A federal judge today ordered Stavros Papantoniadis of Westwood held without bail pending the outcome of his "forced labor" case after concluding he would be a threat to victims and witnesses who might testify against him when he answers the charge that he brutalized workers for 15 years by beating and threatening them, throwing knives at them and, in one case, falsely sic'ing police on them. Read more.

Federal agents today arrested the owner of Stash's Pizza in Dorchester and Roslindale - and of several other suburban pizza places - on a federal charge of forced labor, for preying on what he allegedly called "fucking immigrants," whom he'd hire and allegedly beat, scream at, and force to work up to 80 hours without overtime and sometimes without any pay at all, on threat of having them deported. Read more.

The MBTA announced this morning it's lifted most of the speed restrictions on the Mattapan Line, but adds it still has "block restrictions where necessary," so not quite 100% back to being the Mattapan High-ish Speed Line.

Fans of more leisurely trolley rides can still hop on the Green Line, which remains a "global" slow zone as inspectors continue to look for both new track problems and old ones that the T isn't sure if they were actually fixed.

The Zoning Board of Appeal today approved two projects for two parcels on Columbia Road that will mean 113 new affordable apartments, artist space and the preservation of two historic buildings across from the Strand Theatre in Uphams Corner. Read more.

The Zoning Board of Appeal today approved a 38-unit apartment building at 120 Bowdoin St. at Geneva Avenue in Dorchester. Read more.

This morning, the MBTA reported delays of up to 20 minutes, atop the more usual delays, on the Red Line's Ashmont branch due to a "track problem" at Ashmont. You may recall that the decision to turn the entire T system into a slow zone last week was due to track problems state inspectors found on that branch.

The Dorchester Reporter reports a metal panel from the big old Bayside Expo sign, which advertises an expo center on Columbia Point that was demolished years ago, plunged to the parking lot below recently. No injuries. Read more.

The Boston Licensing Board today gave Puritan Pizza, 735 Morrissey Blvd. in Dorchester, approval to extend its closing time from the current 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Read more.

GBH takes a look at ridership figures from the 23, 28 and 29 lines, which are now free under a two-year Boston pilot that started in March - several months after the city first started paying the T for fares on the 28.