GHOSTING THE NEWS Local Journalism and the Crisis of American Democracy By Margaret Sullivan 105 pages, Columbia Global Reports WHEN THE OWNERS of the Middlesex News acquired the Waltham News-Tribune, […]
Economy
Posted inEconomy
House releases sports betting bill
CONSIDER ITS UNCERTAIN ODDS as falling somewhere between a Hail Mary pass and a slam dunk. With a week left before the scheduled end of the legislative session, the Massachusetts House […]
Posted inThe Download
Worcester officials fed up with Charter/Spectrum
What happens when internet service is a barrier to remote learning? And what happens when resolving the internet access problem is in the hands of a private company, which holds […]
Posted inEconomy
Tenant purchase legislation could stave off displacement
FOR THE TIME BEING, the COVID-19 epidemic in Massachusetts has begun to wind down. However, even if we keep the virus under control, it has already has set in motion […]
Posted inArts and Culture
Why humanities and culture must be part of pandemic healing
AS THE REOPENING of Massachusetts unfolds, the health of every resident should remain the top priority. Gov. Baker’s plan emphasizes a reliance on data, vigilant adherence to safety protocols, and a […]
Posted inArts and Culture
Boston granting relief to businesses that pay rent to city
WITH THE PANDEMIC shutdown wreaking havoc on hundreds of businesses across Boston, city officials are stepping up to provide relief to one group of enterprises with a direct tie to […]
Posted inEconomy
Healey sues Uber, Lyft for misclassifying drivers
ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against ride-hailing platforms Uber and Lyft accusing them of misclassifying drivers as independent contractors instead of employees. “Uber and Lyft have […]
Posted inEconomy
State quietly restores plastic bag bans
ON FRIDAY NIGHT — a time often reserved for releasing bad or controversial news — the Department of Public Health quietly lifted the state’s ban on reusable bags in grocery stores and […]
Posted inEconomy
Massachusetts Phase 3 reopening plan is hardly ‘Vigilant’
ON MONDAY, MASSACHUSETTS entered Phase 3 of its reopening plan, which Gov. Baker’s people have code-named “Vigilant.” It includes movie theaters, gyms, entertainment venues, casinos, and larger gatherings. This is […]
Posted inEconomy
New bill would extend eviction moratorium by a year
REVERE RESIDENT Dolores De Blass has lived in the same apartment for 11 years and never had a problem making the $2,000-a-month rent, but then COVID-19 came along. De Blass, her […]
Posted inHealth Care
COVID-19 crackdown coming for N. End restaurants
FOLLOWING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS about expanded outdoor dining in Boston’s North End not complying with COVID-19 guidelines, the city’s Licensing Board has decided to crack down with random inspections of new “al […]
Posted inThe Download
COVID-19 crackdown coming for N. End restaurants
Following numerous complaints about expanded outdoor dining in Boston’s North End not complying with COVID-19 guidelines, the city’s Licensing Board has decided to crack down with random inspections of new […]
Posted inOpinion
Living wage needed for human service workers
THROUGHOUT THE CORONAVIRUS pandemic, we have heralded the selfless heroism of our health care workforce and first responders. The doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, EMTs, firefighters, and police continue to […]
Posted inEconomy
Lawmakers move to pass one-month budget
LAWMAKERS ARE MAKING quick work of an interim budget filed by Gov. Charlie Baker that will fund state government through the end of July. Baker filed the $5.25 billion budget […]
Posted inOpinion
Apprenticeships can also work in white-collar professions
FOR GENERATIONS, Massachusetts industries have used apprenticeships to develop young talent and build expertise in demanding blue-collar fields, often working hand-in-hand with government agencies. As we cope with the impact […]
Posted inEconomy
Another step: Indoor dining resumes Monday
MASSACHUSETTS WILL TAKE another significant reopening step on Monday, with the Baker administration allowing restaurants to offer indoor dining, retailers to open dressing rooms by appointment only, nail salons to […]
Posted inEconomy
Childcare provider: ‘I’m scared for my business’
AS SHE LOOKS TOWARD REOPENING, Tammy Inman, the owner and director of Little Kids childcare center in North Falmouth is scared. “I’m really scared for my business, I’m scared for my […]
Posted inThe Download
Childcare provider: ‘I’m scared for my business’
As she looks toward reopening, Tammy Inman, the owner and director of Little Kids childcare center in North Falmouth is scared. “I’m really scared for my business, I’m scared for […]
Posted inEconomy
Many businesses closed by COVID are not coming back
THE GREEN BEAN in Northampton was the type of breakfast and lunch place where people would visit daily, hold work meetings, meet their future spouse, or break up with a […]
Posted inUncategorized
Report: Undocumented immigrants at risk of losing work, pay
NEARLY HALF OF the undocumented immigrants employed in the state, an estimated 55,000 workers, were at risk of losing their job or losing pay because their workplace had to close during the […]
Posted inEconomy
House votes to cap food delivery fees
THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE on Wednesday passed a bill that would temporarily cap the fees that delivery services can charge restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic. The provision was part of a […]
Posted inUncategorized
Lawsuit challenges Baker’s emergency declaration
A SMALL GROUP of business owners and pastors filed suit against Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday, alleging he exceeded his authority by using the Civil Defense Act of 1950 to […]
Posted inOpinion
Direct care workers deserve more than recognition
FOR MANY, the COVID-19 crisis has shone light on the key role that human service workers play in protecting and caring for our communities. In the private sector, direct care […]
Posted inEconomy
Municipalities tweak Baker’s reopening plans
MONTHS INTO THE coronavirus pandemic, cities and towns are taking reopening plans into their own hands, including in Gov. Charlie Baker’s own backyard. The Select and Health Boards of Swampscott, where […]