NEWS
CommonWealth Beacon cracks open the stories, personalities, and political machinations that impact residents across the state.
Explore sharp, thoughtful reporting that explores local dust-ups, statewide legislative trends, transformative court rulings, and policies that shape life in Massachusetts.
Backers of primary election overhaul say the proposal is ‘Massachusetts-grown.’ For years, its top donors funded similar efforts across the country.
Campaign finance records paint a more nuanced picture of who’s backing the measure, and color the Bay State as the next front in a national debate over systemic reforms intended to fix persistent electoral problems.
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.
Ballotmania: Inside the flurry of measures upending Massachusetts politics
The record-tying number of initiatives on the ballot next week put Beacon Hill on the defensive, and it’s resurfaced thorny questions about the powers and pitfalls of lawmaking by statewide vote.
Political Notebook: Question 8 surpasses Question 3 as most expensive ballot question
An early-October burst of spending by opponents of an attempt to eliminate the recreational marijuana industry has pushed the total amount spent on that measure (Question 8) to nearly $6.5 million. That’s a good chunk more than the $5.9 million spent for and against the all-party primary question so far.
Here’s why you should view polling results on ballot questions differently than polls on races between candidates
We’ve been conditioned for years to read polls based on who is ahead, but we should not apply the same “horse race” lens used in candidate races to ballot question polls.
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.
‘It’s a stressful life’: How energy debt is straining 800K Massachusetts utility customers
Massachusetts isn’t alone in the rising share of households facing energy insecurity around the country, yet the state, as wealthy as it is, sticks out given its high cost of living and increasing utility bills.
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.
No clear signs that Legislature will act swiftly on child sexual abuse amendment
Pollsters asked about the proposed law to eliminate the time limit for filing civil lawsuits related to child sexual abuse. Respondents overwhelmingly said they would strongly (60 percent) or somewhat (24 percent) support this change, and 79 percent said they would like their state legislators to vote for it.
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.
Mass. spent nearly $400K on an energy study. Three years after its completion, the state hasn’t released the results.
Even before Gov. Maura Healey entered the heart of campaign season — one that has been defined by skyrocketing energy costs and affordability issues — her administration has seemed sensitive to the price tag attached to the tens or hundreds of billions of dollars likely needed to support a sweeping green transition.
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.
SJC upholds Mass. law restricting firearms for people under 21
“Because restriction of firearm possession by those deemed too young to handle them safely outside of supervised settings is consistent with the nation’s regulatory tradition,” Wolohojian wrote, the majority upheld the lower court’s conviction.
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