News Archives - Cambridge | Somerville Independent

Haitians and Syrians sheltered in U.S. brace for disaster from change of status, with consequences for economy

by Catalina Mena July 24, 2026

Protections for 45,000 Haitians and almost 300 Syrians across Massachusetts are set to expire as soon as Monday after a second short delay by a judge.

NEWS

Chris Affleck, teacher and activist whose kids won Oscars, dies at 83

by Marc Levy July 24, 2026

The death of Chris Anne Affleck, 83, was announced Friday by the family. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December and died June 2.

NEWS

A ShotSpotter gunfire detector reboot is back for Cambridge City Council debate

by Marc Levy July 24, 2026

Whether ShotSpotter gunfire detectors will return is to be voted in August, delayed by a protest over focusing on tech instead of addressing the root causes of violence.

NEWS

‘Quite something’: U.K.’s speaker of the House of Commons visits Harvard’s 1215 Magna Carta

by Marc Levy July 23, 2026

Tucked away at Harvard Law School is a 1215 copy of the Magna Carta. Librarians took it out for a special visitor from the U.K. Parliament's House of Commons.

NEWS

Cambridge and Somerville risk levels for West Nile Virus are raised to ‘moderate’

by Marc Levy July 23, 2026

Risk levels for West Nile Virus in Cambridge and Somerville were raised to “moderate” on Thursday by the state, along with Boston, Newton and Brookline.

NEWS

Keeping up with the CSOs: Waste flowed Wednesday into the Mystic and Charles rivers

by Marc Levy July 23, 2026

Wednesday saw the second day in a row of combined sewer overflow, the term for releasing waste into public waterways when sewer and water systems get overwhelmed.

NEWS

School playground and ArtFarm seek $6M, already more than Somerville’s available preservation funds

by Marc Levy July 23, 2026

Tough decisions will have to be made this year by Community Preservation Committee members, who heard from the first of nine projects looking for funding.

NEWS

Political notes: Boston mayor kicks off Cambridge canvass; McLaughlin’s ‘Good Will’ ad

by Marc Levy July 22, 2026

Michelle Wu makes it across the river for Daniel Lander, her former aide, and there's candidate news about Matt McLaughlin, Christine Barber, Will Brownsberger, Mike Connolly, Ben Ewen-Campen and Will Mbah.

NEWS

Keeping up with the CSOs: Waste flowed Tuesday into the Mystic River and Alewife Brook

by Marc Levy July 22, 2026

Rainfall on Tuesday caused a combined sewer overflow, the term for releasing waste into public waterways when sewer and water systems get overwhelmed.

NEWS

West Nile Virus is detected in Somerville mosquitoes, but city and region are at low risk

by Marc Levy July 20, 2026

Only a small number of mosquitoes are infected at any given time, and there have been no animal or human cases of the virus reported in the state.