CommonWealth Beacon

House passes landmark energy bill with deep cuts to Mass Save, sending it to Senate The legislation reflects the larger tradeoffs around energy policy as Beacon Hill grapples with rising power demand, soaring costs, and quickly approaching climate commitments.

ICYMI: House passes landmark energy bill with deep cuts to Mass Save, sending it to Senate

Massachusetts has an elder care crisis – and it’s about to get a lot worse A dangerous demographic cliff lies just ahead: There’s been a lot of chatter about the vast demographic bulge that we call “baby boomers” passing 65; but the real news is that the oldest baby boomers...

New in OPINION: Massachusetts has an elder care crisis – and it’s about to get a lot worse

commonwealthbeacon.org/government/s...

Often at odds, Mariano and Spilka united by ballot question frustration As the Legislature prepares to review 11 ballot questions with major policymaking implications, the top two Democrats came together to complain that the process is “fraught with peril.”

ICYMI: Often at odds, Mariano and Spilka united by ballot question frustration

Behind closed doors, big decisions loom on health care affordability The rationale for closed-door talks is that it allows participants to take real risks. Without that courage, privacy becomes insulation rather than incubation.

ICYMI: Behind closed doors, big decisions loom on health care affordability #OPINION

‘Couldn’t come at a better time’: Six Gateway Cities to get economic boost in downtown districts Malden, Holyoke, Fitchburg, Chelsea, Peabody, and Lowell were selected for the latest round of support last week. Each city will receive a three-year economic development fellow who will provide on-the-ground...

NEW: ‘Couldn’t come at a better time’: Six Gateway Cities to get economic boost in downtown districts

commonwealthbeacon.org/gateway-citi...

House passes landmark energy bill with deep cuts to Mass Save, sending it to Senate The legislation reflects the larger tradeoffs around energy policy as Beacon Hill grapples with rising power demand, soaring costs, and quickly approaching climate commitments.

ENERGY: House passes landmark energy bill with deep cuts to Mass Save, sending it to Senate

House passes landmark energy bill with deep cuts to Mass Save, sending it to Senate The legislation reflects the larger tradeoffs around energy policy as Beacon Hill grapples with rising power demand, soaring costs, and quickly approaching climate commitments.

NEW: House passes landmark energy bill with deep cuts to Mass Save, sending it to Senate

commonwealthbeacon.org/energy/house...

Often at odds, Mariano and Spilka united by ballot question frustration As the Legislature prepares to review 11 ballot questions with major policymaking implications, the top two Democrats came together to complain that the process is “fraught with peril.”

BALLOT QUESTIONS: Often at odds, Mariano and Spilka united by ballot question frustration

Massachusetts is poised to shake up literacy instruction — and some educators don’t like it The Bay State is poised to enact what its supporters call some of the strongest reading legislation in the nation — and some educators worry it goes too far in imposing new standards that override teacher...

ICYMI: Massachusetts is poised to shake up literacy instruction — and some educators don’t like it

Behind closed doors, big decisions loom on health care affordability The rationale for closed-door talks is that it allows participants to take real risks. Without that courage, privacy becomes insulation rather than incubation.

OPINION: The rationale for closed-door talks is that it allows participants to take real risks. Without that courage, privacy becomes insulation rather than incubation.

House tees up sprawling energy package that would cut $1B from Mass Save The legislation thrust Beacon Hill’s Democratic supermajority into a fierce debate when an earlier version of the bill that would have weakened the state’s 2030 climate targets advanced out of...

ICYMI: House tees up sprawling energy package that would cut $1B from Mass Save

Often at odds, Mariano and Spilka united by ballot question frustration As the Legislature prepares to review 11 ballot questions with major policymaking implications, the top two Democrats came together to complain that the process is “fraught with peril.”

NEW: Often at odds, Mariano and Spilka united by ballot question frustration

commonwealthbeacon.org/politics/oft...

Behind closed doors, big decisions loom on health care affordability The rationale for closed-door talks is that it allows participants to take real risks. Without that courage, privacy becomes insulation rather than incubation.

New in OPINION: Behind closed doors, big decisions loom on health care affordability

commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/behi...

DiZoglio strikes back, but is she firing blanks? Absent extraordinary circumstances, it is not for unelected judges to decide whenand how litigation should be pursued in the name of the Commonwealth's citizens.

ICYMI: DiZoglio strikes back, but is she firing blanks? #OPINION

House tees up sprawling energy package that would cut $1B from Mass Save The legislation thrust Beacon Hill’s Democratic supermajority into a fierce debate when an earlier version of the bill that would have weakened the state’s 2030 climate targets advanced out of...

ENERGY: House tees up sprawling energy package that would cut $1B from Mass Save

Massachusetts is poised to shake up literacy instruction — and some educators don’t like it The Bay State is poised to enact what its supporters call some of the strongest reading legislation in the nation — and some educators worry it goes too far in imposing new standards that override teacher...

EDUCATION: Massachusetts is poised to shake up literacy instruction — and some educators don’t like it

Massachusetts is poised to shake up literacy instruction — and some educators don’t like it The Bay State is poised to enact what its supporters call some of the strongest reading legislation in the nation — and some educators worry it goes too far in imposing new standards that override teacher...

NEW: Massachusetts is poised to shake up literacy instruction — and some educators don’t like it

commonwealthbeacon.org/education/ma...

House tees up sprawling energy package that would cut $1B from Mass Save The legislation thrust Beacon Hill’s Democratic supermajority into a fierce debate when an earlier version of the bill that would have weakened the state’s 2030 climate targets advanced out of...

NEW: House tees up sprawling energy package that would cut $1B from Mass Save

DiZoglio strikes back, but is she firing blanks? Absent extraordinary circumstances, it is not for unelected judges to decide whenand how litigation should be pursued in the name of the Commonwealth's citizens.

OPINION: Absent extraordinary circumstances, it is not for unelected judges to decide whenand how litigation should be pursued in the name of the Commonwealth's citizens.

DiZoglio strikes back, but is she firing blanks? Absent extraordinary circumstances, it is not for unelected judges to decide whenand how litigation should be pursued in the name of the Commonwealth's citizens.

New in OPINION: DiZoglio strikes back, but is she firing blanks?

commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/dizo...

In Wellesley, a determined effort to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory What’s unfolding in Wellesley is not that different from other situations across the state when communities and leaders with the best of intentions lose their resolve.

ICYMI: In Wellesley, a determined effort to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory #OPINION

‘Administrative fat’ or ‘amnesia’: How much should we spend on the MBTA? This week on The Codcast, we dive into a long-running debate: is the significant growth in state funding for the T an acknowledgment that good public transit requires big public investment, or is it a...

On this week's Codcast: ‘Administrative fat’ or ‘amnesia’: How much should we spend on the MBTA?

Listen now.

‘Administrative fat’ or ‘amnesia’: How much should we spend on the MBTA? This week on The Codcast, we dive into a long-running debate: is the significant growth in state funding for the T an acknowledgment that good public transit requires big public investment, or is it a...

New on the Codcast: ‘Administrative fat’ or ‘amnesia’: How much should we spend on the MBTA?

commonwealthbeacon.org/the-codcast/...

Healey won't attend White House events with governors "'For years, Governors of both parties met with Presidents of both parties annually," Healey said in a statement released after 4 p.m. Thursday. 'This has always been an important opportunity for us to...

ICYMI: Healey won’t attend White House events with governors

Political Notebook: Wu and Rooney on collision course, again BOSTON MAYOR MICHELLE WU and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce are cruising toward another political fight that could strain their

ICYMI: Political Notebook: Wu and Rooney on collision course, again

In Wellesley, a determined effort to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory What’s unfolding in Wellesley is not that different from other situations across the state when communities and leaders with the best of intentions lose their resolve.

OPINION: What’s unfolding in Wellesley is not that different from other situations across the state when communities and leaders with the best of intentions lose their resolve.

Ed Augustus becomes eighth member of Healey’s Cabinet to depart Housing Secretary Ed Augustus will step down next week to take over a Central Massachusetts bank, and the governor picked former HUD official — and onetime MassINC chief operating officer — Juana...

ICYMI: Ed Augustus becomes eighth member of Healey’s Cabinet to depart

In Wellesley, a determined effort to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory What’s unfolding in Wellesley is not that different from other situations across the state when communities and leaders with the best of intentions lose their resolve.

New in OPINION: In Wellesley, a determined effort to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/in-w...

ICYMI: buff.ly/cyLa9Ll

Healey won't attend White House events with governors "'For years, Governors of both parties met with Presidents of both parties annually," Healey said in a statement released after 4 p.m. Thursday. 'This has always been an important opportunity for us to...

GOVERNMENT: Healey won’t attend White House events with governors