I know that I’m supposed to talk about the establishment and character of the State Infrastructure Bank we’re pursuing in Massachusetts, and I promise to do so while I’m standing […]
Davey makes pitch for infrastructure dollars
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Turner vindicated by SJC ruling
To many of the constituents he once represented, vindication came as a sweet balm late last week when the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that convicted former Boston City Councillor […]
Posted inEducation
AFL-CIO reverses course on teacher bill
The Massachusetts AFL-CIO changed course on Wednesday and now says it supports a teacher evaluation bill that has been proposed as a way of avoiding a costly ballot question fight. […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Rubio, O Rubio, wherefore art thou, Rubio?
Yes, it was hard to believe that Marco Rubio was not being vetted as a vice presidential possibility by Mitt Romney. Romney revealed that the Florida senator is under consideration […]
Posted inEconomy, Transportation
Earmark amendments filed for bond bill
With the state House of Representatives expected to debate a transportation bond bill on Wednesday, lawmakers from both parties filed amendments earmarking state funds for projects in their districts. More […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Tribe and tribulation for Indian gaming
Since Gov. Deval Patrick signed a law authorizing casino gambling last year, a giant contradiction has been hanging over the race for the state’s three casino licenses. The law carves […]
Posted inEducation, The Download
Patrick: a UMass theater major?
Gov. Deval Patrick was a lonely voice calling on UMass trustees not to approve a 4.9 percent fee hike for the coming school year. Though he seemed to be playing […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
Gambling glitch
The gambling conglomerate bankrolling the efforts to build a tribal casino in Taunton has become embroiled in an apparent pay-to-play scandal in New York, a fact that sheds new light […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Rhode Island rolls the dice
If the tensions in Massachusetts over casino legislation seemed high, it’s really nothing compared to the time Rhode Island is having trying to stem the impending financial calamity that will […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Environment, Politics
Murray rips NRC, Entergy
As the lockout of workers at the Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth continues amid stalled contract negotiations, Senate President Therese Murray had some harsh words Thursday for the Nuclear […]
Posted inUncategorized
Committee buries expanded bottle bill
Backers of expanding the state bottle bill, who insist they have the majority support in the state Legislature, will have to wait at least another year before the measure can […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics
Storrow Drive garage, park proposed
Clarification: Mass Eye and Ear says the profit on the existing Storrow Drive parking lot it leases from the state is less than $500,000 a year. CommonWealth reported it was […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Domain bonanza
The World Wide Web is getting crowded, or so they say, so the international nonprofit that governs the way the Internet operates decided to see if there was any interest […]
Posted inEconomy, Opinion
Boston and Berlin can benefit from cooperation
Five years ago, the city of Berlin and several of its biotech businesses sent a delegation to the BIO International Convention, which was held in Boston that year. It was […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Debating the American Dream
Massachusetts and the nation are no longer teetering on the abyss as we were in 2008, but a deep sense of discomfort has settled in among us. Again and again […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Cursing up a storm in Middleborough
If George Carlin could speak from the other side, he’d probably have some choice words for the good citizens of Middleborough, Massachusetts. Middleborough town meeting recently voted to levy a […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics
Bottle law backers press for vote
Supporters of an expanded bottle deposit law said on Tuesday they have the support of a majority of both House and Senate lawmakers but can’t pry the legislation out of committee. […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
As the Globe turns
Rumblings inside the New York Times Co. indicate that the Boston Globe may be heading toward the auction block. But the Times Co.’s exit plan got a lot cloudier yesterday, […]
Posted inHealth Care, The Download
Unhealthy focus on health care jobs
Think of it as the shot heard round the health care world. A perspective piece on health care spending and jobs in last week’s New England Journal of Medicine seemed […]
Posted inEducation, The Back Story
Globe vs. Herald
The Boston Herald’s circulation is dropping, but the tabloid is gaining readers. By contrast, the Boston Globe’s circulation is rising slightly, yet the broadsheet is losing readers. It doesn’t make […]
Posted inBallot Questions, Economy, Education
Teachers’ union opposes ballot question deal
The state chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, which represents 22,000 public school employees, has forged an alliance with the AFL-CIO against a deal struck by the state’s largest […]
Posted inEducation, The Download
Public sector union dominoes
Political change sometimes happens quickly, in dramatic fashion, but usually it occurs more gradually, like a game of dominoes in slow motion. The news that the Massachusetts Teachers Association is […]
Posted inOpinion, Transportation
User fee needed at Suffolk Downs
Now that the general details of the proposed casino/entertainment complex at Suffolk Downs have been revealed, it is time to begin in earnest the development of a comprehensive, effective, and […]
Posted inUncategorized
Proposal would boost Gateway Cities a third
The number of Gateway Cities would increase by 33 percent if two separate amendments tweaking the qualifications become law, the Patrick administration says. Gateway Cities are currently defined as cities […]