FOR CAMBRIDGE-BASED Biogen, it’s been the best of times and the worst of times. The biotech powerhouse saw its Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm approved in June by the Food and Drug […]
state house news
Posted inPolitics
Mariano intends to run for speaker again
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE AS CANDIDATES START to shift into campaign mode for 2022, House Speaker Ronald Mariano said Monday that he intends to stick around for another term in […]
Posted inPolitics
Revised map puts Fall River, New Bedford in separate districts
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE FALL RIVER and New Bedford would remain in different Congressional districts under a revised map released on Monday by legislative leaders that disregarded the pressure being applied […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
Senate passes ARPA spending bill
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE AFTER WADING THROUGH hours of debate and considering hundreds of amendments, the Senate late Wednesday night unanimously approved a $3.82 billion package to steer special federal relief […]
Posted inPolitics
Fall River’s fate unclear as power players divided
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE DEBATE OVER HOW the South Coast cities of New Bedford and Fall River should be represented in Congress continues to divide the state’s political power players, […]
Posted inEnvironment, State House News Service
Utilities defend energy efficiency plan
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE GETTING MORE people to adopt electric heat sources in place of fossil fuel-powered sources is a crucial part of the effort to meet the state’s new […]
Posted inThe Download
What will Boston’s new Wuniverse bring?
In her victory speech after cruising to a landslide win in the Boston mayor’s race, Michelle Wu spoke of the urgency of “bold” change to “meet the moment” the city […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
State tax collections keep up surprising growth
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A THIRD OF THE WAY into fiscal 2022, state tax collections are trending about 20 percent ahead of the pace that led to a roughly $5 […]
Posted inPolitics
Congressional redistricting map unites Fall River
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE FALL RIVER, the state’s 10th most populous city, would no longer be divided between two congressional districts under a draft map lawmakers released Monday that fell […]
Posted inState House News Service, Uncategorized
House add $174m to ARPA bill
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A MAJOR SPENDING bill allocating federal COVID-19 relief funds and surplus state tax revenues cleared the House on Friday evening by a vote of 159-0 after […]
Posted inThe Download
Can ARPA spending spur transformative change?
Four months ago, CommonWealth reported that jockeying was underway for a slice of the $5.9 billion pie of federal money coming to Massachusetts state government from the American Rescue Plan […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
12 charged in lottery deception scheme
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A DOZEN PEOPLE and three stores were indicted Friday by a statewide grand jury in connection to what Attorney General Maura Healey’s office called “an ongoing […]
Posted inTransportation
‘Alarming trend’ of firearms at Logan checkpoints
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE SECURITY WORKERS have caught firearms at Logan Airport checkpoints this year at more than twice the rate they did in 2019, part of what Massachusetts Port […]
Posted inPolitics
Senate adds 6th majority-minority district in Brockton
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE AFTER SOLICITING feedback over the past week on draft redistricting maps for the Legislature, House and Senate leaders on Tuesday finalized revised plans that would add […]
Posted inThe Download
Wu’s fare-free T: Fanciful notion or strategic thinking?
BEACON HILL LEADERS are showing little interest in one of Boston mayoral candidate Michelle Wu’s campaign priorities – making the MBTA fare free. At a State House press conference on […]
Posted inPolitics
Concerns raised on redistricting plan
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE VOTING RIGHTS ADVOCATES knocked the Senate redistricting proposal as “overcautious.” A state representative with eyes on a seat in the other chamber slammed the potential split […]
Posted inPolitics
Worcester School Committee reaches voting settlement
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE WORCESTER OFFICIALS and a coalition of voters who filed a federal lawsuit alleging the city’s School Committee structure illegally dilutes the electoral power of communities of […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
Trial Court chief Paula Carey to retire
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE TRIAL COURT CHIEF JUSTICE Paula Carey, one of the most influential figures in the Massachusetts judiciary, plans to retire early next year after the better part […]
Posted inPolitics
Senate approves making voting changes permanent
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE SENATE ON Wednesday went on record supporting the permanent adoption of COVID-era voting allowances like expanded early voting and voting-by-mail, and also adopted policies like […]
Posted inTransportation
Poftak: T has some time to address finances
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE ACKNOWLEDGING IN THE WAKE of a tumultuous month that a series of safety improvements have been “not enough,” MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said Tuesday that […]
Posted inThe Download
Who’s keeping whom in check on Beacon Hill?
Massachusetts, the old adage goes, elects Republican governors to keep the free-spending Democrats on Beacon Hill in check. But lately it seems like the roles are reversed. Every chance Gov. […]
Posted inGambling
With thoroughbreds missing, money piling up in race horse fund
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A RECENT AUDIT of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission found no deficiencies, but Auditor Suzanne Bump said the agency could do a better job of collaborating with […]
Posted inThe Download
Two takes on Boston’s Municipal Harbor Plan
Acting Mayor Kim Janey and the Boston City Council are united in wanting a redo of the city’s Municipal Harbor Plan, but getting all of the stakeholders on the same […]
Posted inGuns
Citing bills, Smith & Wesson moving HQ
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE FIREARM MANUFACTURER Smith & Wesson announced Thursday that it will move its headquarters and “significant elements of its operations” from Springfield to Maryville, Tenn., citing a […]