Annie Jonas

Massachusetts

Community Writer at Boston.com

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Articles

'Rat City' no more? A new street cleaning program launches in Allston

2 days ago | boston.com | Annie Jonas

On a sunny Thursday morning in Allston, as commuters bustled past the eclectic storefronts along Harvard Avenue, a small team of street sweepers pushed their brooms and dust pans with quiet purpose. They weren’t city employees. They were clients of Project Place, a non-profit which gives formerly unhoused or incarcerated individuals a chance to rebuild their lives.
The new pope is American. Here’s why readers are surprised.

5 days ago | boston.com | Annie Jonas

In a historic moment for the Catholic Church – and the United States – Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the 267th pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. His election on Thursday was met with surprise and enthusiasm, particularly among American Catholics. Born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost is the first U.S.-born pontiff in the Church’s two-millennia history. Prevost’s rise to the papacy comes after a long ministerial career.
Are you in default on your student loans? We want to hear from you.

6 days ago | boston.com | Annie Jonas

The Education Department began collecting loans in default on Monday, marking an end to the five-year pause that began during the Covid-19 pandemic. Are you one of the borrowers impacted? On May 5, the department’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) began involuntary collections through the Treasury Offset Program. The program collects income tax refunds and other government payments (like federal salaries, and even Social Security benefits) from people who have past-due debts to the government.
Tell us: What are the best beach reads for summer 2025?

1 week ago | boston.com | Annie Jonas

With summer on the horizon in New England, locals will soon flock to the region’s numerous beaches for salty breezes and sunny escapes. We want to know: What’s your perfect beach read this season? Whether you’re staking your claim on the sands of Crane Beach in Ipswich, catching the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, or escaping to the Cape for a long weekend, no beach day is complete without a good book in hand.
Spring 2025 book picks: 6 new releases - and where to read them

1 week ago | boston.com | Annie Jonas

As spring settles into Massachusetts, local booksellers are diving into fresh literary finds – and enjoying the most of the season’s warmer weather, too. We caught up with two independent bookstores at some of the state’s most beloved coastal destinations to learn what’s on their reading lists as they welcome in the spring season. In Provincetown, Dereck McCormack, manager at the Provincetown Bookshop, is gravitating toward titles that are joyful, cozy, and nature-inspired.
Affordable housing reform in Massachusetts? Readers say not so fast.

2 weeks ago | boston.com | Annie Jonas

One of the state’s most entrenched (albeit contentious) affordable housing statutes has some local leaders and lawmakers calling for reform – but Boston.com readers aren’t so sure. At a Charles River Regional Chamber event at the end of May, Congressman Jake Auchincloss suggested Governor Maura Healey could unilaterally alter Chapter 40B regulations, specifically the “safe harbor” threshold that protects certain communities from the law’s impact.
How readers graded Trump’s first 100 days: ‘Worst in American history’

2 weeks ago | boston.com | Annie Jonas

In the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second term, his administration enacted swift and sweeping changes across the country – changes most Boston.com readers say are for the worse. “I think you can make a reasonably convincing argument that from a political, social, legal, and financial standpoint, this has been the worst 100 days in American history,” reader Ben from Wellesley said. “I had little doubt this administration was going to take us into some pretty rough territory, but wow.
Is Trump violating the First Amendment? Harvard lawsuit says yes.

2 weeks ago | boston.com | Annie Jonas

Harvard University’s lawsuit against the Trump administration is sparking a national conversation about the First Amendment, free speech, academic freedom, and government overreach. The university is challenging the administration’s freeze of over $2.2 billion in federal research grants, claiming it violates the First Amendment.
A look inside Boston's vibrant slam poetry scene

2 weeks ago | boston.com | Annie Jonas

You’re reading Book Club, Boston.com’s guide to the Greater Boston literary scene. Sign up to get book recommendations, author Q&As, deep dives on trends in the industry, and more in your inbox. April is National Poetry Month in the United States, a time to celebrate and bring to light the poets and poetry that have shaped our nation. In honor of the month, I took a peek at Boston’s poetry scene. 📚 Plus, read on for indie bookstore deals you won’t want to miss. Looking for one near you?
In his first 100 days, how would you grade President Donald Trump?

3 weeks ago | boston.com | Annie Jonas

Donald Trump made his return to the White House on January 20, 2025, after winning a contentious election. With his second term, Trump promised to bring a renewed sense of energy and bold action to his presidency, continuing to pursue his signature “America First” agenda. Has he delivered on his promises? As he approaches his first 100 days in office, here’s a look back at some of the key actions that have shaped his time in office so far.