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Today on Beacon Hill

9:00am Executive Office of Health & Human Services Public Hearing, Via Zoom

10:00am Joint Committee on Revenue, Committee Hearing

11:00am Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration, State House, 428 and Virtual

1:00pm MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng on GBH's Boston Public Radio, 89.7 FM or gbhnews.org

Birthdays: Rep. Jim Hawkins, Rep. Kate Donaghue

Must-Reads
MASSACHUSETTS

Government shutdown tracker shows how your Massachusetts senators voted. What to know » Worcester Telegram & Gazette

GOP super PAC releases image of Healey wearing a pro-migrant ‘Spirit Halloween’ costume, including sombrero » Boston Globe

Two '26 ballot questions could upend state revenue plans » Dorchester Reporter

Healey taps MBTA leader for dual role after her top transportation deputy resigns » Boston Globe

MassDOT shakeup: Secretary Tibbits-Nutt out, but keeps $200K pay » Boston Herald

Massachusetts awards $14M in public safety grants to combat illegal ‘street takeovers’ » Boston Herald

Shutdown fallout: Health care tax credits set to expire. What does it mean for Mass.? » Worcester Telegram

How Mass. sheriffs navigate delicate balance of ICE demands and state law » The New Bedford Light

Harvard posts biggest operating loss in 14 years as Trump cuts bite » Axios

Moulton returns AIPAC donations over support of Netanyahu » Boston.com

ICE enforcement in Mass. nets 1,400 arrests in September. Less than half had 'significant' criminal background » WBUR

NATIONAL

Chamber of Commerce sues Trump to block $100,000 fee for H-1B visas » Washington Post

It’s ‘too late’ to extend ACA subsidies without major disruptions, some states and lawmakers say » Politico

Maine Senate candidate promoted violent political action in since-deleted online posts » Politico

Many swings, few knockout hits as Cuomo and Mamdani trade jabs in heated first NYC mayoral debate » The Associated Press (AP)

Two opinion writers on the national implications of the Senate primary in Maine » Boston Globe

It’s Not a Dog Whistle If Everyone Can Hear It » The Atlantic

A war on drugs or a war on terror? Trump’s military pressure on Venezuela blurs the lines. » The Associated Press (AP)

Head of the U.S. Military’s Southern Command Is Stepping Down, Officials Say » New York Times

Every Politician Is an Influencer Now » The Bulwark

“Today, we join virtually every other news organization in declining to agree to the Pentagon’s new requirements, which would restrict journalists’ ability to keep the nation and the world informed of important national security issues. The policy is without precedent and threatens core journalistic protections. We will continue to cover the US military as each of our organizations has done for many decades, upholding the principles of a free and independent press.”

NBC News, CBS News, and ABC News, along with the cable networks

Under new Hegseth rule, news outlets are denied access to report on Pentagon happenings. All major outlets responded with a joint statement condeming the ruling.

News By Category
Beltway Politics

Interest in Charlie Kirk’s conservative youth movement has surged after his death » Boston Globe

Editorial: Hegseth’s war on the press now a losing battle — for him » Boston Globe

Business

Healey taps business leaders for new council on improving Mass. competitiveness » Boston Globe

School-Centered Neighborhood Development Has Its Day on Beacon Hill » MassINC

Cannabis & Psychedelics

New CCC Director Of Testing Exits Following Contentious Meeting With Lab Operators » Talking Joints Memo

Education

Harvard posts biggest operating loss in 14 years as Trump cuts bite » Axios

Brown University declines to sign onto Trump administration 'compact' » Reuters

New local data finds increasing student engagement at phone-free schools » Greenfield Recorder

Harvard’s endowment rose to $56.9 billion. The university is still facing extraordinary financial pressure. » Boston Globe

State mulls end-of-course tests, sparking fears of a new high-stakes graduation exam » Boston Globe

Springfield school board considers a Pledge of Allegiance policy » MassLive

Opinion: Schools are accommodating student anxiety — and making it worse » Boston Globe

Facing financial challenges, Worcester colleges push back on endowment tax ballot question » Worcester Telegram

Mass. colleges lead the way to help the state meet net-zero goals » Boston Business Journal

Environment

FEMA is forcing disaster-struck towns to fend for themselves » Boston Globe

Advocates flow to State House to support Massachusetts rivers » Bay State Banner

Craney: Healey must reverse course on Net Zero by 2050 » Boston Herald

Federal

Neal calls Israel-Hamas cease fire a 'good first step,' but still much to be done to maintain peace » New England Public Media

Health Care

Trump announces a deal with a manufacturer to make a common fertility drug cheaper for IVF patients » Boston Globe

Sticker shock forecast due to expiring health insurance subsidies » State House News Service

Trahan pushes for extending Obamacare tax credits » The Eagle Tribune

Health care advocate joining state service as undersecretary » State House News Service

Housing

Average long-term US mortgage rate slips to 6.27 percent, nearing a low for 2025 » Boston Globe

As Housing Crisis Escalates, New Transfer Fee Option Emerges » Vineyard Gazette

North Adams voted for an affordable housing trust. What comes next? » The Berkshire eagle

Lakeside Apartment redevelopment kicks off: What to know about Worcester housing project » Worcester Telegram

Immigration

Mass. woman charged with threatening federal agents during immigration arrest » Axios

ICE arrests Afghan man with brain cancer in Methuen. Now, he’s hundreds of miles from his doctors » WBUR

Worried ICE has taken a relative? Shutdown cuts key communication lines for lawmakers with that agency and others. » Boston Globe

Massachusetts judge releases Malden hair salon owner accused of attacking ICE agents » Boston Herald

Transparency concerns raised as Mass. ends shelter spending reports. Why that matters to you » MassLive

ICE enforcement in Mass. nets 1,400 arrests in September. Less than half had 'significant' criminal background » WBUR

Judge orders immediate release of four imprisoned immigrants who'd earlier won release but who ICE kept locked up anyway » Universal Hub

Legislative

Editorial: AG, fish or cut bait on audit of Legislature » Lowell Sun

DiZoglio rallies her troops for audit of Legislature at State House rally » Boston.com

Local Government

Lawrence City Clerk: State will 'take over' election process following fraud allegations » The Eagle Tribune

In split vote, Shutesbury Select Board OKs democracy declaration » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Ex-Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson heads to prison Friday after corruption conviction » Boston Herald

New Ashford voters will be asked to approve spending $59K, mostly for the church building » The Berkshire Eagle

Politics

‘No Kings' protests in Mass., across the U.S. expected to draw large turnout » NBC Boston

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey calls Trump World Cup threat ‘political theater’ » Boston Herald

‘We’re not going away’: Amid Trump’s threats, Boston protesters vow to continue » Boston Globe

Super PAC targets Gov. Healey as Republican race ramps up » WBUR

Amherst Town Council candidates differ on school funding priorities at forum » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Editorial: Protesting ‘No Kings?’ How about no-audit Legislature? » Boston Herald

Scott Lima drops out of New Bedford city council race, had finished 8th in preliminary » South Coast Today

GOP Super PAC posts doctored image of Healey, ties racist caricature to migrant policies » Boston.com

Seth Moulton is returning AIPAC donations after launching Senate campaign against Ed Markey » Boston Herald

As field to replace Moulton grows, disappointment in Democrats a common theme » WGBH

Public Health

South Hadley joins growing movement to create ‘nicotine-free generation’ » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Millard: Poll shows distrust of RFK Jr. as health chief » Boston Herald

What’s leading Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket parents to bypass vaccines? » WGBH

Public Safety

Gov. Healey, Mass. State Police vow zero tolerance for illegal street takeovers » WCVB

‘Art on wheels’: Inside the Mass. car culture being threatened by dangerous street takeovers » MassLive

‘People want justice.’ Raising awareness about Boston’s unsolved homicides, one case at a time » Boston Globe

Healey: Police cracking down on street 'takeovers' » The Eagle Tribune

State law enforcement officials announce crackdown on ‘street takeovers’ that hit Eastern Mass. » Boston Globe

Gov. Healey says crackdown on illegal street takeovers is underway » WGBH

Massachusetts awards $14M in public safety grants to combat illegal ‘street takeovers’ » Boston Herald

Governor Healey, Massachusetts State Police, announces more funding, 232 civil citations, 74 warnings, 20 criminal summons, 7 arrests in illegal street takeover operation » Fall River Reporter

'Real-life heroes': 4 Worcester officers among those honored by Healey at Trooper Hanna awards » Worcester Telegram

Healey reports crackdown on illegal car race meetups following chaotic events » WBUR

Worcester mayoral candidates disagree on civilian oversight board for police » WGBH

Worcester mayoral candidates disagree on civilian oversight board for police » WGBH

State Finance

Healey’s budget czar not ruling out midyear budget cuts if economy sputters » MassLive

Senate ready to join House in rejecting Healey budget vetoes » State House News

Senate ready to join House in rejecting Healey budget vetoes » State House News Service

Transportation

Route 107 bridge between Lynn, Saugus closes after inspection notes necessary repairs needed » WCVB

Healey names Eng, MBTA general manager, interim transportation secretary » WHDH

Mass. Gov. Healey taps MBTA boss Phil Eng as state’s interim transportation secretary » MassLive

Tibbits-Nutt is out as transportation secretary. T chief Eng will serve in interim » WBUR

Healey taps MBTA leader for dual role after her top transportation deputy resigns » Boston Globe

Tibbits-Nutt out at MassDOT; T's Eng takes over » Axios

MBTA's Eng widens transportation footprint as Tibbits-Nutt resigns » State House News Service

‘Contactless’ fares quickly grow popular among T riders » Commonwealth Magazine

Utilities

Massachusetts Governor Healey Flips Then Flops on Gas Pipeline Issue » WBSM

Healey orders review of utility bills to ease costs for Mass. ratepayers, so what charges should go? » Boston 25 News

Mass. bill to curb utilities’ political spending would save Liberty customers hundreds of thousands of dollars » Energy & Policy Institute

The Week In Review

Most read bills of the week:

House Actions This Week: 461

Senate Actions This Week: 118


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