Dorchester, MA
Police & Fire
$5M Grandparent Scam Targeted Hundreds; FBI Charges 13 In Scheme That Swindled Mass Residents $5M Grandparent Scam Targeted Hundreds; FBI Charges 13 In Scheme That Swindled Mass Residents
$5M Grandparent Scam Targeted Hundreds; FBI Charges 13 In Scheme That Swindled Mass Residents The phone rings in the middle of the night. It’s a family member, and they’re in trouble. A misunderstanding or mistake has put them in a serious bind, and they need thousands of dollars — immediately — or they're in big trouble.  Hundreds of people have received calls like that, but they were fake. Federal investigators call it the “grandparent scam.” The scheme allegedly targeted hundreds of older Americans — including at least 50 in Massachusetts — and stole more than $5 million, according to the US Attorney for Massachusetts. Federal prosecutors say they’ve charged 13 people who “r…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
White Plains, NY
Business
Cookies Sold At Target Stores In 20 States, Including NY, Pulled From Shelves Cookies Sold At Target Stores In 20 States, Including NY, Pulled From Shelves
Cookies Sold At Target Stores In 20 States, Including NY, Pulled From Shelves A sweet treat sold at one of the nation’s biggest retailers is now under a safety alert covering 20 states and Washington, DC. The recall involves Favorite Day Bakery Frosted Sugar Cookies, a 10-count product sold under Target’s private label brand.  According to the Food and Drug Administration, manufacturer Give and Go Prepared Foods Corp. of Canada pulled the cookies due to possible contamination with wood. A total of 803 cases are affected. The cookies were distributed through three Target distribution centers — in Connecticut, Maryland, and Ohio — and reached stores in: Connect…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Springfield, MA
Police & Fire
Springfield Predator Gets Up to 13 Years In Prison For Repeatedly Raping Young Child Springfield Predator Gets Up to 13 Years In Prison For Repeatedly Raping Young Child
Springfield Predator Gets Up to 13 Years In Prison For Repeatedly Raping Young Child A 57-year-old Massachusetts man will spend the next 10 to 13 years behind bars after a Hampden County jury found he had repeatedly raped a child between the ages of 6 and 8 years old, authorities said.  Benito Roman, formerly of Springfield, was convicted of aggravated rape of a child, two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and two counts of intimidation of a witness following a three-day trial, the Hampden District Attorney's Office said.  Along with his prison term, Roman must serve three years of probation following his release, the judge ruled.  …

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Hartford, CT
Business
Cracker Barrel's Remodel Plan Hits Nerves With Loyal Fans: 'Country Charm Is Gone' Cracker Barrel's Remodel Plan Hits Nerves With Loyal Fans: 'Country Charm Is Gone'
Cracker Barrel's Remodel Plan Hits Nerves With Loyal Fans: 'Country Charm Is Gone' Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is giving its restaurants a brighter, modern look, but the makeover is polarizing among the restaurant's biggest fans, with some saying the chain is losing its country charm. Cracker Barrel is in the process of remodeling dozens of its roughly 660 locations nationwide. The effort includes lighter paint, fewer antiques on the walls, updated menus, and streamlined cooking processes aimed at attracting a wider range of diners. Early remodels have already rolled out in multiple states, The Wall Street Journal reported in May. Cracker Barrel plans to update or re…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Worcester, MA
News
MA Ranked Best State To Have Baby, New Study Says: Here's Why MA Ranked Best State To Have Baby, New Study Says: Here's Why
MA Ranked Best State To Have Baby, New Study Says: Here's Why Families in some Northeast states may have a much easier time welcoming a new baby than others, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 list of Best & Worst States to Have a Baby on Monday, Aug. 4. The study compared all 50 states and Washington, DC, across 31 metrics, from average hospital bills to infant mortality rates and child-care availability. The leaders boast strong health care systems, parental support programs, and child care access. "The best states for having a baby minimize costs while providing top-notch care for both newborns and their …

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Springfield, MA
News
Massachusetts’ Sales Tax Holiday — 2 Days To Shop Without Tax Massachusetts’ Sales Tax Holiday — 2 Days To Shop Without Tax
Massachusetts’ Sales Tax Holiday — 2 Days To Shop Without Tax Are you ready, Massachusetts shoppers? The state’s annual Sales Tax Holiday returns for two days only: Saturday, Aug. 9 and Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. For a short weekend, Massachusetts drops its 6.25% sales tax on most retail items costing $2,500 or less, including clothing, shoes, electronics, accessories, backpacks, and more. Clothing items priced up to $175 are fully exempt; if over $175, only the amount above is taxed. It’s a golden opportunity to update your wardrobe and haul in everything you need. Think back‑to‑school fashion and beyond with pieces from Shein, Macy’s, TJ Maxx, Mars…

SHARE

by Vira Mamchur Schwartz
Arlington, VA
Business
Repeat Jobless Claims Hit Four-Year High Amid Weak July Jobs Report Repeat Jobless Claims Hit Four-Year High Amid Weak July Jobs Report
Repeat Jobless Claims Hit Four-Year High Amid Weak July Jobs Report The number of Americans continuing to file for unemployment benefits has surged to its highest level in nearly four years, according to new federal data. Continued unemployment claims topped 1.97 million during the week ending on Saturday, July 26, the Department of Labor said on Thursday, Aug. 7. That's the most since early November 2021, when the insured unemployment level reached 2.04 million. Repeat claims rose by 38,000 from the previous week. The DOL data signals that more jobseekers are struggling to find work and remain on unemployment. In the Northeast, se…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Arlington, MA
News
Pierogi Politics: Alan Dershowitz Booed Out Of Martha’s Vineyard Farmer's Market Pierogi Politics: Alan Dershowitz Booed Out Of Martha’s Vineyard Farmer's Market
Pierogi Politics: Alan Dershowitz Booed Out Of Martha’s Vineyard Farmer's Market Alan Dershowitz came for pierogis. Instead, he was publicly shamed and booed off the lot. The 86-year-old lawyer, who defended Donald Trump and is a prominent advocate for Israel, says he was denied service from a pierogi vendor and heckled at the West Tisbury Farmers Market on Martha’s Vineyard two weeks in a row. Wearing a shirt he says he bought at that same market 35 years ago, Dershowitz detailed the saga in a YouTube video, calling it an act of political discrimination that escalated into a protest on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at the Good Pierogi booth. Dershowitz speaks about the ev…

SHARE

by Cecilia Levine
Point Pleasant, NJ
News
Stop & Shop Recall Issued Over Salad Label Confusion Stop & Shop Recall Issued Over Salad Label Confusion
Stop & Shop Recall Issued Over Salad Label Confusion A mix-up in the deli aisle has triggered a new food recall across much of the Northeast, and it’s the label, not the recipe, that’s causing concern. Hans Kissle is recalling 66 containers of its Red Bliss Potato Salad after discovering a labeling error that could pose a serious risk to people with wheat allergies. The affected product was shipped to Stop & Shop stores in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, and may still be sitting in consumers' refrigerators. While the container’s front label correctly identifies it as Tri Color Twist Pasta Salad, the to…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Hartford, CT
Business
P&G Hiking Prices On Household Essentials As Trump's Tariffs Bite P&G Hiking Prices On Household Essentials As Trump's Tariffs Bite
P&G Hiking Prices On Household Essentials As Trump's Tariffs Bite The company behind popular products like Bounty paper towels, Tide detergent, and Crest toothpaste will soon start raising prices due to President Donald Trump's tariffs. Procter & Gamble will start the price hikes in August as the company expects about $1 billion in added costs from Trump's tariffs during the 2026 fiscal year. P&G revealed the financial impact in its latest earnings report on Tuesday, July 29. The increases will apply to about a quarter of P&G's products sold in the US, Reuters reported. A company spokesperson said prices will rise by "mid-single…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
New Haven, CT
Police & Fire
'Unconscionable': Wilbur Cross High School Student Detained By ICE; Officials Organizing Help 'Unconscionable': Wilbur Cross High School Student Detained By ICE; Officials Organizing Help
'Unconscionable': Wilbur Cross High School Student Detained By ICE; Officials Organizing Help A Connecticut high school student has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), authorities confirmed. Esdras R., an 18-year-old immigrant from Central America and a rising junior at Wilbur Cross High School, was arrested on July 21 at his workplace. He is currently being held at a detention center in Massachusetts, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and Superintendent Madeline Negrón said. They called his detention "unconscionable" and described him as a "hard-working student and a fine young man," in a joint press release. “The city and the school district are working …

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Worcester, MA
Schools
MA Tops New National Rankings For School Quality, Safety: Here's Why MA Tops New National Rankings For School Quality, Safety: Here's Why
MA Tops New National Rankings For School Quality, Safety: Here's Why Many public school systems in the Northeast are outperforming the rest of the country in quality and safety, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2025 list of States with the Best & Worst School Systems on Monday, July 21. The study ranked every state's public schools based on academic performance, safety, funding, and teacher credentials. Massachusetts ranked No. 1 in the country, earning top scores in both fourth- and eighth-grade math and reading. The Bay State also had the highest share of students scoring a three or better on Advanced Placement (AP) exams and …

SHARE

by Chris Spiker