When John Deaton speaks, he wants voters to see Charlie Baker. Elizabeth Warren is trying to make sure they see a potentially decisive vote for whoever emerges as Mitch McConnell’s even harder right successor as Senate Republican leader.
A feisty Deaton fights to claim middle ground
Posted inGambling
Sports betting hits record high in September
Bettors set their own record last month by putting about $678.75 million on the line as wagers on September sporting events. That unseats the previous record monthly handle of $658.7 million wagered on events in December 2023.
Posted inMarijuana
Search for new cannabis agency chair could be hampered by Legislature’s review, Goldberg says
“We’ve made a commitment to begin looking. It might prove to be more challenging because those who might consider it might be concerned about changes that could take place,” Treasurer Deborah Goldberg said in reference to the Legislature. “But we’ll address this as we move forward.”
Posted inGambling
iLottery off to a very slow start
Treasurer Deb Goldberg announced a new timeline for the online lottery, saying the initiative will not launch until April 2026, near the end of fiscal 2026.
Posted inBallot Questions
Psychedelics debate pits psychiatrist against Navy vet with personal experience
Question 4 on the ballot would decriminalize five psychedelics, including psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms. The measure would create a regulated system for the use of the psychedelics in licensed therapeutic settings. while also allowing those over the age of 21 to cultivate, possess, consume, and “share” these substances.
Posted inOpinion
Should we impose a moratorium on new prison construction or expansions?
Advocates say a moratorium on prison construction makes sense because the state’s incarceration rate has dropped dramatically and most imprisonment is inherently dehumanizing, and too many criminal offenses are the result of race-based oppression. Opponents say we need updated prison facilities, even with fewer prisoners behind bars.
Posted inHousing
Lawmakers say they meant for MBTA Communities law to have teeth
“What I found interesting was what the case was not about,” zoning expert and consultant Amy Dain said on The Codcast. “The justices and the lawyers in the courtroom were not debating whether there’s a housing crisis. “
Posted inThe Codcast
Milton’s dilemma in the face of housing reform
This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith is joined by state Sen. Brendan Crighton of Lynn, along with zoning expert and consultant Amy Dain. They discuss the MBTA Communities Act in light of recent arguments before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on Milton’s failure to comply. This episode examines the necessity of multi-family zoning to tackle the growing housing crisis, how the bill was designed, and understanding its role in a larger economic development package.
Posted inOpinion
Mass. tax amnesty program is good, but it could be improved
There is a pending bill that if passed would update our state offer program making it accessible and more equitable.
Posted inEconomy
Mass. competitiveness affected by ‘tsunami of little things’
“It’s not one factor that’s going to be the silver bullet that makes Massachusetts competitive vis a vis other states. It’s really going to be multifaceted,” said Jane Steinmetz of EY Boston.
Posted inOpinion
State residents remain mixed on changing name of Columbus Day
Despite its reputation as a haven of progressive political leaning, Massachusetts has resisted efforts to change the name of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day , and we find that attitudes toward race and racism have a lot to do with that.
Posted inCourts
Post-Bruen decision, everyone has to be a gun-law historian
The decision has opened almost all aspects of the state’s gun safety law regime to challenge and sent lawyers scrambling for history books. As recent Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decisions have shown, if a policy is not tied to a founding-era law or practice – a so-called historical analogue – it likely will not survive judicial scrutiny.
Posted inOpinion
Why kids should read obituaries
Obituaries are about life, not death – death is merely the detail that gets these stories of life printed. And kids should read these life stories.
Posted inOpinion
Don’t dress up prohibition and call it compassion
Contrary to the article’s portrayal of this policy as a wave sweeping across Massachusetts, the reality is much different. Many communities where it was proposed have either put discussions on hold or outright rejected it after hearing from their residents.
Posted inPolitics
Political Notebook: An unusually early endorsement | Questions for Charlie Baker | Michlewitz’s ballot
Asked who, if anybody, will get his vote for president this time around, Charlie Baker balked at answering: “I’m not here to talk about that. I’m just not,” he told reporters.
Posted inHealth Care
Health care spending takes dramatic leap of 5.8%
Massachusetts has the second-highest family health insurance premiums in the country, and the average annual cost of health care for a family is more than $29,000 when including out-of-pocket spending, the HPC said.
Posted inOpinion
First responders in Mass. should have access to fentanyl treatment
It’s my sincere hope that Massachusetts will update its standing orders to include this treatment. Our first responders need to have access to all available approved treatments.
Posted inEducation
Tutoring effectiveness decreases as programs grow in size
Tutoring can be a highly effective way to accelerate student achievement, making it seem like a promising strategy to address pandemic learning loss. But a new study finds that the larger a tutoring program gets the less effective it becomes.
Posted inEconomy
Guru of Boston’s youth jobs program stepping down after three decades
Behind the mayors, and largely behind the scenes, there’s been one constant: Neil Sullivan, the executive director of the nonprofit Boston Private Industry Council.
Posted inOpinion
The youth mental health crisis is taking a hidden toll on parents
The youth mental health crisis is also a parent mental health crisis. By supporting parents, we’re not just helping adults—we’re laying the foundation for healthier families and a more resilient society.
Posted inGuns
Gun owners say effort to repeal new gun law is moving forward
The referendum is one part of an effort to challenge the new law alongside at least two — and possibly more to come — lawsuits.