With the House preparing to take up transportation funding legislation this week, Rep. William Straus explains the rationale behind many of the bill’s provisions. Straus, the House chair of the […]
Straus lays out rationale for transpo revenues
Posted inPolitics
Virus concerns? Bring a pen to the polls
CONCERNS ABOUT the coronavirus are seeping into Super Tuesday preparations, as Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin suggested voters heading to the polls bring along their own pens to avoid […]
Posted inTransportation
Straus lays out rationale for transpo revenues
WITH THE HOUSE PREPARING to take up transportation funding legislation this week, Rep. William Straus explains the rationale behind many of the bill’s provisions. Straus, the House chair of the Legislature’s […]
Posted inThe Download
Straus lays out rationale for transpo revenues
With the House preparing to take up transportation funding legislation this week, Rep. William Straus explains the rationale behind many of the bill’s provisions. Straus, the House chair of the […]
Posted inPolitics
Beacon Hill’s secretive committee voting process
IT TOOK A couple days of calling, but the House Ways and Means Committee eventually disclosed how committee members voted last week on a major transportation bill containing hefty tax […]
Posted inOpinion
Cooperation key to addressing region’s transportation voids
CONGESTION IS A COMMON TOPIC of conversation these days in Eastern Massachusetts. Frustration with the transportation system is at a level rarely seen. Economic development officials are concerned that congestion […]
Posted inOpinion
Shining a light on dark money
“WE CANNOT GUARANTEE the sun will rise tomorrow, but we can guarantee our donors will never be disclosed.” So vowed Paul Craney, spokesperson and board member of the conservative Massachusetts […]
Posted inEconomy, Opinion
Markey has been there for TSA workers
DURING THE GOVERNMENT shutdown of December 2018, as politicians in Washington sparred over border security funding, TSA workers in Massachusetts went weeks without a paycheck. Our officers were unjustly treated […]
Posted inGambling
Sports betting bill in play on Beacon Hill
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Adults in Massachusetts would be able to bet on professional and Division I college sports in person and through web or mobile apps under legislation released […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Court: State not liable for assault at DYS facility
A STATE APPEALS COURT agreed to dismiss a case against the state’s Department of Youth Services for an assault that occurred at a now-shuttered facility for youth in state custody, […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Judge sides with inmates on attorney access
A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE issued a preliminary injunction against the state’s Department of Correction on Friday, ordering the agency to seek court approval for any actions limiting prisoner access to […]
Posted inOpinion
Higher ride-hailing fees bad idea
THOSE OF US who live in Massachusetts can all agree that transportation across the state has been a major problem in need of serious solutions for a long time. Unfortunately, […]
Posted inUncategorized
Report: ICE upping detainer requests in Mass.
FEDERAL OFFICIALS are issuing more warrants for wanted undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts, even as the number of warrants is declining nationally. The warrants, often called detainers, are requests for assistance […]
Posted inPolitics
In poll, Baker takes backseat to Trump
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER ISÂ increasingly a man without a party. Four years ago Donald Trump won the Republican presidential primary in Massachusetts with 49 percent of the vote. Now his support […]
Posted inThe Download
In poll, Baker takes backseat to Trump
Gov. Charlie Baker is increasingly a man without a party. Four years ago Donald Trump won the Republican presidential primary in Massachusetts with 49 percent of the vote. Now his […]
Posted inTransportation
Traffic camera debate derailed in Senate
A SPIRITED DEBATE about the use of automated traffic cameras was abruptly derailed in the state Senate Thursday evening after a Republican senator moved to table the bill. Under Senate […]
Posted inUncategorized
Senate tweaks disability bill to preserve records access
AFTER ADVOCATES FOR people with disabilities raised concerns about a proposal to broaden a public records exemption related to abuse investigations, which was included in a bill voted on Thursday […]
Posted inTransportation
Transportation notes: Whither the control board?
THE MBTA’S OVERSIGHT BOARD, scheduled to expire at the end of June, looks like it could turn into a political football on Beacon Hill. The House’s transportation funding legislation calls […]
Posted inPolitics
Independent ranks in Mass. keep growing
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE SINCE THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY election in Massachusetts, the state’s voter rolls have grown by almost 310,000 people, or more than 7 percent, and nearly all […]
Posted inTransportation
Baker pans tax, fee increases in House transportation bill
ONE DAY AFTER House leaders unveiled a $600 million transportation revenue bill, Gov. Charlie Baker poured cold water on the tax increases and fees the bill calls for to fund […]
Posted inHealth Care
Healey, 7 firms sign $1m mental health settlement
ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY announced a settlement on Thursday with five health insurers and two behavioral health firms, dismissing alleged violations of mental health parity laws in return for $1 […]
Posted inEconomy
Goodbye, Columbia Gas
LEONEL RONDON, THE 18-YEAR-OLD KILLEDÂ in the Merrimack Valley gas explosions, can never be brought back, but other customers of Columbia Gas say they will rest more safely with the news […]
Posted inThe Download
Goodbye, Columbia Gas
Leonel Rondon, the 18-year-old killed in the Merrimack Valley gas explosions, can never be brought back, but other customers of Columbia Gas say they will rest more safely with the […]
Posted inEducation
Supporters talk up early college programs
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE ANNA UREÑA-LUNA studies criminal justice at Salem State University. Zashari Sanchez, a high school student, just applied to a handful of colleges with hopes to work in […]