The Common

Earlier this month Governor Maura Healey appointed four new members to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation board of directors. One appointee is researcher, writer and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School Dr. Lisa Iezzoni, who will represent the "consumer voice" for MassDOT.

Dr. Iezzoni is the first member of the disability community to serve on the department's board, despite the fact that that about one in four of American adults have some kind of disability.

Dr. Iezzoni joins The Common to discuss accessibility across the state's transit systems, a well as her goals for this new position.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

It’s time for another feature from our friends in the WBUR newsroom, while Team Common works on some longer term projects.

Earlier this year, we spoke with Senior Climate and Environment Reporter Miriam Wasser about a series of stories she wrote on third party energy suppliers who promise consumers cleaner, cheaper electricity using deceptive marketing tactics.

We revisit the second part of her series, which explains how those 100% renewable energy plans advertised by competitive suppliers are not all they’re cracked up to be.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Boston Medical Center has ended a policy that had allowed unhoused families, many of whom were recently-arrived migrants, to stay at the hospital overnight. This decision follows a record increase in the number of people seeking shelter at local medical centers without medical needs. On one night earlier this month, more than 130 people slept on the floor of one of BMC's lobbies.

The hospital is now redirecting people to other facilities, including Logan airport, which is open around the clock, as families wait to find longer-term support. Advocates say the fallout from BMC's change in policy highlights gaps in the state's response to emergency shelter needs. WBUR Senior Health and Science Reporter, Gabrielle Emanuel, joins The Common with more.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Late last month, the United States Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration’s student debt forgiveness program – a huge disappointment for thousands of borrowers who were hoping for some financial relief. The blow was particularly discouraging for Black borrowers, who typically hold $25k more in debt than white borrowers.

Tanisha Bhat, an intern with the Bay State Banner and a rising senior at Boston University, joins The Common to discuss how local Black borrowers are reacting to the decision.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Flooding in Vermont has lead to significant damage and left at least one person dead, as of Friday afternoon. 

Economy Reporter for VTDigger, Fred Thys, has been covering flood impact in the state capitol of Montpelier, and he joins The Common for a closer look at how flooding is impacting Vermonters, in Montpelier and beyond. 

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Looking to catch an up-and-coming documentary or the hottest box office flick? Look no further than Greater Boston's handful of independent movie theaters. Spots like the Somerville Theatre in Somerville's Davis Square, Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline and Brattle Theatre in Cambridge offer one-of-a-kind screening environments and a chance to expand the viewing horizons of any cinephile. 

WBUR Arts Contributor Erin Trahan joins The Common for a look at some of the area's top indie theaters, as well as a preview of two upcoming film festivals within a drive of the city. 

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The dreaded weeks-long Sumner Tunnel closure is finally upon us. The nearly 90-year-old connection between East Boston and Downtown closed to traffic on July 5th for $160 million worth of renovations – and it’s scheduled to stay that way until the end of August.

In the meantime, officials expect serious delays for travelers in the area and are urging folks to find other ways to get around.

The MBTA is offering free and reduced fares on several routes to help ease some of the pressure, including the East Boston ferries and the Blue Line train. So, The Common took advantage of the free fare for a trip out to East Boston to see how passengers are holding up.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

It's a hot day, and you're itching to cool off at the beach... but what if your local beach is closed? Last summer, there were more than 1,000 incidents of beach closures over 500 salt water beaches, despite Massachusetts having some of the cleanest urban beaches in the country. This year, more closures are appearing every week, especially following heavy rains.

Today, WBUR Senior Reporter Ally Jarmanning joins The Common to walk us through the major factors contributing to public beach closures, and why limited beach access can raise concerns around equity.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The Boston City Council continues to be steeped in tension after incidents involving two councilors brought what Council President Ed Flynn described as "negative attention to the institution," in a recent release.

Those incidents include Councilor Ricardo Arroyo admitting to an ethics violation after providing legal representation his brother, Felix Arroyo, in a sexual harassment case involving the city. The other incident includes Councilor Kendra Lara's recent involvement in a car crash in Jamaica Plain.

Boston Globe City Hall Reporter Danny McDonald joins The Common with more.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

We’re back with another feature from our friends in the WBUR newsroom, as Team Common works on some longer term projects we think you’ll enjoy.

Today’s story comes from reporter Arielle Gray. It’s about a nonprofit in Provincetown called Summer of Sass, which offers LGBTQ+ young adults from around the country a chance to spend the season in a safe, welcoming environment.

Summer of Sass recently moved into a house that will allow them to quadruple the number of folks they serve, so Arielle headed to P-town to see the space and to learn more about the organization’s mission.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.