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, […]
License bill heads to House floor on 14-3 vote
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 […]
Posted inTransportation
Let the MBTA plan its own future
LAST JUNE, at its last meeting, a bold vision for the future MBTA was laid out by the MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB). The plan entitled “FMCB Productivity […]
Posted inTransportation
What passengers on the fare-free 28 bus have to say
BOSTON UNIVERSITY STATEHOUSE PROGRAM PASSENGERS ON the MBTA’s Route 28 bus say they enjoy the opportunity to ride for free under a pilot program greenlighted for two more years this […]
Posted inThe Download
What’s that new Red Line car saying?
On Tuesday morning, I boarded one of the new Red Line trains at Broadway and was still checking out all of its features when the car pulled into South Station. […]
Posted inHealth Care
Senate misfires with prescription drug bill
ON THURSDAY, the Massachusetts Senate passed another ill-considered piece of legislation, Senate Bill 2651, that would impose price controls on one of Massachusetts most important economic sectors, biopharmaceuticals. The bill […]
Posted inTransportation
What’s that new Red Line car saying?
ON TUESDAY MORNING, I boarded one of the new Red Line trains at Broadway and was still checking out all of its features when the car pulled into South Station. […]
Posted inOpinion
Biden’s PLA order is way off the mark
A FEW DAYS AGO, President Biden signed an executive order requiring that all federal construction projects over $35 million be conducted under a project labor agreement, or PLA. The executive […]
Posted inTransportation
Mariano pushing driver’s license bill
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE HOUSE SPEAKER Ron Mariano intends next week to bring to the floor of the House a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, […]
Posted inUncategorized
Labor appeals board upholds Baker’s vaccine mandate
A STATE APPEALS board has ruled that Gov. Charlie Baker’s vaccine mandate for executive branch workers is legal, ending the final avenue of appeals for a challenge by the state police […]
Posted inTransportation
MBTA fare revenue trending higher than expected
MBTA FARE revenue so far this fiscal year is trending above the pessimistic forecast used to create the transit authority’s budget, but officials say the numbers remain highly variable. In […]
Posted inTransportation
MBTA seeks to charge $3 for ‘new’ Charlie Cards
THE MBTA is seeking approval from its oversight board to charge riders $3 for newly designed Charlie Cards as part of the rollout of a new fare collection system. The […]
Posted inThe Download
Beacon Hill divided on soldiers’ home governance
The devastating toll COVID-19 took on the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home made headlines, and was even discussed at a congressional hearing. But attempts at reforming the home are coming down to […]
Posted inHealth Care
Beacon Hill divided on soldiers’ home governance
THE DEVASTATING toll COVID-19 took on the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home made headlines, and was even discussed at a congressional hearing. But attempts at reforming the home are coming down to […]
Posted inOpinion
PLAs get a big lift from Biden
PRESIDENT BIDEN’S recent executive order #14063 on the use of project labor agreements for federal construction projects is a major step toward fulfilling the pledge to build America back better. It’s […]
Posted inHealth Care
Health Policy Commission mulls ‘bad scenario’
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE WITH THE DEADLINE looming for Mass General Brigham to file a plan to rein in its costs, a member of the Health Policy Commission raised concerns […]
Posted inHealth Care
COVID: Are we ready to learn to live with it?
THREE OF THE STATE’S leading health care executives said on Wednesday that COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations are trending in a very positive downward direction, but they were divided on when […]
Posted inTransportation
Wu says 3-bus, fare free pilot to start next month
BOSTON MAYOR Michelle Wu said the number of fare free buses operating in Boston will be expanded from one to three next month as part of a two-year, $8 million […]
Posted inEducation
Massachusetts will lift school mask mandate Feb. 28
MASSACHUSETTS WILL LIFT its mask mandate for schools on February 28, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday. “Given the extremely low risk to young people, the widespread availability and proven effectiveness […]
Posted inThe Download
Galvin looks to grab the reformer label
A DINOSAUR THROWBACK from an earlier era, or reformer willing to challenge the status quo? Bill Galvin has always defied simple pigeonholing, and that trait is on full display as […]
Posted inPolitics
Galvin looks to grab the reformer label
A DINOSAUR THROWBACK from an earlier era, or reformer willing to challenge the status quo? Bill Galvin has always defied simple pigeonholing, and that trait is on full display as […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Health Care
Pervasive mold plagues state hospital for mentally ill detainees
PERVASIVE MOLD AND the potential for exposure to asbestos are endangering the health of individuals confined at Bridgewater State Hospital, according to a new report, leading to renewed calls to […]
Posted inEducation
South Coast charter school proposal withdrawn
A GROUP PROPOSING to open a charter school serving New Bedford and Fall River with a focus on “early college” programs has withdrawn the application, citing “political complexities” that the […]
Posted inEnvironment
Baker administration unveils building code slide deck
BAKER ADMINISTRATION officials unveiled a slide deck on Tuesday that outlines in broad strokes how they intend to use updates to two existing state building codes and the development of […]