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Massachusetts voters keep legal marijuana and gun law, add public records, as starter homes question hangs in balance

Nine questions covered records, voting, taxes, marijuana, guns and housing. Here is where each stands in AP results with about 80% of votes counted.

Politics

Voters approved several ballot questions yesterday that will affect how government operates in Massachusetts, covering public records, voter registration and conservation funding.

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News

Think you&#x27;re up to speed on the week&#x27;s news? <ul><li>Take our quiz to prove it.</li></ul>

All 9 Mass. ballot questions in 4 minutes: What to know

Keeping it all straight is tough. Here's what each question would do.

Bay State voters will face a record-tying <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nine statewide ballot questions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/10/26/massachusetts-ballot-questions-2026-november-election-beacon-hill-legislature-voters" data-vars-content-id="2e484781-cce3-4033-b808-bc69da9d3007" data-vars-headline="All 9 Mass. ballot questions in 4 minutes: What to know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/10/26/massachusetts-ballot-questions-2026-november-election-beacon-hill-legislature-voters" target="_self">nine statewide ballot questions</a> Tuesday, covering elections, taxes, housing, marijuana, guns and government transparency.Why it matters: Keeping it all straight as you head into the voting booth is tough. Here&#x27;s what each question would do.

Celtics owners give record $200M to Boston Children's

The money will fund a pediatric mental health facility, nurse training and childhood disease research. Half comes from Rob and Karen Hale's earlier pledge.

The owners of the Celtics are giving $200 million to Boston Children&#x27;s Hospital, the largest gift in the hospital&#x27;s history.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="money from the Celts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/celtics-owners-donation-boston-childrens-hospital/" data-vars-content-id="037f6404-dfbd-4a53-b6b9-a735c29b62ac" data-vars-headline="Celtics owners give record $200M to Boston Children&#x27;s" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/celtics-owners-donation-boston-childrens-hospital/" target="_blank">money from the Celts</a> will fund a pediatric mental health center, research and nurse training at the region&#x27;s premier children&#x27;s hospital.

The Boston-area restaurants to visit (or skip) this Halloween

Dozens of restaurants promote Halloween specials and pop-ups. Three stood out.

Business

Steph here. Halloween is as good an opportunity as any to draw new customers, but few Boston-area restaurants go all out.The intrigue: Spooky season demands more than some orange streamers and a skeleton posted up at the host stand.I sifted through countless influencer reels and pitch emails and found three that stood out:

9 things to do in Boston during Halloween week

Catch KATSEYE and John Summit at TD Garden, celebrate Rocky Horror or explore free literary and cultural events around Boston.

Things to Do

Catch KATSEYE and John Summit at TD Garden, celebrate Rocky Horror, hear from Ina Garten or explore free literary and cultural events around Boston this week.

Green Line trains shutting down on Halloween weekend

The Green Line's shuttle service could turn weekend travel into a nightmare.

Transit

The MBTA plans to shut down several Green Line branches next Saturday and Sunday to work on signal upgrades underground.Why it matters: Public transit could become a nightmare for Boston-area college students and anyone else celebrating &quot;Halloweekend.&quot;

Star Trek creator's son shares piece of history with MIT Museum

Cambridge is home to a piece of trekkie history for the next several months.

Culture

The MIT Museum is home to a piece of Star Trek history for the next several months — the original U.S.S. Enterprise model.The intrigue: The pilot model, having reemerged after a decades-long disappearance, is making its East Coast debut.

Steinholding puts Mass. beer lovers' arms to the test

A Bavarian tradition that tests endurance is gaining traction in Greater Boston.

What began as a friend&#x27;s wedding activity in Nashville turned Jessica Gravel into a three-time state champion in steinholding.The intrigue: Gravel is among hundreds in Massachusetts who are competing in the Bavarian endurance sport this year.

Exclusive: Sloomoo expands into shuttered Hard Rock Cafe site

The Sloomoo Institute will open in downtown Boston in November.

The slime experience company Sloomoo plans to open a new site downtown in the space formerly occupied by the Hard Rock Cafe, the company tells Axios exclusively.The intrigue: The Sloomoo Institute&#x27;s opening next month will feature new games and lots of colorful, slime-filled activities for children.

"Love Is Blind," book festival and other Boston-area things to do this week 

From the Boston Book Festival to Olivia Rodrigo's tour, there's something for everyone.

Wednesday, 10/14💗 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;Love Is Blind: Boston&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/09/23/love-is-blind-boston-october" data-vars-content-id="d81e8cc0-eff7-4b38-931a-7901d03bf941" data-vars-headline="&quot;Love Is Blind,&quot; book festival and other Boston-area things to do this week " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/09/23/love-is-blind-boston-october" target="_self">&quot;Love Is Blind: Boston&quot;</a> premieres tonight with 30 romance-seeking locals. <ul><li>The Lansdowne Pub is one of several venues hosting a watch party, 7pm.</li></ul>

Things to do in Boston this week: Oct. 5–9

Catch a concert, cheer on the Bruins or explore the MFA after dark. Here's what's on Boston's calendar for Oct. 5–9.

Monday, 10/5<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Rest Is Politics U.S." data-vars-click-url="https://thewilbur.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" data-vars-content-id="41893bba-8a9f-4bba-8720-006916fc41a5" data-vars-headline="Things to do in Boston this week: Oct. 5–9" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://thewilbur.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">The Rest Is Politics U.S.</a> brings hosts Anthony Scaramucci and Katty Kay to The Wilbur for a live political discussion on their &quot;The Battle for America: Midterms Tour 2026,&quot; 7:30pm.<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Boston Bruins vs. Ottawa Senators" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tdgarden.com/events?utm_source=chatgpt.com" data-vars-content-id="41893bba-8a9f-4bba-8720-006916fc41a5" data-vars-headline="Things to do in Boston this week: Oct. 5–9" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tdgarden.com/events?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">Boston Bruins vs. Ottawa Senators</a>: Monday-night hockey is back at TD Garden, 7:30pm.

Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Boston

Meet fellow locals over dinner at a restaurant we hand-picked.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios Social Club" data-vars-click-url="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" data-vars-content-id="c4f765dd-234c-4f41-8701-353ba6b6ca1d" data-vars-headline="Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Boston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" target="_blank">Axios Social Club</a> is bringing readers together for dinner in Boston&#x27;s South End neighborhood on Tuesday, Oct. 6.Why it matters: Your city is full of interesting people you haven&#x27;t met yet. We&#x27;re making it easier to change that.

Boston area braces for coastal storm; here's what's canceled

The storm could cause flooding, beach erosion and windy showers.

Forecasters have only grown more confident in the chances of a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nor&#x27;easter" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2024/04/03/noreaster-storm-coming-massachusetts-rain-weather" data-vars-content-id="7b6b3d0b-8382-4247-8b79-2df0f595f19a" data-vars-headline="Boston area braces for coastal storm; here&#x27;s what&#x27;s canceled" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2024/04/03/noreaster-storm-coming-massachusetts-rain-weather" target="_self">nor&#x27;easter</a> hitting eastern Massachusetts this weekend.Why it matters: The coastal storm could cause flooding, beach erosion and windy showers.

Things to Do 🗓

The Boston-area restaurants to visit (or skip) this Halloween

9 things to do in Boston during Halloween week

Green Line trains shutting down on Halloween weekend

Star Trek creator's son shares piece of history with MIT Museum

Steinholding puts Mass. beer lovers' arms to the test