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.
Walsh back on ballot after judge faults process, despite fraud evidence
The commission plans to appeal the decision to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, according to a spokesperson for MassDems.
Healey signs $63.4 billion budget with no vetoes
With election season heating up, the governor did not make any vetoes to the package, according to a Healey spokesperson.
Ten communities in Massachusetts went ‘fossil fuel free.’ Then utilities spent $100M on natural gas infrastructure there.
As these municipalities are quickly finding out, moving off gas for new buildings doesn’t preclude the utilities from needing to spend tens of millions of dollars each year upgrading the existing gas system.
Housing, AI, and labor issues up for debate in House economic development package
Legislators have proposed 688 ways to change an economic development bill the House plans to pass Wednesday. Some amendments carry statewide implications as representatives look to squeeze as many of their priorities as possible into the late-session legislation.
The Mass. angle on US Supreme Court decisions
Massachusetts was actively engaged on many of the most important cases, with some of them running through the New England federal courts and Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office often wading in, typically with a coalition of blue state attorneys general.
Healey intervenes as Brigham nurses, home care workers prepare to strike
Healey held a meeting Monday afternoon with leaders from Mass General Brigham and the Massachusetts Nurses Association, though no bargaining committee members attended.
New error rate highlights risks for Massachusetts SNAP program
The Commonwealth’s error rate exceeded the national rate of 10.6 percent as well as the 6 percent threshold that Congress approved as part of a law intended to force states to be more vigilant about oversight.
With public health at stake, many Boston hospitals struggle to meet the city’s air pollution goals
“If the city wants to make real progress on climate goals, the building sector is where the biggest changes have to happen.”
Lawmakers send Healey $63.4 billion annual budget bill
The compromise features an increase of $2.37 billion or 3.9 percent over the budget Healey signed last July and roughly $54.3 million larger than the fiscal year 2027 budget she proposed in January.
Faced with crippling housing crisis, Beacon Hill nibbles at the edges
A rundown of recent actions, pending proposals, and actions at the Supreme Judicial Court influencing housing policy more aggressively than any single piece of legislation.
July is here, and that means it’s busy season again on Beacon Hill
An even-year July 31 is always a critical crossroads for the House and Senate, but rules changes this time around mean it will look different than it has for the past two decades. And as the House budget chief put it, “it can’t go worse” than last term.
Energy policy pressure points reflected in amendments
The Senate on Wednesday takes up a sweeping energy bill aimed at affordability, one that boosters say will save ratepayers more than $14 billion over a decade. But first, senators have more than 180 ideas to reshape it.
Massachusetts emerges as a national leader in child care access, but accessibility issues remain
Funding for the Mass. Department of Early Education and Care increased by 125 percent between 2020 and 2025, helping support providers and expand capacity.
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