Northeast
Massachusetts mom's kids left without bus service as migrants reportedly add to district's 'financial' strain
Parents of over 100 students in a suburban Boston school district are left to find ways to get their children to class after lack of funding and shortages led to a lack of bus service outside of grades K-6.
Local mom Ashley Francois is one of those parents. After her license was indefinitely suspended for medical reasons three years ago, she says she has faced challenges with getting her kids to school.
“In February of ’23, the school system actually filed educational neglect on me,” she told “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Sunday.
“One of my children on the IEP [Individualized Education Program] has school refusal, and that’s one of the kids not allowed on the bus or taken off the bus, so they just basically gave right into exactly what this child wanted and that’s not to be at school.”
OVER 100 STUDENTS WITHOUT BUS SERVICE AS MASSACHUSETTS FUNDS BUSES FOR MIGRANTS
A student at a middle school in San Diego was airlifted to a hospital following a fight, school officials said. (REUTERS)
“Now you’ve made it absolutely impossible for me to get him there to access the curriculum, the services that you are specializing for him, so he’s not getting to school to get these services,” she continued. “Kids aren’t going to be able to access any type of curriculum from the Stoughton Public Schools if there’s no way to get them there.”
As of now, only Francois’ elementary-aged student is able to get a bus ride to school. Faced with the new challenge, combined with her strict budget and her inability to maintain a license, she told Fox News she is considering keeping her other kids at home.
“Am I supposed to pay between four to six Ubers a day for the entirety of the school year to get my children to school, and then question how I’m going to pay for my home, the electricity, the food they need to eat, the clothes and school supplies? Because we get probably two pages [list] of school supplies for each grade,” she said.
MIGRANTS SLEEPING AT BOSTON AIRPORT TO BE REMOVED AS BAN GOES INTO EFFECT
Massachusetts’ migrant population has risen byuu the thousands since 2021. (Fox News)
The bus service controversy comes as Massachusetts recently funded buses for students from the more than 200 migrant families that moved into their community, though local Superintendent of Schools Joseph Baeta insists that isn’t the reason for the problem.
In a statement to Fox News, Baeta said the following: “When we completed the process of no-fee busing we received 162 more requests this year. We could not have anticipated such an increase. To that end, we provided busing as of Friday for all K-6 students within our policy.”
“We are addressing this issue this coming week (should be close to 100% getting transportation),” the statement continued. “We will know more after Tuesday.”
In a separate letter to parents, Baeta said the state of Massachusetts does not require bus transportation for students in grades 7-12, but the state does require transportation for those living in hotels and shelters.
BOSTON MAYOR SILENT ON SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES AMID MIGRANT CRIME REPORTS
Migrants walk along the highway through Suchiate, Chiapas state in southern Mexico, Sunday, July 21, 2024, during their journey north toward the U.S. border. Migrant populations have exploded throughout the nation under the current administration. ( (AP Photo/Edgar H. Clemente))
The letter also said budget restraints left the district with one less bus than last year and a shortage of bus drivers also exacerbated the problem.
“We are utilizing funding the state provides to the district to bus the students living in hotels/shelters,” the letter said in part. “The funding for these two buses does not come from our operational budget. It is inaccurate to suggest that these children receiving busing is the reason yours did not. If we were not receiving the funding from the state for the students living in hotels/shelters, we would not be able to have these two additional buses.”
In a letter earlier this year, Baeta listed the uptick in student enrollment – partially due to the increased migrant population – as a factor in creating “financial pressures.”
Fox News’ Kendall Tietz contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
Boston, MA
Where to watch Boston Red Sox vs Chicago White Sox: TV channel, start time, streaming for July 7
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The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Tuesday as the Boston Red Sox visit the Chicago White Sox.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Boston Red Sox vs Chicago White Sox?
First pitch between the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, July 7.
How to watch Boston Red Sox vs Chicago White Sox on Tuesday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 6:36 a.m.
- Matchup: BOS at CWS
- Date: Tuesday, July 7
- Time: 7:40 p.m. (ET)
- Venue: Rate Field
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- TV: NESN and Chicago Sports Network
- Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for July 7 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
An overturned truck spilled hazardous materials onto the 62nd Street Bridge late Monday night and crews spent several hours working to contain the spill.
The Cherry City Volunteer Fire Company said it was assistant on a “large scale hazmat incident” along with crews from Allegheny County Emergency Services and the city of Pittsburgh’s Bureau of Fire.
A truck turned onto its side on the Sharpsburg side of the Senator Robert D. Fleming Bridge, also known as the 62nd Street Bridge, late Monday night and the fire company said crews were working to contain the leak.
An aerial view from the KDKA Drone Team around 3 a.m. Tuesday showed the large response from crews working at the scene of the crash.
A first responder told KDKA’s news crew at the scene that the chemical that was spilled was peroxide and the fire company said crews were working to keep the material from entering drainage systems.
Around 4 a.m. Tuesday, the fire company provided an update and said that all “hazardous materials have been mitigated,” but that the bridge is expected to remain closed for an extended period of time.
Drivers are being urged to use alternate routes for the morning commute.
Have you ever seen a porcupine in the wild? I haven’t. Honestly, it never even crossed my mind that they lived anywhere around Connecticut or New York. Apparently, I’ve been missing out. According to I-95 wildlife expert Jen the Zookeeper, your odds of spotting one is actually increasing. She says these prickly little animals are becoming more common throughout our area, meaning you may run into one sooner than you think. Here’s what Jen had to say about the newest furry neighbor making itself at home in our neck of the woods.
Prickly Population Boom: Connecticut’s Newest Neighbors
Move over deer—Connecticut has another backyard celebrity on the rise: the North American porcupine! These slow-moving, tree-climbing rodents have been popping up more often across the state, and they’re impossible to hug… for obvious reasons.
Despite what cartoons might suggest, porcupines can’t shoot their quills. Instead, they rely on a simple strategy: if a predator gets too close, the porcupine turns around and lets nature do the rest. Each quill has tiny barbs that make it surprisingly difficult to remove, making curious coyotes, dogs, and other predators think twice before trying again.
So why are more porcupines showing up? Scientists believe healthier forests, fewer natural predators, and plenty of tasty trees to nibble on have helped their numbers grow. They’re especially fond of bark, leaves, twigs, and even the occasional garden snack—though your favorite landscaping shrub may disagree with their menu choices.
Porcupines are also excellent climbers and spend much of their time in trees, often snoozing through the day and becoming active at night. If you spot one waddling across a trail, give it plenty of space and enjoy the rare chance to observe one of Connecticut’s most unique mammals.
The good news? Porcupines are peaceful, important members of our forest ecosystems. They help shape forest growth through their feeding habits and provide scientists with another reminder that healthy habitats support diverse wildlife.
So, if you notice a prickly visitor wandering through your neighborhood, remember: admire from a distance, keep curious dogs on a leash, and whatever you do… don’t ask for a hug.
More on Jen the Zookeeper
Jen has spent more than 30 years immersed in the fields of animal care, conservation, and science education. As the former Director of Animal Care for the New Canaan Nature Center in Connecticut, she oversaw the care of native mammals, reptiles, and birds of prey while educating the public about the important roles these wild neighbors play in our ecosystem. Her experience also includes time with both the Bronx Zoo and the Los Angeles Zoo, where she focused on the care of African and Asian wildlife and helped teach visitors about the delicate balance between humans and natural habitats.
Later, while working at a wildlife sanctuary in Half Moon Bay, California, Jen played a key role in training and handling nearly 50 exotic species. She also developed educational programs for at-risk and foster youth, helping historically underserved kids build trust, confidence, and healing connections with the non-releasable animals at the sanctuary.
In addition to her extensive wildlife work, Jen has experience in horse and dog training, animal control, veterinary care, and all things conservation education. Today, she owns and operates Jen Kotkin Pet Care, where she provides personalized care, exercise, and enrichment for dogs, cats, horses, birds, and more.
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Gallery Credit: Photos by Large Dave
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