Lieutenant Gov. Tim Murray has already told the world he wants to be governor. He’s putting some muscle behind those ambitions, outraising the rest of Beacon Hill in 2012. Murray’s […]
Murray raises money, doubts
Posted inHealth Care
Linsky taking new slant on gun control
A KEY HOUSE LAWMAKER said he plans to file legislation shortly that would require Massachusetts gun owners to obtain liability insurance and store any large capacity rifles at licensed gun […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, The Download
Stop crime — get the lead out
Homicides were down statewide in Massachusetts last year by 39 percent over 2011’s figures, a steep decline that law enforcement officials are crediting to a focused State Police effort in […]
Posted inPolitics
Report says Mass. towns have stabilized finances
 MASSACHUSETTS CITIES AND TOWNS have managed to stabilize their finances in the wake of the Great Recession, but they are facing challenges ahead as state aid continues to fall […]
Posted inEducation, The Download
Prep school scandal
In a bizarre email to alumni and parents, the Brooks School in North Andover disclosed that its former headmaster had engaged in inappropriate relationships with a student and escorts and […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
The agita of agendas
It’s the time of year – actually, every other year – that the haughty process of setting agendas is at the forefront. It’s a period of high-mindedness, hope, promise, and […]
Posted inEnvironment, The Back Story
Cape Wind and the fiscal cliff
THE LAST-MINUTE FISCAL CLIFF agreement not only resolved the debate in Washington over tax rates, it also extended the nation’s wind energy tax credits for another year. The extension was […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, State House News Service
Lawmakers, gun control advocates mull strategy
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE.After hosting a private meeting that drew half the Legislature and invited gun control advocates, Natick Democrat Rep. David Linsky said today he intends to file a […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Frank talk about Chuck Hagel
With US Rep. Ed Markey all but poised to try and grab the Democratic baton in the likely match up against perennial senator-in-waiting Scott Brown, it’s gone quiet on the […]
Posted inPolitics
Speaker: State should do more on gun control
MASSACHUSETTS HAS SOME of the toughest gun control laws in the country, but House Speaker Robert DeLeo said he thinks the state can do more. In a speech to the […]
Posted inPolitics
Murray agenda: Guns, welfare, transportation
IT WAS A DAY of flowery rhetoric followed by the outlines of a more down-to-earth legislative agenda as the Massachusetts Senate convened for the first session of its new two-year […]
Posted inEducation, The Back Story
A silver lining in charter mess
NO ONE CAME OUT looking good in the saga of the Gloucester Community Arts Charter School, but there may be one silver lining as the school prepares to shut down […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Santa leaves a poll
Hope you didn’t spend too much money on Christmas gifts this year because it appears there will be no shortage of potential candidates knocking on your door for donations to […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Globe embeds in Bowdoin-Geneva
The Boston Globe is located only a short distance from the Bowdoin-Geneva section of Dorchester, but the newspaper thought that wasn’t close enough. To get a better understanding of the […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, State House News Service, The Download
Patrick aims again at gun reforms
In a state with some of the toughest gun control laws in the US, Gov. Deval Patrick tried to make them even stronger. In 2009, Patrick introduced a menu of […]
Posted inEnvironment, The Download
Greenway director heading west
The Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy has had a tough year. The nonprofit that oversees 1.3 miles of Big Dig parkland was roughed up by the Boston Herald. It had its […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, The Download
Now what?
Friday’s massacre of 20 first graders and seven staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School came the day after decisive action on guns in two state capitals: Legislators in Michigan […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Patrick in a firing mood
When scandal nears his office, Gov. Deval Patrick has learned to take decisive action. He quickly abandoned former Sen. Marian Walsh when emails surfaced that exposed his scheme to give […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Cahill mistrial all about perspective
And on the seventh day, they rested. The Christmas gift that jurors gave Tim Cahill in his corruption trial is looking to be the equivalent of 12 days of worth […]
Posted inArts and Culture, Economy, The Back Story
Preview of coming attractions
MOVIE AND TELEVISION producers in Hollywood are already expressing interest in booking a film studio in Devens that is scheduled to open this coming summer, one of the studio’s executives […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics
Morse changes mind on casinos — again
Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, who just over two weeks announced a stunning reversal of his strong anti-casino stand and said he would consider gambling  proposals for his city, reversed course […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Hitting the paywall
Information may want to be free, but journalists want to get paid. The trickle of newspapers and magazines that have erected some type of paywall is likely to grow next […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service
Hung jury leads to Cahill mistrial
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICEAFTER ACQUITTING HIS co-defendant, a 12-person jury was unable over the past week to reach a unanimous verdict on former Treasurer Tim Cahill’s public corruption charges, leading […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
Amazon tax nice for state, little help for stores
Gov. Deval Patrick has finally sealed the deal with Amazon.com. After months of negotiations, Patrick announced today that the online retailing giant will begin collecting the state sales tax from […]
