Newton is getting a bookmobile again
In the 1920s, the Newton Free Library jumped into the new automobile craze, bought a Model-T and fastened it into a mobile library. And Newton's [...]
DPW needs $900K for late snow removal invoices
It may seem strange to talk about snow removal when it’s pushing 90 degrees outside, but here we are. Mayor Marc Laredo’s administration is asking [...]
City Council, mayor reaffirm city’s support for transgender community
Last week, the City Council quietly passed a resolution that loudly affirms the City Council and Mayor Laredo’s “commitment to transgender rights and equal protections [...]
City Council mulls raised flower bed setback requirements
Currently, Newton’s zoning ordinance doesn’t allow a property owner to include raised flower beds in the setback—meaning they can’t be within the minimum distance required [...]
Council rejects roll call rule change
The City Council has resoundingly rejected an idea to experiment with its roll call order. The Programs and Services Committee voted 4-3 to approve a [...]
City Council approves Laredo administration’s FY2027 budget recommendation
The City Council approved Mayor Laredo’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget of more than $668 million on Tuesday night after weeks of debate and several rejected resolutions. Newton’s [...]
Laredo administration assures drinking water not impacted by TCE contamination
Mayor Marc Laredo followed up last week’s informational gathering—Nonantum neighbors met with a representative from environmental consulting firm Arcadis—with some updates on how the city [...]
The Lucas Lineup: Parking ban puzzle now has a working group looking to solve it
The City Council's Public Safety & Transportation Committee meeting recently recommended a working group be assembled to tackle the pressing problem of the city's parking [...]
Snapshots: 2026 Sheila Mondshein Award
The Newton Fair and Affordable Housing Partnership and Mayor Marc Laredo recently presented the 2026 Sheila Mondshein Award to Jini Fairley and Josephine McNeil for [...]
Laredo presents FY2027 budget, swings for fences with pension bond plan
"It's great to be back up here," Mayor Marc Laredo quipped as he took to the podium in the City Council Chamber Monday night to [...]
Newton to deploy ‘smart meters’ for more accurate electricity use data
Newton residents can expect their old electric meters to be replaced with smart meters in the coming months. Smart meters are digital devices that can [...]
Ten things we learned from our sit-down with Marc Laredo last week
Mayor Mark Laredo sat down with The Newton Beacon and NewTV last Thursday night to go over his administration's first 100 days. Here's just some [...]
Mayor Laredo reflects on first 100 days as mayor at public forum
Mayor Marc Laredo marked his first 100 days in office with a public event hosted by NewTV and the Newton Beacon on Thursday night. During [...]
Council committee continues debating winter parking ban but postpones action
A City Council committee revisited Newton's controversial parking ban on Wednesday but held off again on taking action. It was the third time the item [...]
Making a Marc: Laredo administration reaches 100 days
Marc Laredo has been mayor of Newton for 100 days, as of Friday. If it seems like it’s been longer than that, it’s because 2026 [...]