“Unpopular, even painful” are the words that will define the MBTA for the foreseeable future. If nothing else those three words are guaranteed to bump “reform before revenue” off the […]
The MBTA, the gift that keeps on giving
Posted inGambling, Opinion
Don’t award third casino license
THE MASSACHUSETTS GAMING COMMISSION (MGC) has already awarded the state’s sole category 2 (slot parlor) license; and, two of the three category 1 (resort-style casino) licenses, with one remaining to […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics, State House News Service
Massachusetts seeing population growth
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE POPULATION OF MASSACHUSETTS is growing at a rate about three times more rapid than surrounding states, a good sign for the state’s economy and its […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
MBTA Control Board lays out ‘tough choices’
The MBTA Fiscal Management and Control Board outlined the steps that the MBTA needs to take to stabilize its finances and operations in its first annual report released Tuesday. The […]
Posted inHealth Care, Opinion
An ACA damage assessment
ON ONE THING all Affordable Care Act watchers can agree: This autumn saw important developments and changes relating to the nation’s health reform law. How much and how serious? Any […]
Posted inThe Download, Transportation
MBTA revenue debate never clean
The new MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board is learning – or at least confirming – that there is nothing simple when dealing with financial issues for the nation’s fourth-largest […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
The Big Three: One happy family
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE IN THE THROES OF A GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION over a year ago now, House Speaker Robert DeLeo didn’t know what to think of the man who would […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
T leaders say fares can go up 10%
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE AS MBTA LEADERS CONSIDER FARE INCREASES of as much as 10 percent starting July 1 and the potential for fares based on ability to pay, a […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
T maintenance worker paid $315,000
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE HIGHEST-PAID MBTA EMPLOYEE has been paid about $315,000 so far in 2015, working 4,455 hours, MBTA Chief Administrator Brian Shortsleeve told the T’s Fiscal and […]
Posted inEducation, The Download
Charter school data wars
When the new year begins, be prepared for the great charter school debate of 2016 to kick off in earnest. The first order of business will be whether the Legislature […]
Posted inTransportation
Luxe backs out
LUXE VALET, the San Francisco-based technology company that looks to solve urban parking problems, is pulling out of Boston after a mere six months of parking people’s cars. In an email […]
Posted inThe Download
Channel Surfing
It’s been a couple decades since we’ve had a major shake-up on the Boston television scene so clearly we were due for one. And it’s looking more and more likely […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Bay State impresses at Paris climate conference
AFTER TWO DECADES, world leaders reached the first-ever truly global climate agreement at the United Nations climate change conference in Paris. President Obama and his fellow heads of state spoke […]
Posted inOpinion, Transportation
‘Twas the night before …
‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS And I jumped out of bed With visions of runaway trains In my head. My dreams, once sullied by Goblins and witches Now were […]
Posted inEconomy, Opinion, Politics
The downsides of Prop. 2½ and Community Preservation Act
IN HIS RECENT book, Our Kids, Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam argues that the American dream of obtaining a good education, joining the workforce, owning property, and being a prosperous […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Hefner causing unwelcome laughs
It’s hard to say who is the punch line in the saga of Bryon Hefner, the 28-year-old fiancé of Senate President Stan Rosenberg, whose loose-cannon persona is causing headaches for the […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
No go: Hefner’s ‘due diligence’ didn’t take long
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE JUST DAYS AFTER SAYING he was “seriously considering” running for a soon-to-be vacant state Senate seat, the fiancé of Senate President Stanley Rosenberg has decided not […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics, State House News Service
Goldberg: Lower pension fund return target
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE STATE TREASURER DEBORAH GOLDBERG told lawmakers Wednesday she favors lowering the anticipated rate of return on the state’s $60.7 billion pension fund, an action that would […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Hingham policeman indicted for insurance fraud
HINGHAM POLICE SGT. KRIS PHILLIPS, who figured prominently in a recent police probe of anonymous letters criticizing the current chief, was indicted on Wednesday for alleged insurance fraud. Phillips, 52, […]
Posted inThe Download, Transportation
Pushing debt to the limit
Massachusetts is about to hit its debt ceiling, which will set off a whole new round of under-the-radar maneuvering on Beacon Hill. Debt financing is a topic that is inscrutable […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
Charters: Better than or just different from district schools?
A TRIFECTA OF initiatives focused on raising the charter school cap, including Governor Baker’s legislative proposal, a potential ballot initiative, and a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of Boston […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
Charters are answering the call on English language learners
THE RESULTS OF a new Pioneer Institute study, “Massachusetts Charter Schools: Best Practices Serving English Language Learners,” rebut one of the central claims made by charter public school opponents: That charter schools […]
Posted inPolitics
Rosenberg says fiancé can make Senate run
SENATE PRESIDENT STANLEY ROSENBERG said on Tuesday that his fiancé can run for the Senate if he chooses but the Amherst Democrat stopped short of saying whether or not he […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Rosenberg’s fiance says he may run for Senate
This is awkward. Byron Hefner says he is “strongly considering” running for a seat in the Massachusetts Senate, which is led by his fiance, Senate President Stanley Rosenberg. The 28-year-old […]