Birthdays: State Senator Michael Rush, State Senator Pavel Payano

House Dems worry about lack of women of color in leadership » The Hill

Bustos tapped to lead House Democrats' campaign arm » Politico

New Hampshire Democrats invite rising star Beto O'Rourke to the crucial presidential primary state » CNBC

INCOMING REP USES SLAVE-AND-MASTER ANALOGY TO DESCRIBE HOUSE » State House News Service

HEALTH COSTS TOP BIZ GROUP'S LIST OF CONCERNS » State House News Service

CROP OF FRESHWOMEN LAWMAKERS COMMITTED TO ROLL CALLS » State House News Service

Panel is charged with reviewing state’s ‘secret courts’ » Boston Globe

Pelosi vs. Moulton should be about a creating a transition to a new generation » Boston Globe

THE SWAMP BUILDERS » The Washington Post

The Making of Elizabeth Warren » Politico

Pelosi shuts down critics in tense meeting » Politico

US Rep. Jim McGovern says House Democrats will investigate Russian collusion » The Republican

In Washington, Warren Proposes A Populist Foreign Policy » WGBH

Deal reached to keep Citgo sign in Kenmore Square » Boston Globe

Marriott says its Starwood database was hacked, affecting 500 million guests » Boston Globe

David Begelfer reflects on the past 27 years at NAIOP’s helm » Boston Business Journal

Massachusetts Unsure How Much New Opportunity Is In Opportunity Zones » BisNow

Sip from a nip? Not in Chelsea » Boston Globe

Draper in space race for $2.6b in NASA moonshot contracts » Boston Globe

Boston’s 'fast moving' office space market creates logjam for tenants » Boston Business Journal

It's homecoming time for 18 Berkshire Museum works » Berkshire Eagle

Instagram, Facebook shut down accounts of Central Mass. marijuana dispensaries » Worcester Business Journal

Leicester recreational marijuana shop Cultivate may open Framingham location » Boston Business Journal

Glynn to lead Harvard’s Allston venture » Commonwealth Magazine

Boston school building plan raises questions, skepticism » Boston Globe

Swampscott agreement deals with gender fluidity » Commonwealth Magazine

Mansfield High honored for STEM activities » Wicked Local Mansfield

UMass unions claim promised pay hikes, retroactive raises won't be paid » The Republican

Mohegan Sun ready to make major play for Everett casino if Wynn Resorts loses license » Boston Herald

State, federal regulators sign off on Beth Israel-Lahey merger » Boston Globe

Beth Israel, Lahey Health merger will boost hospitals, CEO says » The Salem News

Attorney general approves Beth-Israel, Lahey Health merger » Wicked Local

Healey sets conditions on BI-Lahey merger » Commonwealth Magazine

Economists are skeptical of AG's limits on Beth Israel, Lahey hospital merger » Boston Business Journal

Multiple bills addressing housing crisis struggle for support at State House » News 22 WWLP.com

Mass. Auditor Suzanne Bump faults Northwestern DA for insufficient data collection with youth diversion program » The Republican

Panel is charged with reviewing state’s ‘secret courts’ » Boston Globe

New East Boston District Court Chief Probation Officer Sworn In » East Boston Times-Free Press

Corporations Are ‘Plantations,’ Massachusetts House ‘Structurally Racist,’ State Rep-Elect Says » New Boston Post

Minicucci to Replace DiZoglio on Beacon Hill » The Valley Patriot

Springfield gains, pursues state grants for park improvements » The Republican

An ill wind ruffles the Great Trumpkin » Boston Globe

Pelosi vs. Moulton should be about a creating a transition to a new generation » Boston Globe

The other Dickens Christmas » Boston Globe

Editorial: Focus workforce development efforts on financial services » Boston Business Journal

Viewpoint: Tech 'escalators' require policy support, direct investment » Boston Business Journal

Why is Boston’s Citgo sign such a big deal? » Boston Business Journal

EDITORIAL: Long haul requires plenty of patience with MBTA, Keolis » Lowell Sun

Possible Candidates Emerge as Massachusetts GOP Chair Leaves Post » NECN

Elugardo says House needs structural change » Commonwealth Magazine

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker re-elected to Republican Governors Association executive committee » The Republican

U.S. surgeon general to talk opioids in Boston » Gloucester Times

US attorney issues warning to physicians over opioid prescriptions » Boston Globe

State gives $30,000 boost to Springfield's C3 policing program » The Republican

Former Massachusetts State Police Trooper Paul Cesan pleads guilty in federal court » The Republican

Walsh Asked To Stop BPD From Attending Israeli Training » WGBH

Springfield Police officer suspended, pleads not guilty to 9 criminal charges » News 22 WWLP.com

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno calls allegations against police officer Jose Diaz in Nathan Bill's case 'troubling' » The Republican

Residents: New trees don’t block Norwell traffic noise » Patriot Ledger

Smoke on a train: Hanson firefighters douse commuter rail fire » Patriot Ledger

‘Big change’ for bikes, buses comes to Mass. Ave. in Cambridge » Boston Globe

State transit boss blasts commuter rail for recent ‘unacceptable issues’ » Boston Globe

Social Media Spotlight

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ElizabethForMA Senator Elizabeth Warren: A Foreign Policy that Works for All Americans WGBH News Michael Cohen Pleads Guilty And Manafort’s Been Lying

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Podcast Spotlight

WBUR Radio Boston: Lawsuit Alleging Misconduct At Dartmouth Raises Concerns About Treatment Of Women In STEM WBUR CommonHealth: A Look At The Future Of Gene Editing For Babies Mass Climate Action Network The Climate Minute: Its real, dangerous and happening now: The Climate Minute Podcast

MBTA Celebrates Autism Acceptance Month with Inaugural Participation in the Autism Transit Project » MBTA

MMA’s 2nd ‘Climate Action’ webinar focuses on planning » Mass. Municipal Association

Massachusetts Gaming Commission Grants $1.5M in Workforce Development Initiatives to Boost Career Training across Commonwealth Grants Funded by Community Mitigation Fund » Mass. Gaming Commission

Union Carpenters Hold Rally at Polar Park » North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters