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Daily brief · East Cambridge, MA

Blood shortage strains Boston-area hospitals

August 3, 2026

Top story

Blood shortage strains Boston-area hospitals, Red Cross says

The American Red Cross has declared a national blood supply crisis for only the second time in its history, warning that its supply has fallen below one day's worth of type O blood. Boston-area hospitals are already feeling it: the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber says it has been unable to get its typical order from the Red Cross. Nurse director Stephanie Ferrara said the shortage risks delaying procedures and forcing hard decisions about who receives blood, with donations typically declining in summer even as demand rises.

NBC Boston

Somerville High hosts megadebate for legislative candidates

Nine Democratic candidates for competitive state legislative seats, including Cambridge Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem, held a three-hour debate at Somerville High School on Saturday, Aug. 1.

Cambridge Day

DHSP summer camp Session 4 begins for K-8 students

Cambridge DHSP K-8 summer camps and programs begin Session 4 today, running two weeks through Aug. 14 on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

City of Cambridge

Cambridge climate tech incubators awarded state grants

The Mass Clean Energy Center awarded more than $1.3 million in Innovation Ecosystem Program grants on Sunday, including $120,000 each to Cambridge-based Activate Global and The Engine.

Cambridge Day

Brattle Theatre launches 1950s alien film series Monday

The Brattle Theatre kicks off its August repertory series 'Keep Watching the Skies: Aliens in the 1950s' today with a double feature of 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' and 'The Thing from Another World.'

The Brattle

Satellite hosts weekly bluegrass session with Royer Family Band

The Satellite cafe and taproom on Cambridge Street hosts its weekly bluegrass night with the Royer Family Band tonight starting at 8 p.m.

Remnant Brewing

Weekly Salsa and Bachata night returns to Havana Club

Social dancers can head to the Havana Club tonight from 8 to 11 p.m. for a recurring Salsa and Bachata night.

Dance Seekers

Elliott plays The Sinclair with The Burning Paris

Post-hardcore band Elliott performs at The Sinclair tonight at 8 p.m., with doors at 7 p.m. and The Burning Paris also on the bill.

The Sinclair

Club Passim holds open mic in Harvard Square

Club Passim hosts an Open Mic tonight, with doors at 6 p.m. and showtime at 7 p.m.

Club Passim

Vice Mayor Azeem seeks help after family cancer diagnosis

Cambridge Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem and his wife Vijeta Saini made a public appeal Sunday for community assistance with specialized medical labs and clinical trials following her father's Stage IV cancer diagnosis.

Cambridge Day

Progressive CRLS educator Larry Aaronson dies at 86

Larry Aaronson, a history teacher who spent over four decades championing progressive social justice education at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, died peacefully Saturday.

Cambridge | Somerville Independent

Davonte Neal youth basketball league plays at Sennott Park

The Davonte Neal Instructional League, run by Cambridge Recreation for co-ed youth ages 8-11, holds its regular Monday evening games at Sennott Park near Wellington-Harrington tonight.

City of Cambridge

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