THE COVID-19 CRISIS has put a $600 million transportation funding package in the Massachusetts Legislature on pause. Plummeting fare and tax revenues have left lawmakers faced with a dilemma: the need […]
Use debt to build out transportation infrastructure
Posted inOpinion
During crisis, importance of science grows
THIS IS A TIME of reckoning for our nation. We are seeing the disastrous results of discounting public health experts, scientists, and the facts when we should have listened. The […]
Posted inEconomy
In hard-hit Chelsea, COVID-19 fight a collaborative effort
Fourth in a series on municipal leaders across Massachusetts and how they’re contending with the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are previous stories on Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer, […]
Posted inOpinion
Don’t let Big Gig game the system
IN ITS SWEEPING RESPONSE to the coronavirus pandemic, Congress threw a financial lifeline to millions of Americans and made so-called “gig economy” workers, like Uber drivers, eligible for unemployment assistance […]
Posted inHealth Care
Most COVID-19 deaths now at nursing homes
THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC in Massachusetts is fast becoming a nursing home epidemic. According to data released by the state on Saturday, 810 people died of COVID-19 at Massachusetts long-term care […]
Posted inOpinion
COVID-19 segregating our economy
IT’S NOW CLEAR that COVID-19 is disproportionately infecting and killing people of color across the country. Over the coming months, the economic dimension of this crisis will also disproportionately harm […]
Posted inOpinion
It’s time to help nursing homes
IT IS IMPORTANT for the Commonwealth to realize that our most vulnerable residents remain at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, without the necessary resources to stay protected. Though […]
Posted inEducation
Our school curriculum should include all
ON A FRIDAY at the end of my social studies class — before the coronavirus shutdown of schools — I received a note from a student. The note began, “Dear […]
Posted inHealth Care
Baker talks more about restarting economy
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Friday indicated he would probably abide by new guidance from the federal government suggesting no state should relax its social distancing measures until it goes through […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Lawsuit seeks release of sentenced prisoners during coronavirus
A NEW CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT filed in the state’s highest court by advocates aims to release sentenced and civilly committed prisoners to stem the spread of coronavirus in prisons. Prisoners’ […]
Posted inEconomy
Equifax will pay Massachusetts $18.2 million settlement
THE CREDIT REPORTING agency Equifax will pay $18.2 million to the state of Massachusetts under a settlement reached with Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey over its 2017 data breach. The […]
Posted inPolitics
SJC halves candidate signature requirements
THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT on Friday ordered the state to halve the signature requirements for all candidates running for office in the September 1, 2020, primary in light of the […]
Posted inEconomy
Boston Herald furloughs 30 employees
THE MAJORITY OF the Boston Herald’s workforce will be furloughed in the coming weeks, as steep cutbacks in advertising from coronavirus shutdowns continue to devastate already troubled newspapers across the […]
Posted inHealth Care
State ‘Crisis Standards’ for rationing care are not equitable
FACING A POTENTIALLY overwhelming wave of COVID-19 patients, Massachusetts recently released “Crisis Standards of Care” to help hospitals prioritize who will receive scarce medical supplies and services. Intended to provide an […]
Posted inPolitics
The vote must go on
ELECTED OFFICIALS MAY be mindful of the coronavirus pandemic, but the horse race always continues in an emergency, one way or the other. Stephanie Murray at Politico reported on newly-released campaign […]
Posted inThe Download
The vote must go on
Elected officials may be mindful of the coronavirus pandemic, but the horse race always continues in an emergency, one way or the other. Stephanie Murray at Politico reported on newly-released […]
Posted inUncategorized
Spilka, DeLeo slam crisis care standards
VOWING LEGISLATIVE ACTION, the heads of the Massachusetts House and Senate on Thursday night said they agree with lawmakers who do not believe that Baker administration guidance on COVID-19 crisis […]
Posted inOpinion
Heart-wrenching news at Belmont Manor
What follows is a message from Stewart Karger, administrator of Belmont Manor, to the families and loved ones of the residents of the nursing home. The rapid spread of the […]
Posted inOpinion
COVID-19 outbreak shows importance of unions
IF CRISES EXPOSE the underlying dynamics of a society, the coronavirus pandemic has starkly demonstrated the different options available to workers in unions and those who are not. Unionized nurses, […]
Posted inUncategorized
Judge upholds Baker decision on marijuana
SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE Kenneth Salinger ruled on Thursday that Gov. Charlie Baker’s decision to close recreational marijuana stores as non-essential was constitutional, and not subject to second-guessing by him. But […]
Posted inHealth Care
Surge still manageable for Dr. Lee
This is the sixth 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
Essential or non-essential, who decides?
DECIDING WHICH BUSINESSES are essential and which ones are nonessential during a pandemic can sometimes get tricky. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott on March 23 banned all medical procedures that are […]
Posted inThe Download
Essential or non-essential, who decides?
Deciding which businesses are essential and which ones are nonessential during a pandemic can sometimes get tricky. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott on March 23 banned all medical procedures that […]
Posted inUncategorized
MassLive staff faces furloughs, wage cuts
THE OWNER OF SPRINGFIELD-BASED MassLive notified employees on Wednesday that many of them will be furloughed and have their wages cut. Caroline Harrison, CEO of Advance Local Media LLC, which […]