9:00am Annual Immigrants' Day, Hall of Flags

11:00am Senate Session, Full Formal Session

11:00am House Session, Full Formal Session

1:00pm Gold Star Wives Day, Memorial Hall & Nurses Hall

2:00pm Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change, Oversight Hearing

Birthdays: Rep. F. Barrows, Senator Brendan Crighton

Christie reveals exactly why he endorsed Trump, causing people to go 'berserk' » nj.com To me it was just a natural analysis of the situation. There's anger and there's fear. I think from being out there and campaigning for president for over a year, that anger was trumping fear. No pun …

Dimon Warns 'Something Is Wrong' With the U.S. » Bloomberg Politics JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon has two big pronouncements as the Trump administration starts reshaping the government: “The United States of America is truly an excepti…

Charlie Baker eyes 'foolproof' law to protect police » Boston Herald Gov. Charlie Baker is renewing his push to up the penalty for attacking and injuring cops with a bill his top public safety aide is touting as a “foolproof” measure to protect police offic…

'Monumental' step: Cambridge ups affordable housing requirement » Wicked Local Cambridge The Cambridge City Council voted at its meeting on Monday, April 3, to increase the amount of affordable housing developers are required to make from 15 percent to 20 percent of the total number of un…

Mass. officials make move to capture online sales taxes » Boston Globe The tax collectors for Massachusetts' state coffers caught Amazon in their web in 2013. Now, they're going after the other big e-commerce companies. …

Funeral services announced for Sen. Ken Donnelly » Wicked Local Arlington Funeral services have been announced for the late state Sen. Ken Donnelly (D-Arlington). …

Senate mulls multi-year local road repair bill » Lowell Sun Senate leaders are considering a multi-year local road and bridge repair financing bill that would give cities and towns the certainty around funding that they have been craving, and Gov. Charlie Bake…

Tito Jackson once worked for drug maker » Boston Globe City Councilor Tito Jackson has made the drug addiction epidemic a centerpiece in his campaign for mayor, lamenting “an opioid crisis which has not been addressed.”…

After Syria Gas Attack, World Awaits What Kind of Leader Trump Will Be » WBUR President Trump issued a remarkable statement following a Syrian gas attack U.S. officials say was leveled by that country's leader against his own people. Some 40 words of the short, 78-word stateme…

Still struggling, Staples is reportedly exploring a sale » Boston Globe Will private investors, who helped Staples Inc. get off the ground three decades ago, step in to keep the struggling office-supply retailer from crashing?…

We need debt-free college in MA » Commonwealth Magazine SPRING IS UPON US – and across Massachusetts, tens of thousands of students are preparing to graduate and collect their diplomas. In too many cases, the excitement of a new chapter is burdened …

Dwindling cod population in Mass. is no fluke » Boston Globe A WOODEN CARVING known as the “sacred cod” has hung in the Massachusetts State House for centuries, a testament to the historic fishing industry — and its unnatural hold on the stat…

LGBT Employees Protected By Federal Civil Rights Act, Appeals Court Rules » WBUR Teacher Kimberly Hively alleged Ivy Tech Community College in South Bend, Ind., denied her a full-time job because she is a lesbian. On Tuesday, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals said such discriminati…

Under Agreement, Firm Won't Target Digital Ads Around Mass. Health Clinics » WBUR If you visit a coffee shop, you might start to see advertisements for coffee as you browse the internet. The technology behind that is called "geofencing" — it allows advertisers to target ads …

Audit Questions Payments By MassHealth For Mental Health Care » WAMC Massachusetts State Auditor Suzanne Bump released an audit Monday that flagged problems with how the state's health insurance program for the poor paid claims for behavioral health services. The peop…

Investments mark state's efforts to stop child abuse » Worcester Telegram Advocates painted ending child abuse in Massachusetts as an achievable goal on Monday, citing successes of a coaching program for first-time parents under age 21.…

What role should Mass. play in immigration enforcement? » Boston Globe Several justices on Massachusetts' highest court seemed to agree Tuesday that local law enforcement officers cannot detain immigrants wanted by federal authorities solely for immigration violations, s…

Divide on Sanctuary Cities Roils Massachusetts » Courthouse News Service As sanctuary cities spread across Massachusetts, the threatened loss of federal funding has caused pressure to mount for lawmakers considering a bill that would take the movement statewide.…

SJC hears case on holding immigrant detainees » Commonwealth Magazine STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS have the “inherent” authority to arrest and hold immigrants scheduled for deportation, a Department of Justice attorney argued in court on Tuesday. The Sup…

McGovern: Fed attorney schooled by SJC on immigration case » Boston Herald A Justice Department attorney stood alone yesterday in front of a skeptical Supreme Judicial Court and — overmatched and outgunned — fought a losing battle in the name of immigration enf…

Safe communities act may force Beacon Hill to weigh in on immigration » State House News Service

Court strips Tommy Finneran of his state pension » Universal Hub The Supreme Judicial Court ruled today that former House Speaker Thomas Finneran of Mattapan forfeited his right to a state pension when he pled guilty in 2007 to lying in federal court about his role…

Lawmakers consider bill requiring accommodations for pregnant workers » The Republican When Lisa Newman of Northampton got pregnant, she had been working in information technology at a Western Massachusetts college for five months.…

Massachusetts wage gap is costing women $10,000 a year » WWLP 22 In honor of National Equal Pay Day, Congress on Tuesday reintroduced the “Paycheck Fairness Act,” a bill that helps women sue employers who don't pay them fairly.…

Malia: My Legislative Priorities » Jamaica Plain News Over the last three months, so many of you have written, called, and emailed to express what bills need support this legislative session. …

Sen. Donnelly leaves legacy as 'a fighter' for those without a voice » Wicked Local Cambridge Colleagues and friends will forever remember Sen. Ken Donnelly as a gifted and passionate politician, a loving family man, an extremely kind person, and of course, a whiz in the kitchen who could make…

Local representatives support Senate Bill 1452 » Wicked Local Franklin State Sen. Richard Ross, R-Wrentham; state Rep. David Linsky, D-Natick; and state Rep. Shawn Dooley, R-Norfolk, testified before the Joint Committee on Public Service hearing in support of Senate Bill…

City officials growing impatient on idling Bradford trains » Eagle Tribune But that's how long residents in Bradford's Wood School neighborhood have waited for relief from the early morning noise and stench of idling commuter trains operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transpor…

Framingham Could Get $1.9M For Infrastructure » Stoneham Patch Framingham could receive nearly $1.9 million toward fixing potholes, repairing bridges, and other infrastructure issues.…

Cambridge City Council votes to urge Trump's impeachment » Wicked Local Cambridge City councilors decided they're not willing to wait until the end of President Donald Trump's first term to see him leave office.…

On bridge replacement, city forced to play dangerous waiting game » Eagle Tribune It's a matter of public safety. So said the City Council Tuesday night about needed repairs to a bridge on Interstate 495 that has seen dangerous potholes open up twice in the last year.…

Longmeadow railroad crossing blocked, for now » WWLP 22 The town of Longmeadow has debated for decades what to do with the railroad crossing on Tina Lane. …

Medical marijuana in disarray amid pot uncertainty » Boston Globe Marshfield Selectman Jim Fitzgerald is a firm believer in the medical benefits of marijuana. His mother used it when she suffered from liver cancer in the 1970s to manage the side effects of chemother…

EAST COAST CANNABIS » Dope Magazine With now 28 states and the Washington D.C. supporting legalization of medical and/or recreational marijuana, there should be an earnest sense of wrapping up loose ends on the east coast. …

Jostling continues over marijuana industry oversight structure » Berkshire Eagle Uncertainty around the final structure of a new state body that will regulate the legal marijuana industry has not kept people from applying to serve on it, Treasurer Deborah Goldberg said Tuesday.…

Lawmakers Favor a Reset on the New Pot Rules Panel » Boston Magazine Stoking concerns that pot shops will open even later than they were supposed to, state lawmakers seem poised to hit reset on regulating the new legal marijuana industry.…

Trump is torn between GOP moderates and the hard right » Boston Globe CAN DONALD Trump make himself less of an ass?…

A hint that it's budget season: fund-raisers galore » Boston Globe One of the best ways to ascertain whether the Massachusetts House of Representatives is about to release its new state operating budget, which will come in around $40 billion, is whether its budget ch…

In Boston, less racism is still racism » Boston Globe IN A SCENE from “Arrested Development,” a character discovers a brown paper bag in his refrigerator with a written warning: “DEAD DOVE Do Not Eat.”…

Don't nuke the filibuster — restore it » Boston Globe AS SENATE Democrats filibuster the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, Senate Republicans are preparing the “nuclear option” that would allow confirmation by majority vote. …

Editorial: A dose of reform » Boston Herald With each eye-popping payout to a retiring state employee the powers-that-be make an attempt to limit future damage. But the new rules never seem to apply broadly enough. That ought to change.…

DAVID FRIM, Bridgewater: Michelle DuBois should step down » The Enterprise State representatives' duties may include spending time assisting constituents, studying state issues, voting on proposed laws and running for election. Nowhere do I read that an elected state represe…

Grandstanding by a serial blowhard » The Sun Chronicle Sheriff Thomas B. Hodgson, who never misses an opportunity to promote himself as the toughest lawman in the room, has done it again.…

Attack on DiMasi was irresponsible » Commonwealth Magazine THERE ARE SOME THINGS I KNOW with certainty. One of them is that former House speaker Sal DiMasi was a consistent and principled progressive. Whether he was fighting for health care reform enabling …

Setti Warren calls for 'people's pledge' in 2018 race for governor » Boston.com There are now two Warrens in Massachusetts calling for a 2018 “people's pledge.”…

Whitman rep takes step toward U.S. Senate candidacy » State House News Service

Massachusetts Medical Society Trustees Ask Members To Support Safe Injection Facilities For Drug Users » WBUR At the end of April, physicians who set policy for the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) will vote on a recommendation that the group advocate for a supervised injection facility (SIF) pilot program…

Gun activists in 20 states to press for “extreme risk” order bills » WWLP 22 Massachusetts is among 20 states where lawmakers and activists plan to push for passage of bills empowering families and law enforcement to seek judicial approval of extreme risk protective orders, wh…

Rosenberg: 'We are no longer rolling in dough' » Commonwealth Magazine AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY, we have much to celebrate as a business community, as a city, as a Commonwealth. U.S. News and World Report ranks us as the best overall state. CNBC ranks us first in educati…

Going nuclear » Commonwealth Magazine In the arcane rules of the US Senate, the nuclear option is a parliamentary procedure that allows the body to override a rule or precedent by a majority vote. In simple terms, it typically takes 60 vo…

Maritime economy outpacing other sectors » Gloucester Times According to the findings, the maritime economy saw robust growth in employment (up 18.2 percent) and gross state product (up 48 percent) from 2005 to 2015 — each significantly higher than tota…

State rep. edges toward run against Warren » Sentinel & Enterprise Massachusetts state Rep. Geoff Diehl is edging closer toward formally launching a 2018 challenge to incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren. The Republican plans to announce Wednesday that h…

Ethics commission forms subgroup to look at law » State House News Service

Senate mulls multi-year local road repair bill » Lowell Sun Senate leaders are considering a multi-year local road and bridge repair financing bill that would give cities and towns the certainty around funding that they have been craving, and Gov. Charlie Bake…

Thousands of Uber, Lyft drivers fail new background checks » Boston Globe

Feds agree with Green Line Ext. cost estimate » Commonwealth Magazine THE GREEN LINE EXTENSION moved closer to reality on Tuesday, as the Federal Transit Administration said it agreed with the MBTA's $2.289 billion cost estimate for the project and state officials came …

Green Line Extension Gets Green Light from Feds » Stoneham Patch The Green Line Extension will move forward after the Federal Transit Administration approved the new cost estimate for the revised project, according to the Boston Globe. The MBTA had to submit a new…

Local road $$$ bill detoured into conference committee » State House News Service

Natural gas shouldn't be the boogie man » Commonwealth Magazine IT'S IRONIC THAT SEVERAL DAYS after Emily Norton's op-ed in CommonWealth (“Kill the Northeast pipeline“), the Department of …

Social Media Spotlight

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Massachusetts Gaming Commission MGC Meeting 3.30.17 CBS Boston Framingham, Formerly Massachusetts' Largest Town, Votes To Become City Senator Elizabeth Warren Senator Elizabeth Warren's Floor Speech on Judge Gorsuch's Confirmation Vote

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@SenStan Stan Rosenberg @SpeakerDeLeo Speaker Bob DeLeo

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Podcast Spotlight

Boston Herald Boston Herald Radio: Geoff Diehl WBUR Radio Boston: State's Highest Court Considers Constitutionality Of Some Immigration Detainers

Feds OK Green Line extension costs, securing project's future » Boston Globe

Ads targeting women in health clinics won't run in Mass. under AG settlement » Boston Globe

Editorial: Small bridge program a huge relief » The Recorder

Gov. Baker cracks $5M fundraising mark for first time » The Washington Times

Services announced for late state Sen. Kenneth Donnelly » Lowell Sun

Higher Ed Commissioner Santiago to Speak at BCC Commencement » iBerkshires

After immigration raid controversy, candidate pops up to oust Brockton's rep DuBois » The Enterprise

Directions

What's on State Ballots This November » National Federation of Independent Business

Senator Ross Announces Legislative Passage of FY18 Supplemental Budget » Sen. Richard Ross

NATURAL GAS AND INDUSTRY INNOVATION CONTINUES TO HELP DRIVE US GHG EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS » Mass. Petroleum Council

SMART, SCIENCE-BASED STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS CONTINUE TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND REDUCE EMISSIONS » Mass. Petroleum Council

Massachusetts Small Business Scorecard: October 2018 » National Federation of Independent Business

How Small Businesses Can Sell Products on Amazon » National Federation of Independent Business

Governor Baker Nominates Bristol County Assistant District Attorney Shelby M. Smith to the District Court » Office of Governor Charlie Baker

Baker-Polito Administration, MEMA, Local Officials and Columbia Gas Remind Impacted Customers of Available Housing Options and Provide Home Safety Tips » Office of Governor Charlie Baker

AIM Offers Downloadable Employer Guide to State Ballot Questions » Associated Industries of Massachusetts

Massachusetts Association of Realtors Recognizes Realtor Tanisha Salmon for her Community Service Efforts » Mass. Association of Realtors

Mattapoisset Broker Named 2018 Massachusetts Realtor of the Year » Mass. Association of Realtors

Cambridge Broker Receives Massachusetts Realtor Distinguished Service Award » Mass. Association of Realtors

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Improvement Project at Flynn Memorial Rink » Mass. Department of Conservation & Recreation

Federal Judge Denies Motion from For-profit School Industry to Delay Critical Protections for Student Loan Borrowers » Office of Attorney General Maura Healey

AG Healey Sues Starion Energy Over Deceptive Sales Tactics, Overcharging Residents by $30 Million » Office of Attorney General Maura Healey

AG Healey Joins Multistate Effort to Stop Illegal Robocalls » Office of Attorney General Maura Healey

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $3 Million in Community Compact IT Grants to 44 Cities and Towns » Executive Office of Administration & Finance

Treasurer Goldberg Announces SeedMA Baby » Office of Treasurer Deb Goldberg

Legislature passes FY18 close-out bill with $40M for local roads » Mass. Municipal Association

Franklin Line Weekend Shuttles during Two Weekends for East Street Bridge Rehabilitation Work » MBTA

Weekend Daytime Closures of Chelsea Street Drawbridge for Standard Maintenance » MBTA