GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Thursday shared two things he’s been watching at home when he’s not dealing with COVID-19. “I’ve tried for three years to try to get my three […]
Baker gets personal
Posted inOpinion
Dr. Lee says COVID-19 patient counts down
This is the eighth 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 inUncategorized
What makes a COVID-19 hotspot?
IT’S NO SECRET that the coronavirus is not evenly spread across Massachusetts. New statistics released Wednesday confirmed that Chelsea remains a hotspot of the virus, with the most cases per capita. Brockton […]
Posted inThe Download
What makes a COVID-19 hotspot?
It’s no secret that the coronavirus is not evenly spread across Massachusetts. New statistics released Wednesday confirmed that Chelsea remains a hotspot of the virus, with the most cases per capita. […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Mici: No need to release inmates due to COVID-19
THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION’S top prison official told a state judge on Wednesday that she is satisfied with the way the system is responding to COVID-19 cases and sees no need […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
Republicans allege power grab in rules debate
THE NORMALLY CONGENIAL dealings of the Massachusetts House of Representatives turned into a scene of vituperative charges and countercharges being hurled across the partisan divide on Wednesday as lawmakers struggled […]
Posted inUncategorized
Cannabis regulator Kay Doyle jumps to pharma
CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSIONER Kay Doyle is leaving the state oversight panel to take a job as US director of public policy for Greenwich Biosciences, the first company to manufacture an […]
Posted inHealth Care
Life on the coronavirus plateau
MASSACHUSETTS OFFICIALS are starting to plan for a “new normal,” but the coronavirus is acting as if it’s not going away. Statistics released on Wednesday indicate the surge is now […]
Posted inUncategorized
Clean Energy Center’s financial woes continue to mount
THE MASSACHUSETTS CLEAN ENERGY CENTER paid two outside law firms $2.3 million to defend it in a lawsuit the agency eventually lost and ultimately settled for $20.8 million. Both the […]
Posted inArts and Culture
We’ve got to have art
THE IMPACT OF arts and cultural programs on our lives is not easily quantifiable. Whether we are in a museum, concert hall, or any other venue, enjoying art together is […]
Posted inOpinion
Examining COVID-19 gender differences
THE STATE’S DASHBOARD of COVID-19 statistics indicates that deaths from the virus are split evenly between men and women, which is surprising given that in most other states and countries […]
Posted inEconomy
Reopening plans remain big question mark
WE DON’T REALLY KNOW how the state will move to reopen the economy, but we now know who will come up with the plan. Gov. Charlie Baker tapped Lt. Gov. Karyn […]
Posted inThe Download
Reopening plans remain big question mark
We don’t really know how the state will move to reopen the economy, but we now know who will come up with the plan. Gov. Charlie Baker tapped Lt. Gov. […]
Posted inOpinion
How do arts and culture come back?
SINCE GOV. CHARLIE BAKER’S first emergency order was issued and social distancing was implemented, many local news outlets have provided excellent and thorough coverage of the economic impacts of COVID-19 […]
Posted inPolitics
DeLeo drops proposed rule making roll calls more difficult
HOUSE SPEAKER ROBERT DELEO announced Tuesday evening that the new rules being considered by the chamber to allow for remote participation during the coronavirus pandemic will be altered to remove […]
Posted inEconomy
Developing a playbook for reopening
LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, Senate President Karen Spilka is trying to wrap her head around the idea of reopening the state’s comatose economy. In a speech delivered virtually to the Greater […]
Posted inUncategorized
Eviction bill negotiations hit some bumps
A RECENT BILL establishing a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures marked the Massachusetts Legislature’s first attempt to hammer out a tricky compromise bill using a conference committee during the coronavirus […]
Posted inEconomy
No relief: Baker extends shutdown until May 18
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER announced on Tuesday that he is extending until May 18 the state’s closure of non-essential businesses, his stay-at-home advisory and his ban on gatherings of more than […]
Posted inHealth Care
Are face mask fines the way to go?
FOUR WEEKS AGO we were debating whether face masks were necessary or not. Now we’re starting to fine people if they fail to wear masks in any public place, inside or outside. […]
Posted inThe Download
Are face mask fines the way to go?
Four weeks ago we were debating whether face masks were necessary or not. Now we’re starting to fine people if they fail to wear masks in any public place, inside or […]
Posted inTransportation
Poftak: Federal funds may not be enough
THE MBTA, after balancing this fiscal year’s budget with $217 million in federal coronavirus funds, expects to have $610 million left over to help balance next year’s budget. But General […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Prisoners testify about COVID-19 dangers
AS THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION begins ramping up COVID-19 testing at state prisons, prisoners from three facilities testified before a Superior Court judge about conditions at their institutions. The lawsuit, which […]
Posted inUncategorized
House plans votes by phone
A MONTH AND A HALF into the coronavirus pandemic, the Massachusetts House on Monday announced plans to resume formal legislative sessions this Thursday via remote voting. “What we do is […]
Posted inTransportation
T approves $212m hike in fare collection contract
THE MBTA OVERSIGHT BOARD on Monday unanimously approved a $212 million amendment to its contract with a pair of private vendors to develop, install, and manage a new fare collection […]