The Beantown Beacon
Your indispensable guide to Boston.

Good day, Boston…it is Monday, August 18, 2025. Long weekend, lots to catch up on.

METRO REPORT

Beacon Hill still sidesteps the Tompkins question

Top Democrats continue to withhold calls for Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins to resign after his federal extortion indictment tied to a Boston cannabis company.

He has already stepped down from the Roxbury Community College board while the case moves ahead. (Boston.com)

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BU vs. BU is a real thing now

Baylor filed a trademark lawsuit claiming Boston University’s interlocking “BU” athletics mark infringes on its protected design. The fight is about consumer confusion, context in sports merch, and who used what where. (Legal Reader)

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Mass and Cass crackdown tally

A joint operation by BPD, MSP, and the FBI resulted in 13 arrests around Newmarket Square for offenses tied to human trafficking and related crimes. Arraignments followed in Roxbury District Court. (Boston Police Department)

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Weekend rider swarm leads to an arrest

State and Boston police say a 22 year old was arrested in connection with a large pack of motorcycles, dirt bikes, and scooters riding on and off Boston highways. Officials called it a public safety issue, not a summer block party. (Boston 25 News)

TRANSPORTATION & TRANSIT

Blue Line back

Shuttle buses are done. Regular service Airport to Wonderland resumed this morning after the Aug 9 to 17 shutdown for track work. If you memorized the shuttle loop, you can forget it now. (City of Revere)

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Late nights return on the T

Starting Saturday night service the weekend of Aug 24, the MBTA will run about one hour later on Fridays and Saturdays, with free rides after 9 p.m. on select weekends in September and October to juice ridership. Expect roughly 30 minute headways, 15 minutes on peak Red segments. (Axios Boston, MBTA announcements)

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Memorial Drive notes

Riverbend Park car free Sundays continue between Western Ave and Gerry’s Landing, and there is a separate right lane closure westbound near Hawthorn Street for building safety work. Plan detours. (Cambridge Transportation Dept)

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Ballot frenzy could reshape 2026

The Attorney General’s office logged 47 initiative petitions by the deadline, including rent control, voter ID, and transparency measures. Certification decisions arrive by Sep 3, then the signature grind begins. (Mass.gov, Axios Boston)

Beacon Hill’s new fine dining bet

Nine opened in the former No. 9 Park space, leaning into a tasting menu, a la carte classics, and a gin forward bar program. Translation, the $70 cocktail era is officially here. (Eater Boston, Boston Magazine)

Biotech belt tightening

Cambridge based Generation Bio will cut about 90 percent of staff during a strategic review, while Vedanta Biosciences trims 20 percent after an ulcerative colitis trial miss. The cluster is still elite, but capital wants milestones, not mood boards. (Fierce Biotech, BioSpace, BioPharma Dive)

Sagamore Bridge price tag, real world costs

State planning pegs the replacement at roughly $2.4 billion, with eminent domain takings to follow in Bourne. Big infrastructure is back, and so are the legal bills. (Wall Street Journal)

SPORTS

Red Sox: roster shuffles and a fresh series

Boston opens a set against Baltimore tonight at Fenway. Over the weekend the Sox confirmed rookie infielder Marcelo Mayer will have season ending wrist surgery, and multiple reports say the team is set to add first baseman Nathaniel Lowe after his DFA by Washington. Depth matters with Tristan Casas out. (ESPN scoreboard)

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Patriots 20, Vikings 12

New England took the preseason game in Minneapolis on Saturday, with rookies TreVeyon Henderson and Efton Chism III scoring again. Drake Maye and Joshua Dobbs split reps cleanly. Yes, the local broadcast caught a hot mic from the opposing coach. August is undefeated. (ESPN, CBS Sports, Patriots.com, New York Post)

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Revs fall 2 0 to LAFC

LAFC left Foxborough with the points on Saturday night in front of more than 27,000. Son Heung min logged his first MLS assist. The Revs remain in chase mode. (Revolution Soccer, ESPN, The Sporting Tribune)

ARTS & CULTURE

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Tonight’s plans: Snacktime brass party

Philadelphia brass funk outfit Snacktime hits Boston tonight to jump start your week. Outdoor energy if the weather cooperates, indoor if not, either way bring your dancing shoes. (Vanyaland)

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Fisherman’s Feast finale drew a crush

The North End’s oldest continuous Italian festival wrapped Sunday with the Flight of the Angel. The streets were packed. Next up later this month is the other big one. (Fisherman’s Feast)

Mark Your Calendar

Jonas Brothers at Fenway, Aug 23; Chris Brown, Aug 25; The Who with Joe Perry Project, Aug 26. Saint Anthony’s Feast in the North End runs Aug 28 to 31. The Seaport Summer Market continues weekends through September.

We publish Mondays and Fridays. Forward to a neighbor who still thinks Riverbend Park is a rumor.