Pop Culture Spotlight: Madonna leads the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations with 11 nods, including Video and Artist of the Year, while Taylor Swift follows with nine and Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each land seven—fan voting is open ahead of the Sept. 27 show in Los Angeles. Local Justice & Accountability: Harvard has agreed to pay $53 million to settle lawsuits tied to a morgue body-parts scandal, after a former manager was convicted of stealing and selling donated remains. Massachusetts Education & Safety: An EdTrust-Massachusetts poll finds Latino, multilingual, and students with disabilities are more likely to report bullying, mental health strain, and attendance problems, with Black families least likely to say their kids feel “very safe.” Immigration & Campus Life: Unions and advocacy groups sued to block a new federal rule that would cap student and exchange visas at four years and limit many journalist visas, arguing it would disrupt universities and international scholars. Community & Growth: Lawrence commissioners approved annexation and rezoning for Beacon Landing, a major west Lawrence development spanning nearly 300 acres. Arts & Community Memory: A long-lost painting by 17th-century artist Michaelina Wautier—rediscovered after decades of misattribution—has reached the Royal Academy for a major exhibition.