Trajan Warren
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As seen in:
GBH News (Boston, MA),
Boston Business Journal,
Dallas Business Journal,
Houston Business Journal,
Memphis Business Journal,
Philadelphia Business Journal,
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and
Articles by Trajan Warren
Is there still a legacy market for weed in Massachusetts? Not so much.
November 11, 2026 Jordan MacKenzie Whittaker, founder of a Boston-based business development agency for the cannabis market, said years ago she would never have considered buying weed from a chain-like legal cannabis store. That’s because she liked the community element of the informal legacy industry, which she said prioritized the ritual of gathering and sharing among friends. But increasingly, she said, she’s been won over by the easy process and reliable content found in a legal dispensary.
Live blog: Latest updates on the Massachusetts 2026 elections
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November 02, 2026 Races for Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, several statewide offices and a record-tying nine ballot questions. GBH News is on the ground Tuesday tracking the candidates and issues that matter most to voters.
By Hannah Reale Verified, Craig LeMoult Verified, Sam Turken Verified, Adam Reilly Verified, Liz Neisloss Verified, Chris Burrell Verified, Trajan Warren Verified, Diane Adame
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GBH News (Boston, MA)
Verified
Children's Services of Roxbury celebrates plans for $27 million renovation
October 29, 2026 Children’s Services of Roxbury, one of the largest Black-led nonprofits in Massachusetts, celebrated on Thursday its plans to begin a $27 million renovation of its Roxbury headquarters. Sandra McCroom, president and CEO of the nonprofit, called the event a “gathering of gratitude” at its headquarters on Dudley Street, which included musical performances and speeches.
Attleboro's second annual Harmony Fiesta to celebrate city's cultural differences
October 16, 2026 This Saturday, the second annual Harmony Fiesta will take place in Attleboro to celebrate the city’s cultural richness. Located at Capron Park from noon to 6 p.m., the free admission celebration will feature more than 30 food and artisan vendors, seven diverse musical performances and activities including face painting and puppet shows.
'The Super Bowl of rowing': Annual Head of the Charles Regatta kicks off on Friday
October 13, 2026 The annual Head of the Charles Regatta returns this weekend, bringing thousands of competitors and spectators for the one of the largest boat racing events in the world. More than 12,000 rowers are expected to compete in the event, which runs from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon.
Mass. public defenders push for union rights on November ballot
September 29, 2026 Public defenders in Massachusetts have argued for years about the right to unionize through the state Legislature. But after years of legal hurdles, the labor fate of more than 400 staff attorneys and 800 total employees will be in the hands of voters this November. Most state employees have the ability to unionize, but not the Committee for Public Counsel Services.
City of Boston nixes reparations report after concerns around Tufts researcher
September 16, 2026 The City of Boston has nixed its report looking at the city’s ties to slavery after concerns arose around the lead researcher’s academic practices. Kerri Greenidge, former Tufts professor, was the lead researcher on the reparations report. But after criticism regarding the accuracy of her 2022 book, she lost her professorship at Tufts.
Revere has waited years for new fire engines. Critics blame private equity.
September 10, 2026 The Revere Fire Department bought two fire engines from a North Attleboro-based dealership about four years ago. Fire officials said they were told it would take about a year and a half to receive the engines. They’re still waiting. Even more frustrating, department officials say, they recently saw the trucks on display at the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut during a conference hosted by the New England Association of Fire Chiefs.
Hayden prevails over Rollins, Champion in primary for Suffolk County DA seat
September 01, 2026 Updated September 02, 2026 Following a contentious battle, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden has won the Democratic primary, according to the Associated Press.
AP projects Hayden to win primary for Suffolk County DA seat
September 01, 2026 Following a contentious battle, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden has won the Democratic primary, according to the Associated Press.
Boston Fed wealth report shows Gateway Cities lag far behind the Boston area
August 21, 2026 Half of families in Gateway Cities said they wouldn’t be able to cover a $400 emergency, compared to 33% in Greater Boston. That’s one of the striking findings of a recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston looking at family wealth across the Commonwealth. “The Gateway Cities really stood out as having more economic challenges. Families have lower wealth, less of a buffer,” said Beth Mattingly, one of the report’s authors.
Suffolk DA, Boston Police Department sued for the release of Stephenson King body camera footage
August 05, 2026 The Boston nonprofit Lawyers for Civil Rights has filed a lawsuit demanding for the release of the body camera footage involving the fatal shooting of an unarmed Black man by a white Boston police officer earlier this year. Stephenson King was shot and killed in March after a suspected carjacking. Boston Police Officer Nicholas O’Malley was charged with manslaughter in the shooting, which happened in Roxbury.
Massachusetts House primary spotlights Lowell's growing Cambodian political influence
August 04, 2026 In recent years, one Massachusetts House district in Lowell has become a contest of Cambodian leadership. This fall’s primary will be no different. Tara Hong, the 26-year-old incumbent, is a first-term state representative. He ousted state Rep. Rady Mom in 2024 after trying to unseat the incumbent for the first time two years before, at age 22. But Sokhary Chau could keep Hong from a second term. The 53-year-old, a Lowell city councilor, is putting forth a primary challenge.
Citizens Bank ends relationship with ICE prison companies after months of protest
Citizens Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in New England, announced it will be ending its financial relationship with prison companies connected with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This decision comes after months of public outcry and hundreds of millions being divested from Citizens’ due to its relationship with Core Civic and The GEO Group — two companies that invest and operate in prisons used to detain ICE arrestees.
Citizens Bank ends relationship with ICE prison companies after months of protest
Citizens Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in New England, announced it will be ending its financial relationship with prison companies connected with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This decision comes after months of public outcry and hundreds of millions being divested from Citizens' due to its relationship with Core Civic and The GEO Group — two companies that invest and operate in prisons used to detain ICE arrestees.
Citizens Bank ends relationship with ICE prison companies after months of protest
July 17, 2026 Citizens Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in New England, announced it will be ending its financial relationship with prison companies connected with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This decision comes after months of public outcry and hundreds of millions being divested from Citizens’ due to its relationship with Core Civic and The GEO Group — two companies that invest and operate in prisons used to detain ICE arrestees.
Immigrants from Ghana who now call Worcester home are galvanized by the World Cup
June 23, 2026 At a bar in Worcester last week, scores of people from Ghana cheered, jumped onto bar stools and danced when their national team scored a dramatic last-minute goal to win its opening game in the World Cup. Many more are expected to gather Tuesday in this former mill town to cheer on the Ghana team when it plays its second game against England at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Mass. watchdog calls public defense system ‘broken’
June 10, 2026 A state watchdog said the commonwealth’s public defense system “is broken, expensive and resistant to oversight.” In a new report, Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro found that public defenders aren’t taking on enough cases to meet the Legislature’s mandate — and haven’t for at least the last decade. He argues that’s created a threat to public safety.
Local Catholics say Pope Leo’s apology about slavery is important step forward
May 27, 2026 Pope Leo’s historic apology for the Catholic Church’s role in slavery has some local Catholics excited about the direction the church is heading. In his first major encyclical released since becoming head of the Catholic Church last year, Pope Leo on Monday apologized for the role the Vatican played in validating slavery and for taking too long to condemn the practice. Pope Leo said the church cannot “deny or diminish the delay” in denouncing slavery.
Pushing a ‘sacred rebellion,’ American colonists justified revolt with religion
Tucked away on Beacon Hill is the Congregational Archives & Library, a quiet space that holds relics of America’s founding era. One relic on display is an almanac from 1775, its paper browned from age, with tape piecing together its tattered parts. “The Virtuous Patriot at the Hour of Death” — a dramatic illustration — graces its cover, depicting a man in a bed, surrounded by family and a clergyman, an angel smiling down upon him.
‘This decision will disenfranchise millions:’ Mass. leaders react to latest Supreme Court ruling
May 01, 2026 After the Supreme Court’s ruling this week that weakens the country’s most significant voting legislation, Massachusetts voting advocates say the decision will increase resentment of government and threaten democracy. In Wednesday’s ruling on the case Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court ordered the state of Louisiana to redraw maps that created a second majority-Black district.
Boston report shows improved kindergarten readiness but ongoing gaps for older students
April 30, 2026 While Boston children are starting kindergarten with strong literacy skills, some performance gaps for older students remain, according to a recent report. The 2026 Cradle to Career Report from Opportunity Boston, formerly known as the Boston Opportunity Agenda, found that kindergarten readiness jumped to 74% in the most recent school year from 66% in 2022-2023. However, third and sixth-grade students have shown reading and math scores below grade level.
Stephenson King Jr.’s family, attorney demand body cam footage of his death
April 09, 2026 Stephenson King Jr.’s family members say they want to see the body camera footage of his death. The 39-year-old man was shot and killed by a Boston police officer in Roxbury last month during a suspected carjacking. Prominent civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump is representing King Jr.’s family. Crump said the footage must be damning given how quickly District Attorney Kevin Hayden charged the officer with manslaughter.
Councilors push for clarity on Boston police bodycam policies after Roxbury shooting
April 08, 2026 The Boston City Council is continuing to push the city’s police department for clearer protocols regarding the release of body camera footage. The hearing comes a few weeks after Boston Police Officer Nicholas O’Malley was charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of Stephenson King, an unarmed Black man, in Roxbury. The Suffolk County district attorney’s office has not shared the body camera footage with city leaders, the civilian police oversight body or the public.
Why hasn’t the Boston police killing of a Black man led to large protests? Original
April 06, 2026 Six years ago, after police killed George Floyd in Minneapolis, many activists in Boston participated in the national Black Lives Matter movement, marching in protests and demanding police reform. But last month, after a white Boston police officer shot and killed Stephenson King, an unarmed Black man, there have been no similar widespread demonstrations in the city. Activists offer a few reasons behind the lack of public protest.
‘The opportunity is here’: Inside the state effort that’s transforming Gateway Cities
March 30, 2026 Juliana Agudelo once thought she’d have to walk away from her business, the F&J Juice Bar Cafe in Revere, after the owner of the building told her it was up for sale. But with the help of a $25,000 state grant and technical support, Agudelo and a business partner were able to buy the one-story building on busy Shirley Avenue and make it their own. Now, she says, with every fresh juice or avocado toast she sells, she thinks how fortunate she is.
Following high court ruling, Mass. bar advocates turn to lobbying lawmakers
March 17, 2026 Following the Supreme Judicial Court’s decision not to get involved in bar advocates’push for higher pay, those attorneys are turning their focus to state lawmakers. The state’s high court ruled Monday that setting pay for private attorneys in the public defense system is the exclusive authority of the legislature. Now, many bar advocates hope the recently created Massachusetts Association of Private Appointed Counsel (MAPAC) will help them appeal to lawmakers in a targeted way.
Public defenders bring fight for unionization to Beacon Hill
March 16, 2026 For months, there’s been a shortage of attorneys needed to represent indigent defendants, leaving thousands without legal representation and causing state-employed public defenders to take on extra caseloads. On Monday, those state workers pleaded their case for the right to unionize and advocate for higher pay.
In Boston's Chinatown, a flower market caters to Lunar New Year shoppers
February 16, 2026 Shoppers packed into a pop-up flower market in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood, browsing through a plethora of ornaments, plants and decorations. The market, located inside the China Trade Center, provided last-minute shoppers with items for celebrating the Chinese New Year, which begins Tuesday. Debbie Ho, the executive director of Chinatown Main Street, said the event is about preserving thousands of years of tradition.
Summit aims to give Asian entrepreneurs in Mass. greater access to capital Original
February 11, 2026 A first-ever event in downtown Boston aimed at helping Asian business owners obtain access to money needed to grow their businesses kicked off Wednesday at Suffolk University Law School. The inaugural AAPI Capital Summit was organized by the Asian Business Empowerment Council at the Boston Foundation. It provided Asian American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs with tools to secure capital.
Mayor Wu aims to shield Boston from federal immigration tactics through executive order
February 05, 2026 In the aftermath of heavy federal immigration enforcement nationwide, Mayor Michelle Wu signed an executive order Thursday to protect against unconstitutional and violent federal enforcement. The order asserts that local police are obligated to protect residents, and says the city refuses to assist federal commandeering of local resources.
Monica Cannon-Grant sentenced to home confinement in fraud case
January 29, 2026 Monica Cannon-Grant, a Boston-based activist and founder of nonprofit Violence in Boston, was sentenced to four years of probation and six months of home confinement on Thursday. Cannon-Grant pleaded guilty in September 2025 to charges of wire fraud, mail fraud and failing to file tax returns. The Department of Justice said she defrauded the City of Boston and Suffolk County of thousands of dollars in Covid-19 relief and Community Reinvestment Grant funds.
Five years later, MBTA Communities Act spurs ‘real but modest’ change, report finds
January 28, 2026 Five years since the MBTA Communities Act changed the rules around multifamily housing production in the state, there are thousands of projects in the pipeline. But that progress represents only a modest improvement to the state’s ongoing housing crisis, according to a new report, and further reform is needed.
Gateway to prosperity: What’s next for Massachusetts’ Gateway Cities?
January 20, 2026 Decades ago, Massachusetts launched itself as a hub of innovation. From the midcentury tech boom to a magnet for life sciences, the state showcased America’s transition from an industrial past into a tech-driven future. But the anchors of that industrial past — traditional mill towns, where longtime residents and newly arrived immigrants could find steady work — were being left behind.
Another convention center authority executive steps down amid leadership turmoil
December 18, 2025 Another senior executive of color has stepped down from the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority. chris bijoux, who was head of organizational development and learning, officially left the authority earlier than expected in solidarity with the organization’s former CEO. His last day was Wednesday after announcing that he would step down at the end of the year. bijoux supports Marcel Vernon Sr., the authority’s former CEO who stepped down last Friday.
Trump travel ban expansion sparks concern among local immigrant communities
December 17, 2025 Local community members are expressing concern and disappointment over a recent Trump administration decision to expand the list of countries with travel restrictions to the U.S. The administration added an additional 20 countries to the list on Tuesday — five with complete travel bans and 15 with partial bans.
Mass. Convention Center Authority CEO departs, authority mired in corruption investigation
December 12, 2025 Marcel Vernon Sr., executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, stepped down from his role with the authority on Friday. He will remain as an employee until Dec. 31. This adds another stain on the authority that has had a history of racial discrimination and leadership changes in recent years.
Giving Tuesday arrives as some local nonprofits see a drop in donations
December 01, 2025 As nonprofits ready for Giving Tuesday — one of the largest fundraising days of the year — some local leaders told GBH News that the financial help is even more needed as support overall slows. Among them, organizers with Heal the Hood — a Jamaica Plain-based nonprofit that assists people with housing and food assistance — say they have seen a decline in total donations this year.
From churches to banks, urban school districts find creative ways to update facilities
December 01, 2025 In New Bedford, school officials renovated a planetarium at the high school to use for history and science lessons. In Lynn, city officials transformed a former bank into a place for pre-college classes that has doubled the program’s ability to enroll students. And in Chelsea, the city acquired a church it plans to turn into classrooms to free up space in its high school.
Only 1 in 7 Greater Boston renters can afford a starter home, new report finds
November 12, 2025 For more and more families in Greater Boston, buying a home has quickly become out of reach. A new analysis from the Boston Foundation released Wednesday found that just one in seven renter households can afford a starter home in Greater Boston. With much higher housing prices and mortgage rates, it’s a dramatic change from just four years ago, when nearly a third could afford a starter home.
New walking tour shines light on Boston’s overlooked abolitionist history
November 03, 2025 Boston’s Old State House is a landmark that has anchored some of the state’s most significant moments — including the first time the Declaration of Independence was read aloud.
A new incentive program aims to reduce backlog of defendants in Mass. Will it be enough?
October 21, 2025 The state’s public defense agency announced a new incentive program for private lawyers in Massachusetts — effective immediately — to address the growing backlog of unrepresented clients in Middlesex and Suffolk counties. The Committee for Public Counsel Services announced the new program in an email that aims to stabilize the public defense system in the courts named in a recent court-order requiring the release of defendants without representation after seven days.
Need help in court? Your local library might have the right resources.
October 09, 2025 A program providing access to court services through public libraries has expanded to include more libraries and all branches of Massachusetts’ courts. The website lists 17 partnering public libraries across six counties — including library branches in Andover, Eastham, Northampton, Canton, Quincy, Randolph and Boston. “Access to justice requires access,” said Robert DeFabrizio, senior manager of law libraries at the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Library.
Students of color twice as likely to attend substandard schools, new report finds
October 07, 2025 Low-income and students of color in Massachusetts are almost twice as likely to attend schools with unsatisfactory conditions than their white counterparts, according to a new report from the Boston-based nonprofit MassINC. The report released Tuesday showed that urban students in particular are learning in outdated, overcrowded and unsafe schools, exacerbating already wide achievement gaps.
Boston launches first 24/7 public health vending machine providing free supplies
September 17, 2025 Boston unveiled its first 24-hour public health vending machine Wednesday, stocked with items such as Narcan, fentanyl test strips, safe injection kits, condoms, socks, blankets and more. NeighborHealth and the Boston Public Health Commission partnered to stock the machine, and all products will be free of charge. “Substance use itself is a community issue, and if it’s not being addressed at a community level, then we’re missing a really big component of it.
Many private attorneys in Mass. are still refusing new defense cases as they consider unionizing
September 03, 2025 Even after passage of a pay raise last month, some private Massachusetts lawyers who are assigned by the state to defend indigent clients are still refusing to take on new cases as they entertain the idea of unionization. Some of the 2,600 “bar advocates” have had trouble keeping up with the growing caseload and feel that the recently passed pay increases aren’t enough.
Boston renters and advocates worry that new ban on broker's fees won't protect tenants
August 27, 2025 Next week’s annual “move-in day” in Boston is the first under the new state law saying that renters can no longer be required to pay a broker’s fee, unless they hire a broker themselves. But some advocates and renters are concerned about how the enforcement of the ban will play out as the city’s traditional Sept. 1 lease date approaches. “As with every law, people are going to try to get around it.
Randolph festival celebrates growing Igbo community in Greater Boston
Twenty-six years ago, Ejike Eze moved to Boston from Nigeria. He soon found a support system away from home among a group of immigrants who shared his background as members of the Igbo ethnic group — one of the largest in Nigeria. The local Igbo community has grown substantially in the two and a half decades Eze has been in Boston. And the upcoming annual Igbo Day festival is how the large local community showcases and preserves its culture.
Randolph festival celebrates growing Igbo community in Greater Boston
August 08, 2025 Twenty-six years ago, Ejike Eze moved to Boston from Nigeria. He soon found a support system away from home among a group of immigrants who shared his background as members of the Igbo ethnic group — one of the largest in Nigeria. The local Igbo community has grown substantially in the two and a half decades Eze has been in Boston. And the upcoming annual Igbo Day festival is how the large local community showcases and preserves its culture.
New tool maps pathway issues in Downtown Boston, Chinatown to improve accessibility
July 30, 2025 A recent audit of virtually every sidewalk in Downtown Boston and Chinatown found nearly 150 serious infrastructure issues in the area. The Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association put together a database highlighting most major crosswalks, sidewalks and ramps in two of Boston’s busiest areas. “Nobody should have to avoid a part of their neighborhood because of issues,” said Rishi Shukla, co-founder of the association.
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