Flynn seeks emergency council session on crime

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Flynn calls for emergency session on public safety

In an Aug. 10 letter to fellow councilors, District 2 Councilor Ed Flynn called for an emergency council session to develop a plan for public safety concerns in Downtown Boston, saying the Boston Police Department is overwhelmed and understaffed after losing roughly 600 officers. Flynn cited a rise in violent crime and pointed to one homicide, five people shot, two stabbings and an assault on a worker within a month near the Tremont Street/Boston Common corridor. He also noted the One Downtown Task Force, formed in March with Mayor Michelle Wu, Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, DA Kevin Hayden and the Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association, which met again Aug. 5 at Suffolk Law School.

Beacon Hill Times

Council hearing today on water discount docket #0932

On Friday, August 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., the Boston City Council's Committee on City Services holds a hearing on Docket #0932 regarding Boston Water and Sewer Commission discounts for seniors and people with disabilities, in the Iannella Chamber at City Hall with in-person or virtual testimony.

City of Boston

African Festival of Boston fills Common Saturday

A free multicultural festival celebrating African arts, drumming, beadwork and cuisine takes place Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Boston Common.

105.7 WROR

Comedian Desi Banks headlines Laugh Boston this weekend

Comedian Desi Banks performs multiple stand-up shows at Laugh Boston from Friday, August 14 through Sunday, August 16.

105.7 WROR

Judge dismisses Trump admin antisemitism suit against Harvard

A federal judge in Boston dismissed the Trump administration's lawsuit against Harvard University on Thursday, ruling the government failed to prove the school ignored harassment of Jewish students.

Iowa Public Radio

Healey appoints state's first Heat Resilience Officer

Governor Maura Healey named Katie Schlick as Massachusetts' first Heat Resilience Officer on Thursday, tasking her with helping communities address rising urban heat and lack of tree cover.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Mayor Wu appoints Shin-Pei Tsay as Chief Information Officer

Mayor Michelle Wu appointed Shin-Pei Tsay, an expert in urban design, transit reform, and sustainability, as the city's new Chief Information Officer.

City of Boston

Brockton man arrested on firearms charges in Roxbury

Boston's Youth Violence Strike Force arrested a repeat offender near Washington Street in Roxbury on August 12 after recovering a loaded Glock 26 handgun from his vehicle.

Boston Police Department

Bennington Street safety upgrades risk cancellation

A proposal to cancel pedestrian and bike safety upgrades on East Boston's Bennington Street in favor of added parking heads to a final vote by streets commissioners on August 20.

Streetsblog Massachusetts

Gin Blossoms, Blues Traveler headline waterfront tour

90s rock acts Gin Blossoms, Blues Traveler, and Spin Doctors perform tonight at 6 p.m. at Leader Bank Pavilion.

Ticketmaster

Healey signs 'Freedom to Read' law shielding libraries

Governor Maura Healey signed a law today protecting students' freedom to read and shielding Massachusetts school and public libraries from book bans.

Patriot-Bridge

Candlelight concert honors Coldplay, Imagine Dragons

Old South Church hosts a candlelit string quartet performance of classical renditions of Coldplay and Imagine Dragons songs tonight at 9 p.m.

hot969boston.com

Wu announces Boston to host 2026 National Urban Rat Summit

Mayor Michelle Wu announced today that Boston will host the country's second-ever National Urban Rat Summit on September 23-24 to explore pest-control solutions.

Beacon Hill Times