#localnews

Boston.com | 7 MassDOT employees on leave after TV news investigation into overtime by Molly Farrar AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. Seven Massachusetts Department of Transportation employees have been placed on administrative leave after Boston News 25’s 231‑day undercover investigation revealed that high‑earning highway‑maintenance workers at the MassDOT District 6 office in Charlestown falsified timesheets to claim excessive overtime. By tracking vehicle departures from the yard and comparing them with public‑record timesheets, reporters found that several workers left the facility in personal cars hours before their reported shift end times, yet their overtime hours were still approved by supervisors. The investigation highlighted cases where employees earned between $97,000 and $149,000 in overtime—sometimes while their cars were observed leaving the yard well before the claimed work hours—prompting MassDOT to emphasize that intentional misreporting of time or misuse of taxpayer dollars will be fully accountable. Read more: https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2026/05/20/7-massdot-employees-on-leave-after-tv-news-investigation-into-overtime/ #MassDOT #BostonNews25 #charlestown #localnews #transportation

Boston.com | ‘Incredibly disruptive’: Readers react to Fidelity’s five-day return to office mandate by Annie Jonas AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. Fidelity Investments announced that, beginning in September, all 6,200 Boston‑based employees—including managers at the vice‑president level and above—will be required to work in the office five days a week, ending the company’s hybrid model that previously allowed two full weeks of in‑person work each month; only customer‑support phone roles and three other Fidelity sites (Merrimack, New Hampshire; Kentucky; and New Mexico) are exempt. The firm framed the shift as a “thoughtful, gradual approach” aimed at fostering mentorship, collaboration and a stronger culture, while acknowledging diverse personal circumstances. Boston.com’s poll of over 550 readers showed a 69 % opposition rate, with concerns about work‑life balance, commuting costs, and potential turnover, whereas roughly a quarter supported the move for its perceived productivity and social benefits. Commenters warned the mandate could drive talent away, penalize caregivers, increase traffic, and prioritize corporate real‑estate over employee well‑being, while a smaller group argued that full‑time office presence could enhance teamwork, learning and economic vitality. Read more: https://www.boston.com/community/readers-say/2026/04/30/readers-react-fidelity-five-day-return-to-office-mandate/ #FidelityInvestments #Bostoncom #community #jobs #localnews

Local journalism matters, example number one-billion (approximately). After a report by London Centric, an independent site founded by ex-Guardian journalist Jim Waterson, a billionaire landlord has shelved plans to carry out mass evictions across London. Here's more from London Centric on how their story made a difference. https://flip.it/1YzcIu #London #Journalism #Media #IndependentJournalism #LocalNews

Chicago has a new snowplow named "Abolish ICE," the winning entry in the city's annual snowplow naming contest. Here's more from local news station WTTW. https://flip.it/7fwaam #Chicago #LocalNews #ICE #Immigration

Those of us who work in the news business are highly aware of the perilous situation for local outlets, and how bad that could be for communities and democracy. The general public. however, don't seem to know or care. Here's NiemanLab's story on the results of new survey of adults who live in U.S. news deserts and news oases. https://flip.it/CK5iri #News #Media #Journalism #LocalNews