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.
September 20, 2025
YIMBY angst and four more stories
This week, Jennifer Smith digs into how housing advocates are reckoning with the implementation of MBTA Communities law. Plus: health care lobbying continues to buoy Beacon Hill, Michael Jonas asks why we elect sheriffs, and Senate Democrats propose stricter data privacy laws.
September 13, 2025
Healey just keeps swimming and four more stories
This week, it’s all about polls. Gov. Healey keeps her head above water and Massachusetts residents sound off on health insurance. Plus: A Connecticut lawmaker points the finger at Western Mass. cities after sewage overflows and the Codcast sits down with Massport CEO Rich Davey.
September 6, 2025
Health care deserts and four more stories
This week, Jennifer Smith explores the gap between Massachusetts’s shining reputation as a great state for health care and the reality on the ground for residents who don’t live within reasonable distance of a medical facility. Plus: wastewater flows into the Charles River and Elyse Cherry, CEO of BlueHub Capital, joins the Codcast to talk about the recent court decision that BlueHub violated consumer protection statutes around lending.
August 30, 2025
Reverse mortgage case heads to court plus four more stories
This week, CommonWealth Beacon sits down with Bruce Stebbins to discuss his reappointment to the Cannabis Control Commission. Plus: The attorney general’s suit against a Boston-based financial technology company for allegedly predatory loan practices moves forward and Fitchburg opens affordable housing for artists.
August 23, 2025
Housing development in Lynn and four more stories.
This week, Hallie Claflin delves into the redevelopment of Lynn’s South Harbor, which some say doesn’t do enough to address the city’s affordable housing needs.
Plus: Federal solar tax credits that once covered 30 percent of project costs are being phased out. For farmers, that can mean fewer opportunities to use agrivoltaics to offset rising costs and keep farmland in production.
August 16, 2025
How tariffs are impacting housing developers and three more stories.
This week, Hallie Claflin delves into how real estate developers in Gateway Cities are grappling with the Trump administration’s tariff policies. Plus: As part of Massachusetts’ push to meet its climate targets, the state’s utilities regulator says new gas customers may soon need to pay the full hookup cost – no more spreading the expense to existing customers.
August 9, 2025
The crisis of child care deserts and four more stories.
This week, Jennifer Smith delves into the data on child care deserts, where for every three children there is only one child care slot.
Plus: Gateway Cities in Western Massachusetts struggle to restore blighted buildings, Josh Kraft looks to recharge his struggling mayoral campaign, our reporters break down Trump’s spending and tax bill, and a look back at a 2002 article on ballot initiatives.
August 2, 2025
Dirty beaches and four more stories
This week, Hallie Claflin dives into the ongoing challenges of a pilot program aimed at tackling pollution at a North Shore beach using UV light. Plus: advocates push for access to menstrual products in public spaces, Trump sends mixed messages on affordable housing, Boston struggles to find applicants for its green roofs grant program, and a look back at a Republican gubernatorial campaign from 11 years ago that may have lessons for today’s GOP hopefuls.
July 26, 2025
Red Line cars on hold plus four more stories
This week, Bruce Mohl investigates the detention of 8 Red Line cars by US Customs and potential delays to the MBTA’s long-running effort to replace its aging subway fleet. Plus: Gateway Cities brace for sweeping changes to MassHealth under the Trump administration’s tax bill, the Healey administration eyes Canadian offshore wind, Beacon Hill hears testimony on cannabis advertising, and Jennifer Smith examines whether “Opportunity Zones” have delivered on their promise.