News
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Statewide School Smartphone Ban Gets State House Boost
A so-called “bell-to-bell” ban on smartphones in Massachusetts public schools is one step closer to becoming law across the state after the State Senate Joint Committee on Education unanimously moved forward a bill that will shut off student phones during the school day. State Sen. President Karen Spilka and Sen. Jason Lewis said “the cell
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LEO Receives $2.7M From Millionaire Tax Revenue
With the passing of H4227, the State has given Lynn’s Leading through Empowering Opportunities (LEO)’s Broad Street preschool $2.7 million. This is one of the largest education lines in the bill and ensures that LEO’s early years of operation at the renovated building will be without the weight of overwhelming debt. In 60 years as
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Representative Jones, Senator Crighton Secure $170,000 for Three Lynnfield Initiatives in FY2026 State Budget
House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and State Senator Brendan P. Crighton (D-Lynn) have secured a total of $170,000 in state funding assistance for three Lynnfield initiatives as part of the $61.01 billion Fiscal Year 2026 state budget that was enacted by the House and Senate on June 30. This funding will
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New Sign Unveiled at Lynn’s Frederick Douglass Reading
This year’s Frederick Douglass reading, hosted by the North Shore Juneteenth Association and sponsored by Mass Humanities, unveiled the new Frederick Douglass wayfinding sign for the park during the program. Mayor Jared C. Nicholson said Lynn is “fortunate that we have this tradition already … to hear Frederick Douglass’ words ‘What to the Slave is
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Lynn Schools Receive $4.8M Grant
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) awarded over $52 million in grants to help upgrade public school facilities through the Green School Works program. Of that roughly $52 million, $4,833,200 went to Lynn Public Schools (LPS). Funded through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Green School Works program aims to make K-12
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Sen. Crighton Sponsors Bill to Ban Cellphones in Massachusetts Schools
Sen. Brendan Crighton appeared before the Joint Committee on Education on June 17 to sponsor a bill for the ban of cellphones in public schools state-wide. The premises of the bill originate from personal concern for his two children, ages five and nine, said Crighton. “Even as an adult I am constantly distracted by my
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Massachusetts Invests $1.39 Billion into Public Transport, Education
The Massachusetts Legislature approved $1.39 billion in new investments in public transportation and public education across the Commonwealth. The supplemental budget — funded by surplus revenue from the Fair Share surtax on incomes over $1 million, allocates $716 million for transportation and $593.5 million for education at every level. To allocate the surplus, this supplemental
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Nahant Scores Funding For Cemetery Vehicle
Town Administrator Tony Barletta, various department heads, and the Select Board were joined by State Sen. Brendan Crighton, State Rep. Sean Reid and former State Rep. Peter Capano, who helped secure funding for a new cemetery vehicle. Thanks to the help of a legislative earmark budget for $50,000, the town was able to purchase a
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‘Bell-To-Bell’ School Smartphone Ban Across MA Pushed In State Senate Bill
As many individual districts have weighed and enacted their own versions of student smartphone restrictions in recent years, one North Shore state senator is proposing a “sustained, daylong separation from smartphones,” which he called a “bell-to-bell” ban, in all districts across the state. State Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) offered testimony before the Joint Committee on
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Does Mass. Need An Official Marine Flora? Eelgrass Fans Say: Yes
Massachusetts already has an official state muffin (corn), beverage (cranberry juice) and game bird (wild turkey), among many other state symbols. Now eelgrass may become the official marine flora of Massachusetts. The effort is thanks to two North Shore teenagers — and a handful of eelgrass supporters — seeking recognition for this little-known, but important, plant.