9:00am ADDP Legislative Luncheon, Great Hall, State House

9:30am Executive Office of Health and Human Services Public Hearing, First Floor Conference Room, 100 Hancock Street, Quincy

10:00am Joint Committee on Housing, Public Hearing

11:00am Joint Committee on Revenue, Impact of federal tax reform on Massachusetts

11:30am Joint Committee on Public Service, Public Hearing

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

2:00pm Department of Revenue Public Hearing, 100 Cambridge Street, 2nd Floor, Room A, Boston

5:30pm State of the Commonwealth Address, House Chamber, State House

Public employee unions cry foul after state cuts health insurance options » Boston Globe Labor unions that represent Massachusetts public employees are fuming over a stunning decision by a state commission to limit their health plan options and are lashing out against the move, which affe…

Zinke's 'political stunt' on offshore drilling continues to backfire » ThinkProgress Conservation Law Foundation senior counsel Peter Shelley said there does not appear to be any credible thought process behind Zinke's Florida decision. “It really exposes how shallow the adminis…

Why the Democrats lost their nerve in the shutdown battle » The Washington Post Voters in Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were getting Republican robo-calls saying Democrats had “prioritized illegal immigrants over American citizens.”…

Naomi Parker Fraley, Who Likely Inspired 'Rosie The Riveter' Poster, Dead At 96 » The Huffington Post The woman believed to have inspired artist J. Howard Miller's iconic World War II “Rosie the Riveter” poster died on Saturday at the age of 96, her family confirmed to The New York Times. …

Chandler Isn't Concerned About Witness Confidentiality Problem In Rosenberg Case, But Gov. Baker Is » WGBH News Senate President Harriette Chandler defended the investigation into her predecessor Monday. "I don't have any problem with the integrity of the investigation. I think the Ethics Committee is doing e…

Walsh exploring litigation against pharmaceutical companies for opioid crisis » Boston Globe Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said Monday he is considering litigation against several pharmaceutical companies, saying they “irresponsibly saturated the market with opiates, knowingly putting co…

Lobbyists Romp in Trump's Washington » New York Times Mr. Trump has become such a Washington creature that he's rooting for a return to earmarks, that opaque process in which legislators direct federal spending to their home districts and pet projects, l…

Union: Money is clouding CLF's judgment » Commonwealth Magazine THE RECENT PAID ADVERTISING by the Conservation Law Foundation (Sunday Boston Globe, page A12) against the Northern Pass transmission project should not be a surprise to citizens of Massachusetts or t…

Government shutdown ends as Democrats relent » Boston Globe Senate Democrats relented to heavy pressure and joined Republicans in ending a three-day federal shutdown Monday, winning little more than a promise from Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell to cond…

Both Mass. senators voted 'no' on deal to reopen the government » Boston Globe Both of Massachusetts' US senators, Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, voted against a deal to end the government shutdown Monday.…

Warren's PAC Spreading Cash Around in Swing Senate States » Roll Call A number of state Democratic parties and committees got a helping hand from a PAC affiliated with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren in the last fundraising quarter.…

Shutdown and Children's Health Insurance Saga Come to an End » Governing President Trump signed a short-term spending bill on Monday evening that ends the government shutdown and reauthorizes CHIP for six years. …

Liberal Activists Are Furious That Democrats “Caved” on the Shutdown » Mother Jones Senate Democrats have traded one looming problem for another. Lawmakers averted a prolonged shutdown fight on Monday when most Democrats reversed course and approved a short-term spending resolution t…

After they decided they'd better call Sean: A look back at consumer problems solved in 2017 » Boston Globe The lights are still on in Keh-Jiann Pan's office, Marjan Sadegh has a beautiful new deck on the back of her house, and Denise Roney is on the road again after settling with the MBTA. …

Empty shelves at Whole Foods have customers shopping elsewhere » Boston Globe In Seattle on Monday, Amazon unveiled its new grocery-store concept, Amazon Go. The gleaming high-tech store allows shoppers to grab items off shelves and scan them with their phone without having to …

Boston-based Capstone seals the deal for a Denver investment bank » Boston Globe John Ferrara's investment banking business has come a long way from the days when he pulled together a handful of colleagues to salvage Arthur Andersen's local M&A practice in 2002.…

Small biz owners urge Baker for relief » Worcester Business Journal Small business owners are appealing to Gov. Charlie Baker for relief from rising labor costs, urging him to tackle spending side pressures on employers when he delivers his State of the State address …

Quincy proposal would ban discrimination by gender identity » The Patriot Ledger A pair of city councilors are making another attempt to ban discrimination based on gender identity. Ward 4 city councilor Brian Palmucci and at-large councilor Nina Liang introduced a bill Monday nig…

State Senate passes bill requiring uniform info on college financial aid » Lowell Sun The state Senate has unanimously passed a bill from Lowell's Sen. Eileen Donoghue that would require colleges and universities to provide prospective students with uniform information on financial-aid…

After Years of Promises, Boston Vocational School Still Struggles » WGBH News Last month, about a hundred students walked out of Madison Park High School in Roxbury. They held signs and chanted their headmaster's name.…

Report: Mass. laws fail to protect for-profit college students » State House News Service Almost the entire country comes up short on overseeing and regulating private for-profit colleges, according to a new report that dinged Massachusetts for not requiring tuition refunds in the event of…

Sen. Fattman Files College Cost Transparency Legislation » Bellingham Bulletin Amendment would mandate pertinent financial information be made public …

How a respected institute upset the first black History Teacher of the Year in Massachusetts » The Washington Post Kevin Dua is the 2017 History Teacher of the Year for Massachusetts, the first black educator to win the award in the state. But right now, he isn't thrilled with the people who gave him the honor. …

Weymouth gets $1.6 million grant to repair seawall » Wicked Local Weymouth Storm tossed ocean waves spilling over an eroding seawall flooded Fore River Avenue leaving frozen ice clumps in the basements of waterfront homes during a Jan. 4 nor'easter, but town officials hope t…

Regional Wastewater Dollars Headed to Cape Cod » Cape Cod Online As part of the latest round of the Commonwealth's Community Compact Grants, several Cape Cod towns will get a share of nearly $300,000 in regional wastewater funding.…

Call for cleanup: Needles washing up on shores of Merrimack River » Boston Herald Fifteen cities and towns along the Merrimack River are calling in professionals to help clean up a plague of hypodermic needles washing up on the waterway's banks, beaches and boat ramps.…

Fantasy sports tax, pro sports betting panel featured in Donoghue bill » State House News Service With the legal status of daily fantasy sports set to expire in about five months, Sen. Eileen Donoghue has proposed making the popular fantasy contests permanently legal, putting the Massachusetts Gam…

Quincy company's founder to give $100 million to Boston hospitals » Wicked Local Quincy The chief executive officer of Granite Telecommunications is giving $100 million to local hospitals.…

Mass. House advances $1.3 billion housing bill » Lowell Sun The Massachusetts House cleared the way Monday morning for the $1.7 billion housing bonding bill that's slated to be brought to the floor Wednesday, giving it initial approval after moving it without …

Marty Walsh eyes city housing restrictions » Boston Herald Mayor Martin J. Walsh is proposing restrictions on web-based room rentals and a city councilor is calling for a hearing on potential taxes for foreign speculators and developers who flip housing  

Expiring restrictions fueling anxiety among affordable housing tenants » State House News Service

Sisters of Providence seek funding from West Springfield to build affordable housing for seniors » The Republican

DCF commish to testify in front of oversight committee » Boston Herald Lawmakers plan to call the head of the Department of Children and Families to testify in an oversight hearing next month, marking the Legislature's first official scrutiny of the agency since the stat…

Parents of Norton group home assault victims slam sentence » The Foxboro Reporter Parents of developmentally delayed men are ripping the judge for the minimal jail sentence she gave a former staff worker at the Judge Rotenberg Center group home in Norton who pleaded guilty to assau…

Recognize cadet nurses as veterans » Eagle Tribune "They saved lives at home, so others could save lives abroad." So reads the plaque at Eisenhower Memorial Plaza in East Meadow, New York, honoring the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. All told, almost 125,000 …

Senator Warren Endorses Harvard Grad Student Union » The Harvard Crimson Massachusetts Senator and former Law School professor Elizabeth Warren endorsed Harvard's graduate student union Friday, weeks ahead of an election that will determine whether eligible University teac…

Sen. Harriette Chandler defends ethics investigation into Sen. Stan Rosenberg amid confidentiality concerns » MassLive Acting Senate President Harriette Chandler, D-Worcester, on Monday defended the investigation into former Senate President Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst.…

Governor, Senate leader differ over potential for success of probe into alleged sexual assaults » Boston Globe Governor Charlie Baker has “concerns” about the state Senate's ethics investigation into the conduct of former Senate president Stanley C. Rosenberg, he said Monday.…

Chandler: Ethics committee has not used subpoena power » State House News Service Acting Senate President Harriette Chandler expressed confidence Monday in the integrity of an ongoing sexual harassment investigation in the Senate, in the wake of reports that confidentiality concern…

Senator Lesser appointed new role in state's transportation committee » WWLP 22 News A western Massachusetts lawmaker is taking on a new leadership role on Beacon Hill.…

Big Firms Pick Up #MeToo Work for State Legislatures » The American Lawyer Several state legislatures whose members are facing allegations of sexual misconduct similar to those brought against film industry moguls, TV news anchors, and politicians have launched official inve…

DeLeo address will shed light on legislature's direction for 2018 » State House News Service

Chandler expresses confidence in Rosenberg probe » Commonwealth Magazine

The confidentiality question » Commonwealth Magazine

Ludlow town meeting voters OK Senior Center project » MassLive Voters at Monday night's special town meeting at Ludlow High School approved borrowing up to $9.8 million for a new Senior Center on a parcel of land to be acquired by the town.…

Martin 'Bozie' Goldman, a 21-year Swampscott town moderator, dies at 91 » Wicked Local Swampscott Swampscott native and attorney Martin “Bozie” Goldman, who wielded Swampscott Town Meeting's gavel for over two decades, died Wednesday, Jan. 17. He was 91.…

Annual Legislative Breakfast Hosted By Chamber In Westborough » Salem Patch Learn more about your elected officials and ask them questions...over breakfast. The Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce hosts its Annual Legislative Breakfast on Thursday, Jan. 25, from 7:15-9:30 …

When Old Regulatory Systems Meet New Technology » Governing Boston's CIO has worked to transform traditional bureaucratic procedures to speed the rollout of the latest mobile broadband infrastructure. …

City councilors raise concerns about Walsh's Airbnb regs » Commonwealth Magazine

Bellingham: Election to set marijuana zoning » Milford Daily News Local voters will have the chance this spring to decide whether recreational marijuana retailers will be allowed in town.…

Springfield City Council punts decision on retail marijuana moratorium » MassLive After a prolonged debate on a proposed moratorium on retail marijuana shops Monday night, the City Council decided that there were two many questions and complexities to make a decision.…

'Secret shoppers' could be in store for Massachusetts marijuana retail shops » MassLive A "secret shopper" could pose as a customer and purchase marijuana products from retail pot shops to make sure the products are safe and being sold to adults over the age of 21, under rules that state…

Battenfeld: Truth can't be found in Senate ethics inquiry » Boston Herald State lawmakers should shut down their failed investigation into former Senate President Stanley Rosenberg and turn the case over to law enforcement.…

Why does Trump get a pass, but not Elizabeth Warren? » Boston Globe DURING THE “Saturday Night Live” skit “What even matters anymore?,” the answer to every outrage was — nah, it doesn't matter, not if President Trump did it.…

Boston's going to the Super Bowl, but Pittsburgh will win Amazon » Boston Globe YES, I KNOW — my North Shore brothers and all my Boston friends have reminded me repeatedly: Our valiant Steelers did not compete with your evil Patriots for the AFC championship Sunday. …

A step closer to long-needed relief for Dreamers » Boston Globe TRUSTING MITCH McCONNELL might seem risky — just ask Susan Collins — but senators made the right call Monday when they ended a brief government shutdown in exchange for a pledge by the …

Editorial: Ethics in question » Boston Herald The State Ethics Commission will determine whether three people who worked for Auditor Suzanne Bump have violated the letter of the state's conflict of interest law. …

Brotherton: Why I left the Republican party » Lynn Daily News Item The other morning I went to Danvers Town Hall, found my way to the town clerk's office and dumped the Republican Party. I've been thinking about joining the burgeoning ranks of the unenrolled for mont…

Column: Where winter storm Grayson points us » Gloucester Times A little more than two weeks ago, many of us in Massachusetts bore witness to remarkable scenes. Rows of parked cars hood-deep in half-frozen seawater. Plows struggling to move that water, only to hav…

Russo has the financial edge in House race » Lynn Daily News Item Drew Russo has a giant financial lead in the race for a seat in the state House of Representatives, according to the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance.…

Nomination papers for state office will be available beginning Friday » The Hull Times The 2018 election cycle officially kicks off at noon Friday, when nomination papers for this year's state primaries and general election will be available.…

Koh moves into Andover campaign headquarters » Eagle Tribune Daniel Koh moved his campaign headquarters into Andover this week, and he says he couldn't be happier. Koh is running for Congress to succeed Congresswoman Niki Tsongas in the 2018 election to represe…

Tough campaign awaits state Rep. Mom » Lowell Sun In the city and on Beacon Hill, people who work with state Rep. Rady Mom describe him as a singularly likable and very capable person.…

You shouldn't need to be rich to run » Commonwealth Magazine

Walsh exploring litigation against pharmaceutical companies for opioid crisis » Boston Globe Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said Monday he is considering litigation against several pharmaceutical companies, saying they “irresponsibly saturated the market with opiates, knowingly putting co…

Twenty Years After Rejecting It, Springfield Considers A Needle Exchange Program » WAMC The opioid crisis has prompted officials in the third-largest city in Massachusetts to revisit establishing a needle exchange program.…

State police seeks AG's help in no-show probe » Boston Herald State police have asked Attorney General Maura Healey's office to help them investigate no-show assignments in which troopers were paid but failed to report for duty, state police said.…

Mass. State Police allegedly paid for Pike shifts not worked » Worcester Telegram Massachusetts state troopers who patrol the Massachusetts Turnpike were paid for shifts they did not work, state police said Monday. An ongoing internal audit uncovered discrepancies in payroll an…

Mass. State Police Investigating Pay For Unworked Patrol Shifts » WBUR Massachusetts State Police are investigating evidence that troopers within a unit assigned to patrol the Massachusetts Turnpike to reduce injuries stemming from accidents were getting paid for shifts …

Investigation launched into Massachusetts State Police 'payroll discrepancies' following audit » The Republican

State trooper suspended in no-show payroll probe » Boston Globe

Maynard, Stow awarded SAFE grants » Wicked Local Bolton Rep. Kate Hogan, D-Stow, announced that additional grants have been awarded to Student Awareness of Fire Education and Senior SAFE for fiscal year 2018.…

State auditor seeks reimbursement for early voting » Wicked Local Weymouth Approximately 21 percent of Weymouth's voters took advantage of an early voting provision to cast ballots in the 2016 presidential election, but the process needs some tweaking, according to Town Cler…

Gov. Baker to outline goals in state of the state address » The Associated Press (AP) Gov. Charlie Baker will look back at some recent successes and lay out his priorities for the new year when he delivers his last state of the state address before seeking a second term in office.…

This year's Charlie Baker poised to look a lot like last year's Charlie Baker » Boston Globe Governor Charlie Baker, up for re-election in November, is set to use a high-profile speech Tuesday to crow about what he accomplished in his first three years leading Massachusetts and to ask the Leg…

Gov. Charlie Baker to deliver State of the Commonwealth address Tuesday evening » MassLive Gov. Charlie Baker will deliver his 2018 State of the Commonwealth address on Tuesday evening in the House chamber.…

Baker agenda key to re-election bid » Boston Herald Gov. Charlie Baker is poised to unveil new plans aimed at transportation and climate change — while underlining his long-held vow against raising taxes — when he takes the House chamber'…

Gov. previews State of State themes » South Coast Today With many of his legislative proposals idling on Beacon Hill, Gov. Charlie Baker will tout the benefits of bipartisanship and cooperation with the Democrat-controlled Legislature when he addresses the…

State will start issuing Real ID-compliant licenses in March » State House News Service The state Registry of Motor Vehicles will begin issuing drivers' licenses and state IDs that comply with a 2005 federal security law on Monday, March 26, Registrar Erin Deveney said Monday.…

Why do we call Massachusetts a 'commonwealth'? Blame John Adams » Boston Globe

Tax law's effect in Mass.: What you need to know » The Berkshire Eagle Massachusetts is one of 20 states whose tax code does not automatically update with changes to the federal code, but as state policymakers comb through the new federal tax law, there are exceptions th…

Walsh drops Boston ordinance into short-term rental debate » The Berkshire Eagle Beacon Hill leaders have been unable to find common ground on a short-term housing rental regulation bill and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, apparently unwilling to wait for a new law, is laying out his o…

Bay State legislators may have to tweak alimony clause under new fed tax code » Sentinel & Enterprise Massachusetts is one of 20 states whose tax code does not automatically update with changes to the federal code, but as state policymakers comb through the new federal tax law there are exceptions tha…

Tax Lien Law Haunts Massachusetts Property Owners » NECIR As dozens of cities and towns in Massachusetts turn to for-profit companies to go after delinquent taxpayers and recover lost revenue, the consequences for some property owners and even renters can be…

Massachusetts property-tax rates in 2018, by town and city » Boston Business Journal While the nation's biggest companies are celebrating the reduction in the federal corporate tax rate, small business owners and homeowners in Massachusetts have something to look forward to this year …

The Psychology of Boston's Snow Parking Wars » CityLab In Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia, an informal code allows residents to claim a parking space after shoveling it out. But the practice is often at odds both with the law and with the mores of chang…

MBTA Asks For Bids To Revive Late-Night Bus Services » WBUR The MBTA has taken another step toward creating a new overnight bus service in Greater Boston.…

New 'Future of Transportation' commission to focus on the effects of disruptive technologies like self-driving cars » The Republican

Baker launches commission to study transportation needs » Boston Globe

T notes: Privatization at bus garages off the table? » Commonwealth Magazine

DW Focus Search MV Planning Commission's Conard Named to State Transportation Board » WHAV

New transportation commission assigned post-election deadline » Sentinel & Enterprise

Trump issues 30% tariff on solar panel imports » Utility Dive The Trump administration issued a decision on a high-profile trade case, imposing 30% tariffs on imported crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules and cells. The first 2.5 GW of cell imports of every …

IBEW: Conservation Law Foundation Has 'Financial Partnership' With Northern Pass Rival » InDepth NH

In Quebec, it's power versus a people on hydroelectricity » Boston Globe Deep beneath a granite mountain in the vast, snow-covered wilds north of the Saint Lawrence River, a frigid torrent surges through a massive, man-made tunnel, its white water propelling eight powerful…

New England About To Get Liquefied Natural Gas From Unusual Source » New Boston Post

Social Media Spotlight

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CBS Boston Keller @ Large: Government Shutdown Caused By Staggering Incompetence CBS Boston Philly Bakery Won't Serve Boston Creme Donuts Until Eagles Win Super Bowl

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Harriette Chandler @Sen_Chandler Charlie Baker @MassGovernor Senator Joe Boncore @joeboncore

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Podcast Spotlight

WBUR WBUR News: Rep. Jim McGovern Talks Government Shutdown WBUR Radio Boston: CommonHealth: How The ACA Affected Household Medical Spending Mass Climate Action Network The Climate Minute: Egregious neglect of care and concern WAMC Northeast Report: Twenty Years After Rejecting It, Springfield Considers A Needle Exchange Program Washington Post The Daily 202's Big Idea: This is the way the shutdown ends Crooked Media Pod Save America: Have fun at Davos! Five Thirty Eight Politics Podcast: The Three-Day Shutdown

Trinity Health joins plan to form generic drug company » MassLive

In Uncertain Political Climate, Democratic Challengers Hope to Unseat Popular Gov. Baker » Valley Advocate

Gov. Charlie Baker has overwhelming fundraising advantage entering 2018 race » MassLive

Operate an Airbnb in Boston? Prepare for up to $500 fee per unit » MassLive

Springfield officials lobby state for money for new police station » MassLive

Wall & Main: Will Massachusetts ever get competitive with Silicon Valley? » Worcester Telegram

Choices for Stewardship: Recommendations to Meet the Transportation Future » Commission on the Future of Transportation in the Commonwealth

After Former Employee Blows the Whistle on Short-Staffing at Columbia Gas, Senators Markey and Warren Demand Answers » Officer of Sen. Ed Markey

Statement on the Report of the Commission on the Future of Transportation » Transportation for Mass.