Jenifer McKim

2 weeks ago | wgbh.org | Jenifer McKim

Some 1,700 people in Eastern Massachusetts should soon receive letters in the mail that their medical debt has been forgiven. That’s because a national nonprofit, Undue Medical Debt, announced this week that it purchased the debt, estimated to be worth some $30 million, in its “largest single abolishment” in the state. People who qualify for the debt forgiveness will receive a letter in the mail starting this month.

2 months ago | wgbh.org | Jenifer McKim

February 17, 2025 The state Department of Public Utilities on Monday said it plans to work with gas companies “to provide relief” to customers who have suffered recent spikes in costs. “We have listened to ratepayers, and we will be working directly with the gas companies over the coming days to pursue revisions to their delivery rates to provide relief as soon as possible for their customers,’’ DPU spokesperson Alanna Kelly told GBH News in a an email.

Jan 6, 2025 | nepm.org | Jenifer McKim

Tens of thousands of people facing lawsuits from debt collectors in small claims courts in Massachusetts will soon have more protections to assure they aren’t being forced to spend money they can’t afford. New regulations, which go into effect on Feb. 3, require courts to hold payment hearings to make sure low-income people aren’t tapping into legally protected income like disability payments or social security to pay their creditors.

Dec 2, 2024 | wgbh.org | Jenifer McKim

December 02, 2024 Prisoners’ advocates are calling for Gov. Maura Healey to address a growing backlog of incarcerated people who were convicted of crimes as young adults and now are awaiting hearings in front of the Massachusetts Parole Board. In January, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that people who had committed serious crimes between the ages of 18 and 20 should be allowed the possibility of parole. But nearly a year later, no prisoner has been released on those grounds.

Nov 16, 2024 | ourcommunitynow.com | Jenifer McKim

Share A father and son who own two restaurants in Woburn pleaded guilty this week in federal court to smuggling migrants into the country. Jesse James Moraes, 66, and Hugo Giovanni Moraes, 45, pleaded guilty to conspiring to encourage migrants from Brazil to come to the United States for financial gain, according to information released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts. The father, Jesse Moraes, also admitted to a money laundering conspiracy.