WBUR TODAY: The Lindsay Clancy trial begins

 

❤️ Donate Monday, July 27, 2026

☀️ Sunny, with a high near 83. Good Morning Boston, It's Monday. Today's our last day of pleasant summer weather before a stretch of rain that will linger until Friday. But first, the news: In court: Opening statements are scheduled to begin this morning in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Duxbury woman charged with killing her three children in 2023. WBUR's Deborah Becker reports it's expected to be a lengthy and emotional trial. The judge expects it could take up to two months. The alleged crime: Prosecutors say Clancy strangled her three children — 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan — at their home on Jan. 24, 2023, during a mental health breakdown. They say she then cut her neck and wrists and jumped from a second-story window in an attempt to kill herself. (She is now paralyzed from the waist down.) Prosecutors argue that Clancy deliberately sent her husband to get takeout to a restaurant far enough away so that she had time to commit the crimes. Patrick Clancy, who is now her ex-husband, is expected to be the first witness called in the trial. (He's on the witness list for both the prosecution and the defense.) The defense: Clancy's attorneys plan to argue an insanity defense, saying she had improper care for postpartum depression and was in a state of psychosis at the time of the attacks. Her lawyer has said Clancy was prescribed 13 different psychiatric medications, and both she and Patrick Clancy have separately sued healthcare providers. Expert view: Legal experts recently told Deb it may be difficult for the defense to successfully make an insanity case because jurors are often reluctant to accept the argument in cases of horrific crime involving young children. However, it has been accepted in a few high-profile cases involving postpartum psychosis. Go deeper: Deb has more here on last week's jury selection and what evidence will and won't be allowed during the trial. Expiration date: Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, ends today for thousands of Haitian immigrants living in Massachusetts, after a Supreme Court decision last month allowed the Trump administration to terminate the protection for people from Haiti and Syria. Why it matters: Experts estimate there are nearly 20,000 Haitian TPS holders in Massachusetts — many of whom have been legally living and working in the state for years. The end of TPS means they will no longer be eligible to work and become vulnerable to deportation after today. The healthcare and nursing home sectors are bracing for staffing shortfalls as a result. PSA: Earlier this month, Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office released a family preparedness and legal resources guide for TPS holders. It's official: Democratic delegates in Maine have chosen former state lawmaker and logger Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner as the party's nominee to take on Republican Sen. Susan Collins this fall. Jackson ended up winning 566 of 571 delegates who cast votes. WBUR's Anthony Brooks has more on Jackson's backstory here. Now comes the hard part: Launching a campaign and introducing himself to voters in fourth months, against an incumbent with a big fundraising advantage. The Associated Press has more here on the early attack strategy Collins and national Republicans are taking against Jackson. Zoom out: Democrats will likely need to win in Maine to have any chance of flipping control of the Senate in November. Here's a look at their narrow path and the Senate seats most likely to flip. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie: The Red Sox are adding a bat from Down Under. Over the weekend, the Sox traded promising young left pitcher Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead. The 25-year-old Australian, who's in the midst of a breakout season, gives the Sox right-handed hitting help with Trevor Story and Roman Anthony out since May due to injuries. On the field, Mead could slot in at third base, according to The Athletic. P.S.— Speaking of the Red Sox, we want to know: What's the best ballpark bite around Fenway Park? Fill out this form with your favorite restaurant or food cart outside the ballpark and it could be included in a future roundup. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Senior Editor, Newsletters The Rundown Rage-giving, innovation and cuts: How public media has survived without federal funds A year after President Trump signed a law ending six decades of federal funding of public media, it's a time of reinvention, innovation and clear anxiety at public tv and radio stations nationwide. Read more. Lettuce lovers turn to local N.H. farms for fresh produce amid cyclospora outbreaks Lettuce from the company Taylor Farms has been linked to cyclospora outbreaks in multiple states, including New Hampshire. Taylor Farms recalled some of its lettuce, which is found in restaurants and grocery stores around the country. Read more. Spat over 6-foot-tall roosters in seaside Maine gets national attention Owners of a small business were issued fines for installing a half-dozen large tin roosters in front of their home, which town officials say was a violation of the local signage rules. The owners say the colorful ornaments comfort their autistic daughter, and they're gaining support for their cause. Read more. Wu delivers promised street safety plan, as outcry over cyclist death keeps up Wu released a letter pledging the city will install more permanent “cast-in-place” concrete barriers along bike lanes, consult with outside advisors, develop truck safety legislation and evaluate the intersection where cycling advocate Louisa Gag was killed. Read more. We’ve all but wiped out wild oysters. Bringing them back could help solve some big problems Between nutrient pollution, climate-fueled severe storms, and warming ocean waters, our estuaries are at risk. But restoring wild oyster habitat could help. Read more. Anything Else? In the 1960s, Polaroid donated cameras to a Cambridge arts center. Now, an exhibition showcases the archival photographs taken by the center's youth. WBUR's Arielle Gray reports the photos tell a story about Cambridge that goes beyond the stereotypes. Slovenia's Tadej Pogačar won his fifth Tour de France on Sunday in a final stage that was delayed and shortened due to wildfires that have forced the evacuation of 250,00 people in southern France. Yesterday marked exactly 70 years since one of the largest maritime rescues ever happened off the coast of Nantucket. WBUR's Fausto Menard spoke to one of the few remaining living passengers on the Andrea Doria about what the crash and rescue was like. ICYMI: The Celtics-Sixers rivalry just got more interesting. LeBron James announced Friday that he will sign with Philadelphia for his record 24th season, joining the recently traded Jaylen Brown. What We're Reading 📚 What Is Happening to Climate Journalism? (Nieman Reports) UMass Dartmouth students decry non-renewal of journalism professor’s contract (The New Bedford Light) Listen: Platner’s Top Campaign Strategist on What Went Wrong (The New York Times) Food For Thought What Rhode Island — and the rest of New England — can learn from Connecticut’s audacious pizza campaign (The Boston Globe) How Connecticut turned its most delicious resource into a branding powerhouse. When offended New Yorkers called to complain, Connecticut turned the voicemails into social media content. The state also launched the Connecticut Pizza Trail, encouraging visitors to crisscross the state in search of the perfect slice. Read more. Play: WBUR's daily mini crossword. Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: The perfect home for hide and seek. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up here. 🔎 Explore WBUR's Field Guide stories, events and more. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. 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