The Saturday Send

The Saturday Send Welcome back to the Saturday Send, a weekly digest of stories from CommonWealth Beacon that you may have missed. This week, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu took the […]

The Saturday Send Welcome back to the Saturday Send, a weekly digest of stories from CommonWealth Beacon that you may have missed. This week, the city of Newton unveiled a […]

The Saturday Send Welcome back to the Saturday Send, a weekly digest of stories from CommonWealth Beacon that you may have missed. This week, Chris Lisinski takes readers inside the […]

The Saturday Send Welcome back to the Saturday Send, a weekly digest of stories from CommonWealth Beacon that you may have missed. This week, Gov. Healey waded into an escalating […]

The Saturday Send Welcome back to the Saturday Send, a weekly digest of stories from CommonWealth Beacon that you may have missed. This week, tensions are brewing in the communities […]

The Saturday Send Welcome back to the Saturday Send, a weekly digest of stories from CommonWealth Beacon that you may have missed. This week, Hallie Claflin profiles the longest-serving mayor […]

The Saturday Send Welcome back to the Saturday Send, a weekly digest of stories from CommonWealth Beacon that you may have missed. This week, Chris Lisinski reported on a late-term […]

The Saturday Send Welcome back to the Saturday Send, a weekly digest of stories from CommonWealth Beacon that you may have missed. This week, a Massachusetts initiative designed to save […]

The Saturday Send Welcome back to the Saturday Send, a weekly digest of stories from CommonWealth Beacon that you may have missed. This week, Jordan Wolman takes us to Massachusetts’s […]

The Saturday Send Welcome back to the Saturday Send, a weekly digest of stories from CommonWealth Beacon that you may have missed. This week, the Supreme Judicial Court released a […]

reporter Jennifer Smith explains the state’s legal limitations in addressing ICE actions and Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s lawsuit against nine towns for not adhering to the MBTA Communities law. Meanwhile, the Sierra Club calls for the removal of the House energy chair and cold weather throws cold water on Governor Maura Healey’s energy savings efforts.

Plus: the state’s budget significantly increases MassHealth spending, declining immigration threatens the Massachusetts economy, and Everett’s new mayor inherits a slate of major development projects.

Chris Lisinski looks at the national anti-marijuana group financing efforts to ban recreational use in Massachusetts and Jennifer Smith breaks down the state’s $250 million investment in health insurance subsidies. In Springfield, Hallie Claflin speaks with housing housing teams who are facing chaos as the Trump administration seeks to overhaul the federal government’s main homelessness program. Plus: the MBTA (again) faces financial shortfalls and Gov. Maura Healey makes her final State of the Commonwealth address before she’s up for reelection.

Jordan Wolman and Chris Lisinski investigate how Massachusetts became the slowest state in issuing initial unemployment payments in the country between June and October. Plus, Keolis seeks redemption in its bid for a new MBTA contract, the debate over real estate transfer fees polarizes lawmakers, and the Healey administration delays implementing a clean heat program over affordability while House leaders plan closed-door meetings to to discuss the path forward for legislation aimed at lowering energy costs.

Chris Lisinksi takes a look at Beacon Hill’s 2026 priorities — including the Senate’s proposed residential tax relief bill — and explains why campaign finance regulators sanctioned five-term lawmaker Rep. Chynah Tyler.

Plus: Beacon Hill fails to track which communities qualify for Gateway City status, inclusionary zoning faces legal and legislative challenges, and the state’s insurer of last resort weighs rate increases after a surge in enrollment.

Jennifer Smith delves into a bill permitting faith-based groups to construct multi-family housing and the ongoing legal battles over the MBTA Communities Act. Plus: Top Democrats’ raise concerns about tax cut proposals amid economic instability, the Senate chair of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee urges discussions on new transportation funding, and Jordan Wolman explains the Massachusetts FAIR Plan.