Emily Piper-Vallillo (she/her)

Peabody teacher resigns as district investigates Charlie Kirk posts One teacher has left the Peabody school district while another remains on leave during an ongoing investigation into alleged comments posted on social media about Charlie Kirk.

A Peabody teacher won't return to the classroom after comments about Charlie Kirk. Educators and other workers around the country have been disciplined for posts about the conservative activist since his death this month.

A quest to end breast cancer slows as the Trump-Harvard dispute drags on Dr. Joan Brugge's research into breast cancer is one of hundreds of projects at Harvard caught up in an ongoing dispute with the Trump administration over the university’s handling of antisemitism on ...

Dr. Joan Brugge's research into breast cancer has slowed way, way down, after Trump froze billions of dollars of grants to Harvard, including hers.

In place of MCAS, panel envisions requirements that high school grads be 'thinkers' and 'leaders' Gov. Maura Healey convened the Statewide Graduation Council after voters last fall eliminated the use of the MCAS as a graduation requirement. The "vision of a graduate" released Wednesday is its firs...

Gov. Maura Healey convened the Statewide Graduation Council after voters last fall eliminated the use of the MCAS as a graduation requirement. The "vision of a graduate" released Wednesday is its first work product.

Froggy “borrowed” my tools of the trade to remind you that @wbur.org =INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM=CORNERSTONE OF DEMOCRACY=DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. Congress canceled all federal funding of public media. WBUR needs your support. Please give at wbur.org/game-on or call 800-909-WBUR. Thanks! And ribbet.

I’m stepping away temporarily for maternity leave, and looking forward to reconnecting in 2026.

Chelsea school enrollment drops as ICE cracks down on Mass. Hundreds of students have left Chelsea public schools this year, as families exit a community — and a state — that’s become a prime target for immigration enforcement.

Hundreds of students have left Chelsea public schools this year, as families exit a community — and a state — that’s become a prime target for immigration enforcement.

A mobile wellness initiative is providing drive-by therapy to Mass. college students Telehealth vans parked outside Harvard and Northeastern are connecting college students with counseling support.

Telehealth vans parked outside Harvard and Northeastern are connecting college students with counseling support. The effort is especially geared toward Jewish students who have experienced antisemitism, but no student is turned away.

Charlie Kirk fans hold vigil in front of State House Hundreds gathered in front of the State House for a vigil to mourn Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old right-wing activist assassinated last week.

The Kirk followers last night on Boston Common + protesters
www.wbur.org/news/2025/09... @wbur.org @stephaniembrown.bsky.social Rachell Sanchez-Smith Jesse Costa

Kickstart your journalism career: apply for WBUR's newsroom fellowships The latest announcements and updates from WBUR

@wbur.org is looking for its next round of fellows and applications are open. I learned so much as a WBUR fellow in 2023. Consider applying! www.wbur.org/inside/newsr...

Breaking down Harvard's big federal funding win in court WBUR's Emily Piper-Vallillo joins WBUR's Morning Edition to unpack a Boston judge's order to restore federal research funds.

I got to break down Harvards legal victory over federal funding with @tizianadearing.bsky.social www.wbur.org/news/2025/09...

Judge reverses Trump administration's cuts of billions of dollars to Harvard University U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs sided with the Ivy League school in ruling that the cuts amounted to illegal retaliation for Harvard’s rejection of White House demands for changes to its governa...

@harvard.edu wins a round in its legal fight with the Trump admin www.wbur.org/news/2025/09... @wbur.org

Audit details lack of state education oversight around special ed, child safety, LGBTQ training The audit finds the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education failed to obtain adequate information regarding suspected cases of educator abuse or neglect of students.

www.wbur.org/news/2025/08...

For international students, it's back to school but not back to normal New hurdles by the Trump administration are unnerving some international students hoping to make it back to campus.

What was once a routine journey back to school for the roughly 80,000 international students on Massachusetts campuses now feels laden with risk. www.wbur.org/news/2025/08...

International students are signing fewer Boston leases amid uncertain future Some Boston realtors who work in neighborhoods near large universities attribute the slowdown to new student visa processing protocols under the Trump administration.

For Boston's fall rental season: A big drop in international students, due to Trump admin visa policies @wbur.org Carrie Jung
www.wbur.org/news/2025/08...

National Democrats threaten Harvard with investigation if they make a deal with Trump Fourteen members of Congress threatened "rigorous Congressional oversight and inquiry" if Harvard University agrees to fines and policy changes demanded by the Trump administration.

“The group, who are all Harvard alumni, wrote that any settlement to end the administration's investigations into antisemitism on campus would signal that "politically driven coercion," rather than legal merit, is a viable way to gain compliance.“ www.wbur.org/news/2025/08...

Corporation for Public Broadcasting says it's shutting down The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funnels federal money to public media stations, says it's winding down operations after President Trump signed a law rescinding all funding.

“Shock and sadness reverberated through the public media system Friday.” www.npr.org/2025/08/01/n...

‘Shameful’: Students, alumni say Brown deal with Trump administration disrespects trans students - The Boston Globe Students were pleased that Brown will not be paying the federal government, but took issue with the university adopting Trump’s policies on gender identity.

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/31/m...

President Trump says on Truth Social “woke is officially dead at Brown” after settlement reached with Brown University.

Brown University strikes agreement to restore federal funding Brown University on Wednesday announced a deal with the Trump administration to regain access to federal research funding and end investigations into alleged discrimination.

Following columbia Brown strikes a deal with the federal government. But for less. www.wbur.org/news/2025/07...

Harvard turns over employee work authorization forms to Homeland Security The Department of Homeland Security altered Harvard in early June that it would inspect employee authorization records. Harvard told staff on Tuesday it will comply.

www.wbur.org/news/2025/07...

GBH's Donna Danielewski sits with friend and colleague Elmo on the set of Sesame Street, posing on a stoop and smiling at the camera in unison. Credit: Maria Bruno Ruiz, PBS.

Today's letter of the day is A for Accessibility! GBH has led the way in media accessibility innovation for decades. And Executive Director of Accessibility Donna Danielewski has helped to continue that legacy ever since she stepped through our doors 17 years ago.

Judge Burroughs to the lawyer for the federal government, who is a Harvard alumn: “I hear what you are saying and you are saying it very well. So the Harvard education is paying off for you.”

White House lawyer: “Harvard wants billions if dollars. That’s the only reason we are here. They want the government to write a check.”

Judge Burroughs to the lawyer for the federal government: “I am both American and Jewish … you aren’t taking away funding from labs that have been antisemitic. You are taking away funding that hurts Americans and Jews. You are taking steps that are antithetical to those same issues.”

Lawyers for Harvard and Trump square off in court in Boston With more than $2 billion in federal research grants at stake, the two sides argued before a federal judge about the legality of the White House's cancellation of those funds to Harvard.

I got to be in the courtroom as lawyers for Harvard and the White House returned presented their arguments over the $2.5 billions in funding cuts. Here are some of the more memorable moments. www.wbur.org/npr/nx-s1-54...

Senate approves cuts to NPR, PBS and foreign aid programs The Senate voted to approve a $9 billion rescission package aimed at clawing back money already allocated for public radio and television.

The Senate voted to approve a $9 billion rescission package aimed at clawing back money already allocated for public radio and television. The vote is a major step toward winding down nearly six decades of federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Trump administration takes aim at Harvard’s accreditation status The federal government sent a similar letter last month to the accrediting agency for Columbia University, accusing the school of violating civil rights laws.

Trump admin continues its stunning pursuit of Harvard @wbur.org @emilypv.bsky.social www.wbur.org/news/2025/07...

House Republicans pass Trump's mega bill, sending the package to his desk to be signed The Republican leaders overcame objections from within their own party, marking a victory in their quest to fulfill President Trump's campaign promises.

The bill passed today, 218 to 214, after Republican leaders in the House of Representatives convinced holdouts in their own party to get in line behind the controversial legislation.

Judge orders release of Columbia activist Mahmoud Khalil Khalil will be released on bail while his case challenging his deportation orders plays out in the courts.

During a phone hearing on Friday, Judge Michael Farbiarz of the U.S. District Court for New Jersey said that the government's attempt to continue to detain Khalil was "highly, highly, highly unusual."

Community college professors — and leaders — want higher pay for instructors A full-time community college professor in Massachusetts, on average, makes about $68,000 a year. Many need to juggle a second job to pay the bills.

“According to the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the average community college professor salary in the state is about $68,000 — almost $30,000 less than the living wage estimate for an adult raising one child.” From our Ed team’s Carrie Jung. www.wbur.org/news/2025/06...