-3562612f0c48" data-vars-headline="Texas chain behind Morton&#x27;s, Bubba Gump looks to buy Oyster House" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.universalhub.com/2026/texan-restaurant-chain-operator-angling-buy-union-oyster-house" target="_blank">the Houston-based hospitality company</a> that owns Chart House, McCormick &amp; Schmick&#x27;s, Morton&#x27;s and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.</li></ul>

Boston-area Colombians mobilize to support earthquake relief efforts 

An earthquake has killed hundreds and displaced thousands in western Colombia.

Culture

Boston-area Colombians are raising funds and collecting supplies to support relief efforts after a 7.4-magnitude <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="earthquake" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/08/14/how-miamians-can-help-colombia-earthquake-relief-efforts" data-vars-content-id="68ef0d29-7920-4be5-a844-e5a30a59ec8b" data-vars-headline="Boston-area Colombians mobilize to support earthquake relief efforts " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/08/14/how-miamians-can-help-colombia-earthquake-relief-efforts" target="_self">earthquake</a> rocked the Latin American nation.The big picture: Massachusetts is home to an estimated <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="42,000 residents," data-vars-click-url="https://www.neilsberg.com/insights/lists/colombian-population-in-massachusetts-by-city/" data-vars-content-id="68ef0d29-7920-4be5-a844-e5a30a59ec8b" data-vars-headline="Boston-area Colombians mobilize to support earthquake relief efforts " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.neilsberg.com/insights/lists/colombian-population-in-massachusetts-by-city/" target="_blank">42,000 residents,</a> the nation’s sixth-largest Colombian population.<ul><li>East Boston is unofficially considered New England’s “Little Colombia.”</li></ul>

Trump deportations cost Mass. taxpayers $3,200 each on average

Deportations cost one town's taxpayers ten times as much, projections suggest.

Immigration

Massachusetts taxpayers will end up paying over $3,200 each on average for 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="0ee992a2-ce20-4b73-89d7-fd9db211cb71" data-vars-headline="Trump deportations cost Mass. taxpayers $3,200 each on average" 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> mass deportation push, according to a new calculator tool from the Economic Policy Institute.<ul><li>And taxpayers in one town will pay tenfold. </li></ul>Why it matters: The estimate fuels debate over whether billions of federal dollars devoted to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="deportations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/15/ice-deportations-us-immigration-trump-biden-2025" data-vars-content-id="0ee992a2-ce20-4b73-89d7-fd9db211cb71" data-vars-headline="Trump deportations cost Mass. taxpayers $3,200 each on average" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/15/ice-deportations-us-immigration-trump-biden-2025" target="_self">deportations</a> should instead fund other public priorities such as food assistance, health care or housing.

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Boston lawyers' group sues police for footage in fatal police shooting

A police officer fatally shot Dorchester resident Stephenson King Jr. in March.

Public Safety

A group of Boston lawyers is suing city law enforcement agencies to make them release footage that captured the police killing of Dorchester resident <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Stephenson King Jr." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/04/09/httpswwwwcvbcomarticleyannetti-defense-omalley-boston-police-king-shooting70975800" data-vars-content-id="6ddc7ece-31f2-4ded-bf0f-374b81d29e71" data-vars-headline="Boston lawyers&#x27; group sues police for footage in fatal police shooting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/04/09/httpswwwwcvbcomarticleyannetti-defense-omalley-boston-police-king-shooting70975800" target="_self">Stephenson King Jr.</a> in March.The big picture: The video, which would show how a carjacking complaint escalated into a fatal shooting, remains shielded from public view.

What to know as Lindsay Clancy trial ramps up

Lindsay Clancy is accused of murdering her three children in January 2023.

Jurors this week are reviewing graphic details about the killings of three Duxbury children at the hands of their mother, Lindsay Clancy, and deciding whether to convict her of murder.The big picture: The high-profile trial is revealing common, but often unspoken, flaws in the health care sector&#x27;s treatment of postpartum mothers.<ul><li>The key question: whether Clancy intentionally strangled her children on Jan. 24, 2023, or acted uncontrollably under psychosis.</li></ul>

Mass. workers prepare to spot signs of assault and abuse this summer

Advocates and authorities are working with hospitality workers to spot the signs and intervene.

Days before the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2026 FIFA World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/05/27/boston-world-cup-watch-parties-fan-fest" data-vars-content-id="51a26eda-d306-4d40-9c4e-d21732875d06" data-vars-headline="Mass. workers prepare to spot signs of assault and abuse this summer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/05/27/boston-world-cup-watch-parties-fan-fest" target="_self">2026 FIFA World Cup</a> begins, dozens of Boston-area bar managers, event organizers and advocates tuned in to a virtual training.<ul><li>Here, they learned about red flags that might otherwise go unnoticed during large-scale events: signs of sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking.</li></ul>

Public health experts tracking infectious disease risks this summer

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

Health

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.

MBTA frets over Green Line safety, worker assaults

Worker assaults and Green Line safety incidents are the T's most persistent problems.

Assaults on MBTA workers and a surge in Green Line safety incidents are the transit authority&#x27;s most stubborn safety challenges heading into <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a busy summer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/05/21/mbta-spring-shutdowns-green-red-lines" data-vars-content-id="b8db7347-cc19-4f81-8217-848837d21e51" data-vars-headline="MBTA frets over Green Line safety, worker assaults" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/05/21/mbta-spring-shutdowns-green-red-lines" target="_self">a busy summer</a>.Why it matters: The MBTA is failing to hit its own targets for the safety of its operators and on the Green Line.

No ticket? No entry to "Boston Stadium" lot during World Cup

Tailgating will be limited to ticket holders during the World Cup matches in Foxborough.

Sports

FIFA&#x27;s takeover of Gillette Stadium starts Thursday with the venue&#x27;s rebranding as &quot;Boston Stadium.&quot;Why it matters: The first <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/05/05/boston-restaurants-world-cup" data-vars-content-id="8432682a-9ef6-4a16-8a5c-ef4451a7178c" data-vars-headline="No ticket? No entry to &quot;Boston Stadium&quot; lot during World Cup" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/05/05/boston-restaurants-world-cup" target="_self">World Cup</a> game in Foxborough kicks off in 30 days, which stands to bring tourism dollars and traffic jams to the region.

Boston's homicide rate remains below 2025's — so far

That could change if violent crime this summer looks anything like this past weekend.

Boston has reported <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fewer homicides" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/10/violent-crime-us-cities-trump" data-vars-content-id="5371da79-12a8-4f0a-873d-51e80dea18f9" data-vars-headline="Boston&#x27;s homicide rate remains below 2025&#x27;s — so far" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/10/violent-crime-us-cities-trump" target="_self">fewer homicides</a> than this time last year, but that could change if this summer looks anything like the past weekend.The big picture: Boston has had one of the lowest violent-crime rates in the nation in the year&#x27;s first quarter, along with several other major U.S. cities.<ul><li>The Hub&#x27;s homicide total remains lower than in most other big cities, at least for now, according to data collected by the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Major Cities Chiefs Association" data-vars-click-url="https://majorcitieschiefs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/MCCA-Violent-Crime-Report-2026-and-2025-First-Quarter.pdf" data-vars-content-id="5371da79-12a8-4f0a-873d-51e80dea18f9" data-vars-headline="Boston&#x27;s homicide rate remains below 2025&#x27;s — so far" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://majorcitieschiefs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/MCCA-Violent-Crime-Report-2026-and-2025-First-Quarter.pdf" target="_blank">Major Cities Chiefs Association</a>.</li></ul>

New Mass. boating safety law kicks in

All Massachusetts motorized vessel operators must get certified under new Hanson Milone law — here's what you need to know and when.

Massachusetts boaters need a new safety certification under a law that takes effect Wednesday and ups requirements for all motorized vessel operators.Why it matters: Officials say drowning and boating accidents remain persistent public safety risks. <ul><li>The Hanson Milone Safe Boating Law&#x27;s backers say mandatory training can reduce preventable deaths on lakes, rivers and coasts.</li></ul>

Massachusetts pours nearly $86 million into World Cup prep

The state is using a mix of federal grants and state funding for World Cup preparations.

Massachusetts officials and organizers are pouring nearly $86 million into <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup preparations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/03/11/world-cup-boston-foxborough-funding-dispute" data-vars-content-id="09150db7-d7a8-4e7d-a014-802f19436ad5" data-vars-headline="Massachusetts pours nearly $86 million into World Cup prep" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/03/11/world-cup-boston-foxborough-funding-dispute" target="_self">World Cup preparations</a>.Why it matters: Public safety officials and event organizers are bolstering safety and health resources to manage the crowds coming in for the seven matches set for Gillette Stadium.

Mass. House to advance bill preserving due process for local immigrants

House leaders said they expect a vote on the bill in the next few weeks.

Massachusetts House lawmakers plan to advance a bill Friday that would limit how police forces, jails and state agencies work with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/13/ice-immigrant-detention-warehouses-spending" data-vars-content-id="46bf6208-3510-40f3-8026-58bbbfb216dd" data-vars-headline="Mass. House to advance bill preserving due process for local immigrants" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/13/ice-immigrant-detention-warehouses-spending" target="_self">U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement</a>.The big picture: Massachusetts Democrats are trying to preserve the state&#x27;s due process protections for all residents, regardless of immigration status or criminal history. <ul><li>That would defy the Trump administration&#x27;s nationwide efforts to limit due process rights and other protections to citizens.</li></ul>