As the longest government shutdown in U.S. history came to an end, some Democrats are still angry the party caved to Republicans. But some lawmakers and political observers say the fight was worth it.

This morning in WBUR Today: It's cold-stunned turtle season in Massachusetts. Here's what you should know: — MWRA tables vote on Charles River sewage plan — A double dose of MBTA closures this weekend — Mass. Senate making moves on book bans and weed rules www.wbur.org/news/2025/11... @wbur.org

Essay: Most Americans haven't written a personal letter in years, but Laura McTaggart is a letter writer. The practice may eventually succumb to generational attrition, she writes, but it won’t die with me.

The president of the Boston University College Republicans said in social media posts that he repeatedly tipped off immigration authorities about an Allston car wash that was later raided.

A lot of us get nervous in social situations. But at what point do nerves turn into full-blown social anxiety?

The small alligator, spotted along the Charles River in Boston multiple times this week, has been rescued and delivered to safety, wildlife officials in Massachusetts said Thursday.

The artist produced some of the most enduring images of the 20th century. A recent dustup over the use of his paintings by the Department of Homeland Security reveals that his work is still a potent symbol of American identity — one in which people of all political stripes see themselves reflected.

Home prices and rents have flattened in 2025 but are still “historically” high, according to a 108-page Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2025 released by The Boston Foundation and Boston Indicators on Wednesday.

The Massachusetts Senate is expected to pass a bill today that would create statewide rules to restrict attempts to remove books from school libraries. Here's a look at the details: www.wbur.org/news/2025/11... @wbur.org

From an experimental concert at City Hall to a conversation with former Vice President Kamala Harris, here are five things to do around Greater Boston this weekend.

Amid a rise in online lottery ticket sales, a small storefront in a North Andover commercial building, open for barely a year, has vastly outpaced sales of other lottery ticket vendors this year.

Essay: During my first visit to the Dog Chapel, I imagined coming back to leave a memorial for a dog I’d have one day, writes E.B. Bartels. On the second trip, I pictured myself doing it for Seymour, but I figured that was at least a decade away. Not even four years later, there I was, heartbroken.

Shapiro is calling on Beacon Hill lawmakers to pass a bill that moves responsibility for the embattled agency under the governor.

"For me, it's been like a long trudge, you know," Evan Dando said. "It’s really a lot of hard work, and I've gotten to a place where I like this if I'm doing it a lot better than I used to."

Essay: When it comes to preserving and amplifying Indigenous culture, it’s not enough to understand history, writes Vanessa Lillie. We must also ask: who’s doing the telling?

Judge Mark Wolf says he is so disturbed by President Trump's assault on the rule of law that he feels compelled to speak out — and resign so he can do so.

The 50-year plan outlines strategies for the near- and long-term that range from elevating roads and other infrastructure to restoring natural floodplains. It also calls for state funding and support from local businesses.

Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux said the alleged scheme brought thousands of dollars worth of synthetic marijuana — also known as K2 or spice — into the jail.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up a case challenging its landmark decision to legalize gay marriage nationwide. The challenge to the ruling came from Kim Davis, the former Kentucky clerk who refused to issue same-sex licenses after the court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision.

In 250 years since the Revolutionary War started, the sacrifices of Indigenous soldiers have often been overlooked. Tribes in Massachusetts are working to bring their contributions back into the conversation.

The Trump administration told states to "immediately undo" any actions they took to fully fund SNAP. Gov. Healey said about half of Massachusetts recipients got their November payment during a narrow window between court decisions, and the state will not take back the benefits.

More than 200 people have been displaced after a fire started Friday night in an apartment complex, used as off campus housing for many UMass students. Amherst Fire Department officials are calling the blaze "one of the largest fires our community has seen."

This fall, 1,227 international students attend the University of Massachusetts, Boston. That figure is down about 17% — or about 250 students — since a year ago.

Before the Michelin Guide's big reveal later this month, we wanted to hear which local restaurants you think are star-worthy.

Video showed the dog trotting down the Ted Williams Tunnel against traffic, before being rescued by a state trooper.

New: In an interview on WBUR's Morning Edition, Mayor Michelle Wu pushed back on a City Council proposal to shift property taxes onto "corporate landlords" as a way to provide relief to individual homeowners: www.wbur.org/news/2025/11... @wbur.org

The exhibition “Of Light and Air: Winslow Homer in Watercolor” celebrates the 19th-century artist’s mastery of the medium, but also his deep connections to the museum, Boston and New England.

Essay: Two years before she went on public assistance, Joanna Rakoff had a best-selling novel that won literary awards. She presented like a middle class working mom. But in reality, she was struggling — worried about feeding her kids and keeping a roof over their heads.

Tuesday's night's election results provided a jolt of energy for Democrats nation-wide. Closer to home, Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton said the night's events bolstered their case in next year's Senate primary.

"Obviously, voters across the country spoke very loudly and clearly Tuesday night. They want this issue resolved. They want health care protections to be put in place. So Republicans can end this with one vote."

Logan airport in Boston expects to see a reduced number of flights in the coming days as federal transportation officials rollback air traffic:

#ICYMI: Catch up on the latest offshore wind news. This week, a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration can take a second look at a major -- and previously finalized -- permit for an offshore wind project near Massachusetts www.wbur.org/news/2025/11... @wbur.org

A shrewd political strategist, California Rep. Nancy Pelosi has had an unprecedented career in Congress. First elected in a special election in 1987, Pelosi went on to become one of the most effective leaders of the Democratic party.

Somerville indie band Intac paradoxically refers to itself as the "First Indie Music Corporation," eschewing the anti-corporate trappings of a typical indie group and front-loading a desire to get paid.

The Trump administration says the maximum SNAP benefits it will pay out this month will be 65% of the usual. But the way the math works, what many Massachusetts recipients get will be a much less than that, according to advocates: www.wbur.org/news/2025/11... @wbur.org

An immigration judge in Virginia says 13-year-old boy from Everett currently in federal immigration detention can return to his home country of Brazil.

Commentary: I am a primary care physician in Boston, taking care of particularly sick and structurally marginalized patients in the heart of the city, writes Divya Manoharan. Many of the patients I worry most about are currently living with their families in emergency assistance shelters.

Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch’s campaign has paid a $55,000 penalty to resolve allegations that in 2022 and 2023, it received thousands of dollars in illegal corporate contributions, anonymous donations, prohibited checks and donations where the true source of the money was not clear.

The state's highest court heard oral arguments Wednesday in an ongoing dispute over pay for public defenders. The fight has left criminal defendants without legal representation and led to the dismissal of cases.

State campaign finance regulators found that in 2022 to 2023, Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch's campaign received thousands of dollars in illegal corporate contributions, anonymous donations, prohibited checks and donations where the true source of the money was not clear.

Rev. Miniard Culpepper has been elected to fill the Roxbury-based city council seat, per Boston's unofficial election tally. He joined WBUR's Morning Edition to discuss his priorities.

At the crux of the deadlock: Democratic lawmakers’ refuse to participate in an audit — they argue it violates separation of powers principles. DiZoglio wants to sue them into compliance, but Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office has yet to take action.

A surprise in Everett, history in Brockton, new mayors in Somerville and Newton, a shake-up in Quincy. Here's a roundup of the Massachusetts municipal election results beyond Boston: www.wbur.org/news/2025/11... @wbur.org

Rev. Miniard Culpepper beat Said Ahmed in the closely watched race that was the sole council contest without an incumbent. The district includes Roxbury, as well as parts of Fenway, Dorchester and the South End.

Council President Ruthzee Louijeune once again topped the tally, garnering the most votes of any candidate, according to the city's unofficial election results as of Wednesday. Rejoining her on the council are Erin Murphy, Julia Mejia and Henry Santana.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu celebrated her re-election Tuesday. The victory became inevitable in September when she crushed her main opponent in the city's preliminary vote. www.wbur.org/news/2025/11...

As the state’s highest-ranking public official dedicated to the arts, Bobbitt made equity the centerpiece of his agenda, overseeing the creation of plans to support artists impacted by systemic inequalities.

“The Eleventh Hour” is Salman Rushdie's his first work of fiction since he was attacked three years ago. It's a quintet of stories set in India, America and England.

Polls are open in Boston, and most communities, until 8 p.m. today.

Authorities say they've arrested two Massachusetts men in connection with a weekend explosion at Harvard Medical School. The blast occurred early Saturday on the fourth floor of Harvard Medical School. No one was injured.