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 […]
The new New Republic
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 – […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Jacques blames job loss on Patrick retaliation
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Cheryl Jacques, an administrative judge and former lawmaker, is preparing to sue Gov. Deval Patrick, claiming he nominated someone else to replace her at the […]
Posted inEducation, State House News Service
State board grants waiver to Brockton charter
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Against the wishes of local school officials, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education granted a waiver Tuesday to a proposed charter school in Brockton, […]
Posted inEconomy
Patrick gets pushback on proposed $23m cut
Gov. Deval Patrick, who is already facing resistance on Beacon Hill to his proposed cuts in local aid, is also getting some pushback from a state authority that is being […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download, Transportation
South Coast Rail — always just around the bend
Gov. Deval Patrick threw $60 million at South Coast Rail on Monday, and he told New Bedford and Fall River residents that they’re thisclose to finally getting their commuter train […]
Posted inPolitics
Odds are Fall River mayor can’t lose
An ad appearing on Flanagan’s Facebook page. Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan may pull off one of the most improbable election victories in history in three weeks: the odds are […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Charlie Baker’s compassionate conservativism
Somewhere between the classic Republican world view summed up by his new budget chief (in 140 characters or less), who said the state’s problem is that we’re “overregulated and not […]
Posted inThe Download
GateHouse gobbles up more newspapers
Remember when GateHouse Media officials sent out memos cutting back on buying things like coffee and office supplies like, oh, paper, and the company’s stock went from an initial offering […]