Last November, amid a national outbreak of vaping-related illnesses, Massachusetts became the first state in the country to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including mint and menthol […]
Is menthol cigarette ban still a smart move?
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
Is menthol cigarette ban still a smart move?
LAST NOVEMBER, amid a national outbreak of vaping-related illnesses, Massachusetts became the first state in the country to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including mint and menthol […]
Posted inEducation
Boston to consider awarding exam school seats by neighborhood
BOSTON SCHOOL LEADERS are proposing a dramatic shift in the admission policies for the city’s three exam schools for entry next fall, moving away from a test-based system to one […]
Posted inEducation
Don’t let the school year go to waste
EVEN BEFORE schools started reopening, some were already predicting this school year would be a loss, and that rampant inequities would only worsen. Yet, we take inspiration from school leaders […]
Posted inOpinion
N.E. gaming market is not saturated yet
A YEAR AGO I would have said the gaming market in New England was saturated, with a relatively fixed number of customers bouncing between casinos based on promotions or geographical […]
Posted inUncategorized
Fed chief: Stimulus package ‘sorely needed’
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S failure to approve another stimulus bill endangers economic recovery from the pandemic-inflicted recession, the head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston cautioned […]
Posted inThe Download
Pence-Harris debate more traditional
The most buzzed-about moment in Wednesday night’s vice presidential debate came when a fly perched on Vice President Mike Pence’s head for over two minutes, during which he was calling […]
Posted inPolitics
Pence-Harris debate more traditional
THE MOST BUZZED-ABOUT moment in Wednesday night’s vice presidential debate came when a fly perched on Vice President Mike Pence’s head for over two minutes, during which he was calling […]
Posted inUncategorized
Number of high-risk communities doubles
THE NUMBER of Massachusetts communities considered high-risk for COVID-19 nearly doubled over the last week and the state as a whole moved much closer to the high-risk designation. The state’s […]
Posted inUncategorized
ICE calls stop of black Boston resident ‘standard practice’
FEDERAL IMMIGRATION officials say they were searching for a deported Haitian man with multiple criminal convictions when they stopped and questioned a black jogger in West Roxbury on Tuesday, calling the […]
Posted inEconomy
Lobbying begins on what to do next on budget
AS BEACON HILL on Wednesday began trying to find consensus on the budget challenges facing the state, key interest groups began jockeying on how best to respond. The Fund Our Future campaign, which successfully pressured Beacon Hill […]
Posted inEconomy
Economists offer dire projections for state revenues
STATE TAX REVENUES are likely to tank by between $1.2 and $3.6 billion this year compared to last year, amid significant uncertainty generated by the COVID-19 pandemic and by federal inaction, […]
Posted inUncategorized
Higher immigration fees put on hold
FOR THOUSANDS of Massachusetts immigrants worried about paying higher fees for immigration and citizenship applications, the significant increases have been held at bay —at least temporarily. A federal judge in […]
Posted inOpinion
Legislature punted on emergency powers issue in 2009
“DON’T YOU HAVE to admit that Governor Baker has done a pretty darn good job here, especially when you compare him to the other states?” That was a question Supreme […]
Posted inEducation
Boston delays return to school classrooms
BOSTON MAYOR MARTY WALSH said there will be a delay in a return to in-person learning for most Boston Public School students. The decision comes after the city’s COVID-19 positivity […]
Posted inThe Download
Biden the clear choice (say newspaper editorials)
THE VERDICT IS in: Joe Biden is the clear choice for president. So, at least, say the editorial pages today of the New York Times and Boston Globe. Add […]
Posted inPolitics
Biden the clear choice (say newspaper editorials)
THE VERDICT IS in: Joe Biden is the clear choice for president. So, at least, say the editorial pages today of the New York Times and Boston Globe. Add in […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
Judges urged to delay eviction hearings until Jan. 1
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE MASSACHUSETTS JUDICIARY should intervene to prevent a potential surge of tens of thousands of housing removals that could hit when the state’s temporary ban on […]
Posted inTransportation
Pollack accepts upgraded at-grade throat proposal
STATE TRANSPORTATION Secretary Stephanie Pollack embraced a new all at-grade proposal for the so-called throat section of the I-90 Allston interchange that locates a bike and pedestrian path and a […]
Posted inArts and Culture
Baker not calling a halt to Halloween
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said on Tuesday that he won’t try to stop Halloween from happening, saying it is much safer for people to engage in outdoor trick-or-treating than it is […]
Posted inHealth Care
Colleges facing ‘astronomical’ COVID costs
MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGES AND universities are so far doing relatively well in opening their doors while keeping COVID-19 cases contained – but top education officials warn that their ability to successfully […]
Posted inThe Download
Mass. tax collections continue to roll along
DESPITE ALL THE gloom and doom among budget officials on Beacon Hill, Massachusetts tax collections continue to roll along surprisingly well. The state Department of Revenue said on Monday that […]
Posted inEconomy
Mass. tax collections continue to roll along
DESPITE ALL THE gloom and doom among budget officials on Beacon Hill, Massachusetts tax collections continue to roll along surprisingly well. The state Department of Revenue said on Monday that […]
Posted inPolitics
O’Connor tries to pull off high wire act
KEVIN O’CONNOR tried to pull off a highwire act during Monday’s night’s debate against Sen. Ed Markey, portraying himself as both a Gov. Charlie Baker and a President Trump Republican. […]