Birthdays: Rep. Daniel Cahill

Top state officials, including governor, set to receive a 20 percent pay hike, the largest in years » Boston Globe

Explicit Images Bill Gets Late-Session Revival in Senate » State House News Service

Record State Savings Balance Creeping Closer to Legal Limit » State House News Service

Baker’s take on the state Republican Party » Commonwealth Magazine

Tax credits for electric vehicles are about to get confusing » Boston Globe

This fight near Shawmut Station doesn’t bode well for easing Boston’s housing shortage » Boston Globe

‘Highly contagious’ XBB variant becomes dominant COVID strain, as Boston-area virus wastewater levels keep rising » Boston Herald

NH: Minimum wages again rise across New England — except in New Hampshire » Vermont Public Radio

NH: First the Old Man of the Mountain, now this? New Hampshire voters bristle at threat to first-primary status. » Boston Globe

NY: Hochul signs first, broad ‘right to repair’ law » Pluribus News

OH: Medical debt is being erased in Ohio and Illinois. Is your town next? » Boston Globe

AZ: GOP doubts grow over Kari Lake’s future in Arizona » The Hill

Trump Tax Returns Released by House Democrats » New York Times

All Eyes on the House » The Dispatch

New election frontiers shake up 2024 map » Axios

The U.S. Will Need Thousands of Wind Farms. Will Small Towns Go Along? » New York Times

Howie Carr: A liar goes to Washington? He’ll fit right in » Boston Herald

Highlights — and lowlights — of the year in tech » Boston Globe

Dropping the puck at Polar Park? WooSox, Railers brass work to make outdoor hockey game happen » Worcester Telegram

Farmers to benefit from Baker-Polito $3.1M spending spree » Worcester Telegram

At its Charlestown design lab, Converse is putting reuse on full display » Boston Globe

Operation Varsity Blues principal figure Rick Singer to be sentenced next week » Boston Herald

Educational collaborative in Western Mass gets funding for electric school buses » MassLive

Amherst to protect 17 acres at former Hickory Ridge Golf Course » Gazette Net

Birth centers offer options. Why is there only one left in Massachusetts? » Boston Globe

Congressional report faults FDA and Biogen for Alzheimer’s drug approval, rollout » Boston Globe

Community Health Centers to Benefit from State Funding » Cape Cod Online

Mass. officials say state’s emergency shelter system needs more funding ASAP » Boston Globe

Opinion: Small landlords should not become an endangered species » Boston Globe

Attleboro area loses rep on Governor's Council » The Sun Chronicle

Nearly 2,000 Mass. employers benefited from Baker administration’s HireNow program » Boston Globe

Lawmakers Will Receive 4.4 Percent Pay Increase in 2023 » State House News Service

Berkshire County will lose a statehouse voice, change senators in 2023 » WAMC

Holyoke City Council eyes grants to bolster small businesses, the arts » MassLive

Transportation Veteran to Serve as Healey Chief Legal Counsel » State House News Service

Opinion: Will the MAGA movement seek another leader? » The Sun Chronicle

CommonWealth commentary pieces in 2022 poked at conventional wisdom and those in power » Commonwealth Magazine

What we know about XBB, the new dominant COVID variant in New England » Boston Globe

Family of former Stoughton police explorer files wrongful death lawsuit against 3 ex-officers » Boston Globe

Here's when you can get your hands on the Mass. Lottery's new $50 scratch ticket » Worcester Telegram

Our View: Baker's local involvement will leave lasting legacy » The Eagle Tribune

'I never close the door on anything,' outgoing Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker says of future » CBS News

Paige Scott Reed appointed to serve as Maura Healey’s chief legal counsel » MassLive

Outgoing Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito believes she helped 'redefine' the role » CBS News

Outgoing Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito reflects on visits to all 351 Mass. communities » MassLive

Could Karyn Polito run for governor one day? Here’s what she said » MassLive

Baker Administration Awards Workplace Safety Grant to Haverhill Company » WHAV

‘I love this job’: Gov. Baker reflects on his 8 years in office in 1-on-1 interview » Fox 25 News

Editorial: The ‘T’ in MBTA should also stand for trust and transparency » Boston Globe

Southwest: Normal flight operations to resume Friday » Boston Herald

Outgoing Rep. Whelan Lands on MassDOT Board » State House News Service

Social Media Spotlight

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CBS Boston One-on-one with Charlie Baker about past work, future with NCAA WCVB Channel 5 Boston Inside Boston's ice sculptures being created for First Night

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Podcast Spotlight

WBUR Radio Boston: 3 can't-miss conversations about people building stronger communities in Massachusetts NPR Morning Edition: Customers of Southwest question their loyalty after massive flight delays Wall Street Journal Potomac Watch: Washington's 2022 Hits and Misses

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