Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue last week launched an ad saying he would suspend the gas tax “until prices stabilize.”
Sam Drysdale | State House News Service
Posted inState Government
Galvin defends ballot questions as a ‘safety valve’ amid reform push
Lawmakers this year could move forward with changes to how initiative petitions get on the ballot. Now, other voices are also starting to weigh in, amid a particularly active election cycle for citizen-led petitions.
Posted inState Government
Brownsberger edges Lander by 35 votes after Senate race recount
The results conclude a nail-biting primary race for the Suffolk and Middlesex District, which became a proxy war over voter dissatisfaction with the Beacon Hill status quo and a test of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s political prowess.
Posted inState Government
Senators rally to Brownsberger as recount begins in tight race
The results of this week’s recount will settle who wins the district – a longtime incumbent and the third-most powerful Democrat in the Senate, or a challenger with the backing of political rival Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
Posted inPolitics
Recounts taking shape in two Democratic legislative primaries
Elections have come down to just a few votes in the high-profile showdown between 19-year legislator Sen. William Brownsberger and challenger Daniel Lander.
Posted inCourts
Jury clears Suffolk Sheriff Tompkins of extortion charges
Tompkins and his attorneys argued prosecutors had not presented sufficient evidence of a quid pro quo or corrupt intent.
Posted inCourts
State moves to dismiss Springfield courthouse lawsuit
Hampden Superior Court Judge David Hodge found there was “no legal or logical support” for allegations of conflict of interest tied to the $2 billion redevelopment of the courthouse in Springfield.
Posted inCourts
Wu hails White Stadium ruling as cranes and crews keep working
City officials cheered that the stadium project will now move ahead without delay, while opponents said the Supreme Judicial Court decision allowing construction to continue does not resolve their concerns about the stadium’s size, cost, private use, and impact on the surrounding park and neighborhoods.
Posted inEducation
Higher education commissioner stepping down in September
Ortega’s departure will further shift the state’s education leadership, following turnover within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler stepping down earlier this year.
Posted inImmigration
Immigrant protection accord includes state, local enforcement rules
The compromise bill takes a broader approach to “sensitive locations,” expanding protections against warrantless civil immigration arrests from courthouses to include public schools, child care centers, and health care facilities.
Posted inState Government
Healey rolls out $75M loan funds for municipal infrastructure
The new infrastructure lending program would provide cities and towns with flexible, low-interest financing to address funding gaps, advance priority projects, and maximize access to federal resources.
Posted inEducation
Compromise would reshape how Massachusetts teaches reading
The compromise resolves two of the most closely watched disputes between the House and Senate versions of the legislation: whether to explicitly restrict the controversial “three-cueing” reading approach and whether to provide immediate state funding to help districts transition to new curricula.
Posted inState Government
Healey taps National Grid counsel, clerk magistrate for District Court bench
She also hopes to elevate Judge Zachary Hillman, associate justice of the District Court since 2021, to serve as a judge in the Appeals Court.
Posted inEducation
Senate ready to give teachers second shot at retirement program
The Senate plans to take up a bill to enhance retirement benefit programs for teachers after resisting for years, following the House’s approval of a similar policy through a state budget amendment.
Posted inGovernment
Healey backs later last call for ‘once-in-a-generation summer’
The proposed bill would allow Massachusetts restaurants and bars to stay open later from June 1 through Aug. 31, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 250th American Revolution celebrations.
Posted inPolitics
Rikleen ends US Senate bid, endorses Markey
Rikleen, a former history teacher and fantasy sports writer making his first run for public office, launched his longshot Senate bid a year ago with calls for Democrats to more aggressively confront President Donald Trump and pursue sweeping reforms to the country’s political institutions.
Posted inPolitics
Lawmakers complete bid to kill legislative stipend reforms
Supporters have framed the measure as a pro-democracy reform aimed at rebalancing power in a system that they say rewards loyalty to Democratic leadership. Lawmakers have pushed back harshly against that characterization.
Posted inHousing
Researchers find MBTA housing law benefits ‘modest’ so far
According to the report, 34 municipalities have projects in the pipeline, ranging in size from two to more than 500 units.
Posted inEducation
Senate and House aligning on evidence-based reading instruction
While the state continues to rank among national leaders, MCAS data show that only about 42 percent of third-graders are meeting state expectations in English language arts, with significantly lower rates among students of color, low-income students, English language learners and students with disabilities.
