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Massachusetts inches toward automated speed cameras

A Senate-backed plan for automated speed cameras is headed to House negotiations.

News

Massachusetts could be on the verge of allowing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="automated speed cameras" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/01/21/exclusive-dcs-most-lucrative-speed-cameras" data-vars-content-id="e447aba9-f39c-4873-bcef-3be950887e38" data-vars-headline="Massachusetts inches toward automated speed cameras" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/01/21/exclusive-dcs-most-lucrative-speed-cameras" target="_self">automated speed cameras</a> on the commonwealth&#x27;s streets for the first time.Why it matters: The shift — after a decade of political gridlock — could reshape how the state polices its deadliest roads.

New England arts orgs lost over $13M in funding in 2025

They reported losses in state funding, individual donations and private-sector grants.

Business

New England arts and culture organizations estimate losing a combined $13.5 million in 2025, the vast majority due to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal funding cuts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/07/21/arts-funding-cuts-trump-pennsylvania-pa-humanities" data-vars-content-id="62a091a3-e5e3-4fc9-92f3-c34c62aa3723" data-vars-headline="New England arts orgs lost over $13M in funding in 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/07/21/arts-funding-cuts-trump-pennsylvania-pa-humanities" target="_self">federal funding cuts</a>, a new regional survey found.Why it matters: The funding cuts led to 720 job losses across the region, according to employers across 125 organizations.

Mass. passes law limiting ICE. Now comes the backlash

Gov. Maura Healey signed a bill limiting local police from interacting with federal immigration agents.

Immigration

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed a bill Wednesday that limits local police from interacting with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal immigration agents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/13/boston-prepares-ice-surge-wu-plans" data-vars-content-id="e2b06598-2e1d-4964-9f6f-43b83500d070" data-vars-headline="Mass. passes law limiting ICE. Now comes the backlash" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/13/boston-prepares-ice-surge-wu-plans" target="_self">federal immigration agents</a>.The big picture: The signing ceremony drew cheers from hundreds who packed into La Collaborativa in Chelsea.<ul><li>And it swiftly drew rebukes from critics accusing Healey of doubling down on the sanctuary label she&#x27;s shied away from during her reelection campaign.</li></ul>

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First look: BizGrow Central, a hub for underserved entrepreneurs, to open downtown

BizGrow Central is set to open in October across the street from the Boston Common.

The nonprofit Lawyers for Civil Rights plans to open a brick-and-mortar resource center for historically <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="underrepresented entrepreneurs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/29/boston-cash-mobs-small-businesses" data-vars-content-id="e6065753-84f3-44f4-8dfa-ffbdbbe6ae15" data-vars-headline="First look: BizGrow Central, a hub for underserved entrepreneurs, to open downtown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/29/boston-cash-mobs-small-businesses" target="_self">underrepresented entrepreneurs</a> across from the Boston Common in October.Why it matters: BizGrow has supported people of color, immigrants, women and low-income residents as they break into historically wealthy, white and male industries for a quarter century.<ul><li>Now they have a physical space downtown, alongside financial services giants and other power players in Boston.</li></ul>

Mass. single-family home sales dip in April

The drop is a consequence of the state's low inventory of homes for sale, per MAR.

Real Estate

Single-family home sales fell over 12% last month compared with April 2025, per the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.Why it matters: The drop in closed sales is a consequence of the state&#x27;s low inventory of available homes, says Kristen Keegan, MAR president.

Inside La Casa, the South End's new arts and community center

When it opens in May, La Casa will be the largest Latino performing arts center in New England.

Development

When Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción&#x27;s arts center opens, it will host concerts, youth arts programming, workshops and maybe a quinceañera (a traditional 15th birthday celebration for Latinas).The big picture: La Casa, a $33 million project, will be the largest Latino arts center in New England.

Massachusetts housing market's spring thaw begins

Still, the total number of houses on the market remains lower than this time last year.

Massachusetts saw more new homes for sale listed last month, per data released Monday by the state&#x27;s real estate agents association.The intrigue: Listings and sales typically increase in the spring, but the increase comes amid persistent high interest rates and rising costs.

Housing permits dip while prices remain high, report says

Mass. may see even slower housing construction in the next few years, while prices stay high.

Let&#x27;s start with the good news: Massachusetts has added nearly 98,000 new housing units in the past five years, including 71,000 in Greater Boston.<ul><li>The bad news: Permits for future house construction have dropped, and most renters can&#x27;t afford to buy a home here, per a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Boston Foundation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tbf.org/-/media/tbf/reports-and-covers/2025/2025-gr-boston-housing-report-card-final-2025.pdf" data-vars-content-id="059e28db-432e-469d-8406-919460bfa663" data-vars-headline="Housing permits dip while prices remain high, report says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tbf.org/-/media/tbf/reports-and-covers/2025/2025-gr-boston-housing-report-card-final-2025.pdf" target="_blank">Boston Foundation</a> report.</li></ul>

How severe climate risks could hurt Boston metro area homeowners

Nearly 15% of homes are at severe risk for extreme or severe wind damage.

Climate

Nearly 15% of homes in the Boston metro area face severe or extreme risk of hurricane wind damage, according to a Realtor.com <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.realtor.com/research/climate-risk-2025/" data-vars-content-id="04f439a6-b035-4d82-a2b1-98b10cb70367" data-vars-headline="How severe climate risks could hurt Boston metro area homeowners" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.realtor.com/research/climate-risk-2025/" target="_blank">analysis</a>.Why it matters: Climate change is intensifying extreme weather — hiking <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="home insurance" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/26/home-insurance-premiums-cost-map" data-vars-content-id="04f439a6-b035-4d82-a2b1-98b10cb70367" data-vars-headline="How severe climate risks could hurt Boston metro area homeowners" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/26/home-insurance-premiums-cost-map" target="_self">home insurance</a> premiums in especially storm-prone areas and driving some insurers to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="retreat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/20/home-insurance-policy-dropped-climate-risks" data-vars-content-id="04f439a6-b035-4d82-a2b1-98b10cb70367" data-vars-headline="How severe climate risks could hurt Boston metro area homeowners" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/20/home-insurance-policy-dropped-climate-risks" target="_self">retreat</a>.

Former Celtics owner's $11M Back Bay brownstone on the market

Stephen Pagliuca, former co-chairman of Bain Capital and until recently an owner of the Boston Celtics, has put the stunning 362 Marlborough Street on the market.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="single-family brownstone" data-vars-click-url="https://www.elliman.com/listing/362-marlborough-st-boston-ma-02115/17465816" data-vars-content-id="a883d5eb-4278-417e-9d6c-fa298a6b2ed0" data-vars-headline="Former Celtics owner&#x27;s $11M Back Bay brownstone on the market" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.elliman.com/listing/362-marlborough-st-boston-ma-02115/17465816" target="_blank">single-family brownstone</a> on one of Boston&#x27;s most prestigious blocks is a real showstopper and a peek into how the ultra-rich get by in Boston.

Massachusetts rent control ballot proposal clears first hurdle

Attorney General Andrea Campbell certified 44 ballot initiatives this week.

A ballot measure <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="proposing rent control" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/08/06/rent-control-massachusetts-ballot-question" data-vars-content-id="1e5c4bbc-dad2-4f72-a64c-4a6159336aed" data-vars-headline="Massachusetts rent control ballot proposal clears first hurdle" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/08/06/rent-control-massachusetts-ballot-question" target="_self">proposing rent control</a> in Massachusetts cleared its first hurdle to get on the 2026 ballot. Why it matters: The state&#x27;s housing crisis continues to worsen despite efforts to change local zoning laws and spur housing creation.

Mega-landlord settles with DOJ for Mass. price fixing claims

Authorities accused Greystar of using an algorithmic rent-setting software for price fixing.

The U.S. Department of Justice and the landlord Greystar Management Services reached a deal to settle their legal fight over claims that the company used an algorithmic software to fix rental prices.Why it matters: Greystar, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nation&#x27;s largest landlord" data-vars-click-url="https://www.greystar.com/business/about-greystar/newsroom/greystar-takes-crown-as-top-us-apartment-owner" data-vars-content-id="2d422c1b-2a75-4fbd-b016-56ccef73b19d" data-vars-headline="Mega-landlord settles with DOJ for Mass. price fixing claims" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.greystar.com/business/about-greystar/newsroom/greystar-takes-crown-as-top-us-apartment-owner" target="_blank">nation&#x27;s largest landlord</a>, runs apartment complexes across Massachusetts, including in Brighton, Revere and East Boston.

Greater Boston's median single-family home price hits $1M

The median price for a single-family home hit a record $1 million in June.

Greater Boston&#x27;s housing market reached new heights last month, with the median price for a single-family home topping $1 million. Why it matters: The higher home prices climb, the less feasible homeownership becomes for Boston-area residents, housing advocates say.

Real Estate 🏠

First look: BizGrow Central, a hub for underserved entrepreneurs, to open downtown

Mass. single-family home sales dip in April

Inside La Casa, the South End's new arts and community center

Boston-area office vacancies drop slightly in Q1 2026

Massachusetts housing market's spring thaw begins