2018 WILL APPEAR in retrospect as the year when climate change became a daily reality and not some debatable future possibility. Jurisdictions across the globe are now struggling with planning […]
In the face of climate change, Bostonians need to call a retreat
Posted inOpinion
Let’s get off the ranked choice bandwagon
CONGRATULATIONS to US Rep. Jared Golden, who defeated incumbent Republican congressman Bruce Poliquin through the magic of ranked-choice voting. Poliquin had the lead after the first count last November, with […]
Posted inPolitics
Pressley moving from Dorchester home
AYANNA PRESSLEY is on the move in more ways than one. Sworn in last week as the new representative for the 7th Congressional District and now dividing her time between […]
Posted inEconomy
Private management of water systems can pay off
OVER THE PAST few decades, a growing number of municipalities in Massachusetts and across the US have attempted to reduce costs by turning to private companies to operate their water, […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker lets flame retardant bill die
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE GOV. CHARLIE BAKER will not sign into law a ban on certain chemical flame retardants in household goods, he told lawmakers Friday afternoon, citing concerns with […]
Posted inTransportation
Commuter rail ridership up 20% since 2012
PASSENGER TRAFFIC on the MBTA’s commuter rail system grew by more than 20 percent between 2012 and 2018, with nearly all lines posting increases, according to sources familiar with the […]
Posted inEnvironment
Time to take a stand on nips?
MAYBE IT’S TIME for Beacon Hill to take a stand on nips, those little liquor bottles that many communities are coming to regard as a public nuisance. Chelsea banned the […]
Posted inThe Download
Time to take a stand on nips?
Maybe it’s time for Beacon Hill to take a stand on nips, those little liquor bottles that many communities are coming to regard as a public nuisance. Chelsea banned the […]
Posted inPolitics
Holmes calls House leadership ‘a dictatorship’
RUSSELL HOLMES, the Mattapan state representative who caused a stir two years ago with talk of succession planning for a new House speaker, is showing no signs of quieting down […]
Posted inTransportation
Pollack’s Allston decision: Pike at grade, Soldiers Field Rd. elevated
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY Stephanie Pollack announced on Thursday that she intends to replace the deteriorating, elevated portion of the Massachusetts Turnpike near Boston University with an at-grade highway and make room […]
Posted inGambling
Gaming Commission on two tracks with Wynn
IT WAS AN ODD JUXTAPOSITION at Thursday’s meeting of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, with commissioners one minute trying to figure out when they will be able to see a report […]
Posted inHealth Care
Perfect storm led to healthy kidney removal
ANKUR PARIKH, a 37-year-old urologist, logged into the medical records system at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester and examined what he thought was a CT kidney scan that had […]
Posted inPolitics
Beacon Hill pols prefer less scrutiny of Beacon Hill pols
IF, AS THE Washington Post now proclaims on its masthead, “Democracy Dies in Darkness,” the already low-level lighting on Beacon Hill was just dimmed to a 5-watt flicker. When lawmakers passed […]
Posted inThe Download
Beacon Hill pols prefer less scrutiny of Beacon Hill pols
If, as the Washington Post now proclaims on its masthead, “Democracy Dies in Darkness,” the already low-level lighting on Beacon Hill was just dimmed to a 5-watt flicker. When lawmakers […]
Posted inEducation
Momentum growing for ed funding bill
SIX MONTHS AFTER the clock ran out on negotiations to revamp the state’s education funding formula, a broad coalition of lawmakers, mayors, and school leaders unveiled legislation on Wednesday to […]
Posted inEnvironment
Spilka: Addressing climate change top priority
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN SPILKA told a room full of environmental advocates on Wednesday that nothing the Legislature does in the next two years will be as […]
Posted inEducation
Superintendents spotlight ed funding formula flaws
PUBLIC SCHOOL superintendents made the case for changing the state funding formula for education at forums in New Bedford, Fitchburg, and Malden on Tuesday as lawmakers on Beacon Hill prepared […]
Posted inThe Download
Superintendents spotlight ed funding formula flaws
Public school superintendents made the case for changing the state funding formula for education at forums in New Bedford, Fitchburg, and Malden on Tuesday as lawmakers on Beacon Hill prepared […]
Posted inPolitics
Baker facing pressure on flame retardant bill
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE GOV. CHARLIE BAKER is facing mounting pressure to sign a bill that would ban the use of certain toxic flame retardant chemicals in many products as […]
Posted inTransportation
Bostonians clinging to their cars
MOST BOSTONIANS have more and more ways of getting around town – bikes, scooters, ride-hailing apps, and car shares – but it seems their love of car ownership is not […]
Posted inTransportation
State rep’s rail-car warning echoes in DC
STATE REP. SHAWN DOOLEY acknowledged last month that some might think he had a screw loose for sounding a warning over the cybersecurity risks posed by the MBTA contracting with […]
Posted inThe Download
State rep’s rail-car warning echoes in DC
State Rep. Shawn Dooley acknowledged last month that some might think he had a screw loose for sounding a warning over the cybersecurity risks posed by the MBTA contracting with […]
Posted inTransportation
Poftak outlines his priorities for MBTA
STEVE POFTAK, the MBTA’s new general manager, started to put his imprint on the transit authority on Monday, outlining five priorities for the agency that include recruiting high-quality employees and […]
Posted inTransportation
T notes: $10 weekend fare didn’t need to go away
MBTA OFFICIALS WERE mistaken last month when they said the transit authority needed to discontinue its special $10 weekend commuter rail fare to prepare an equity analysis of its impact. […]