Bettors set their own record last month by putting about $678.75 million on the line as wagers on September sporting events. That unseats the previous record monthly handle of $658.7 million wagered on events in December 2023.
Colin A. Young I State House News Service
Posted inEconomy
Mass. competitiveness affected by ‘tsunami of little things’
“It’s not one factor that’s going to be the silver bullet that makes Massachusetts competitive vis a vis other states. It’s really going to be multifaceted,” said Jane Steinmetz of EY Boston.
Posted inBy The Numbers
State tax revenues lag slightly behind projections
The Department of Revenue said Thursday that it collected $4.518 billion in September — $331 million, or 7.9 percent more, than what was collected during September 2023, but $29 million, or 0.6 percent, below the monthly benchmark.
Posted inState Government
Goldberg fires Cannabis Commission chair O’Brien for ‘gross misconduct’
“I expect my appointee’s actions to be reflective of the important mission of the CCC and performed in a manner that incorporates the standards of professionalism required in today’s work environment,” the treasurer said in a statement.
Posted inHealth Care
Judge approves sale of 6 Steward hospitals in Mass. for total of $343m
Mass. chips in $42m to keep hospitals operating through end of Sep
Posted inHealth Care
St. Elizabeth’s landlords reject Healey low-ball eminent domain offer
“Steward and Apollo need to stop playing games with people’s health care. We are moving forward with plans to take St. Elizabeth’s by eminent domain,” a Healey spokesperson said Wednesday afternoon in response to the offer rejection.
Posted inHealth Care
New owners lined up for Steward hospitals in Mass., Healey says
The sweeping transition and health care market restructuring plan that Healey announced Friday is expected to require significant involvement from the Legislature. The governor’s office said it has been working with lawmakers on “a fiscally responsible financing plan that includes cash advances, capital support, and maximizing federal matches” to support the transition to new operators.
Posted inState Government
State starts fiscal 2025 with drop in revenue
State tax revenue in July was down $18 million, or 0.7 percent, over the same month last year, a gap state officials say would have been even greater but for a quirk of timing.
Posted inState Government
Healey signs state budget, goes light on vetoes
The governor signed nearly all of the budget the Legislature sent her 10 days ago, approving all but three of the 261 policy proposals lawmakers padded it with.
Posted inHealth Care
Steward to close hospitals in Dorchester, Ayer
Carney Hospital and Nashoba Valley Medical Center will be closing on or around August 31, 2024, Steward said.
Posted inGuns
Healey signs overhaul of state firearms law
The law sets new strategies for combating so-called ghost guns, expanding the law that allows a court to take guns away from someone considered a threat to themselves or others, and adding schools, polling places, and government buildings to the list of areas where state law forbids people from carrying firearms.
Posted inHealth Care
Each Steward hospital in Mass. has a bidder, Healey says
“We’ve received qualified bids. We are evaluating those now, and it’s currently with the parties right now in New York,” Gov. Maura Healey said.
Posted inTransportation
Feds give $1b more for Cape bridge replacement work
The replacement of the Sagamore Bridge, which carries Route 6 over the canal close to its eastern end, is the first step in the state’s broader plan to replace both Cape Cod bridges.
Posted inBallot Questions
Top Dem says talks occurring on rideshare, MCAS question alternatives
The Legislature last month ruled out acting on any of the 2024 ballot questions as proposed by the petitioners, but lawmakers have not ruled out the idea of intervening to keep some of the questions from being decided this fall by voters.
Posted inHealth Care
Health centers seek relief from ‘deep challenges’
Massachusetts community health centers are facing pressure from wait times, workforce crunch, and migrant care.
Posted inMarijuana
More turmoil at the Cannabis Control Commission
Commissioner Roy alleges actions by fellow commissioner members caused upheaval and discord
Posted inGambling
Wynn, Everett at odds over casino expansion across Broadway
“It has become apparent that we are unable to negotiate an agreement with the City of Everett regarding property taxes, impact fees, and infrastructure improvements in a timely fashion,” the company said in a statement that replaced the website for the project.
Posted inState Government
Lawmakers hear testimony on bill banning political deepfakes
Finegold’s bill would also allow candidates targeted by a deceptive or fraudulent deepfake to seek civil legal action against people who create or post it, with damages of up to $10,000 per incident.
Posted inHealth Care
Steward stays open as it seeks bankruptcy protection
The company, which operates eight hospitals in Massachusetts and has been sinking under a pile of debt to vendors and its de facto landlord, said it does not expect any interruption to day-to-day operations.
Posted inState Government
April tax collections surpass target by $1b
Collections of $6.324 billion last month exceeded the Healey administration’s monthly benchmark of $5.291 billion by $1.034 billion, or 19.5 percent. But officials said much of that overage came in the form of capital gains tax revenue and income surtax revenue, money that is to be set aside for specifically mandated purposes.
Posted inTransportation
Senate president intrigued by border toll idea
“I do believe that we need to be creative about our funding. And I do believe that it needs to be fair, because I believe the toll system right now is not fair at all,” said Senate President Karen Spilka.
Posted inState Government
Amid budget uncertainty, Healey hits breaks on hiring
With some exceptions, all new Executive Branch hiring between April 3 and June 30 will need to be approved by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance based on time-sensitivity and the importance of positions, the office said.
Posted inEnvironment
House eyes MWRA expansion
The MWRA was created by the Legislature in 1984 and currently provides wholesale water and sewer services to 3.1 million people and more than 5,500 businesses in 61 communities in eastern and central Massachusetts.
Posted inCourts
O’Brien’s lawyer says he’s ‘unaware’ of probe behind subpoena report
A lawyer for suspended cannabis regulator Shannon O’Brien said he’s not aware of any federal investigation into his client and has not the subpoena that the Boston Globe reported was sent to state officials last fall.