WBUR's Morning Edition Local content from WBUR's Morning Edition broadcasts Aaron Hernandez, infamous ex-Patriots star, sounded upbeat in final prison calls before suicide Attorneys suspect brain disease and illegal drugs could have been factors in the former NFL player's death. But experts warn that suicide is complicated and can rarely be distilled to... Play Investigations 04:58 Mar 27, 2023 As the T missed safety investigation deadlines, state regulators failed to act Federal officials say the DPU must use its enforcement power to keep the T safe. Public records show the DPU has routinely allowed the T to miss deadlines, and has... Play Investigations 03:47 Jan 12, 2023 Advertisement Mass. homebuyers pay hidden fees to lawyers for title insurance, with no state oversight In Massachusetts, WBUR found an unregulated and opaque business where title insurers pay large, hidden commissions to attorneys — and homebuyers often unknowingly foot the bills. Play Investigations 06:47 Nov 16, 2022 Banks saw opportunity during COVID, permanently shuttering 230 branches in Mass. Branch closures hit some customers hard: small businesses that deal in cash, city dwellers reliant on public transit, and older customers. Of the 230 branches closed since the start of... Play Investigations 05:45 Sep 21, 2022 How a Mass. law intended to protect victims became a 'gift to abusers' The state’s unique law, intended to protect the privacy of victims of domestic and sexual violence, has instead protected perpetrators and police, a WBUR investigation found. The law requires police... Play Investigations 18:36 Aug 27, 2022 Bans on outside police chief candidates raise civil rights concerns, officials say After a WBUR and ProPublica investigation of Revere's policy that requires the city to hire a police chief internally, U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins and Sens. Ed Markey and Elisabeth Warren... Play Investigations 04:30 Aug 26, 2022 No outsiders need apply: Why Revere settled for a police chief accused of harassment Restrictions on hiring police chiefs from outside their departments are common in Massachusetts. In Revere, the mayor wanted the option to look for a top cop externally to clean up... Play Investigations 09:42 Aug 11, 2022 25 drivers who still work for the MBTA were suspended at least twice for safety violations The citations are numerous, including infractions related to speeding, attention to duty, preventable accidents and the safety of customers or MBTA property. Play Investigations 02:39 Aug 9, 2022 Gun sales hit record levels in Massachusetts over past two years A WBUR analysis of state data found that gun dealers in the state sold almost 276,000 firearms from 2020 through 2021. Nearly two-thirds of those were handguns. Play Investigations 04:35 Aug 3, 2022 In a frenzied home-buying market, rushed and unregulated inspections are rising These “soft” inspections, or “walk-and-talks," are leaving buyers at risk. Play Investigations 04:48 May 10, 2022 'Health care heroes really got the shaft': Some workers with COVID had to fight for pay Employers are required under state law to file workers' compensation claims, but COVID opened up a big gray area. Companies and insurers are taking advantage of the complexity. Play Investigations 05:34 Jan 19, 2022 Boston police bought spy tech with a pot of money hidden from the public Boston police used a "slush fund" to pay for a surveillance device that can grab cell phone data from suspects — and also from other phones nearby. The department says... Play Investigations 08:10 Dec 17, 2021 Lawmakers Call For Reforms To Civil Forfeiture After WBUR And ProPublica Investigation After a WBUR and ProPublica investigation found possible due process violations, lawmakers are calling for additional reforms to the state's civil asset forfeiture laws. Play Investigations 02:21 Aug 30, 2021 It's Easy For Police To Seize Money. Worcester's District Attorney Makes It Hard To Get It Back Under Massachusetts' civil forfeiture system, police can confiscate property they suspect is part of a drug crime and prosecutors could hold it indefinitely, even when criminal charges have been dismissed.... Play Investigations 09:34 Aug 18, 2021
Aaron Hernandez, infamous ex-Patriots star, sounded upbeat in final prison calls before suicide Attorneys suspect brain disease and illegal drugs could have been factors in the former NFL player's death. But experts warn that suicide is complicated and can rarely be distilled to... Play Investigations 04:58 Mar 27, 2023
As the T missed safety investigation deadlines, state regulators failed to act Federal officials say the DPU must use its enforcement power to keep the T safe. Public records show the DPU has routinely allowed the T to miss deadlines, and has... Play Investigations 03:47 Jan 12, 2023
Mass. homebuyers pay hidden fees to lawyers for title insurance, with no state oversight In Massachusetts, WBUR found an unregulated and opaque business where title insurers pay large, hidden commissions to attorneys — and homebuyers often unknowingly foot the bills. Play Investigations 06:47 Nov 16, 2022
Banks saw opportunity during COVID, permanently shuttering 230 branches in Mass. Branch closures hit some customers hard: small businesses that deal in cash, city dwellers reliant on public transit, and older customers. Of the 230 branches closed since the start of... Play Investigations 05:45 Sep 21, 2022
How a Mass. law intended to protect victims became a 'gift to abusers' The state’s unique law, intended to protect the privacy of victims of domestic and sexual violence, has instead protected perpetrators and police, a WBUR investigation found. The law requires police... Play Investigations 18:36 Aug 27, 2022
Bans on outside police chief candidates raise civil rights concerns, officials say After a WBUR and ProPublica investigation of Revere's policy that requires the city to hire a police chief internally, U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins and Sens. Ed Markey and Elisabeth Warren... Play Investigations 04:30 Aug 26, 2022
No outsiders need apply: Why Revere settled for a police chief accused of harassment Restrictions on hiring police chiefs from outside their departments are common in Massachusetts. In Revere, the mayor wanted the option to look for a top cop externally to clean up... Play Investigations 09:42 Aug 11, 2022
25 drivers who still work for the MBTA were suspended at least twice for safety violations The citations are numerous, including infractions related to speeding, attention to duty, preventable accidents and the safety of customers or MBTA property. Play Investigations 02:39 Aug 9, 2022
Gun sales hit record levels in Massachusetts over past two years A WBUR analysis of state data found that gun dealers in the state sold almost 276,000 firearms from 2020 through 2021. Nearly two-thirds of those were handguns. Play Investigations 04:35 Aug 3, 2022
In a frenzied home-buying market, rushed and unregulated inspections are rising These “soft” inspections, or “walk-and-talks," are leaving buyers at risk. Play Investigations 04:48 May 10, 2022
'Health care heroes really got the shaft': Some workers with COVID had to fight for pay Employers are required under state law to file workers' compensation claims, but COVID opened up a big gray area. Companies and insurers are taking advantage of the complexity. Play Investigations 05:34 Jan 19, 2022
Boston police bought spy tech with a pot of money hidden from the public Boston police used a "slush fund" to pay for a surveillance device that can grab cell phone data from suspects — and also from other phones nearby. The department says... Play Investigations 08:10 Dec 17, 2021
Lawmakers Call For Reforms To Civil Forfeiture After WBUR And ProPublica Investigation After a WBUR and ProPublica investigation found possible due process violations, lawmakers are calling for additional reforms to the state's civil asset forfeiture laws. Play Investigations 02:21 Aug 30, 2021
It's Easy For Police To Seize Money. Worcester's District Attorney Makes It Hard To Get It Back Under Massachusetts' civil forfeiture system, police can confiscate property they suspect is part of a drug crime and prosecutors could hold it indefinitely, even when criminal charges have been dismissed.... Play Investigations 09:34 Aug 18, 2021