One blue-state rule with dark origins; regime now demands billions in payments from Harvard

The dark history of a constitutional amendment that now keeps us from becoming Arkansas

March 23

On Friday, a federal appeals court ruled Massachusetts does not have to pay for special-education classes for students at private schools, in part because of an "anti-aid" amendment to the state constitution that prohibits state aid to any private schools.

Sounds like a sort of classic Blue Massachusetts amendment that keeps public funds going to public schools, unlike in states like Arkansas or Louisiana, where public money now goes to pay for religious schools.

But its origins date to a brief period of Massachusetts history when the 19th-century equivalent of QAnon briefly took over state government and turned its ire on immigrants, specifically the Irish Catholics fleeing famine and landing in Boston.

Troubled Croft School could shut next week

March 22

WBZ reports officials at the private Croft School, which has branches in Jamaica Plain and the South End, are telling parents founder Scott Given ran up debts of some $13 million and that the school may not have the funds to pay them.

Massachusetts doesn't have to pay for special-needs classes in private schools, court concludes

March 21

A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that a Massachusetts law that bars payment for special-education classes at private schools is no violation of students' equal-protection or due-process rights. 

Aqua-aquila

March 21

Mary Ellen watched a bald eagle maintain its balance on a branch in an unusually choppy Charles River in West Roxbury yesterday, then take off to soar with another eagle bird over Millennium Park. 

Six injured at Forest Hills incident involving man trying to slash bus tires with butcher knife; officer's gun goes off

March 20

NBC Boston reports a police officer was trying to subdue a man slashing at the tires of a bus at Forest Hills with a butcher knife when the officer's gun went off - and that in the melee at least six people were ...

Regime expands war against Harvard: Wants judge to order school to repay billions in grants since 2023 over school's alleged anti-Semitism

March 20

The regime today sued Harvard University, alleging that the school headed by a Jewish president has let Jew haters run amok and that the only answer is to block Harvard from further federal grants, make it repay billions in grants awarded since 2023 and to name  "an independent outside monitor" to ride herd on Harvard until it boots the last ...

Parent group promptly appeals latest loss over exam-school admissions

March 20

The group that yesterday had a judge dismiss its latest case against the way BPS rates students for possible admission to one of Boston's three exam schools promptly appealed the ruling to the federal Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Barry's Corner residents want to keep the old Flint Cleaners sign when current building replaced by apartments

March 20

The Bulletin reports that Barry's Corner residents asked the owners of Flint Cleaners on Western Avenue in Allston to keep their now iconic sign if they win city approval to replace the current building with an eight-story, 20-unit apartment building.