Massachusetts prides itself on having the best public education system in the country, and our pride is justified. Thanks to the efforts of thousands of teachers, principals, superintendents, and other […]
College grad pipeline springs remedial leaks
Posted inPolitics
MassDevelopment suddenly flush with cash
MassDevelopment came up with its own funding for two economic development programs on Thursday, allowing the authority to relinquish $23 million in state money the Patrick administration says it needs […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
I am Warren, hear me roar
It really didn’t take Sen. Elizabeth Warren long to find her voice, as if anyone was concerned she wouldn’t, and now it looks like she’s using it to be the […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service, The Download, Transportation
Boston’s Olympic transportation dilemma
If a door falls off of a moving Green Line train and the US Olympic Committee doesn’t hear it, does Boston still get a chance to host the 2024 Olympics? […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Patrick “lone walk” to take place a day early
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Gov. Deval Patrick plans to take the “lone walk” down the front stairs of the State House a day before Governor-elect Charlie Baker’s inauguration in an […]
Posted inThe Download
Today’s Download
BEACON HILL The chairman of the House Post Audit and Oversight Committee says the panel lacks jurisdiction to investigate hiring practices at the Probation Department because it is barred […]
Posted inPolitics
Linsky says panel can’t probe Probation hiring
The chairman of the House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight says the panel does not have jurisdiction to investigate hiring practices at the state Probation Department because such an […]
Posted inThe Download
The new New Republic
The amount of thoughtful debate, sharp-shived zingers, and consideration of its broader meaning being fired back and forth over last week’s convulsions at The New Republic is enough to fill a […]
Posted inOpinion, Transportation
Three out-of-the-box transportation proposals
December is traditionally the time when people reflect on priorities for the approaching New Year. In that spirit, I offer up three ideas that may provoke some thought and, hopefully, […]
Posted inEducation, Politics, State House News Service
MIT job overture disclosed by Patrick
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Gov. Deval Patrick has disclosed in an Ethics Commission filing that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology wants to discuss a visiting scholar position with him. “As […]
Posted inThe Download
Are advertisers backing new Globe sections?
The Boston Globe rolled out another new newspaper section this week, but it’s unclear whether advertisers are getting on board. An expanded daily Business section launched on Thursday, featuring its […]
Posted inGambling, State House News Service
Casinos to offer gamblers voluntary bet limits
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE The state Gaming Commission on Thursday signed off on a pilot program at the planned slots parlor in Plainville that would give gamblers the voluntary option […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, The Download
A rising awareness of police shootings
Another non-indictment in an officer-involved death. Another fatal shooting involving a police officer and an unarmed man, this time in Phoenix. Incidents such as those are playing out around the […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
How pay reflects power on Beacon Hill
If anyone has doubts about the centralization of power in the Legislature, take a look at the special advisory commission’s recommendations on the pay of top elected officials. The commission […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics, State House News Service, The Download
Boston police resist peer pressure on body cameras
As police forces across the country start saying “yes” to body cameras, can Hub police continue to equivocate? The Boston Globe finds that State Police are working on a body camera […]
Posted inHealth Care, Opinion
Pine Street Inn shifts from beds to housing
There are things that Joe Meuse doesn’t remember. He can’t say when he first became homeless. He’s been told that over 18 months, he made 216 visits to hospital emergency […]
Posted inState House News Service, Transportation
Feds set to provide $1b for Green Line extension
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE The Federal Transit Administration plans to provide nearly $1 billion in funding for the $2.3 billion Green Line Extension project, which will bring trolley service through […]
Posted inEducation, State House News Service
Boston teachers hit top salaries fast
CORRECTION: Due to miscalculations in the original National Council on Teacher Quality report, the data furnished to CommonWealth contained errors in the cost of living adjusted rankings. The story has […]
Posted inThe Download, Transportation
The real taxi squeeze play
A familiar drama played out in the Boston City Council chambers yesterday, where taxi drivers and city regulators accused rideshare drivers of operating illegally, and called for sweeping regulations of […]
Posted inHealth Care, Opinion, Politics
How the new Congress will try to undermine the ACA
It’s no secret that the new majority Republican Congress will seek any and every opportunity to undermine the existence and operation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). But how? One […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Baker, Patrick differ on pay raise report
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Outgoing Gov. Deval Patrick on Monday quickly signaled his support for major increases in the salaries of eight top state officials, as recommended by a special […]
Posted inPolitics
Elder Affairs aide fired
The Patrick administration has fired an employee at the state Elder Affairs office who has publicly criticized the agency’s oversight of assisted living facilities. Peter Antonellis, a compliance officer with […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Boston’s young adult challenge
The challenges facing young people in Greater Boston were laid out today, though not in a single story but rather in several. The Globe has a front-page feature on the […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
A diminished role for school committees
Twenty years ago the Massachusetts Education Reform Act (MERA) restructured K-12 public education. Among the many changes – Chapter 70 funding, charter schools, learning standards, curriculum frameworks, and more – […]