AltWeeklies Wire
Calling Out 'Three Strikes'new

Is the country's most notoriously failed law coming to Massachusetts?
Boston Phoenix |
Chris Faraone |
01-06-2012 |
Policy Issues
Tags: Massachusetts, 3 strikes laws
Are Hate Crimes on the Rise in Mass.? Who Can Tell with These Numbers?new
Community leaders, victim advocates -- and even government officials -- says underreporting by both victims and police means the stats released by the State Police Crime Reporting Unit are essentially guesswork, and the victims who are least likely to report crimes against them actually bear the brunt of the attacks.
Dig Boston |
Jeremy Fox |
10-28-2009 |
Crime & Justice
If Curt Schilling Runs for Senate, Will He Keep His Sports-Media Perch?new
Known for his arm and his mouth, former Red Sox great Curt Schilling is now stretching his legs ... for a possible Senate run for Ted Kennedy's old seat. But he's blaming the media for getting the facts wrong, even though, as a regular contributor to WEEI-AM and weei.com, he is the media.
Boston Phoenix |
Adam Reilly |
09-10-2009 |
Media
New England Plays Catch-Up in the Green Energy Racenew
New England may be used to being the birthplace of revolutions, but in the case of wind power, that ship has sailed. States out West are far outproducing us, and will likely continue to. That said, we still could be a player in the nascent wind industry; we've just got some catching up to do.
Boston Phoenix |
Mike Miliard |
08-19-2009 |
Environment
Will Little Airports in Mass. See Their Funding Take Off?new

There are 24 municipally owned and 14 privately owned airports in Massachusetts. These airports require a "local share" for improvement projects, which could be impossible to meet if the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission decides to offer less local funding.
Dig Boston |
Cara Bayles |
01-21-2009 |
Transportation
A Battle of the Bong in Massachusettsnew
As the state's fiercest civic power brokers are quickly finding out, the war over Question 2 is not your typical suits vs. stoners scrum.
Boston Phoenix |
Chris Faraone |
09-25-2008 |
Drugs
State House Sex Scandal Reveals Pitfalls of Reporting on Mental Illnessnew
While the Boston press clearly thinks Jim Marzilli's mental condition is newsworthy, the question of why it's important -- and how it should be covered -- has remained unanswered.
Boston Phoenix |
Adam Reilly |
07-31-2008 |
Media
Out-of-State Same-Sex Couples May Soon Wed in Mass.new

Massachusetts moved one step closer to parity for same-sex couples last Tuesday, when the state Senate unanimously passed a bill repealing a 1913 law prohibiting out-of-state gay couples from marrying here.
Dig Boston |
Scott Sayare |
07-24-2008 |
LGBT
We're Number 48! Mass. Drivers Really Do Sucknew
According to a recently published study, Massachusetts drivers really do suck, but motorists in New Jersey, New York, and DC suck more.
Boston Phoenix |
Mike Miliard |
06-19-2008 |
Transportation
When it Comes to Same-Sex Marriage, California Mattersnew
Massachusetts may have had gay marriage first, but California changes everything. Are Obama and Clinton listening?
Boston Phoenix |
David S. Bernstein |
05-22-2008 |
LGBT
What's Mass. Doing to Keep Former Prisoners from Returning to Jail?new

A 2002 study by the Massachusetts Sentencing Committee found recidivism rates had reached 49.1 percent. The Commission to End Homelessness estimated 16 percent of the 25,500 people released each year become homeless. Former prisoners must also navigate Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), the state's rap sheet on anyone ensnared in the criminal justice system.
Dig Boston |
Cara Bayles |
05-15-2008 |
Crime & Justice
The How and Why of Prison Overcrowdingnew
The US prison population grew eight-fold since 1970; more than 2.3 million people are incarcerated nationally, and overcrowding is pandemic in Massachusetts prisons. Two years ago, Massachusetts Department of Corrections facilities were at 134 percent capacity. Now they've reached 143 percent.
Dig Boston |
Cara Bayles |
05-15-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Massachusetts Lawmakers Push to Criminalize Salvianew

Is this a test-run for marijuana-law reform?
Boston Phoenix |
James Tierney |
04-24-2008 |
Drugs
Boston College Blocks Gay Dancenew
Officials at the Catholic university would not allow the school's GLBT Leadership Council to hold an AIDS fundraiser on campus.
Boston Phoenix |
Mike Milliard |
12-14-2005 |
LGBT
Changing the Environmental Landscape, One Building at a Timenew
Designed to conserve water and energy, "green buildings" are constructing a cleaner world.
Boston Phoenix |
Deirdre Fulton |
08-11-2005 |
Environment
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