The producers of Black Mass and the Motion Picture Association of America used some very selective Hollywood editing this week to plug the Massachusetts film tax credit. With the tax […]
Running the math on Black Mass
Posted inThe Back Story, Transportation
The lowdown on Sullivan Square
IF YOU DON’T live in or around Charlestown, chances are you have no idea why so much of the Wynn Resorts casino debate centers around fixing traffic problems in Sullivan […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, State House News Service
Bill would end license suspensions for drug convictions
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE SENATE LEADERS PLANÂ a vote next week to repeal a state law mandating that anyone convicted of a drug offense, regardless of whether their crime involved the […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service, The Download
GOP debate only skin deep
With reality TV star Donald Trump leading the field, should anyone have been surprised that the most memorable moment of the longest presidential debate in history was about appearances? Trump, as […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
Taxi regulations could also change
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A MODERNIZATION OF THE TAXI CAB INDUSTRY could be integrated into legislative efforts to regulate ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, according to a House lawmaker […]
Posted inEnvironment
Is Baker having a Cape Wind moment?
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER’S PROPOSAL to import hydropower from Canada would end up raising electricity prices in Massachusetts and have limited impact on reducing carbon emissions, according to a report released […]
Posted inEducation, The Download
Charter school chess match
With yesterday’s filing of a class-action lawsuit challenging state limits on charter schools, the debate over the publicly-funded, but independently operated, schools becomes a complicated chess match that will now […]
Posted inTransportation
No common ground in Uber fight
WITH A RAINBOW of partisans as a backdrop – hundreds of Uber supporters in blue, a near-equal number of taxi drivers in bright yellow, and a smattering of Lyft devotees in […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Healey, Kraft launch antiviolence initiative
ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft on Tuesday announced a violence prevention initiative aimed at high school students across the state. With $500,000 from the […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Kinder Morgan chief promises lower prices
LAST WEEK, TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE CO. began another series of open houses to provide important information about its proposed Northeast Energy Direct project aimed at bringing much-needed natural gas to […]
Posted inThe Download, Transportation
The Uber hearing
Today’s State House hearing on bills to regulate ride-sharing apps such as Uber and Lyft is likely to ignore the elephant in the room. Lawmakers will hear testimony on bills to regulate the […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion, Politics
A higher ed turning point
STATE FUNDING FOR the University of Massachusetts system is up for debate once again on Beacon Hill. Gov. Charlie Baker and legislative leaders want UMass President Marty Meehan and the […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
T begins targeting absenteeism rate
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE HOPING TO REDUCE ABSENTEEISM at the MBTA, transit officials have begun looking at the roots of the problem and making human resources hires. They are also […]
Posted inEnvironment, State House News Service
Beaton: Hydropower data not yet available
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE ACCUSED BY A NATURAL GAS PIPELINE EXECUTIVE of failing to back up Baker administration policy proposals with numbers or analysis, the state’s energy chief said Monday […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
DCF continues to struggle
Ten years ago, Haleigh Poutre arrived at a Westfield hospital with grievous injuries inflicted by her aunt (who was also her adoptive mother) and stepfather. The 11-year-old was nearly removed from […]
Posted inEconomy, Opinion, Transportation
On ride-sharing, Legislature must embrace innovation
MASSACHUSETTS HAS BEEN the cradle of innovation since our country’s birth. Big ideas, groundbreaking solutions and global advances in technology, medicine, government and education have been launched in our Commonwealth. […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
We don’t need Kinder Morgan’s pipeline
THE ISSUE OF NEED is of paramount importance in the matter of Kinder Morgan’s Northeast Energy Direct’s natural gas pipeline proposal. Yet need plays no part in Federal Energy Regulatory […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Political gab hour hits Hub
Think of them as falling somewhere between Meet the Press and The Late Show. This week saw the third installment of the Boston Globe’s Political Happy Hour as Boston Mayor […]
Posted inEnvironment, State House News Service
Baker defends push for hydro contracts
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE HOPING TO PUSH two energy bills through the Legislature this fall, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday defended his push to encourage the purchase of large-scale hydropower […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Pipeline needed before it’s too late
SOME GAS OPPONENTS appear confused about the synergistic relationship between natural gas and renewables, as well as the climate benefits New England will realize with adequate natural gas pipeline capacity. […]
Posted inEconomy, The Back Story
Rainy day blues
Rainy day funds have a natural rhythm. They shrink during a recession when reserves are drawn down to offset declining tax revenues. Once the economy rebounds and tax revenues start […]
Posted inEducation
Dealing with stressors at urban schools
AS STUDENTS RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM this week, some will arrive burdened by more than a heavy book bag. For many children in low-income communities, back-to-school means managing social and […]
Posted inThe Download, Transportation
Funding transportation beyond state taxation
The gas tax indexing defeat left Massachusetts cities and towns scrambling to figure out where new dollars to fund roads, bridges, and mass transit repairs would come from. With state […]
Posted inUncategorized
Globe hires chief growth officer
THE BOSTON GLOBE announced on Thursday that it has hired Tim Marken as its chief growth officer, a new position that reflects what appears to be a different approach to […]