AS WE FIXATE on the presidential election, ensuring that all votes are counted and yearning for a peaceful transition of power, we must avoid the smokescreen of national politics. Democracy […]
Mass. is a participatory democracy in name only
Posted inEconomy
The pandemic has created an employment ‘she-cession’
THE COVID PANDEMIC is impacting everyone and everything. From the elderly to front line workers to children displaced from school, populations around the world are facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. But […]
Posted inOpinion
3 ways to make Mass. elections fairer
IN THE RECENT general election, local proponents of ranked choice voting were earnest in their desire for electoral reform in Massachusetts. While I vehemently disagreed with their voting system, and […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
DOC ordering second round of universal COVID-19 testing for prisoners
THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION is instituting a second round of system-wide, universal COVID-19 testing following an outbreak of the virus at several of its 16 facilities. The agency has announced […]
Posted inHealth Care
Baker implores Mass. residents to ‘get serious’
SOUNDING MORE and more like a coach trying to rally his team against a superior opponent, Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday implored Massachusetts residents to take COVID-19 seriously. He said […]
Posted inUncategorized
Baker hits the way the House passed abortion measure
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Friday declined to say whether he supports or opposes the abortion access measure passed by the House on Thursday, but he indicated he did not like […]
Posted inThe Download
Should all life sentences be reviewed?
Two wrongfully convicted black men won big victories this week — one had a murder conviction vacated, and the second will get $3.1 million for serving 38 years behind bars […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Should all life sentences be reviewed?
TWO WRONGFULLY convicted black men won big victories this week — one had a murder conviction vacated, and the second will get $3.1 million for serving 38 years behind bars […]
Posted inGambling
Tribe chairman arrested for extortion related to Taunton casino
THE CHAIRMAN of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe and the owner of an architecture firm that the tribe contracted with to help build a casino in Taunton have been arrested on […]
Posted inUncategorized
Despite new metrics, high-risk COVID-19 communities double
THE NUMBER of communities at high risk for COVID-19 nearly doubled on Thursday even with a new set of metrics sharply raising the threshold for attaining that designation. The new […]
Posted inPolitics
Bickford reelected to lead Mass. Democratic Party
GUS BICKFORD was overwhelmingly reelected to a second term as chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party in a Thursday night vote of the Democratic State Committee. Despite a scandal related […]
Posted inUncategorized
House passes abortion access budget amendment
A LAME DUCK House passed a budget amendment Thursday night that would allow women as young as 16 to obtain abortions without parental or judicial approval and would also expand […]
Posted inPolitics
Mass GOP jumps on unfounded election ‘fraud’ bandwagon
“DEAD PEOPLE voted!” “In Wisconsin, a ‘glitch’ added over 100,000 votes to Biden’s tally in the dead of the night, and ZERO to any other candidate.” Tweets from President Trump? […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Walsh moves forward with police reform initiatives
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh on Thursday followed through on an earlier promise and signed a pair of executive orders and filed an ordinance with the City Council to create an […]
Posted inUncategorized
Senate spending plan hews close to House version
THE SENATE WAYS and Means Committee on Thursday released its own nearly $46 billion budget proposal for fiscal 2021, a 5.5 percent spending increase over the current year, which is […]
Posted inOpinion
With COVID surging again, Dr. Lee returns
This is the 13th conversation between Dr. Jarone Lee, a frontline critical care and emergency physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, and Dr. Paul […]
Posted inThe Download
House budget addresses COVID-related education dilemmas
The coronavirus pandemic created – and exposed – multiple problems with the state’s education system, from preschool through high school. Now, lawmakers appear poised to use the must-pass vehicle of […]
Posted inEducation
House budget addresses COVID-related education dilemmas
THE CORONAVIRUS pandemic created – and exposed – multiple problems with the state’s education system, from preschool through high school. Now, lawmakers appear poised to use the must-pass vehicle of […]
Posted inOpinion
How about a civics project instead of another MCAS test?
READERS MAY NOT BE AWARE that a number of landmark advancements occurred in late 2018 that vastly improved social studies education in Massachusetts public schools. The proposal we put forth […]
Posted inTransportation
Eliminating MBTA ferries called ‘terrible idea’
MICHELE O’LEARY says the MBTA’s proposal to eliminate ferry service to deal with a COVID-inducted budget shortfall would turn her life upside down. Currently, O’Leary takes the ferry from Hull […]
Posted inEconomy
Boston threatening to evict Faneuil Hall Market landlord
BOSTON OFFICIALS are threatening to evict the company that leases Faneuil Hall Marketplace for failing to make a $2.1 million payment to the city – a hardball move that comes […]
Posted inThe Download
Baker really is a RINO
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER’S status was sealed last night: He is now an officially certified leading figure among the ever-shrinking ranks of major elected Republicans who question the sanity of their […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker really is a RINO
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER’S status was sealed last night: He is now an officially certified leading figure among the ever-shrinking ranks of major elected Republican officials who question the sanity of […]
Posted inOpinion
Warning: Debt collection tsunami coming
THERE’S A SECOND COVID-related wave about to hit families in the Commonwealth: a tsunami of debt collection activity that threatens our economic recovery. Even before the COVID-19 crisis, 20 percent […]