Biggest headlines from the 2006-07 year

BOSTON UNIVERSITY BIOLAB

Despite continued protests, the Boston University Medical Campus made major steps toward the completion of the fifth Level-4 Biosafety Laboratory in the United States. Located in Roxbury, this will be the first Level-4 biolab to be in such a densely populated area. The biolab will be host to anthrax, bird flu and other toxic and contagious pathogens and diseases. City Councilor Charles Yancey (Dorchester, Mattapan) has taken exception to the biolab, questioning its safety, and Eve Lyman of Boston Mobilization, a social advocacy group, said she fears BU is unprepared to adequately safeguard the building, citing 80 violations within other BU laboratories between 2001 and 2005. The fears of community groups opposing the plan were hardly assuaged when Hazmat teams were called in to clear smoke from a BUMC laboratory across the street from the biolab in March. The $178 million federally funded project passed a federal review earlier this month, clearing a giant hurdle for BU as it aims to complete construction in 2008.

DEVAL PATRICK ELECTED GOVERNOR

Deval Patrick claimed 56 percent of the vote to be elected the first black governor of Massachusetts and just the second in U.S. history. Patrick defeated former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey to become the first Democrat to hold the corner office on Beacon Hill in 16 years. Patrick stumbled out of the gate in his administration's first couple of months after gaining office on the strength of a well-organized grassroots campaign. He became a perpetual punch line for spending tens of thousands of dollars on curtains and other adornments for his office - and then there was his Cadillac. Since overcoming his early growing pains, Patrick has replaced many holdovers from former Gov. Mitt Romney's administration. Patrick's on-again, off-again relationship with Democratic leadership on Beacon Hill has been well documented, but they scored a major victory together in blocking an initiative to put gay marriage to a vote.

MBTA HIKES FARES

The MBTA Board of Directors unanimously voted to raise public fare for subway trains and buses in November of last year. Despite outcry from residents who insisted they could not afford the spike, the price of one subway ride was raised from $1.25 to $1.70 and a bus ride jumped from $.90 to $1.25, marking the third fare increase in four years. With the fare increase came the introduction of the CharlieCard, a plastic ticket that can be reloaded, and the CharlieTicket, a limited-use ticket. For those without CharlieCards, they have to cough up $2 for each subway ride.

GAY MARRIAGE SAFE IN MASSACHUSETTS

After several postponements throughout the past year, legislators voted 151-45 to ditch an initiative that would have allowed Massachusetts residents to vote on the legality of gay marriage. Proponents of the initiative were short of the 50 votes required to get a vote on the 2008 ballot. With the defeat, gay marriage opponents will have to wait until at least 2012 for the next possible chance to get a vote on the ballot.

AD CAMPAIGN BOMBS IN BOSTON

A guerilla marketing scheme by Turner Broadcasting Company to advertise the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie went sour in January when several magnetic, lighted boxes with the design of a "mooninite'' scattered about the city were feared to be explosive devices. In response, several bridges, streets and subway lines were closed down in the morning for hours, costing authorities hundreds of thousands of dollars. Turner owned up to its actions later in the day and eventually apologized to the city and footed the bill for the hassle. Gov. Patrick and Mayor Thomas Menino weren't shy when it came to chastising Turner for the ad campaign without first notifying the city, but Boston was criticized for its reaction to the sinister-looking cartoon when it was revealed the lighted boxes were already placed in several cities across the country for weeks without incident.

SAFE TRAVELS?

Logan Airport became the first airport in the country to check each bag entering the airport - whether it was stowed away or carried on - starting last September. In October, former Gov. Mitt Romney reinstated random bag checks on all MBTA service lines. The Safe T Coalition, which includes the American Civil Liberties Union and National Lawyers Guild, responded with outrage when police were given permission to check bags without any probable cause. In April, the MBTA announced plans to install cameras in 155 buses circulating the city to curb an increase in crime at the start of 2007.

HARVARD EXPANDS INTO ALLSTON

Harvard is waiting for approval of a project to expand its campus into Allston over the next 50 years. The 74-page plan submitted to the City of Boston in January calls for the construction of four new dormitories, new science facilities, a relocation of several on-campus museums and a sidewalk beautification project, including pedestrian walkways, bicycle lanes and grassy knolls to replace gravel and paved lots. Many residents have been vocal about their opposition to the project, arguing the construction will change the town too drastically and hinder its affordability. Residents and neighborhood groups have also criticized Harvard for being unresponsive and slow to answer questions and address concerns.