Massachusetts courts dismissed over 100 criminal cases as defendants remain without legal representation during the ongoing attorney work stoppage.

Why it matters: Bar advocates are still striking over their $65-an-hour pay, and 80% of indigent defendants don't have lawyers in court.

• In the meantime, defendants who can't afford their own lawyers are being allowed to go free.
• It's a constitutional crisis in a teacup, affecting due process and public safety in Massachusetts.

By the numbers: 130 dismissal hearings were scheduled yesterday in Boston and BMC First Justice Tracy-Lee Lyons dismissed more than 100 of the cases.

• 447 additional defendants are awaiting similar proceedings in Middlesex County.
• Dozens of defendants have already been released from custody since the beginning of the work stoppage.

The fine print: Emergency legal protocols in effect automatically dismiss cases after 45 days without counsel.

What they're saying: "This case shall be dismissed without prejudice today," Lyons said Tuesday when dispensing with the case against a man accused of domestic violence, according to the Globe.

• The dismissed cases can be refiled once the work stoppage is resolved.
• As the cases are dismissed, so are orders to protect victims or to monitor defendants' travel.

Catch up quick: Legislative leaders removed bar advocate pay increases from this year's state budget. Now, domestic violence and assault defendants could see their cases dismissed before trial.

The bottom line: There's no resolution in sight as legal requirements collide with Beacon Hill's budget reality.

• Hundreds of criminal prosecutions are on the line.

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Comedian, "SNL" veteran and proud Lexingtonian Rachel Dratch is coming home to New England this weekend for a show with comedy group Bluebird Improv.

• Axios caught up with Dratch about her favorite haunts around her hometown and how she celebrated Lexington's big 250th Patriots' Day.

Dratch admits she doesn't get to Boston proper often enough to be an expert, but she's visited some local spots with famous friends like Tina Fey.

• "Last time I was in Boston — should I name-drop here? — it was to do the Tina and Amy show and we ate at Buttermilk & Bourbon for Tina's birthday brunch," Dratch said.
• When she's back home, she always tries to get to China Sky in Winchester.

For dessert: Dratch insisted on mentioning her favorite ice cream spot in Massachusetts: the Ice Cream Smuggler in Dennis.

• "Nowhere else takes it as seriously!" she said of the Bay State's commitment to ice cream.

She hit the Battle of Lexington 250th anniversary hard, waking up at 4:30am to go to the big reenactment.

• "It's actually surprisingly moving when you see the ragtag group of Minutemen standing on the Green and you hear the drums approaching with this big army of redcoats," Dratch said.
• She was in the parade this year with her mom and two friends from childhood she bumped into.

Dratch will be in Rockland, Maine, on Sunday alongside fellow improvisers Brad Morris ("Cougar Town"), Marc Evan Jackson ("The Good Place") and Joe Canale ("Douchebag Assassin").

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💰 Five Massachusetts suburbs rank among America's 50 wealthiest communities and Wellesley placed 10th nationwide. (CBS Boston)

• Wellesley's average household income: $368,179. Home values average over $2 million.
• Lexington, Winchester, Needham and Newton also made the top 50 list put together by finance website GoBankingRates.com

🛒 Market Basket fired two executives loyal to ousted CEO Arthur T. Demoulas for insubordination. (Globe)

🦁 The Smithsonian's National Zoo's deputy director was named president and CEO of Zoo New England. (Boston Business Journal)

• Stephanie Brinley will oversee Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo starting in September.

🔥 A survivor of the deadly Gabriel House fire in Fall River sued the assisted living facility owner for negligence. (CBS Boston)

• Steven Oldrid's lawsuit alleges improper management and a lack of emergency procedures.

🏢 Things are still shaky for the commercial real estate market in Boston.

• An 11-story West End office tower sold for $28 million — less than half its previous sale price not even a decade ago.
• Boston's struggling office market still has a 21% vacancy rate.

🧪 Lab space is also still hurting. The latest sign of bad times: a Wellesley office and lab building was auctioned for $65 million to Liberty Mutual — $21 million under the mortgage value.

• Lab vacancy sits at 25.8%. (Boston Globe)

👟 There's some good news for downtown from one of New England's age-old industries: Footwear giant Asics is keeping its local headquarters in the Leather District.

• The company is downsizing to cut costs, but says it's committed to downtown Boston.

And Boston is scoring some wins in the struggle against spacey and cheaper real estate in the suburbs.

• AI platform Dynatrace moved its headquarters from Waltham to 25,000 square feet at Atlantic Wharf.

We won't all just be screaming for ice cream on National Ice Cream Day this Sunday, we'll be screaming about its high prices.

Why it matters: At the height of summer, prices for America's go-to frozen treat are hitting new highs, according to federal data.

The big picture: The average price of a half gallon of ice cream was $6.49 in June, up nearly 6% from June 2024, per the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED released Wednesday.

• The price of a half gallon is up nearly 33% since June 2021, when it was $4.89.

Zoom in: Soaring ingredient costs, extreme weather and hot demand are fueling the higher prices.

• Chocolate-based flavors are impacted by a surge in global cocoa prices, which have increased 150% in the last 12 months.

Situational awareness: Dunkin' Rewards members get 3 times the points on frozen beverages Sunday for National Ice Cream Day.

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Sailors compete in the Hull Yacht Club Junior Scorpion Bowl Regatta Friday.

• The 420 dinghy competition was open to new and experienced sailors.