SPECIAL REPORTS
At the gas pump, the doctor's office or the grocery check-out line, people across the South Shore are paying more for basic necessities -- and becoming more inventive about making their dollar stretch farther. Our "Dollar Drain" series looks at why everything costs more, for consumers and businesses alike, and what's being done to keep expenses in check. Click to read our stories
Hollywood East: Proposal for a movie studio in Plymouth In 1911, movie producers began building an entertainment empire in a West Coast farming commu nity called Hollywood. Nearly 100 years later, a couple of industry veterans are looking at 1,000 acres of woods and scrub pine in South Plymouth on which to build a 1 million-square-foot movie studio. A team of Patriot Ledger news, business and entertainment reporters and editors are taking a look at the plan for Plymouth Rock Studios, what many are referring to as “Hollywood East.” Click to read our stories
Who's watching our children? The state of DAY CARE — In our series, The Patriot Ledger and The Enterprise find that Massachusetts doesn’t make the grade when it comes to the high day care costs borne by families and the lack of inspectors to ensure programs’ safety and effectiveness. Click to read our stories
WoMYnZONE: Our section for women, by women Women: This is our place and our space. And if you have something to say about anything, anytime, we want to hear from you. And so do thousands of women across Southeastern Massachusetts. Send us any comments submissions, suggestions, advice or comments on ANY subject. And let’s get the party started. Click to read our stories
TO THE RESCUE Meet the men and women of our police and fire departments. Each Friday “To the Rescue” will introduce you to a different department member. Nominate someone you would like to see featured here. Click to read our stories
MIDDAY GETAWAY Does a lunch hour have to be about lunch? Not if you live on the South Shore. Each week, we’ll show you where to go and what to do to unwind, grab a bite or have some fun, all in 60 minutes or less. Click to read our stories
RANDOLPH SCHOOLS: A DISTRICT IN CRISIS — The state is threatening to take control of the Randolph schools because of serious and longstanding financial and educational problems. The issue that is now coming to a head has been fomenting for years, particularly since 2001. As the town awaits a decision by the end of February, here's a collection of some of the stories the Patriot Ledger has done about the crisis as it unfolds. Click to read our stories
Special Education: Pass or Fail? ... School superintendents across the state have long complained about the rising cost of special education and the burden it places on local school budgets. At the same time, parents of special ed children are often unhappy with the results. To find out why, The Patriot Ledger spent more than two months reviewing special ed spending, looking at programs, interviewing parents, students, administrators, education experts, advocates, lawmakers and state and federal officials. Click to read our stories
The War on the Home Front: Courageous citizen soldiers have gone to war.
Spouses, children, parents and much-loved family and friends
are fighting their own battles here at home.
What happens to lives interrupted by deadly conflict?
Click to read our stories | Published July 21-23, 2007
Tracking GreenbushThe road to a restored Greenbush commuter line has been long and difficult. That well-known history is just that today, history, and need not be recalled. It is 2007, the year when South Shore commuters will finally have a new convenient way of getting to their jobs in Boston and back. Our ongoing coverage will keep tabs on the $503 million rail restoration project. Check back often for updates.
Click to read our stories | Published May 2007
Celebrating the John Adams Dollar: For the first time in since the birth of our republic, the likeness of John Adams, our second president, has been minted on U.S. currency. The public launch of the Adams dollar coin will take place in Quincy, under the statue of our most famous son, on Tuesday morning May 22, 2007. Ceremonies in front of the statue of President Adams in Quincy Center, exchanges of the coin for paper dollars and participation in special Adams dollar day sales by retailers are all part of festivities.
Click to read our stories | Published May 11, 2007
ID Thievery Nearly 4,000 residents of Massachusetts reported having their identities stolen in 2005, with credit card fraud accounting for more than one-third of the cases. Retailers are also affected and are taking steps to thwart the problem, but they see it as only minor. State lawmakers are crafting a plan to protect consumers and trying to determine who should pay.
Click to read our stories | Published Feb. 24, 2007
EVERYBODY FAILED REBECCA - On Dec. 13, 4-year-old Rebecca Riley died a slow and painful death of a prescription drug overdose at her home in Hull.
Her parents, Michael and Carolyn Riley, were charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors say the overdose of their daughter was deliberate. This is our account of all facets of the case, from the arraignment to a riveting sworn affidavit by a state trooper.
Click to read our stories | Updated April 4, 2008
LETTERS FROM AFGHANISTAN
Weymouth native Col. Tom Frank reports in from Afghanistan, giving a poignant look at the people who are serving in the armed services and the struggles faced by the Afghan people. Read our 2-part special report, which began back in September of 2006.
Click to read our stories | Published Jan. 27, 2007
Read Melanie's Story, written by the grandfather of Melanie Powell, a Marshfield teen killed by a drunken driver in 2003.
The series received the 2006 Mothers Against Drunk Driving Award for Excellence in print journalism. It was in part of follow-up to "Driving to Endanger," a look at the state’s system for dealing with repeat drunk drivers. A review of hundreds of court record and interviews with judges, police officers, lawyers and anti-drunken driving experts showed that at the time, drunken driving was still considered a petty crime. That series received MADD's national award for 2004.
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