The ways of Beacon Hill can be mysterious to those on the outside, with the public often left in the dark on all the factors that shaped a particular bill […]
New center aims to shed light — through data — on state policy
Posted inEducation
UMass’s Collins lists $67,743 in expenses for one year
THE CHANCELLOR of the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester racked up $67,743 in expenses over the course of a year, much of it for air travel for himself […]
Posted inEducation
Making college more affordable sounds good…
AMERICA’S HIGHER EDUCATION system is mired in crisis. Colleges are increasingly unaffordable for lower- and middle-class students, and student debt is now at record levels. As Massachusetts prepares to vote […]
Posted inOpinion
A chance for a real Green New Deal
THE GREEN NEW DEAL espoused by politicians sounds great as an abstract concept, but the Neponset Cooperative Trust has come up with a proposal for Boston that translates that high-mindedness […]
Posted inUncategorized
Regional ICE director tamps down talk of big SWAT operation
THE HEAD OF BOSTON’S local immigration enforcement office said there will be no SWAT-like agents deployed to Massachusetts, despite recent news reports.  In a wide-ranging interview about immigration enforcement in the Bay State, Todd Lyons, the acting director of regional field office for […]
Posted inThe Download
Lelling plugs fed role on corruption probes
US Attorney Andrew Lelling stood on a podium at Moakley Courthouse on Tuesday announcing federal charges against Democratic State Rep. David Nangle for misusing campaign funds. But for a few […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Lelling plugs fed role on corruption probes
US ATTORNEYÂ Andrew Lelling stood on a podium at Moakley Courthouse on Tuesday announcing federal charges against Democratic State Rep. David Nangle for misusing campaign funds. But for a few minutes, […]
Posted inOpinion
Physicians critique National Grid official’s stance
A clarifiation has been made to this op-ed making clear that National Grid does not have an ownership stake in the Weymouth compressor station. More detail is at the end […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
16 Souza prisoners charged in attack on guards
WORCESTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY Joseph Early Jr. on Thursday charged 16 prisoners at the state’s maximum-security prison in connection with a violent January 10 attack on four correctional officers. According to video of the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
What you need to know about new hands-free driving law
IT’S TIME TO stop reading those emails while traffic is crawling on the Southeast Expressway. Massachusetts’s ban on handheld cellphone use while driving goes into effect Sunday. Gov. Charlie Baker […]
Posted inThe Download
Warren debate performance gives her a lift
The Democratic presidential candidates ganged up on debate newcomer Michael Bloomberg on Wednesday night, but none more so than Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who desperately needed a spark for her campaign. […]
Posted inPolitics
Warren gets a lift
THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIALÂ candidates ganged up on debate newcomer Michael Bloomberg on Wednesday night, but none more so than Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who desperately needed a spark for her campaign. After […]
Posted inUncategorized
DOC says prisoner suing agency assaulted officers
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION on Wednesday tried to turn the tables on a prisoner who alleged the agency violated his civil rights and assaulted him by accusing the inmate […]
Posted inPolitics
Nangle steps down from House posts
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE FACING A RAFT of federal charges connected to bank fraud and the improper use of campaign funds, Rep. David Nangle appears set to attempt to ride […]
Posted inPolitics
PAC tied to Baker jumps into GOP primaries
A SUPER PAC with ties to Gov. Charlie Baker is supporting two Republicans running against other Republicans in special legislative primaries on March 3. The Massachusetts Majority super PAC reported […]
Posted inEnvironment
Report: Utilities raised concerns on Mayflower
THE UTILITIES THAT SELECTED Mayflower Wind for the state’s second offshore wind procurement raised serious concerns at several stages of the process about the company’s ability to complete the project […]
Posted inGambling
Nangle arrest casts shadow on casino buy-in
WHEN MASSACHUSETTS ROLLEDÂ the dice in in 2011 and decided to join the casino bandwagon, it was certain that stories would eventually surface of lives ruined by the lure of legalized […]
Posted inThe Download
Nangle arrest casts shadow on casino buy-in
When the state rolled the dice in 2011 and decided to join the casino bandwagon, it was certain that stories would eventually surface of lives ruined by the lure of […]
Posted inEnvironment
Grid secures future power commitments at low price
THE OPERATOR of New England’s power grid reported on Tuesday that it secured enough electricity to meet the region’s needs three years from now at the lowest price in 14 […]
Posted inPolitics
Kennedy’s rationale for run remains fuzzy
IN THEIR FIRST DEBATE, Rep. Joe Kennedy III tried to provide a rationale for his challenge to incumbent Sen. Ed Markey by suggesting his youth and energy could help lead […]
Posted inEnvironment
Vineyard Wind facing lots of hurdles
A FEDERAL REGULATOR speaking at a conference in Boston on Tuesday posted a slide suggesting Vineyard Wind would be operational in 2023, but the company itself is not saying whether […]
Posted inGambling
DeLeo calls Nangle allegations ‘serious and troubling’
HOUSE SPEAKER Robert DeLeo said Tuesday that the allegations against Rep. David Nangle, a member of his Democratic leadership team, are “serious and troubling and, if true, represent a significant […]
Posted inThe Codcast
One year in, Rollins takes stock
Reflecting on her first year in office, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins says one of the things she’s been most surprised at is how surprised some are about her […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Lowell rep arrested for misusing $70,000 in campaign funds
STATE REP. DAVID NANGLE, a Lowell Democrat and member of the Legislature’s Ethics Committee, was arrested Tuesday and charged with using his campaign account to pay for more than $70,000 […]