The COVID-19 pandemic may no longer be in its most acute stage, but its aftereffects continue to be felt in the Bay State and interest in the disease remains high.
Three of this year’s most-read stories in CommonWealth related to COVID policies. The most popular story was about a recent study, which found that vaccine mandates for university students may be doing more harm than good. The story received nearly 80,000 page views, nearly four times as many as the second most-read story.
Other COVID-related news articles included the Baker administration’s rollout of digital technology to voluntarily prove vaccination and a legal challenge to the state’s mask mandate for private businesses. Another well-read piece explored the economic threats to Boston’s downtown if workers who went remote during the pandemic decide to stay remote for the long term.
Several other top stories fell into the “news you can use” category. Readers turned to CommonWealth to learn about the state’s premium pay program, which sent checks to low-income workers; refunds being paid to student loan borrowers by loan servicer Navient; and a scandal with Breathalyzer tests that could reopen 27,000 drunk driving cases.
An analysis of what the September primary election meant for progressive politicians was a hit, as were stories about an investigation into the Boxborough police chief and a $25,000 fine issued to the nightclub at the Encore Boston Harbor casino.
These are the 10 most-read news stories published by CommonWealth in 2022 in reverse order.
By Colin Young of State House News Service, August 16, 2022
State gaming regulators fined the Encore nightclub after five instances of overserving patrons alcohol, some of whom were underage.
By Shira Schoenberg, February 1, 2022
The SJC considered a case about whether Gov. Charlie Baker had legal authority to require mask-wearing inside private businesses.
By Steve Koczela of the MassINC Polling Group, March 7, 2022
The durability of remote and hybrid work is posing an increasingly grave threat to Boston and other downtown areas, whose economies are built around massive daily inflows of workers.
By Bruce Mohl, January 4, 2022
The town’s select board put the police chief on paid leave without explanation. The board previously asked the FBI to investigate allegations that members of the Police Department had received stipends for advanced degrees they had not earned and comp and holiday time to which they were not entitled.
By Shira Schoenberg, February 8, 2022
A legislatively established premium pay program used ARPA funding s to give $500 apiece to low-income individuals who worked during the pandemic.
By Shira Schoenberg, January 10, 2022
The Baker administration released a digital technology that state residents can use voluntarily to provide digital proof of their COVID-19 vaccination status.
By Shira Schoenberg, January 13, 2022
Massachusetts student loan borrowers whose private loans were serviced by Navient will get $41 million of those loans forgiven, under a national settlement announced by Attorney General Maura Healey.
By Shira Schoenberg, November 27, 2022
In a case with echoes of the notorious drug lab scandals, the SJC considered whether to make up to 27,000 defendants in drunk driving cases eligible for new trials because of problems with the state’s use of breathalyzer tests.
By Michael Jonas, September 7, 2022
Progressive Democrats – including candidates endorsed by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Senator Elizabeth Warren – had a tough time in the September primary elections.
By Michael Jonas, December 7, 2022
A study concluded that vaccine booster mandates for college students, a policy most major universities in the Boston area adopted, are likely causing “net harm” to young people.