Eliminating the assessment system we have without putting alternative in its place is utterly irresponsible. The predictable outcome of leaving each district on its own to set graduation standards is that the already unacceptable gaps in student performance based on race and class will only get wider.
Scrapping MCAS would be irresponsible
Posted inMarijuana
Cannabis commission nearing end on two-driver changes
“We’ve been talking about the two-driver rule since 2020,” said Ryan Dominguez, the head of the Massachusetts Cannabis Coalition at the public hearing.
Posted inHousing
SJC raises questions about MBTA Communities Act penalties
There seemed to be a mixed reception to the arguments on Monday, with some justices inclined to parse legal minutiae that could support a narrow ruling on technical grounds. Others appeared compelled by a broader public policy argument that could allow wide latitude for the state to enforce laws designed to address the crippling housing shortage.
Posted inEnvironment
Echoes of Helene flooding in Massachusetts climate planning
HURRICANE HELENE’S destructive path through the south, flooding inland areas considered to be sanctuaries from the impact of serious weather and climate events, shocked the country with the scale of […]
Posted inThe Codcast
Rising waters: navigating flooding in Mass.
This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith talks with Katherine Antos, Undersecretary of Decarbonization and Resilience, to share how the state plans to tackle sea level rise, coastal storms, and flooding exacerbated by climate change. They discuss long vs. short-term mitigation, financing climate resiliency, and the ResilientMass Plan.
Posted inState Government
Mass. constitutional officers have different stances on hybrid work
“Staff are required to work in person Monday to Friday with very few exceptions,” said Karissa Hand, a spokesperson for Gov. Maura Healey’s office. “The governor’s office is a fast-paced, high-demand work environment. We believe that having employees working in-person is beneficial to our efforts to meet these demands.
Posted inOpinion
Bike lanes don’t just benefit cyclists
These findings highlight that bike lanes are not merely an amenity but a vital component of a safer urban landscape. Separated bike lanes act as traffic calming measures, reducing the likelihood of accidents and making streets safer for everyone.
Posted inCriminal Justice
New State Police chief promises review of training death, mum on staffing changes
Noble said Friday he had not been officially briefed on the investigation into the recruit’s death yet, but that he is aware of the situation and a deeper briefing is shortly forthcoming.
Posted inOpinion
Mortgage discrimination, which leads to segregation, needs to be addressed
The consequences are devasting for first-time buyers, as thousands of sellers, advised by their agents, make the same decision to pick cash or conventional offers over the perceived hassle of working with an FHA buyer – a decision too often based on misperceptions rather than underlying truths.
Posted inPolitics
Political Notebook: Lydia Edwards on a roll | Ralph de la Torre’s go-to firm
Sen. Lydia Edwards has garnered a reputation for an independent streak while standing on the winning side of recent races for city councils in Boston and Revere, as well as state attorney general and Suffolk County district attorney.
Posted inBy The Numbers
State tax revenues lag slightly behind projections
The Department of Revenue said Thursday that it collected $4.518 billion in September — $331 million, or 7.9 percent more, than what was collected during September 2023, but $29 million, or 0.6 percent, below the monthly benchmark.
Posted inOpinion
We don’t need Question 3 allowing unionization of rideshare drivers
While the legal status of rideshare drivers finally appears to be resolved, a new threat is looming with labor groups promoting an unnecessary ballot measure, known as Question 3.
Posted inEnergy
DPU approves big shift in electric bill discounts
The DPU decision authorizes National Grid to move to a tiered discount approach by June 2025, replacing the 32 percent flat rate with a five-tier system providing discounts ranging from 32 percent to 71 percent depending on income level.
Posted inGambling
Long-stalled gambling data project moves forward
Massachusetts gaming regulators are moving forward with a data collection project – mandated by a 2011 statute – dealing with problem gambling that’s been on ice for almost a decade because of industry and pandemic delays.
Posted inEnvironment
New Seaport tower showcases low-carbon cement from Somerville firm
The event celebrated the first commercial application of a new type of low-carbon cement, made entirely in Massachusetts, and its use to build Boston’s largest net zero office building.
Posted inOpinion
Vote yes to let workers in the rideshare sector unionize
As someone who studies and works with companies and unions to build fair and productive collective bargaining relationships, I support this ballot initiative because I believe all workers should have the right to join a union if they want to do so.
Posted inSource Document
O’Brien to Goldberg: ‘I did exactly what you asked me to do’
A copy of O’Brien’s remarks were provided by her legal team. Goldberg has not released her decision regarding O’Brien. The two sides appear headed for court.
Posted inPolitics
Deaton poll reaches for a path forward
Republican John Deaton, has a steep uphill climb to defeat Democratic US Sen. Elizabeth Warren, but his campaign says an internal poll points to strengths he has and weaknesses for Warren that provide a pathway for him.
Posted inOpinion
Carney should reopen as a full-service hospital
Why is the realization of this dream of equitable healthcare in Boston so urgent? Because the epidemiological landscape demands it.
Posted inOpinion
Why I switched on MCAS
MCAS is the only measure we currently have to ensure all students in the Commonwealth are being taught the same content and skills, no matter their zip code.