THE GOVERNORS OF 17 STATES, including Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, came together recently to forge an agreement to develop cleaner energy and transportation solutions for our nation. The pact, known […]
Building an electric vehicle charging network
Posted inOpinion
Solar industry favors incentive reductions
The CommonWealth Back Story on Thursday (“Listen to what’s not said about solar” by Bruce Mohl) sheds important light on the heated debate over net metering and the fate of […]
Posted inThe Download
OMG: Whitey’s ‘solitary act’
The Boston Globe breaks a story that is fascinating on multiple levels about gangster James (Whitey) Bulger breaking a rule at his prison in Florida and being sent to solitary […]
Posted inEnvironment
Healey pushes for delay on pipeline contracts
ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY on Thursday sought to delay action on a bid by Eversource Energy to tap its electric ratepayers for money to finance a natural gas pipeline expansion […]
Posted inThe Back Story
Listen to what’s not said about solar
In the increasingly contentious debate over solar energy, listen to what’s not said as much as what is said. The state’s utilities and their business allies talk about the high […]
Posted inGambling, The Download
McHugh turns out to be right about Wynn
The seemingly never-ending battles between the proposed Wynn Resorts casino in Everett and its surrounding communities are no surprise to James McHugh, who in September 2014 predicted the infighting that […]
Posted inEconomy, Gambling
Fish calls casino ‘game-changer’ for MA
JOHN FISH, the developer chosen by Wynn Resorts to build the company’s $1.7 billion Everett casino, said on Wednesday that the ongoing delays in building the facility are reinforcing an […]
Posted inGambling
Curtatone invites Steve Wynn to call him
WYNN RESORTS on Wednesday ratcheted up the pressure on Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone to drop an environmental challenge to the company’s $1.7 billion hotel and casino in Everett, but Curtatone […]
Posted inEducation, State House News Service, The Download
Brockton charter is a first
Yesterday’s vote by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to approve two new charter schools and allow the expansion of three existing charters included one particularly noteworthy dimension: […]
Posted inOpinion, Transportation
Time is not right for large T fare hike
THE MBTA ASKED THE PUBLIC what it thinks of the agency’s proposal to raise overall transit fares by as much as 10 percent and the cost of some passes by […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Rep: Millions in tax credits go out of state
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Massachusetts sends more than $5 million out of state every year to more than 20,000 people who live elsewhere but receive the state earned income tax […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
How ‘Spotlight’ impacted the legislative process
SPOTLIGHT, BOSTON’S OWN OSCAR NOMINEE FOR BEST PICTURE, highlighted the courageous work of Boston Globe reporters and editors that exposed the Catholic Church’s handling of clergy sexual abuse. The Globe’s […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Joyce says he won’t seek reelection
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A week after the FBI and IRS raided his Canton law office, Sen. Brian Joyce of Milton announced Tuesday that he would not seek re-election. The announcement […]
Posted inUncategorized
Galvin upholds Jones decision on privacy grounds
SECRETARY OF STATE WILLIAM GALVIN’S OFFICE has ruled that the Foxborough Police Department acted properly in denying on privacy grounds a public records request for a surveillance video of New […]
Posted inThe Download
Michigan shooting puts focus on fingerprinting for Uber drivers
The spree shootings that left six people dead in Kalamazoo, Michigan, allegedly by an Uber driver who police say admitted to the random murders before and after he picked up […]
Posted inTransportation
Backups help keep T buses on road
THE MBTA SPENDS A LOT OF MONEY maintaining its aging buses, but the transit agency does a good job of keeping its fleet on the road, thanks in large part […]
Posted inTransportation
T fare hike seems likely
ALL SIGNS ARE pointing to a fare increase at the T; the only question is how big it will be. The Fiscal Management and Control Board is scheduled to vote […]
Posted inTransportation
MBTA reining in operating expenses
TOP MBTA OFFICIALS are forecasting that operating expenses at the transit authority will grow by less than 1 percent this fiscal year, the lowest rate of increase in at least […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Math and spine test for Boston City Council
Boston’s city charter provides for a strong-mayor system of government. It may, in fact, be one of the strongest city executive structures in the country. That’s why the City Council […]
Posted inThe Download
Mickey Mouse journalism
Journalism isn’t limited to the front sections of papers or top of the news hour. Features, entertainment, and sports also have trained, quality journalists who take pride in their trade […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
Baker defends fare hike amid commuting chaos
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE AMIDST ANOTHER DAY OF CHAOTIC COMMUTES for public transit riders, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday delivered a forceful defense of proposed MBTA fare hikes as he […]
Posted inThe Back Story
Mass Housing hires new chief in 10 minutes
It took less than 10 minutes for the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency to name a new executive director last month. The authority’s board convened at 2 p.m. on Jan. 12. […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
Educating the whole child
IT IS A brave new world for public education in this country as schools become a focal point for ideological battles where policymakers seek to shape the educational environment to […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
Keolis loses $29.3m in first year
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE The international firm that runs commuter rail trains in and out of Boston racked up $29.3 million in losses over the first year of its long-term […]