A federal judge on Thursday ignored sentencing guidelines and the recommendations of prosecutors – as well as his own history – before handing out much lighter-than-expected sentences to former Probation […]
Judge goes very easy on O’Brien, aides
Posted inPolitics
Fall River follies
Since 2010, Massachusetts voters statewide have marched to the polling booth eight times for primary, general, and special elections and there have been at least 13 other special elections with […]
Posted inPolitics
Judge signals stiff terms for O’Brien, aides
Prosecutors in the federal trial of former Probation commissioner John O’Brien and his two top deputies said on Wednesday they will not pursue bribery charges after the judge indicated he […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Don’t treat natural gas addiction with new pipelines
Massachusetts and New England are dangerously addicted to natural gas. We got addicted because gas burns cleaner than oil and coal and is cheap most of the year. But our […]
Posted inEducation
With a six-hour-long court hearing on the settlement agreement between Partners HealthCare System and the Attorney General’s office coming to a close, Martha Coakley rose from her seat in the […]
Posted inEnvironment
Crafting an energy bill
Rep. Patricia Haddad of Somerset blocked the Patrick administration’s energy bill during the last legislative session because it failed to give a nod to the offshore wind industry her region […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
A time for beginnings, endings, opportunities
It’s a time for beginnings. The election of a new governor brings an end to eight years of Democratic hegemony on Beacon Hill. For Charlie Baker, it is both a […]
Posted inHealth Care, Politics
Coakley v Sanders
With a six-hour-long court hearing on the settlement agreement between Partners HealthCare System and the Attorney General’s office coming to a close, Martha Coakley rose from her seat in the […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
NStar says power bills will rise 27 percent
NStar Corp. said on Friday that the price of the electricity it is buying for many of its customers this winter will rise 27 percent, or about $28 a month […]
Posted inPolitics
Evan Falchuk discusses his election ‘win’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Xk3XviDmAs4
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
Sweetheart deals?
The state Department of Conservation and Recreation is coming under fire yet again for leasing state land to private entities at below-market rates, but this time even one of the […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
New power plants needed to offset closings
The regional power grid operator predicted on Thursday that electricity usage across New England will grow little over the next 10 years because of energy efficiency efforts but new power […]
Posted inHealth Care
Steward shutting down Quincy Medical Center
Calling Quincy Medical Center “unsustainable,” Steward Health Care is shutting down the hospital at the end of the year and replacing it with a 24-hour emergency department and outpatient services. […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Politics
Ruling increases O’Brien prison time
A federal judge said on Thursday that John O’Brien’s prison time will be significantly increased because the convicted former Probation commissioner “abused a position of public trust.” O’Brien was convicted […]
Posted inHealth Care, Opinion, Politics
Obamacare in the wake of the GOP romp
So Republicans won enough seats to take control of the US Senate in January for the first time since 2006. Given their continuing opposition to the Affordable Care Act (aka […]
Posted inPolitics
Liberal Boston suburbs become key battleground
Charlie Baker launched his gubernatorial campaign last year in Lowell, and he spent much of the campaign chasing votes in cities that are traditionally hostile to Republicans like himself. Baker […]
Posted inPolitics
Mike Dukakis was right
Charlie Baker greets a voter on Election Day outside the polling place at Holy Name Parish Hall in West Roxbury. In 1988, Michael Dukakis got walloped in his bid for […]
Posted inPolitics
Winners & Losers
WINNERS TV STATIONS This year’s election was an advertising bonanza for local TV stations. They raked in millions of dollars in ads from PACs and candidates, fueled by tight races […]
Posted inPolitics
Warren slams PAC spending
Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Wednesday that heavy super PAC spending in the Massachusetts gubernatorial contest should prompt a federal crackdown on unfettered political spending by outside groups. Corporations and wealthy […]
Posted inPolitics
Prosecutors: Nothing new in O’Brien motion
Federal prosecutors on Wednesday dismissed claims by attorneys for former Probation commissioner John O’Brien and two top deputies that they had “newly discovered evidence” that a top judge lied under […]
Posted inHealth Care
Enos stepping down at Neighborhood Health
Deborah Enos, the CEO of Neighborhood Health Plan, said on Wednesday that she plans to step down Feb. 1 to pursue other interests. Her departure follows close on the heels […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Mulligan testimony likely untruthful – defense lawyers
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Defense attorneys, who represent three former probation officials convicted of secretly rigging the hiring system, are accusing former Chief Justice of Administration and Management Robert Mulligan […]
Posted inPolitics
Mayor Thomas Menino’s Godfather video
The tributes to Mayor Menino rightly focus on his people skills and his focus on the little things, but he also had a sense of humor, as evidenced by this […]