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Boston Globe
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
At Embrace Ideas Festival, Black Bostonians discussed politics, art, business
Advertisement Margaret Breeden, daughter of Boston civil rights leader Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'My parents really ingrained social justice in me every day at the kitchen table, so I came here to figure out what I could do to help,' she said. In the first panel of the day, State Senator Liz Miranda and Segun Idowu, chief of economic opportunity and inclusion for the City of Boston discussed how they were using government policy to uplift Black Bostonians in light of the new presidential administration. Miranda represents the 2nd Suffolk district which includes parts of Roxbury, Mattapan, Dorchester and Northeastern University or 'the Blackest district in the Commonwealth' in her words. Idowu, a member of Mayor Wu's cabinet, Advertisement Idowu said that Trump's tariffs and executive orders would impact the 'five pillars' of Massachusetts' and the city of Boston's economy — medical institutions, educational institutions, life science research, tourism and climate technology. Idowu also said Trump's tariffs were impacting community projects in the city like the P3 project, a plan to build affordable housing and a research lab on the site of a vacant lot in Roxbury. Miranda was critical of the Trump administration's rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion policies. She said Trump's actions would hurt sectors like medical research. 'It's not just symbolic, it's sidelining brilliant people,' Miranda said. Miranda also said that even when DEI policies were not under attack, Massachusetts' government was not representative. 'I'm one of four Black women in the entire legislature of 200 people … we're not even represented in the bluest state in the country,' Miranda said. Miranda encouraged attendees to boycott companies that rolled back DEI efforts and to contact their alma maters if the institutions were abandoning programs to foster diversity. The politicians also told the audience policy wins they're proud of. Miranda said that she's proud of a bill she passed last year that addresses the higher morbidity rate that Black mothers face compared to white mothers. 'Six years ago when I first started talking about this issue, everyone told me 'there's no problem here,' here in the public health Mecca of the world,' Miranda said sarcastically. Advertisement Idowu said that he felt proud that people of color have started businesses in almost every neighborhood in the city and no longer feel limited to Mattapan, Dorchester and Roxbury. 'The whole city belongs to us … we can go to establishments in other neighborhoods now and not feel policed,' Idowu said. Priscilla Douglas, an executive coach and author who recently stepped down from the board of the Boston Public Library, attended the Embrace Ideas Festival. She is a lifelong resident of the city who went to Northeastern University and worked at the Roxbury YMCA and the Urban League growing up, but said the festival was eye-opening. 'Listening to the policy panel, I had no idea that 17 percent of Boston residents live in poverty,' Douglas said. At the last panel of the day, Jeneé Osterheldt, deputy managing editor for culture, talent and development at The Boston Globe interviewed entrepreneur Morgan DeBaun about her new self-help book and her career. DeBaun is the founder and CEO of Blavity Inc., a digital media company geared to Black millennials. DeBaun said that she had the idea to start a company focused on Black people when she was working for Intuit in Silicon Valley because she didn't see anyone building technology with Black users as the primary customer they were targeting. DeBaun, who is originally from Missouri, said that the murder of Ferguson teenager Mike Brown at the hands of the police in 2014 also led to her wanting to work with Black people. Advertisement 'I was sitting in a cubicle in San Francisco after Mike Brown and the people around me were asking 'what's for lunch,' they just were not seeing what I was seeing,' DeBaun said. In the audience, Laurie Nicolas resonated with DeBaun's experiences of working in predominantly white offices. Nicolas works in the healthcare space but started her own nonprofit called Pink Sunday which focuses on physical fitness for women. Nicolas learned about the Embrace festival after the inauguration of the Embrace statue in Boston Commons in 2023. She said she appreciated the diversity of the speakers at the festival. 'I want to focus on cultivating spaces where people feel included, not just people who look like me, but all kinds of diversity and I learned a lot from this event,' Nicolas. This story was produced by the Globe's team, which covers the racial wealth gap in Greater Boston. You can sign up for the newsletter . Angela Mathew can be reached at
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Humans Already Have the Ingredients to Regrow Limbs, Scientists Find
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Axolotls are known for their ability to grow back just about any body part that is bitten off by a predator, but the trigger for this regeneration was a mystery until now. It turns out that retinoic acid and the enzyme CYP26B1 are heavily involved in regrowing missing limbs, determining what goes where before forming new tissue. Future technology inspired by axolotls could possibly help humans regenerate limbs—we have what is needed, but need to find out how to make those pieces communicate like they do in axolotls. In the 1995 cyberpunk film Virtuosity, the genes of android villain SID 6.7 are merged with snake DNA, giving him the superhuman ability to regrow lost limbs. Axolotls can do that without even trying—in fact, it is possible for an axolotl to lose virtually any body part (even its brain and internal organs) and fully regenerate it. Mysteries surrounding these virally adorable amphibians' regenerative powers have fueled the sci-fi dreams (and frustrations) of scientists for almost two centuries, but not until recently did anyone understand the mechanism behind this ability. Now, molecular biologist James Monaghan of Northeastern University has made a breakthrough that has allowed us to identify the driving force of regeneration—and maybe, one day, we will be able to give this power to humans. Positional memory means that an axolotl somehow knows if it needs to grow back a lost finger, hand, or entire arm. This was already known to be the basic mechanism behind vertebrate regeneration, but what Monaghan found was that it begins with retinoic acid and the enzyme CYP26B1. Neither of these chemicals are exclusive to axolotls—both are also found in the human body. It is just a matter of axolotls being able to use them differently. Larger limbs at proximal sites closer to the body, such as arms, contain more retinoic acid and less CYP26B1 (which breaks the retinoic acid down). And in smaller sites further from the body, like hands, there is less retinoic acid and more CYP26B1. 'Regenerating limbs retain their proximodistal (PD) positional identity following amputation. This positional identity is genetically encoded by PD patterning genes that instruct blastema cells to regenerate the appropriate PD limb segment,' Monaghan and his team said in a study recently published in the journal Nature Communications. When a predator bites an arm (or anything else) off of an axolotl, retinoic acid is synthesized in the middle layer of skin and spreads to the limb bud. This helps generate fibroblasts, which are connective tissue cells in humans, but regenerative cells in these creatures. Fibroblasts form blastema, or limb progenitor cells, which then grow and differentiate to recreate the particular limb that is missing. Blastema mirror the behaviors of limb buds that grow as an embryo develops, and in both embryos and adult axolotls that have been injured, positional information is exchanged between stem cells in the blastema and other cells in this budding limb to ensure that the appropriate tissues regenerate where they are supposed to grow. The gene Hoxa13 activates CYP26B1, which breaks down retinoic acid where it is not needed and uses it to create a pattern for the limb being regenerated. This breakdown determines how much retinoic acid is at an amputation site and, consequently, the position and structure of the limb which is regrown. Higher levels of retinoic acid activate the Shox gene—a transcription factor that both gives directions for producing a protein that regulates what other genes do and is involved with forming the skeleton. As Monaghan found out, defects such as skeletal abnormalities can occur if this process is disrupted. Raising levels of retinoic acid in an axolotl's hand caused it to grow not just another hand, but a whole new arm. Eliminating Shox with CRISPR-Cas9 resulted in normal hands but short arms, with bones that did not harden properly. This also occurs in humans with Shox mutations. What is especially amazing about axolotls is that they regenerate the limb in the exact same form it took before amputation. Some other animals that regenerate, like lizards, may grow back the end of a missing tail, but in a simpler form than the original. Much more research will be needed to transfer this ability to humans, but the materials are there. Healing wounds without scarring might even be possible in the near future. What we need to do next to make that future a reality is find out what happens inside blastema cells during regeneration, and which parts of these cells are targeted by retinoic acid. 'If we can find ways of making our fibroblasts listen to these regenerative cues, then they'll do the rest,' Monaghan said in a recent press release. 'They know how to make a limb already because, just like the salamander, they made it during development.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
New York Post
21 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
Food expert warns ‘one of the riskiest items in the grocery store' seems healthy but can make you deathly ill
Your good health habit could actually get you seriously sick — and you wouldn't know until it's too late. While experts unanimously agree that we should all be eating more fresh, whole foods, a food policy professor has a warning: Danger lurks in your grocery store's produce aisle. Not all fruits and veggies are created equal, and a popular choice for easy meals that save you time could come with the price of contamination. 3 Prewashed bagged greens are one of the riskiest items in the grocery store. Scott Habermann – 'Prewashed bagged greens remain one of the riskiest items in the grocery store,' Darin Detwiler, a professor of food policy at Northeastern University and author of 'Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions,' told Huffington Post. 'When you look at past outbreaks, bagged salads have been a leading cause of foodborne illness, with some outbreaks resulting in hospitalizations, kidney failure, and even death.' Those pre-mixed bagged salads can harbor pathogens like listeria, salmonella, and E. coli and pose a higher risk for contamination through the supply chain and are among the worst offenders for food safety. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food poisoning symptoms from bacteria like listeria or E. coli — which cause infections in the gastrointestinal tract — include nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. According to a 2024 report in the Journal of Foodborne Illness, leafy greens are credited with 'up to 9.2% of known pathogen-caused foodborne illnesses' in the U.S, resulting in over 2.3 million cases of illness each year. What makes these speedy veggies particularly dicey is that heat is required to kill pathogens — and salads are typically eaten raw, making it difficult to reduce the risk of foodborne illness once they reach consumers. Contamination of these mean greens can occur at different stages of production. Produce can be contaminated during lettuce collection by pathogens in the water, soil, or air, or by wild or domesticated animals. Leafy greens are sometimes grown near large-scale cattle operations, a proximity that increases the likelihood that E. coli, salmonella, and listeria could be introduced through contaminated irrigation water. 3 Produce can be contaminated during collection by pathogens in the water, soil, or air, or by wild or domesticated animals. Pormezz – Detwiler cites manure lagoons, large pits where livestock waste is stored, as a common source of food contamination. 'Runoff from manure lagoons can seep into irrigation canals and contaminate fields with deadly bacteria like E. coli,' he said. Post-harvest, lettuce can be compromised through human handling, contaminated equipment, or water used to remove soil. Typically, lettuces from various farms are processed in a centralized area, meaning your bag of greens is more of a menagerie of fetid potential than a single source. 'Greens from different farms are mixed, washed, and packaged together, so one contaminated leaf can impact thousands of bags across multiple states,' said Detwiler. 3 Consider ditching bagged greens entirely and opting for whole heads of lettuce or loose bunches Dan Dalton/KOTO – The large vats that facilitate this washing are also an effective way to spread bacteria. To prevent the proliferation of pathogens, greens must be kept cold; if lettuce is not consistently kept at these cooler temperatures throughout the supply chain, bacteria can easily breed and reach store shelves. But refrigeration just slows bacteria growth, it doesn't kill them. Washing greens is also ineffective at removing pathogens. In fact, doing so also double down on the danger, as doing so can introduce contamination from the sink, utensils, equipment, and the compromised hands of the washer themselves. What's a leaf-eater to do? Consume carefully. Consider ditching bagged greens entirely and opting for whole heads of lettuce or loose bunches. He recommends whole heads of lettuce or spinach, which have less surface area for contamination. Just rinse the leaves under cold running water to remove dirt and surface-level bacteria. If you're bag or bust, Detwiler advises buyers to skip greens that appear wilted, slimy, or discolored and avoid those in packages that look wet, as these signs could indicate improper storage. Further, avoid subjecting your greens to drastic temperature changes. Keeping them in a hot environment or even on the counter at room temperature can create an environment for bacteria to grow and spoilage to take hold. Finally, stay up to date on recalls and double-checking expiration dates, only buying greens that you plan to use within 2 days.
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
All aboard the Trump clemency train
'Trump is using the pardon power freely and brazenly,' Daniel Urman, a Northeastern University legal scholar, told me. 'The Jan. 6 pardons especially are really a way to rewrite history and frame the rioters and insurrectionists, including individuals who attacked law enforcement officers and others who showed no remorse, as heroes.' Advertisement By any measure, Trump has been on a clemency binge: On the Advertisement The Trump pardons are a direct contradiction of the Crouch thesis, which speaks of 'the tendency of recent presidents to avoid risk by simply pardoning less.' Last month, the president Fans wait for reality television star Todd Chrisley outside the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Fla., on May 28. Todd and Julie Chrisley, convicted of fraud and tax evasion in 2022, were recently pardoned by President Trump. Dan Anderson/Associated Press Just last month, Trump Advertisement 'This Sheriff is a victim of an overzealous Biden Department of Justice, and doesn't deserve to spend a single day in jail. He is a wonderful person, who was persecuted by the Radical Left 'monsters,' and 'left for dead,'' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. 'He will The next clemency recipients also could include the two men convicted of Pardons, especially high-profile ones, ordinarily come in the last hours of a presidential administration. Trump, who has upended all expectations of the presidency, defied that norm as well. But he has extended his breach of custom by raising questions about his predecessor's pardons, suggesting that some of Biden's acts of clemency were Biden has denied the claim, and in any case there is no provision for A number of the subjects of Trump pardons are either names well known or notorious, but the conductor of the Trump clemency train is an otherwise obscure character named Ed Martin, a dedicated Advertisement Martin, who compared the Jan. 6 riots to Mardi Gras, is contemplating granting clemency to The pardons of former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger (convicted on felony charges growing out of the Reagan-era Iran-Contra affair) by George H.W. Bush and of Marc Rich (a fugitive convicted for tax fraud and illegal dealings with Iran) by Bill Clinton were subjects of Washington fascination and general public repugnance for weeks. One of the many wonders of the age is how the Trump pardons have essentially vanished from conversation, lost in the maelstrom of the president's flurry of executive declarations and deportations, insults and imprecations. They have faded from view almost as completely as the criminal charges they erased. This column first appeared in , Globe Opinion's free weekly newsletter about local and national politics. If you'd like to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up . Advertisement David Shribman is a nationally syndicated columnist. He can be reached at
USA Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Could Trump end Juneteenth as a federal holiday? The short answer: Not on his own
Could Trump end Juneteenth as a federal holiday? The short answer: Not on his own Show Caption Hide Caption What is Juneteenth? The holiday's history and significance, explained. Here's why this once local celebration is significant to U.S. history. President Donald Trump's efforts to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and make changes to already-existing federal holidays has resulted in a growing concern about the future of Juneteenth, a commemoration of the day slavery was ended in the United States. Jeremy Paul, a law professor at Northeastern University's School of Law, said folks shouldn't be worried, though. On his own, the president does not have the authority to strike Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Juneteenth was named a federal holiday under former President Joe Biden in 2021. Signed by Biden into law, June 19 has been recognized as Juneteenth National Independence Day since. Juneteenth: Is Juneteenth a federal holiday? See 2025 holiday calendar What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth commemorates the complete enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed enslaved African Americans in secessionist states – signed by former President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863. However, it wasn't until two years later, on June 19, 1865, that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas would learn of their freedom. On this date, Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger announced the proclamation to the Galveston community, marking the final day of slavery in the United States. The name "Juneteenth" is a combination of "June" and "nineteenth," in honor of June 19. What to know: Are banks, post offices, UPS and FedEx open on Juneteenth 2025? Has Trump said he wants to end Juneteenth? No, the president has not directly said he wants to end Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Growing concerns about Juneteenth's future are derived from Trump's rollback of DEI programs nationwide. The White House did not immediately respond for comment when contacted by USA TODAY on June 17. Could Trump end Juneteenth as a federal holiday? On his own, Trump could not end Juneteenth as a federal holiday, Paul said. The only way to "cancel" a federal holiday would be for Congress to pass a proposed bill to do so, which could then be signed by the president. "(Congress has) not done, and therefore, Juneteenth is and will remain a federal holiday, unless Congress feels otherwise," Paul added. How many states recognize Juneteenth as a permanent holiday? Juneteenth is a federal holiday, but states can choose whether they recognize Juneteenth as they wish. At least 30 states and the District of Columbia recognized Juneteenth as a permanent state holiday, according to data from Pew Research Center. Some states, including Alaska and Vermont, are celebrating Juneteenth as a state holiday for the first time this year. States that do not recognize Juneteenth as a permanent state holiday include Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming, as of June 17. This means Juneteenth is not a paid day off in these states. What are the differences between federal and state holidays? The differences between federal and state holidays tend to change on a case-by-case basis, Paul said. However, on all 11 federal holidays, the United States Postal Service (USPS) does not deliver mail. For instance, even though Arizona does not recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday, the USPS will still not deliver mail in the state on June 19 because its a federal holiday. On the flip side, if a state does not recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday, state government-mandated institutions, like city hall or the DMV, may remain open on June 19, even though federal government-mandated institutions will be closed, Paul explained. What holidays has Trump tried to change? Since taking office in January, Trump has proclaimed two new holidays for 2025: Victory Day for World War I on Nov. 11 (a renaming of Veterans Day) and Victory Day for World War II on May 8. As Nov. 11 is already a federal holiday, this year's renaming doesn't really affect the day much. However, May 8 is not a federal holiday. However, Trump's proclamation did not set May 8 as an official federal holiday, meaning federal workers will not have the day off. Trump just proclaimed celebrations of the holiday for 2025. Trump has also expressed interest in "bringing Columbus Day back," a federal holiday celebrated on the second Monday of October. Many states have begun to recognize the holiday as Indigenous Peoples' Day. In 2021, Biden signed a proclamation recognizing Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples' Day. However, because this was a proclamation and not a law, it ended after the 2021 holiday. Contributing: Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
