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A push toward restoring the voting rights of prisoners in Massachusetts

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A condemned inmate stands with handcuffs on as he prepares to be released from the exercise yard back to his cell at San Quentin State Prison’s death row. Photo Courtesy of Justin Sullivan/Getty Images.

By Suryatapa Chakraborty

Boston University News Service

Lawmakers, prisoners and advocacy groups declared at a virtual conference on Monday that Massachusetts should restore voting rights to currently incarcerated prisoners, a large percentage of whom are people of color, as a matter of democracy and racial justice.

Organized by the Sentencing Project and Democracy Behind Bars Coalition, the conference announced the release of a Sentencing Project report focusing on the racial impacts of disenfranchisement of felons in Massachusetts. 

The Sentencing Project is a nonprofit advocacy group based in Washington D.C. that works to address racial injustice in the U.S. criminal legal system. The report explained how the ban on the right to vote specifically affects the Black and Latinx communities, which form 31% and 29% of the prison population in the state respectively. 

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The report also highlights that over 7,700 individuals in Massachusetts are banned from voting because of the constitutional amendment in 2000 that took away the voting rights of an incarcerated felon. 

“So let’s fix that,” said Nicole D. Porter, Senior Director of Advocacy at the Sentencing Project. 

Porter said Massachusetts should join Maine, Vermont and Washington D.C. in making sure that all citizens can participate in the “democratic process” of voting.

“There is only so much work outside advocates can do, and so we are calling on legislators to meet with and listen to their incarcerated constituents directly,” said Elly Kalfus, an organizer with Democracy Behind Bars Coalition, a community organization that advocates prisoners’ rights. 

“We should be furthering people’s democracy, not limiting it,” said Sen. Liz Miranda, D-Boston. 

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Miranda said that the voting ban not only silences the voice of the individuals, but also disproportionately affects the communities of color. “It’s a matter of racial justice.”

The proposal for a constitutional amendment to restore the voting rights of incarcerated felons, which was filed by Miranda, was approved by the Election Laws Committee last April and awaits further action.

“Re-enfranchisement is essential to rehabilitation,” says Joshua “Hamza” Berrios, member of the African American Coalition Committee and currently an incarcerated prisoner. 



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Massachusetts

The best Massachusetts high schools for athletes? According to one study, here are top 25

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The best Massachusetts high schools for athletes? According to one study, here are top 25


No other city in the country boasts more championships than Boston, giving Massachusetts a sporting pedigree unlike any other.

What’s unique about many of the state is that several of the stars from those championship-winning teams were Massachusetts natives.

Before they were winning the Stanley Cup, the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, World Series or a gold medal, those athletes were high school standouts.

Which high schools in Massachusetts are considered the best for athletes today? 

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According to a study conducted by Niche, which accounts for survey feedback from students and parents—accounting for “reviews of athletics, number of state championships, student participation in athletics, and the number of sports offered at the school”—and data from the U.S. Department of Education, these are the top 25.

25. Hanover High School

Total number of sports: 29

24. Tewksbury Memorial High School

Total number of sports: 24

23. Medfield Senior High School

Total number of sports: 27

22. North Reading High School

Total number of sports: 26

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21. Cushing Academy (Ashburnham)

Total number of sports: 20

20. Minnechaug Regional High School (Wilbraham)

Total number of sports: 30

19. Franklin High School

Total number of sports: 20

18. Shrewsbury Senior High School

Total number of sports: 34

17. Longmeadow High School

Total number of sports: 28

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16. Bishop Feehan High School (Attleboro)

Total number of sports: 27

15. Wellesley Senior High School

Total number of sports: 36

14. Mansfield High School

Total number of sports: 22

13. Billerica Memorial High School

Total number of sports: 23

12. St. Sebastian’s School (Needham)

Total number of sports: 13

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11. Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School

Total number of sports: 32

10. Deerfield Academy

Total number of sports: 37

9. Nashoba Regional High School (Bolton)

Total number of sports: 30

8. Belmont Hill School

Total number of sports: 16

7. Duxbury High School

Total number of sports: 30

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6. Notre Dame Academy (Hingham)

Total number of sports: 19

5. Central Catholic High School (Lawrence)

Total number of sports: 30

4. Catholic Memorial (West Roxbury)

Total number of sports: 15

3. Xaverian Brothers High School (Westwood)

Total number of sports: 17

2. Boston College High School

Total number of sports: 17

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1. St. John’s Prep (Danvers)

Total number of sports: 22



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Family of fallen Massachusetts State Trooper attends ceremony remembering those killed in the line of duty – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

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Family of fallen Massachusetts State Trooper attends ceremony remembering those killed in the line of duty – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News


BOSTON (WHDH) – It was a powerful moment on Friday during the annual Law-Enforcement Memorial Ceremony at the State House, as the ceremony remembered those lost in the line of duty, including State Trooper Kevin Trainor.

Trainor was killed in a wrong-way crash this week. Trainor’s family was in attendance.

“We’re here today with the Trainor family as another tragedy and agonizing time in policing has found us,” Larry Calderone, Boston Police Union President, said.

The day brought a moment to pause and remember the 30-year-old who is being hailed a hero after he was struck and killed Wednesday morning on Route 1 in Lynnfield.

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“We’ve lost a brother,” Massachusetts State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble said.

The fallen trooper’s fiancée spoke out for the first time since losing the love of her life. She posted to social media, “I am beyond proud of the amount of love you have been given by those who loved and cared about you shows us who you really were, a friend, a partner, a brother, a son, and a hero. You weren’t just a hero to me but a hero to all.”

(Copyright (c) 2026 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Globe Top 20 baseball poll: BC High bounces back amid a flurry of movement – The Boston Globe

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Globe Top 20 baseball poll: BC High bounces back amid a flurry of movement – The Boston Globe


Bishop Feehan moves up to the No. 2 spot — the Shamrocks have won eight straight against in-state competition, and ace Brody Bumila continues to look unbeatable. Natick enters the top five for the first time at No. 4 — the Redhawks are 12-1 with a 9-0 mark in Bay State play.

In the back half, Reading rises to No. 13 after getting some revenge on No. 19 Arlington. Also rising are No. 12 Plymouth North and No. 16 Canton, each up two spots.

New entrants are No. 18 Winchester, which returns to the rankings, and No. 20 Hopkinton, in for the first time this year on the back of four straight wins.

Records based on scores reported to the Globe.

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The Globe’s Top 20 baseball poll

The Globe poll as of May 8, 2026. Teams were selected by the Globe sports staff.


Mike Puzzanghera can be reached at michael.puzzanghera@globe.com. Follow him on X @mpuzzanghera.





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