Wildfire Smoke & Heat Threat: A heat dome and Canadian wildfire smoke are pushing dangerous air and record-leaning temperatures toward the Northeast, with alerts warning of hazardous PM2.5 and little overnight relief for vulnerable residents. Air Quality Watch in Mass: Forecasters say hazy skies could hit New England as smoke drifts east, with the worst impacts expected farther west but visibility and breathing risks rising. Solar vs. Trees in Petersham: Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court ruled Petersham improperly blocked a Sunpin solar and battery project, saying towns must do a site-specific analysis rather than rely on broad deforestation concerns. Water & Sewage Pressure: U.S. lawmakers urged EPA funding after a Haverhill sewage spill fouled the Merrimack River, pointing to aging infrastructure and immediate public impacts. Local Transit Reality Check: After a Merrimack Valley transit strike, questions linger about how long fare-free bus service can be sustained. Conservation & Wildlife Risk: Woodbury’s Conservation Commission discussed rodenticide dangers, highlighting harm to predators and children. Nantucket Housing Pressure: A luxury housing report spotlights Nantucket’s conservation-heavy land limits and soaring second-home prices. Tech for Conservation: A Kentucky-led effort aims to use AI to identify which cerulean warbler is singing—boosting wildlife research. Somerville Safety Milestone: Somerville marked three years without a traffic death, citing traffic-calming investments. Mass Innovation Funding: Massachusetts lawmakers finalized a FY27 budget with record investments and no tax increases, including major education, transit, and housing support.