TWO OF BARACK OBAMA’S most notable speeches didn’t take place during his presidency, or even during his own campaigns. But both marked a crossroads. During the first — at the […]
Obama breaks his silence
Posted inHealth Care, State House News Service
Flu vaccinations required for all Mass. students
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE STUDENTS ACROSS all levels of schooling in Massachusetts will now be required to receive flu vaccines, a new mandate that state public health officials described as […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker-linked PAC targets Dem primary
A SUPER PAC with close ties to Republican Gov. Charlie Baker paid nearly $15,000 for a mailing supporting a political newcomer competing in the Democratic primary for a Governor’s Council […]
Posted inUncategorized
Chelsea edges Lynn for top COVID-19 infection rate
THE STATE’S OVERALL COVID-19 infection rate held fairly steady over the last week, but there was some fluctuation among individual communities. The number of communities considered high-risk for COVID-19, identified in […]
Posted inOpinion
Colleges need to think beyond this fall
IN THE MIDST of all the discussion among colleges and universities about whether to return to campus this fall, who can return, or how to return, I fear we risk […]
Posted inOpinion
TransitMatters: Train search should focus on basics
THE MBTA’S REQUEST for information to railcar manufacturers regarding electric multiple unit trains, often called EMUs, was a welcome sign of progress towards electrifying the commuter rail system and converting […]
Posted inEducation
Unions say in-person learning plans not a done deal
THE SHARON SCHOOL COMMITTEE voted to start the year with a hybrid model of education, where students will return to school in person two days a week. Sharon teachers, however, […]
Posted inThe Download
The content of their character
Michelle Obama’s blistering takedown of Donald Trump during the opening night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday was noteworthy because she largely steered clear of the president’s policy record […]
Posted inPolitics
The content of their character
MICHELLE OBAMA’S BLISTERING takedown of Donald Trump during the opening night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday was noteworthy because she largely steered clear of the president’s policy record […]
Posted inPolitics
Markey, Kennedy in low brow debate
SEN. ED MARKEY and US Rep. Joe Kennedy III engaged in a lackluster, low-brow televised debate Tuesday night that showcased how little the two politicians have to say. That became […]
Posted inEconomy
Baker applying for Trump unemployment funds
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER doesn’t like the way President Trump’s $400 enhanced unemployment insurance benefit is funded, but he’s getting in line for the money with nothing else coming along from […]
Posted inEducation
70% of school districts adopt some in-person learning
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS of the Massachusetts school districts that have so far reported their reopening plans to the state envision some sort of in-classroom education, while the […]
Posted inTransportation
Theoharides softens stance on Charles River a bit
THE STATE SECRETARY of energy and environmental affairs on Tuesday appeared to soften her stance a bit on incursions into the Charles River in connection with a massive Allston project […]
Posted inEducation
No one-size-fits-all plan for Mass. school districts
ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH, school districts are beginning to announce their plans for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. Some communities are choosing not to reopen school buildings, opting instead […]
Posted inUncategorized
Mass. pursuing lawsuit over post office cuts
MASSACHUSETTS IS JOINING a multistate coalition filing a federal lawsuit requiring President Trump’s administration to adequately fund the US Postal Service and ensure it can deliver election-related mail. Secretary of the […]
Posted inPolitics
In Allston-Brighton rep race, a progressive showdown
IF A WINNING campaign starts with a candidate who seems well-matched for the district, Jordan Meehan looks primed for success. The young gay lawyer is pushing a decidedly progressive platform […]
Posted inThe Download
Getting to yes on the throat
The push is on – again – for a unifying plan to reconstruct all of the transportation infrastructure packed into a narrow stretch of land between Boston University and the […]
Posted inTransportation
Getting to yes on the throat
The push is on – again – for a unifying plan to reconstruct all of the transportation infrastructure packed into a narrow stretch of land between Boston University and the […]
Posted inEconomy
Almost half of Massachusetts businesses helped by federal aid
NEARLY HALF OF the state’s businesses and nonprofits received aid from a key federal loan program meant to keep people employed amid the coronavirus downturn, according to a new analysis by the […]
Posted inPolitics
Neal, Morse debate highlights major differences
US REP. RICHARD NEAL and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse engaged in a spirted debate Monday night that highlighted for voters big differences between the two Democratic candidates for Congress. Morse […]
Posted inOpinion
BU more interested in money than students
IN EARLY MARCH of this year, our cohort of Boston University journalism students was on spring break just as the COVID-19 outbreak suddenly became very real. We were halfway through […]
Posted inGambling
Casino revenues, amid constraints, do fairly well in July
THE STATE’S THREE CASINOS performed fairly well in July, bringing in 56 percent of the revenue they did in July 2019 despite operating far fewer games and slot machines for […]
Posted inHealth Care
Federal funds sought for Holyoke Soldiers’ Home renovations
THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION has hired a company to begin an “expedited” process to renovate the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. The exact timing of construction remains uncertain, but the administration’s goal is […]
Posted inEducation
Curtatone, Novick slam state guidance on reopening
For months, school districts were struggling to decide whether to reopen schools in person, with little guidance from the state as to what thresholds to use to make that decision. […]