10:00am Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, Public Hearing

11:00am House Session, Formal Session

11:30am 2022 Middle Market Leaders hosted by the Boston Business Journal, Boston Park Plaza, 50 Park Plaza, Boston

1:00pm Department of Public Health Hearing, Via conference call

1:00pm Joint Committee on Election Laws, Public Hearing

3:00pm Joint Committee on Transportation, Public Hearing

Birthdays: State Senator Julian Cyr

Massachusetts Legislature moving $55 million COVID bill » Boston Globe The Massachusetts Legislature is moving forward with a bill to move this year’s primary election date to Sept. 6 and allocate $55 million for COVID-19 spending needs, as the state battles a surge of…

Lyft makes largest one-time political donation in Massachusetts history, fueling gig worker ballot fight » Boston Globe The coalition pushing petitions that could reshape how gig economy workers are classified in Massachusetts took in the single largest political donation in state history last month, helping fund a pha…

Municipalities wrangle with how to keep rapid tests in residents’ hands without excluding undocumented immigrants » WGBH Across Massachusetts, municipalities are figuring out how to get rapid tests into the hands of undocumented immigrants — while keeping out other towns' residents who might want to cross municipal bo…

Opinion: Maura Healey will soon be in the governor’s race » Boston Globe Meanwhile, Republicans may have a race between a Trump toady and a successful businessman.…

How Omicron ruined new mayors’ honeymoons » Politico Michelle Wu wakes up nearly every morning to protesters outside her home demanding the new Boston mayor call off her vaccine mandate for city workers.…

RI: R.I. Congressman James Langevin won’t seek reelection » Boston Globe US Representative James Langevin, a Democrat who has represented Rhode Island’s second congressional district since 2001, announced Tuesday that he won’t seek re-election later this year.…

NH: N.H. governor questions Mass. court’s handling of Harmony Montgomery case » Boston Globe New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu issued a scathing rebuke Tuesday of the Massachusetts court system, demanding to know why a judge in 2019 awarded custody of Harmony Montgomery to her father, a “…

NY: In an election year, Hochul proposes big spending hikes, tax breaks » Buffalo News Facing an election campaign this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday presented a state budget plan that spreads spending hikes for schools and health care programs, adds potentially billions for enviro…

FL: DeSantis shakes up Florida redistricting as veto concerns grow » Politico Gov. Ron DeSantis upended Florida’s redistricting process over the weekend, submitting his own proposed congressional map that carves out more Republican-friendly districts and is already sparking t…

A Not-Insignificant Number of Trump Supporters Think JFK Jr. Is Alive, Going to Run on the 2024 Ticket » Vanity Fair Ray Kallatsa is a die-hard Trumper who “definitely” wants to see former President Donald Trump run for office again in 2024. So it was natural that he’d travel from Tucson to see Trump’s first…

The Filibuster Is Corporate America’s Kill Switch » The Daily Poster Corporate media pretends Manchin and Sinema are heroes defending honorable principles, while they are actually working to preserve D.C. lobbyists’ best weapon.…

Bernie Sanders says Democrats are failing: ‘The party has turned its back on the working class’ » The Guardian Senator Bernie Sanders has called on Democrats to make “a major course correction” that focuses on fighting for America’s working class and standing up to “powerful corporate interests” beca…

White House simultaneously negotiating executive orders on policing amid voting rights push » The Grio As the nation watches on while Senate Democrats head into an improbable push on Tuesday to pass federal voting rights legislation, over at the White House Biden officials are simultaneously working on…

Abortion fight in states picks up as legislative sessions begin » Roll Call The Supreme Court’s consideration of a near-total abortion ban in Texas and other limits in Mississippi are motivating state officials to pursue either tougher abortion restrictions or protections i…

Neil Gorsuch Reportedly Refuses To Wear Mask In Supreme Court, Forcing Others To Call In » HUFFPOST Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch doesn’t just sit in a stolen seat on the nation’s high court. He’s also apparently a terrible co-worker.…

FL: Florida could shield whites from ‘discomfort’ of racist past » Boston Globe A bill pushed by Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis that would prohibit public schools and private businesses from making white people feel “discomfort” when they teach students or train emp…

NJ: What’s the future for green energy in Murphy’s second term? » NJ Spotlight News For much of Gov. Phil Murphy’s first term, his goal of shifting New Jersey away from fossil fuels to an economy entirely reliant on clean energy by mid-century encountered little sustained oppositio…

Spice company ignites furious uproar after calling Republicans a 'bunch of racists' who want to 'shoot a Black person' » Raw Story Republicans were criticized by a Wisconsin-based spice company for their alleged racism.…

‘American democracy is under attack’: Warren urges support for voting rights legislation, rails against filibuster » Boston Globe In a speech that lasted over an hour, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren unleashed a fiery defense of voting rights legislation that Democrats have labeled as being crucial to protecting democracy…

DeSantis Betting That Republicans Want a Stupider Version of Trump » The New Yorker As he explores a bid for the 2024 Republican Presidential nomination, Governor Ron DeSantis is betting that G.O.P. voters are looking for a stupider version of Donald J. Trump.…

After a boom year, SPACs may be going bust in startup land » Boston Globe A SPAC, short for special purpose acquisition company, was supposed to be a quick and efficient way for startups to raise money and go public. And it was used for some of the biggest local tech deals …

We thought we’d be past this by now. We were wrong. Support your local restaurants. » Boston Globe In January 2021, the Globe launched a campaign called Project Takeout. Its premise was simple: Help support local, independent restaurants. Commit to ordering takeout once a week, or twice, or however…

Massachusetts bill would mandate notifications before leased vehicles are repossessed » WCVB Of all the consumer complaints sent to NewsCenter 5, cars are far and away the top issue.…

A new cannabis cultivation company plans to bring at least 60 new jobs to Pittsfield » Berkshire Eagle A new cannabis cultivation center is on the horizon for an industrial park in the northeast corner of Pittsfield following an unanimous vote by the Community Development Board Tuesday night.…

Keller @ Large: Voter Rights Debate Isn’t Just On The National Level, It’s Happening In Massachusetts » CBS Boston The voting rights debate is reaching a climax in Washington D.C. But did you know that voter access is becoming a political flashpoint on Beacon Hill as well?…

Boston appears headed for Supreme Court loss over refusal to fly a Christian flag » NBC News Conservative justices said the city was wrong to conclude that allowing the flag would be an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.…

Democracy’s other threat: Book bans and purges » Boston Globe Limiting access to literature, especially by authors of color, is yet another authoritarian tool polluting political discourse.…

Tensions rise as Mass. changes school COVID measures for ‘current state of pandemic’ » Boston Globe In the midst of the latest surge of COVID-19, an unlikely trend is taking shape in public schools in Massachusetts: a shift away from the most comprehensive virus mitigation measures, and from those s…

State’s at-home tests changing schools’ COVID surveillance » Gazette Net Massachusetts schools will be able to sign up this week to receive at-home rapid COVID-19 tests for weekly use by their students and staff, and those that choose to do so will stop contact tracing and…

Mass. relaxes contact tracing in schools that offer rapid tests to students and staff » Boston Globe Governor Charlie Baker announced Tuesday his administration would allow schools to stop “test-and-stay” and contact-tracing efforts if they join a new state initiative offering weekly rapid at-hom…

Colleges start spring semester with new Covid protocols » Boston Business Journal Free rapid test kits for students. Ban of cloth face coverings, in lieu of KN95 and N95 masks. Grab-and-go dining.…

Springfield officials celebrate progress for DeBerry-Swan School » The Reminder The state-of-the-art innovations behind the upcoming DeBerry-Swan School took center stage as city officials celebrated the topping out stage of construction during a Jan. 4 ceremony.…

At-Home Tests Mark Shift In School COVID-19 Surveillance » State House News Service Massachusetts schools this week will be able to sign up to receive at-home rapid COVID-19 tests for weekly use by their students and staff, and those that choose to do so will stop contact tracing and…

‘This is a different phase.’ It may be time for a reset on kids, school, and COVID. » Boston Globe Sometimes you can feel an inflection point. We’re seeing it in waste water, where, in the Boston area, evidence of COVID-19 has been plummeting for about a week.…

Attleboro area schools offered at-home virus test kits from state » The Sun Chronicle Massachusetts will be providing millions of rapid coronavirus test kits to schools to allow staff and students to test themselves weekly at home, and Attleboro area school officials say they will be o…

Framingham principal who went on leave in March may still be on payroll. What we don't know » The Metro West Daily News A former school principal is apparently still on the district’s payroll months after she stopped working, but the district has refused to turn over any records that may shed light on her absence.…

All around Massachusetts, cities and towns want to go fossil fuel free. Here’s why they can’t. » Boston Globe Across Massachusetts, dozens of cities and towns have said they want to outlaw the use of fossil fuels in newly constructed buildings — considered an easy and effective step toward a carbon-free fut…

MGM Springfield reports higher gambling take in December » MassLive MGM Springfield took in $22.2 million in slot machine and table game revenue in December, according to figures released Tuesday by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.…

A look inside a community hospital in Concord during the omicron surge » WBUR In the throes of staggering omicron spread, that's the case at Emerson Hospital in Concord, where a handful of Guard members have been working since the turn of the year. Just last week, Gov. Charlie …

2021 set records in Boston’s housing market. What now? » Boston Globe Greater Boston’s housing market had a record-setting year in 2021, hitting all-time highs for both prices and number of sales.…

Harvard immigration clinic sues for records on ICE detention » AP News A Harvard Law School clinic has sued federal immigration officials for failing to release records about the use of solitary confinement in immigration detention facilities.…

Why Massachusetts has a ‘culture of caution’ on clemency and commutations » WGBH Last week, Gov. Charlie Baker commuted the sentences of two Massachusetts prisoners, Thomas Koonce and William Allen, the first time he has drawn on clemency power to spare criminal defendants. Daniel…

Pandemic’s Length Adds Layer To Future of Work Commission » State House News Service As it enters the homestretch of its monthslong investigation of the changing nature of work in Massachusetts and prepares to draft its report, the Future of Work Commission had an important question t…

Regional Organizations Discuss Bill Concerning Ride Share Workers » Cape Cod Online A year after legislation passed in California to allow ride sharing companies such as Uber and Doordash to classify their workers as independent contractors, state lawmakers, interest groups and organ…

House releases $55m bill for COVID testing, school masks » Commonwealth Magazine THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS Committee on Tuesday released a bill that would allocate another $55 million to expanding COVID testing sites, buying masks for schools, and doing vaccine outreach, even as Go…

Northampton health officials end vaccine passport debate » Gazette Net City health officials have no plans to implement a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for customers and employees of indoor businesses, putting to rest the controversial idea that drew hundreds of public co…

Chicopee City Councilor Delmarina López details journey to her new position » The Reminder After trailblazing history as Chicopee’s first City Councilor of color, Ward 3 Councilor Delmarina Lopez discussed her background as a part of Springfield Technical Community College’s (STCC) “W…

Wu touts smooth vaccine mandate rollout, says protests at home reflect 'fragile state of democracy' » WGBH Boston saw a jump in COVID-19 vaccinations the week before the city's new proof of vaccination mandate went into effect, with 81% of residents now having received at least one dose, Mayor Michelle Wu …

Attleboro area political notebook: Salem mayor running for lieutenant governor; Auchincloss challenger off to fast fundraising start » The Sun Chronicle It turns out that Attleboro’s Paul Heroux is not the only mayor seeking higher — or at least different — office.…

Local NAACP president running for Mass. secretary of state » Boston Globe Tanisha M. Sullivan, a corporate attorney and president of the NAACP’s Boston branch, said Tuesday she is running for secretary of state, arguing the office needs a more vocal champion for expanded …

Hodgson draws challengers for fall election » Dartmouth Week While still ten months away, longtime Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson will be facing his first contested election since 2010, after recently drawing a couple of challengers.…

Protestors depart from Michelle Wu’s house — and end up at Ed Flynn’s » Boston Herald There’s been some peace and quiet for a couple of days outside Mayor Michelle Wu’s Roslindale home — because the protestors who’ve been screaming at her about the vaccine mandate trekked acros…

Agawam City Councilor To Announce Run For Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor As Geoff Diehl’s Running Mate, Sources Say » New Boston Post Former Massachusetts state representative Geoff Diehl (R-Whitman) is expected to soon have an unofficial running mate in the race for lieutenant governor. That’s because Agawam city councilor Cecili…

Cruz formally launches rep campaign, Dominguez joins race » Salem News Manny Cruz announced Tuesday that he’s received the backing of Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll — who has announced her own candidacy for lieutenant governor.…

Communities continue contact tracing, without state support » Gazette Net As COVID-19 cases reach unprecedented levels in the current wave, communities are continuing to conduct contact tracing work for the disease, even as the infrastructure and protocols around the practi…

Boston Doctors: COVID-19 Hospitalizations Cut in Half By New Reporting Guidelines » NBC Boston The number of patients who are severely ill with COVID-19 is less than half of all those hospitalized with the virus, Boston doctors said Tuesday, but that doesn't mean there's any less strain on the …

Editorial: Biden shouldn’t give up on vaccine mandates » Boston Globe This is no time for the Biden administration to throw in the towel on vaccine mandates.…

Biden to give away 400 million N95 masks starting next week » Boston Globe The Biden administration will begin making 400 million N95 masks available for free to Americans starting next week, now that federal officials are emphasizing their better protection against the omic…

Boosters roll out unevenly, as worker shortages hamper outreach » Boston Globe Like thousands of people, Gladys Vega was out sick with COVID-19 the first week of January, bedridden for seven days. And like millions of others, Vega hadn’t gotten the booster shot that might have…

Governor Baker to deploy National Guard to assist with COVID testing efforts » News 22 WWLP.com Right after the holidays the city of Springfield was flooded with requests for COVID tests and hospitals in the city were filled with people showing COVID symptoms, but the situation in the city has s…

‘Straight up and then straight down’: Data shows Mass. has passed omicron peak » WHDH Massachusetts appears to be on the “back side” of the omicron-fueled surge in new COVID-19 cases, Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday, citing recently collected wastewater readings.…

Researchers find jailhouse opioid treatment cut recidivism » Gazette Net After researching two local jails, Baystate Medical Center and the University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers have published a new study that found a substantial reduction in recidivism when a ja…

Rachael Rollins, FBI special agent meet with Massachusetts Jewish community after synagogue hostage crisis, security trainings highlighted » Boston Herald The Texas synagogue hostage crisis hit home for Jewish communities all across the world over the weekend, including for Bay State Jewish people who heard from the FBI and U.S. Attorney on Tuesday in t…

Brookline’s policing blues » Boston Globe Brookline — affluent, well educated, and largely peaceful — seems like unusual ground for a roiling controversy over policing.…

Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission gets $5M in ARPA funding » Lowell Sun The Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission has been awarded $5 million from the state’s American Rescue Plan Act funding.…

Massachusetts created a commission to study qualified immunity. Reform advocates aren’t happy with the result. » Boston.com Following months of racial justice protests, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed a sprawling compromise police reform bill on the final day of 2020.…

Making riders tap their CharlieCard to leave could reduce expected fare evasion surge, new analysis finds » Boston Globe Having MBTA riders tap their CharlieCards, phones, or credit cards while exiting the Green Line could reduce an anticipated increase in fare evasion when the MBTA’s new fare collection system is exp…

Online Driver’s Ed May Survive As Pandemic Reform » State House News Service Driving instructors on Tuesday offered mixed opinions over whether Massachusetts should allow the classroom portion of the state's required driver's education to be offered online.…

Atlanta transit CEO, former MBTA official Jeffrey Parker has died by suicide » Boston Business Journal A former MBTA official who went onto become CEO and general manager of the Metropolitan Atlanta Transit Authority, has died.…

State to get $1.12B fed funds to fix bridges » The Eagle Tribune Massachusetts is getting a windfall of federal transportation funding to help repair and replace hundreds of aging, structurally deficient bridges.…

Emirates Airlines suspends flights to Boston Logan because of 5G mobile ‘operational concerns’ » Boston Herald Emirates Airlines is suspending flights to Boston Logan International Airport, the Dubai-based airline announced Tuesday as concerns swirl about the impact of 5G mobile network services at airports.…

AT&T and Verizon will change their 5G plans after airlines warn of flight chaos » Boston Globe Verizon and AT&T said Tuesday they would delay the debut of new 5G cellular service near some airports, an attempt to address concerns that the technology would interfere with airplane equipment when …

Social Media Spotlight

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MassGovernor January 18, 2022: COVID-19 Testing Announcement GBH News SCOTUS to weigh in on argument over Boston city hall flagpole

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Podcast Spotlight

Five Thirty Eight Politics Podcast: Why Democrats Keep Bringing Up Voting Rights Legislation NPR The NPR Politics Podcast: Democrats Are Headed For A Clash Over The Filibuster Union of Concerned Scientists Got Science?: Ep. 126: Hurricane Season 2021: the Bad, the Worse, and the Unexpected WBUR Radio Boston: Boston City Hall at the Supreme Court; How omicron is hitting one community hospital in Mass.

Directions

Beacon Hill Roundup - January 19, 2022 » Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Massachusetts

3 in 10 Teachers Say They May Quit This Year » Stand for Children

Legislative Update: Week of January 17, 2022 » Massachusetts Biotechnology Council

ARL Appears on Good Morning America as Part of Betty White Challenge Coverage » Animal Rescue League Boston

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Weekly At-Home Tests Available for Students and Staff Enrolled in State’s Testing Programs » MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission secures $5 million in funding » Middlesex Sheriff's Office

Survey: MA Residents Are Ready For A Smarter Electricity System » Green Energy Consumers Alliance

College Enrollment Drops Again » New England Board of Higher Education

Mass Higher Ed Commish, UConn Prez Announce Departures » New England Board of Higher Education

BBA Statement on the Hostage-Taking at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas » Boston Bar Association

Study Raises Concern That Annual T Fare Evasion Costs Could Rise By More Than $30 Million Under AFC 2.0 » Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research