STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE MBTA GENERAL MANAGER FRANK DEPAOLA has been battling cancer and plans to retire June 30, state officials announced on Monday. “As some of you know, Frank […]
MBTA GM DePaola, fighting cancer, stepping down
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
House-Senate negotiators reach accord on public records
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A COMPROMISE PUBLIC RECORDS BILL agreed to Monday by a conference committee was cheered by open government advocates as a move towards making it faster and […]
Posted inOpinion, Transportation
Time for vision at the MBTA
GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER said, “Where there is no vision, there is no hope.” If ever there was an entity in need of some hope, it is the MBTA. Fortunately, this […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
Why cultural competency matters for teachers
I BECAME A teacher because I wanted to make a difference, to shape young minds, to be a teacher for social justice. White people today comprise over 80 percent of […]
Posted inEnvironment
Energy bill includes offshore wind, hydro
A HOUSE COMMITTEE released a long-awaited energy bill on Monday that calls for the state’s utilities to negotiate long-term contracts for large amounts of offshore wind and Canadian hydroelectricity, although […]
Posted inEducation, The Download
The private college trap
The Globe Magazine over the weekend carried a provocative headline: “Work hard. Go to college. Get ahead…and other bad advice we’re giving low-income students.” The story by Neil Swidey doesn’t […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, State House News Service
27 correctional officers honored
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE TWENTY-SEVEN CORRECTIONAL officers and one K9 were honored Friday at the State House as correctional employees of the year, each one recognized for acts that went […]
Posted inThe Codcast
Episode 3: The Bernie vs. Hillary throw down edition
State Sen. Dan Wolf, a Sanders delegate to the DNC, and former secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral, a Clinton delegate, have at it.
Posted inCriminal Justice, Opinion
Massachusetts should clear juvenile records
A WHO’S WHO crowd of criminal justice leaders gathered at the Seaport Hotel on Monday for the annual fundraising breakfast for the Chelsea-based nonprofit Roca, which works to steer high-risk young […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service, The Download
The Codcast: The Bernie vs. Hillary throw down edition
While some predicted riots at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, with party loyalists unwilling to abide the nomination of Donald Trump, the Democratic convention in Philadelphia may be the […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
Accountants are in high demand
NOW THAT ALL THE MORTARBOARDS have been flipped in the air, college graduates are assessing their career prospects. Amid all the noise surrounding their choices, at least one trend is […]
Posted inHealth Care
Commission wraps up health pricing discussions
THE STATE’S HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION on Thursday wrapped up a series of discussions with industry stakeholders on what to do about hospital pricing disparities, but the group seemed to have […]
Posted inEnvironment, The Back Story
Solar cap clamor resurfacing already
It’s starting again. A little over a month ago, Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law a bill that lifted the cap on solar net metering credits, making it possible for […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
A school-choice double standard
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is right to have long supported the Metropolitan Council for Economic Opportunity (METCO), through which more than 3,300 Boston and […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Walsh tourism chief indicted on extortion charge
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE WITH HIS TOURISM chief due in federal court Thursday afternoon to face extortion charges, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh described 52-year-old Ken Brissette as a “good and […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
The return of Big Red
It’s an apt metaphor that the Libertarian Party is holding its convention next weekend in Orlando, Florida, the home of Disneyworld, because anyone who thinks the nominees for president and […]
Posted inPolitics
Millionaires’ tax gains strong backing
THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE, which has shown no interest in raising taxes for several years, voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to greenlight a constitutional amendment that could give voters the chance to […]
Posted inEconomy, Education, Opinion
Creating opportunity while building our workforce
LOOKING AT A city like Boston, it immediately becomes clear that there is a need to bring more economic opportunity to communities like Roxbury and Dorchester. For many young people […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Are municipal light firms doing enough?
THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE appears primed to enact legislation that will require large purchases of clean energy resources to address the daunting challenge of meeting our greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. […]
Posted inEducation, The Download
Boston student walkout about cuts — and more
For the second time this year, Boston Public Schools students walked out of classes to protest budget cuts they say imperil their ability to get a quality education. Tuesday’s walkout […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Hersh-Galvin: Round 2
In an interview with the Boston Globe’s Joshua Miller earlier this week, Secretary of State William Galvin responded to a critical essay I wrote about his leadership in managing elections. […]
Posted inHealth Care, Politics
Groups raise concern on hospital pricing talks
THE HEADS OF NINE BUSINESS AND INSURANCE GROUPS sent a letter to top Beacon Hill leaders on Tuesday raising concerns about some of the proposals being considered to forestall a […]
Posted inEnvironment, State House News Service
SJC to state: Broaden emission mandates
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A UNANIMOUS SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT RULING handed down on Tuesday affirms the state’s obligations under a 2008 global warming law and orders state government to create […]
Posted inThe Download
Columnist uses his imagination
In his recent columns, Lowell Sun columnist Peter Lucas seems to be letting his imagination run a little wild. A week ago he posted a column based on a WGBH […]