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.

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…

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…

Everett’s new chapter and four more stories

This week, Hallie Claflin sits down with Everett’s incoming mayor, Robert Van Campen, following his upset defeat of incumbent Carlo DeMaria. Plus: a state audit zeroes in on the 2023 closure of a Leominster maternity unit and Jennifer Smith breaks…

Rent control splits progressives and four more stories

Chris Lisinski and Jennifer Smith delve into politics of the divisive rent control ballot question splitting progressive supporters. Plus: the House presses pause on its contentious energy policy bill, 11 ballot campaigns move ahead, new documents reveal state agencies never followed…

House pivots on climate change and four more stories

After breaking the news that the House was considering a sweeping energy bill that would weaken the state’s 2030 climate goals, Jordan Wolman spent much of this week digging into the process and personalities behind this major policy change. Plus:…

Healey floats buyout program and four more stories

The Healey administration began buyout talks that could affect thousands of public sector employees while the state’s top court heard arguments about charter school compliance with public records laws. Plus: towns and cities run into state caps on solar energy,…

Maternity care deserts and four more stories

We’re taking a deeper dive into health care in Massachusetts, including maternity care deserts, the crisis of primary care, and how immigration policy is affecting health care workers. Plus: new polling shows Mass. residents primarily continue to receive in-person care…

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.