This is legal in Massachusetts because of the state's weak civil forfeiture laws.

The state's Department of Public Health will still collect COVID infection information and identifying outbreaks in specific settings, including schools. But the change has parents concerned.

Under Massachusetts' civil forfeiture system, police can confiscate property they suspect is part of a drug crime and prosecutors could hold it indefinitely, even when criminal charges have been dismissed. Trying to get money back is so onerous, legal experts say it may violate due process rights.

More than 700,000 American troops served in Afghanistan from 2001. And many local veterans are crestfallen seeing the images coming from Kabul: the Taliban taking power, and Afghan residents dying to flee the country.

Sabib Nooristani immigrated to Massachusetts in June of 2020. He wishes that before the U.S. pulled out all troops from Afghanistan, it had evacuated the tens of thousands of remaining Afghans who had worked for the American government.

Local Afghans express heartache and anger over the situation in Afghanistan.

The appointed committee was supposed to make the state's largest district run more smoothly by removing the distractions of retail politics. But now, amid a mayoral race, some voters say it committee hasn't lived up to its promise — and that it's time to go back.

As the Taliban continues to take over Afghanistan, many Afghan immigrants in Massachusetts are hoping family back home can soon join them. Meanwhile, immigration advocates are calling on the Biden administration to act soon to allow more refugees into the country.

Whether dealing with vaccination sites, COVID testing, community outreach or a range of other urgent services, the Baker administration's default approach was to grant contracts to outside companies and organizations, rather than rely on local boards of public health to provide the services.

Why some parents worry the perennial discussion about Boston's three exam schools is distracting city leaders from other important issues in the district.