STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE LEGISLATURE’S Revenue Committee advanced a $600 million tax relief package on Friday, but the panel’s House chairman said the measure remains a work in progress. The committee voted 17-0, according to House chairman Rep. Mark Cusack, to advance a redraft of Gov. Charlie Baker’s tax relief plan that does not […]
Michael P. Norton // State House News Service
Posted inGuns
Mass. concealed-carry law threatened by Supreme Ct. decision
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE IN A RULING praised by gun rights advocates, the US Supreme Court on Thursday struck down New York’s concealed-carry gun licensing law with a decision that Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said flouts hundreds of years of state-level gun regulation and “poses a grave danger” to people traveling in public spaces. […]
Posted inEconomy
Raytheon moving headquarters to Virginia
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE IN A BLOW to Massachusetts, Waltham-based Raytheon Technologies is moving its global headquarters to Arlington, Virginia. Raytheon announced its plans Tuesday, saying a headquarters in Virginia “increases agility in supporting US government and commercial aerospace customers and serves to reinforce partnerships that will progress innovative technologies to advance the industry.” The […]
Posted inTransportation
Neal, Baker strike deal on East-West rail
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE FEDERAL AND STATE officials on Tuesday agreed on a path forward to extend passenger rail service west of Worcester to the cities of Springfield and Pittsfield, an effort designed to finally connect the eastern and western parts of the state by rail. Speaking with reporters after a meeting at Springfield’s Union […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
State preparing to close down Walpole prison
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE STATE OFFICIALS plan to wind down operations at MCI-Cedar Junction in Walpole, one of the state’s oldest correctional facilities. The Department of Correction on Thursday announced a two-year, phased plan to “suspend housing operations” at the maximum-security prison, which is currently operating at 68 percent capacity with about 525 inmates. The […]
Posted inHealth Care
Health cost benchmark called unfair, impractical
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE STATE GOVERNMENT’S central method of benchmarking health care spending trends is not a fair or appropriate way to evaluate changes in one of the economy’s biggest cost centers, according to one of the lawmakers who helped craft the measure that is supposed to help keep cost growth roughly in line with […]
Posted inUncategorized
Groups call for making online meeting access permanent
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE DARKNESS OF the pandemic brought a surprise element of transparency to government, and a range of groups, including those representing individuals with disabilities, this week are calling on the Governor’s Council to resume online streaming of meetings where elected officials vet judicial candidates. “In the case of government entities based […]
Posted inTransportation
MBTA not among transit agencies splitting $2.2b in fed aid
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT on Monday announced $2.2 billion in aid to states to preserve transit jobs and pay for daily train and bus operations, but Massachusetts was not among the 18 states that shared in the money. A state transportation official, who asked to speak on background, said the MBTA conducted […]
Posted inUncategorized
Wu proposes restricting ‘targeted residential picketing’
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE BOSTON MAYOR Michelle Wu, who has regularly encountered protesters outside her home, filed a proposed ordinance Monday to put new rules in place restricting demonstrations that target a particular residence. The proposal would address what the mayor’s office describes as targeted residential picketing, or “picketing, protesting, or demonstrating, with or without […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Needham police officer charged with insider trading
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE TWO MEN from Needham, one of them a police officer, and a Rhode Island man were arrested Wednesday in connection with an alleged conspiracy to trade based on inside information. US Attorney Rachael Rollins announced the arrests, with her office saying the charges stem from information shared about the planned acquisition […]