More than 40 proposed ballot questions cleared last week's filing deadline for the 2026 election, covering issues like voting procedures, government transparency, voter ID and lawmaker salary.

Why it matters: Bay Staters could weigh in on an unprecedented number of ballot questions next year as activists increasingly bypass lawmakers and head straight to voters to address pressing issues.

Driving the news: If activists secure enough voter signatures, their legal language is approved and Democratic leaders at the State House remain inactive, voters will have to decide whether to introduce a robust new rent control system in Massachusetts.

• They'll also be asked about repealing the MBTA zoning law that mandates housing construction in communities with public transit.

The intrigue: Ballot campaigns have formed on a number of government reform questions.

• Campaigns seek to require voter ID for in-person and mail-in voting.
• Other campaigns look to enact same-day voter registration on Election Day, eliminate legislative leadership stipends and create an open primary system to replace partisan voting.
• One potential question would extend the public records law to cover the Legislature and the governor's office.

Between the lines: Policy advocates have increasingly turned to the ballot to get new laws on the books over the last decade as Beacon Hill's own lawmaking pace has slowed considerably.

• Massachusetts has only passed seven laws in 2025, placing the commonwealth dead last in legislative productivity according to a study by Fiscal Note.
• Only 0.1% of introduced bills have passed so far this year, by far the lowest percentage in the country.
• Lawmakers typically wait until their annual or biennial session deadlines in July or November to pass a flurry of legislation.

What's next: Attorney General Andrea Campbell has until Sept. 3 to certify the petitions that meet constitutional requirements.

• Approved campaigns then have to gather 74,574 signatures by Dec. 3 and another set of 12,429 signatures if the Legislature doesn't act on the issue.

The bottom line: Most of the proposed questions make up a wave of accountability measures meant to check the way Beacon Hill does business.

• Voters decided 71.5%-to-28.5% in 2024 to give the state auditor investigative powers over the Legislature, but lawmakers have delayed the transparency law's implementation, calling it unconstitutional.

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💣 Nantucket police responded to three bomb threats last week targeting 16 Main Street, home to a Ralph Lauren store. (Boston Herald)

🎓 The Trump administration launched an investigation into Harvard's patents developed from federally funded research, threatening intellectual property worth hundreds of millions. (Harvard Crimson)

• Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick gave Harvard until Sept. 5 to provide complete patent documentation.

🔍 State Police are monitoring cases linked to online speculation about a potential New England serial killer — though officials say there's no evidence connecting the killings. (Boston Herald)

⚖️ ICYMI: Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins was arrested in Florida on federal extortion charges, accused of pressuring a cannabis company for a stock deal worth $50,000, then demanding a refund when the investment tanked. (Boston Globe)

• A 1994 ruling by the state's top court means only voters or the court can remove an elected sheriff from office.

Tom Brady recently joined the ranks of Boston sports greats immortalized in a statue.

• Which local sports sculpture do you think is the best?

The legends of Boston sports are facing off in our bracket-style tournament.

• 🍀 The Celtics Greats: Bill Russell vs. Larry Bird
• ⚾ The Fenway Faithful: "The Teammates" vs. Carl Yastrzemski
• 🐐 The G.O.A.Ts: Ted Williams vs. Tom Brady
• 📸 The Downtown photo ops: Bobby Orr vs. Red Auerbach

🎖️ Honorable mention not taking part in this tournament: The Lego David Ortiz statue.

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Justin Timberlake has put a spotlight on Lyme disease after revealing his diagnosis last month.

Why it matters: Especially during the most active tick season (April through October), it's important to be mindful of the tick-borne illness that — if left untreated — can lead to long-term neurological problems and body aches.

What he's saying: "If you've experienced this disease or know someone who has — then you're aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically," Timberlake wrote on Instagram after concluding his world tour.

The big picture: More than 89,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported to the CDC in 2023, but the agency estimates that roughly 476,000 people are actually diagnosed and treated annually.

What's happening: Lyme disease is caused by the bite of a tick that carries a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi.

• In the U.S., mainly deer ticks spread this bacteria — they're most common in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Pacific Coast.

Zoom in: Lyme disease can present with a rash or flu-like symptoms.

• People with late-stage infections may experience more severe issues, from facial paralysis to arthritis.
• Most Lyme cases caught early can be treated with antibiotics. But diagnosing the disease early can be difficult because not all infected people get rashes, and early testing can produce false negatives.

Monday, 8/11

📚 Marianne Leone & Chris Cooper at WBUR CitySpace – 6:30pm

• A panel discussion featuring author Marianne Leone and actor Chris Cooper explores the bond between humans and dogs.
• Includes book sales and signing.

Wednesday, 8/13

🎬 Seven Samurai (4K Restoration) at Coolidge Corner Theatre – 3:15pm

• Akira Kurosawa's iconic samurai epic returns to theaters in stunning 4K for its 70th anniversary.

Friday, 8/15

🎤 Rob Thomas: The All Night Days Tour at Leader Bank Pavilion – 7:30pm

• The Matchbox Twenty front man plays a solo show on his first solo tour in six years.