Heat islands in Mass. and four more stories

 

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The Saturday Send

Welcome back to the Saturday Send, a weekly digest of stories from CommonWealth Beacon that you may have missed. This week, students in the Media Innovation Studio at Northeastern University’s School of Journalism explore how local groups are bringing cooling infrastructure to residents in some of Massachusetts's hottest cities, even after federal funding cuts have slashed their budgets. Plus, the Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Massachusetts that claims a law allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates is unconstitutional; Chris Lisinski breaks down what to expect from Beacon Hill as the Legislature works through a lengthy list of topics before the end of its term on July 31; a new poll finds high homeowner satisfaction in Gateway Cities, despite the financial challenges that come with owning a home; and the Commonwealth has the fewest child care deserts of any state in the nation, but still ranks among the most expensive for child care. Check out those stories below, and, as always, thanks for reading. — The CommonWealth Beacon team

A brick apartment building on a treeless block in Chelsea illustrates the dense urban landscape that traps heat in one of Massachusetts's hottest cities.

When the heat doesn’t stop By Lin Chen, Jeta Perjuci, and Yaron Porat-Gibsh The loss of funds has disrupted a network of heat-related initiatives across Massachusetts, many supported through EPA environmental justice grants.

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Trump DOJ sues Mass. over immigrant tuition law By Chris Lisinski The Trump administration opened up another front in its campaign to crack down on immigrant communities by asking a federal judge to scrap a Massachusetts law that lets high school graduates without legal status attend public colleges and universities without paying higher, out-of-state tuition.

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July is here, and that means it’s busy season again on Beacon Hill By Chris Lisinski An even-year July 31 is always a critical crossroads for the House and Senate, but rules changes this time around mean it will look different than it has for the past two decades. And as the House budget chief put it, “it can’t go worse” than last term.

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Homeowner satisfaction high in Gateway Cities despite a host of financial challenges, new poll finds By Hallie Claflin The poll highlights a clash between how people feel about homeownership and what it means for their finances. Gateway City homeowners were more likely to skip urgent home repairs due to cost, buy in neighborhoods that were not their first choice, and say that competition with other buyers was a barrier they faced.

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Massachusetts emerges as a national leader in child care access, but accessibility issues remain By Saaya Daga Funding for the Mass. Department of Early Education and Care increased by 125 percent between 2020 and 2025, helping support providers and expand capacity.

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Bad incentives and industry headwinds vex Point32Health CEO Patrick Gilligan has a lifetime of experience in health care. One year ago, he accepted the role of CEO of Point32Health, a regional nonprofit health insurance provider. On this month’s edition of Health or Consequences, hosts John McDonough and Paul Hattis ask Gilligan to take a deep dive into the current state of health insurance. Are patients getting what they’re paying for? How are health insurers cutting costs while remaining competitive? How is market consolidation contributing to rising health care costs? And what policies might help stem the tide? LISTEN NOW

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