The Common

Earlier this month Governor Maura Healey appointed four new members to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation board of directors. One appointee is researcher, writer and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School Dr. Lisa Iezzoni, who will represent the "consumer voice" for MassDOT. Dr. Iezzoni is the first member of the disability community to serve on the department's board, despite...

It’s time for another feature from our friends in the WBUR newsroom, while Team Common works on some longer term projects. Earlier this year, we spoke with Senior Climate and Environment Reporter Miriam Wasser about a series of stories she wrote on third party energy suppliers who promise consumers cleaner, cheaper electricity using deceptive marketing tactics. We revisit the second part of her se...

Boston Medical Center has ended a policy that had allowed unhoused families, many of whom were recently-arrived migrants, to stay at the hospital overnight. This decision follows a record increase in the number of people seeking shelter at local medical centers without medical needs. On one night earlier this month, more than 130 people slept on the floor of one of BMC's lobbies. The hospital is n...

Late last month, the United States Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration’s student debt forgiveness program – a huge disappointment for thousands of borrowers who were hoping for some financial relief. The blow was particularly discouraging for Black borrowers, who typically hold $25k more in debt than white borrowers. Tanisha Bhat, an intern with the Bay State Banner and a rising sen...

Flooding in Vermont has lead to significant damage and left at least one person dead, as of Friday afternoon.  Economy Reporter for VTDigger, Fred Thys, has been covering flood impact in the state capitol of Montpelier, and he joins The Common for a closer look at how flooding is impacting Vermonters, in Montpelier and beyond.  Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Looking to catch an up-and-coming documentary or the hottest box office flick? Look no further than Greater Boston's handful of independent movie theaters. Spots like the Somerville Theatre in Somerville's Davis Square, Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline and Brattle Theatre in Cambridge offer one-of-a-kind screening environments and a chance to expand the viewing horizons of any cinephile.  WBUR...

The dreaded weeks-long Sumner Tunnel closure is finally upon us. The nearly 90-year-old connection between East Boston and Downtown closed to traffic on July 5th for $160 million worth of renovations – and it’s scheduled to stay that way until the end of August. In the meantime, officials expect serious delays for travelers in the area and are urging folks to find other ways to get around. The MBT...

It's a hot day, and you're itching to cool off at the beach... but what if your local beach is closed? Last summer, there were more than 1,000 incidents of beach closures over 500 salt water beaches, despite Massachusetts having some of the cleanest urban beaches in the country. This year, more closures are appearing every week, especially following heavy rains. Today, WBUR Senior Reporter Ally Ja...

The Boston City Council continues to be steeped in tension after incidents involving two councilors brought what Council President Ed Flynn described as "negative attention to the institution," in a recent release. Those incidents include Councilor Ricardo Arroyo admitting to an ethics violation after providing legal representation his brother, Felix Arroyo, in a sexual harassment case involving t...

We’re back with another feature from our friends in the WBUR newsroom, as Team Common works on some longer term projects we think you’ll enjoy. Today’s story comes from reporter Arielle Gray. It’s about a nonprofit in Provincetown called Summer of Sass, which offers LGBTQ+ young adults from around the country a chance to spend the season in a safe, welcoming environment. Summer of Sass recently mo...

It's that time of the month again! Assistant director for WBUR CitySpace, Candice Springer, is back with a list of things to get you out of the house this month. And, guess what? They're all free.  Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The median price for a single family home in Boston is now $900,000. The record-breaking figure is driven by a shortage of housing inventory, as well as a reduction in home turnover thanks to high interest rates. WBUR Senior Business Reporter Zeninjor Enwemeka joins The Common to discuss how we got here, and what is at stake for communities when home ownership strays farther and farther out of rea...

Whether you're jet-setting, hitting your local beach, or just lounging in your backyard, summer is the perfect time to pick up a book. WBUR Associate Producer for Newsletters, and coauthor of the "Beach Books" newsletter Hanna Ali joins The Common with some of her top summer reads. Hanna recommends... "The Acrobat" by Edward J. Delaney "My First Popsicle: An Anthology of Food and Feelings" edited...

Hey listeners, Team Common is taking the holiday off to rest and recharge. But don’t worry – we’ll be back tomorrow with our regular show. In the meantime, we hope you're having a good one. Also, our listener survey closes this week July 7. So if you haven't had the chance, please consider taking a few minutes to fill it out. We want to know what you’re liking about the show so far and what you th...

We’re back with another piece from our friends in the WBUR newsroom while we at The Common work on some bigger projects we think you’ll enjoy. Today’s story comes from WBUR Education Reporter Carrie Jung. School is out for the summer but the 2022-2023 school year was much closer to normal than the last few during COVID. Carrie caught up with students and teachers from across the state to get their...

Starting July 1, Massachusetts immigrants can apply for a driver's license regardless of immigration status under the The Work and Family Mobility Act. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center estimates that up to 85,000 people could receive a drivers license under the new law by 2026. WBUR Transportation Reporter Andrea Perdomo-Hernandez joins The Common to break down the The Work and Family Mo...

Insects are disappearing at a concerning rate -- from 1% to 2% in many places, and up to 10% in others. Some of those insects are pollinators, which are key players in supporting 35% of our food supply. Today, those pollinators, like bees and butterflies, need our help. WBUR Senior Climate and Environment Correspondent Barbara Moran joins The Common with more on the importance of pollinators, and...

For the last several months The Common has been talking about the lack of accountability for harmful behavior from local chefs and restaurateurs, such as the allegations against Barbara Lynch, as well as comments made by Ming Tsai on WBUR's CitySpace stage. Last month, CitySpace continued that conversation with a panel discussion called “A Reckoning in Restaurants: Combating Toxic Restaurant Cultu...

The Roxbury International Film Festival is celebrating its 25th year with a 10 day festival featuring over 80 films. The festival is designed around celebrating people of color, and creating an environment for filmmakers and film lovers to meet and experience one another's work. Today on The Common, we take you on a trip to the Museum of Fine Art in Boston for an evening of screenings. We also spe...

We’re back with another piece from our friends in the WBUR newsroom while we at The Common work on some bigger projects we think you’ll enjoy.  Today’s story comes from Rupa Shenoy and Laney Ruckstuhl at Morning Edition. In honor of Pride Month (happy Pride) Rupa and Laney wanted to remember some of the queer people in Massachusetts history who have been overlooked. So, Rupa sat down with author W...

The Boston Art and Music Soul Festival is here, bringing music, art, food, and other celebrations of Black culture to Boston's Franklin Park this Friday and Saturday (June 23 and 24), for the fifth year. WBUR Reporter Arielle Gray joins The Common, to talk about the importance of creating dedicated spaces to celebrate Black music and art in Boston, the unique challenges faced by organizers of even...

In 1999, Congress passed a law, known as the "Faircloth Amendment," which restricted the construction of federally subsidized public housing above a certain limit. Now, there's a new initiative that aims to increase the amount of public housing available by backfilling many units that have been demolished or fallen into disrepair. In Massachusetts, Cambridge is leading the charge, with active plan...

Boston's food scene continues to change and grow, but one thing remains the same: the complete absence of prestigious Michelin Stars awarded to local restaurants. And it's not necessarily because our local spots don't deserve them. Erika Adams, Editor of Eater Boston joins The Common for a look at why Boston remains without a Michelin Guide. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture m...

Looking to expand your horizons this summer with a little art? Or perhaps escape the hot outdoors with a theatrical performance? Or maybe you're just looking for that perfect addition to your summer playlist. Whatever your situation may be, WBUR's Arts and Culture team has you covered with this year's summer arts guides. WBUR Arts Reporting Fellow Solon Kelleher joins The Common with the highlight...

Happy Juneteenth!  We hope you’re taking some time to celebrate and reflect on this important day. The WBUR newsroom covers a lot of stories, and we aren't always able to get to them all on the show. So, today we're bringing you one of those pieces while Team Common works on some reporting we're really excited to share with you soon. Today’s story comes from reporter Walter Wuthmann. Boston’s City...