AS WEALTH AND INCOME GAPS in Massachusetts widen, the role of its 15 community colleges becomes even more important. For many of the Commonwealth’s 136,000 community college students, attendance and […]
The case for Massachusetts community colleges
Posted inCriminal Justice
Governor’s Council commutes sentences of two men convicted of murderÂ
THE GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL on Wednesday voted unanimously to commute the sentences of two men convicted of first-degree murder, Thomas Koonce and William Allen, sealing the deal on the first commutations […]
Posted inUncategorized
Brayton Point finally lands offshore wind supplier
BRAYTON POINT in Somerset is finally getting a piece of the offshore wind industry it has been courting for years, but the industrial prize is apparently not big enough to […]
Posted inThe Download
What if Boston just scrapped its school committee altogether?
TO SAY THE Boston school system is in flux would be like suggesting the city’s drivers occasionally seem a tad aggressive on the roads. The district is about to say […]
Posted inEducation
What if Boston just scrapped its school committee altogether?
TO SAY THE Boston school system is in flux would be like suggesting the city’s drivers occasionally seem a tad aggressive on the roads. The district is about to say […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
State eases indoor face-mask guidance
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT of Public Health on Tuesday relaxed its face-covering advisory, publishing an updated version that no longer recommends vaccinated individuals mask up in all […]
Posted inEnvironment
Natural gas infrastructure a climate change sticking point
AS MASSACHUSETTS SEEKS to transition away from fossil fuels and achieve net zero emissions by 2050, what to do with the state’s existing natural gas infrastructure is becoming a major […]
Posted inEnvironment
State said to be on track on 2020 climate goal
THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION released a first-of-its-kind projection on Tuesday indicating the state is on track for now in meeting its climate change goals, but the governor’s top energy aide said […]
Posted inPolitics
Danielle Allen ends gubernatorial campaignÂ
DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE Danielle Allen announced Tuesday that she will end her campaign for governor. Â Allen, a Harvard professor, entered the race in June of 2021, but struggled to […]
Posted inUncategorized
Cost of welfare benefits skyrockets during pandemic
USE OF VARIOUS welfare assistance programs skyrocketed amid the pandemic, particularly as federal unemployment benefits dried up, according to new data provided by the Department of Transitional Assistance. The higher […]
Posted inThe Download
124 mental health clinics report 640 job vacancies
Last week, a survey by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation reported that Massachusetts residents are having trouble accessing mental health care when they need it. A new survey released […]
Posted inHealth Care
124 mental health clinics report 640 job vacancies
LAST WEEK, a survey by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation reported that Massachusetts residents are having trouble accessing mental health care when they need it. A new survey released […]
Posted inOpinion
Our shelter system in Mass. is falling short
FOR THE OVER 8,000 men and women who will experience homelessness in Massachusetts this year, another winter amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could be life threatening. For the organizations and […]
Posted inTransportation
Senator demands answers on Mattapan trolleys
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A MILTON SENATOR wants legislators to wield their oversight authority and examine delays in upgrades to the MBTA’s Mattapan Line. Sen. Walt Timilty has asked the […]
Posted inUncategorized
State House, closed nearly 2 years, to reopen next week
THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE, closed to the public since March 2020, is going to reopen next Tuesday. State House leaders said legislative business will see little change initially. Committee hearings […]
Posted inThe Codcast
Friedman, Senate push transparency in pharmaceutical drug costs
Massachusetts has taken lots of steps to rein in runaway spending on healthcare, but one area has largely avoided state regulation: prescription drugs. CommonWealth Magazine · Freidman, Senate push transparency […]
Posted inHealth Care
Friedman, Senate push transparency in pharmaceutical drug costs
MASSACHUSETTS HAS taken lots of steps to rein in runaway spending on healthcare, but one area has largely avoided state regulation: prescription drugs. “If we’re really going to have a […]
Posted inThe Download
Friedman, Senate push transparency in pharmaceutical drug costs
Massachusetts has taken lots of steps to rein in runaway spending on healthcare, but one area has largely avoided state regulation: prescription drugs. “If we’re really going to have a […]
Posted inOpinion
Why research universities like UMass matter
AS THE LAUNCHING pad for discoveries that have cured diseases, taken us to distant reaches of the universe, and brought sophisticated technological devices to our fingertips, research universities are responsible […]
Posted inPolitics
Meet Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne
One in series looking at newly elected mayors across Massachusetts. FORMER SOMERVILLE mayor Joe Curtatone was known statewide for his harsh criticism of Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, and his pithy soundbites […]
Posted inUncategorized
Baker vetoes ‘unrealistic’ deadlines in supp budget
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Saturday signed into law a $101 million supplemental budget bill that puts money toward increasing COVID-19 testing, buying masks, doing vaccine outreach, and recapitalizing a COVID-related […]
Posted inOpinion
SJC takes big step backward on racial justice
IN SEPTEMBER 2020, the Supreme Judicial Court released three landmark rulings which, taken together, placed the judiciary front and center in the fight for racial justice. Commonwealth v. Long lowered […]
Posted inTransportation
License bill heads to House floor on 14-3 vote
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT session, a legislative committee advanced legislation with 14 votes in favor that would allow undocumented immigrants to acquire driver’s licenses. This time, […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
Lawmakers urge pause on pursuing collections
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A PAIR OF TOP legislators on Friday urged the Baker administration to halt pursuing overpaid unemployment benefits for the next five-plus months, calling for more time […]