Axios Boston

March 25, 2025
Tuesday, we've arrived.
- 🌤️ 53°/35°.
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Today's newsletter is 855 words — a 3-minute read
1 big thing: Read's retrial approaches
Karen Read's second trial is set to start April 1, despite her attorney's attempts to stop it from happening.
Why it matters: No one has been held accountable for the death of Boston police officer John O'Keefe, whom Read is accused of hitting with her SUV and leaving to die in January 2022.
- O'Keefe's family has called for justice, saying Read should be held responsible, while Read says she's been framed by police in the killing of her boyfriend.
Catch up quick: Read's attorneys have tried for months to get the case against her dropped in state and federal court, maintaining that she was framed for O'Keefe's murder.
- Multiple courts have sided against Read and her attorneys, though the defense is awaiting a ruling from the First Circuit Court of Appeals on whether two of the three charges against Read should be dropped.
- These were charges that her attorneys claim jurors agreed Read wasn't guilty of, but were confused about the directions on how to present a partial verdict.
The latest: The retrial will proceed despite the pending appellate decision, both state judge Beverly Cannone and a federal judge ruled last week.
Zoom in: The second trial may include messages between Read and blogger Aidan "Turtleboy" Kearney as evidence, per WBZ.
- A judge granted the prosecution's request recently to let them submit pictures, messages and data allegedly showing intimidation of the family members of a witness between April 3, 2023 and Oct. 5, 2023.
- Prosecutors also filed a motion to see texts between Read and her attorney, David Yannetti, between Jan. 28 and Feb. 2, 2022.
- Those messages are typically sealed under attorney-client privilege, but prosecutors argue that Read waived that privilege when she discussed their texts and thoughts in interviews with Vanity Fair, Boston Magazine and a new docuseries by HBO Max and Investigation Discovery.
What we're watching: How the appeals court responds to Read's request to have two of the three charges against her dropped, and whether it has any bearing on her retrial.
Keep reading: What else you've missed
2. 🔙 BTMU: A $2 billion blow to Mass.
💸 If Congress were to pass broad Medicaid cuts totaling $880 billion over 10 years, Massachusetts' state GDP would take a $2-billion hit, new research from the Commonwealth Fund suggests.
- Massachusetts would lose more than $141 million in local tax revenue and another $350 million in federal tax revenue, as well as more than 17,000 jobs, per the report.
Federal officials boasted that they have detained more than 370 immigrants, many with criminal charges, in Boston and surrounding communities. (NBC Boston)
- What the feds left out is that they included detainees picked up in Pittsfield, West Yarmouth and New Bedford in that tally.
🔬 Biogen, the Cambridge drugmaker, plans to move its HQ into the upcoming, revamped Volpe Center in Kendall Square — the first major real estate deal involving the upcoming Volpe Center building. (Globe)
⚖️ The city of Somerville joined teachers unions in suing the Trump administration over plans to eliminate the Education Department, separate from the lawsuit filed by 20 states, including Massachusetts. (UHub)
3. 🚧 Somerville reins in PorchFest
More than a dozen streets in Somerville will be cut off from PorchFest this year under new safety restrictions, organizers say.
Why it matters: It'll be tough balancing safety and fun at Somerville's PorchFest, often called the coolest version of the annual Boston-area porch-side music events.
Catch up quick: A surprise performance by Guster at the 2024 PorchFest brought massive crowds to one house, which slowed down paramedics responding to a medical emergency there.
- Guster said at the time they'd be back this year but wouldn't tell people ahead of time.
- The organizers restructured the event and application process with a committee and the city's emergency management team, per the Somerville Arts Council website.
State of play: PorchFest is back May 10, a Saturday, with a rain date of that Sunday.
- Organizers blocked 13 streets across the city from being involved with PorchFest, including Broadway, Highland Avenue and Powder House Boulevard.
- "These changes will help ensure safety, organization and the continued vibrancy of PorchFest," the arts council wrote online.
- Organizers are also launching a team to help monitor safety and handle event logistics.
Under the new rules, applicants aren't guaranteed a green light to play on a local porch.
What's next: Applications for Somerville PorchFest are due April 10.
- No word yet on whether Guster's applying or just winging it.
4. 💰 Inside this $6.5 million brownstone
A Charlestown brownstone is on the market for $6.5 million after it was restored from a four-unit apartment building to a single-family home.
The intrigue: If it sells at that price, the property would set a record for the most expensive single-family home sale in Charlestown, Boston.com reported.
Zoom in: The brownstone has six bedrooms, four full baths and two half-baths.
- Other features include four fireplaces, a chef's kitchen, two parking spaces and central heating and cooling, according to the website.

5. 🔎 Where's Townie? The Public Garden
Yesterday, we asked you to guess where Townie had gone. She was chillin' at the recently restored Child Fountain in the Public Garden.
Kudos to reader Michael G., who guessed the correct answer first.
Deehan senses this is going to be a bad allergy season and is loading up on Flonase.
Steph still regrets missing that Guster set last year.
Jeff Weiner edited this newsletter.
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