The Download

New from CommonWealth Beacon BEING GREEN: The MBTA will soon have enough equipment in place to roll out the first Green Line trolleys featuring on-board alerts about stalled vehicles or […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon TAX PLAN TRY THREE: Mayor Michelle Wu, projecting a 13 percent spike in Boston property taxes next year for the average single-family home, is again urging the state Senate and business […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon NEW CODCAST: Jennifer Smith and Chris Lisinski break down all the latest legislative and ballot measure news on the latest Codcast episode that’s out now. Get the rundown on a potentially […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon BALLOT BATTLES: With the first major signature deadline behind them and another looming, proponents and opponents of a possible record dozen ballot initiatives brace for the […]

The Download is off on Thursday and Friday. We’ll be back in your inbox on Monday, December 1. Happy Thanksgiving! New from CommonWealth Beacon HEALTH CARE AUDIT: A state audit of UMass Memorial Health released earlier this month […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon NEW CODCAST: On this week’s episode of The Codcast, Jim Peyser, who served as secretary of education under Gov. Charlie Baker, talks with CommonWealth Beacon executive […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon WEYMOUTH MOVES: The spending bill now on Gov. Maura Healey’s desk includes language critical to the overhaul of the former Naval Air Station South Weymouth, which supporters say could unlock thousands of […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon BREAK TIME: The Legislature has begun its extended holiday break. As they go, Chris Lisinski breaks down what lawmakers sent to the governor’s desk, what measures […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon RENT CONTROL: The proposed rent control revival on track to go before voters in 2026 would cap rent increases in all 351 Massachusetts cities and towns […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon POWER PUNT: The House this week will not take up a contentious energy policy bill that would weaken the state’s 2030 climate mandate, punting a major […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon NEW CODCAST: Paul Hattis and John McDonough host Health Law Advocates executive director Matt Selig, who warned of the “devastating” impact federal policy changes will have on his group’s […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon CLIMATE CASH: State Rep. Mark Cusack, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, received $4,100 in contributions on Wednesday – much of which […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon MATERNITY CARE: Mercy Medical Center in Springfield announced that it plans to temporarily halt maternity and newborn services starting December 8, sparking fears the hospital will […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon CLIMATE: A major bill that would weaken the state’s 2030 climate mandates is officially on the move in the House after seven House Democrats on the […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon CLIMATE: House members of a key legislative committee are forging ahead with a controversial bill that would defang the state’s 2030 emissions-reductions commitments. Jordan Wolman has […]

Note: We will be off tomorrow for Veterans Day but will be back in your inbox on Wednesday. New from CommonWealth Beacon HOLYOKE: There’s a tale of two middle schools in Holyoke. […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon CLIMATE DEBATE: The point person on energy policy in the House is planning to use Gov. Maura Healey’s pending energy affordability legislation as a vehicle to pull back on […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon BAR ADVOCATES: The state’s highest court has been drawn into a dispute over pay for private lawyers who represent indigent defendants, and justices signaled they’re torn […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon CORPORATE CHILL: Federal policy changes and high costs within Massachusetts continue to squeeze businesses, and the latest Associated Industries of Massachusetts survey finds Bay State employers have […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon CHARTER CHALLENGE: Mystic Valley Regional Charter School – a high-performing but controversial Malden school – is asking the state’s high court to declare charters exempt from […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon SNAP CALL: The oscillation around food aid to tens of millions of Americans is raising pressure on Beacon Hill over whether and how to fund the […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon FLOOD INSURANCE: Boston residents have collectively faced at least $785,000 in unnecessary flood insurance costs since 2021 because the city missed a self-imposed deadline for a […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon ENERGY:  Boston is entering the energy affordability battle with a new program it launched Wednesday to install thousands of heat pumps and building upgrades around the […]

New from CommonWealth Beacon NEW CODCAST: Massachusetts Health Connector Executive Director Audrey Morse Gasteier joins Paul Hattis and John McDonough on the Codcast to detail the uncertainty looming over the […]