The Saturday Send
Unions: Buyout talks could affect 2,000+ state workers
By Chris Lisinski
Labor leaders say the Healey administration approached them to begin conversations about a buyout program that could reduce the state workforce by roughly 2,000 positions, the latest attempt at belt-tightening amid upheaval from the federal shutdown and funding cuts.
SJC considers whether charter schools must obey public records laws
By Jennifer Smith
The Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, in rebuffing at least 10 public records requests for information on various aspects of its operations, insists that it is not covered by the sweeping statute guaranteeing public access to the records of government entities.
Municipalities warn Beacon Hill they’ll need to slow down solar projects due to state limit
By Jordan Wolman
The issue threatens to undermine Gov. Maura Healey’s “all-of-the-above” energy strategy as she seeks to thread an increasingly tighter needle to drive down costs, grow power supply, and meet climate commitments as offshore wind stalls.
Competitive mayoral races abound, just not in Boston
By Michael Jonas
For the real bare-knuckle action in mayoral contests these days, you need to look outside the state’s capital city, where incumbents don’t just often face serious challenges, but lose with some regularity.
House energy chair signals effort to dial back 2030 climate commitments
By Jordan Wolman
Rep. Mark Cusack, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, said he is pushing for his redraft of Gov. Maura Healey’s energy affordability bill to receive a floor vote before lawmakers break for the year on November 19.
MORE HEADLINES
- Half of Holyoke’s middle school students started the year at a new school. The other half were ‘left behind.’
- Boston council urges city to join federal program offering flood insurance discounts
- After a Prop 2½ defeat last year, Melrose passes $13.5 million override
- Bar advocate work stoppage becomes an SJC separation-of-powers conundrum
- Survey: Mass. business confidence stuck in longest rut since pandemic
- Looming federal food aid cuts put state Democrats in the hot seat
A year of strained systems and trust after Carney closures
This week on The Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon reporters Jennifer Smith and Hallie Claflin talk about Claflin’s deep dive into the fallout from Steward Health Care’s bankruptcy. Two communities – the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester and the rural Nashoba Valley – lost their community health centers. Just over a year later, the local emergency health systems are strained and residents say they still feel confused about why the state allowed their centers to close while others were saved.
Published by MassINC