The Download: Healey’s ‘Washington solution’ to migrant crisis derails
Former alderman gets two years in federal bribery case that rocked Somerville and Medford
An attempt to bribe Medford’s police chief –- part of a scheme to obtain approvals for a marijuana company that would earn him a six-figure yearly payout – earned former Somerville attorney and alderman Sean O’Donovan a two-year federal prison sentence
Boston’s free museum plan leaves out thousands of kids
Under a new seven-month pilot program, on the first two Sundays of every month, Boston Public Schools students and up to three family members will have free admission to several Boston arts and cultural institutions. But the free admission program doesn’t apply to all young people in the city.
Healey nominates former partner for state’s highest court
A New York native, Gabrielle Wolohojian was appointed to the Appeals Court by Gov. Deval Patrick, and has authored 900 decisions while sitting on 2,700 appeals since 2008.
No easy answers on child protection — but here’s a start
A move by state government to separate a child from their family is among the most difficult decisions government makes. We can create a system that protects children and supports families by following 5 key principles.
Geothermal pilot in Framingham could be key decarbonization answer
It’s a first-in-the-nation utility scale networked geothermal system, which works by harnessing the earth’s ambient temperature and Eversource is betting similar systems can be built across Massachusetts.
Wu to pay $8.4m to extend fare free buses 2 more years
The three free buses are the 23, 28, and 29 routes, which run through parts of Dorchester, Mattapan, and Roxbury. City officials say half of the riders on the routes are low income and ridership overall is high. The officials said Route 28 ridership is at 102 percent of pre-COVID levels, while the Route 23 is at 94 percent and the Route 29 is at 64 percent.
Mass. Gaming Commission looks to study sex trafficking in casinos
With casino gambling booming, state regulators are looking to pursue a study assessing the influence of the expansion of gaming on sex trafficking in Massachusetts.
Holding a mirror up to our stereotypes
The new film “American Fiction” is not merely a piece of entertainment; it is a profound commentary on the state of our cultural and media landscapes.
Study says state faces growing teacher diversity challenge if action isn’t taken
Massachusetts has made strides in its effort to increase teacher diversity, but the K-12 student population is growing more diverse at a much faster rate.
Tax revenues kept sliding in January
Revenue Department officials said revenues in January came in 6.8 percent, or $263 million, below what had been forecasted for the month. For the first seven months of the fiscal year, revenues were 1.2 percent off forecasted levels.
Utilities dig into geothermal systems in race to decarbonize
THE GROUND BENEATH Massachusetts is key to a relatively new strategy to decarbonize the state’s building stock within the next decade. Deep beneath Framingham, Lowell, and Boston, pipes will exchange […]
National Grid digs into geothermal
This week on The Codcast, National Grid experts Owen Brady-Traczyk and Bill Foley join CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith to discuss two pilot programs bringing networked geothermal heating and cooling systems to Massachusetts.
Before making community college free, we must reckon with their role
Before we go too far down the road of embracing some form of free community college, we need a conversation among political leaders, business leaders, and community college leaders about the role we need our community colleges to play in our state and regional economies, and the resources required to enable them to play that role.
Short takes: Newton lawmakers silent on teachers strike
One might think the Newton teachers strike is the kind of pressing issue that the city’s state lawmakers would speak out about. Think again.
Newton leaders and residents made their own bed
Striking Newton teachers deserve more money, and the city would have it available to pay them if its leaders had not been so hostile to revenue-generating development over the years.
O’Brien’s lawyer says he’s ‘unaware’ of probe behind subpoena report
A lawyer for suspended cannabis regulator Shannon O’Brien said he’s not aware of any federal investigation into his client and has not the subpoena that the Boston Globe reported was sent to state officials last fall.
New gig work ballot question lawsuit explained
A coalition of labor leaders and ride-share drivers is asking the Supreme Judicial Court to block ballot measures that would classify the drivers as independent contractors rather than employees under Massachusetts law – and the suit may feel like déjà vu.
Teachers union’s MCAS ballot question draws opponents
The Massachusetts Teachers Association, which is leading a ballot question campaign to end the MCAS graduation requirement for high schools students, has drawn an opponent, as an official with a Boston education reform nonprofit recently formed a ballot committee to oppose ending the requirement.