OF PARTICULAR INTEREST:

New model for building and operating college dorms: contracting it out to private firms — B&T

Banker & Tradesman’s Steve Adams has an interesting piece on the fits-and-starts growth of so-called “private student housing,” in which higher-ed institutes team up with private developers to build and operate student dorms. … One concern of neighbors: “They are afraid it’s going to be ‘Animal House’ and they won’t be adequately managed and supervised.” … UMass-Boston and Northeastern have pioneered the trend in Boston. Among others, Tufts University is now proposing a similar dorm project in Medford. See story below.

‘Medford Mayor Objects to Tufts Dorm’ – B&T

It’s not the ‘private student housing’ model that bugs the mayor. It’s the height and size of the proposed Tufts dorm project. … Ten stories ? She has a point. They also look ugly.

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POLITICS AND POLICY:

Healey calls Globe’s Steward Spotlight story an ‘unfair hit job’ and ‘pretty outrageous’ – MassterList

 I missed this pre-Christmas piece by Jon Keller. … As Jon notes, you don’t often see Healey openly angry, or ‘wicked pissed,’ as he also puts it. 

‘Boston on track this year for historic low murder count’ – WBUR

You won’t be hearing about this on Fox News, which has a vested business-model interest in portraying blue coastal cities as crime-ridden hell holes. … 

‘Finding a home in a new land: How one Haitian migrants family defied the odds of secured a home of their own in Boston’ – Globe

This is a wonderful, inspiring story about one Haitian immigrant family’s journey to make it to America. … I must admit: I was bothered a bit by the public dollars involved, via the temporary housing and permanent subsidized housing, and how the word is out among immigrants at the border that Boston is a “place that would provide food and shelter and eventually a home.” But that’s a complaint that should be aimed at our lawmakers who set spending policies, not immigrants. …  Gov. Healey is aware of the problem, fyi. ….

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BUSINESS:

‘The year’s hottest Massachusetts stock? GE is in the name, and AI is the game’  – Globe

I never would have guessed, especially after the firm’s wind-blade fiasco earlier this year. … The Globe’s Jon Chesto has more on GE Vernova’s post-spinoff success

Coming in 2025: A cancer vaccine co-developed by Moderna? – Economist 

In an Economist piece headlined ‘Cancer vaccines will have a pivotal moment in 2025,’ Natasha Loder writes of potentially historic FDA action next year regarding a ‘personalized vaccine,’ using mRNA technology, to treat melanoma, co-developed by Merck and Cambridge’s very own Moderna. … Yes, the same Moderna that famously developed the COVID vaccine. … Economist piece via John Ellis’s excellent News Item.

‘Who Will Take Over Samuel Adams After the King of Craft Beer? His Wife’ – WSJ

 I kind of assumed this would be the case. But I guess Jim Koch wanted to make it official since Boston Beer is publicly traded. … The BBJ and the Globe have more on the Kochs’ succession plan.

‘Elon Musk hates Wikipedia, because of course he does’ – Media Nation

Dan Kennedy reports on Elon Musk’s latest obsession: Wikipedia. … I regularly make small contributions to Wikipedia. I made another one after reading Dan’s post. If you’re interested in doing the same, Dan has a donation link. … Btw: Dan also has a link to a USA Today piece on retired journalism professor Michelle Johnson’s journey to learn more about her Southern roots. I haven’t read it yet, but it looks good.

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GENERAL NEWS:

‘Musk Doubles Down on Support for German Far-Right Party’ — NYT

Speaking of Musk, a friend emailed me the above story with the note: “Does Musk understand Germany history?  Is the world’s richest person a neo-Nazi?” … Unfortunately, I think he does understand German history — and that’s why he supports them.

‘The year in Storrowing: 2024’ — Universal Hub

UH’s Adam Gaffin has own year-in-review piece. … Some of the headlines are typically hilarious. 

‘North Korean troops experience mass casualties on Ukraine front’ – Yahoo News

The battle-hardened Ukrainian troops are apparently mauling North Korean troops in the Kursk region. … Still, all is not good for Ukraine in Kursk, AP reports.  

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SPORTS:

The Jerod Mayo Firing Watch 

Local sports writers are showing no mercy after the Pats’ horrible drubbing yesterday. … Globe’s Chad Fin: “After leaving Drake Maye in the game, maybe Patriots coach Jerod Mayo doesn’t deserve a second year.” … Herald’s Andrew Callahan: “If Mike Vrabel wants the Patriots’ job, Robert Kraft should give it to him.” … MassLive’s Karen Guregian: “Hard to see Jerod Mayo recovering from the latest fiasco.” … My personal preference: Brian Flores. The Bears could have their eyes on him.