THE TALK ABOUT the 2020 presidential campaign seems to be kicking into gear — and it’s getting tiresome already. It’s not the effort to try to divine the dynamics of […]
Michael Jonas
Michael Jonas works with Laura in overseeing CommonWealth Beacon coverage and editing the work of reporters. His own reporting has a particular focus on politics, education, and criminal justice reform.
Posted inPolitics
Berkshire DA says exit aimed at helping top aide win post
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER and Berkshire County District Attorney David Capeless are coming under fire for setting up a behind-the-scenes hand-off of the DA’s post to the office’s first assistant. On […]
Posted inThe Back Story
Special elections ready-made for insiders
THE CANDIDATES ARE off and running in the short sprint to the April 3 special election primary to fill the state Senate seat vacated in late January by Linda Forry. […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
McAuliffe says she’ll be the ‘progressive change candidate’ for DA
SHANNON MCAULIFFE may have to shift gears from a campaign that was preparing to challenge a 16-year incumbent to what is now a wide-open race for Suffolk County district attorney, […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Conley won’t seek reelection as Suffolk DA
SUFFOLK COUNTY District Attorney Daniel Conley shook up the legal landscape on Tuesday with word that he won’t seek reelection this fall. The news came as a longtime Boston defense […]
Posted inPolitics
Pressley: ‘I can’t and won’t wait my turn’
AYANNA PRESSLEY SUCCINCTLY handicapped her race for Congress in her formal kickoff speech on Tuesday night. “Our campaign won’t be easy,” she told 300 supporters at a Cambridge restaurant. “We’re […]
Posted inUncategorized
SJC justices mull millionaires’ tax
SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT justices peppered lawyers with questions on Tuesday morning on an appeal challenging a proposed state ballot question to raise taxes on high earners, with judges repeatedly questioning […]
Posted inEducation
Connolly to chair new Lawrence school oversight board
JOHN CONNOLLY, WHO made education the centerpiece of his unsuccessful 2013 campaign for mayor in Boston, has been tapped to chair the new state-appointed board that will oversee the Lawrence […]
Posted inMicrophilanthropy
Knitting together help for the homeless
THERE ARE GRAND policy plans and programs to serve the homeless – and then there are more direct, small acts of kindness. Last night, a team of 300 volunteers and […]
Posted inEducation
Riley gets the nod as education commissioner
TO HELM THE unfinished work of education reform to close persistent achievement gaps, the state tapped someone with a track record of being able to do it. Jeff Riley, who […]
Posted inEducation
Education commissioner finalists interviewed
THE THREE FINALISTS for state education commissioner each faced close to two hours of questioning on Friday from the state panel that now must decide who will lead the system […]
Posted inEducation
Achievement gap holds Mass. back, says former US education secretary
MASSACHUSETTS HAS MADE huge strides in educational achievement, but needs to redouble efforts to close the achievement gap. That was the message delivered on Thursday morning by former US education […]
Posted inEducation
Commissioner pick will signal direction for education policy
WHEN THE STATE education board convenes next Monday to vote on a new Massachusetts education commissioner, its members won’t just be sizing up the three finalists for the job. They […]
Posted inEducation
3 finalists named for state education commissioner
THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT announced three finalists in the search for a new commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education today, tapping a well-known Massachusetts educator and two out of state […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Modest benefit found in Boston study of police body cameras
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS from Boston’s study of police-worn body cameras point to a small benefit in reducing citizen complaints filed against officers, but no impact on police use of force against […]
Posted inEducation
A birthday reckoning
Illustration by Kyle Webster THIS YEAR MARKS a significant milestone in the state’s rich history of leadership in education. It was 25 years ago that Massachusetts officials came together to […]
Posted inPolitics
Rosenberg denies Senate meddling by Hefner
SENATE PRESIDENT STAN ROSENBERG said he was “devastated” by the charges of sexual harassment and assault against his husband, who plans to seek inpatient treatment for “alcohol dependence.” Rosenberg faced […]
Posted inThe Back Story
An exercise in democracy or a crapshoot?
THE DEMOCRATIC CONTEST to succeed retiring US Rep. Niki Tsongas is shaping up to be a wild scramble, with 12 candidates in the race as of this week. On the […]
Posted inEducation
Oversight of Lawrence schools shifting to state-appointed board
EDUCATION OFFICIALS UNVEILED the next chapter in state oversight of the Lawrence schools on Wednesday with the announcement that the state receiver, Jeff Riley, will be stepping down at the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
House criminal justice bill seen taking up broad reform
A KEY HOUSE LEADER signaled that his chamber is likely to respond to a sweeping Senate criminal justice bill with legislation that tackles many of the issues in the Senate […]
Posted inHealth Care
Health Policy Commission pans Partners-Mass. Eye & Ear deal
THE STATE HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION is pouring lots of cold water on the proposed acquisition by Partners HealthCare of the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, saying the deal would increase […]
Posted inPolitics
The mantra in Boston mayoral races: lean left
TITO JACKSON’S biographical campaign video ends with a bold declaration appearing on the screen, one he has used to frame his insurgent campaign: “Tito Jackson. The Progressive Choice for Mayor.” The […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Anti-violence funds jeopardized by House-Senate flap
THE SENATE IS taking the lead on Beacon Hill on criminal justice reform, but the chamber seems to have lost its way on a key initiative to help gang members […]
Posted inEducation
Scores drop on new, more rigorous MCAS
SCORES ON THE state’s revamped MCAS test took a big dip, but state officials say that’s because the test got harder, not because student performance got worse. About half of […]