11:00am Governor's Council Meeting, Governor's Council Chamber, Room 360, State House

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

Boston Officials Consider Mask Mandate as COVID-19 Infections Rise » NBC Boston

Editorial: Time to fix the Massachusetts Republican Party » Boston Globe

With new administration afoot, state still debating future of Springfield’s Roderick Ireland courthouse » MassLive

‘An extension of Maura’: Meet Tara Healey, sister, confidante, adviser to Massachusetts’ next governor » Boston Globe

Sheriffs cite burnout among correctional officers » Boston Herald

Bump says DiZoglio is being ‘well-schooled’ on auditor’s duties » Commonwealth Magazine

Silverglate: Administrative bloat killing college dreams » Boston Herald

RI: What do legislators want to do with RI's $610M surplus? » The Providence Journal

CT: CT offers an extra $430 per needy family in winter energy assistance » CT Mirror

NY: Liar Rep.-elect George Santos admits fabricating key details of his bio » New York Post

PA: Thousands of Pa. nursing home residents are behind on their COVID vaccine boosters » The Philadelphia Inquirer

TX: Texas Lawmakers Plan to Further Decimate Abortion Rights in Upcoming Legislative Session » The Intercept

Retirees Are One Reason the Fed Has Given Up on a Big Worker Rebound » New York Times

Are Universities Doomed? » The Daily Signal

Subpoenaed Fossil Fuel Documents Reveal an Industry Stuck in the Past » The Intercept

Southwest under scrutiny after wave of storm cancellations » AP News

Who’s the new No. 4 Democrat? There may be a dispute » The Hill

Gaetz presses Jordan to go after Speaker job » The Hill

‘An astonishing two years’: In wide-ranging interview, Elizabeth Warren reflects on policy wins under Biden administration » Boston Globe

Editorial: Dems play blame game » Boston Herald

Island Liquor Stores Brace For Nip Ban On Jan. 1 » Nantucket Current

The surge in Seaport construction continues » Boston Globe

For Betty Francisco, new startup fund puts money with disadvantaged entrepreneurs » Boston Globe

Bids for BCEC land feature labs, grocery stores… and flying taxis » Boston Business Journal

Robbins: The unpretentious Jim Brett » Boston Herald

Bottoming out: Adult-use cannabis prices nosedive in Massachusetts as market hits oversaturation point » MJBizDaily

No easy answers as Boston officials ask: How many marijuana stores is too many? » Boston Globe

Athol man involved in U.S. Capitol breach found guilty on 4 charges » Gazette Net

McManus: Democracy around the world looking a little healthier » Boston Herald

Upper Cape Tech to Receive State Transportation Grant » Cape Cod Online

A roundup of leadership changes at major colleges in New England this year » Boston Globe

NSCC to expand health care simulation labs with $1M state grant » Salem News

Want to opt out of MCAS? This New Bedford educator and UMass Dartmouth professor can help » South Coast Today

BPS forecasts possible temporary mask mandate on the horizon » Boston Herald

100% clean energy by 2030 in Mass.? Climate activists have suggestions » MassLive

Leading by example: Northampton’s climate change mitigation work years in the making » Gazette Net

Worcester to spend $6M to fix raw sewage problem at Lake Quinsigamond » Worcester Telegram

Healey vows to address shortage of personal care attendants » Gazette Net

CHP ends its midwife program in Great Barrington, citing low number of births and an older population » Berkshire Eagle

‘It makes you think how lucky you are.’ The painstaking mission to find guardians for hospital patients in legal limbo. » Boston Globe

Pelham’s first rental housing development advances; construction on $12M, 34-unit complex to begin next spring » Amherst Bulletin

Opinion: FHLBanks need to be reimagined » Boston Globe

Lowry: Ending Title 42 would make the border worse » Boston Herald

An alternative to incarceration for young adults sees early success in Springfield » Boston Globe

Berkshire County study tracks use of plea deals » Commonwealth Magazine

Opinion: There aren’t enough American workers. The solution is obvious: more immigrants. » Boston Globe

State Rep. Jake Oliveira prepares to succeed Sen. Eric Lesser on Beacon Hill » MassLive

Beacon Hill Roll Call: Major bills passed in 2022 » Lowell Sun

Local projects get boost of federal funds » Gazette Net

Expanded Jones Library design receives unanimous support in Amherst » Gazette Net

Lowell City Council closes the books on a busy year » Lowell Sun

Wayland Reaches Deal To Hire First Permanent Town Manager » Wayland Patch

Opinion: Why is it necessary? » Boston Globe

Auchincloss reflects on first term, what lies ahead in US Congress » The Sun Chronicle

Growing vaccine hesitancy fuels measles, chickenpox resurgence » Boston Globe

FDA speeds up review of over-the-counter overdose-reversal drug » Boston Herald

UTEC Receives $2.4 Million in State Grants to Help Young People Avoid Repeat Crimes » WHAV

Safety secretary, advocates disagree on prison reforms » Gazette Net

Track the earmarks: See where federal dollars are coming to Massachusetts » Boston Globe

Lucas: Keep a lookout for ‘feisty’ Diana DiZoglio as she becomes auditor » Boston Herald

New federal spending bill delivers millions for Massachusetts projects » WGBH

Outgoing Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker reflects on many surprises during his 8 years in office » WCVB

Opinion: Give rural Mass. a seat at the table » Commonwealth Magazine

WRTA chief asked to answer queries from City Council transit committee » Worcester Telegram

2023 tax credits for EVs will boost their appeal » Boston Herald

Social Media Spotlight

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WCVB Channel 5 Boston Cleanup continues along Mass. coast after Winter Storm Elliott CBS Boston Boston schools looking into possible temporary mask mandate for 2 weeks after winter break

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Podcast Spotlight

NPR Morning Edition: Morning news brief Commonwealth Magazine The Codcast: Bump says DiZoglio is being' well-schooled' in auditor's duties The K-Zone The K-Zone: Mayor of Fitchburg NPR Consider This: After exonerations, fight for compensation is about more than money

Pioneer Institute Study Finds Massachusetts Saw Four-Fold Loss of Income to Net Outmigration » Pioneer Institute

Small Business Saturday to Kick off Free Parking at Select Locations on Saturdays Through Dc. 28 to Promote Local Engagement » City of Worcester

The Mass Leads Act Gains Momentum: Extending Permits and Offering Protections for Developers » Bowditch & Dewey

MTA statement on implementing new high-school graduation requirement » Massachusetts Teachers Association

MMA webinar covers key legal issues related to holiday displays » Mass. Municipal Association

Resident Charged with Arson in Apartment Complex Fire » MA Department of Fire Services

Critical Drought Declared Across Massachusetts » MA Department of Fire Services

Healey-Driscoll Administration, UMass Lowell and Boston University Launch New Initiative to Advance Clean Energy and Build Geothermal Workforce » MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Governor Healey Signs Executive Order Granting State Recognition to Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe » Office of Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll

MSA Honors Individuals at 2024 Law Enforcement & Corrections Awards Ceremony » Mass. Sheriffs’ Association