Massachusetts Daily Intel

Gov.Healey has activated the National Guard to fight a wildfire that started in New York and has now spread into Williamstown. Guard aircraft will drop water on the blaze, which has burned hundreds of acres. Officials say dry weather helped it spread

In case you missed it, seniors who no longer drive can now apply for a CharlieCard that lets them ride the MBTA for free. Adults ages 75 and older who hold a Mass. identification card instead of a driver's license can apply for a Car-free Seniors CharlieCard.

UMass Amherst and Mass General Brigham secured a $24.5M federal grant to keep developing AI that helps older adults and dementia patients age safely at home. The five-year renewal funds MassAITC, building on a previous $20M grant. #Massachusetts #Alzheimers #AI

9,005 Brockton residents lost SNAP benefits from June ‘25 and Aug. ‘26, a 25.96% drop in coverage, according to the Mass DTA, placing Brockton among communities with the most residents affected. If nothing changes, the city would lose $1,511,100 annually and up as additional families lose benefits.

Massachusetts higher education students are set to walk out of school today, Oct. 20 to protest artificial intelligence. They are joining students across the country demanding an “AI freeze” in a nationwide walkout organized by Irreplaceable, a group calling for guardrails against the technology.

A Boston councilor wants to ban new data centers over energy and water use. The problem is that the city doesn't know how many are already operating, since operators guard their locations and "data center" has no set definition. A hearing is scheduled for today at City Hall.

Republican gubernatorial nominee Michael Minogue has called on his running mate Shawn Oliver to drop out of the race after he was charged with drunken driving. Hoping for the best for all involved.

The MBTA says Orange Line trains will run faster starting today. Slow zones between Assembly/North Station are gone and signals have been upgraded, so trains can now reach 55 mph north of North Station. GM Phil Eng says riders can expect shorter trips and 76% more weekday service than in Winter 2023

Rough seas and strong winds are headed for coastal Massachusetts this week as a storm develops offshore. Beginning Monday, waves could reach 15 to 17 feet south of Cape Cod, and gusts could make conditions dangerous for boats. Stay safe, everyone.

Six members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation and Secretary of State Bill Galvin received suspicious letters on Friday, part of a nationwide wave of mailings to officials that is now under federal investigation. All of the recipients are Democrats, and staffers contacted authorities.

More than 130 "No Kings" events are set for Mass. this Sat., Oct. 17, as part of a nationwide day of action urging people to vote before Election Day on Nov. 3. The "No Kings: Vote Early" events include rallies, block parties, & walks to the polls in Boston, Worcester, and Western Massachusetts.

Gov. Healey said Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil should immediately return Mass. customers' share of an estimated $1.5B in excessive profits collected across New England. The refunds stem from a March FERC decision that lowered the profits transmission utilities can earn on their investments.

Residents from Springfield and Holyoke rallied outside Springfield City Hall this week, urging the City Council to end its contracts for automated license plate readers made by companies like Flock Safety. They say the cameras' constant surveillance violates their civil liberties.

Boston's first-ever Sweater Weather Fest is coming to City Hall Plaza on Oct. 17 from 2 to 11 p.m. The free outdoor film festival will feature industry panels, a contest, and a screening of a hit Apple TV show. 🎬🍂

A fast-moving storm will sweep through Massachusetts on Friday with periods of heavy rain and gusty winds, according to the National Weather Service. Saturday will turn dramatically colder and blustery, and the strongest gusts are expected along the coast. 🌧️💨

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Massachusetts early voting ends Oct. 30, and Election Day is Nov. 3. The ballot features races for governor, U.S. Senate, Congress, the Legislature, and more, plus nine ballot questions that could reshape state law. Make a plan before you vote.

The Plymouth Independent’s inaugural Freedom of the Press Gala raised $774k, with 275 guests attending Sept. 26 despite a nor’easter forcing a venue change just four days earlier. The live auction brought in $249K, with community donations, sponsorships and matching funds helping fuel their mission.

Massachusetts has seen about $5.91B in federal funding losses and disruptions under the Trump admin, per the Lost Funds Project. Food assistance and health and science research grants were hit hardest. Nationwide, $174B has been canceled or delayed, but state lawsuits have restored about $35B.

Gov. Healey and GOP challenger Minogue spent a combined $13M in August and September, mostly on ads, per a MassLive review of campaign filings. Healey, who spent $4.2M, wants voters thinking about Trump. Minogue wants them thinking about Healey. #MAgov #mapoli Via MassLive

Springfield resin maker Prefere Melamines will pay nearly $1.25M to settle claims it improperly got a ~$800K PPP loan in 2021. Prosecutors say it reported 36 employees, but its German parent had 300+. The company cooperated and admitted wrongdoing, per the U.S. Attorney Office.

There is 15 days left to register to vote! The deadline is Saturday, Oct. 24, ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Register online, by mail or in person, and check your status at www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/.

Cambridge tech firm HubSpot is laying off nearly 660 employees, or about 7% of its workforce, amid a stock slump. The cuts come as HubSpot doubles down on artificial intelligence, with CEO Yamini Rangan saying the company’s AI focus played a role in the restructuring.

Number one, again. #Mapoli #Massachussetts massachusettsintel.substack.com/p/massachuse...

Stoughton High School has issued 3 separate shelter-in-place orders after students consumed THC edibles. Classes continued Tuesday. School officials declined to say how many students were affected, citing privacy.

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Middlesex School in Concord just turned 125 and got the ultimate birthday present: a $200M pledge from the late Victor Atkins, an alum who built a successful career in finance. The school kept the gift secret for weeks so they could announce it at the Sept. 26 anniversary kickoff reception.

FYI Zach Bryan broke the Gillette Stadium attendance record during his Oct. 3 show when he drew a crowd of 73,538 fans.

The USPS unveiled its 2026 Christmas stamp, featuring a 16th-century painting of the Madonna and Child from the collection of the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown. The new Forever stamp, showcases a portion of The Virgin and Child Enthroned, an oil-on-panel painting created around the year 1500.

The search remains ongoing for the missing Bermuda/Boston medical flight, and authorities are planning to look to the ocean floor. The FAA contacted the Coast Guard at 2 a.m. Saturday that it had lost contact with the Gulfstream G100 carrying 4 Canadians/ 2 Bermudian nationals over the Atlantic.

A statewide housing production tracker launched by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities shows Massachusetts has reached about 15.6% of its 2035 goal of creating 222,000 homes.

Chip City, the viral cookie brand has closed its four Massachusetts locations as part of a nationwide shutdown. The New York-based cookie chain, has closed its locations in Boston’s Back Bay, near North Station, in Cambridge’s Harvard Square and at Arsenal Yards in Watertown.

Massachusetts union leaders rallied for Gov. Maura Healey in Boston today, accusing Republican nominee Michael Minogue of trying to "buy" the election with millions of his own money. Minogue has ramped up spending, including on TV ads, ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Incoming heartwarming story: 88yo Woody Lancaster and his giant 2,598-pound pumpkin set a new record at the Topsfield Fair Friday night for the 42nd All New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off.

Michael Minogue, the largely self-financed Republican nominee for Mass governor, spent more than $6.1 million in Sept. alone in his bid to beat Gov. Maura Healey. That’s record for a gubernatorial candidate and roughly double the largest single month reported by Healey or Charlie Baker.

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Closures remain in place in downtown Boston after a major water main break flooded the streets near South Station. The Boston Water and Sewer Commission were spotted working near Purchase Street and Summer Street.

Massachusetts added private-sector jobs more slowly than 41 other states over the last five years, trailing rivals like Florida and Texas and even smaller states like Arkansas and Wyoming. It also ranked dead last in new business formations as a share of private employment in both 2024 and 2025.