When a union declines to issue an endorsement at the national level, that typically frees up the locals to make their own picks. But the Teamsters president’s old local is staying quiet.
Political Notebook: Teamsters throw new wrench into election
Posted inHealth Care
Sales timeline forcing quick review of Steward transactions
With the sales of Steward Health Care’s Massachusetts hospitals scheduled to close in less than two weeks, the state Health Policy Commission is rushing to complete its analyses of the transactions.
Posted inEducation
On MCAS question, mayors reluctant to fill in the bubble
Voters face a stark choice when it comes to the MCAS graduation requirement: Vote yes on a November ballot question to end it, or vote no to keep it. But a lot of Massachusetts mayors seem to be opting for a third choice that’s not actually on the ballot: none of the above.
Posted inOpinion
Denmark’s approach to decarbonizing offers lessons worth replicating
What I saw was remarkable. Denmark has positioned itself as an economic thought leader in the new energy economy. While the demographic, political, and social context may not match the whole of the US, I believe Denmark can teach us many lessons – particularly in Massachusetts, which is similar in population and climate.
Posted inMedia
Globe host’s endorsement of Harris raises murky ethics questions
“Boston Globe Today” host Segun Oduolowu urged attendees to vote, donate, and organize for Harris in the presidential race during an August 26 “African Diaspora for Harris Post-Convention Call.”
Posted inBy The Numbers
Competitiveness and migration reports agree to disagree
“In short, the picture that can be drawn from available official data is inconsistent, though in any case, it is not one of crisis. Nevertheless, migration data often is used – and misused – to push an agenda of tax cuts for very high-income households, the ultrawealthy, and large corporations,” said Kurt Wise, a MassBudget policy analyst.
Posted inOpinion
Skip the quick fixes, pass a comprehensive climate bill
The Senate bill would have empowered the Department of Public Utilities to ensure any gas spending served the public good, and help redirect that funding toward clean energy alternatives if it failed to meet this basic standard.
Posted inState Government
Mass. preps for American revolution’s 250th anniversary
“And part of the launch today is to make sure we get ahead of this, because we are the birthplace,” said Gov. Maura Healey.
Posted inEnergy
Will offshore wind really drive electric bills down?
In announcing a huge new procurement of offshore wind earlier this month, Gov. Maura Healey said it would lower electricity costs for residents and businesses, but that’s not very likely to be the case.
Posted inOpinion
Some hopeful signs amid daunting homelessness challenge
While homelessness remains an enormous challenge in Massachusetts, we have developed very effective strategies for addressing unsheltered homelessness for individuals.
Posted inEducation
Senate education chair says he’ll vote to scrap MCAS grad requirement
Sen. Jason Lewis, who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Education, said he’ll vote for the ballot question that would end the MCAS graduation requirement and propose legislation to implement in its place a mandate that all students complete a state-established sequence of high school courses in order to graduate.
Posted inPolitics
Here’s who may get Warren challenger John Deaton’s vote for president
Deaton – who has been a registered Democrat, an independent, and a Republican – describes himself in the same mold as Baker: “someone who is socially moderate to liberal person, who is fiscally conservative.”
Posted inThe Codcast
Warren’s challenger on what it means to be a Republican in Massachusetts
This week on the Codcast, Commonwealth Beacon’s Gintautas Dumcius interviews John Deaton, the GOP nominee running against US Senator Elizabeth Warren. They discuss his campaign, crypto currency, who he plans to caucus with if he makes it down to Washington, and who may get his vote for president in November.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Putting police officers to the test
Enrique Zuniga, the executive director of the commission, said recurring physical and mental health testing is needed to make sure police officers are up to their job. But he said getting a testing regime in place will be a “big lift.” He is leaning toward making the periodic testing voluntary rather than mandatory.
Posted inOpinion
Thinking climate change? Think exposure to extreme heat
Heat is a silent killer and as summers get hotter, particularly in the Northeast US, staying safe during heat waves is increasingly challenging.
Posted inOpinion
AG’s settlement with Uber and Lyft leaves big worker protection issues unresolved
Uber and Lyft got what they most wanted – no admission that their drivers are employees. The attorney general’s office got what they felt they needed – the rideshare companies’ commitment to withdraw a ballot question that would have codified drivers’ status as independent contractors. But the settlement left the larger issue of the role of misclassification in the gig economy unresolved.
Posted inOpinion
Question 4 is one solution to mental health crisis
Natural psychedelics provide a promising, necessary, and research-backed opportunity for healing where traditional therapies have fallen short.
Posted inMarijuana
Cannabis Commission says it needs more funds from Legislature
At a meeting of the commission on Thursday, officials said the budget approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor provided $19.8 million – $2.8 million less than what the agency had requested.
Posted inEnergy
Healey, Lamont eyeing possible nuclear/wind deal
Healey is signaling that she might agree to purchase power from the Millstone nuclear power plant in Connecticut if in return Connecticut buys a chunk of the output of the proposed Vineyard Wind 2 wind farm off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard.