The energy legislation approved by the Legislature late Sunday night radically reorganizes the state’s energy market in favor of clean energy, calls for hydroelectric and offshore wind power contracts worth […]
Energy bill: Winners & losers
Posted inTransportation
T union claims cash uncollected
THE HEAD OF the MBTA’s Carmen’s Union ramped up his assault on the agency’s move to privatize money collection, claiming the first week of a new system resulted in untold […]
Posted inThe Download
Sausage making on Beacon Hill
The Legislature approved five of the so-called “Big Six” bills by the end-of-the-session deadline of midnight Sunday, but the process left a lot to be desired. Like college students who […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
Uber, Lyft regulations approved
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A LATE-NIGHT DEAL struck between House and Senate lawmakers to regulate app-based ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft would not ban those services from operating at […]
Posted inEnvironment
Lawmakers give late-night OK to energy bill
HOUSE AND SENATE LAWMAKERS approved a compromise energy bill Sunday night that they hope will pave the way for an offshore wind industry and sharply increase imports of electricity from […]
Posted inEducation
Strangeness continues at Suffolk
THE SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY board of trustees waited a full day before commenting on the firing of president Margaret McKenna, and then said almost nothing. Robert Lamb, the chairman of the […]
Posted inGun ownership, Guns, State House News Service
Last-minute bid to derail Healey gun rules
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. […]
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 — 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 […]