Former Massachusetts 1st Congressional District Rep. John Olver died in his Armherst home Thursday of last week at age 86. Olver was known for being a staunch progressive and served in the Massachusetts Legislature and Congress for a total of 44 years. When he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1991, he became the first-ever Democrat to represent his district.
Tag: Massachusetts
Maura Healey Makes History as First Openly Lesbian U.S. Governor
Massachusetts’ Maura Healey (D) made history on Election Day after defeating Republican opponent Geoff Diehl by 28 percentage points in the state’s now-called gubernatorial race, making Healey Massachusetts’ first female governor and the first out lesbian governor in U.S. history. Healey first made waves in the political world by becoming the country’s first openly lesbian attorney general in 2014, a milestone that was widely celebrated by LGBT activists. As AG, she utilized her power to hold pharmaceutical giants Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family accountable for their role in fueling the opioid epidemic. Her office also joined the fight against climate change, suing Exxon Mobil for lying about the threat level of rising global temperatures.
Sports Betting Legalized In Massachusetts Ahead Of NFL Season
Since 2018, 30 states and the District of Columbia offer various forms of legal sports betting, and now the state of Massachusetts has joined on the wagering train just in time for New England Patriots fans to bet on their team in September. While legalizing sports betting can be a dangerous game and lead to a massive loss of income for die-hard sports fans, Massachusetts Senators and Representatives came to the conclusion that passing a bill set to “legalize betting on professional and college sports” will overall benefit the economy of the Old Bay State. Senator Eric Lesser shared that approximately $65 million will now be earned annually through this industry, which is major revenue in the medium-sized state of about 7 million residents.
What is Monkeypox, and should Americans be concerned?
While the Covid-19 pandemic is beginning to wind down after more than two years of quarantine, mask mandates, and social distancing, the last thing Americans want is another disease to be concerned about. However, reports of rising cases of monkeypox— a virus related to smallpox— may lead to unnecessary worry.
Massachusetts Resident Tests Positive for Monkeypox
Health officials have officially confirmed the first case of monkeypox in the US this year. A Massachusetts citizen has tested positive for monkeypox and was later confirmed by health officials Wednesday. According to a release from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the patient is an adult make who recently traveled to Canada. The test was confirmed on Wednesday by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention after going through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for initial testing
Deaf Does Not Mean Weakness in “CODA”
CODA shares music to the heart rather than music to the ears. In this inspiring and endearing movie, a young teen named Ruby Rossi is an outcast among her peers in Gloucester, Massachusetts. She lives with her deaf family and serves as a translator from the hearing world to the deaf world. With a battling responsibility to take care of her family, she struggles to pursue her dream of singing in front of the stage.
Boston Marathon is Finally Back
It’s been a long three years staying inside due to the pandemic. But now, the Boston Marathon makes its opening spectacular as runners from all over the world return to its tracks for a gratifying and satisfying run. Since 1972, there have only been eight women who ran this marathon. Now, 12,100 are running. Talking about a stark difference from the past, the marathon shows there are no limitations on people’s backgrounds, as long as they are willing to run and have an awesome experience.
An Appreciation of Love and Life in Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides, Now”
If you have watched the movie CODA, you’ve probably recognized the song that actress Emilia Jones sang in sign language for her audition at Berklee College of Music. Her own rendition of “Both Sides, Now” brought many audiences to tears when they saw and listened to her voice, honoring the lyrics of Joni Mitchell who originally created the song. In our younger years, we often think about ourselves, but this song teaches us to appreciate the little things in life because nothing is permanent in this life.
Former United States Secretary of Education Dies at Age 95
A sixth-generation Mexican American and the former United States Secretary of Education, Lauro Cavazos died on Tuesday in Concord, Massachusetts. He was the first Hispanic person ever to serve in the United States Cabinet. In the 1980s, Cavazos saw schools suffering from budget cuts, low academic performances, and increased high school dropouts.
Dogs Rule the Political Spectrum, Let’s Sniff it Out
65 percent of Americans own pets. The common three are dogs, cats, and fish. From the research of the University of California Press, there is a psychological identity for owning pets in a political spectrum. Conservative thinkers are more likely to have dogs than cats for pets.
Michelle Wu Becomes the First Woman and Person of Color Elected Mayor of Boston
Democrat Michelle Wu became the first woman and person of color to be elected as the mayor of Boston.
Aaron Hernandez was found dead in his prison cell
On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 ex-Patriots football star Aaron Hernandez committed suicide. Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr., Massachusetts State Police Superintendent Col. Richard McKeon, and Secretary of Public Safety Daniel Bennett released a joint statement to the press stating Aaron Hernandez “died early Wednesday morning after he hanged himself by a bedsheet in […]
