The Download: The introvert’s guide to being mayor
The introvert’s guide to being mayor
CommonWealth Beacon reporter Gintautas Dumcius interviews Boston Mayor Michelle Wu about her start in politics and being both an introvert and a politician, why she’s a Democrat, the super PACs crowding this year’s election, and her media diet.
Mass. must resist Congress’s proposed moratorium on state AI regulation
The vast majority of Americans are skeptical of AI and want it slowed down. This is the moment for Massachusetts to show its leadership.
Offshore wind is alive and well. Maybe we should just keep quiet about that.
Is it possible that the predictions of the death of offshore wind power – one of our single best tools in the fight against climate change – were greatly exaggerated?
Agreement reached on state budget
The Legislature plans to approve a final fiscal year 2026 state budget on Monday, the day before the new spending cycle starts, after House and Senate Democrats announced they reached an accord.
Superior Court tosses Milton taxpayer suit against MBTA Communities law
In a brisk nine-page ruling, the Superior Court judge concluded that the Milton lawsuit was very similar to a previous bundle of suits fighting the multi-family housing law and should be dismissed.
Flurry of lawsuits over Trump cuts hinges on nine words
A flurry of lawsuits is challenging the Trump administration’s “slash-and-burn” campaign, which axed hundreds of grant programs mid-stream. The White House is fundamentally misinterpreting a short phrase buried in recent regulation, the suits argue, to justify the sweeping cuts.
Healey’s energy affordability bill gets support, tough questions on Beacon Hill
At a hearing on Beacon Hill, Gov. Maura Healey’s energy affordability bill was met with praise from lawmakers, but Sen. Barrett and Rep. Turco raised questions about Mass Save and the overall affordability of the green energy transition.
MBTA sues union in effort to fire supervisor in misconduct case
The MBTA has sued a union representing inspectors who work for the public transit agency, arguing it should be able to fire a supervisor who it says engaged in sexual and racial harassment.
An argument for how to engage students and narrow achievement gaps: Let them debate
Many potential initiatives have been tried and have failed to close the achievement gap between lower-income students and students of color with their white and more well-off peers. That makes a proven, research-backed program like debate a rare thing in education.
MBTA commuter rail operator’s CEO heads back to France
The change at the top of Keolis Commuter Services comes as the contract, held by the company since July 2014, is set to expire June 2027.
In Washington, Campbell defends states’ efforts against Trump’s executive overreach
Andrea Campbell and three other blue state attorneys general took to Washington on Monday to describe their ongoing fight against Trump administration policies in court.
Why a quasi-independent state agency needed a quick $240 million
John McDonough, Paul Hattis, and Matt Veno of the Group Insurance Commission discuss the GIC’s last-minute $240 million infusion from state coffers to cover claims for the rest of the 2025 fiscal year.
The century-old flaw that let Question 1 go the ballot
The audit question amounts to an act of constitutional vandalism, an example of the mischief that can result from Article 48, and why this seems a good time to consider amending the initiative process.
MBTA Communities fight lingers in courts, on Beacon Hill
Some municipalities who claim the law asks too much of them are still looking to the courts and the Legislature for relief.