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Expect big crowds at Mass. "No Kings" protests

Over 160 "No Kings" protests are scheduled across Massachusetts Saturday.

News

Organizers behind the nationwide <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;No Kings&quot; protests" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/24/bruce-springsteen-joan-baez-no-kings-twin-cities" data-vars-content-id="7c110bfe-5fc6-42de-84b0-f027ab4b95df" data-vars-headline="Expect big crowds at Mass. &quot;No Kings&quot; protests" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/24/bruce-springsteen-joan-baez-no-kings-twin-cities" target="_self">&quot;No Kings&quot; protests</a> claim more than 160 rallies are scheduled across the Commonwealth tomorrow.Why it matters: Massachusetts is playing a big role in the nationwide mobilization organizers describe as possibly the largest single-day protest in U.S. history.

What's proper doggy bag etiquette? Vote in our poll

Take the poll and let us know what you think.

Spotted in the South End: A full doggy bag sitting on the windshield of a car.Zoom in: We don&#x27;t know if it belonged to the owner of the car, who planned to return and throw it out later, or a stranger using the car as a dumping ground.

A casual fan's guide to the 2026 Red Sox season

The Sox have finished 3rd in the AL East two years in a row.

Sports

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Red Sox" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/03/26/a-casual-fans-guide-to-the-2025-red-sox" data-vars-content-id="e135207b-a071-4288-a4c2-574526f8b911" data-vars-headline="A casual fan&#x27;s guide to the 2026 Red Sox season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/03/26/a-casual-fans-guide-to-the-2025-red-sox" target="_self">Red Sox</a> kick off their 2026 season Thursday with an emerging superstar and strong pitching they hope will lead to title contention.Why it matters: The Sox have finished third in the AL East two years in a row, and the division again looks to be <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="one of the best in baseball" data-vars-click-url="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48287373/opening-day-2026-mlb-season-preview-rankings-every-team-playoff-odds-world-series-chances#bos" data-vars-content-id="e135207b-a071-4288-a4c2-574526f8b911" data-vars-headline="A casual fan&#x27;s guide to the 2026 Red Sox season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48287373/opening-day-2026-mlb-season-preview-rankings-every-team-playoff-odds-world-series-chances#bos" target="_blank">one of the best in baseball</a>.<ul><li>Outdueling the Yankees and American League champion Blue Jays will require big contributions from Boston&#x27;s offseason acquisitions.</li></ul>

Boston cop's shooting charge roils DA race, divides city councilors

Boston cop shooting charge roils DA race, with Rollins, Flaherty and Mullen weighing runs against Hayden — while councilors split on how to frame King's death.

The manslaughter charge filed against <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Boston Police Officer Nicholas O&#x27;Malley" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/21/metro/officer-arrest-strong-message/" data-vars-content-id="ed38ac76-c5b5-46d8-b8d0-8a959f075308" data-vars-headline="Boston cop&#x27;s shooting charge roils DA race, divides city councilors" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/21/metro/officer-arrest-strong-message/" target="_blank">Boston Police Officer Nicholas O&#x27;Malley</a> for the on-duty shooting death of a carjacking suspect has ignited two separate political firestorms.<ul><li>One is directed at Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden for bringing charges, the other inside the Boston City Council chamber.</li></ul>Why it matters: The case has revived longstanding tensions over <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="police accountability" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/02/21/database-federal-police-misconduct-trump-deletes" data-vars-content-id="ed38ac76-c5b5-46d8-b8d0-8a959f075308" data-vars-headline="Boston cop&#x27;s shooting charge roils DA race, divides city councilors" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/02/21/database-federal-police-misconduct-trump-deletes" target="_self">police accountability</a> in Boston while scrambling the Suffolk DA race.

Federal judge bars ICE agents from making arrests at some Boston-area churches

Some Lutheran and Baptist churches got a reprieve from ICE activity.

Public Safety

Immigration officials are temporarily barred from arresting immigrants at some Boston-area churches following a federal ruling.Why it matters: The Trump administration&#x27;s decision to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="remove guidance discouraging immigration enforcement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/21/trump-deportation-ice-churches-schools-raids" data-vars-content-id="a46d3957-d2f8-4e58-b27f-228ec916299a" data-vars-headline="Federal judge bars ICE agents from making arrests at some Boston-area churches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/21/trump-deportation-ice-churches-schools-raids" target="_self">remove guidance discouraging immigration enforcement</a> at &quot;sensitive locations&quot; such as churches has evolved into a legal fight.<ul><li>Faith leaders say religious protections are at stake.</li></ul>

How an antenna nearly cost a Boston church its land

A Dorchester church leased T-Mobile space for an antenna in 2003. It nearly cost them everything.

Religion

A Dorchester church unwittingly racked up nearly $200,000 in property taxes after leasing T-Mobile space for an antenna, according to court records.Why it matters: It&#x27;s not uncommon for companies and nonprofits to lease space to telecommunications companies for antennas — and then face surprise tax bills.

Quincy statues lawsuit tests separation of church and state

The conflict has evolved into a legal battle testing the limits of Massachusetts' equal protections for residents of all religious faiths.

Politics

A Norfolk County Superior Court judge must decide whether Quincy&#x27;s plans to install two statues of Catholic saints violate the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="separation of church and state" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/15/mike-johnson-separation-church-state-misnomer" data-vars-content-id="9a001f94-88eb-4e97-84b3-9242c1b61f91" data-vars-headline="Quincy statues lawsuit tests separation of church and state" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/15/mike-johnson-separation-church-state-misnomer" target="_self">separation of church and state</a> and related state laws.Why it matters: The figurines stirred controversy in the birthplace of John Quincy Adams over the use of taxpayer dollars for religious statues without any public input.

Boston mourns death of Pope Francis

His approach excited Catholics seeking modernization and riled traditionalists.

Boston leaders are mourning the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="loss of Pope Francis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/21/pope-francis-dies-easter-monday-vatican" data-vars-content-id="a02ca31f-d65d-4d3c-a56b-211cbd6cc79e" data-vars-headline="Boston mourns death of Pope Francis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/21/pope-francis-dies-easter-monday-vatican" target="_self">loss of Pope Francis</a>, the first Pope of the Americas.The big picture: Pope Francis made waves speaking out in defense of immigrants, communities devastated by climate change and victims of human rights abuses.

San Gennaro festival returns to Boston's North End

The feast honoring the Italian patron saint returns for the first time since the pandemic.

Boston&#x27;s San Gennaro feast returns tomorrow for the first time since the pandemic.The intrigue: The feast honors San Gennaro, the Bishop of Benevento, Italy, who <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="died a martyr" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.112629.html" data-vars-content-id="b3ecc2da-78d3-4e14-8a01-ce3437b5fa16" data-vars-headline="San Gennaro festival returns to Boston&#x27;s North End" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.112629.html" target="_blank">died a martyr</a> in 305 AD during a religious persecution.

Patriot Front messaging, antisemitism rife in Massachusetts in 2023

The only state with more Patriot Front activity in 2023 was Virginia.

Massachusetts was again one of the most active states for the Patriot Front as the Texas-based white supremacy group ramped up its use of antisemitic rhetoric, per a new report.The big picture: White supremacist propaganda and events are on the rise nationwide, with members sharing racist, antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ+ materials, per a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.adl.org/resources/report/white-supremacist-propaganda-incidents-soar-record-high-2023" data-vars-content-id="d0d94f68-4e5c-468d-9ce3-ccfe6314a3a8" data-vars-headline="Patriot Front messaging, antisemitism rife in Massachusetts in 2023" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.adl.org/resources/report/white-supremacist-propaganda-incidents-soar-record-high-2023" target="_blank">report</a> released Tuesday by the American Defamation League&#x27;s Center on Extremism.

Note at Watertown Armenian church a hate crime, members say

The note stoked fears in a city that's home to thousands of people of Armenian descent.

Watertown police are investigating an incident at St. Stephen&#x27;s Armenian Apostolic Church that parishioners are calling a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hate crime" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/30/report-hate-crimes-record-2022-black-antisemitism" data-vars-content-id="8870a309-7fe9-4f61-8d3b-695803295e1c" data-vars-headline="Note at Watertown Armenian church a hate crime, members say" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/30/report-hate-crimes-record-2022-black-antisemitism" target="_self">hate crime</a>.Driving the news: Parents who dropped their children off at the church&#x27;s elementary school Monday morning were greeted with a note on the church sign saying &quot;Artsakh is dead. Karabakh is Azerbaijan!&quot;