IN 2017, amid growing concern that Congress and the Trump administration were moving to limit free access to contraceptives, the Massachusetts Legislature passed and Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law a bill guaranteeing access […]
2017 birth control provision fell through the cracks
Posted inOpinion
Biomass plant COO says science on his side
THE PALMER RENEWABLE Energy biomass plant in Springfield will generate 42 megawatts of firm, clean green power. We have stayed silent during the on-going debate about our project in the hope that the multiyear permitting process and seven years of unsuccessful litigation […]
Posted inPolitics
‘Original old boys club’ on its way out
DESPITE ITS NATIONAL REPUTATION as a white, sports-obsessed, year-round iced Dunkin’ swilling city, it has been two decades since Boston officially became a majority minority city. Women make up 52 […]
Posted inOpinion
Support black-owned cannabis shop in Harvard Square
WE WERE THRILLED to hear about the proposal for a black-owned cannabis dispensary in Harvard Square. The location is highly suitable and the venture will be a boon for the […]
Posted inOpinion
Let’s make school meals free for all kids
LIKE MANY PARENTS in Massachusetts, Rebecca Wood was getting by on a tight budget that left her struggling with school meal debt, among other costs, well before the pandemic hit. […]
Posted inOpinion
Math learning taking a hit during COVID
AS WE NEAR the one-year mark of the unprecedented disruption to our public education system wrought by the pandemic, we are grappling with what we have lost and what we […]
Posted inHealth Care
Contact tracing collaborative laying off 170
THE MASSACHUSETTS contact tracing collaborative is laying off 10 percent of its workforce this weekend as COVID-19 case counts continue a steady decline that prompted Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday […]
Posted inThe Download
PPP changes aim to help minority-owned and small businesses
The Biden administration this week has made a series of recent changes to the federal Paycheck Protection Program aimed at helping more businesses struggling to stay afloat one year after […]
Posted inEconomy
PPP changes aim to help minority-owned and small businesses
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION this week has made a series of changes to the federal Paycheck Protection Program aimed at helping more businesses struggling to stay afloat one year after the […]
Posted inHealth Care
Sudders: Mass vaccination sites short-term solution
HEALTH AND HUMAN Services Secretary Marylou Sudders pushed back against the view that the state is going all-in on mass vaccination sites on Thursday during testimony before the Legislature’s Committee […]
Posted inOpinion
Russell ‘Stringer’ Bell could move vaccines
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER has taken a lot of heat for the woeful performance of the state’s coronavirus vaccine distribution program. Given his claim to fame as an effective manager with […]
Posted inEconomy
Baker heralds approach of ‘next normal’
PLAY BALL! In the clearest sign yet of confidence that the state is getting a handle on the COVID pandemic, Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Thursday a broad set of […]
Posted inUncategorized
Baker: Mass. has received $71b in fed aid
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT has funneled $71 billion to Massachusetts and its residents through four COVID-19 relief programs over the last year, Gov. Charlie Baker said at a legislative oversight hearing […]
Posted inUncategorized
Lawmakers grill governor on website problems
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER was in the hot seat Thursday morning as the Legislature’s 17-member committee on COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management grilled him over the state’s rollout of vaccines. […]
Posted inThe Download
Commission backs use of campaign funds for childcare
Until she ran for Congress, Liuba Grechen Shirley of New York worked from home as a consultant while caring for her children. In order to campaign, she had to hire […]
Posted inPolitics
Commission backs use of campaign funds for childcare
UNTIL SHE RAN for Congress, Liuba Grechen Shirley of New York worked from home as a consultant while caring for her children. In order to campaign, she had to hire […]
Posted inTransportation
Boncore bill backs fare-free MBTA
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A THREE-STEP, 12-cent gas tax increase, fare-free MBTA and regional transit authority buses, new surcharges on parking space rentals and purchases, higher ride-hailing fees and more […]
Posted inOpinion
Making pods work for everyone
AS MANY STUDENTS struggle to keep up with schoolwork virtually, Julia Rios welcomed praise that two kindergarteners she is working with in a new community learning pod are thriving. Their […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
House crushes transparency rules amendment
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE HOUSE LAWMAKERS spent over an hour locked in a tense debate Wednesday afternoon on an unsuccessful transparency amendment to the Legislature’s 2021-2022 joint rules before ultimately adopting […]
Posted inThe Download
Distancing debate key to school reopenings
WITH TUESDAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT by state officials that they want to see all elementary grade students back in classrooms five days a week by April, now comes the hard part of […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Former rep David Nangle pleads guilty to misusing campaign funds
FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE David Nangle pleaded guilty on Wednesday in federal court to using his campaign funds to pay for extensive personal expenses, then crafting schemes to cover up his spending. Nangle […]
Posted inEducation
The elephant in the classroom: 3 feet or 6 feet?
WITH TUESDAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT by state officials that they want to see all elementary grade students back in classrooms five days a week by April, now comes the hard part of […]
Posted inHealth Care
Hospitals to resume vaccinations Monday
HOSPITAL SYSTEMS are alerting their patients that they will resume COVID-19 vaccinations on Monday, less than three weeks after they were cut off by the Baker administration. Massachusetts General Brigham […]
Posted inOpinion
It’s time to bring transparency to the Legislature
IN 2016, when the Massachusetts Legislature updated the state’s public records laws, they chose to punt on the issue of how such laws should apply to themselves. Indeed, Massachusetts remains […]