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Where brush fires are burning in Massachusetts

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Where brush fires are burning in Massachusetts


Boston man arrested after running away from brush fire in Milford

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Boston man arrested after running away from brush fire in Milford

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BOSTON – Dry conditions have persisted and with no rain in the immediate forecast, several Massachusetts communities are dealing with significant brush fires.

According to the Department of Fire Services, as of Saturday night there have been 106 brush and wildland fires reported over the last week. In total, the fires have burned around 600 acres.

Five new fires have been reported since Friday, officials said. 

Massachusetts brush fires

Here is where fires are currently burning in Massachusetts, as of Saturday night:

  • Cain Hill (Salem/Lynn) – 140 acres, 50% contained
  • Middleton Pond (Middleton) – 188 acres, 70% contained
  • Pappas (Canton) – 32 acres, 90% contained
  • Wolcott Hill/Blue Hills Reservation (Milton) – 4 acres, 70% contained
  • Curry 24 (Devens) – 100 acres,  99% contained
  • Maple Meadow (Wilmington) – 10 acres, 70% contained
  • Mt. Laurel (Holden) – 6 acres, 95% contained
  • Traders Way (Salem) – 15 acres, 50% contained
  • Old Forest Rd (North Andover) – 5 acres, 30% contained
  • Bradway (Monson) – 44 acres, 90% contained
  • Castle Rock (Saugus) – 22 acres, 80% contained
  • Pond South (Middleton) – 4 acres, 60% contained
  • Fitzgerald (Northampton) – 54 acres, 30% contained
  • Moose Meadow (Montgomery) – 60 acres, 60% contained
  • Howe (Spencer) – 9.5 acres, 30% contained

How to prevent brush fires

As fires continue to burn, the Department of Fire Services is asking people to take precautions. Here are their tips for preventing fires:

  • Do not burn leaves. (Open burning is prohibited through January)
  • Refrain from outdoor cooking and heating.
  • Use caution with lawnmowers, leaf blowers and other power equipment as engines can get hot enough to ignite dry leaves.
  • Dump ashes from fireplaces and wood stoves in a metal can, douse them with water, and cover them with a tight-fitting lid. 
  • Extinguish smoking materials in an ashtray with water or sand. 

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Massachusetts

Weird laws in Massachusetts including a $20 fine, possible jail time for frightening a pigeon

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Weird laws in Massachusetts including a  fine, possible jail time for frightening a pigeon


Laws on pigeon frightening, milk cart vandalization and belting the national anthem are all present in the state of Massachusetts. 

The 1780 Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the oldest functioning written constitution in the world, according to Mass.gov. The historical document was drafted by John Adams. 

Scanning through laws in Massachusetts, you are sure to find some head scratchers, but the state is far from the only one that has bizarre laws still technically on the books. 

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Below are a few strange laws present in the state of Massachusetts. 

Among the strange laws in Massachusetts you may have not known about include ones regarding pigeons, milk cartons and alcohol-infused candy. (iStock)

  1. Think twice before scaring a pigeon
  2. Fine, possible imprisonment for vandalizing a carton of milk
  3. No more than 1% alcohol in candy
  4. Fines for singing or playing the national anthem
  5. Avoid changing the color of a rabbit or a chicken
  6. Spooky real estate rule

1. Think twice before you scare a pigeon 

Before sneaking up on a pigeon in Massachusetts, consider this strange law. 

You’re likely to see quite a few pigeons in Massachusetts, but it’s best to leave them be, as it’s illegal in Massachusetts to give them a fright. 

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“Pigeons, killing or frightening” is covered in Chapter 255, Section 132 of the General Laws of Massachusetts. 

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“Whoever wilfully kills pigeons upon, or frightens them from, beds which have been made for the purpose of taking them in nets, by any method, within one hundred rods of the same, except on land lawfully occupied by himself, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one month or by a fine of not more than twenty dollars, and shall also be liable for the actual damages to the owner or occupant of such beds,” the law states. 

Pigeons in Boston

In Massachusetts, it’s best to leave the pigeons alone. (Stan Grossfeld/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

2. Fine, possible imprisonment for vandalizing a carton of milk

With the average cost of a gallon of milk around $4 in 2024, you could end up spending more than you bargained for by breaking this law. 

In Massachusetts, there is a law explicitly stating the punishment for vandalizing a carton of milk, which is a fine of $10. 

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“Whoever, without the consent of the owner thereof, knowingly and wilfully effaces, alters or covers over, or procures to be effaced, altered or covered over, the name, initial or device of any dealer in milk, marked or stamped upon a milk can, or whoever, with intent to defraud and without such consent, detains or uses in his business any such can having the name, initial or device of any dealer in milk so marked or stamped thereon, shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten dollars,” Chapter 255, Section 128 of Massachusetts law states. 

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3. No more than 1% alcohol in candy

Don’t expect any boozy candy in Massachusetts, as candy must contain less than 1% alcohol, according to state laws. 

This is written out in Chapter 270, Section 8 of the General Law in Massachusetts. 

Breaking this law could result in a fine of up to $100. 

Alcohol infused Gummy bears

Candy in Massachusetts must contain less than 1% alcohol. (ANDER GILLENEA/AFP via Getty Images)

4. Fines for singing or playing the national anthem

Before the famous lyrics “O say can you see” leave your lips in Massachusetts, consider this law in the state. 

Whoever belts “The Star-Spangled Banner” or plays it on an instrument in any sort of public space “other than as a whole and separate composition or number” could face a fine up to $100. 

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Chapter 264, Section 9 of Massachusetts law states that “whoever plays, sings or renders the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ in any public place, theatre, motion picture hall, restaurant or café, or at any public entertainment, other than as a whole and separate composition or number, without embellishment or addition in the way of national or other melodies, or whoever plays, sings or renders the ‘Star Spangled Banner’, or any part thereof, as dance music, as an exit march or as a part of a medley of any kind, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.”

5. Avoid changing the color of a rabbit or a chicken

There are several stipulations in Massachusetts law about baby chicks, ducklings, rabbits and other fowl in terms of their sale, barter or gifting. 

This includes the dyeing or coloring of these animals. 

“No person shall sell, offer for sale, barter, display or give away living rabbits, chickens, ducklings or other fowl which have been dyed, colored or otherwise treated so as to impart to them an artificial color,” Chapter 272, Section 80D of state law explains. 

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Baby chicks

There is a law against dyeing baby chickens in Massachusetts. (KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

An additional provision of this law includes the sale, barter or gift of ducklings, baby chickens or fowl under 2 months old. 

“Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the sale or display of baby chickens, ducklings or other fowl under two months of age by breeders or stores engaged in the business of selling for purposes of commercial breeding and raising; provided, however, that prior to May first in any year, such ducklings may be sold or purchased only in quantities of twenty-four or more,” the law explains. 

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“This section shall not prohibit, however, the sale or donation of such chickens, ducklings or fowl to schools for use in classroom instruction,” per the state law. 

Those who violate this law could face a fine of up to $100. 

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6. Spooky real estate rule

Real estate laws vary state-by-state. 

One differentiation between states in terms of real estate is how much information is legally required to be disclosed to potential buyers. This includes spooky events and the property being haunted.

In Massachusetts, a seller “doesn’t need to disclose psychologically affected property, including an alleged parapsychological or supernatural phenomenon,” according to Zillow’s website. 



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This Massachusetts shop is offering free coffee for patrons who come in dancing | CNN Business

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This Massachusetts shop is offering free coffee for patrons who come in dancing | CNN Business




CNN
 — 

A coffee shop in Middleborough, Massachusetts, went viral overnight for offering free coffee to customers who entered the shop while dancing.

A video of customers participating in the promotion was posted on Coffee Milano Café’s TikTok account on Monday and has since been viewed over 5 million times as of Wednesday afternoon.

The viral post highlights how businesses are finding new customers by amping up their online presence, moving away from traditional marketing methods that are not delivering the same reach anymore.

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Owner Josh Rashid told CNN that business picked up after the video was posted, attracting curious new customers while delighting cafe regulars.

“We’re a small little town here in Middleborough, and it’s fun. A couple of people were in the store when it happened, and they came in the next day and said, ‘Oh my gosh, I saw your video on my For You page,’” he said.

Inspired by a similar promotion by a pizza shop, Rashid posted a sign telling customers they would receive a free coffee if they danced for five seconds. The sign also informed them that they would be filmed and featured on the cafe’s social media.

Rashid told CNN that the cafe’s TikTok account gained over 10,000 followers since the video was posted, up from roughly 4,000 followers.

“Small businesses really need to be on these platforms where potential customers are searching,” said Kristyn Shay, social media director at SCORE, a nonprofit offering resources for small business owners. “It’s really an exciting time for small businesses to go viral on platforms like TikTok and be where younger potential customers are hanging out.”

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Rashid told CNN that the staff had only started creating short, playful videos using trending TikTok sounds four weeks ago when he decided to shake up their marketing strategy.

“We’re in a digital world and word of mouth is great, but at the same time, we’re glued to our phones,” he said. “It just shows us how powerful social media is, and as a business owner, we have to adapt and do what we can.”

Rashid said that the reaction to the cafe’s promotion was so positive that he plans to bring back the deal every month. But it comes with a catch.

He said he would not post an announcement or schedule an official date. Instead, he plans on leaving “Easter eggs” across the cafe’s social media for customers to find hints to future promotions.

“When you have a viral moment, it’s an indicator that you’re doing something right,” Shay said. “Maybe you tested a new strategy. Maybe that strategy was to be a little bit more silly and the audience responded to that.”

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And to those who worry about the cafe losing out on profits, Rashid says it’s not a problem.

“You’ve got to have some joy in this world, and if a little five second dance brings you joy, then it’s worth the free coffee.”



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Discolored water reported in 2 Massachusetts towns after long effort to get clean drinking water

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Discolored water reported in 2 Massachusetts towns after long effort to get clean drinking water


Residents in Holbrook and Randolph report muddy, discolored water

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Residents in Holbrook and Randolph report muddy, discolored water

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HOLBROOK – Residents in two Massachusetts communities are dealing with discolored water coming out of their pipes and they said it’s the latest issue in a years’ long process to get clean water.

Thick, muddy water

When John Davis woke up Tuesday morning in Holbrook, he found thick, muddy water flowing out of his tap. After a quick check of social media, it didn’t take long to figure out most of his neighbors were dealing with the same thing.  

“It was, just, black mud water came out of the tap,” said Davis. “I had a couple of friends that did their laundry. Ruined their laundry, they’ve been bleaching in the sink.” 

Davis has lived in Holbrook his entire life and said Tuesday’s dirty water debacle was just the latest in a years’ long effort to get clean drinking water. Each week for the last two years, Davis has been filling jugs up with clean spring water because the stuff coming out of his tap contains high levels of PFAS or “forever chemicals.” Davis said the town has advised residents not to cook with or drink their tap water. 

New treatment plant

The town is working to fix the issue by developing a so-called Tri-Town Water Treatment Plant out of Braintree. The town of Holbrook said Tuesday’s muddy water is the result of Monday night work on the project. 

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In a statement, the Holbrook Public Works Department said: 

“The Water Department is actively working to address the issue and appreciates your understanding during this time. Additionally, significant work was completed on Monday night on a major water transmission line that supplies the Holbrook’s Water Distribution System from the Randolph/Holbrook joint Water Treatment Plant. This work included the installation of two large junctions that will soon connect to new transmission lines from the Tri-Town Water Treatment Plant under construction in Braintree.” 

The statement went on to say the new plant should be completed by January of 2026. They added if anyone’s water was still discolored Wednesday night, to flush their system by letting their bathtub or shower run.

The neighboring town of Randolph also reported discolored water as a result of the construction. 

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