Chris Van Buskirk

Mass. inspector general calls sheriffs’ budget process is ‘opaque, chaotic and deeply flawed' Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro said the sheriffs’ budgeting problems start with the state budget. The commonwealth “routinely” underfunds sheriffs, he wrote, with the understanding that departments...

SHERIFF SPENDING: The budget process for the state’s 14 sheriff departments is “opaque, chaotic and deeply flawed,” Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro said in a report released Friday, laying blame on both state lawmakers and sheriffs themselves. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/02...

HEALEY BANS SOME TRAVEL: Gov. Maura Healey signed an executive order today immediately banning “non-essential motor vehicle travel” in Bristol, Plymouth, and Barnstable counties because of the blizzard. Speed on Mass Pike also reduced to 40 MPH. #mapoli

AG Campbell asks SJC to toss out DiZoglio lawsuit on auditing the Legislature In a filing with the SJC, the state's attorney general argues she is the "gatekeeper empowered to determine when, if ever, the Commonwealth’s intragovernmental legal disputes require judicial resoluti...

NOT SO FAST: AG Andrea Campbell asked the state's highest court to toss out a lawsuit Auditor Diana DiZoglio filed last week that seeks to force the Massachusetts House and Senate to hand over documents as part of an audit of their inner workings. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/02...

Once a Baker-style Republican, Brian Shortsleeve tacks right in his run for governor Brian Shortsleeve left venture capital more than a decade ago to overhaul the MBTA’s troubled finances at the request of then-Gov. Charlie Baker, a moderate Republican of the classic Massachusetts sty...

SHORTSLEEVE: Brian Shortsleeve took the helm of the MBTA a decade ago at Gov. Charlie Baker’s request, a popular moderate Republican. But as Shortsleeve runs for governor in 2026, he is waging an aggressive campaign that has tacked right of Baker. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/02...

Trump administration fights effort by Healey’s Venezuelan aide to get work papers Attorneys for the Trump administration argue that a federal court in Boston lacks jurisdiction to force immigration authorities to decide if a Venezuelan staffer working for Gov. Maura Healey should i...

The Trump administration is fighting an effort by a Venezuelan aide to Gov. Maura Healey to quickly obtain a temporary work authorization, court documents filed Monday show. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/02...

Criminal immigration charges in Mass. increased sixfold in last year U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley has overseen a more than six-fold increase in the number of federal immigration cases charged in the state in the year since she was appointed as the state’s...

IMMIGRATION: MA U.S. Attorney Leah Foley has overseen a more than six-fold increase in the number of federal criminal immigration cases prosecuted in the state in the year since she was appointed, according to data she provided Thursday morning. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/02...

NO AUTHORITY? Attorney General Andrea Campbell says Auditor Diana DiZoglio “does not have the authority to file this lawsuit.” “This is another ploy to sidestep the required approval of my office and will bring her no closer to auditing the Legislature,” Campbell says. #mapoli

Nearly half of Gov. Healey's cabinet has turned over as she heads into an election year Gov. Maura Healey’s cabinet has seen major turnover this year, in roles from veteran services to transportation, as the first-term Democrat faces reelection in 2026 and a continuing onslaught from the...

HEALEY CABINET: Education Sec. Patrick Tutwiler will step down from his post Friday. Healey appointed Salem Public Schools Superintendent Stephen Zrike to the role. This is the latest turnover in Healey's cabinet as she finishes her first term. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2025/10...

DiZoglio takes her battle to audit the Legislature to the state's high court Massachusetts Auditor Diana DiZoglio filed a lawsuit Tuesday with the state’s Supreme Judicial Court to force the Legislature to hand over financial documents as part of an audit into lawmakers' busin...

DIZOGLIO AUDIT: Massachusetts Auditor Diana DiZoglio filed a lawsuit Tuesday with the state’s high court to force the Legislature to hand over financial documents as part of an audit into lawmakers' businesses. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/02...

Venezuelan aide to Gov. Healey sues Trump administration to keep her job A Venezuelan staffer working for Gov. Maura Healey could lose her job because her H-1B visa is about to expire and the Trump administration has not granted her permanent residency, even though she wor...

HEALEY AIDE: A Venezuelan staffer working for Gov. Maura Healey could lose her job because her H-1B visa is about to expire and the Trump administration has not granted her permanent residency, according to court documents. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/02...

Boston's White Stadium rebuild will cost taxpayers $135M, nearly 3 times an earlier estimate The total $325 million project cost will be split between the city and Boston Legacy Football Club, a new professional women’s soccer team, which has agreed to put $190 million into the rebuild, as pa...

WHITE STADIUM COST: The city of Boston’s plan to rebuild White Stadium in Franklin Park will cost taxpayers $135 million, nearly three times as much as the city estimated for the project two years ago. Via @evezuckoff.bsky.social #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/02...

Healey's proposed ICE restrictions in Mass. could provoke legal challenges, experts say Gov. Maura Healey’s executive order restricting federal immigration agents from entering or using state buildings is likely legally sound, legal experts say, but legislation she filed that restricts t...

IS IT LEGAL? Gov. Healey’s executive order restricting federal immigration agents from using state buildings is likely legally sound, experts say, but legislation she filed restricting them from entering daycares or schools could face challenges. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/02...

NINTH TERM? Secretary of State William Galvin says he’s seeking a ninth term in office. He says President Trump is threatening people’s right to vote, he’s worried about interference with the 2028 election, and wants to ensure an accurate census count in 2030. #mapoli

Healey, Denmark sign ‘collaboration agreement’ amid Trump’s Greenland gambit Gov. Maura Healey called Denmark a "significant trading partner" for Massachusetts, with a quarter billion dollars in trade.

DENMARK: Gov. Healey and Danish officials signed a “collaboration agreement” as tensions between the Nordic country and the U.S. remain over Trump’s repeated calls to takeover Greenland. But neither side appeared willing to talk about Trump. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/02...

Can't get a law passed on Beacon Hill? Float a ballot question A record number of ballot questions are proposed this year, in a state where people on both ends of the political spectrum argue the Legislature gets little done.

MAKING LAWS: Can't get a law passed on Beacon Hill? Float a ballot question. It’s increasingly how the business of lawmaking is getting done in a state where people on both sides of the political spectrum argue the Legislature gets little done. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/02...

Massachusetts union members sue to block proposed income tax ballot question A group of union members in Massachusetts and a director of a local nonprofit filed a lawsuit Thursday with the state’s highest court to block a potential ballot question to lower the income tax from ...

INCOME TAX BALLOT QUESTION: A group of union members and a director of a local nonprofit filed a lawsuit Thursday with the state’s highest court to block a potential ballot question that would lower income tax from appearing before voters. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/01...

Healey moves to keep ICE agents out of schools, courts, hospitals and other 'sensitive spaces' The governor said federal immigration actions are “making no one safer." Any legislation she files to bar agents from entering certain spaces would need buy-in from lawmakers.

HEALEY'S ICE ACTION: Gov. Maura Healey says she plans to file a bill to bar federal immigration agents from entering spaces like schools and day cares, and would sign an executive order prohibiting them from using most state resources. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/01...

HOUSE IMMIGRATION: Democratic leadership in the Massachusetts House plans three closed-door meetings next week to discuss "what the Commonwealth can do on immigration policy." Reps. Dan Cahill of Lynn and Carlos Gonzalez of Springfield plan to lead "candid" discussions. #mapoli

Healey's new $63 billion budget, up 3.8%, would eliminate coverage for weight loss drugs Healey’s spending plan comes as state revenues are growing. But her administration is contending with an uncertain economic outlook, a president who’s increasingly hostile toward Democratic states and...

HEALEY’S BUDGET: Gov. Maura Healey plans to file a $63 billion fiscal 2027 budget Wednesday — a 3.8% increase that outpaces inflation and aims to rein in rising health care costs, while responding to federal funding cuts from the Trump administration. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/01...

ICE ACTIONS: Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey plans a 2:30 p.m. press conference at the State House today to “to announce new actions to protect Massachusetts residents from the harmful actions by the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement.” #mapoli

Healey calls on Noem to resign after immigration agent kills VA nurse Gov. Maura Healey called on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign and for federal immigration agents to leave cities like Minneapolis, days after a U.S. Border Patrol officer fatally shot ...

‘NOEM HAS GOT TO GO’ - Gov. Maura Healey called on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign and for immigration agents to leave cities like Minneapolis, days after a U.S. Border Patrol officer fatally shot an intensive care nurse there. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/01...

Mass. officials urge residents to stay off the roads during winter storm this weekend State officials warned residents to keep off the roads Sunday and Monday and to stay indoors this weekend if possible, with a massive winter storm bearing down on Massachusetts and frigid temperatures...

State officials warned residents to keep off the roads Sunday and Monday and to stay indoors this weekend if possible, with a massive winter storm bearing down on Massachusetts and frigid temperatures already settling in across the region. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/01...

Healey puts affordability front and center during State of the Commonwealth address Gov. Maura Healey had two points of focus during her State of the Commonwealth address Thursday night: lowering costs for residents and lowering the rhetorical boom on President Trump.

If you want the short take on last night's Mass. state of the commonwealth, with reporting from inside the room, here you go - @wbur.org @bychrisvan.bsky.social
www.wbur.org/news/2026/01...

Healey plans to spend $180M to help reduce electric, gas bills for February and March Gov. Maura Healey plans to spend $180 million to help temporarily reduce electricity bills by 25%, and gas bills by 10%, for residential utility customers for the months of February and March, her adm...

UTILITY BILLS: Gov. Maura Healey plans to spend $180 million as part of a plan to temporarily reduce electricity bills by 25%, and gas bills by 10%, for residential utility customers for the months of February and March. But there’s a catch. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/01...

Here’s what 6 Mass. political observers want to hear in Thursday's State of the Commonwealth speech Gov. Maura Healey is set to deliver her annual State of the Commonwealth address Thursday night, amid national debates around affordability, immigration and President Trump’s expanding use of executiv...

HEALEY’S BIG SPEECH: Six political observers weigh in on what Gov. Maura Healey should say in her State of the Commonwealth address Thursday, amid debates around affordability, immigration and President Trump’s expanding use of executive authority. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/01...

Gov. Maura Healey launches reelection campaign by attacking Trump Gov. Maura Healey officially launched her reelection campaign Tuesday morning by attacking President Trump over rising costs of living and federal immigration crackdowns in Massachusetts.

HEALEY REELECTION: Gov. Maura Healey officially launched her reelection campaign Tuesday morning by attacking President Trump over rising costs of living and federal immigration crackdowns in Massachusetts. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/01...

Healey calls on airlines to stop providing charter flights to ICE at Hanscom Field Gov. Maura Healey called on two airline companies to stop providing private charter flights to federal immigration officials out of Hanscom Field, arguing the tactics used by U.S. Immigration and Cust...

'ANTI-AMERICAN' - Gov. Maura Healey called on two airlines to stop chartering flights used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport people out of Massachusetts, saying the federal agency's tactics are “disturbing and anti-American.” #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/01...

Inspector general's probe of Mass. sheriffs’ spending includes communications with Beacon Hill In his investigation of Massachusetts sheriffs, state Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro is probing a broad set of financial data, communications with top Beacon Hill officials and non-law enforcement ...

SHERIFF INVESTIGATION: Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro's investigation into county sheriff spending includes a probe into communications with top officials on Beacon Hill, according to a document reviewed by WBUR. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/01...

Wu raises $1.1M from developers, businesses for inauguration Boston Mayor Michelle Wu raised more than $1.1 million in donations for her second inauguration, with top companies that are likely to have business before the city contributing tens of thousands of d...

PAYING FOR WU'S PARTY: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu raised more than $1.1M in Dec. for her second inauguration. Local companies likely to have business before the city contributed tens of thousands of dollars to celebrate her reelection, data shows. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/01...

U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton pays off $346k in MassGOP debt The Republican from Bolton donated more than $346,000 to the Massachusetts Republican Party to pay off outstanding debts weeks after the party voted to give him a key endorsement in his campaign for e...

DEATON + MASSGOP: John Deaton, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, donated more than $346K to the MassGOP to pay off outstanding debts, just weeks after the party voted to give him a key endorsement in his campaign for elected office. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/01...