GOV. CHARLIE BAKER is urging restaurants, bars, retail establishments, and certain other types of small businesses in Massachusetts to apply for a $668 million grant program to help deal with […]
Baker, lawmakers tout $668m small biz grant program
Posted inThe Download
With police bill, compromise was the key
MAJOR POLICE REFORM is all but a done deal on Beacon Hill. The surest sign that the bill has been fully squeezed through the legislative wringer? No one is happy […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
With police bill, compromise was the key
MAJOR POLICE REFORM is all but a done deal on Beacon Hill. The surest sign that the bill has been fully squeezed through the legislative wringer? No one is happy […]
Posted inHealth Care
Lawmakers send police reform, abortion measures to governor
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE LEGISLATURE sent bills dealing with police reform and abortion back to Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday and began work on compromise health care legislation that […]
Posted inHealth Care
Baker tightens restrictions starting day after Christmas
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER issued an order that takes effect this Saturday further reducing the size of gatherings; lowering the number of people that can be admitted to restaurants, offices, and […]
Posted inThe Download
House members following DeLeo-Mariano script
One veteran House lawmaker said on Monday that Ron Mariano’s ascension as speaker has been one of the smoothest, most unified, most calm transitions he has ever witnessed. That’s because […]
Posted inPolitics
House members following DeLeo-Mariano script
ONE VETERAN House lawmaker said on Monday that Ron Mariano’s ascension as speaker has been one of the smoothest, most unified, most calm transitions he has ever witnessed. That’s because […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
A vote for Holmes would be a vote for democracy
TWO YEARS AGO, I wrote a piece in CommonWealth on how the Massachusetts House really works, an account of the “old boys’ network” and exactly how it stifles all bills and amendments that the House […]
Posted inPolitics
Senate approves Baker’s amendment, sends policing bill to House
THE MASSACHUSETTS Senate passed an amended version of police reform legislation on Monday that gives Gov. Charlie Baker most of the changes he sought on law enforcement training and the use […]
Posted inTransportation
Mass., Conn., RI, DC sign transportation climate pact
MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia signed on to a pact Monday to put a price on the carbon contained in vehicle fuels sold within their borders […]
Posted inThe Codcast
Restaurants — a COVID catastrophe
It’s a difficult situation — keeping a business open while balancing public health regulations to keep surging coronavirus cases at bay. CommonWealth Magazine · Restaurants — a COVID catastropheDoug Bacon, […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics
Senate committee faults Hodgson for not admitting Chang-Diaz
A SENATE LEGISLATIVE oversight committee says the Bristol County sheriff’s office violated state law and its own policies and procedures when it denied Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz access to an immigration […]
Posted inThe Download
Restaurants struggling to survive amid COVID
It’s a difficult situation — keeping a business open while balancing public health regulations to keep surging coronavirus cases at bay. Doug Bacon, owner of eight Boston restaurants through the […]
Posted inEconomy
Restaurants struggling to survive amid COVID
IT’S A DIFFICULT situation — keeping a business open while balancing public health regulations to keep surging coronavirus cases at bay. Doug Bacon, owner of eight Boston restaurants through the […]
Posted inOpinion
House progressives need to cry foul
MANY AMERICANS were distressed when President Trump, just weeks before the November election, nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the US Supreme Court. When the Senate confirmed Barrett barely a month […]
Posted inUncategorized
Sen. John Velis faces alcoholism one day at a time
IF JOHN VELIS has a drink, he can’t stop. Not at one drink, or two, or three. The end doesn’t come until he is blacking out, crazy drunk, the kind of drunk where […]
Posted inOpinion
Don’t make COVID even tougher on firefighters
FIREFIGHTERS CONTINUE to be on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic every single day. As full-time, career, union firefighters, we are regularly exposed to the coronavirus while responding to emergency […]
Posted inOpinion
Wait, we’re number 2?
LIKE THE FAMOUS Avis commercial says: when you’re number two, you gotta try harder! When it comes to energy efficiency policy, that is the unfamiliar position Massachusetts now finds itself […]
Posted inArts and Culture
Mass. Cultural Council picks new leader
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR of a Watertown theater will in February become the next director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, after a unanimous vote Friday by the […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
Baker files bill to ease UI costs for businesses
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESSES would face smaller increases in taxes they pay to fund the state unemployment system over the next two years, under a new bill Gov. […]
Posted inHealth Care
Baker still optimistic despite vaccine delay
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said he is frustrated the state will receive fewer initial doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 than initially anticipated, but doubted the delay would cause any major problems. […]
Posted inPolitics
DeLeo sets in motion Mariano handoff
HOUSE SPEAKER Robert DeLeo set in motion on Friday what could be a rapid transfer of power in the House, officially disclosing that he was preparing to meet with Northeastern […]
Posted inUncategorized
Hodgson also tangling with Chang-Diaz
BRISTOL COUNTY Sheriff Thomas Hodgson, already in a war of words with Attorney General Maura Healey, is now in a fight with a state senator. Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz of Jamaica […]
Posted inPolitics
Holmes says he will run for speaker
STATE REP. RUSSELL HOLMES, one of the most outspoken critics of the top-down centralization of power in the House of Representatives, said he will run for speaker, presuming rumors are […]