In the News

Markey, Trahan Call On Facebook To ‘Completely Abandon’ Instagram For Kids Following Pause BOSTON (CBS/CNN) — Instagram is pressing pause on plans to develop a version of its service for kids under 13 after facing pressure from lawmakers to back down on the effort and new questions about the impact the photo-sharing service has on teen girls. “While we stand by the need to develop this… Read more »

The Counseling Center at MOC opens in Fitchburg By Danielle Ray FITCHBURG — Making Opportunity Count hosted a grand opening on Monday of its first outpatient mental health clinic, The Counseling Center at MOC, inside its program headquarters on Nursery Lane. The event featured remarks from Making Opportunity Count executives, Congresswoman Lori Trahan, state Sen. John Cronin,… Read more »

Ed Markey, Lori Trahan condemn ‘Instagram for Kids’ after report reveals Facebook knew about negative mental health impacts on youth By Cassie McGrath U.S. Senator Ed Markey and U.S. Representative Lori Trahan sent a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday calling for the big tech company to abandon its plans to develop an “Instagram for Kids” platform. This comes after a… Read more »

Facebook documents show how toxic Instagram is for teens, Wall Street Journal reports By Jessica Bursztynsky and Lauren Feiner Facebook has repeatedly found that its Instagram app is harmful to a number of teenagers, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Tuesday. The Journal cited Facebook studies over the past three years that examined how Instagram affects its… Read more »

Marlborough, Hudson recognize International Overdose Awareness Day By Laura Hayes, Senior Community Reporter “My drugs of choice, as they say, were vodka and Xanax, though I probably would have taken anything to quiet the noise in my head,” Blanchard continued in comments during the International Overdose Awareness Day vigil that took place in Marlborough on Aug. 31. He had given… Read more »

Veteran, Chelmsford School Committee member working to bring home families in Afghanistan By Kaitlin Mulkerin LOWELL — The last U.S. troops left Afghanistan on Monday, ending America’s longest war. As chaos consumes Kabul following the Taliban’s swift takeover and a suicide bombing that killed 13 American military members and over 170 people, a Chelmsford man — through “Evac… Read more »

Massachusetts delegation presses for action in response to Supreme Court ruling on Texas abortion law By Nik DeCosta-Klipa In the wake of the conservative Supreme Court’s decision to leave in place a Texas law banning most abortions, members of the all-Democratic Massachusetts delegation are pushing for action from Congress to override the ruling. “Congress must step up,”… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan highlights community services at The Wish Project in Chelmsford By Kaitlin Mulkerin CHELMSFORD — U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan’s visit to The Wish Project this week highlighted the nonprofit’s community services provided to thousands of people across the Merrimack Valley each year. Trahan, joined by state Rep. Vanna Howard, D-Lowell, toured the facility and met with staff… Read more »

Middlesex Community College officials: Nearly $6 million in America Rescue Plan funds distributed to MCC students By Stefan Geller LOWELL — Through a combination of direct payments and debt forgiveness, Middlesex Community College has distributed nearly $6 million to its students using the funds it received from the American Rescue Plan Act, officials said Monday. “These funds have… Read more »

Haverhill poised to receive millions for roads, bridges By Mike LaBella HAVERHILL — The city could be in line to receive $1 million in federal funding to help pay for a major redesign of the dangerous intersection of Route 110 and Route 108 (Newton Road) near Winnekenni Park.  This intersection has been the site of numerous accidents in recent years and city officials say a… Read more »