Senate budget chief Michael Rodrigues of Westport was noncommittal when asked about Gov. Maura Healey’s plan to drain $700 million in surplus revenue funds to cover rising expenses this year and next year associated with the state’s emergency shelter system.
Sam Drysdale | State House News Service
Posted inHousing
Warren endorses Healey housing plan
Do you think that housing is in short supply in Massachusetts right now?” Sen. Elizabeth Warren asked. “Do you think that rents are already rising like a hot air balloon? Well buckle up for a rough ride.”
Posted inDrugs
DPH shifts gears, backs overdose prevention centers
As overdoses impact people across Massachusetts, the DPH released a report Wednesday that supports so-called overdose prevention centers or supervised injection sites.
Posted inState Government
Fiscal storm clouds on the horizon in Mass.
Regarding tax collection, Sen. Michael Rodrigues said: “We find ourselves at a precarious crossroads. There are storm clouds gathering on the horizon.”
Posted inEducation
New state aid will cut costs for 25,000 UMass students
A THIRD OF ALL UMASS students will qualify for free tuition paid for by the new income surtax on the state’s highest earners, under a plan the Healey administration rolled out Wednesday to spend an expansion of state financial aid.
Posted inHousing
Healey’s shelter cap of 7,500 families is triggered
The number of families housed in the state’s emergency shelter system hit Gov. Maura Healey’s limit on Thursday afternoon, triggering a new regulation that will allow the shelter system to begin to turn people away.
Posted inImmigration
Group seeks to block Healey’s emergency shelter cap
Gov. Maura Healey’s administration is facing a lawsuit after the governor announced last week that the state would no longer guarantee housing for those protected under the state’s right-to-shelter law.
Posted inEnvironment
Climate report calls for decarbonization cost tally
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE MASSACHUSETTS NEEDS to shift from an era of statewide planning for climate policy to the key details of implementing it, according to a new report from […]
Posted inEnvironment
Advocates press Healey to scrap Hanscom expansion
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE IN A NEW SURGE of opposition, advocates are calling directly on Gov. Maura Healey to stop the expansion of the publicly owned airfield in Bedford that […]
Posted inMarijuana, State House News Service
O’Brien apologizes for handling of last CCC meeting
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE CHAIRWOMAN of the Cannabis Control Commission apologized to her fellow commissioners Thursday for any “angst” or “confusion” she caused at their last meeting when she […]
Posted inTransportation
New MBTA contract perks included to attract, retain workers
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE MBTA’S struggles with hiring and retaining workers have grabbed headlines for months, but supporters of a new labor deal featuring pay and benefit upgrades say […]
Posted inEnergy, Environment, State House News Service
Healey administration nixes plan for Plymouth nuclear wastewater
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE STATE REGULATORS denied a bid by the company in charge of decommissioning the nuclear power plant in Plymouth to discharge 1.1 million gallons of industrial wastewater […]
Posted inTransportation
Pedestrian road fatalities hit record high of 101 in 2022
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE NUMBER of pedestrians and bicyclists involved in on-the-road accidents in Massachusetts is on the rise after record-lows in 2020, with the most pedestrian fatalities on […]
Posted inTransportation
Bus stops targeted to improve pedestrian safety
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE FOLLOWING A PEDESTRIAN safety assessment that showed almost half of all Massachusetts pedestrian fatalities or serious injuries happened within 300 feet of a bus stop, the […]
Posted inEducation
MTA gearing up to push for new ballot questions
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE MASSACHUSETTS VOTERS in 2024 could be asked to settle two major education debates, but retailers may pass on bringing tax cuts to next year’s ballot. The […]
Posted inCourts, Education, State House News Service
Supreme Court strikes down use of race in admissions
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE NATION’S HIGHEST COURT on Thursday declared that two major colleges violated the Constitution by considering a student’s race as a factor in admissions, a landmark […]
Posted inEducation
State looks to limit cellphones in schools
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE STATE’S K-12 education department is encouraging districts to restrict or ban students’ cellphone use in schools, possibly moving toward a statewide mandate in the future. […]
Posted inHousing, State Government, State House News Service
Healey names former Worcester city manager as housing secretary
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE GOV. MAURA HEALEY named Edward Augustus as state housing secretary on Monday, turning to a former state senator and Worcester city manager to serve as point […]
Posted inState Government, State House News Service
Tax forecast misses mark, but Healey says that was expected
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE GOV. MAURA HEALEY doubled down on her tax relief plan on Friday, insisting that a shortfall in state revenue that has plunged this year’s state budget […]
Posted inEducation
Licensing changes eyed to address teacher shortage
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE STATE EDUCATION board is exploring new ways to address the statewide teacher shortage through more “flexible” regulations for specialized educators. Board members voted Tuesday to […]
Posted inState Government, State House News Service
Convention center tosses redevelopment proposals
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE STATE’S INDEPENDENT convention center authority canceled and rejected controversial redevelopment proposals for a piece of land in South Boston after officials accused it of using […]
Posted inHealth Care
Travel nurses fill a gap but also create problems
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE AN INCREASING RELIANCE on travel nurses is contributing to high turnover rates among nurses in Massachusetts, as health care remains strapped by labor shortages here and […]
Posted inEducation
METCO students, parents lobby for more funding
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS and parents roamed the halls of the State House this week to ask state lawmakers to support increased funding for the largest school […]
Posted inEnvironment
Healey tax credit could help ease cost of septic system repairs
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A SINGLE SENTENCE in Gov. Maura Healey’s tax plan that went largely under the radar during the governor’s media tour last week could mean a significant […]
