Massachusetts, despite its Puritan “blue laws” past, showed more of its blue state liberal leanings through a 2016 ballot question that made it one of 10 states to legalize […]
A pot research bonanza
Posted inPolitics
A look at the House’s private budget debate
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE JUST AFTER 8 p.m. last Monday, Rep. Paul Donato alerted his fellow House lawmakers that a five-page, $9.2 million document was now available for their review, […]
Posted inGambling
‘Deeply troubled’ Gaming Commission allows Wynn to open casino
WYNN RESORTS WILL need to pay $35 million and its CEO Matt Maddox will need to pony up $500,000 under a Massachusetts Gaming Commission decision that allows the gaming giant […]
Posted inEducation
Boston superintendent search fell short on community engagement
AFTER ONLY 14 DAYS since the three finalists were announced, and a mere week after the conclusion of interviews, the Boston School Committee will vote on Wednesday to confirm their […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Decapitation case focuses on text, audio messages
CHILLING TEXT AND AUDIO MESSAGES sent to classmates in 2016 are coming back to haunt Mathew Borges as he goes on trial for the murder and beheading of a fellow […]
Posted inThe Download
Decapitation case focuses on text, audio messages
Chilling text and audio messages sent to classmates in 2016 are coming back to haunt Mathew Borges as he goes on trial for the murder and beheading of a fellow […]
Posted inTransportation
T notes: More Charles Circle disruption coming
THE FIVE-YEAR RECONSTRUCTION of the Longfellow Bridge finally ended last year, and now the state is laying plans to begin rebuilding the east end of the bridge, the Charles/MGH Station, […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Ryan: Feds wouldn’t budge on court house visits
MIDDLESEX DISTRICT ATTORNEY MARIAN RYAN said on Monday that she decided to sue US Customs and Immigration Enforcement only after the federal agency refused to address more than a dozen […]
Posted inTransportation
T discloses problems with anti-collision system
MBTA OFFICIALS, trying to meet a federal deadline of December 2020, disclosed on Monday that a key subcontractor working on an anti-collision system for the commuter rail system is having […]
Posted inEnvironment
Baker admin taking the lead on carbon pricing effort
WHILE GOV. CHARLIE BAKER has resisted entreaties from his own appointees to come up with new revenues for transit, his administration has taken the lead on a multi-state effort to do […]
Posted inThe Codcast
Episode 149: Baker increasingly isolated on transportation taxes
Gov. Charlie Baker finds himself increasingly isolated on Beacon Hill with his opposition to new revenues for transportation. House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Karen Spilka are both open […]
Posted inThe Download
Baker increasingly isolated on transportation taxes
Gov. Charlie Baker finds himself increasingly isolated on Beacon Hill with his opposition to new revenues for transportation. House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Karen Spilka are both open […]
Posted inTransportation
Baker increasingly isolated on transportation taxes
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER finds himself increasingly isolated on Beacon Hill with his opposition to new revenues for transportation. House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Karen Spilka are both open […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Middlesex and Suffolk DAs sue ICE
This story has been updated as of 5:25 p.m. IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE, the Middlesex and Suffolk County district attorneys filed a lawsuit in US District Court on Monday seeking to block access of US […]
Posted inOpinion
Time for Tufts soul-searching on Purdue Pharma
AS A FACULTY MEMBER at Tufts University School of Medicine, I, along with colleagues and many of our students, have found it embarrassing to be confronted by news reports on […]
Posted inOpinion
It’s time to limit campaign war chests
AN AVERAGE MASSACHUSETTS House of Representatives candidate spends $20,000 to $30,000 to win election, but House Speaker Robert DeLeo maintains nearly $700,000 in his campaign accounts. A successful Massachusetts Senate […]
Posted inOpinion
MBTA’s electrification priorities stuck in traffic
THE MBTA’S RECENT FOCUS40 REPORT outlining the 25-year investment plan to meet the transportation needs of the Greater Boston region makes no commitment to procuring electric buses beyond the testing of five […]
Posted inEducation
On Boston superintendent pick, mayor’s view looms large
THE THREE FINALISTS for the Boston school superintendent position each faced six-and-half hours of public questioning this week. Each candidate spent a long day going before panels made up of […]
Posted inPolitics
Fallen firefighter’s story highlights chemical fears
SUE PIPITONE WAS A PIONEER. The Everett Fire Department’s first and only active-duty female firefighter, she was known to drive Engine 1 “like a boss.” She enjoyed being “one of the boys” in the […]
Posted inPolitics
House Progressives get some action on budget priorities
THE HOUSE’S 58-member Progressive Caucus scored some modest victories in its three priorities for the fiscal 2020 budget bill this week. The House ramped up funding in the three spending […]
Posted inTransportation
Are road rage and maddening traffic congestion linked?
TRAFFIC FATALITIES HAVE gone up in Massachusetts in recent years, but is anyone tracking road rage incidents? There have been a few notable ones in the last few months and […]
Posted inThe Download
Are road rage and maddening traffic congestion linked?
Traffic fatalities have gone up in Massachusetts in recent years, but is anyone tracking road rage incidents? There have been a few notable ones in the last few months and […]
Posted inTransportation
Where did Baker stand on Massport congestion plan?
This story’s headline and some of the wording was changed to clarify the governor’s position. NEWS OUTLETS reported on Wednesday that Gov. Charlie Baker supported Massport’s aggressive anti-congestion proposal at […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, State House News Service
Newton judge indicted on federal obstruction charge
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A NEWTON DISTRICT COURT judge and former court officer were indicted Thursday on federal obstruction of justice charges for their alleged involvement in helping an undocumented […]