THE STATE’S GROUP INSURANCE COMMISSION on Thursday shelved an ambitious proposal to save an estimated $21 million by paring back the number of health insurance carriers available to its 430,000 […]
Group Insurance Commission reverts to status quo
Posted inMicrophilanthropy
Knitting together help for the homeless
THERE ARE GRAND policy plans and programs to serve the homeless – and then there are more direct, small acts of kindness. Last night, a team of 300 volunteers and […]
Posted inThe Download
A Wynn-lose situation
If you lie down with dogs, you might end up with fleas. So goes the old saw, versions of which have been variously attributed to everyone from Ben Franklin to […]
Posted inHealth Care
GIC chief takes the fall
THE HEAD OF THE STATE’S Group Insurance Commission took the fall on Wednesday for a bungled rollout of a plan to cut health care costs for more than 400,000 state […]
Posted inGambling
Gaming Commission could yank Wynn Resorts license
THE MASSACHUSETTS GAMING COMMISSION said on Wednesday that its investigation of Steve Wynn could lead to the revocation of the Wynn Resorts casino license in Everett and indicated the early […]
Posted inThe Download
What does Ayanna Pressley know that we don’t?
This being Super Bowl week, pigskin-related analogies are everywhere. In that vein, we’re focused on the special teams warning about outkicking the coverage. That’s where a punter or kicker sends […]
Posted inEnvironment
Lawmakers slam new solar charges
HOUSE AND SENATE ENERGY LEADERS made clear on Tuesday that they aren’t happy with the way Eversource Energy and state regulators have implemented legislation requiring homeowners with solar installations on […]
Posted inHealth Care
Four thoughts for the GIC
MANY OF US ARE BREATHING a sigh of relief with the hope that the Group Insurance Commission will vote to rescind its initial January 18 decision to accept the staff […]
Posted inEducation
Personalized learning key to tackling education inequities
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO, Massachusetts set out on an ambitious reform plan for education. The Education Reform Act of 1993 established two main cornerstones for improving education in the Commonwealth: infusing […]
Posted inThe Download
How far should unsuitability go?
Gov. Charlie Baker said that if the allegations against Steve Wynn by his employees are verified, then the casino developer should be declared unsuitable to hold a casino license in […]
Posted inEducation
Riley gets the nod as education commissioner
TO HELM THE unfinished work of education reform to close persistent achievement gaps, the state tapped someone with a track record of being able to do it. Jeff Riley, who […]
Posted inTransportation
T notes: Cautionary tale on the Green Line
THE GREEN LINE’S C and D LINES have been running with delays since January 18 because of a power outage traced by MBTA employees to hard-to-reach cables and conduits that […]
Posted inTransportation
Keolis plays whack-a-mole
THE PERFORMANCE OF KEOLIS COMMUTER SERVICES is improving on a number of fronts, but there continue to be setbacks that make it appear the MBTA’s commuter rail operator is playing […]
Posted inGambling
Baker calls allegations against Wynn appalling
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE GOV. CHARLIE BAKER said Monday that if the allegations of sexual misconduct by casino employees against Steve Wynn are true then the developer would be unsuitable […]
Posted inThe Codcast
Episode 82: No pass for Northern Pass
State officials announced on Thursday that they had selected a project called Northern Pass to import a massive amount of hydro-electricity from Canada, enough to supply between 15 and 20 […]
Posted inHealth Care
What was the Group Insurance Commission trying to do?
THE GROUP INSURANCE COMMISSION has taken enormous heat for voting to restructure its network of health plans, but almost no one, including the commission itself, has explained the reasoning behind […]
Posted inThe Download
The Codcast: No pass for Northern Pass
Environmental advocates for years have been eagerly awaiting a clean energy procurement from Massachusetts, but now that it’s actually happened they’re not jumping for joy. State officials announced on Thursday that […]
Posted inTransportation
Free the ramp
I’VE BEEN WRITING for three years about the disadvantages of the Silver Line not using the Ted Williams Tunnel ramp that was designed for it, but it’s time to bring it up […]
Posted inTransportation
T revenues growing from ads, real estate, parking
MBTA OFFICIALS SAY they are on track to reach their goal of $100 million in recurring, own-source revenue by 2020. The officials said they expect to bring in $77 million […]
Posted inOpinion
Failing U: State falls short on for-profit schools
IN 2015, THE COLLAPSE of the behemoth Corinthian Colleges, which had been taking in up to $1.4 billion in federal dollars annually, and the subsequent failure of the giant ITT […]
Posted inOpinion
In defense of recess
WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG, could you spend six or seven hours in a classroom without going outside? Could you sit still for hours at a time, without a chance to […]
Posted inOpinion
Time for a Latino education commissioner
WITH INTERVIEWS HELD this week for our next state commissioner of education, now is the time to advocate for our first Latino commissioner, to meet the needs and challenges of our fastest-growing […]
Posted inEducation
Education commissioner finalists interviewed
THE THREE FINALISTS for state education commissioner each faced close to two hours of questioning on Friday from the state panel that now must decide who will lead the system […]
Posted inGambling
Gaming Commission launches “regulatory review” of Wynn
THE MASSACHUSETTS GAMING COMMISSION said on Friday that its investigations and enforcement bureau will launch a “regulatory review” of allegations of sexual misconduct against Steve Wynn, whose company Wynn Enterprises […]