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Massachusetts pols advancing bill eliminating religious vaccination exemption for school kids

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Massachusetts pols advancing bill eliminating religious vaccination exemption for school kids


Beacon Hill lawmakers were in the process of advancing legislation Friday that would eliminate religious vaccination exemptions for children entering public, private, or charter K-12 schools.

The measure was among six bills the Legislature’s Public Health Committee was in line to stamp its approval on and ship to the House for consideration during a stretch of time when legislators typically do not take up controversial legislation, according to an email sent to committee members that was obtained by the Herald.

The two Democratic chairs of the committee, Sen. Julian Cyr of Provincetown and Rep. Marjorie Decker of Cambridge, recommended lawmakers on the panel give the measure a favorable report, the email said.

The bill would still need to clear both the House and Senate and earn the signature of Gov. Maura Healey to become law. The two-year session covering 2023 and 2024 ends later this month.

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Rep. Andy Vargas, a Haverhill Democrat and chief sponsor of the bill, did not provide a comment when contacted by the Herald.

But at a July 2023 legislative hearing, Vargas said there has been a “rapid rise” in the use of religious exemptions since the 1980s while religious affiliation has been on a “downward trend.”

“So you could say the spirit of the law is being violated,” he said. “… Evidence from other states shows that removing religious exemptions increases vaccination rates without impacting school attendance.”

State law requires parents or guardians of children being admitted to schools to submit a physician’s certificate showing the child has been successfully immunized against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, and poliomyelitis, among other communicable diseases.

A child can be exempted from the requirement if a physician determines their health would be endangered by the vaccinations or a parent or guardian states in writing that vaccinations or immunizations conflict with their “ sincere religious beliefs,” according to state law.

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The bill would eliminate the religious option.

The legislation also requires the Department of Public Health to issue a public report each year on the total number of students who have been immunized and students who have received a medical exemption.

The proposal drew criticism from one state lawmaker.

Rep. Marc Lombardo, a Billerica Republican, said religious exemptions for school-aged children are a “longstanding” option available to residents of Massachusetts.

“We don’t force people based on religious beliefs to have to take certain actions at the penalty of not being allowed in a K through 12 private or public institution,” he told the Herald. “Religious freedom is a foundation of our nation and here in Massachusetts, we’re going to trample on that because left-wing activists believe they know better than individuals when it comes to their medical situations?”

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At the July 2023 hearing, Vargas said his bill is constitutional.

“The Supreme Court of the United States has already decided and reaffirmed that mandatory vaccination laws are constitutional,” he said. “… Our neighboring states have removed the religious exemption. I hope we can here in Massachusetts as well.”

The Public Health Committee was also in the process of moving three other bills related to vaccines and “community immunity” and two measures covering a “coordinated stroke care system,” according to the email to committee members.



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Massachusetts

Ice covered highways, streets and sidewalks in Boston area rattled nerves during morning commute: “I’m ready for the thaw”

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Ice covered highways, streets and sidewalks in Boston area rattled nerves during morning commute: “I’m ready for the thaw”


It was a treacherous commute for drivers across Massachusetts Wednesday morning. Ice on roads and highways caused several crashes during rush hour.

In Danvers, 22 miles north of Boston, the ramp from Interstate 95 to Route 1 north was covered in ice, leading to three separate crashes involving twelve cars. Three people were taken to local hospitals.

In Danvers, Mass. the ramp from Interstate 95 to Route 1 north was covered in ice, leading to three separate crashes involving twelve cars on March 4, 2026.

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CBS Boston


In Revere, just seven miles north of the city, two tractor-trailers collided on North Shore Road. Police said it will be shut down for most of the day. It’s unclear if this crash was caused by icy conditions.

Forty-four miles west of Boston, a tractor-trailer ran off the westbound side of the Massachusetts Turnpike in Westboro. One person was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester with what were described by the fire department as “non-life threatening injuries.”

The ice wasn’t just a problem for drivers. People walking around Boston were also slipping and sliding Wednesday morning.

“I almost fell at least five times but I didn’t. I don’t know how. I screamed and caught edges,” Swapna Vantzelfde told CBS News Boston about her walk to work in the South End. It took longer than usual.

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“The internal streets they just don’t get plowed, the little ones that people live on and then these arteries, the big streets, they’re cleaned a lot better,” she said.

Those on two legs and four were all stepping gingerly across slick spots.

“A little treacherous. Very slick and icy out here,” said a father pushing a stroller. “Sometimes you have something to hold on to, which helps.”

With plenty of snow piled along sidewalks and between parking spots, most people are done with winter.

“I’m over it. I’m ready for the thaw,” said one man. 

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‘No way to leave’: Mass. families stuck in Middle East amid war in Iran

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‘No way to leave’: Mass. families stuck in Middle East amid war in Iran


Massachusetts families are stuck in the Middle East amid the war in Iran, and Democratic Sen. Ed Markey says the State Department needs to do more to get them home.

The Trump administration is telling Americans to leave the region, and families would love to, but they haven’t been able to get out.

Stacey Schuhwerk of Hingham has been sheltering in place in a Doha hotel since Saturday.

“We hear the missiles outside,” she said. “We can see them.”

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The Hingham mother and her son are among nearly 1,600 Americans trapped in the Middle East with no way to get home.

“Airspace is shut down. There’s no planes,” said Schuhwerk. “There’s no way to leave.”

Flights between Boston and the Middle East are canceled or delayed as travelers express anxiety over the conflict.

At first, U.S. officials told people to shelter in place and register with the State Department — something Schuhwerk did days ago.

“There’s no help there. The last time we called was 20 minutes ago, and they continue to say that ‘We don’t know anything about any plans for government help to get people out,’” she said.

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Embassies and consulates across the region — including the U.S. Embassy in Israel — have now suspended services, saying they simply can’t get Americans out.

“They did not have a plan to conduct this war, and they clearly did not have a plan as to how to evacuate innocent families,” Markey said.

The senator says his office is hearing from Massachusetts families, and he’s pressuring the Trump administration to come up with an evacuation plan fast.

“We are going to apply that pressure on the State Department until every American who wants to leave that region is out,” he said.

Back in Doha, Schuhwerk keeps watching the war outside her window.

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“The talk here is ‘How much defensive ammunition’s left?’ Good question, you know, because the missiles aren’t stopping,” she said. “So how long are we going to be safe here?”

With no clear end to this conflict, she’s worried she could be stuck there for weeks.



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Snow, ice, rain to impact roads in Massachusetts – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

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Snow, ice, rain to impact roads in Massachusetts – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News


Happy Tuesday! While today started off dry, we’re already looking at snow out there across the area. While this event will primarily stay as rain on the Cape and islands, it will be an icy mix of snow, ice and rain for the rest of us.

The rain/snow line will continue to advance from the south to the north as the evening progresses. Before the changeover, there will be a quick coating to 2 inches for most of our area.

The threshold between the snow and rain will feature sleet and freezing rain, leading to that icing.

For the rest of the night, there will primarily be rain with continued pockets of freezing rain, leading to increasing spotty ice accretion. Be extremely careful on roads, especially since switching between rain and freezing rain can wash off any road salt.

The rain and freezing rain will exit by 6 a.m. Wednesday, but temperatures will still be close to freezing during the morning commute, so watch out for some spotty black ice.

The rest of Wednesday will be really nice! Highs will warm up to the mid 50s with the help of ample sun.

Thursday we start off in the mid 20s and top off in the mid 40s. We’ll be partly sunny with another chance for some wintry weather Thursday night. This primarily looks like some rain and freezing rain, rather than the triple threat with snow too. We’ll keep an eye on that for you.

That will continue into Friday morning. The rest of Friday: cloudy with a chance for a spot shower and highs cooler again in the upper 30s. Saturday will be dry, breezy and cloudy but gorgeous near 50 degrees! There’s a chance for some rain showers Saturday night. Don’t forget to set your clocks forward an hour before you to go bed!

Sunday we start the day mild in the 40s and make it all the way into the upper 50s with more sun. Monday and Tuesday both look bright and in the 60s! Stay tuned.

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