Commonwealth Day

Fallen Worcester firefighter Christopher Roy, who died battling a fire in 2018, was among those honored Tuesday at Massachusetts’ ‘Firefighter of the Year’ Awards. Officials including Gov. Charlie Baker were on hand for the 30th annual event at Mechanics Hall in Worcester to honor firefighters from fire departments who undertook heroic acts of bravery and public service across the state in 2018.

He promised to start an honest conversation about race and how to heal the lingering wounds of Virginia’s painful past. Then he disappeared.

A new award created for the Commonwealth’s 33rd annual Performance Recognition Program honors former Governor Paul Cellucci.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed the long-awaited bill Monday that would make it illegal to hold a cellphone while driving in the Bay State. Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the hands-free driving bill with a 38-1 vote in the Senate and 153-1 vote from the House. Baker signed the bill just after 3 p.m.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, moves into a more visible role within the British royal family with her new responsibilities as patron of four organizations – two of which were previously held by the Queen.

Gov. Charlie Baker has proposed a law to allow betting on professional sports in Massachusetts.

Britain’s Prince Andrew continues to face many hurdles despite his decision to step down from royal duties because of his friendship with billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The 59-year-old prince, who is Queen Elizabeth II’s son, is struggling to stay at the helm of his Pitch&Palace charity, with some British media reports indicating he has already stepped down. A number...

A Massachusetts youth hockey coach awaiting trial for child rape charges was located and arrested Friday morning, after failing to turn himself in to a Vermont court on Thursday. He was released on bail earlier this month after he met certain conditions due to rulings by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in two unrelated cases.

A youth hockey coach awaiting trial for child rape charges is expected to be released on bail following rulings by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in two unrelated cases. Thirty-three-year-old Christopher Prew of Marblehead is accused of sexually assaulting eight boys under the age of 14. He had been held without bail since a court appearance in March of 2018.

Convenience stores across Massachusetts closed up shop for part of Wednesday so that owners could protest proposed regulations that would take menthol cigarettes off their shelves. About a thousand members of the Boston Convenience Store Owners Association and as well as owners of other stores across the Commonwealth, shut down their businesses in solidarity to take part in the noon...

New surveillance video that shows two suspects near the scene of a police chase in Dedham, Massachusetts surfaced Saturday. Boston police said they were aware of the video as they continued to search for suspects in Friday’s armed robbery.

Dedham residents are being urged to stay inside Friday afternoon as police search for armed robbery suspects who abandoned their vehicle amid a chase. Dedham and Massachusetts state police are searching for the suspected robbers near Violet and Commonwealth avenues.

Check your numbers! A Mass Lottery cash prize of $100,000 is still unclaimed, and nearing its expiration, almost a year after it was purchased. The winning ticket was bought on Nov. 9, 2018 at Metamorphosis in Dorchester, according to Mass Lottery officials.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh joined other mayors from across Massachusetts Tuesday in support of legislation that would protect access to abortion in the Bay State. The mayors declared their support for the legislation during an event at the State House Tuesday morning.

While Meghan, Duchess of Sussex stayed behind in South Africa with baby Archie Harrison as husband Prince Harry embarked on solo trips elsewhere in Africa, she made an unexpected appearance alongside him in Malawi. On Sunday, the Duke of Sussex met with students and alumni supported by U.K. scholarships from Campaign for Female Education at the Nalikule College of Education....

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, began their first official tour as a family on Monday with their infant son, Archie, in South Africa. The first day of their 10-day, multi-country tour started in Cape Town with visits to girls’ empowerment projects that teach rights and self-defense. A musical welcome greeted them in the township of...

U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III formally declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate on Saturday, becoming the first member of the Kennedy political dynasty to bid for the upper chamber of Congress since Edward M. Kennedy in 1962. “Let’s get this out of the way right away: I’m here to announce that I’m going to be a candidate for the...

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have reportedly touched down in Rome for the wedding of Meghan’s friend Misha Nonoo, who is tying the knot with oil tycoon Michael Hess. “Eagle Italian eyes tell me that Harry and Meghan were spotted arriving in Rome today. For tomorrow’s wedding of the Duchess’ best mate Misha Nonoo to oil tycoon Michael Hess,” royal...