Boston, MA
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joins Boston Mayor Wu, Ayanna Pressley to slam Trump’s childcare funding cuts
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined progressive allies and squad members U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to call for more federal funding for childcare amid cutbacks by the Trump administration.
Ocasio-Cortez, a New York congresswoman who traveled to Massachusetts this week, appeared Friday alongside Pressley and Wu at Horizons for Homeless Children in Roxbury for a story time classroom visit, roundtable discussion, and media availability, where they questioned the Trump administration’s priorities.
“We know that families are experiencing greater financial hardship and economic anxiety and vulnerabilities each and every day because of the hostilities of this administration that are not focused on the things that matter most, and that is affordability,” Pressley, a Massachusetts Democrat, said at the daycare center. “Increasingly, everything is through the roof and that includes the cost of childcare.
“We have an occupant in the Oval Office that says we have to fund a war that we don’t even know why we’re there, but we cannot afford to pay for childcare when that is our most important infrastructure,” Pressley added. “All the data bears out that investment is the greatest return on investment.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in January froze access to certain federal childcare and family assistance funds for California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York “following serious concerns about widespread fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars in state-administered programs,” the federal agency said in a press release at the time.
Locally, the Massachusetts Head Start Association’s executive director, Michelle Haimowitz, issued a statement earlier this month in response to Trump’s federal budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 that she said was “making it more difficult for our Head Start programs in Massachusetts by flat-funding Head Start nationally.”
“The federal government’s failure to provide our programs with much-needed funding has led to workforce shortages and difficulties in providing education and services to our students,” Haimowitz said at the time.
Ocasio-Cortez said Friday, “Over the last year, between the president’s efforts on DOGE, cutting services across health care, childcare, education, we see the Department of Education itself under threat by this administration.
“I don’t think that the president’s administration right now is friendly to Head Start, which is why it is incumbent upon us, and why we are stepping up in this moment to make sure that we are defending the state of Massachusetts, and frankly, the United States of America, the state of New York in those investments because investing in our children now is also an investment in those families.
“There are some things that should just not be on the table and Head Start is one of them,’ Ocasio-Cortez added.
Wu, who gave birth to her third child in January, spoke of her administration’s efforts to expand pre-school education in Boston and how that availability can help relieve the challenges of being a parent.
“We know the uptake in terms of when our families have access to universal pre-K through our Boston pre-K program, the uptake then into kindergarten and into the Boston Public Schools is higher than ever before,” Wu said. “We see this not as a separate issue from public education or from housing or from workforce development. It’s really one and the same.”
Five shops where the experience is the real purchase.
M. Flynn’s South End boutique. / Photo by Brad Bahner, Kerrie Burke
M. Flynn, South End
The perk: Custom fused bracelets
At M. Flynn’s South End shop, buying a bracelet is a little more hands-on than usual—in the best possible way. In just a few minutes, a delicate chain is custom-fit and fused directly onto the wrist, no clasp required. It’s the kind of experience that’s especially fun with a friend (matching bracelets encouraged!) and results in an easy, everyday piece you don’t have to think twice about.
M. Flynn Jewelry, 40 Waltham St, Boston
Boston Ski + Tennis, Newton
The Perk: A ski and snowboard simulator
Missing the slopes already? Head to Boston Ski + Tennis, where the recently launched in-store simulator allows snowboarders and skiers to train and fine-tune their technique without ever leaving the shop. The coaching staff provides guidance to powder hounds of all levels throughout the experience, proving that even in this digital age, nothing beats the expertise of a real person.
Boston Ski + Tennis, 153 Needham St, Newton
Some of Olfactory NYC’s custom fragrances. / Courtesy photo
Olfactory NYC, Back Bay
The Perk: Custom perfume making
At Olfactory NYC, creating a signature scent is part science experiment, part indulgence. Inside the Newbury Street shop, you’ll sample, tweak, and fine-tune notes with help from scent specialists until the fragrance feels unmistakably yours, and head home with a bespoke fragrance.
A Golden Goose artist adds custom sparkle to a pair of kicks. / Courtesy photo
Golden Goose, Back Bay
The Perk: In-store sneaker customization
Golden Goose’s Co-Creation experience turns sneaker shopping into something far more personal. At the Copley Place boutique, customers can work with an in-house artisan to customize a new pair—adding sketches, crystals, studs, or even personal messages. The result is a one-of-a-kind take on a cult-favorite style.
Earrings by Three Stories Jewelry, which will be on hand for a piercing event at Gretta Luxe this spring. / Courtesy photo
Gretta Luxe, Wellesley
The Perk: In-store events with coveted brands
Here, it’s less about popping in and out, and more about showing up for whatever’s happening next. The designer boutique regularly hosts interactive events that let shoppers hang with reps of their favorite brands. Mark your calendar for May, when Three Stories Jewelry will headline a piercing event.
Police in Boston are searching for a missing 12-year-old girl from Dorchester.
La’Niya Johnson-Skinner was last seen Friday in the area of Mascot Street in Dorchester, police said Thursday.
She is described as a 4’10, 120-pound Black girl with medium brown skin and dark brown hair she wears in a bun, the Boston Police Department said.
When she was last seen, she was wearing a black Nike sweatshirt, a baby blue shirt with a Boston Renaissance Charter Public School logo, black leggings, brown sandals and a pink and black Elite backpack.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or 617-343-4712. Anonymous tips can also be left by calling 1-800-494-8477, by texting “TIP” to 27463, or by visiting the Boston Police Department’s website.
Brockton’s Moyzilla food truck offers up Asian comfort food on the go
Moyzilla is a jewel of MA food trucks. Founded by Jon Moy — son of Brockton culinary royalty — it offers Asian comfort food from Brockton to Boston.
Looking for a new marketplace to shop at this spring? You’re in luck – Boston is home to one of the best public markets in the country, according to USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards.
The annual 10BEST awards highlight the best in travel, food and lifestyle, and winners are chosen by a public voting poll after being nominated by industry experts. In the 2026 food awards, highlighting the top food tours, food cruises, farmers markets and more from across the country, Boston Public Market ranked third in the best public market category.
Here’s what to know before you go to Boston’s top-ranked public market.
Why Boston Public Market ranked third
A year-round indoor marketplace in Downtown Boston, Boston Public Market celebrates the bounty New England has to offer with fresh groceries, prepared meals, crafts and specialty items from over 30 local artisans and food producers, with a focus on seasonal items.
Along with browsing through groceries and goods, guests are invited to join the public market for a variety of special events, including trivia, live music, magic shows and face painting.
Boston Public Market is located at 100 Hanover St. on the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, directly above the Haymarket MBTA station. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday or 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
What other markets made the list?
Here is USA TODAY’s full ranking of the top 10 public markets in the country:
- Reading Terminal Market – Philadelphia, PA
- Milwaukee Public Market – Milwaukee, WI
- Boston Public Market – Boston, MA
- Eastern Market – Detroit, MI
- West Side Market – Cleveland, OH
- Essex Market – New York City, NY
- Lancaster Central Market – Lancaster, PA
- Midtown Global Market – Minneapolis, MN
- Grand Central Market – Los Angeles, CA
- North Market Downtown – Columbus, OH
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