11:00am Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, Public Hearing

1:00pm Board of Building Regulations & Standards Public Hearing, 50 Maple Street, Milford

1:00pm Joint Committee on Public Service, Public Hearing

3:20pm Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, Public Hearing

5:30pm Rep. John Mahoney's Annual Holiday Celebration

6:00pm Mass. Womens Political Caucus Young Professionals Holiday Party

6:30pm Winter Celebration with State Rep.-Elect Nika Elugardo and Congresswoman-Elect Ayanna Pressley

We are former senators. The Senate has long stood in defense of democracy — and must again. » The Washington Post

The Presidency or Prison » New York Times

Even with insurance, getting mental health treatment is a struggle in Mass., study says » Boston Globe

LinkedIn co-founder backs $35 million voter data project in 'existential threat' to Democratic Party » Politico

The 2020 campaign has begun and Cory Booker is in it to win it. » Weekly Standard

PROGRESSIVES FIND FEW ON BEACON HILL WORTHY OF TOP GRADES » State House News Service

ETHICS COMMISSION ISSUES REMINDER ON GIFT RESTRICTIONS » State House News Service

Republican senator feels 'vindication' after Kavanaugh votes in favor of Planned Parenthood » CNN

State Ban On Secret Recordings In Regards To Gov't Officials And Cops Is Ruled Unconstitutional » WBUR

Deval Patrick's New Job: Finding A 2020 Candidate To "Break The Fever" Of Trump's Leadership » BuzzFeedNews

Moulton Likely to Get Primary Challenge in 2020 » NBC Boston

Target pays $3 million for improperly billing automatic prescriptions refills » Boston Globe

Lyft's New England Hub Opens In Medford » Salem Patch

Berkshire Innovation Center early steel order dodged price spike from tariffs » Berkshire Eagle

Fishing industry says it doesn't endorse Vineyard Wind's 'consensus plan' for transit lanes » South Coast Today

Delta plans massive expansion at Logan, will reclaim most all of Terminal A » Boston Globe

Pot blamed for mounting highway death toll » Boston Herald

Both Mass. pot shops are limiting purchases to manage supply » Boston Business Journal

Spencer gets whiff of pot transactions, wants to clear the air » Worcester Telegram

Somerville passes resolution, supports State House bill expunging marijuana records » The Tufts Daily

Should Boston go back to an elected School Committee or would it create more dysfunction? » Boston Globe

Education advocates call for Charlie Baker to prioritize ‘fair school funding’ » Boston Globe

As education activists press, Peyser says state "trying to do the best we can" » State House News Service

Dennis waterfront owners prevail in beach access court case » Cape Cod Times

Framingham to cull beaver population to stop flooding » The Metro West Daily News

Native cottontails headed to Nomans Land » Cape Cod Times

Freetown, Mattapoisett bog projects designated 'priority' by state » South Coast Today

Massachusetts residents struggle to access mental health care, study finds » The Republican

Is Boston’s Real Estate Bubble Unpoppable? » Boston Magazine

Markey Demands Details About Life Insurance Denials For Carrying Naloxone » WBUR

You Can Secretly Record Officials and Police in Massachusetts, a Judge Ruled » Boston Magazine

Lawmakers push harder to resolve labor dispute at National Grid » Boston Globe

National Grid urged to end lockout » The Salem News

Spilka to National Grid: End lockout 'immediately' » The Daily News of Newburyport

Political Notes: Hunt named to tax expenditure panel » Cape Cod Times

Representatives-Elect Talk About Goals Ahead On Beacon Hill » WGBH

Progressives find few on Beacon Hill worthy of top grades » State House News Service

Ayanna Pressley, before heading to Congress, listens one more time » Boston Globe

Upset over recording a Planning Board meeting spurs debate among town officials » The Landmark

Lynn waterfront master plan laid out in detail » Lynn Daily News Item

Treasurer concerns have Westport thinking recall » South Coast Today

Immigration — the problem Congress doesn’t want to solve » Boston Globe

Setting a new standard for retail pot stores in Boston » Boston Globe

Run, Elizabeth Warren, run » Boston Globe

Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders headed for 2020 New Hampshire showdown » Boston Herald

A small gesture from Bush, a giant message for country » Boston Herald

EDITORIAL: Housing market plays catch-up with economy » Lowell Sun

Seen @ Reception honoring retiring state Rep. John Scibak in South Hadley » The Republican

Progressive group finds few Mass. legislators worthy of top grades » Worcester Telegram

State lawmakers holding hearing on natural gas safety » Western Mass News

News Briefs: Pignatelli appointed to rail study advisory committee; Hinds’ holiday open house; expansion grant for CHP; priority designation for Mount Washington » the Berkshire edge

Creation of Citizens Commission next step in Massachusetts’ effort to regulate corporate campaign donations » The Republican

Worcester firefighter, killed Sunday, was a single father devoted to his daughter » Boston Globe

Baker and Polito pay respects to fallen Worcester firefighter » WWLP.com

Charlie Baker pushes for crackdown on driving while high on drugs » Boston Herald

Dem leaders bullish on Baker's gas-safety bill » Lowell Sun

Progressive finds few on Beacon Hill worthy of top grade » Sentinel & Enterprise

State elder affairs head to depart in January » Worcester Business Journal

Governor Baker to visit western Mass. » Western Mass News

MassDOT chooses potential North-South Rail Link option » Boston Herald

Pignatelli joins panel on east-west passenger rail service » Berkshire Eagle

T board mad weekend commuter rail pass is ending » Commonwealth Magazine

Orange Line operator removed from train after making unusual remarks » Boston Globe

Citing Racial Disparities, Cities Rethink Punishment for Transit Fare Evasion » Governing

T to consider privatizing some bus service » Commonwealth Magazine

T notes: Gearing up for new commuter rail contract » Commonwealth Magazine

Ramirez out, Poftak in as T general manager » Commonwealth Magazine

Luis Manuel Ramirez, MBTA general manager, out after little more than year in job » The Republican

MBTA general manager Luis Ramirez is out after just 15 months » Boston Globe

Gas safety bill on December to-do list, DeLeo and Spilka say » State House News Service

Columbia Gas, Utility Companies To Partake In Natural Gas Safety Hearing » CBS Boston

Green light for Petersham broadband network » Athol Daily News

Social Media Spotlight

boston_mayor repkennedy elizabethwarren

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WGBH News Representatives-Elect Talk About Goals Ahead On Beacon Hill CBS Boston Massachusetts Launching Statewide Campaign Against Stoned, Drunk Driving WGBY Recreational Marijuana Sales in Easthampton, MA

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Podcast Spotlight

WBUR Edify: Board Of Higher Ed To Focus On Under-Represented Students

MMA webinar reviews digital equity planning and programs » Mass. Municipal Association

Pressley, Warren Celebrate $1M Secured for Black Economic Council of Massachusetts » Office of Congressman Ayanna Pressley

Southcoast Health Recognized by the White House for Sustainability Efforts » Southcoast Health

House Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Protect America’s National Security, Support U.S. Allies, Surge Humanitarian Aid to Gaza » Office of Congresswoman Lori Trahan

Alzheimer's Association Part the Cloud Grants $3 Million to Develop Innovative Treatments, Bringing Total Investment to $68 Million » Alzheimer's Association

ICYMI: At Hearing, Warren Presses Army Leadership on Military Housing Crisis, Need for Quality, Safe Accommodations » Office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren

New England Aquarium and retail partner Event Network take significant step to remove plastic from gift shop » New England Aquarium

Gov. Healey's Secretary's Tirade Caught on Camera » MassFiscal Alliance