MBTA GENERAL Manager Steven Poftak said on Sunday that he believes the successful refresh of the Orange Line over the last 30 days could be a turning point for the […]
Bruce Mohl
Bruce Mohl oversees the production of content and edits reports, along with carrying out his own reporting with a particular focus on transportation, energy, and climate issues.
He previously worked at the Boston Globe, where he spent nearly 30 years in a wide variety of positions covering business and politics. He covered the Massachusetts State House and served as the Globe’s State House bureau chief in the late 1980s. He also reported for the Globe’s Spotlight Team, winning a Loeb award in 1992 for coverage of conflicts of interest in the state’s pension system. He served as the Globe’s political editor in 1994 and went on to cover consumer issues for the newspaper.
Bruce is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
Posted inImmigration, Politics
Why are migrants being flown to Martha’s Vineyard?
Why is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flying immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard? It appears to be mainly a move made for political gain. DeSantis appears to have flown two planeloads of […]
Posted inState Government
Baker presses forward with hefty tax cap refunds
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said on Friday that he intends in November to start mailing taxpayers tax cap checks equal to an estimated 13 percent of their 2021 personal income tax […]
Posted inTransportation
MBTA board eyeing possible new revenue streams
THE MBTA board, nervous about looming budget shortfalls, is starting to look at developing some new revenue streams. Betsy Taylor, the chair of the MBTA board who earlier this week […]
Posted inState Government
Auditor certification paves way for $2.9b in tax cap credits
MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS could soon be receiving tax refunds in the mail after state Auditor Suzanne Bump officially certified that the state’s tax cap law has been triggered and taxpayers are […]
Posted inTransportation
MBTA board chair indicates authority needs more funding
THE CHAIR of the MBTA board, apparently for the first time, indicated to lawmakers on Wednesday that the transit authority needs additional long-term funding to address safety and reliability issues. […]
Posted inTransportation
DPU trying to double size of its MBTA oversight staff
THE STATE DEPARTMENT of Public Utilities, which is coming under fire for its poor oversight of the MBTA’s safety practices, appears to be trying to double the size of its […]
Posted inPolitics
Wu, despite allegations, says she voted for Arroyo
BOSTON MAYOR Michelle Wu said on Tuesday that she voted for Ricardo Arroyo for Suffolk County district attorney after withdrawing her political endorsement of him when a woman stepped forward […]
Posted inPolitics
Auditor candidates have different views on privatization law
IN THE RACE for state auditor, the Democratic and Republican candidates have very different positions on a key responsibility of the office – giving approval for the privatization of public […]
Posted inEnergy
Provincetown hooked up to large electricity battery
ONE OF THE LARGEST electric batteries in the nation is starting to provide backup power for Provincetown and will soon do the same for Truro and part of Wellfleet. The […]
Posted inPolitics
Super PAC with ties to Baker backed 15 winners
THE NORMALLY tight-lipped super PAC with close ties to Gov. Charlie Baker is crowing about its performance in this week’s primary. The Massachusetts Majority PAC spent $171,432 supporting 12 Democrats […]
Posted inPolitics
Marblehead rep candidate scores victory against old-boy network
JENNY ARMINI narrowly edged Tristan Smith Tuesday night in the Democratic primary race for the House seat representing Marblehead, Swampscott, and part of Lynn – a victory that was all […]
Posted inPolitics
Diehl defeats Doughty – to take on Healey
GEOFF DIEHL cruised to an easy victory over Chris Doughty in the Republican gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, setting the stage for a final election battle with the Democratic nominee, Maura […]
Posted inTransportation
Poftak says T riders still riding but taking fewer trips
MBTA GENERAL MANAGER Steve Poftak said on Tuesday that nearly all of the transit authority’s riders are back riding the T, but traffic is off because they are not taking […]
Posted inEconomy, State Government
Big money and unfinished Beacon Hill business
THE LEGISLATURE PASSED a slew of bills at the end of the session, but there was still a lot of unfinished business, according to two Massachusetts policy analysts who compared […]
Posted inEnergy
5 New England states seek info on transmission issues
FIVE OF THE SIX New England states have launched an effort to better coordinate the process of bringing ashore electricity produced by offshore wind farms and feeding the power into […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Records call sexual assault claim against Arroyo ‘unfounded’
IN THE LATEST chapter in the bare-knuckle brawl that the Suffolk County district attorney’s race has become, Democratic challenger Ricardo Arroyo claimed newly released records cleared him of sexual assault, […]
Posted inTransportation
Lawmakers plan hearing on DPU oversight of MBTA
A SECOND LEGISLATIVE committee plans to hold oversight hearings related to the MBTA – this time concerning the role the Department of Public Utilities plays in overseeing safety issues at […]
Posted inPolitics
Super PAC with ties to Baker starts spending in primary
A SUPER PAC with ties to Gov. Charlie Baker filed reports on Tuesday and Wednesday reporting more than $160,000 in donations to 15 Democrats and Republicans, including Suffolk County District […]
Posted inTransportation
MBTA board approves $811m contract for 102 new Green Line supercars
THE MBTA board of directors on Wednesday approved an $811 million contract to purchase 102 new Green Line vehicles that are each capable of carrying as many passengers as the […]
Posted inTransportation
No calls for Poftak’s removal, even from Healey’s campaign
THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION on Wednesday raised serious concerns about the safety culture at the MBTA, but no one is calling for the dismissal of top leadership at the transit […]
Posted inTransportation
FTA safety analysis of T faults agency’s preoccupation with capital spending
THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION released a safety analysis of the MBTA on Wednesday that paints a picture of an overextended agency failing to balance the need for heavy capital investments […]
Posted inEnergy, Environment
Maine court revives Mass.-financed hydroelectric power line
THE MAINE SUPREME Judicial Court on Tuesday breathed new life into a Massachusetts-financed power line designed to carry hydroelectricity from Canada to Lewiston and from there into the New England […]
Posted inPolitics
Healey won’t release campaign questionnaires
DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL candidate Maura Healey’s campaign won’t release the questionnaires she has filled out seeking the endorsement of special interest groups. A spokeswoman for the campaign initially said the decision […]