THE SATURDAY SEND
Catch up with The Saturday Send email newsletter, a weekly digest of stories from CommonWealth Beacon that you may have missed during the week.
Utility bills drive Beacon Hill climate politics and four more stories
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 does a deep dive into how the rising cost of energy could temper the…
Mass. vs. ICE
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…
Dark money aims to kill the recreational buzz and four more stories
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…
How Massachusetts hit a new low and four more stories
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…
Great (legislative) expectations and five more stories
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…
God’s backyard plus four more stories
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…
Proposed gas bill hikes plus four more stories
A utility company asks for permission to dramatically raise gas rates, and the MBTA’s Phil Eng says he’s open to permanently remaining transportation secretary. Plus: a legislative task force recommends at least a doubling of the share of health care…