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.

Biogen agreed to buy Apellis for about $5.6B, paying $41 a share to add pegcetacoplan programs and expand into rare kidney disease treatments.

A three-story building on Warren Avenue in Brockton caught fire Monday; crews worked to extinguish hotspots and officials have not released a cause.

Patchy fog and heavy morning showers may slow Boston's commute. Small Craft Advisories are in effect for coastal waters.

Fenway-based Whoop raised $575M at roughly a $10B valuation, fueling a 600-job expansion and renewed IPO talk. The funding brings strategic investors and new runway.

Leominster families are making backup plans as a national contract covering many bus drivers expires today, raising the possibility of service disruptions. Districts and the contractor say they will post updates if routes are affected.

The Whitman Select Board advanced a library‑only tax override after a tense budget briefing — a failed question could decertify and close the Whitman Public Library. Voters may face the decision this spring.

A new FERC order cuts the allowed transmission profit in New England and could funnel about $1 billion back to ratepayers. Regulators and utilities now have to sort how refunds will be processed through ISO‑NE settlements.