THE LATEST PIPELINE SKIRMISH centers around the two-week cold snap New England endured at the end of December and early January. Massachusetts businesses groups last week released a study that […]
Another skirmish in the pipeline wars
Posted inOpinion
Obama saw a key role for natural gas
MASSACHUSETTS HAS A LONG HISTORY of leading the nation through innovative programs and establishing tough standards that improve public health and environmental protection. From some of the nation’s earliest innovative […]
Posted inOpinion
Time to update state’s appliance standards
MASSACHUSETTS HAS MADE great strides in reducing electric and gas usage through state policies and our nationally recognized energy efficiency programs. These programs have provided billions of dollars in rebates […]
Posted inOpinion
Do all state offices need to be in Boston?
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS is one of the largest commercial office tenants in the state, leasing just under 5 million square feet of space for employees throughout its various agencies […]
Posted inOpinion
With junk insurance, you get what you pay for
INSPIRED BY MARCHES, movements (#MeToo, #TimesUp), and momentum (the unprecedented surge of females running for office), women are standing up for the issues that matter most to them. Let’s make […]
Posted inOpinion
Health Policy Commission should do more
THE 2012 LAW CREATING the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) includes a provision setting up an advisory council to the executive director of the commission. The charge to the advisory […]
Posted inPolitics
Diehl reverts to form
When Geoff Diehl worked his way to a second-ballot endorsement for US Senate by the state Republican Party at its convention last month, some wondered where the fire-breathing Trump supporter […]
Posted inThe Download
Diehl reverts to form
When Geoff Diehl worked his way to a second-ballot endorsement for US Senate by the state Republican Party at its convention last month, some wondered where the fire-breathing Trump supporter […]
Posted inEducation
Senate calls for ed funding formula revamp
STATE OFFICIALS ARE marking the 25th anniversary of the landmark 1993 education reform law with a statewide set of events being held under the banner “Leading the Nation,” a reference […]
Posted inEnvironment
Baker goes slow on smart meters
THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION authorized the state’s utilities to spend $220 million over the next three years upgrading the power grid to accommodate renewables, electricity storage, and more efficient ways of […]
Posted inTransportation
T notes: Budget boosts RTA funding 10%
THE SENATE WAYS AND MEANS BUDGET proposal for the coming fiscal year would give a 10 percent increase in funding to the state’s 15 regional transit authorities, which provide bus […]
Posted inThe Back Story
What’s the best bet on wind?
A clarification was added to this story after its original publication. TWO OF THE THREE COMPANIES vying to build offshore wind farms off the coast of Massachusetts say it would […]
Posted inTransportation
West Station wrangling
IT’S PLAYING OUT as a classic chicken and egg situation. State officials say calls for a commuter rail station in the area of Allston being developed by Harvard as a […]
Posted inThe Download
West Station wrangling
It’s playing out as a classic chicken and egg situation. State officials say calls for a commuter rail station in the area of Allston being developed by Harvard as a […]
Posted inEducation
Shortchanging English learners and low-income students
“CHELSEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS is a gateway school system that welcomes and educates ALL students and families.” This quote, from superintendent Mary Bourque, is prominently displayed on the Chelsea Public Schools […]
Posted inEducation
Falling short on school standards and funding
AS MASSACHUSETTS MARKS the 25th anniversary of a landmark Education Reform Act that propelled us to the head of the national class in public education, the Commonwealth’s latest results from […]
Posted inPolitics
Girl power
The #MeToo movement has empowered women to take back the narrative on harassment and discrimination. It also could give them real power in making laws and policy. A record number […]
Posted inThe Download
Girl power
The #MeToo movement has empowered women to take back the narrative on harassment and discrimination. It also could give them real power in making laws and policy. A record number […]
Posted inOpinion
Time to hit the off switch on electricity sellers
IN 1997, MASSACHUSETTS PASSED the Electric Restructuring Act to “promote the prosperity and general welfare of its citizens . . . by restructuring the electricity industry in the Commonwealth to […]
Posted inNews Analysis
Do Healey, Baker have a truce?
ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY and the Baker administration engaged in an interesting political dance on Tuesday at a legislative hearing on what to do about companies that sell electricity to […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics
Pot board red-faced over green light
THE STATE BOARD overseeing the nascent pot industry in Massachusetts had been running smoothly in its first months of operation. But as the most critical aspect of its mission began […]
Posted inUncategorized
What’s Digital First going to do next?
The chaos at the Denver Post may be spreading to other Digital First Media properties, including those in Massachusetts. Chuck Plunkett, who resigned last week as the editor of the […]
Posted inThe Download
What’s Digital First going to do next?
The chaos at the Denver Post may be spreading to other Digital First Media properties, including those in Massachusetts. Chuck Plunkett, who resigned last week as the editor of the […]
Posted inTransportation
T notes: TransitMatters raises concerns on Newton proposal
A TRANSIT ADVOCATE WARNED on Monday that the MBTA’s planned rebuild of three commuter rail stations in Newton would hinder the system’s ability to provide regional rail service in the […]