CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM supporters have been pushing to draw attention to the role played by bail in the legal system. Whether this will end up being a case of “be […]
Michael Jonas
Michael Jonas works with Laura in overseeing CommonWealth Beacon coverage and editing the work of reporters. His own reporting has a particular focus on politics, education, and criminal justice reform.
Posted inPolitics
Markey trounces Kennedy in Senate primary
OUT OF TRAGEDY an enduring image was crafted that likened the Kennedy hold on the public imagination to the magic of a “brief shining moment.” For voters in Massachusetts at […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
For Methuen police chief, a rich story
IT SEEMS MORE like satire than reality, and that has Methuen leaders cringing. The Merrimack Valley city of 51,000 has become known as the place where “public sector employees are […]
Posted inPolitics
In 4th Congressional District, echo of another race for a Kennedy seat
IT’S A CROWDED Democratic primary field for a rare open congressional seat in Massachusetts, one being vacated by a son of the state’s most storied political family. While that fairly […]
Posted inPolitics
Angela Menino throws support behind Kennedy
GUSHING REVERENTIALLY ABOUT Boston’s longest serving mayor apparently only gets you so far. Eight days after Sen. Ed Markey said the vandalized statue of Christopher Columbus in a North End […]
Posted inPolitics
AOC gives Morse a homestretch boost
IN THE LATEST headline-grabber in a race that has had several in recent weeks, Alex Morse’s campaign to unseat Rep. Richard Neal in next week’s Democratic primary, the national leader of […]
Posted inPolitics
Cellucci’s daughter, grandson cut ad for Markey
ED MARKEY’S SENATE primary battle is getting a big boost from an army of young activists, some of whom are convincing their parents to join the youth-fueled “Markeyverse.” Now the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Rollins withdraws motion for higher bail in case involving Bail Fund
SUFFOLK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY Rachael Rollins said on Monday that her office is withdrawing a motion seeking a steep increase in bail for a homeless defendant whose original bail was […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker-linked PAC backs 13 Dems, 4 Republicans in primary battles
A SUPER PAC with ties to Republican Gov. Charlie Baker is pouring nearly $94,000 into 17 state primary races involving 13 Democrats and four Republicans. The Massachusetts Majority Political Action […]
Posted inPolitics
Markey’s remarkable reinvention
NEARLY EVERYONE AGREES that when Joe Kennedy launched his primary challenge nearly a year ago to Sen. Ed Markey, the son of the state’s most storied political family looked like […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
DA seeks bail increase after learning nonprofit fund would pay it
IN A MOVE that reform advocates call an alarming turn away from the effort to reduce the role of bail in the criminal justice system — a movement her own […]
Posted inPolitics
The content of their character
MICHELLE OBAMA’S BLISTERING takedown of Donald Trump during the opening night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday was noteworthy because she largely steered clear of the president’s policy record […]
Posted inPolitics
In Allston-Brighton rep race, a progressive showdown
IF A WINNING campaign starts with a candidate who seems well-matched for the district, Jordan Meehan looks primed for success. The young gay lawyer is pushing a decidedly progressive platform […]
Posted inPolitics
Progressive Chelsea challenger puts Boston state rep to the test
DAMALI VIDOT said she hadn’t given any thought to running for state representative until a day in late April when she was sitting home in Chelsea during the peak of […]
Posted inPolitics
House candidate exit puts spotlight on ranked-choice voting
THE CROWDED DEMOCRATIC primary field in the Fourth Congressional District got a little less crowded Thursday morning when one of the candidates, Dave Cavell, announced he was suspending his campaign. […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Bail fund now facing heat
CAN THE EFFORT to right the wrongs of the criminal justice system go too far? That’s the argument coming from liberal-leaning prosecutors after the arrest on new charges of a convicted […]
Posted inPolitics
Globe ed page editor grills House candidate the paper endorsed
THE INTERVIEW Boston Globe editorial page editor Bina Venkataraman conducted with Jake Auchincloss had all the feel of a standard quizzing of a candidate as a newspaper weighs an endorsement, as […]
Posted inPolitics
Mail-in ballots now central feature of election
IT’S NOW CLEAR that mailed ballots will assume a prominent role in the November presidential election. The only question is whether that role ends up being to helpfully expand access to […]
Posted inEducation
Boston city councilor urges BU, Northeastern not to bring students back
BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR Kenzie Bok, whose district includes both the Boston University and Northeastern University campuses, says the schools are enormous assets to the city, from research and arts to […]
Posted inPolitics
Pandemic scrambles the campaign playbook
JOHN WALSH, considered one of the maestros of Massachusetts campaign operations, admits he’s a bit befuddled. The man who helped Deval Patrick rocket from political unknown to two-term governor and […]
Posted inRace/Racism
Masking your political views
AT THE WASHINGTON POST, owned by bazillionaire Jeff Bezos, the slogan adopted shortly after President Trump took office proclaims, “Democracy dies in darkness.” At Whole Foods supermarkets, which Bezos also owns, […]
Posted inHealth Care
Baker concerned about feds ending CDC’s coronavirus data role
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said he was “very concerned” about a sudden shift in federal rules that requires all coronavirus data be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services […]
Posted inEducation
DeVos’s U-turn on local control of schools
IF THERE’S ONE thing her most fervent admirers and legion of detractors could probably agree on it is that Betsy DeVos is the picture of a doctrinaire conservative. The polarizing […]
Posted inRace/Racism
Michael Curry: Waging a duel-front war on the pandemic and racism
THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS have been dominated by two seismic issues convulsing the nation — the global coronavirus pandemic and a burgeoning movement for racial justice. For Michael Curry, that’s meant […]