The face-off between Josh Kraft and Michelle Wu has no precedent in modern Boston politics.
More than a year in the making, Josh Kraft launches mayoral bid
Posted inEnergy
National Grid pulls plug on a geothermal pilot program in Lowell
One of three geothermal pilot programs in Massachusetts to displace fossil fuels for heating and cooling has been quietly scrapped. National Grid has cited high costs for pulling the plug on its project in Lowell.
Posted inHealth Care
More work needed on affordability in health care, says insurance group leader
In a health care focused episode of the Codcast, an insurers’ perspective on the industry cost crisis.
Posted inOpinion
The dark side of AI: Climate chaos, pollution, and injustice
Unless we have a seat at the table to set regulations, the AI data center boom will hurt Black and brown frontline communities like mine in Roxbury first and worst.
Posted inThe Codcast
Legislating care and cost: the health insurers’ perspective
John McDonough of the T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute interview Lora Pellegrini, president of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, to discuss healthcare affordability, regulation, and legislative efforts in Massachusetts. They cover prescription drug pricing, hospital accountability, and the future of the Affordable Care Act, highlighting Massachusetts as a leader in healthcare reform.
Posted inCourts
SJC upholds conviction of officer who used evidence room cash to pay mortgage
Against the backdrop of police reportedly availing themselves of forfeited money, the state’s highest court held that criminal penalties were fairly applied in a West Springfield police department case.
Posted inOpinion
Trump’s reckless attack on birthright citizenship
We fought many battles like this during the first Trump administration, and we expect to fight many more still.
Posted inPolitics
Political Notebook: New nonprofit swings into action on unemployment insurance
How a problem is explained in a poll can sometimes contribute to the result.
Posted inTransportation
Suburban commuter rail stations need more housing density, new report says
“For Greater Boston, leveraging the vast, underdeveloped land around commuter rail stations represents a crucial opportunity to address housing shortages, reduce car dependency, and better utilize existing transit infrastructure,” the report said.
Posted inEducation
State graduation requirement a muddled mess
Massachusetts students no longer have to pass 10th grade MCAS tests in English, math, and science to graduate from high school. But determining exactly what they do need to do to secure a diploma is proving to be a high-stakes test of its own for state officials.
Posted inState Government
Mass. scrambles to understand, react to fed funding freeze
The Trump administration’s move to pause trillions of dollars in federal spending triggered an avalanche of uncertainty, panic and outrage, including a lawsuit from Attorney General Andrea Campbell and several of her counterparts.
Posted inOpinion
State is committed to authorizing ‘cannabis cafes’
Massachusetts was the first state to legalize cannabis retailers on the East Coast, and is poised to lead the way again in adopting regulations to allow for social consumption sites — or cannabis cafes.
Posted inHousing
Milton struggles to chart a path forward after MBTA Communities ruling
Noncompliant communities are grappling with next steps after the Supreme Judicial Court upheld the MBTA Communities Act and the state housing office issued new deadlines for previously uncooperative communities.
Posted inEducation
With DEI in the cross-hairs, higher ed cannot be reserved ‘for the smart and for the wealthy’
Several of Massachusetts’ diversity goals in higher education could face a headlong collision with President Donald Trump’s current anti-diversity and immigration actions.
Posted inOpinion
Why police officers should get sabbaticals
If we take seriously the idea of sabbaticals as a valuable break from the demands of daily work life and a time to recharge before returning, rejuvenated, to that routine, there may be no group for whom the restorative power of a well-planned sabbatical makes more sense that police officers.
Posted inPolitics
Political Notebook: The empty seat inside the State House press gallery
Is the Associated Press pulling back from coverage of the Massachusetts State House?