On wealthy Martha's Vineyard, costly housing is forcing workers out and threatening public safety

VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass. (AP) — Sheryl Taylor works as an administrator for Martha's Vineyard Regional High School. Each summer, she has to leave the island or stay with friends because she can't afford the high seasonal rents. How high? The average vacation home rents for $6,500 a...

Minivan carrying more than a dozen puppies crashes in Connecticut. Most are OK

WOODSTOCK, Conn. (AP) — A minivan carrying 14 puppies hit a utility pole and rolled over in Connecticut on Thursday morning, injuring several dogs, authorities said. Dogs of several breeds were in crates in the back of the minivan when it crashed at about 6 a.m. in Woodstock, a...

Firewall to deter cyberattacks is blamed for Massachusetts 911 outage

BOSTON (AP) — A firewall designed to prevent cyberattacks and hacking was to blame for the 911 outage that hit Massachusetts this week, state officials said Wednesday. Massachusetts' 911 system was down for about two hours Tuesday, making it impossible for anyone to reach emergency...

In 'Janet Planet,' playwright Annie Baker explores a new dramatic world

NEW YORK (AP) — The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker has been hailed as one of the preeminent voices of her generation, but the movies have long lingered in her mind and in her work. In her play, “The Flick,” a trio of workers clean up between showings at a...

The 911 system across Massachusetts is restored after going down for hours

BOSTON (AP) — The 911 system across Massachusetts was restored Tuesday after going down for several hours, which made it impossible for anyone to reach emergency services through the call number. The Massachusetts State Police announced around 3:45 p.m. that the system had been...

Massachusetts authorities say emergency 911 service is disrupted statewide

15-year-old girl shot to death hours before her middle school graduation, authorities say

LOWELL, Mass. (AP) — A 21-year-old man has been arrested and charged with fatally shooting a 15-year-old girl hours before she was scheduled to attend her middle school graduation in Massachusetts, authorities said. Not guilty pleas were entered in court Tuesday on behalf of...

Pilot of small plane dead after crash into a Massachusetts river

LAWRENCE, Massachusetts (AP) — A small plane crashed into a Massachusetts river Monday, killing the lone pilot onboard, authorities said. The plane plunged into the Merrimack River near the town of Lawrence at about 2:15 p.m., authorities said. Graham Rowe, the North...

Lawmakers seek health care and retirement protections for Steward Health Care workers

BOSTON (AP) — A group of Democratic members of Congress, led by Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, is seeking reassurances that workers at hospitals owned by Steward Health Care will have their health care and retirement benefits protected. Steward last month said it plans to...

Rory McIlroy's two missed short putts cost him a shot at winning the U.S. Open

PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) — Rory McIlroy put himself in position to end a decade-long drought in the majors, and answer a whole lot of questions about his ability to get it done, only to miss two short putts Sunday that left him peeling out of the parking lot in disappointment. McIlroy...