Massachusetts
More than a dozen beaches closed across Massachusetts on Thursday
As a sweltering heat wave brought temperatures north of 90 degrees and high humidity to Massachusetts for the third straight day on Thursday, nearly 20 beaches across the state were closed, according to the state’s public water quality dashboard.
In all, 18 beaches across Massachusetts were closed as of the 9:30 a.m. update to the dashboard. The closures spanned from Great Barrington in Western Massachusetts to Boston in Eastern Massachusetts to beaches on Cape Cod and the Islands. Of the 18 beaches closed in the state as of Thursday morning, two-thirds — 12 of the 18 — were shuttered due to an excess of bacteria in the water.
The remaining closures were attributed to harmful cyanobacteria blooms and “other.”
- Read more: Here’s how hot it will get on Thursday in Massachusetts amid the heat wave
In Great Barrington, Lake Mansfield was closed, though the dashboard listed only “other” as a reason. In the eastern part of the state, in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, Tenean Beach was shuttered due to an excessive amount of bacteria in the water.
On the Cape, Attaquin Park in Mashpee was closed due to a harmful cyanobacteria bloom, the same reason given for the closure of Miacomet Pond in Nantucket.
Two beaches in Salem were closed on Thursday — the most in any municipality — with Camp Naumkeag closed due to “other” reasons and the back of Children’s Island closed because of bacteria.
- Read more: These beaches have the best — and worst — water quality in greater Boston, report finds
“If a beach is closed, do not swim or enter the water at that location to avoid risk of illness,” the dashboard warns.
The dashboard is updated twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, and shows the results of recent water quality tests at beaches across the state. More than 1,100 public and semi-public beaches in the state are regularly monitored.
And despite the closures, state officials say the beaches are still perfectly safe for recreational activities aside from swimming.
The full list of closures is below. If you can’t see the chart, click here.
Massachusetts
Changes Coming to Mega Millions in 2025
Mega Millions lottery tickets will more than double in 2025, but the Massachusetts Lottery says you’ll have a better chance of winning.
The Lottery says, “Mega Millions, the multi-state lottery game that has produced a record six jackpot wins exceeding $1 billion, is getting ready for a ‘mega’ overhaul with plans to be bigger and better than ever when the new and improved game launches in April of 2025.”
The Massachusetts Lottery promises “improved odds to win the jackpot, bigger jackpots more frequently, larger starting jackpots, faster-growing jackpots, a built-in multiplier on every play, automatically improving every non-jackpot win by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X – up to $10 million for matching the five white balls, and no breakeven prizes, meaning when a player wins they’ll always win more than the cost of the ticket.”
Five jackpot prizes have been paid out in Massachusetts since the Mega Millions game began in 2022.
Forty-five states and two U.S. territories participate in the Mega Millions game.
The Associated Press quotes Christian Teja, the Massachusetts Lottery Director of Communications, as saying that “They’re constantly looking at ways to enhance the games, maybe make them a little bit different than Powerball.”
“You have probably heard about jackpot fatigue, it used to be $100 million and everybody was playing. Then it became $300 million,” Teja said. “Then it was $500 million. Now, it’s really approaching a billion dollars before you see the sales kick up.”
It currently costs $2 to play Mega Millions but the ticket price will increase to $5 in April 2025. Perhaps the lure of bigger prizes and better chances to win will overshadow the higher ticket cost.
25 Times SouthCoasters Won $1 Million or More in the Massachusetts Lottery
Since 2006, the Massachusetts State Lottery has kept a record of every winning ticket of $1 million or more. Here are 25 sold on the SouthCoast.
Gallery Credit: Gazelle
America’s Top 10 States With The Most Lottery Wins
Just how lucky is your state? A new list has determined which states have won the most money from either the Powerball or MegaMillions in the last 10 years.
Gallery Credit: Jahna Michal
Massachusetts
Massachusetts lawmaker proposes legislation to regulate drones
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Massachusetts
Ocean State Job Lot taking over 3rd former Christmas Tree Shops store in Massachusetts
NORTH ATTLEBORO – Ocean State Job Lot announced this week it is taking over a third former Christmas Tree Shops location in Massachusetts and sixth overall in New England.
Ocean State Job Lot opening in North Attleboro
The Rhode Island-based discount retail chain will open its 53rd Massachusetts store in North Attleboro after buying the Cumberland Crossing shopping center. The store is scheduled to open sometime in the second quarter of 2025. Other shops at the plaza include a trampoline park, Guitar Center, Planet Fitness and David’s Bridal.
Ocean State Job Lots says its growth strategy includes a “repurposing of former retail sites.” Old Christmas Tree Shops stores in Avon and Pembroke, as well as locations in Augusta, Maine; St. Albans, Vermont and Warwick, Rhode Island have also turned into Ocean State Job Lots.
What’s happening to old Christmas Tree Shop stores?
The last Christmas Tree Shops stores closed more than a year ago, after the New England retailer declared bankruptcy and went out of business.
The once-popular chain known for its “Don’t you just love a bargain?” jingle began on Cape Cod 50 years ago. Not long before closures began, ownership decided to rebrand as “CTS” because some confused shoppers outside of New England thought the stores only sold Christmas trees.
A former Christmas Tree Shops location in Dartmouth has been turned into a “Spirit Christmas” store for the holidays. Other Christmas Tree Shops have become furniture stores, supermarkets and potential real estate development opportunities.
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