9:30am Strategies to Build Progressive Political Power: Mass. Organizing Conference, Online

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Joint Committee on Transportation, Committee Hearing

Birthday: Rep. Jack Lewis

100K public workers still await raises due to budget delay, say unions » Boston Business Journal

National Grid proposes more generous discount rates for low-income electric customers in Mass. » WBUR

Massachusetts becomes fifth state in nation to make prison calls free » WGBH

1,000+ Massachusetts migrants attend clinic to get to work and out of emergency shelters » Boston Herald

State officials tout no bias in police stops. Looking closer reveals a different reality » Worcester Telegram

CVS pharmacists are at a breaking point, imperiling company’s reinvention plans » Boston Globe

Former Senator Faces New Benefits Fraud Indictment » State House News Service

MA & ME: Maine and Massachusetts are the last states to keep bans on Sunday hunting. That might soon change » AP News

NH: New Hampshire is the only New England state where the sale of marijuana remains illegal. Changing that has been a slog. » Boston Globe

NH: The New Hampshire primary’s most sought-after undecided voter? Republican Governor Chris Sununu. » Boston Globe

ME: Maine commission to launch investigation into failure to stop Lewiston gunman » Boston Globe

RI: He once chased Lincoln Chafee in a George W. Bush mask. Now, he's in line to lead RI AFL-CIO. » The Associated Press (AP)

CT: Connecticut group home 'failed' to supervise disabled residents before sexual assault » CT Insider

IL: New migrant policies cut services to new arrivals in Chicago » Axios

MN: Legislators vow to reform Minnesota's child protection system » Star Tribune

FL: Florida Supreme Court refuses to block sports betting amid legal fight » Tampa Bay Times

FL: In push to remove homeowners, Citizens uses unlicensed inspectors » Orlando Sentinel

TX: Texas House cuts vouchers from education bill » Pluribus News

CO: Donald Trump can appear on Colorado’s 2024 Republican presidential primary ballot, judge rules » The Colorado Sun

MT: A Montana farmer with a flattop and ample lobbyist cash stands between the GOP and Senate control » AP News

UT: The Strange, Twisted Journey of Mike Lee » The Bulwark+

OR: Oregon’s first-in-the-nation drug decriminalization law is facing pushback amid the fentanyl crisis » AP News

CA: Pro-ceasefire protests take over building at California Democratic convention » Politico

CA: Democrats are split on Israel and the race for Feinstein’s Senate seat, as 2024 looms » Los Angeles Times

in Chicago » Axios

Lucas: Where is the US response to attacks on troops in Syria, Iraq » Boston Herald

Trump tops Biden in new national poll » Boston Herald

Amazon makes job cuts in Alexa division » Boston Business Journal

The Belmont Voice makes its debut, giving the town two independent news outlets » Media Nation

Manchester ZBA greenlights Cell Signaling plan » Gloucester Times

Microsoft hires Sam Altman and OpenAI’s new CEO vows to investigate his firing » Boston Globe

After affirmative action ruling, one Boston VC firm is looking to redefine DEI » Boston Globe

CVS pharmacists are at a breaking point, imperiling company’s reinvention plans » Boston Globe

‘Vibrant community’: Life sciences in Massachusetts growing but startups need help » BU News

Protesters gather outside Elizabeth Warren’s Cambridge home to call for cease-fire in Gaza » Boston Globe

20 years later, Hillary Goodridge reflects on Mass. gay marriage win » WBUR

It looked like an overdose, with pills scattered all over the bedroom floor. But she had been strangled. » Boston Globe

Opinion: Still so much to learn about the scope of brothel ring » Boston Globe

Title IX report slams Amherst’s response to harassment of LGBTQ+ students » MassLive

Editorial: In too many schools, a ‘B’ means ‘D’ » Boston Herald

Education Department opens school probes over alleged antisemitism, Islamophobia » WBUR

After Covid-19 Recovery, Harvard College Sees Rise in International Enrollment for Third Straight Year » The Harvard Crimson

Danvers schools tackle high chronic absenteeism rate » Salem News

Superintendent Skipper says exam school admissions changes are being ‘actively looked at’ » Boston Herald

Here comes the next affirmative action challenge » Boston Globe

Proposed ballot question to end MCAS graduation requirement gains momentum » Boston Globe

Poll: Massachusetts parents report stark disparities in post-secondary planning knowledge across race and income » Boston Herald

Raso: New pain treatments bypass need for opioids » Boston Herald

Hospital sued over potential HIV, hepatitis infections » Eagle Tribune

Maternal Health Report Gets Lukewarm Reception » State House News Service

Editorial: Ban expensive surprise bills for ambulance rides » Boston Globe

Boston Medical tech charged in drug prescription fraud scheme » Boston Herald

Editorial: Treat landlords as allies to fight housing crisis » Boston Herald

Advocates plan vigil at State House to call for overflow site for migrants, homeless » Boston Herald

State agency for the blind stripped of more than $1 million in federal funds due to ex-commissioner’s missteps » Boston Globe

Shelter workers, faith leaders overwhelmed and frustrated amid stalled state aid for shelters » WGBH

For Haitian teen and her family, Mass. shelter represents hope for the future » MassLive

Opinion: Are immigrants welcome here or not? » Boston Globe

Springfield organization asking for help for migrant families after state reaches capacity » Western Mass News

Thompson: Massachusetts workers need E-Verify » Boston Herald

Three months after council approval, a retired Boston firefighter’s pension boost still waiting for Wu » Boston Globe

Beacon Hill Roll Call: Busy week on the Hill » Lowell Sun

Our View: State lawmakers fail, again » The Sun Chronicle

Lowell city councilor charged with domestic assault and battery » Boston Globe

Despite court order, Fall River still withholding records in city public works scandal » The Herald News

Howie Carr: Loser Dean Tran, indicted again, another success in Massachusetts Republican eyes » Boston Herald

Former state senator Dean Tran arrested for alleged COVID unemployment fraud » Boston Globe

Short takes: DiZoglio all in on ballot bid » Commonwealth Magazine

Mass. residents recall Rosalynn Carter’s ‘fierce determination’ as a trailblazer on mental illness » Boston Globe

Swampscott seeks community help spending opioid settlement » Item Live

Worcester city manager: Police oversight not a priority for Human Rights Commission » Worcester Telegram

Arrests in Holyoke mayor’s street crime crackdown lead to gridlocked courts » MassLive

Healey to announce efforts to prevent hate crimes in Mass. » NBC Boston

Governor Healey to announce efforts to address and prevent hate crimes » News 22 WWLP.com

From shelter funding to a soccer stadium, here are 3 things to know about the Mass. spending bill holdup » WBUR

Massachusetts and Maine are last states to keep bans on Sunday hunting, but that could change » CBS News

Panel throws up hands over new state seal after three-year effort » Gazette Net

MBTA says Commuter Rail ridership hit pre-pandemic peak of 90% » Boston Herald

There is light at the end of the tunnel, MBTA’s General Manager says » Boston Herald

MBTA says Commuter Rail ridership hit pre-pandemic peak of 90% » Boston Herald

Eng says $24 billion for MBTA is a ‘planning tool,’ not immediate need » Boston Globe

State’s Transportation Secretary to tour Palmer rail station » News 22 WWLP.com

National Grid plans 2.2% average annual rate hike, grid investment » Boston Business Journal

Advocates back legislation seeking more local control on large-scale solar projects » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Should utilities pay the upfront cost of clean energy? A municipal utility in Ipswich is making the investment. » Boston Globe

Regulators will seek more disclosure on sports wagering limits » Gazette Net

From cannabis cafes to data privacy, here are seven laws going into effect in Massachusetts in the new year » Boston Globe

Lucas: Looking back on 2025 » Boston Herald

2026 ballot question to limit Mass. tax revenue gathers needed signatures » Boston Business Journal

Unemployment in Berkshire County rises to four-year high as job growth slows » The Berkshire Eagle

State extends highway plaza leases for 18 months » State House News Service

Here's how AI and quantum dominated 2025's startup scene in Boston » Boston Business Journal

Editorial: Let's lower barriers to LGBTQ fertility treatments » Boston Globe

Flu cases tick up in Massachusetts as health officials warn of new variant » Boston Herald

What ‘Regime Change’ in Venezuela Would Really Mean » The Bulwark

2nd Street Awarded Re-Entry Workforce Development Grant » iBerkshires

New Year, New Laws as Massachusetts Welcomes Cannabis Lounges and Tightens Boating and Hunting Regulations for 2026 » Hoodline

Martinez: Postal Service can't deliver without $$ reforms » Boston Herald

Office building near South Station trades at steep discount » Boston Business Journal

Everett cashing in at twice the rate of Boston as part of its Revs stadium deal with Kraft Group » Boston Herald

Family, profession, politics: Local observers look back on 2025, assess prospects in 2026 » Gazette Net

Massachusetts awards $50 million to pave 217 miles of roads in 34 town and cities » newbedfordguide

Massachusetts awards $50M in Municipal Pavement Program funds » Transportation Today

Accessory dwelling units may help lower housing costs in New Bedford » South Coast Today

Gov. Healey, U.S. Rep. Pressley will attend Everett Inauguration » Everett Independent

Boston reaches agreement with Kraft Group on Everett soccer stadium » WGBH

Second Patriots player now facing assault charges » WGBH

Federal judge halts end of protected status for South Sudanese migrants » WGBH

NIH agrees to resume consideration of grant applications stalled by Trump orders » WGBH

Mass. is seizing a dozen-plus homes for a new $2b Cape bridge. Those spared question if they're even better off. » Boston Globe

Behold, a Democrat who doesn’t preach from the Church of Progressivism » Washington Post

Boston’s office market begins 2026 with more vacancies than any Northeastern city » Boston Business Journal

153 pounds of steak tips and self-portrait land Quincy official in trial over city funds » MassLive

Mass. building came to a 'standstill' in 2025 after 15-year boom » Boston Business Journal

GOP lawmakers, frustrated with dysfunctional Congress, head for the exits » The Hill

9:30am Strategies to Build Progressive Political Power: Mass. Organizing Conference, Online

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Joint Committee on Transportation, Committee Hearing

Birthday: Rep. Jack Lewis

7:00pm Joint Committee on Judiciary, Committee Hearing

Birthday: Rep. David Muradian

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

Birthday: Rep. Kristin Kassner

No Hearings Scheduled

No Hearings Scheduled

Governor Healey Secures $162 Million to Improve Rural Health Across Massachusetts » Office of Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll

Massachusetts Fire Deaths Drop by 12% in 2025 » Mass. Department of Fire Services

Senator Markey Statement on U.S. Military Attack on Venezuela and the Kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro » Office of Sen. Ed Markey

Small Property Owners Association Announces New Leadership and Outlines Housing Policy Priorities for 2026 » Small Property Owners Association (SPOA)