10:00am House Session, Full Formal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Full Formal Session

5:30pm Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni Re-Election Campaign Kickoff

5:30pm Reception for Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito

6:00pm State Rep. Candidate Lori Lennon Campaign Kickoff

7:00pm Reception for Worcester City Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson

Birthdays: Rep. Paul Mark

A New Mitt or the Same Old Weenie? » The New York Times The world’s excited to know Mitt Romney’s still around. …

The Evidence Is Not With Joy Reid » The Atlantic The anchor's claim that her blog was hacked to include homophobic posts looks implausible. …

City approves Greenway BID, the city's second after Downtown Crossing » Boston Business Journal The city of Boston has approved a new business-improvement district, or BID, for the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, a designation that includes $1.5 million in funding for the upkeep of the Greenw…

Chance the Rapper, Kanye West start Twitter political storms » Chicago Tribune The day began with West, who issued a series of tweets ranging from one that appeared to criticize former President Barack Obama to one that many suggested showed solidarity with President Donald Trum…

Neera Tanden Named The Anonymous Harassment Victim In An All-Staff Meeting » BuzzFeed “Neera lost the organization today,” another (Center for American Progress) employee who was in the meeting said. “There was so much angst in that room. She outed the victim, and the…

Setti Warren ends campaign for governor » Boston Globe In a major jolt to the Democratic primary race for governor, former Newton mayor Setti Warren has abruptly ended his campaign, saying he faced insurmountable financial hurdles in trying to unseat Gove…

Former ambassador Rufus Gifford adds celebrity sizzle to congressional race » Boston Globe Rufus Gifford, the openly gay former ambassador to Denmark ... was the subject of his very own reality show during his diplomatic service in Copehagen. …

Chafee will 'very likely' challenge Whitehouse for US Senate » WPRI.COM Former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee says he is "very likely" to enter the Democratic primary against the man who defeated him for the same seat 12 years ago, Sheldon Whitehouse, Eyewitness News ha…

7 governors launch ‘unprecedented’ effort to study gun violence » Politico More than half a dozen governors — most of them Democrats from the Northeast — announced plans Wednesday to launch an “unprecedented” multistate consortium that will study gu…

Raffles hotel coming to Boston via new Back Bay tower » Boston Globe Raffles Hotels & Resorts is partnering with developers Jordan Warshaw and Saunders Hotel Group to put its first North American property in a $375 million tower at the corner of Stuart Street and Trini…

Shire takeover may take months to finish » Boston Globe For Shire PLC’s more than 3,000 employees in Massachusetts, now comes the waiting.…

Baker designates over 100 Massachusetts neighborhoods ‘opportunity zones’ for investment » The Daily Free Press

Business leaders travel to state capital for Beacon Hill Summit » WWLP.com Dozens of western Massachusetts business leaders boarded a bus bound for Boston Wednesday morning.…

Food factory’s move to Seaport sunk » Boston Herald The food processing giant looking to move out of Widett Circle is going back to the drawing board, pulling out of a plan to develop an industrial site in the Seaport — an area a developer says …

Working on Cape Cod's welcome mat » Cape Cod Times Federal authorities have given the go-ahead for Barnstable County to explore a public-private partnership to operate the rest area between exits 6 and 7 on Route 6 eastbound.…

Work hasn’t started at a massive Lynn waterfront development site. But that may change this year. » Lynn Daily News Item The long-awaited groundbreaking for the $80 million apartment community on the city’s waterfront won’t happen this spring, but the development team said it’s imminent.…

West Springfield planning discussion about charter school network with ties to controversial Muslim cleric » MassLIve With state lawmakers calling for an audit of a charter school slated to open in September in West Springfield, city officials are organizing a panel discussion and screening of "Killing Ed," a documen…

Chicopee schools begin effort to cut $4 million from budget » The Republican The School Committee began the work to shave expenses from its budget for the next year in the hopes of preserving as many programs as possible and avoiding as many layoffs as possible.…

Senate plans May 16 hearing on UMass-Mount Ida deal » Sentinel & Enterprise Staff in Chairwoman Kathleen O'Connor Ives' office said Wednesday that the list of invitees was still being confirmed and details were not available.…

Salem attorney makes case for genocide education » Wicked Local Salem Attorney Paul Rabchenuk concluded his Salem State University lecture Monday afternoon, drawing a seated audience’s attention to an erosion of public knowledge about 20th century genocides.…

Oversight hearing on Mount Ida/UMass deal set for May 16 » MassLive The proposed deal between Mount Ida and UMass, a controversial acquisition that involves UMass Amherst taking over the private Newton-based campus, will be the subject of a Massachusetts State House h…

Colleges Like Mount Ida Have Financial Responsibility Scores. But They're Not That Predictive » WBUR Since news broke a few weeks ago about the closure of Mount Ida College, there are a lot of upset students and parents. Everyone has a different story to tell, but there's one common theme: None of th…

Ed Markey calls on nuclear regulators to protect plants against rising seas » Boston Globe Massachusetts Senator Edward J. Markey is calling on the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to ensure that the spent fuel at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station and other nuclear plants around the country is …

Polito promises to arrange top-level meeting on Stockbridge Bowl cleanup kerfuffle » The Berkshire Eagle Amid conflicting signals from two state agencies, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito has promised to arrange a top-level meeting to get the stalled $4 million Stockbridge Bowl weed-cleanup project back on track.…

Supreme Court will be asked to decide whether bigotry tainted Trump’s travel ban » Boston Globe The US Supreme Court will be asked Wednesday to consider a core question of President Trump’s rise to power: Were his anti-Muslim statements and tweets before and after winning office so steepe…

'Boston's not up for sale,' Wynn Resorts CEO says day after hinting otherwise to investors » MassLIve Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox appeared on CNBC Wednesday to speak of a "refresh" within the company. …

Springfield wants MGM and its casino to stay - very badly » Boston Globe Longtime residents who see the city’s renaissance hanging in the balance want MGM to finish the $960 million casino job.…

‘Boston is not up for sale’ Wynn Resorts CEO says » Boston Globe Wynn Resorts isn’t planning to sell its $2.5 billion casino project in Everett, chief executive Matt Maddox said Wednesday, tamping down reports that the company had discussed selling the prope…

Medicaid needs to change, head of program says in Boston, and that includes spending caps » Boston Globe Seema Verma has one of the biggest jobs in health care: She runs the massive federal agency that insures 130 million Americans on Medicare, the health program for seniors, and Medicaid, the health pro…

House lawmakers urge new recovery centers » Eagle Tribune The prospect of more money for substance abuse recovery centers has lawmakers jockeying to locate the counseling programs in areas hit hardest by opioid addiction.…

Compromise reached on bills to expand access to dental care in Massachusetts that 'could be a model for the rest of the country' » The Republican A years-long effort to create a mid-level dental practitioner in Massachusetts just gained new steam, after the Massachusetts Dental Society reached a compromise with advocates for the bill, which eme…

State maintains strict limit on health care spending for 2019 » Boston Business Journal The state’s health care watchdog group has maintained the current year's strict limit on health care spending growth for the state for next year, saying Massachusetts must keep working to rein …

Condos more costly than houses in Massachusetts » Boston Globe Time was, a condominium was the affordable alternative to a house. Not so much anymore.…

Condo Prices in Massachusetts Have Reached an All-Time High » Boston Magazine On average, they're now more expensive than single-family homes. …

Tucker helps shoot down amendment to hold illegal immigrants » The Salem News Fewer than a third of House Republicans and only one Democrat backed up Republican Rep. Jim Lyons of Andover on Wednesday when he forced a vote on a controversial immigration budget amendment that wou…

Governor's Council questions, lauds Sheehy ahead of confirmation vote » Lowell Sun Elizabeth Sheehy, a Lowell native and assistant clerk magistrate for the Middlesex County Juvenile Court, was lauded for her leadership and values at a Governor's Council hearing Wednesday on her nomi…

Salary boost helps retain Massachusetts prosecutors » The Republican Turnover among assistant district attorneys has improved as the state has made more of an effort to provide competitive salaries, according to an audit released Tuesday by Auditor Suzanne Bump.…

Sinning in the workplace » Commonwealth Magazine Judge Thomas Estes asked the Supreme Judicial Court on Tuesday to penalize him for having extramarital sex with a court employee but not to take his job away permanently. …

Baker on bailed cop-killer suspect: 'Look at the facts' of judge's role » Boston Herald

No comments on Hogans Lovell report, but "thanks for asking" » State House News Service Senators said Wednesday they did not discuss the contents or timing of the release of a looming Ethics Committee report on the conduct of Sen. Stanley Rosenberg during a more than two-hour caucus on W…

Mum’s the word on Rosenberg report » Commonwealth Magazine SENATORS SAID WEDNESDAY they did not discuss the contents or timing of the release of a looming Ethics Committee report on the conduct of Sen. Stanley Rosenberg during a more than two-hour caucus on W…

Belchertown receives state grant to secure police record-keeping systems » Hampshire Gazette The town landed a $15,000 grant from the state’s Community Compact program to help the police department upgrade its record-keeping security software.…

How fighting inequality can help cities grow their economies » Curbed Boston For years, Americans have been told we’re in the middle of a recovery, that economic growth and jobs are on their way back. But by many measures, the recovery has been uneven, varying between i…

Hopkinton board raises tobacco age, bans plastic bags » The Metro West Daily News With an 11-year-old student taking action to make sure his town is healthier, the Board of Health voted Monday night to increase the age to buy tobacco in town from 18 to 21.…

TBT: The Early Days of Quincy Market » Boston Magazine It wasn't always a place for tourists to grab some ice cream after walking the Freedom Trail or seeing Paul Revere's house. …

Natick School Committee faces lawsuit for limiting public comment » The Metro West Daily News As the School Committee faces a lawsuit over one of its policies, a school official said the policy is similar to those in other districts.…

Worcester marijuana store applicant gets priority review » Worcester Telegram At least one local company is among 25 in the state that have been granted a priority review by the Cannabis Control Commission as so-called “economic empowerment” applicants.…

Cannabis Control Commission stresses public safety in preparation for pot's footprint during Lenox meeting » The Berkshire Eagle With state-licensed retail shops poised to sell a wide range of marijuana products as soon as July 1, officials are emphasizing to communities the importance of security, safety and a formidable set o…

Quincy city council debates marijuana ordinances » Patriot Ledger Police Detective Mark Folan told the city council on Wednesday that the department already is seeing more minors using marijuana, and he worries thefts of plants will ramp up as the drug becomes legal…

State refuses to clarify medical marijuana laws despite concerns » The Daily Free Press The Massachusetts State Legislature will not be clarifying medical marijuana laws this congressional session despite an April 17 Supreme Judicial Court ruling that raised concerns with the Commonwealt…

Obama threw the regulatory engine into overdrive. Trump is slowing it down » Boston Globe As a candidate for president in 2008, Barack Obama insisted that one of the biggest problems in America was a shortage of federal regulations. He lambasted his opponent, Republican John McCain, for ca…

Mickey Edwards: What is the responsibility of Congress on the travel ban and immigration? » Boston Globe A little over a year ago, America’s airports were filled with chaos as President Trump’s executive order on immigration — his travel ban — threw doubt on whether people fro…

Bail procedures need overhaul to save police lives » Boston Herald It’s time for a top-to-bottom review of the state’s court system — especially bail procedures — before another cop gets killed due to judges going soft on thugs.…

MGM has no heart for Springfield » Commonwealth Magazine THE RECENT NONDENIAL by MGM Resorts International of the report by the Wall Street Journal that the casino company is considering a purchase of the under-construction Wynn Boston Harbor and the sale o…

Fears about blackouts increasing » Commonwealth Magazine THREE MONTHS AGO, the organization that runs our New England power grid sounded a shocking alarm: Our region faces a possibility of forced, rolling wintertime blackouts in coming years, largely becaus…

4 get names on the ballot » Lowell Sun Four candidates are officially on the ballot for the 3rd Congressional District race after state Sen. Barbara L'Italien announced that her campaign team turned in the necessary 2,000 signatures to the…

Former Newton Mayor Setti Warren ends campaign for governor, leaving Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker with two Democratic challengers » MassLIve Former Newton Mayor Setti Warren is ending efforts to challenge Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. …

Ferdinand Drops Out Of State Rep Race One Day After Charging In » Somerville Patch George Ferdinand said Wednesday he has suspended his campaign and will not be running to replace state Rep. James Miceli (D-Wilmington). Ferdinand had pulled nomination papers from the Tewksbury Town …

Setti Warren abandons race for governor » Boston Herald Former Newton Mayor Setti Warren abruptly dropped out of the gubernatorial race this morning citing lagging fundraising — leaving two Democrats to take on Republican Gov. Charlie Baker.…

Mass. GOP expected to back Baker and Polito at convention this weekend » Wicked Local Wakefield Massachusetts Republicans converging here Saturday for the state GOP convention are expected to resoundingly endorse Gov. Charlie Baker of Swampscott and his Shrewsbury running mate, Lt. Gov. Karyn Po…

Former Newton mayor Setti Warren ends campaign for governor » WCVB Former Newton Mayor Setti Warren ended his campaign for governor of Massachusetts on Thursday.…

Lindsay Sabadosa, candidate for Peter Kocot's former seat, to launch campaign in Northampton » The Republican Lindsay Sabadosa, a candidate for State Representative for the 1st Hampshire District, wants to bring change to the Pioneer Valley and Massachusetts. …

Sen. Lewis opens campaign headquarters » Wicked Local Malden Sen. Jason Lewis, D-Winchester, welcomed supporters to his newly opened campaign headquarters in Malden on April 7 for a celebration and volunteer kick-off event. …

Heroux was one of the most thrifty mayoral candidates » The Sun Chronicle Boston Mayor Marty Walsh spent $2.2 million getting re-elected last fall. Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux spent only $28,000 on his campaign.…

Former Newton Mayor Setti Warren Ends Gubernatorial Campaign » Boston Magazine A lack of fundraising dollars spelled the end for Warren, who was one of three Democrats hoping to take on Gov. Charlie Baker in November. …

Our View: Treatment network for addiction comes with questions » Eagle Tribune A support network for people struggling with opioid addiction is growing, as illustrated by the jostling on Beacon Hill for money to fund new recovery centers. Yet as this critical infrastructure expa…

Brain aneurysm survivor Cathy Zardas of Saugus focused on raising awareness » Wicked Local Saugus On New Year’s Eve 2005, Cathy Zardas had just put a gift she purchased for her parents’ wedding anniversary in the trunk of her car when she felt an intense pain in her head.…

For the first time in 25 years, Worcester did not see a homicide by firearm in 2017, here's why » MassLIve Anytime there is a murder or shooting in Worcester, the comments start: New England's second-largest city is unsafe and crime-ridden. …

Lawmakers reject Seaport joint policing, but idea may not be dead » Boston Globe House leaders on Wednesday struck down another attempt by Boston to give its police shared jurisdiction with the State Police in the Seaport, extending — at least for now — the long-runn…

State representative files legislation for minority contractors » Bay State Banner State Rep. Nick Collins has filed an amendment to the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means budget proposal that would require all state agencies to ensure participation of minority and…

BRTA funding threatened: Fare increases, route cuts are possibilities » the Berkshire edge If you depend on the bus fleet of the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority to get around, you might want to brace for the worst.…

Automatic for the people: Logan to study if a train (or monorail) should replace shuttles at the airport » Boston Globe Seeking to reduce road traffic, officials at Logan International Airport will spend $15 million to design and study the feasibility of a transit line that would ferry travelers to and from terminals, …

A Monorail at Logan Airport? It’s on the Table » Boston Magazine The Massachusetts Port Authority is launching a $15 million study of options for the busy transit hub. …

National Grid customers won't see relief for months » Newburyport News National Grid gas customers could receive rebates as a result of the new federal tax law but they will have to wait until fall to see a reduction, if any, in their bills.…

Social Media Spotlight

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wgby The Berkshire Flyer Train To Link New York City & The Berkshires | Connecting Point | Apr. 25, 2018 wgby UMass Students Bring Clean Water to Puerto Rico | Connecting Point | Apr. 25, 2018

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Jamie Eldridge @JamieEldridgeMA Barbara L'Italien @teambarbara Rady Mom @repradymom

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Podcast Spotlight

WBUR WBUR News: Setti Warren Is Out, And Though Move Is A 'Surprise,' Analyst Says Money Hurdle 'Does Make Sense'

Committee agrees on bill addressing oral health crisis » Sentinel & Enterprise

UMB community says 'no' to Mount Ida » Bay State Banner

Immigrant detainer measure fails in House » Lowell Sun

Being ‘shocked’ isn’t enough. Baker needs to fix Mount Ida mess » Boston Globe

“Water, water everywhere”: Mass. program helps towns prepare for climate change » Valley Advocate

Boston schools scramble for funds amid boom times » Bay State Banner

Clergy lobby for "red flag" bill as GOAL floats counter-proposal » State House News Service

Registered Nurses at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford Vote to Join Massachusetts Nurses Association » Mass. Nurses Association

Neal Statement on USMCA Text Signing » Congressman Richard Neal

Senators Markey and Warren, Rep. Keating Announce $15 Million of Federal Investment in the Port of New Bedford » Office of Senator Ed Markey

Planned Parenthood Opposes the Nomination of William Barr as U.S. Attorney General » Planned Parenthood

2018: Senate Scorecard in Review » Progressive Massachusetts

MBTA Reaffirms Accessibility Goals with Amended Agreement » MBTA