GOV. CHARLIE BAKER acknowledged on Wednesday that extending the unemployment benefits of locked-out National Grid workers would be an “unusual precedent,” but he said he was willing to take that […]
Baker backs more worker benefits if Grid lockout doesn’t end soon
Posted inCriminal Justice
Trump the criminal justice reformer
EFFORTS TO REFORM the US criminal justice system have been characterized by an alliance of unlikely bedfellows, with liberal groups like the ACLU joining with Right on Crime, a conservative […]
Posted inThe Download
Trump the criminal justice reformer
Efforts to reform the US criminal justice system have been characterized by an alliance of unlikely bedfellows, with liberal groups like the ACLU joining with Right on Crime, a conservative […]
Posted inPolitics
Ash aide moves up to take his job
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE IN THE SECOND SHAKEUP of his Cabinet since Gov. Charlie Baker won reelection in November, the Baker administration announced Tuesday afternoon that Secretary Jay Ash is […]
Posted inTransportation
Mass. joins regional bid to price transportation carbon
MASSACHUSETTS and eight other states plus the District of Columbia pledged on Tuesday to spend a year developing a regional system that would put a price on the carbon contained […]
Posted inPolitics
Oops: DeLeo says Grid bill drafted incorrectly
HOUSE SPEAKER ROBERT DELEO acknowledged a bill to extend the unemployment benefits of locked-out National Grid workers doesn’t do what he thought it would do. The bill was approved with […]
Posted inThe Download
Oops: DeLeo says Grid bill drafted incorrectly
House Speaker Robert DeLeo acknowledged a bill to extend the unemployment benefits of locked-out National Grid workers doesn’t do what he thought it would do. The bill was approved with […]
Posted inPolitics
DeLeo acknowledges drafting error in Grid bill
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE AS THE HOUSE on Dec. 6 passed legislation authorizing wage benefits for locked out utility workers, House Speaker Robert DeLeo announced that the utility responsible for […]
Posted inTransportation
T notes: Board acts as if Ramirez never existed
THE MBTA’S FISCAL AND MANAGEMENT Control Board acted as if former general manager Luis Ramírez never existed at its meeting on Monday, failing to even acknowledge his exit last week […]
Posted inTransportation
Decision time near on Cape bridges
THE TOP TRANSPORTATION OFFICIAL in the Baker administration said on Monday that she would like to see the two bridges crossing the Cape Cod Canal and the surrounding road networks […]
Posted inThe Codcast
Episode 129: Sudders talks health care
What’s it like to be in charge of nearly half the state budget? Extraordinarily humbling,” said Marylou Sudders. But don’t confuse humbling with cautious indecision or lack of tenacity. Gov. […]
Posted inHealth Care
Sudders talks health care
WHAT’S IT LIKE to be in charge of nearly half the state budget? “Extraordinarily humbling,” said Marylou Sudders. But don’t confuse humbling with cautious indecision or lack of tenacity. Gov. […]
Posted inThe Download
The Codcast: Sudders talks health care
What’s it like to be in charge of nearly half the state budget? “Extraordinarily humbling,” said Marylou Sudders. But don’t confuse humbling with cautious indecision or lack of tenacity. Gov. […]
Posted inOpinion
Benjamin LaGuer deserves a break
IT HAS BEEN SAD to see news updates on opposition to long-time Massachusetts inmate Benjamin LaGuer’s bid for a compassionate release because he has liver cancer and only months to […]
Posted inOpinion
Public higher ed isn’t really that public any more
THE BOSTON FOUNDATION and the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation recently released a new report, Grade Incomplete: Implementation of the Community College Funding Formula in Massachusetts. The report examines the “performance-based funding” formula […]
Posted inEducation
Hold leaders accountable for Boston school closings
WHAT I HAVE learned as a Boston Public Schools teacher for the last 14 years is that my teaching has to be consistently scrutinized by the administration to make sure […]
Posted inOpinion
Has the Mass. solar gamble paid off?
HOW MUCH SHOULD we pay to promote solar energy in Massachusetts? Recent state government programs have resulted in the commitment of at least $10 billion of consumer funds—well over $1,500 […]
Posted inEnvironment, State House News Service
Wind firms pay $135m each for offshore tracts
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THREE LEASE WINNERS have each agreed to pay $135 million to gain access to ocean tracts off the coast of Massachusetts where they may someday build […]
Posted inTransportation
Mass. exploring carbon fee on auto fuels
MASSACHUSETTS IS EXPECTED to join other East Coast states in attempting to design a system that would assess a fee on the carbon content of automobile fuels and use the […]
Posted inTransportation
Commission report focuses on congestion, climate change
A COMMISSION APPOINTED by Gov. Charlie Baker made 18 recommendations on Friday to address the state’s transportation future, including a goal that nearly all vehicles available for sale be electric by […]
Posted inThe Download
Who should have final say on public art displays?
Julia Dixon, the chair of the Public Arts Commission in North Adams, resigned this week after the City Council once again failed to come to any agreement on whether the mayor or […]
Posted inArts and Culture
Who should have final say on public art displays?
JULIA DIXON, the chair of the Public Arts Commission in North Adams, resigned this week after the City Council once again failed to come to any agreement on whether the […]
Posted inEducation
Ed reform needs a new plan
MASSACHUSETTS, WITH ITS innovative industries and history of leadership and reform, should be the laboratory for reimagining public education to ensure equity, opportunity and excellence for all. But that’s not […]
Posted inOpinion
Pharmacy middlemen manipulating the system
A RECENT FEDERAL LAW allows pharmacists to inform patients when the price of their medication is less than the copayment they would pay using their insurance. This is helpful to […]