11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

Once Baker’s heir apparent, Karyn Polito will leave office with him. Some in the GOP hope it’s not for good. » Boston Globe

Baker administration doles out $4.1M statewide to expand abortion access » Boston Business Journal

Lucas: If the Lt. Gov. needs a job, Healey should make it the T » Boston Herald

Healey taps Rebecca Tepper, of attorney general’s office, as secretary of energy and environmental affairs » Boston Globe

Legislative Leaders Mum on Plans for Impending Council Vacancy » State House News Service

As traffic deaths spike, Massachusetts eyes new safety laws » Boston Globe

Questions continue to swirl around millionaire tax » Boston Herald

NH: Bill would create Old Man of the Mountain Day in New Hampshire » WMUR

RI: Will former Memorial Hospital serve homeless, and eventually veterans? » The Providence Journal

NY: George Santos Faces Federal and Local Investigations, and Public Dismay » New York Times

PA: 15 developers of color just graduated from a new Philly program that aims for equity in real estate » The Philadelphia Inquirer

OR: Housing will be Oregon Legislature’s top focus in 2023, Democratic leader says » Oregon Capital Chronicle

Democrats quietly enter 2023 with momentum at statehouse level » Axios

New year expected to bring more changes to state voting laws » AP News

Al Sharpton warns Democratic leaders of waning Black electorate support » The Guardian

Gaming takes over everything » Axios

Jan. 6 committee withdraws its subpoena of Trump » Boston Globe

Race for GOP Chair obscures the party’s bigger problems » Boston Globe

Restaurants, shops at New Bedford State Pier? Multimillion-dollar redevelopment underway » South Coast Today

Route 9 roadwork taking toll on Hadley businesses » Gazette Net

Consumers have saved more than $1 million in five years of The Fine Print » Boston Globe

New England to benefit from federal appropriations law » Commonwealth Magazine

Keep an eye out for these new construction projects in the Gardner area in 2023 » The Gardner News

All over the region, Sears stores are being reborn » Boston Globe

Cannabis Regulators Extend Telehealth, Curbside Policies Into New Year » State House News Service

Outgoing governor's early college expansion plans get financial boost » WBUR

STCC Awarded $180,000 for Hunger Free Campus Initiative » Business West

STCC granted $1.17 million to expand adult education resources » News 22 WWLP.com

BPS parents concerned about safety at school » Commonwealth Magazine

Report: Mass. food delivery trips double during the pandemic, researchers urge greener transportation options » WBUR

Opinion: Storms aren’t ‘once in lifetime’ — they’re climate change in real time » Boston Globe

No Decision on Release of Wastewater Into Cape Cod Bay » The Provincetown Independent

Outgoing Lt. Gov. Polito says she and Gov. Baker built a platform for boosting housing production » WGBH

Milton's Jubinville confirmed for court post » Patriot Ledger

Former Clinton lawmaker Harold Naughton Jr. confirmed for judge seat » Worcester Telegram

Town center upgrades, bolstering staffing planned for South County in 2023 » The Recorder

Take it inside: Indoor events back on Boston’s First Night dance card » Boston Herald

Worcester City Councilor Sarai Rivera says she won't run again » Worcester Telegram

Will Charlie Baker return to politics after heading the NCAA? » MassLive

After ‘full life of public service,’ outgoing LG Polito eyes mentor role » News 22 WWLP.com

Editorial: George Santos should be investigated » Boston Globe

New coronavirus variant, more adept at evading immunity, now dominates in the Northeast » Boston Globe

COVID dominates CommonWealth’s 2022 most-read news stories » Commonwealth Magazine

Nonprofit to begin providing medication abortion services in New Bedford » New Bedford Light

Healey plucks AG aide as energy, environment secretary » Commonwealth Magazine

As Charlie Baker departs, outgoing governor gives nod to Western Mass. » MassLive

Maura Healey taps Rebecca Tepper for energy, environmental affairs secretary » MassLive

Healey to appoint Rebecca Tepper Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary » Boston Herald

Gov. Baker reflects on what he did — and didn’t — accomplish over 8 years in office » WGBH

Maura Healey takes right step in pledging transparency as governor (Editorial) » MassLive

As 'millionaires tax' is set to go into effect, big questions remain » Boston Business Journal

Southwest travel ‘meltdown’ drags on at Boston Logan, dozens of flights canceled » Boston Herald

Southwest ‘meltdown’ continues; company promises relief soon » Boston Globe

Our view: Baker petered out on T, but Healey cannot » Salem News

Vessels for Two Wind Projects Receive State Funding » Cape Cod Online

Customers' class action suit against Peterson Oil certified by superior court — company attorney denies allegations, plans to appeal » Worcester Telegram

Social Media Spotlight

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CBS Boston US to require travelers from China to test negative for COVID before flight WCVB Channel 5 Boston Mass. doctor on Boston's discussions about mask mandates

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Podcast Spotlight

WBUR Radio Boston: Art meets science in a special hour of Radio Boston NPR Morning Edition: Morning News Brief Talk Franklin - a podcast from Town Administrator’s Office Talk Franklin - a podcast from Town Administrator’s Office: Outlook: Inclusionary Zoning, MBTA, Budget Meetings and Compensation Wall Street Journal Tech News Briefing: Carbon Transformation: Could Your Next Outfit Be Made of CO2?

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