Cambridge
Harvard Chabad Petitions to Change City Zoning Laws
Harvard Chabad is petitioning the city of Cambridge to change its zoning laws to exempt religious buildings from certain restrictions in an apparent effort to move forward with plans to expand its headquarters, currently blocked by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Nvidia to Open Quantum Computing Research Center in Boston This Year in a Landmark for Region’s Tech Sector
Technology giant Nvidia announced last Thursday that it will open a quantum computing research center in Boston by the end of 2025, where it will host research in partnership with labs at Harvard, MIT, and tech firms in the area.
Harvard Agrees to a 1-Year $6 Million PILOT Agreement With the City of Cambridge
Harvard University has agreed to voluntarily pay the City of Cambridge $6 million without committing to a long-term amount for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program, citing federal funding uncertainties.
One Person Non-Fatally Injured in Thursday Shooting Near MIT
Cambridge police responded to a non-fatal shooting near MIT on Thursday evening where one person was non-fatally injured, the Cambridge Police Department announced in a Citywide Alert.
CPS Will Retain All Paraprofessional Staff From Kennedy-Longfellow
Cambridge Public Schools Interim Superintendent David G. Murphy confirmed that the district will be retaining all paraprofessional staff from the Kennedy-Longfellow school at a Wednesday budget meeting.
Prosecutors Seek Charges Against Driver in Crash That Killed Cyclist John Corcoran ’84
The Middlesex District Attorney’s office is seeking criminal charges against the SUV driver that struck and killed cyclist John H. Corcoran ’84 in September, a spokesperson confirmed Wednesday.
How City Councilor Paul Toner Fought To Keep Hearings in Brothel Case Private
Cambridge City Councilor Paul F. Toner — who faces charges for allegedly patronizing a Cambridge brothel network — spent nearly a year trying to prevent his name from surfacing in the case prior to his arraignment.
Cambridge Residents Vote to Allocate $1 Million to City Improvement Projects
The City of Cambridge allocated over $1 million to seven city improvement projects in its annual Participatory Budgeting process Friday. Winning projects, nearly all of which each earned more than 3,000 votes from Cambridge residents, included improved seating and shade in public parks, a mobile recycling center, electric vehicle chargers, and more.
Biogen to Move Global Headquarters to Kendall Commons in 2028
Cambridge-based biotechnology company Biogen Inc. announced Monday that it will move its global headquarters to a new building in Kendall Square in 2028, consolidating its various branches and operations into a single “innovation hub” while drawing the company still closer to nearby MIT.
As Commercial Development Grows in Cambridge, City Looks to Increase Linkage Fee on Commercial Projects
The Cambridge City Council kickstarted a process to potentially raise linkage fees on commercial development on Monday, voting unanimously to plan a study that will recommend how much to raise the Nexus Zoning Fee.
Toner Resists Calls To Resign in First Statement From City Hall
Cambridge City Councilor Paul F. Toner resisted calls to resign in a statement at the beginning of Monday’s Cambridge City Council meeting. Toner was charged with sexual conduct for a fee on Friday after allegedly patronizing a brothel network.
State Rep. Mike Connolly Calls on City Councilor Paul Toner To Resign After Brothel Hearing
Massachusetts State Representative Michael L. Connolly called on Cambridge City Councilor Paul F. Toner to resign after he was formally charged with a misdemeanor in connection with a brothel network operated in Cambridge.
11 More Men, Including City Councilor, Named and Charged with Soliciting Prostitution Through Brothel
A Cambridge clerk magistrate charged another 11 men — including Cambridge City Councilor Paul F. Toner — with allegedly patronizing the high-end brothel ring that operated in parts of Cambridge.
After Toner Identified as Suspected Brothel Client, City Council Splits Over His Next Steps
City Councilor Paul F. Toner, who allegedly patronized a high-end brothel run out of Cambridge, is the first elected official in Cambridge to publicly face criminal charges in more than a decade. In public statements Friday, his colleagues on the Council were divided over his future.
Ringleader of Cambridge Brothel Network Sentenced to Four Years in Prison
Han Lee — the ringleader of the high-end brothel network that operated in parts of Cambridge and Washington, D.C., suburbs — was sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday.
Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner Charged With Buying Sex Through Brothel Ring
Cambridge City Councilor Paul F. Toner was charged with buying sex from a high-end brothel network that operated in parts of Cambridge and Watertown at a Friday hearing.
Parents, Staff Ask CPS To Budget for More Paraprofessional Staffing, But Superintendent Is Skeptical
Cambridge Public Schools parents and staff advocated for increased paraprofessional staffing — with no success — at a Tuesday School Committee meeting on the district’s fiscal year 2026 budget.
12 Men Accused of Buying Sex in Cambridge Brothel Ring Named, Charged in Hearing
A Cambridge magistrate criminally charged 12 of the 28 alleged customers of a high-end brothel network that operated in parts of Cambridge and Washington D.C. suburbs at a Friday morning hearing.
After Delays, Harvard Square Finally Says Goodbye to The Pit
As part of ongoing renovations to the Harvard Square Plaza, yellow safety vests and work boots replaced black leather jackets and Doc Marten boots from the 80s during the demolition of The Pit this past Tuesday.
CPS Will Increase Staffing At Schools Receiving Kennedy-Longfellow Students
Cambridge Public School officials plan to increase the number of teachers and paraprofessionals at the King Open and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. elementary schools to account for the influx of students from the recently closed Kennedy-Longfellow School.
Cambridge Plans to Begin Broadway Bike Lane Construction This Summer
Cambridge’s Bicycle Committee said the city plans to begin construction on separated bike lanes on Broadway by this summer, advancing a proposal which has been met with concern by some residents.
At Harvard, Grad Student Parents Navigate a Patchwork of Programs To Keep Up With Costs
Harvard has increased graduate student compensation to keep pace with rising costs of living. But many students still struggle with the costs of raising a family — whether because of scattered resources and program eligibility requirements at Harvard, or sky-high prices in Cambridge.
Four Individuals Honored with HSBA Foundation Awards at 115th Annual Meeting
The Crimson spoke with four individuals — Elana Klein, a social worker at the Cambridge Police Department; Carol Lewis, of the First Parish in Cambridge; Mary Stack of the Cambridge Forum, a local civic organization; and Anthony Tuccinardi of the Cambridge Inspectional Services Department — were awarded 2025 HSBA Foundation Awards for various contributions in service and leadership.
Cambridge Police Begin ‘Phased Rollout’ of Officer Body Cameras
The Cambridge Police Department announced on Tuesday that it is beginning to deploy body worn cameras in a “phased rollout” after years of debate over the technology’s implementation. Training is expected to begin this week, and all officers — including command staff, supervisors, detectives, and patrol officers — are expected to be equipped with body cameras by early April.
Cambridge Pilots Resident Bike Lottery Program
The program allows qualifying residents to apply for vouchers, which range from $800 to $3000 dollars, to fund the purchase of bikes. Residents with disabilities can also apply for a customized adaptive bike or electric wheelchair attachment.