ON FRIDAY NIGHT — a time often reserved for releasing bad or controversial news — the Department of Public Health quietly lifted the state’s ban on reusable bags in grocery stores and […]
State quietly restores plastic bag bans
Posted inThe Codcast
Michael Curry: Waging a duel-front war on the pandemic and racism
THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS have been dominated by two seismic issues convulsing the nation — the global coronavirus pandemic and a burgeoning movement for racial justice. For Michael Curry, that’s meant […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Senate must not back down on police reform bill
THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY and racial justice legislation being debated by the state Senate has been held up over several days by a few, with loud voices, who feel that […]
Posted inPolitics
Voting rights groups sue Galvin over mail-in voting
VOTING RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS are asking the Supreme Judicial Court to force Secretary of State William Galvin to send out applications for mail-in ballots this week – even though Galvin says […]
Posted inEducation
Healey, fellow AGs sue ICE over international student ban
MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY GENERAL Maura Healey on Monday joined more than a dozen other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to stop a new federal rule that threatens to bar […]
Posted inEducation
Parents take stock of the school year that was (or wasn’t)
SCHOOL’S OUT FOR the summer. Is school out forever? Parents hope not, describing very mixed experiences with the remote learning experience that began in March. The MassINC Polling Group recently […]
Posted inRace/Racism
Michael Curry: Waging a duel-front war on the pandemic and racism
THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS have been dominated by two seismic issues convulsing the nation — the global coronavirus pandemic and a burgeoning movement for racial justice. For Michael Curry, that’s meant […]
Posted inThe Download
Michael Curry: Waging a duel-front war on the pandemic and racism
The last several months have been dominated by two seismic issues convulsing the nation — the global coronavirus pandemic and a burgeoning movement for racial justice. For Michael Curry, that’s […]
Posted inEconomy
Faneuil Hall merchants demand more rent relief
MERCHANTS AT Faneuil Hall Marketplace, devastated by months with no income during the coronavirus shutdown and now seeing only a trickle of business return after their July 1 reopening, are […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Here’s how we can build better police departments
PROTEST MARCHES AND disturbing headlines on officer practices have cast a harsh spotlight on US police departments. As painful as recent events have been, this is also an opportunity for […]
Posted inTransportation
Senate to tackle transportation with borrowing, not taxes
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE SENATE WILL NOT take up a House-approved, half billion-dollar package of transportation tax and fee increases this lawmaking session, instead focusing attention on an omnibus […]
Posted inEconomy
Massachusetts Phase 3 reopening plan is hardly ‘Vigilant’
ON MONDAY, MASSACHUSETTS entered Phase 3 of its reopening plan, which Gov. Baker’s people have code-named “Vigilant.” It includes movie theaters, gyms, entertainment venues, casinos, and larger gatherings. This is […]
Posted inHealth Care
COVID database filled with holes despite law
PASSING A LAW is one thing. Implementing it is another. On June 7, Gov. Charlie Baker signed a law requiring the Department of Public Health to publish more transparent data about the […]
Posted inThe Download
COVID database filled with holes despite law
Passing a law is one thing. Implementing it is another. On June 7, Gov. Charlie Baker signed a law requiring the Department of Public Health to publish more transparent data about […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Senate deliberations on policing reform bill stall
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A FAR-REACHING proposal to enhance oversight of police officers and ban the use of certain types of force hit a bump on Thursday when Senate Republicans […]
Posted inUncategorized
Marijuana companies hid illegal pesticide use
THE STATE Cannabis Control Commission on Thursday unanimously approved hefty fines against two marijuana companies for illegally using pesticides on their products, then trying to hide it. Garden Remedies […]
Posted inEducation
Mass. teachers union has become a reckless voice
GORE VIDAL SAID “the four best words in the English language are ‘I told you so.’” Forecasting reckless leadership during a recession does not qualify for that distinction. But as […]
Posted inEducation
Trump threatens funding cuts if schools don’t reopen
IT SEEMED LIKE there were at least the beginnings of a path forward. The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released its initial coronavirus guidelines for how schools could reopen […]
Posted inThe Download
Trump threatens funding cuts if schools don’t reopen
It seemed like there were at least the beginnings of a path forward. The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released its initial coronavirus guidelines for how schools could […]
Posted inUncategorized
House wants more transparency in foster care system
A BILL THAT the Massachusetts House is set to vote on Thursday would bring more transparency to the state’s troubled foster care system – but would not bring in the […]
Posted inHealth Care
Baker targets 8 communities with COVID-19 testing
This story was updated Wednesday evening at 9:30 with information supplied by the Baker administration. GOV. CHARLIE BAKER is launching a “stop the spread” testing initiative on Friday in eight […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker has mastered art of biting his tongue
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER demonstrated his skill at biting his tongue on Wednesday. At a State House press conference, Baker found a way to disagree in a fairly agreeable way with […]
Posted inGuns
While Black Lives Matter rises, gang gunfire keeps claiming more lives
IT’S BECOME THE untenable backdrop to a national movement demanding a reckoning with systematic racism and centuries of sanctioned brutality against black Americans: While thousands have taken to the streets to […]
Posted inThe Download
While Black Lives Matter rises, gang gunfire keeps claiming more lives
It’s become the untenable backdrop to a national movement demanding a reckoning with systematic racism and centuries of sanctioned brutality against black Americans: While thousands have taken to the streets […]