Daily brief · Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
ShotSpotter still offline, assembly not yet set
August 17, 2026
Top story
ShotSpotter still offline as civic assembly takes shape
More than a week after the City Council voted to reinstate ShotSpotter for 90 days and form a resident civic assembly to assess it, neither has happened, according to an Aug. 13 update. Cambridge police say there is no timeline yet for restoring the acoustic sensing technology, citing technical and operational steps and ongoing discussions with maker SoundThinking. A city spokesperson confirmed the 90-day clock started when the council passed the policy order, and details on how the civic assembly would be structured are not yet available.
Cambridge Day
Thunder and Rain plays newgrass set at Club Passim
Nashville-based americana/bluegrass band Thunder and Rain performs at Club Passim tonight at 8 p.m., with a live stream option available.
Club Passim
Historical Commission case deadline for September meeting
Today, Aug. 17, is the final deadline for property owners to apply for preservation cases at the Cambridge Historical Commission's Sept. 10 meeting.
Cambridge Historical Commission
CPS back-to-school forms available starting today
Starting today, Aug. 17, annual back-to-school forms are available on the Cambridge Public Schools Family Portal; parents must complete and return them for each student before the first day of classes.
Cambridge Public Schools
Romance author Brittanée Nicole visits Lovestruck Books
Bestselling romance author Brittanée Nicole visits Lovestruck Books & Café in Harvard Square today, 6-8 p.m., for a meet-and-greet and signing of her novel.
Cambridge, MA Patch
Massachusetts Day celebration held at Harvard Square KiOSK
The Cambridge Office for Tourism hosts a free gathering at the Cambridge KiOSK in Harvard Square today, 10 a.m.-noon, with complimentary coffee and donuts.
cambridgeusa.org
Craft Loft hosts hand-knit beach bag workshop
Craft Loft at CambridgeSide offers a beginner workshop today, 6-7:30 p.m., to hand-knit a chenille beach bag.
The Boston Calendar
Harvard premed applicants can join interview Q&A
Harvard's Mignone Center for Career Success holds a virtual Q&A today, 1-2 p.m., for medical-school applicants following its interviewing workshop recording.
Harvard FAS Mignone Center for Career Success
American Aquarium performs at The Sinclair
North Carolina-based alt-country band American Aquarium performs live tonight at 8 p.m. at The Sinclair in Harvard Square.
The Sinclair
Ordinance Committee schedules short-term rental hearing
On Aug. 19 at 3 p.m., the City Council's Ordinance Committee holds a public hearing on zoning amendments that would limit short-term rentals to 90 days per year.
City of Cambridge
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