9:30am Cannabis Control Commission Meeting, Rooms A-1 & A-2, State House

10:30am International Wrongful Conviction Day, Great Hall, State House

11:00am Senate Task Force on Strengthening Massachusetts Local Retailers, Room 428

11:00am Joint Committee on Higher Education, Public Hearing

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Joint Committee on State Administration & Regulatory Oversight, Public Hearing

6:00pm Italian American Heritage Month Kick-Off, House Chamber, Third Floor Landing, State House

6:30pm Hyde Park Meet and Greet with Boston City Council President Michelle Wu, Rincon Caribeno Restaurant, 18 Fairmount Avenue, Hyde Park

6:30pm Chicopee Candidates Forum, Chicopee High School, 820 Front Street, Chicopee

7:00pm Worcester School Committee Candidate Debate, Mechanics Hall, 321 Main Street, Worchester

How many crime-linked guns are there in Boston? » Boston Globe Boxes of shell casings and firearms line the storage shelves in the Boston Police Department's ballistics lab, a grim testament to the gun violence that each year leaves dozens dead and many more inju…

Should towns that ban pot dispensaries get the tax revenue? » Boston Globe Who should share in the spoils of the new recreational marijuana industry? If pro-pot advocates get their way, it won't be any of the more than 100 municipalities that have enacted bans, moratoriums, …

Senate Judiciary Chair outlines criminal justice reforms » The Republican Senate members of the Judiciary Committee on Friday advanced a 114-page criminal justice bill that would phase out the indigent counsel fee, require regular reviews to determine whether a prisoner sho…

Robert Mueller has no comment » Politico Robert Mueller is rarely seen and almost never heard. He doesn't frequent popular restaurants, appear on television or even issue statements. When he meets in person with President Donald Trump's lawy…

Beacon Hill transportation reports still don't answer money questions » Worcester Telegram & Gazette If words were cash, Massachusetts might have the most well-funded transportation system around.…

Power base shifting in Valley congressional district » Eagle Tribune Lowell is the most populous city in the sprawling 3rd Congressional District and historically plays an oversized role in determining who the region sends to Congress.…

Is Ed Markey Really the Best We Can Do? » Boston Magazine “Where are we going?” Ed Markey asks. The senator and I are speed-walking behind one of his staffers out of the Capitol and onto a vast stone plaza. It's July in DC and it feels like a hundred deg…

FEC fines contractor that gave pro-Clinton super PACs illegal cash » The Center for Public Integrity The Federal Election Commission has fined Boston-based Suffolk Construction Co., a federal government contractor, for making illegal contributions to a pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC, according to a le…

John Fish's Suffolk Construction fined $34G for Hillary PAC donations » Boston Herald Federal campaign finance officials have fined the John Fish-led Suffolk Construction Company $34,000 for a pair of improper six-figure donations it made to a pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC, a political…

EF Education First expands its Cambridge campus again » Boston Globe EF Education First is bringing the big top to Cambridge as it breaks ground for its latest campus expansion — a new 12-story building — on Monday. …

Old South Church puts a $19 million price on sunlight » Boston Globe That's how much the historic Copley Square church wants developer Boston Properties to pay as compensation for shadows a planned tower at Back Bay Station would cast on the 142-year-old church, potent…

Welcome, entrepreneurs: Boston hosts Forbes Under 30 Summit » Boston Herald Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Gov. Charlie Baker wooed millennials yesterday as more than 7,000 young entrepreneurs converged in the city for the Forbes Under 30 Summit.…

Boston's High-Tech Plan to Tackle Income Inequality » Wired Hype about using enormous sets of sensor-collected data to “drive results” in US cities is getting pretty thick. …

Who will buy Worcester's Midtown Mall? Two potential buyers in talks over property standing in way of city's downtown renaissance » The Republican As New England's second largest city continues to undergo a massive transformation of its downtown, one key property has sat unaltered, a reminder of the urban core's once troubled past: The Midtown M…

Cape business leaders lower expectations after wet summer » Cape Cod Times Relatively damp and cool weather made the summer of 2017 a mixed bag for businesses on the Cape and Islands, but a warm September has raised hopes for a strong shoulder season.…

Springfield City Council To Endorse Pitch For Amazon Headquarters » WAMC

Brockton-area social media controversies shine light on First Amendment » Wicked Local A series of recent posts that a Brockton public official and a Bridgewater State University employee have made on social media about NFL players' protests and President Donald Trump have sparked outra…

Trump policy halts loan relief for thousands of students » Boston Globe Panic overwhelmed Kennya Cabrera Garcia when she realized that her diploma — the one she had taken out loans to earn — was virtually worthless. …

Nurse stabbed 11 times by patient: 'We have no protection' » Worcester Telegram & Gazette Injured ER nurse Elise Wilson considers the brutal stabbing she suffered at the hands of a troubled patient in June the third time she's survived “a death sentence.”…

Congress Lets CHIP Expire, and States Scramble » Governing

Trump to Shut HealthCare.Gov Down for Half of Most Sundays » Governing

Rosenberg: Senate health care bill due out this month » State House News Service

Baker calls for bipartisan effort on health care reform » Boston Globe

Baker frets about federal inaction on health care » Boston Business Journal

A bill too broad » Cape Cod Times A new legislative proposal designed to give Barnstable more control over nonprofit educational organizations in residential areas, including group homes, may sound like a good idea to residents facing…

Cambridge authority makes a little room for people displaced by three hurricanes » Cambridge Day The Cambridge Housing Authority is making it easier for people displaced by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria to qualify for Cambridge public housing. Agency commissioners approved a temporary policy …

As advocates push for state resolution, New Bedford educates its TPS holders » South Coast Today SouthCoast immigrants, particularly those with Temporary Protected Status, are seeking options after federal immigration law changes leave them fearful of losing their status that resulted from danger…

Massachusetts Attorney General probes addiction-center insurance scam » Insurance Business The Massachusetts attorney general is investigating a wide-ranging insurance scam that recruited drug users to go to treatment centers in other states and exploit their benefit payments. …

Lawyer: Jailing addict for relapse is 'unfair' » Boston Herald

If Addiction Is a Disease, Should Relapse Mean Jail Time? » US News and World Report A unique case before Massachusetts' highest court is challenging the practice of ordering people with addiction to stay drug free as a condition of probation.…

Celebration of diversity in Lowell District Court » Lowell Sun Lowell District Court looked, smelled and sounded a lot more festive than usual Thursday as judges, attorneys, probation officers and other staff celebrated the numerous cultures represented by those …

Task force starts with debate over definition of retail » State House News Service

Central Mass. communities get Complete Streets money for road, sidewalk, bike infrastructure upgrades » Worcester Telegram & Gazette Several Central Massachusetts communities are among the recipients of nearly $7.8 million in state Complete Streets money for road, sidewalk and bike infrastructure upgrades.…

Lancaster must repay $400K in taxes to Atlantic Union College » Worcester Telegram & Gazette The town must abate approximately $400,000 in taxes to Atlantic Union College under an state Appellate Tax Board ruling that the college is exempt from property taxes.…

Donald Trump's sporting spirit » Boston Globe There is no doubt that our president's latest beef, against pro football players who protest during the national anthem, arises from his addiction to conflict and his keen instinct for race-baiting.…

Don't give up on building with wood » Boston Globe Devastating fires at local building sites this summer have prompted calls for more regulation or even restrictions on wood-frame construction, which is on the rise thanks to new building codes that al…

Look to the harbor to ease Boston's transportation woes » Boston Globe Finally, Boston Harbor is getting the attention it deserves as an option for easing the region's transportation woes. …

As I See It: We must stop bee die-off before it's irreversible » Worcester Telegram & Gazette Bees and other pollinators have been dying off at unsustainable rates and Massachusetts has to do something about it now. We rely on bees for the health of our food system and our agricultural economy…

GAY: With 'friends' like these... » The Sun Chronicle According to my Facebook page I have 697 "friends" ranging from family to people who are friends of friends and asked to become one with me. I almost always say yes.…

Letter: No time for congratulations on opioids » The Salem News As noted in your Sept. 4 headline story, Massachusetts public health officials have noted opioid fatalities are on the decline for the first time in many years.…

Editorial: The art of bullying » Boston Herald Senate President Stan Rosenberg recently issued a call for a larger public investment in the arts in the state, noting with pride that the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which supports the nonprofit …

Drug dealers hit with heavy dose of legal reality » Sentinel & Enterprise Gov. Charlie Baker was on the right track a month ago when he proposed new legislation that would impose a minimum mandatory sentence of five years in jail for drug dealers found guilty of distributin…

Carr: Won't (a) somebody run against Marty Walsh? » Boston Herald Marty Walsh has to be the luckiest man in Massachusetts politics. Has the guy ever had a tough fight?…

Democratic Challenger Criticizes Baker's Puerto Rico Effort » Cape Cod Online Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Newton mayor Setti Warren is dissatisfied with Republican Gov. Charlie Baker's response to the devastation in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.…

Is this City Council race the most interesting contest on the November ballot? » Boston Globe Lydia Edwards and her team had assembled at her East Boston headquarters Tuesday night to watch the election results trickle in. There were sandwiches, roast beef, and chips, and someone grabbed some …

Attleboro candidates now playing a numbers game » The Sun Chronicle How mayoral candidates Kevin Dumas and Paul Heroux handle the numbers may determine who's sitting in the corner office come January.…

In Salem mayoral race, it's a matter of style » The Salem News When it came time to vote on a new senior center in 2007, City Councilor Paul Prevey said he was undecided until the very end.…

Easthampton at-large candidate William Lynch IV touts teamwork and management skills » The Republican

CAASA plans community forum on opioid epidemic » The Canton Citizen The Canton Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA) is sponsoring a community forum on the opioid epidemic to be held on Tuesday, October 17, at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at the Canton Public Libra…

How much battering can a brain take? » Boston Globe As researchers in Boston release one high-profile study after another about the effects of head injuries, a biomechanical engineer 50 miles to the west is pursuing a project that might someday help pr…

FLANAGAN: What we need is another holiday » The Sun Chronicle The squirrels have been doing their part for weeks, running nervously across my view through the window behind the desk where I place the laptop, stopping to decide where to bury the acorns they carry…

Chabot: Officials urging intel on ID theft by inmates » Boston Herald Bay State prisons and jails could be housing hundreds of illegal immigrants posing as legal citizens — raising the risk that criminals who should be deported could be released back into the United S…

Weekly Roundup from Beacon Hill: A seven-ten split » Newburyport News Line 'em up and knock 'em down. That's been the House's approach to Gov. Charlie Baker's budget vetoes since returning from summer recess. But if Speaker Robert DeLeo was hoping to see the Senate quic…

Legislature still spending like it has a blank check » Lowell Sun The Democrat-dominated House of Representatives is at again. Having already restored $275 million in overrides of Gov. Charlie Baker's budget vetoes, state reps of the majority party continued their s…

House votes to overturn spending cuts » Sentinel & Enterprise Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives' and senators' votes on several of the roll calls on overriding some of Gov. Charlie Baker's cuts of $320 million in spending in the $39.4 billion f…

Keller @ Large: State Treasurer Deb Goldberg Talks Marijuana Regulation » CBS Boston The State Treasurer's Office is at the center of some of the biggest issues going in Massachusetts.…

New rules aim to toughen Mass. law requiring transparency » Lowell Sun Some changes are in store for the state law that requires transparency on the part of governmental bodies in Massachusetts.…

AG Maura Healey postpones tonight's town hall meeting in Leominster citing mass killing in Las Vegas » Sentinel & Enterprise

Baker on Vegas shooting: "This could be anyone's kids including ours" » State House News Service

Gov. Charlie Baker calls Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval after mass shooting » The Republican

MBTA keeps mum on train uncoupling » Boston Herald The MBTA is refusing to release records that could shed light on what caused a commuter rail coach car to suddenly break away from a moving train three weeks ago, an incident that prompted a federal a…

Plymouth: Interview on Pilgrim Shutdown with Former Senator Dan Wolf » 95.9 WATD When the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth stops producing electricity in 2019, its owner will file what's called a Post Shutdown Activity Report. It will detail the plan to decommission the p…

Northern Pass hits another obstacle » Commonwealth Magazine THE TROUBLED NORTHERN PASS power line project was dealt another blow as the federal Environmental Protection Agency called for an additional 40-mile stretch of the transmission line to be buried under…

Region's businesses have learned to adapt and succeed for decades » Milford Daily News When PC giant Dell bought homegrown EMC Corp. in a historic $67 billion merger last year, the company became the largest privately-controlled tech company in the world. But some feared sizable layoffs…

Nitty-gritty of health care policy focus of 2-day hearing » The Associated Press (AP) The nitty-gritty of health care policy will be on the table when the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission hosts its annual health care cost trends hearing in Boston.…

THE COLUMN: Primary vote a wake-up call for councilors » Lowell Sun FOLLOWING NEARLY a nearly a dozen interviews Wednesday following Tuesday's City Council preliminary election that saw candidates who support keeping Lowell High School downtown dramatically rise to th…

Local lawmakers urge caution over online lottery proposal » The Sun Chronicle The head of the Massachusetts Lottery Commission thinks the state needs to look at expanding the games online to reach younger customers. But area legislators fear the impact that change would have on…

Belvidere voters show their clout » Sentinel & Enterprise Democracy belongs to those who vote. It was clear in Tuesday's Lowell City Council preliminary election, as Belvidere's three voter-rich precincts turned out in force to back candidates favoring pro-d…

Ventura working to pull GOP together in special election » The Sun Chronicle After a tough primary fight, state Senate candidate Jacob Ventura is working to bring his Republican Party together for an Oct. 17 showdown with Democrat Paul Feeney and independent Joe Shortsleeve.…

MetroWest Veterans Consortium Tours Natick National Guard Readiness Center » Framingham Patch On Friday morning, the Massachusetts National Guard hosted the September meeting of the MetroWest Veterans Consortium at the new Natick Readiness Center. Attendees were welcomed by Major General Gary …

Island Housing Trust breaks ground on Scott's Grove » Martha's Vineyard Times On a picture-perfect fall afternoon with dappled sunlight cascading through trees beginning to change color, local and state housing leaders pushed shovels into the ground as the first step in buildin…

Brockton schools receives STEM grant » The Enterprise With everyday items like rubber bands, pencils and plastic straws, fifth grade students Lauren Holland and Naomi Yeme Castillo were challenged to engineer the highest towers they could.…

Letter: Bosley would offer a fresh perspective » Berkshire Eagle The election for state representative for the 1st Berkshire District is an important election to replace Gail Cariddi. The Berkshires have many needs and we need someone who will go to Boston and work…

It's time for automatic voter registration » Jamaica Plain Gazette If you're like me, you're wondering what is happening to our country right now. I have been riding this rollercoaster of anger, sadness, and a desire to take action since last November. We're very for…

How Would An Amazon HQ2 In Boston Change The Area's Tech Scene? » WBUR Amazon has been on the hunt for a second headquarters. And cities across the country, including Boston, are desperately trying to lure the giant tech company to their own neighborhood. Part of Amazon'…

How The Boston Common And Public Garden Are Trying To Address Uptick In Crime » WBUR The Boston Common and Boston Public Garden are dealing with some old challenges that have reached a new level of intensity.…

Greenbush station renamed for long-time legislator » Patriot Ledger Local lawmakers and Scituate residents gathered on Saturday to honor Rep. Frank Hynes, a state representative who served Marshfield and Scituate for more than 25 years.…

When lies are told in political campaigns, prosecution isn't the remedy » Boston Globe In a unanimous decision two years ago, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court struck down a state law that had criminalized the making of “any false statement” in a political campaign. Such a la…

Why isn't Niki Tsongas worried? » Boston Globe The president is terrifyingly inept, some in his circle seem determined to dismantle government, the GOP is hell-bent on uninsuring millions and slashing taxes for the rich, Congress is utterly despis…

Gloria Steinem offers unlikely praise for Charlie Baker » Boston Globe Consider it a sign of the times that Gloria Steinem, the feminist firebrand who has spent nearly five decades fighting the establishment, has lately been lauding centrist Republicans like Governor Cha…

For 3rd Congressional seat to be vacated by Niki Tsongas: Sen. L'Italien launches exploratory committee » Tewksbury Town Crier Now that frontrunner Ellen Murphy Meehan is no lon­ger in the running for the Congressional seat to be freed by Niki Tsongas, things might just be looking up for Senator Barbara L'Italien. Meehan rep…

State Senate Overrides Restore Funding to Local Programs » Cape Cod Online The Massachusetts State Senate voted this week to override 26 of Governor Charlie Baker's line item budget vetoes, restoring nearly 25 million dollars to the commonwealth's Fiscal Year 2018 budget.…

San Juan mayor attacked by Trump is a Boston University graduate » Boston Globe The San Juan mayor who found herself under attack by President Trump on Saturday spent time in Boston, graduating from Boston University as a political science major in 1984.…

Let's build Massachusetts by building the arts » Boston Globe The Legislature's override of Governor Baker's veto of its arts budget on Thursday was a bittersweet victory for artists, advocates, and others who care about arts and culture in the Commonwealth.…

Mass. studies use of dental therapists » Boston Globe Some families travel for hours to get to Children's Dental Services in Minneapolis, seeking relief from a mouthful of cavities or a painful tooth.…

SUNDAY NOTEBOOK: Voter apathy - at what cost? » Sentinel & Enterprise WITH ONLY 94 of the registered voters in Leominster's Ward 2 showing up to the polls for Tuesday's preliminary School Committee election, it's safe to say the turnout was dismal.…

Seth Moulton — who? — plants his flag in Iowa » Boston Globe Eight days after a wedding, most newlyweds are still on their honeymoon. Not US Representative Seth Moulton, who instead found himself in Iowa Saturday — without his wife — learning to flip a frie…

Democrats running for Massachusetts governor in 2018 support single-payer health care: Why? » The Republican As Democrats nationally become increasingly supportive of single-payer health care, the three Democrats running for Massachusetts governor in 2018 have jumped on the single-payer bandwagon.…

Gov. Charlie Baker on ICE raids: Feds should focus on criminals » The Republican In the wake of federal immigration raids targeting "Sanctuary Cities," Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said he thinks the U.S. government should focus on arresting dangerous criminals who are here il…

Rep. John Velis trained with the army in South Korea amid Kim Jong Un's missile tests: Here's what he saw » The Republican It has been a summer of high tension on the Korean peninsula, between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's threats of nuclear annihilation and President Donald Trump's warning that the U.S. would "totall…

Social Media Spotlight

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CBS Boston 4 Your Community: Draper Of Cambridge CBS Boston Walsh, Baker Establish Fund To Help Hurricane Victims In Puerto Rico Seth Moulton More than anything, we need new leadership – September 29, 2017 Massachusetts State Senate Massachusetts Senate: An Introduction to Criminal Justice Reform, and Why We Need It Now

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Podcast Spotlight

WBUR WBUR News: Boston's Immigrant Communities Respond To ICE Raids In Mass. WGBH News Under The Radar: Regional News: Paid Sick Leave, Racist Comments and A Privatized Rail Line NEPR News Now: Puerto Rico & Holyoke, Casinos & Jobs, Seuss & Racism, Beer & Hype WBUR Bostonomix: How Mass. Fits In To The Production Of The Massively Expensive F-35 WBUR WBUR News: How The Boston Common And Public Garden Are Trying To Address Uptick In Crime WBUR Bostonomix: What An Amazon Headquarters Would Mean For Boston's Workforce And Housing Crunch WAMC Northeast Report: Western Mass. Is Likely Destination For Puerto Ricans Fleeing Hurricane Aftermath

9:30am Cannabis Control Commission Meeting, Rooms A-1 & A-2, State House

10:30am International Wrongful Conviction Day, Great Hall, State House

11:00am Senate Task Force on Strengthening Massachusetts Local Retailers, Room 428

11:00am Joint Committee on Higher Education, Public Hearing

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Joint Committee on State Administration & Regulatory Oversight, Public Hearing

6:00pm Italian American Heritage Month Kick-Off, House Chamber, Third Floor Landing, State House

6:30pm Hyde Park Meet and Greet with Boston City Council President Michelle Wu, Rincon Caribeno Restaurant, 18 Fairmount Avenue, Hyde Park

6:30pm Chicopee Candidates Forum, Chicopee High School, 820 Front Street, Chicopee

7:00pm Worcester School Committee Candidate Debate, Mechanics Hall, 321 Main Street, Worchester

9:00am Suffolk University: Connecting Business with Government, Grand Staircase & Great Hall, State House

10:00am Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, Public Hearing

10:00am Joint Committee on Education, Public Hearing

10:30am Joint Committee on Financial Services, Public Hearing

1:00pm Cannabis Advisory Board Meeting, One Ashburton Place, 21st Floor, Boston

1:00pm Joint Committee on Labor & Workforce Development, Public Hearing

1:00pm Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Public Hearing

1:00pm Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture, Public Hearing

1:00pm Joint Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities and Energy, Public Hearing

6:00pm Sen. Eric Lesser Fall Kickoff

6:00pm Day of German Unity Reception, Great Hall, State House

6:00pm Sen. Eric Lesser Fall Kickoff

Birthdays: Rep. Sarah Peake, Rep. Alice Peisch

7:15am North Shore Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast with Sec. Jay Ash, Four Points By Sheraton Wakefield, 1 Audubon Road, Wakefield

9:00am Financial Planning Seminar, Great Hall, State House

9:00am Massachusetts Health Connector Board of Directors Meeting, One Ashburton Place, 21st Floor, Boston

11:00am House Session, Full Formal Session

1:00pm Senate Session, Full Formal Session

3:00pm Senate Committee on Post Audit & Oversight, Oversight Hearing

6:00pm Boston Mayor and City Council Candidates Forum, English High, 144 McBride Street, Jamaica Plain

6:30pm Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner, DiBurro's, 887 Boston Road, Haverhill

9:00pm Optimizing Recovery Event, Nurses Hall, State House

8:00am Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition, Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston

9:00am Hanna Awards and Luncheon, House Chamber & Great Hall, State House

9:00am Inclusion Awards, Great Hall, State House

10:30am House Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets, Public Hearing

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

2:00pm House Session, Informal Session

5:30pm Rep. Marc Lombardo's Annual Oktoberfest Fundraiser

5:30pm Rep. Marc Lombardo's Annual Oktoberfest Fundraiser

7:00pm North Shore Meet & Greet with Attorney General Candidate Dan Shores

7:00pm North Shore Meet & Greet with Attorney General Candidate Dan Shores

8:30am Cannabis Control Commission Listening Session, Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building, 2300 Washington Street, Roxbury

9:00am Blue Cross Blue Shield Municipal Health Forum, Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Avenue, West Springfield

11:45am North Central Mass. Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg

6:00pm Retina Society Reception, Grand Staircase & Great Hall, State House