Since the 2024 gun law’s passage, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said the county has managed to prosecute 17 people who were making and using ghost guns, as well as nine people who fired into homes while residents were inside.
State House News Service
Posted inGovernment
A former state lawmaker, Clark now ready to help set US House agenda
Top Democrats agree their agenda will focus on ways to lower costs including reversing Medicaid cuts and opposing tariffs proposed by President Donald Trump.
Posted inElection 2026
Galvin uncertain about beating voter turnout in 2022, 2018
There’s been “a dramatic increase” in early in-person voting, Galvin said at a State House press conference, while the mail-in voting rate is about the same as it was in 2022.
Posted inElection 2026
South Coast could be battleground in governor’s race
The governor’s stop in Fall River was her second event of the day in Bristol County, following an energy-focused stop at Attleboro’s senior center Wednesday morning.
Posted inElection 2026
Minogue highlights sheriffs’ concerns with PROTECT Act
Twelve sheriffs have asked Gov. Maura Healey to consider addressing what they’re calling “an unintended public safety consequence” of a law intended to guard against overzealous immigration law enforcement by ICE.
Posted inHealth Care
Regulators eye in-state path for out-of-state medical marijuana patients
Under a regulatory proposal introduced at an October 22 CCC meeting, individuals 18 and over – regardless of what state they live in – diagnosed with a “debilitating medical condition” by a certified health care provider in Massachusetts can register to purchase medical marijuana.
Posted inHealth Care
Nearly 70,000 residents to get medical debt erased next week
More than $38 million in debt relief will be distributed to 69,527 people in eastern Mass. through a partnership involving the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association.
Posted inState Government
Amidst affordability grind, Mass. House rejects gas tax holiday
House Democrats say that they are not confident consumers would see savings reflected at the pump while the state lost revenue that is dedicated for transportation.
Posted inEducation
Free community college helping to shore up state university enrollment
Community colleges, with their enrollment buoyed by tuition-free policies in recent years, “remain the largest source of new transfers at the state universities,” said Mario Delci, associate commissioner for research and planning.
Posted inElection 2026
Minogue says he’ll govern without a lieutenant governor after Oliver’s arrest
Ballots are already printed with Oliver’s name next to Minogue’s as a joint ticket, and over 200,000 voters have already cast their ballots through early voting.
Posted inElection 2026
Affordability and accountability dominate Healey-Minogue finale
Gov. Maura Healey and Republican challenger Mike Minogue clashed over rising energy costs, abortion rights, and accountability for misconduct in their second and final gubernatorial debate before Election Day.
Posted inHealth Care
Report: Work requirements could threaten progress against overdose deaths
Roughly 55 percent of Massachusetts adults who have opioid use disorder and are enrolled in MassHealth will need to satisfy new federal work requirements outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Posted inEducation
State grants schools $1.75M to teach healthy social media use
Schools can apply for funding and then use it for “age-appropriate” classroom instruction, materials, educator training and resources to help families support healthy social media use, according to the Healey administration.
Posted inEducation
School enrollment decline raises big education, economic questions
Massachusetts public schools are entering an era of fewer children and students, but the causes and consequences of that decline look markedly different depending on where a district is located.
Posted inTransportation
State, CSX agree to rail upgrades in the Berkshires
MassDOT has agreed to fund improvements and additions that would support permanent seasonal weekend Berkshire Flyer service and lay the groundwork for expanded passenger rail in Western Mass.
Posted inHealth Care
Health Connector expects another ‘unique’ sign-up period amid federal cuts
Nearly 350,000 Bay Staters are currently enrolled in individual Connector coverage. People will need to navigate double-digit premium hikes and some discontinued plans, particularly among Tufts Direct and Fallon Health enrollees.
Posted inHealth Care
Gov. Healey steps in again as Brigham nurses near an indefinite strike
Nurses authorized an indefinite strike last week, and the Massachusetts Nurses Association said it submitted the required 10-day notice for an “unfair labor practice” strike to Mass General Brigham.
Posted inBallot Questions
Baker joins Patrick in bipartisan all-party primary support
The Massachusetts Democratic Party and the Massachusetts Republican Party both oppose Question 3, which has drawn support from former Republican Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey and former MassGOP Chair Jennifer Nassour as well as Democrat Auditor Diana DiZoglio, former State Treasurer and MassDems Chair Steve Grossman and former US Rep. Joe Kennedy III, a Democrat.
Posted inHealth Care
Brigham and Women’s nurses set October 14 strike date
The nurses overwhelmingly authorized an indefinite strike last week, after their five-day work stoppage in July failed to break the contract negotiation stalemate.
Posted inElection 2026
Healey touts Wu endorsement to start October push
The governor and mayor, both Democrats and each the first woman elected to the chief executive positions in the state and city, are not known to have a close political connection.
Posted inPolitics
AG report details decades of abuse at Fall River, Springfield, Worcester dioceses
The attorney general called for the Legislature to strengthen remedies for survivors of childhood sexual abuse and revealed that she is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.
Posted inElection 2026
Dionne would use ‘bully pulpit’ to press for more local aid
Elizabeth Dionne appeared on GBH Radio on Tuesday and detailed how she sees the state Treasury addressing “affordability via local aid.”
Posted inState Government
Healey visits South Coast fire station she’s trying to save
Fire Station 9, which covers a portion of the city’s North End neighborhood, had been billed for closure this fall as part of a round of city layoffs and program cuts intended to resolve what Mayor Jon Mitchell has said is a $32 million budget deficit for the city.
Posted inTransportation
Green Line upgrades needed to pave way for new trains
Shutdowns of complete sections of train lines have become the norm in recent years, as the MBTA officials looks to speed up repairs.
