Massachusetts

Women must continue to raise voices for reproductive freedoms, writer says

Published

2 years ago

July 14, 2024

Women must continue to raise voices for reproductive freedoms, writer says

As we celebrate Independence Day, it is chilling to consider that our fundamental rights are at greater risk than they have been in the history of our organization. Health Imperatives has been providing safe, affordable reproductive health care and other critical services in Southeastern Massachusetts for nearly 50 years. We work in partnership with the people we serve, other community-based organizations, and state agencies to identify and address gaps in service delivery.

To this end, one year ago, on July 5, we began offering medication abortion in our seven clinics in Hyannis, Brockton, New Bedford, Wareham, Plymouth, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. Until then, southeastern Massachusetts was considered an “abortion desert” due to the lack of service providers in the area. The nearest abortion clinic was over 100 miles away, a prohibitively far distance for anyone let alone most of the people we serve who are disproportionately impacted by poverty, discrimination, and trauma. For them, traveling over 100 miles to receive an abortion was not always feasible due to the inability to take time off from work, a lack of transportation and childcare, language barriers and financial difficulties. As a result of these barriers, many women sacrificed necessary healthcare, including abortion.

We are grateful to the Healey/Driscoll Administration, the Massachusetts Legislature, and our congressional delegation for their unwavering commitment to protecting the rights, health, and economic security of all Massachusetts residents. A few weeks ago, Gov. Healey signed an Executive Order on the two-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, clarifying Massachusetts law and reaffirming the state’s commitment to ensuring that anyone who needs abortion care in Massachusetts will be able to access it.

During a challenging time in our country, they have taken bold, necessary action to preserve our rights and health. They have enacted laws to protect patients and health care providers and have allocated state funding for critical care. And they have sounded the alarm. As many other states continue to control women’s fundamental rights and jeopardize their health and economic security by restricting access, Massachusetts is leading the way for reproductive justice in America by expanding access to abortion care.

Earlier this month, the state launched a first-in-the-nation campaign to combat anti-abortion centers, also known as “crisis pregnancy centers,” which pose a significant risk to reproductive freedom in Massachusetts. Outnumbering comprehensive reproductive health clinics by more than two to one, these centers purport to offer the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare. Yet the reality is that the majority often mislead pregnant people about their options to prevent them from accessing abortion care. All too often patients come to us in crisis after getting misleading or incorrect information from one of these centers. Massachusetts’ groundbreaking campaign to combat these facilities takes a crucial step towards health equity by ensuring that people know where to get the health care they need and deserve.

Still, rising costs and unprecedented need threaten Massachusetts’ ability to provide comprehensive, high quality health care for all. Approximately 50% of the people Health Imperatives services are uninsured or underinsured, and therefore not covered for preventive health care. Most of our patients struggle to meet their basic needs and as the cost of living in Massachusetts continues to rise, health and economic disparities are worsening. Health Imperatives is committed to doing everything we can to ensure people in our communities have the education and resources they need to be healthy, safe, strong, and empowered. Massachusetts can reduce growing health and wealth disparities by continuing to champion health equity by investing in comprehensive health care for all.

In the meantime, as women nationwide are witnessing their fundamental rights diminish, we must continue raising our voices to advocate for accessible, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for people across the country. As the larger political landscape is increasingly volatile and abortion rights and reproductive freedoms are at risk across the country, including here in Massachusetts, Health Imperatives is proud to play a role in ensuring Massachusetts remains a haven for reproductive freedom. We stand ready to help women seeking abortion from states that have restricted or criminalized these rights – and we are proud to do it alongside our public officials who make Massachusetts the best place in the country to do this work.

Julia Kehoe is President & CEO of Health Imperatives, a nonprofit organization that improves the health, safety and economic security of low-income and vulnerable individuals and families in communities throughout southeastern Massachusetts including Brockton, Hyannis, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, New Bedford, Plymouth, and Wareham. www.healthimperatives.org

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Massachusetts

The Massachusetts beach towns better than Cape Cod, per Condé Nast

Published

6 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

The Massachusetts beach towns better than Cape Cod, per Condé Nast

Massachusetts residents love their beach towns.

And Condé Nast Magazine loves two particular beach towns in the Bay State, but surprisingly didn’t pick a beach on Cape Cod.

That’s why the towns were included on the magazine’s 2025 list of the 17 best beach towns on the East Coast.

“Whether you’re looking to lay out on the sand in summer or prefer walking along the water spotting wildlife and collecting rocks, the shores of the East Coast have a little something for everyone,” Condé Nast stated on its website.

Here’s more about the magazine’s favorite beach towns in Massachusetts.

Oak Bluffs ranked No. 5 on the list

Coming in at number 5 is one of the most popular spots on Martha’s Vineyard – Oak Bluffs.

What they said: “The colorful gingerbread houses for which Oak Bluffs is known are straight out of a storybook. Visitors walk straight off their boats into Ocean Park, a circular green overlooking the sea, encircled by said houses, with a frothy, delicate gazebo sitting in the center. Oak Bluffs has a long history of welcoming Black visitors, and today it is home to the annual African-American Film Festival.”

Rockport ranked No. 4 on the list

Rockport is a town on the North Shore of the Bay State.

What they said: “The coastal region is known for its excellent seafood, beautiful beaches, and historic landmarks. Many a good film has been filmed here as well, such as Martin Scorsese’s ‘Shutter Island’ and Kenneth Lonergan’s ‘Manchester-by-the-Sea.’

“Forty miles north of Boston, (Rockport) has a can’t-miss natural gem in Halibut Point State Park, from which visitors can spot Maine in the distance 80 miles away. Rockport is also beloved by art history buffs: it is home to Motif Number 1, a fishing shack with the superlative ‘the most-often painted building in America.’ It was built in 1840, and was a popular subject because it represented New England’s nautical character.”

What other regions of New England are on the list?

According to Condé Nast, they include:

Bar Harbor, Maine
Kennebunkport, Maine
Newport, Rhode Island
Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
Madison, Connecticut

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Massachusetts

Massachusetts town near Gillette Stadium presses for World Cup security funding

Published

18 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Massachusetts town near Gillette Stadium presses for World Cup security funding

Up the road from Gillette Stadium, a town neighboring Foxboro is pressing for funding to meet public safety demands arising from the World Cup, with the first match just over a month away.

Walpole’s state delegation has written a letter to the state Office of Travel and Tourism requesting approval of the town’s request for nearly $200,000 to support “essential public safety personnel,” as officials expect “significant spillover impacts” from the premier soccer tournament.

As the Walpole/Foxboro town line on Route 1 is a handful of miles north of Gillette Stadium, officials are expecting increased traffic congestion and pedestrian activity to amount to “heightened public safety demands.”

“As outlined in the Town’s proposal,” the state delegation wrote in the letter it sent to the state last week, “Walpole will play a critical role in ensuring safe and efficient operations for both residents and visitors.”

“This funding will help close a critical gap and ensure that Walpole can safely support this internationally significant event,” the delegation added.

The state Office of Travel and Tourism confirmed to the Herald that it received the letter from state Reps. John H. Rogers, Paul McMurtry, Ted Philips and Marcus Vaughn and Sen. Mike Rush. The office said it will announce decisions in the coming weeks about round two of the $2 million grant program that supports municipal public safety needs tied to the World Cup.

The first round of the program, a $10 million competitive initiative, awarded funding earlier this year to 17 communities to support tournament-related events, including fan festivals, watch parties and regional activations.

This comes after the Foxboro Select Board battled the Boston Soccer 2026 nonprofit host committee and Kraft Sports & Entertainment, which operates Gillette Stadium, for months to ensure it received full funding to cover all security personnel and equipment.

In mid-March, the David vs. Goliath fight concluded, with Boston Soccer 2026 and the Krafts agreeing to cover Foxboro’s $7.8 million request.

Gillette, which will be rebranded as “Boston Stadium,” is set to host seven matches – five in the group stage and two knockout games – between June 13 and July 9. The World Cup is considered a SEAR 1 event, the highest risk level for public gatherings in the country.

“These matches will bring an excitement that this town has never seen,” Foxboro Police Chief Michael Grace said before the Select Board voted to grant an entertainment license for the matches to go on.

Gillette Stadium. (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

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Massachusetts

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

Published

1 day ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

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?

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.