The retail storefront model is changing, which portends a rethink of economic development. Walgreens closes its second of four stores in city of Lowell, in less than 6 months, making it harder for residents to access prescriptions. What will fill that market space? www.lowellsun.com/2025/07/29/w...

Could hydrotreated vegetable oil as a drop-in renewable fuel source for diesel-powered backup generators be a path to sustainaibilty? www.lowellsun.com/2025/07/24/l...

We are not Argentinia, but these ICE actions feel like a "Dirty War" where people are being disappeared. www.fox13now.com/news/fox-13-...

Remember our vulnerable people during this heat emergency. The Boston area is expected to hit a high of 104 today. 🥵 Something as simple as passing out cold beverages to at-risk populations where they gather can be a powerful affirmation of community. www.lowellsun.com/2025/06/23/1...

The city of Lowell "leans into" the the narrative that in order to make money, you have to spend money by allocating almost $1 million to marketing and advertising firms to rebrand/promote the Gateway CIty. www.lowellsun.com/2025/06/11/c...

Army Staff Sgt. Kelsey Baez surprised her brother, Kelvyn Baez, at his graduation from the plumbing program at Greater Lowell Technical High School Friday night. The siblings haven't seen each other in more than a year. www.lowellsun.com/2025/06/07/t...

The Lowell HIgh School Class of 2025, that entered high school as freshman after a year of remote learning due to the COVID lockdowns, celebrated their resilience and "extraordinary' achievements during their commencement exercise on Wednesday. CONGRATS! www.lowellsun.com/2025/06/05/e...

MA Gov. Maura Healey jump starts housing creation in MA, by increasing access to and lowering the cost of state-owned surplus land to both public and private developers. www.lowellsun.com/2025/06/02/s...

Snatch-and-grab ICE raids in Lowell MA by heavily armed men dressed like Proud Boys — balaclavas, sunglasses, hats, unmarked vehicles and little-to-no visible official identification save for vests stenciled with “POLICE,”which can be purchased online. www.lowellsun.com/2025/05/25/t...

It is unconscionable that federal agents would impersonate utility workers to fraudulently gain access to homes. TEP must denounce this impersonation and seek relief from feds acting under their cover. Merely distinguishing what their contractors look like is insufficient.

The explosive growth of AI is driving expanded facilities. In Lowell, MA, the Markley Group's 14-acre plant, with 27 aboveground 6,000-gallon diesel generators, sits right in the middle of a residential neighborhood, albeit one zoned as light industrial. www.lowellsun.com/2025/06/01/p...

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement targets the City of Lowell. But who are those masked men, some of whom look barely fit for duty and whose military-style getup doesn't include badges or official identification? www.lowellsun.com/2025/05/25/t...

A 2026 fiscal funding fight between the City of Lowell and Lowell Public Schools leads to pinks slips for teachers and support staff in the Gateway City. Is the 5th largest city in the commonwealth a layoff bellweather or exception? www.lowellsun.com/2025/05/24/c...

After months of speculation, Rockland Trust confirms what people feared - layoffs. 125 employees of Enterprise Bank & Trust in Lowell, acquired by Rockland last December, are laid off starting in June. Adds to the nonprofit community layoffs earlier this year. www.lowellsun.com/2025/05/19/r...

I am enjoying my morning cup of coffee in the mug I picked up during my tour of the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Inc.'s brand spanking new warehouse. Thanks, Debbie Callery!

Locals keep a wary eye on the mighty Merrimack River after it briefly crests above flood stage. Last major flood was this time of year in 2006. www.lowellsun.com/2025/05/18/m...

Feed the people. The Merrimack Valley Food Bank steps in to fill gaps left by government cuts with $7.8 million capital campaign - and they've already raised half the funds. www.lowellsun.com/2025/05/19/m...

South Middlesex Opportunity Council and the city of Lowell explore moving the Lowell Transitional Living Center out of Downtown Lowell. The 134-year-old, 5-story building lacks elevators, accessibilty, is plagued by infrastructure issues and unwelcome guests - mice. www.lowellsun.com/2025/05/19/l...

Human-caused environmental damage takes many forms, including vandalism. www.lowellsun.com/2025/05/18/n...

Jail or emergency room? What if there's another way to treat substance use disorders? Vinfen and Spectrum Health Systems to open the Restroration Center of Greater Lowell in 2026, the first-of-its-kind crisis diversion program in Massachusetts. www.lowellsun.com/2025/05/15/r...

Bought my college-aged son an old used car. It has a cassette tape and CD player. I think I'm in love.

In the runup to Memorial Day, it's important to reflect on the holiday's meaning, which isn't deals or cookouts, but sacrifice. www.lowellsun.com/2025/05/15/l...

Tax increases and budget cuts. Are we seeing the beginning of stagflation starting at the local level? www.lowellsun.com/2025/05/09/l...

Had a great time on "Nightside with Dan Rea," talking about underage patrons in Lowell bars. Rea keeps the convo popping! Check it out on WBZ News Radio 1030 iHeartRadio. www.iheart.com/podcast/1002...

Love the Pride display at my local CVS. 🏳️‍🌈

Lupoli Companies broke ground on the King Street Common project in Littleton Monday. The expansive, campus-style development will build out about 1,100 much-needed housing units - the largest public-private investment in housing in the history of the commonwealth. www.lowellsun.com/2025/05/05/t...

A local company takes on the messy, complicated and hazardous work of cleaning up Lowell's homeless encampments. www.lowellsun.com/2025/05/04/l...

The commonwealth ends its almost $2 billion migrant family emergency assistance shelter program as of June 30, 2025. www.lowellsun.com/2025/05/01/m...

Municipal budgets/forecasts were recovering from the impact of COVID thanks to the massive infusion of pandemic-related federal aid such as the ARPA, BIL, the IRA and more. Will tariffs and cuts/pauses to the federal funding stream reverse that encouraging trend? www.lowellsun.com/2025/05/01/h...

The federal funding cuts are impacting Lowell nonprofits both big and small. The knock-on effects are going to be huge, as the layoffs - 24 people at one agency - and reduced budgets ripple through the local economy. www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/30/l...

Seen on my drive to Lowell. Good advice from our 18-wheel trucker friends.

A small sign the economy is weakening? My local car wash cut the free water and cut back on the free coffee offerings in the lounge for those buying the bigger cleaning packages (otherwise, they wash, you go). And they also raised their prices.

Can Lowell help its homeless population alone? Encampments on state land, a struggling shelter operation, growing demographic & dwindling resources could add up to a perfect storm or a perfect opportunity to find a regional solution to the humanitarian crisis. www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/27/t...

Assuming the Trump Adminstration doesn't cut USDA's annual federal entitlement funding, Lowell is on tap to receive $7 million in grants for work to expand housing, domestic violence, homelessness and food insecurity programs and services. www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/26/l...

Say it with me: Housing, housing, housing. MA Governor Maura Healey drops $18 million in Housing Development Incentive Program tax credits on Gateway Cities to build almost 300 market-rate units. Still a long way from the much-needed 200,000, but a start. www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/25/l...

Story about underage patrons at Lowell pub spark community conversation about the "good old days," while other commentators remember the joint less fondly. License Commission floats arresting fake ID holders as another approach to the age-old problem. www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/23/b...

Despite millions in services and support, as well as draconian mitigation efforts such as encampment sweeps & arrests, the number of homeless people in Lowell 'sleeping rough' has doubled since 2016. The crisis begs for a regional and statewide approach. #homeless www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/22/l...

Depsite Lowell not on a nationwide list of Walgreens store closings, the last day for the Highlands branch is May 1. Retail/pharmacy chain cites "turnaround plan." www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/12/w...

State funding through the Clean Water Trust is bringing the day closer when there won't be municipal poop in the Merrimack River, a source of drinking water and recreation for residents in the Merriamck Valley. www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/09/l...

Feeding people has always been an avenue to social, emotional, political & personal change. UTEC's Breaking Barriers Kitchen truck rolls into neighborhoods to bring fresh, hot, nutritious and culturally inspired meals to vulnerable residents in the Merrimack Valley. www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/09/u...

Winter protocol, a 4-month program in Lowell that provided betw 60-80 extra beds for homeless people, ended 03/31. In lieu of stable shelter, unhoused people are setting up camps on state/DCR land that is beyond the reach of local enforcement & encampment sweeps. www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/06/t...

Who cuts domestic violence services and programs, U.S. Department of Justice?!! Alternative House helped more than 2,000 victims and survivors of domestic violence in Greater Lowell last year. www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/06/a...

A small business survived COVID, but it couldn't survive a struggling downtown business district, price hikes and a rise in crime. After seven years on a funky" corner in Lowell, it will close its doors in August. www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/05/t...

Municipal bodies like Lowell's Board of Health continue to do the ground-level legwork to keep residents and communities safe and healthy. www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/04/p...

Infrastructure upgrades/improvements will be a major issue - and expense - for municipalities going forward. www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/03/l...

Lowell, MA & Manchester, N.H. launch major infrastructure projects to clean up effluent/sewage in the Merrimack River from combined sewer overflow events during heavy rainstorms. Almost combined $800 million projects will help clean up the 117-mile federal waterway. www.lowellsun.com/2025/04/02/b...

Another excellent piece from @melaniegilbert.bsky.social, @petercurriersun.bsky.social, and Prudence Brighton for The Lowell Sun. Lowell Sun. You make us proud. Gift article.

An armored tactical vehicle accompanied by armed agents decked out in camouflage uniforms sporting balaclavas. ICE agents come to Lowell locked and loaded and not only go to the wrong building, but their alleged suspect didn't live at the target address. www.lowellsun.com/2025/03/30/t...

Small businesses like Key Moments Tattoo in Chelmsford and Salem, N.H., continue to make their mark on the economy. The body art shop is owned by young entrepreneurs who specialize in detailed, custom-designed and hyper-realistic tattoos. www.lowellsun.com/2025/03/29/c...

Lowell expands its housing inventory by 270 market-rate units with latest real estate deal approved by the City Council. www.lowellsun.com/2025/03/27/l...