State audit: BPS misspent $857K in funds

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State audit finds BPS misspent over $857K in public funds

A report released Wednesday by the state inspector general's office found Boston Public Schools spent more than $857,000 improperly or through practices that violated Massachusetts procurement law between 2018 and 2024. Investigators said school employees repeatedly hired vendors without valid contracts or required competitive bidding, then routed payments through companies that already held district contracts; some of those middlemen charged mark-ups that cost BPS at least $77,000 in added fees. Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro said investigators found no evidence of fraud or criminal conduct, but that at least $200,000 could have gone to programs directly serving students.

WBUR

Boston crime journal: 5 aggravated assaults in 24 hours

Boston Police's public safety journal for the 24 hours ending Aug. 26 recorded five aggravated assaults, zero homicides, one commercial burglary, two residential burglaries, and one auto theft citywide.

Boston Police Department

IBA hosts dominos and games social hour today

Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción hosts a Spanish-English social hour with board games and dominos today, Aug. 27, from 1:30-3 p.m. at 85 West Newton Street.

Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción

Patty Larkin closes MFA's Concerts in the Courtyard tonight

Singer-songwriter Patty Larkin performs a sold-out show in the Calderwood Courtyard tonight, Aug. 27, from 7:30-8:30 p.m., closing the Museum of Fine Arts' summer concert series.

Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Shanghai Ravioli recalls 24,900 lbs of uninspected chicken

The USDA says Boston-based Shanghai Ravioli Corporation is recalling about 24,900 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products made without federal inspection.

Food Safety and Inspection Service

Petit Robert Bistro hosts Mediterranean wine dinner tonight

Petit Robert Bistro in the South End hosts a four-course Mediterranean wine dinner tonight, Aug. 27, from 4:30-10 p.m.

Boston Chefs

Dorchester man arrested after police seize 30 grams of cocaine

Bryan Scruggs Jr. was arrested Aug. 25 after Boston police drug control units executed a search warrant and recovered about 30 grams of suspected cocaine at his Dorchester home.

Patch

State awards $370K to restore Canterbury Brook in Mattapan

The Healey-Driscoll administration awarded a $370,408 grant on Aug. 26 to fund wetland and stream restoration along Canterbury Brook at Mass Audubon's Boston Nature Center to address chronic flooding.

Dorchester Reporter

JetBlue opens second BlueHouse lounge at Logan Airport

JetBlue opened its second premium BlueHouse lounge at Logan Airport's Terminal C at 5 a.m. today, Aug. 27, featuring local food and design touches celebrating Boston's neighborhoods.

JetBlue

Hazmat crews contain mercury spill at Mass General Hospital

Boston Police and Fire hazmat teams responded to Massachusetts General Hospital on the evening of Aug. 26 to contain a mercury spill and treat a patient for chemical exposure.

Boston 25 News

MFA Boston launches 'America at 250' guided tour today

The Museum of Fine Arts Boston launches its 'America at 250' guided tour today, Aug. 27, at 1 p.m., exploring 18th-century art from the Americas and global interdependence.

Museum of Fine Arts Boston