Animal Welfare & Enforcement: Massachusetts AG reached a settlement with NH food producers City Line Distributors and Poultry Products Company of New England over alleged inhumane treatment, under the state’s animal cruelty law. Elections & Civic Process: A Globe report spotlights how Massachusetts voters—especially those in their 80s—are weighing age and stamina in the Democratic Senate primary, while another piece argues debates are becoming rare and voters should ask why candidates won’t face off. Academic Freedom: A national analysis warns that faculty independence and shared governance are eroding as more states and federal actions restrict what universities can teach and how senates operate. AI Costs in Massachusetts: A Massachusetts-focused look at the AI boom highlights why measuring ROI is hard and why agentic AI can drive unpredictable, fast-growing expenses that companies aren’t tracking. Municipal Finance: Massachusetts’ local aid formula is criticized as broken, pushing communities toward overrides as budgets strain under outdated state funding rules. Public Health & Care Access: A Rhode Island Supreme Court ruling allows civil-rights lawsuits against state officials under the Rhode Island Civil Rights Act, expanding accountability for disability-related discrimination. Sports Business: The Jaylen Brown Celtics-to-76ers blockbuster keeps dominating headlines, with trade fallout and contract implications still reverberating across the NBA.