What if Massachusetts levied a tax and no one wanted to pay it? The business community is in full chuck-the-tea-in-Boston-Harbor mode over the new computer and software services tax. […]
Gabrielle Gurley
Gabrielle covers several beats, including mass transit, municipal government, child welfare, and energy and the environment. Her recent articles have explored municipal hiring practices in Pittsfield, public defender pay, and medical marijuana, and she has won several national journalism awards for her work. Prior to coming to CommonWealth in 2005, Gabrielle wrote for the State House News Service, The Boston Globe, and other publications. She launched her media career in broadcast journalism with C-SPAN in Washington, DC. The Philadelphia native holds degrees from Boston College and Georgetown University.
Posted inEnvironment, State House News Service, The Download
Entergy nukes Vermont Yankee, outlook for Pilgrim murky
After years of heated battles with Vermont environmentalists and lawmakers, Entergy, the New Orleans-based power plant operator, announced the closing of its Vermont Yankee nuclear facility. Rep. Paul Mark, from […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Coakley sues Lantigua on campaign violations
WITH LESS THAN A MONTH TO GO before Lawrence’s crowded mayoral primary election, state officials on Tuesday sued Mayor William Lantigua, accusing him of accepting thousands of dollars in illegal […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download, Transportation
Electronic collection plan takes a toll on Western Mass
MassDOT must be the least popular agency in Western Massachusetts, thanks to the touchy subject of tolls on the Massachusetts Turnpike. Last week, state transportation officials announced the reinstitution of […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download, Uncategorized
Tewksbury gives anti-casino push a nudge
Tewksbury gave the percolating casino gambling repeal movement some momentum this week. In what had become a raucous debate in the Merrimack Valley town, one featuring bar fights and disappearing […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download, Transportation
Toll wars are back
Western Massachusetts is in an uproar over the planned reintroduction of tolls on Exits 1 through 6 of the Massachusetts Turnpike on October 15. The recently passed transportation finance law […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
Globe scuttlebutt
Correction: The story’s original reference to layoffs at the Tampa Tribune was incorrect and the correct information is now included below. The sale of the Boston Globe is entering its […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download, Transportation
All’s fare in the Bay State transportation wars
Another year, another transportation finance debacle in progress. Legislators balked at Gov. Deval Patrick’s tax-laden $1.1 billion proposal and crafted one that injects a few million less dollars into the […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download, Uncategorized
All over before the casino vote in Springfield
History did not repeat itself. With visions of dollars to city coffers dancing in their heads, Springfield voters weren’t about to chuck away MGM International’s $800 million casino opportunity.The MGM […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
All aboard for the Cape
WHEN MICHAEL DUKAKIS was governor, passenger trains ran to Cape Cod. So it should come as no surprise that one of the Bay State’s biggest mass transit boosters took the […]
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service
Booting up
MICHAEL FELD IS moving his small tech company from Northampton to Holyoke. That’s not a big deal on its own for Holyoke, but it will be a very big deal […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download, Transportation
Getting smart about Cape summer traffic
On a hot and sunny Sunday after the Fourth of July, hundreds of people decided to leave the Cape “early” to get a jump on getting ready for the work […]
Posted inEconomy, Environment, State House News Service, The Download
Good, better, best, and “wow” on casinos
If casino developers don’t “wow” the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, they might as well pack up and go home. The commission released its mammoth 236-page Phase 2 application Tuesday. Developers will […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service, The Download
Deval Patrick’s Eric Holder problem
President Barack Obama needs Gov. Deval Patrick more than ever. Republicans are gleefully salivating over not one, not two, but three administration scandals, and Attorney General Eric Holder is front […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download, Uncategorized
Turning the page on the remains of Tamerlan Tsarnaev
Led by the Globe, the Boston news media covered itself in journalism glory in the early days after the marathon bombing with exhaustive 24/7 coverage of the Boylston Street carnage […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
MGM casino gets Springfield’s backing
SPRINGFIELD, the only Massachusetts city weighing two competing casino bids, has put its chips on MGM Springfield. On Tuesday Mayor Domenic Sarno announced that he had concluded a host […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download, Uncategorized
Hacking AP: Separating the tweets from the chaff
In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings last week, more than half of young people in Boston aged 18-29 used social media as their news conduit of choice. Daily […]
Posted inState House News Service, The Download, Uncategorized
Bombing coverage: beware of urge to be first
A survey of any major domestic tragedy of the past 25 years will turn up numerous examples of stellar news reportage. But combine the 24/7 news cycle with an industry […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
Third time a charm for transportation plan?
After days of posturing from both sides, Gov. Deval Patrick and legislative leaders may finally huddle mid-field to agree on a smaller transportation finance plan that whittles down operating gaps […]
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service, Transportation
Could the Senate plan provide common ground?
This is an updated version of a previously posted story. THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE is preparing to vote on a transportation finance plan that is bigger than the $500 million House […]
Posted inEducation, State House News Service, The Download
Bay State shifting gears on bilingual education
Transportation budget shortfalls have dominated the debate on Beacon Hill in recent weeks. When lawmakers’ attention does swivel around to education, the public conversations tend to center on a lack […]
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service
Springfield bets on sibling rivalry
THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE came to rest on the big money for Massachusetts two years ago when Gov. Deval Patrick signed legislation ushering the Bay State into the casino era. […]
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service, Transportation
Patrick muted in response to House-Senate tax plan
GOV. DEVAL PATRICK spent months racing around the state trying to whip up support for his $1.9 billion tax plan, but he seemed muted on Wednesday as the Legislature prepared […]
Posted inEnvironment, Politics, State House News Service, The Download
Oil and water don’t mix for Stephen Lynch
If the Massachusetts Senate race shapes up as the first US election where the environment is a decisive factor, Stephen Lynch could be in for a very rough ride. Lynch […]