was there ever a generation luckier than mine? Born in 1942, I have no memories of the horrors of World War II. But I have clear recollections of the way […]
The politics of extremism
Posted inEnvironment, The Download
Beacon Power-less: Another clean energy mess
With the demise of Beacon Power, Massachusetts has the dubious distinction of steering scarce state dollars to not one, but two, failed clean energy companies, firms that also pulled in […]
Posted inPolitics
Judge returns O’Brien “statements”
A correction has been added to the story regarding Judge Carol Ball’s involvement in another case.The judge in the cases against former Probation Commissioner John O’Brien and a one-time top […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
Election apathy hinges on pride
Does anybody care that elections for mayor, school committee, and city council in Worcester are next week? Alas, most people probably don’t, and it’s very unclear what can be done […]
Posted inEducation, Opinion
Mass. scores high but reading a concern
The results of the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress were announced yesterday and, once again, Massachusetts topped the country in fourth-grade reading. Yet only half of the Commonwealth’s fourth […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Odds improving for online poker?
Two Las Vegas gambling powerhouses, MGM Resorts and Boyd Gaming, are betting that Congress will legalize online poker — a development that could have deep ramifications for the casino gambling […]
Posted inOpinion, Politics
It’s cozy inside
In this world of harsh economic conditions and political divisiveness we all need some coziness. Fortunately, the worlds of politics and business provide us with many suitable examples of how, […]
Posted inEducation, Politics, The Download
The folly of a (slightly) longer school day
The effort by Boston school administrators to add a half-hour to the school day looks a lot like the Obama economic stimulus plan — only possibly much less effective. Some […]
Posted inEconomy, Opinion
The lost decade
the past decade in both the United States and Massachusetts has been referred to as a “Lost Decade” for the economy and especially its workers. Nationally, the Gross Domestic Product […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
Compromise is cheaper
Bitter enemies are suddenly finding common ground on Beacon Hill. First, supermarkets and package stores endorsed legislation that would allow food stores to purchase more liquor licenses. Then insurance agents […]
Posted inPolitics
Agency spends big to fight severance
With the case only in the deposition stage, a quasi-public Massachusetts authority says it has already spent $240,000 on legal fees fighting a $562,000 severance payment claimed by former employee […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics
Winn pleads guilty to 2 misdemeanors
The prominent Boston developer Arthur Winn is pleading guilty to a pair of misdemeanor campaign finance violations, and a development company formerly headed by Winn agreed to pay a $1.5 […]
Posted inHealth Care, Politics, The Back Story
Municipal health care reform taking hold
The municipal health care reform law is slowly starting to have an impact. Several early-adopter communities have used the law – or the leverage the law provides – to shave […]
Posted inEnvironment
Clean energy official a Big Oil investor
The Massachusetts official overseeing most of the state’s clean energy investments has a personal portfolio that includes stock holdings in many non-clean energy businesses. The 2010 ethics filing of Patrick Cloney, […]
Posted inOpinion, Uncategorized
The Constitution’s road map
Congress wasn’t intentionally setting out to write a Strategic Plan for the United States, but that’s what the Founding Fathers did in the preamble to the Constitution, only they didn’t […]
Posted inThe Download, Uncategorized
Dimming the Globe’s Spotlight
The term “scoop” in a journalistic sense has become a cliché, used far more by outsiders than those in the business, if it’s ever heard in newsrooms at all. But […]
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service, Transportation
Regional transit taxes get lukewarm reception
Bay State regional leaders applauded new proposals outlined in a new MassINC report that would empower metro Boston and other areas of the state to tax their own residents to […]
Posted inPolitics
Olver alters math of redistricting
Congressman John Olver of Amherst plans to retire at the end of the current session, the 11th term Democrat announced Wednesday, altering the dynamics facing state lawmakers as they look […]
Posted inEconomy, State House News Service, Transportation
MassINC report calls for regional transportation taxes
A new MassINC report is calling for regional taxes to fund the state’s transportation infrastructure, which would mean any additional MBTA aid would have to come from residents of the […]
Posted inPolitics, State House News Service, The Download
Rushin’ roulette
It’s hard to know what the right metaphor is to capture all the absurd gyrations and policymaking-on-the-run that have characterized the mad dash to casinos and slots. Sometimes it seems […]
Posted inPolitics, The Download
The Bain of Romney’s business resume
Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign is built on his business acumen and turnaround skills. But what exactly does that mean? This week, New York magazine submits its answer. The magazine credits […]
Posted inPolitics
Occupy attracts few people of color
Three things stood out during five days and nights of visits last week to occupy Boston in Dewey Square – how peaceful things are, how committed the occupiers are, and […]
Posted inThe Download, Transportation
Western Mass. transit gain is MBTA’s loss
Once again, Washington shows Western Massachusetts the love. Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, Transportation Secretary Richard Davey, US Rep. John Olver, and other state and federal officials went to Greenfield recently […]
Posted inPolitics, The Back Story
Playing offense on redistricting
The last time lawmakers sat down to redraw the state’s legislative districts, they protected three white incumbents by sequestering black votes in Boston, an action that put them on the […]