The Download

New from CommonWealth Beacon CENSUS: Massachusetts lawmakers are concerned about proposed federal rules that would exclude non-citizens from the decennial US Census and alter the way residency is determined, changes […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon DEBATE: CommonWealth Beacon hosted a Question 3 debate on Tuesday night between Danielle Allen, a Harvard University professor who founded the group advancing the ballot initiative, […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon CODCAST: Telehealth providers can mail abortion pills to patients living in states where abortion is illegal. In Massachusetts, such providers are shielded from legal action by […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon GASSED UP: The top executive at Eversource doesn’t sound too concerned with the rhetoric coming from the corner office, telling attendees at an industry conference he […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon DEBATE: Gov. Maura Healey and GOP challenger Mike Minogue sparred in their debate Thursday night over many issues, but Healey is ultimately banking on a simple […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon ENERGY LIMBO: A political backlash to Mass Save — a program that provides low or no-cost energy efficiency upgrades to homes and businesses around the state […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon COURTS: The state’s highest court is now picking apart a hairy collision course that has emerged between the state’s system of justice and federal immigration enforcement […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon NEW PODCAST: Mike Minogue, the Republican mega-donor and candidate for governor who spent 19 years as CEO of Abiomed, joined hosts John McDonough of the Harvard […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon HIT THE GAS: Gov. Maura Healey wrote a letter imploring US Energy Secretary Chris Wright to move with a “sense of urgency” in issuing required permits […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon BALLOT QUESTIONS: A dive into the crosstabs of a new CommonWealth Beacon poll reveals a striking divide between voters and party leaders on two of the […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon BLAME GAME: Massachusetts voters mostly blame President Donald Trump and utility companies for the energy affordability crisis enveloping the state. Jordan Wolman digs into new polling. […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon AUDIT SUPPORT: A new CommonWealth Beacon/MassINC Polling Group survey finds 72 percent of voters back the law empowering the state auditor to examine the Legislature — […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon HEALEY POLL: Gov. Maura Healey is cruising in her reelection bid against Republican challenger Mike Minogue, according to a new CommonWealth Beacon/MassINC Polling Group survey that […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon FIRING LINE: A legal challenge before the state’s highest court targets the “suitability” part of the state’s firearm licensing statue, which gun rights advocates say allows […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon QUABBIN QUANDRIES: Tensions are rising again for Quabbin Reservoir communities, as the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority makes its largest-ever request to expand its service area eastward. […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon ELECTIONS: As November’s general election approaches, Gateway Cities are grappling with how to improve voter turnout rates that have remained stubbornly lower than the state average, […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon AFFORDABILITY WOES: Heading into an election season in which “affordability” is the defining issue, a majority of Bay Staters agree that Massachusetts is a better place […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon UNEMPLOYMENT WOES: Problems within the state’s unemployment assistance system predated the upheaval that CommonWealth Beacon documented this year, according to a new report from Auditor Diana […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon SJC SETTLES IT: The state’s highest court, which already upheld the sweeping and controversial MBTA Communities multifamily housing law last year, waved away the second challenge […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon ON THE MARKET: Fall River’s waterfront is heading toward a major transformation, landing it in the middle of a debate over development and market-rate housing that […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: The Massachusetts Teachers Association is pushing hard against a ballot measure to repeal the state’s gun law, campaign finance quirks offer a misleading picture […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon UNDERSTANDING THE BALLOT: Your ballot will be jam-packed, and CommonWealth Beacon is here to help. We’ve launched a voter guide to the nine ballot questions stretching […]

The 9 Massachusetts ballot questions, explained September 15, 2026 In less than two months, Massachusetts voters will go to the polls not only to elect a governor, a senator, nine […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon ENERGY: Massachusetts utilities companies and a Canadian company responsible for delivering hydropower into New England are locked in a high-stakes legal battle with dueling lawsuits filed […]