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‘Applying a wrecking ball': Mass. teachers, leaders react to Trump's order on education

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‘Applying a wrecking ball': Mass. teachers, leaders react to Trump's order on education


President Donald Trump’s executive order calling for the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education has been met with condemnation from Massachusetts leaders and the state’s largest teachers union.

Trump promised on the campaign trail to do away with the agency. Its official dismantling would require an act of Congress.

“We’re going to shut it down, and shut it down as quickly as possible,” Trump said. “It’s doing us no good.”

Educators expressed concern that the move would impact class sizes while taking resources away from students. Democratic elected officials, including Gov. Maura Healey, sounded off on the measure, while Republicans who spoke with NBC10 Boston Thursday applauded it.

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“What they’re doing is applying a wrecking ball to the Department of Education that’s going to affect 50 million public school students and college students across the country,” said Max Page, president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association.

Gov. Maura Healey is expressing concern about how some of President Donald Trump’s moves will affect Massachusetts.

“To me, this is really distressing,” Healey told NBC10 Boston in an interview Thursday. “I think it’s a dumb idea. It seems to me we should be doing everything we can to make America more competitive, continue to invest in education, and I can tell you as governor, I’m going to continue to support and invest in education in our state.”

Healey was not alone among Massachusetts Democrats to criticize Trump’s move, with some also calling out billionaire advisor Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency.

“Before Linda McMahon was sworn in, Donald Trump and Elon Musk were already working to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education,” Massachusetts Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler said in a statement shared by Healey’s office. “Today’s executive order does nothing to improve opportunities and outcomes for students but instead will negatively impact our most vulnerable student populations and exacerbate longstanding challenges around wealth inequality. As a former history teacher, I know how important public education is to a functioning democracy. The fight to protect students’ civil rights is urgent and here.”

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“This is a code red for every public school student, parent, and teacher in this country. Trump is telling public school kids in America that their futures don’t matter,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in a statement. “Billionaires like Trump and Musk won’t feel the difference when after school programs are slashed, class sizes go up, and help for families to pay for school gets cut. But working families, students, and teachers will pay a heavy price.”

“President Trump, Elon Musk, and Secretary McMahon have a clear education agenda: stealing from public schools to fund tax breaks for billionaires,” added Sen. Ed Markey in his own statement. “Dismantling the Department of Education is just code for cuts to public schools, educators, students, and parents. Their anti-student, anti-family, anti-educator plan to dismantle the Department will harm every community across the country. They are attempting to privatize education, locking the promise of opportunity in an ivory tower accessible only to those born into the right circumstances.”

Rep. Ayanna Pressley reacted to President Donald Trump’s forthcoming executive order calling for the U.S. Department of Education to be shut down.

“Every child will feel the impact, and we will feel it for generations,” Rep. Ayanna Pressley told NBC10 Boston Wednesday after learning Trump planned to sign the order the next day. “To defund Head Start? I have 2,600 low-income families in my district that rely upon that early education and care.”

Republicans, meanwhile, defended the move.

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“Not one child is educated by the Department of Education, not one school is run by the Department of Education. This is a great day for students,” said Massachusetts Republican strategist Wendy Wakeman.

In Massachusetts, about 9.7% percent of school funding comes from the federal government, totaling about $2.1 billion. School districts are now afraid to lose millions.

“The community is very upset and disturbed by the actions that the federal government is taking,” said Margaret Foley, a reading teacher in Framingham — a district that receives about $9 million in federal funding.

With President Trump signing an executive order calling for the U.S. Department of Education to be dismantled, we’re looking into whether he actually can get rid of a federal department, what the department actually does and why it was founded. 

Established in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter’s administration, the Department of Education distributes financial aid for FAFSA applications, oversees federal government grant funding, and is responsible for overseeing policies enacted by Congress.

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“Those old ways are failing our children,” Wakeman argued. “We need new ideas. We need new life, and one of the ways to do it is to get rid of this bureaucratic bloat.”

For now, cities throughout the state are still scrambling to figure out exactly how their schools will be affected.

“We haven’t really fully understood what it is going to mean when it gets down to the ground in Massachusetts, so we’re going to talk with our team, figure out what impacts it may have,” said Revere Mayor Patrick Keefe Jr.



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Massachusetts

French-Mediterranean Eatery Charts Opening In Boston

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French-Mediterranean Eatery Charts Opening In Boston


BOSTON, MA — An international restaurant group with locations across the globe is preparing to open its first Massachusetts restaurant this year.

LPM Restaurant & Bar, a French Riviera-inspired restaurant founded in London, is set to open on the second floor of the Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street in Back Bay, according to Four Seasons. The hotel lists the restaurant as “Opening Summer 2026,” while the Boston Business Journal reported the restaurant plans to open in September.

The Boston restaurant will mark LPM’s debut in the Northeast and its third U.S. outpost, following locations in Miami and Las Vegas, according to a Four Seasons announcement.

LPM, also known as La Petite Maison, was founded in London in 2007 and is known for French-Mediterranean food, Mediterranean ingredients and dining rooms influenced by Belle Époque design.

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The business operates locations in London, Dubai, Miami, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Riyadh, Limassol, Doha, Mykonos, Kuwait, Boston, Maldives and Bangkok.

Four Seasons said LPM will take over the space that formerly housed One Dalton’s breakfast concept, One + One. The restaurant will join other dining options at the hotel, including Zuma and Trifecta.

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Massachusetts high school under investigation after teachers diagnosed with breast cancer

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Massachusetts high school under investigation after teachers diagnosed with breast cancer


A Massachusetts high school is under investigation after “several” teachers have been diagnosed with breast cancer or precancerous conditions.

The state Department of Public Health is set to visit Uxbridge High School on Thursday to “conduct a series of air quality tests,” to determine whether the multiple cases are potentially connected.

Superintendent David Ljungberg and Principal Michael Rubin alerted families and district staff on Monday of the “sombering news,” after Uxbridge High School’s graduation over the weekend.

“We are writing to inform you about a concern we are investigating at Uxbridge High School,” Ljungberg and Rubin stated in the letter. “Several female teachers have been diagnosed with breast cancer or precancerous conditions over the past few years.”

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“It is, of course, possible that these multiple cases are not connected to one another,” the leaders added, “but out of abundance of caution, we are looking into any environmental factors at the school that may be a factor in their diagnoses.”

The 123,000-square-foot school, with an enrollment of roughly 600, was constructed in 2012 at a cost of $45 million, including a $22-million state reimbursement.

Uxbridge school leaders say they notified the state Department of Health and local health board as soon as they became aware of the cases, seeking “counsel about how best to proceed.”

“Massachusetts DPH officials have indicated that there is no evidence of immediate danger in the building and no reason to limit access to or use of the facility at this time,” they wrote in their letter. “In fact, the public health officials have commended our decision to approach them with these concerns, our readiness to partner with them in support of the evaluation process.”

Health officials are assessing the school’s interior and exterior to “ensure there are no issues with the infrastructure that would present risks (including electrical, plumbing, mechanical, HVAC, and other systems)” and the indoor and outdoor air quality on campus.

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The superintendent and principal said that state officials have ruled out water supply as a “risk factor” after “thorough testing.”

“The team has reached out to the women who have been diagnosed, requesting data to evaluate whether there may be a connection among their cases,” Ljungberg and Rubin wrote. “We are grateful for their cooperation.”

They added that the state has said discovering an environmental “smoking gun” is “rare” in workplace investigations.

“However, even if a direct causal link is not established,” the leaders wrote, “the administration is utilizing this process to rigorously test the building and guarantee that it meets all safety standards moving forward.”

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Gov. Healey backs bill to keep Mass. bars open until 3 a.m. this summer

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Gov. Healey backs bill to keep Mass. bars open until 3 a.m. this summer


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The legislation would allow licensed establishments to sell alcohol one hour later than their normal closing time, up to 3 a.m., between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2026.

The proposal has received support from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and most recently Gov. Maura Healey, who submitted written testimony Monday to the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies urging lawmakers to advance the measure. (Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff)

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a measure that would allow cities and towns to temporarily extend bar and restaurant hours during the summer, as the state prepares to host FIFA World Cup matches and celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.

The legislation (H.5465) filed by state Rep. Carole Fiola, would allow licensed establishments to sell alcohol one hour later than their normal closing time, up to 3 a.m., between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2026. The bill would also allow communities to establish designated public consumption districts where alcohol could be consumed in approved public spaces.

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In a press release announcing the bill, Fiola said the summer’s threefold events lineup — the World Cup, Tall Ships, and July 4th — is an economically significant moment that the state should take advantage of.

“We should capitalize on these events that will generate economic benefits for small businesses and the state as a whole. It’s a local opt-in idea worth exploring that’s being done in other states,” Fiola said.

The proposal has received support from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and most recently Gov. Maura Healey, who submitted written testimony Monday to the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies urging lawmakers to advance the measure.

“Massachusetts is planning for a once-in-a-generation summer,” Healey wrote, according to the Boston Globe. “In 2026, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, welcome tall ships from around the world to Boston Harbor for Sail Boston, and host seven FIFA World Cup matches in Foxborough, along with watch parties across the Commonwealth.”

The governor argued that the added flexibility could help local economies benefit from an influx of visitors.

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“That flexibility can help communities capture more visitor spending, support jobs, keep downtowns active, and strengthen Massachusetts’ image as a dynamic destination ready to host the world and a place our residents, including our young professionals, are proud to call home,” Healey wrote.

She also urged lawmakers to move the legislation forward, saying it will “help Massachusetts meet the full economic and cultural opportunities for the summer ahead.”


  • Rhode Island bill proposes 24-hour bar hours during World Cup

In Rhode Island, a similar bill to allow bars and restaurants to remain open until 4 a.m. during the World Cup was signed into law on Friday.

Fiola’s bill remains before the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. Any final version would require approval from both the House and Senate before reaching Healey’s desk.

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Annie Jonas is a Community writer at Boston.com. She was previously a local editor at Patch and a freelancer at the Financial Times.

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