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 […]
Contact tracing collaborative laying off 170
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 […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
Could in-person sports viewing be coming?
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE FANS WILL GET to watch the Boston Bruins play in person for the first time since pre-pandemic days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, but it’s unlikely […]
Posted inUncategorized
On joint rules, House takes different approach than Senate
THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE will vote Wednesday on joint rules that take a small step toward increased transparency regarding committee votes but do not go as far as the Senate does, […]
Posted inUncategorized
New pandemic take on undocumented immigrant licenses
SUPPORTERS OF LEGISLATION authorizing the issuance of driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants this year decided to reframe the message, which comes amid a national pandemic. They say the licenses are […]
Posted inEducation
State looking to force school reopenings
TAKING DIRECT AIM at Massachusetts school districts and teachers unions that have been reluctant to return to in-person instruction, state education commissioner Jeff Riley said he wants to use state […]
Posted inThe Download
With ‘cliff’ looming, T stalls for time
MBTA officials are planning to put off the release of a new, five-year capital plan until June 2022, a move that reflects the financial uncertainty caused by the coronavirus and […]
Posted inTransportation
With ‘cliff’ looming, T stalls for time
MBTA OFFICIALS are planning to put off the release of a new, five-year capital plan until June 2022, a move that reflects the financial uncertainty caused by the coronavirus and […]