Mass. Pike lane closures in Newton, Weston to cause heavy delays. Here's what you need to know
Weekend lane closures are in effect on the Mass. Pike as crews aim to replace the I-90 bridge over the MBTA railroad.
The closures on I-90 will be between exits 123 and 125 in Weston and Newton, a two-mile stretch from the Ridgeway Road bridge in Weston to the Commonwealth Avenue overpass in Newton.
MassDOT is reducing traffic to one lane in each direction until Monday at 5 a.m.
'They'll be demolishing the roof of that existing tunnel and then replacing it with prefabricated bridge unit. This will be happening over the next couple of days,' Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said.
Peak traffic could cause up to three hours of delays and officials strongly advise drivers to avoid the area if possible.
The project is also temporarily shutting down the commuter rail this weekend.
'They'll be on shuttle buses, that's both Amtrak and the MBTA out from as far as Worcester, if you're coming in, you're going to be on a shuttle bus; they have their own detour routes that they'll be using throughout the weekend,' Gulliver said.
Phase two of the project will be the weekend of June 20th. buses.
MassDOT says they are working with state and local law enforcement. Drivers are encouraged to make extra time, but also, most importantly, slow down.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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Forbes
12 hours ago
- Forbes
3Daughters redesigns IUD to eliminate insertion pain for women.
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While the CDC updated its clinical guidance in 2023 to urge doctors to take IUD pain more seriously, the clinical reality has changed little. 'The pain can be excruciating, but many women aren't warned,' said Kelsey Craig, a 24-year-old IUD user in Massachusetts. 'I was told it would feel like a cramp. I nearly passed out.' And yet, demand for IUDs continues to rise. The global contraceptive market, valued at $31 billion in 2024, is projected to reach $44 billion by 2030, with IUDs accounting for over $6.5 billion in 2024 and expected to reach $8 billion by 2030. That growth underscores a frustrating contradiction: Women are choosing these devices despite the pain because hormonal alternatives may be less desirable or because the IUD offers unmatched convenience. Mary Beth Cicero, CEO and cofounder at 3Daughters 3Daughters is developing a frameless, nonhormonal IUD designed to eliminate insertion pain and modernize long-acting contraception. When Mary Beth Cicero, a veteran of the pharmaceutical industry, first learned of a magnetic IUD invented by a veterinary specialist for horses, she saw an opening to do something radically better for women. She launched 3Daughters in 2021 with a vision to reengineer the IUD to meet the needs and anatomy of women better, starting with pain reduction. The company's solution: a frameless, magnetic, self-assembling IUD that conforms to the uterus, eliminating the rigid arms and dangling strings of the T-shaped models. It's bendable. The 2-millimeter inserter is designed to reduce trauma during placement, drawing inspiration from embryo-transfer catheters used in in vitro fertilization (IVF). 'IUD pain is criminal,' said Cicero. 'We're not just offering a different shape—we're removing the steps that cause pain.' The new system is also non-hormonal, using copper as the active ingredient—a material long recognized by the FDA for its safety and efficacy. That regulatory history allowed 3Daughters to pursue a 505(b)(2) FDA approval pathway—a faster track for products that build on already-approved ingredients. 'As an early investor in 3Daughters, we've had the privilege of watching them pursue a bold, overdue vision for women's health—led by empathy, guided by science,' explains Thomas Osha, executive vice president at Wexford Science & Technology. 'Their ground-breaking approach and frameless uterine delivery platform address the pain and barriers associated with traditional IUD insertion.' Cicero has had to fight hard to get here, and not just on the product side. Early fundraising was challenging, especially when many male investors didn't believe IUD insertion pain was a real problem. 'One even suggested spraying a little lidocaine,' she recalled. Still, Cicero persisted. Drawing on her years of experience in marketing, business development, and regulatory strategy, she wrote grant proposals, pitched investors, and recruited a high-performance team. In under four years, she secured $6.5 million in funding, developed a working prototype, and held multiple meetings with the FDA. 'I've cried in my soup, but I got back up,' she said. 'Every 'no' is fuel to find the next 'yes'.' That resilience has paid off. Last year, 3Daughters was awarded an NIH grant to complete a preclinical trial. Unfortunately, layoffs at NIH have slowed the start of the study. The company has also filed for additional SBIR grants to support Phase 1 trials. Cicero's goal is to partner with a major player to scale distribution eventually. There's momentum behind 3Daughters—and the broader women's health movement as well. Investors like the Argosy Foundation see the company as a signal of what's possible when innovation centers the patient, not just the product. 'We believe in the transformative potential of 3Daughters' novel integrated IUD system,' said Emily Van Dunk, Argosy's executive director. 'It has the potential to make a significant impact for women.' With clinical trials on the horizon and interest building, 3Daughters isn't just bringing a new IUD to market—it's challenging long-held assumptions about what women should tolerate. 'Women deserve options that work with their bodies, not against them,' said Cicero. For a generation of women who've been told to 'grin and bear' IUD insertion pain, a solution is finally in development. 3Daughters's innovative approach offers hope that comfort, safety, and dignity will become the new standard in contraceptive care.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
20 NIH grants restored to UMass system after judge rules against Trump admin
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Read more: Federal judge orders Trump admin to reinstate hundreds of NIH grants The federal government now has the opportunity to appeal Young's initial order in the cases. As part of the Monday order, 20 grants are slated to be restored to the UMass system. 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'We won't let this Administration play politics with our public health or violate the law,' Campbell said. 'I look forward to seeing these federal funds restored to life-saving and critical health care and research.' A Harvard Medical School associate professor is also slated to see her canceled grants restored. Brittany Charlton, founding director of the LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence, is one of the individual plaintiffs suing. Her NIH funding to study the mental health of young LGBTQ people was cut in March, affecting a team of 18 researchers and causing students to fear for their safety. As federal funding cuts hit Harvard, a private investment firm and other donors step up Trump admin asks court to rule against Harvard without a trial Federal judge orders Trump admin to reinstate hundreds of NIH grants Federal judge delays decision over Trump admin barring Harvard foreign students Harvard's Monday court date will be important for international students. Here's why Read the original article on MassLive.


CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Juneteenth celebrated at Brookline block party, "something very beautiful "
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