A state grant that helps people returning from prison is threatened as the FY27 budget shifts money into a new job‑training program, putting housing and treatment services at risk.

A fatal crash on Route 20 eastbound in Charlton near the Sturbridge line closed lanes Wednesday as investigators responded. Parts of the highway remain closed.

Eli Lilly will buy Boston‑based Centessa for about $6.3B, adding an orexin agonist program led by cleminorexton. The deal pays $38 per ADS up front and could reach $47 with milestones.

A Duxbury man was arrested after a hallway fight at Island Creek Village; police seized a butcher knife and roughly 28 grams of suspected cocaine.

Clover filed a WARN notice saying 182 workers at its Massachusetts Avenue facility will be laid off by May 29, 2026. The cuts arrive as the chain continues to reshape after bankruptcy.

A $280 million renewal from the Stanley Family Foundation brings its Broad Institute giving past $1 billion and backs genetics and translational work on bipolar and schizophrenia.

A Franklin woman was arrested this week and charged in connection with a Nov. 1, 2025 house fire that killed two cats. She was arraigned and held pending a dangerousness hearing.

A Boston Fed paper finds that higher credit‑card APRs shave card spending quickly — a 1‑point APR rise cuts spending nearly 9% and hits those carrying balances hardest.

A $286,000 federal award will fund stabilization of corroded beams under Boston’s Old State House plaza, with work possibly starting this fall. The repair aims to protect the plaza and the 1713 landmark.

Auburn police posted a plain‑language explainer about the state’s new live‑fire firearms safety course and who will need it as the April 2 rollout approaches.

Swansea police are investigating after a 71-year-old bus driver allegedly urinated on a school bus carrying 12 young students en route to Hoyle Elementary. The district removed the driver and reported the incident to state child-protective services.

Local forecasters have posted an early look at conditions for the 130th Boston Marathon, highlighting April averages and historical extremes.

Saugus residents report sudden four-figure water bills as the town rolls out new smart meters. Select-board members have asked for a review while the water department points residents to inspection contacts.