STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY would be stripped of her authority to regulate firearms under a bill filed Friday afternoon by the state Senate minority leader. Sen. […]
Last-minute bid to derail Healey gun rules
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
We must preserve nuclear power plants
The following is a letter sent to Gov. Charlie Baker, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, and Senate President Stanley Rosenberg by a group of scientists, environmentalists, and academics. As scientists, environmentalists […]
Posted inOpinion, Transportation
VMT is the way to go
THE COMMONWEALTH IS ABOUT TO TAKE an important step toward making our state’s approach to transportation funding more stable, fair, and transparent. The Legislature has included language in its recent transportation bond bill that directs the […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
Flexibility needed in educating English language learners
AS A NATIONAL leader on education, Massachusetts has the burden and privilege of leading the pack as we learn to meet the needs of our diversified student population in today’s […]
Posted inThe Download
Deja vu at Suffolk U
A correction was added to this story clarifying that the Suffolk trustees sent a letter to the Suffolk community Thursday evening. That letter said McKenna had been terminated but did […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Obama’s legacy wrapped up in Clinton’s success
PHILADELPHIA – PRESIDENT OBAMA’S night at the Democratic National Convention was all about legacy lengthening. He warmly embraced party presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at the conclusion of his speech when she appeared […]
Posted inThe Back Story, Transportation
MBTA parking probe referred to Healey
The MBTA’s months-long probe into the loss of revenue at T parking lots has been referred to Attorney General Maura Healey, a spokesman for the authority said. It’s unclear whether […]
Posted inGun ownership, Guns, Opinion
5 AGs back Healey on gun directive
LAST WEEK, Attorney General Maura Healey issued an Enforcement Notice to provide certainty to Massachusetts gun dealers, gun manufacturers, and residents on how her office will enforce our state’s 18-year-old assault weapons […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Russia, if you’re listening…
In the midst of a Democratic telethon suggesting Donald Trump is a man unfit to be president, Trump stepped forward and made the case himself. At a news conference in […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Cities likely to be key election battleground
PHILADELPHIA —Â Massachusetts is likely to be an electoral sure thing in November for Hillary Clinton and the Democrats, so urban voters across the state probably won’t hold much sway during […]
Posted inGun ownership, Guns
Downing backs Healey’s gun notice
What follows is a statement Sen. Ben Downing of Pittsfield posted on his office website. Many of my constituents have asked about my position on Attorney General Healey’s recent “Enforcement […]
Posted inGun ownership, Guns, State House News Service
Naughton slams Healey on gun rule
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE The House’s point person on public safety issues is questioning Attorney General Maura Healey’s recent action to crack down on the sale of copycat assault weapons in […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
No subsidies for gas pipeline projects
IT’S CRUNCH TIME when it comes to the Omnibus Energy Bill that is being debated on Beacon Hill. Lawmakers have to decide if they will continue to promote fossil fuel […]
Posted inDrug Addiction, Opinion
Too many opioid prescriptions get written
CONGRESS HAS HELPED MASSACHUSETTS and the nation take another step forward in the battle against prescription drug abuse. The Comprehensive Recovery and Addiction Act (CARA), a bipartisan effort incorporating several […]
Posted inThe Download
New Turnpike tolls are coming
All-electronic tolling launches on the Massachusetts Turnpike in October. Are you ready? The folks at Masslive are all over this story. They’ve created a catalogue of stories on the new […]
Posted inGun ownership, Guns, Politics, State House News Service
Baker seeks Healey gun clarification
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE GOV. CHARLIE BAKER urged Attorney General Maura Healey on Tuesday to clarify her stepped up enforcement of the state’s assault weapons ban, warning that “ambiguities” in […]
Posted inEnvironment
DPU-Eversource communications probed
THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES is investigating whether one of its employees had improper communication with an attorney for Eversource Energy, which is seeking state approval to assess its […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Michelle Obama as prophet of compassionate family values
CALL HER THE Democrats’ prophet of family values. With wit and guile, charisma and wisdom, Michelle Obama proved herself worthy of that title last night in her speech to Democratic […]
Posted inThe Download
Baker reaffirms no new taxes
Gov. Charlie Baker reaffirmed his support for no new taxes on Monday, disavowing statements last week and making clear he is not as progressive as many in Massachusetts seem to […]
Posted inTransportation
T notes
MBTA Police Superintendent Richard Sullivan said staff overtime and crime are both down at the T, and fare evasion citations are up 51 percent so far this year. In a […]
Posted inHealth Care, Opinion, Politics
Prison is no place to treat mentally ill
IN APRIL, LEO MARINO, a 43-year-old man with a long history of suicide attempts, killed himself in an isolation unit at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH). He’d managed to choke himself […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Shame on enviro group
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, the New Hampshire Legislature has debated and killed repeated efforts to require that transmission line be buried in New Hampshire. Fueled by opposition to the […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Baker flip-flops on Airbnb tax
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE GOV. CHARLIE BAKER, admitting Monday that he spoke too soon last week when he endorsed a Senate plan to tax short-term housing rentals, showed himself to […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Healey gun order prompts political backlash
The political backlash to Attorney General Maura Healey’s crackdown on what she calls illegal copycat assault weapons began over the weekend, as legislation was filed to strip her of her […]