Today marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year, ushering in the Year of the Horse. Celebrations are underway, with $5 admission to the Museum of Fine Arts this Thursday. Boston residents and visitors can also appear forward to Chinatown’s annual lion dance parade on March 1.
Local Events and Activities
February school vacation is currently in session for students across Massachusetts. To facilitate families fill the break, the Department of Conservation and Recreation is hosting 86 free educational programs this week, including guided hikes and maple sugaring demonstrations. Parking fees at DCR parks are also being waived, and ice rink hours have been extended.
Boston’s parks department is offering free sports clinics, stable tours, and snowshoeing activities for city residents. A Winter Festival will be held in Franklin Park on Saturday, February 21, from 11 a.m. To 4 p.m., featuring an ice rink with free skate rentals and other attractions. The new winter ferris wheel on the Rose Kennedy Greenway is also free to ride today, and Friday.
Recent Tragedies and Challenges
Rhode Island officials have identified Robert Dorgan, who also went by Roberta Esposito, as the suspect in Monday’s shooting at a high school hockey game in Pawtucket. Dorgan died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after shooting five people, killing two. Three others remain hospitalized in critical condition. Police are investigating the shooting, which appears to stem from a family dispute, according to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves.
Approximately 57,000 people in Massachusetts have lost or dropped their health insurance through the state’s Health Connector over the past three months. This decline is attributed to the expiration of federal Affordable Care Act subsidies, leading to cost increases. More than 22,000 people canceled their coverage, more than twice the typical rate, and another 35,000 were dropped for non-payment. Audrey Morse Gasteier, the executive director of the Health Connector, anticipates these numbers will continue to rise.
Filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, born in Boston in 1930, passed away on Monday at age 96. His documentaries often explored social institutions, including schools, police departments, and the modeling industry. His 1967 film, “Titicut Follies,” exposed conditions at Massachusetts’ Bridgewater State Hospital.
Tonight also marks the beginning of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is happening this week in Massachusetts?
February school vacation is underway, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation is hosting 86 free educational programs across the state. Boston’s parks department is also offering free activities for residents.
What is the status of the shooting in Pawtucket?
Police have identified Robert Dorgan as the suspect in Monday’s shooting at a high school hockey game. Dorgan died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after shooting five people, killing two. Three others remain hospitalized in critical condition.
How many people have lost health insurance in Massachusetts?
Roughly 57,000 people in Massachusetts have lost or dropped their health insurance through the state’s Health Connector over the past three months, due to the expiration of federal subsidies.
How might the expiration of federal subsidies impact healthcare access in Massachusetts?
