THE GOVERNORS OF 17 STATES, including Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, came together recently to forge an agreement to develop cleaner energy and transportation solutions for our nation. The pact, known […]
Colleen Quinn
Posted inEducation, State House News Service
State takes control of Holyoke schools
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE HOLYOKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS will be taken over by the state, after the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted 8 to 3 Tuesday to authorize the […]
Posted inEducation, State House News Service
Chester calls for state takeover of Holyoke schools
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE STATE SHOULD take over the Holyoke Public Schools, Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester recommended Tuesday, saying “persistent and pervasive” problems in the school district make receivership […]
Posted inEducation, State House News Service
Holyoke students being shortchanged
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE STATE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER Mitchell Chester is not ready to recommend that the Holyoke Public Schools be put into receivership, but he has not ruled it out […]
Posted inHealth Care, State House News Service
State health plan deficit could hit $190m
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE STATE EMPLOYEES IN Massachusetts could see increases in their health insurance co-payments and deductibles under one option being considered by a state commission grappling with a […]
Posted inEducation, State House News Service
State board grants waiver to Brockton charter
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Against the wishes of local school officials, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education granted a waiver Tuesday to a proposed charter school in Brockton, […]
Posted inEducation, State House News Service
Lawmakers pitch ways to ease student debt
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE As student loan debt tops $1 trillion nationally, state lawmakers are recommending ways to ease the burden on Massachusetts college students. Approximately 66 percent of Massachusetts […]
Posted inEconomy, Education, Opinion, Politics, State House News Service
Commission backs graduated income tax
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICEA 15-member special commission charged with looking at ways to make the state’s tax code simpler and fairer is recommending a graduated income tax. A graduated income […]
Posted inEducation, State House News Service
Lawrence teachers push for bargaining rights
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICEUnion officials urged lawmakers to restore collective bargaining rights to Lawrence public school teachers, arguing the state education commissioner and state-appointed receiver overseeing the turnaround of city […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Ties to ADL imperil Patrick judge nominee
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICESaying he hadn’t had a chance to work on rounding up votes to ensure confirmation, Gov. Deval Patrick prevented the Governor’s Council from voting on judicial nominee […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics, State House News Service
Sen. Timilty, others shift on seatbelt law
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICEThe state senator who reviews public safety bills has changed his mind about stiffening the state’s seat belt law, and plans to vote in favor of making […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Judge nominee rejected for fibs about his old job
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE AT HIS LAST MEETING presiding over the Governor’s Council, outgoing Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray looked on as the council voted against the Patrick administration’s latest nominee […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Governor’s Council nixes Patrick pick again
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICEGOV. DEVAL PATRICK’S PICK for a Southern Berkshire District Court judgeship was rejected by the Governor’s Council for a second time on Wednesday after some councilors first […]
Posted inHealth Care, Politics, State House News Service
Bigby says NECC has primary responsibility
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE CALLING IT “ONE of the greatest health care tragedies in my memory,” the Patrick administration’s top health official told lawmakers Wednesday that she is committed to […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics, State House News Service
House bill eases grocery price tag law
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Grocery stores in Massachusetts would no longer be required to put price tags on each item and could instead deploy price scanners for consumers to use, […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
T approves average fare hike of 23 percent
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICEThe MBTA board voted 4-1 today to raise fares by an average of 23 percent, cut some service routes, and double the price of rides for disabled […]