11:00am Joint Committee on Municipalities & Regional Government, Committee Hearing

Birthdays: Rep. Rich Haggerty

On Beacon Hill, Republicans tussle over leadership, future in the state House » MassLive

A Hospital Scandal That Properly Reflects our Warped New Health-Care Reality » Esquire

The potential silver linings of a historic wildfire season in Mass. » WBUR

Legislature whisks substance use disorder bill to Mass. Gov. Healey » MassLive

‘There are very serious problems’: Federal lawsuits lay out allegations against Worcester police » Boston Globe

Amid child care crisis, Healey seeks to give more money back to Mass. providers » Boston Globe

Healey unveils Massachusetts AI Hub initiative » Boston Business Journal

MBTA returns 2.4 million minutes to riders daily after 14 months of slow-zone work » Boston Herald

The MBTA is plotting a revamp of the commuter rail. How will they do it? » Boston Globe

California ports launch clean energy efforts that could be a model for Mass. » WGBH

In helping upend spending deal, Elon Musk foreshadows his power in Trump’s administration » Boston Globe

Amazon workers are striking at multiple delivery hubs. Here’s what you should know » Boston Herald

‘Skeleton crews.’ ‘Endless tasks.’ What employees said about working conditions at CVS, according to a federal lawsuit. » Boston Globe

Republican Scott Jennings sounds alarm on what he calls the 'biggest scandal in America' » Raw Story

Andrew Cuomo Plans to Sue Harassment Accuser for Defamation » New York Times

What’s at risk if Congress doesn’t fund the government by Friday night » CNN

Elon Musk is becoming a one-man rogue state – it’s time we reined him in » The Guardian

Trump and Johnson weigh the pros and cons of a shutdown » Politico

Massachusetts AG Campbell files to block BlueHub Capital retroactive liability protections » Fall River Reporter

State looks to spend $100 million on race to smarter AI » Boston Globe

Boston's 2024 restaurant industry rollercoaster » Axios

The state’s largest law firm is staying in the Back Bay » Boston Globe

The 7 Biggest Stories Of 2024 In Boston Commercial Real Estate » BisNow

Did it feel like a lot of Massachusetts breweries closed this year? Here's why » WBUR

Massachusetts college leaders urged to protect free speech ahead of Trump: ‘Resist this new McCarthyism’ » Boston Herald

Northeastern University expands into Fall River with new nursing campus coming in 2025 » The Herald News

Third Pittsfield High administrator placed on leave pending DCF investigation » Berkshire Eagle

Amherst school officials prep for student move, rezoning » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Boston School Committee considers another edit to exam school admissions policy » Boston Herald

2024 in Politics: Wild year on college campuses » Boston Globe

Sutton Senator Calls For Scrutiny of Lawrence School Committee Bill » State House News Service

Boston schools to roll out new multilingual programming » WGBH

Salem High, Essex Tech awarded grants to expand vocational programs » CNHI

Mertz & Allen: New law can prevent campus hazing » Boston Herald

UMass Study Analyzes Economic Impacts Of Proposed Vessel Speed Restriction On Island » Nantucket Current

With right-wing backing, New England offshore wind opponents gain strength » WBUR

How did Firebolt die? What we know about the humpback whale who washed up in Brewster » Cape Cod Times

Report Shows Stable Hospital Readmissions Rate » State House News Service

MGB, Draganfly move forward with drone delivery program » Boston Business Journal

Q&A: SHNS Talks With NeighborHealth’s Greg Wilmot » State House News Service

‘We need more people to work’ » Commonwealth Beacon

DOJ files complaint against CVS for facilitating unlawful sale of prescription opioids » WBUR

Can Massachusetts prevent the next Steward-like scandal? » Boston Globe

A leader in trans health has become a critic of the field she helped shape. In a Q&A, she explains why. » Boston Globe

Winthrop rejects MBTA Communities zoning plan » Commonwealth Beacon

What South Shore towns have supported, rejected MBTA zoning rules? » Patriot Ledger

Massachusetts allocates $27 million to combat housing crisis » Turn to 10

Lawrence, Haverhill projects awarded $5M in state housing incentives » CNHI

More room at the inn: CSO shows off expansive new homeless center and shelter » Gazette Net

Child care provider rate increase on winter agenda » News 22 WWLP.com

Women who are homeless in Boston find safe space and care at 'HER Saturday' » WBUR

Greenfield Days Inn emergency shelter to close Feb. 28 » The Recorder

How these Massachusetts mayors react to threats of mass deportations » News 22 WWLP.com

Workers at three Massachusetts Amazon facilities picket in support of striking delivery workers » Boston Globe

Coalition threatens lawsuit to force Massachusetts Legislature to comply with audit law » Boston Herald

Governor Healey Announces Massachusetts AI Hub to Make State Global Leader in Applied AI Innovation » Mass.gov

New coalition threatens lawsuit, urges AG Campbell to ‘pick the right side’ in audit fight » Boston.com

Amherst town manager gets salary boost » Gazette Net

Boston Mayor Wu douses city councilor’s call to kill White Stadium plan, defends project amid escalating cost » Boston Herald

Surillo named new city councilor » The Eagle Tribune

Mayor Wu defends White Stadium renovation following Ed Flynn’s calls to abandon project » Boston Globe

Wanted in Lynn: Poet Laureate » Lynn Daily News Item

Price tag on White Stadium renovation doubles, spurring opposition » MassLive

Town admin may have violated Tisbury policy » Martha's Vineyard Times

New dashboard will offer deep dive into city finances, including salaries » The Eagle Tribune

Sticker shock: Boston drops $500K on EV Mustangs for city employees as homeowners face 10.5% tax hike » Boston Herald

Billerica Republican’s bid for top House GOP post uncertain as pols line up behind incumbent » Boston Herald

The challenge ahead for House Republicans » Politico

Sen. Warren fights back on Elon Musk's call to 'delete' watchdog agency » WBUR

Democratic House Whip Katherine Clark talks about the looming government shutdown » WBUR

Political Notebook: What they read this year on and off Beacon Hill » Commonwealth Beacon

Belchertown becomes first in WMass to phase out nicotine sales » Amherst Bulletin

Expert describes new substances found in illicit opioids in Pioneer Valley » MassLive

Liability bill may aid testing of street drugs » CNHI

Massachusetts awards over $11 million to combat youth violence » News 22 WWLP.com

No, you shouldn’t shoot at a drone. But defending against them is a huge challenge. » Boston Globe

Editorial: ‘Ghost gun’ in CEO’s murder highlights industry custom-made for crime » Boston Herald

Lucas: Biden administration drones on about ‘nothing’ » Boston Herald

The heroes of the Sandra Birchmore investigation » Boston Globe

Time crunch: State fiscal deadline muddles MCI-Concord planning » The Concord Bridge

State May Need To Slow Down New Capital Spending » State House News Service

The State of the Crypto Industry in Massachusetts » WBSM

On-The-Ground T Oversight Part of DPU's "Very, Very Big Leap" » State House News Service

Blue Economy Grant Funds Sandwich Harbor Walk » The Bourne News

Bike Path Group Reaffirms Commitment To Rail-To-Trail Approach » The Bourne News

Alewife Activists Give Tearful Testimonies At MBTA Board Meeting » Horizon Mass

Where Palmer Should Station Its Sweet Spot for Passenger Rail » Western Mass. Politics & Insight

Keep up the good work, Phil Eng! » Boston Globe

In the event of federal shutdown, Logan does not expect service interruptions » Boston Globe

The MBTA prepares to put subway slow zones in the rearview mirror » WBUR

Vineyard Wind gets federal go-ahead to install first blades since July breakdown » Cape Cod Times

A shifting wind » Martha's Vineyard Times

Vineyard Offshore Retreats From Major Wind Project » State House News Service

ADL Commends Congress for Prioritizing Investigation into Antisemitism » Anti-Defamation League

Senators Markey and Paul Urge President Biden to Extend TikTok Divestment Deadline » Office of Sen. Ed Markey

STATEMENT: Biden admin drafting a rushed, flawed plan to fast track data centers and power plants for AI » Environment Mass.

Aquarium to host outdoor ice sculpture of sea turtles for Boston Waterfront Ice Sculpture Stroll on New Year’s Eve » New England Aquarium

Countdown to ARPA obligation deadline » Mass. Municipal Association

Warren Urges Wellpath to Commit to Fair Payouts and Fair Notice for Incarcerated Patients During Bankruptcy Process » Office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren

TechNet Study Reveals Valuable Role of E-Commerce Marketplaces in Supporting Small Businesses » TechNet

It’s Time to Get in Formation! contributed by Farah Jeune, MIRA’s Communications Specialist » MIRA Coalition

Governor Healey Announces Massachusetts AI Hub to Make State Global Leader in Applied AI Innovation » MA Executive Office of Economic Development

Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates $2.5 Million Through Community One Stop for Growth » MA Executive Office of Economic Development