9:15am Mass. Gaming Commission Public Hearing, Via conference call

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

Birthdays: State Senator Michael Moore

Editorial: In an age of election denialism, the Legislature needs clear rules for seating members » Boston Globe

What it takes to streamline state regulations » Commonwealth Magazine

Despite delays, Hydro-Quebec still ready to honor its Mass. contract » Commonwealth Magazine

Editorial: Maura Healey promised to bring transparency to an opaque governor’s office. It’s not clear if she’ll follow through. » Boston Globe

Nantucket homeowners group agrees to remove their hotly contested erosion shield » Boston Globe

Tarr assumes role as Beacon Hill's top Republican » Salem News

Financially troubled Bay State College to lose accreditation this summer; ‘heartbroken’ officials plan to appeal » Boston Business Journal

Cruz calls for new Mass GOP leadership after bad Nov. showing » Boston Herald

NY: An outmigration crisis? Hochul's plan to keep people in New York » Albany Times Union

NJ: Murphy signs bill allowing access to over-the-counter contraceptives » POLITICO Pro

NJ: Murphy no longer 'greenest governor,' environmental group and key ally says » POLITICO Pro

OH: Inside Central Ohio's recycling and composting success » Axios

IN: Banks’ shot: Rising conservative dives into Indiana Senate race » Politico

IL: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Faces Tough Re-Election Bid » The Wall Street Journal

FL: Florida House lockstep with DeSantis in targeting diversity, equity and inclusion at colleges » POLITICO Pro

FL: Ron DeSantis Takes On the Likability Issue (Sort Of) » Politico

NM: Former GOP candidate arrested in shootings at N.M. Democrats’ homes » Washington Post

Billions at stake as online fundraising practices turn off voters » Politico

The Bathroom Fight Fueling Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert’s Break-Up » The Daily Beast

EV chargers are easier to find in white, wealthy neighborhoods » Axios

“Reality Is Submerged in Fantasy”: The Villages Is a Boomer’s Utopia—And Demographic Time Bomb » Vanity Fair

The 4 Types of Independents » The Liberal Patriot

Beverly company offered job to key witness in Jan. 6 investigation » Salem News

The speaker vote underscored how money is so central to politics today » Boston Globe

Editorial: Biden swings & misses at MLK Day breakfast » Boston Herald

What Widett Might Have Been » Banker

Welcome to the cannabis crunch: Mass. marijuana industry braces for turbulent 2023 » Boston Globe

Historic MLK breakfast is back in Boston for first time since pandemic shutdowns » WBUR

Protesters march from Boston to Cambridge, condemning police brutality, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day » Boston Globe

Marveling at ‘The Embrace,’ Bostonians celebrate a ‘superhero’ on Martin Luther King Day » Boston Globe

Rollins, McGovern speak at annual MLK Worcester community breakfast » Worcester Telegram

‘You belong and you matter’: At 53rd Annual MLK Jr. Memorial Breakfast, speakers invoke King’s message to promote education » Boston Globe

Protesters interrupt Lynn MLK breakfast » Lynn Daily News Item

Opinion: The language police come for the word ‘field’ » Boston Globe

Battenfeld: Charlie Baker about to confront heated debate over transgender athletes » Boston Herald

Walters: No Common ground in Boston’s ‘Embrace’ statue » Boston Herald

Ban or adapt AI? Worcester schools and colleges debate ChatGPT implications » Worcester Telegram

Greenfield public schools see steep drop in enrollment » The Recorder

Boston development would include first historically Black college footprint in Massachusetts » Boston Herald

Alarmed by AI chatbots, universities start revamping how they teach » Boston Globe

60 years later, SSU revisits MLK's Dream » Gloucester Times

'It was never just about this country': Bristol CC celebrates MLK's legacy of service » The Herald News

‘Our call to action’: Dozens gather to celebrate MLK Jr. Day at Greenfield Community College » The Recorder

Dartmouth officials assail state’s ‘corrupted’ septic regulation process » The New Bedford Light

Tewksbury day care closure shows a system on the brink » Boston Globe

Westfield Sen. John Velis denounces IG findings at Chelsea Soldiers’ Home, vows advocacy for veterans and staff » MassLive

Waltham Food Pantry Forced to Find New Home, Facing Resistance From Neighborhoods » NBC Boston

Congress acts to help ban shock devices used for treatment at Massachusetts school » WCVB

Michelle Wu promised ‘significant reform’ to police union contracts. Now comes the hard part. » Boston Globe

Melrose teachers vote to ratify new contract » Boston Globe

91 tech companies have laid off workers in first 2 weeks of 2023 » MassLive

2 Republicans blame human error in unusual election challenge » Commonwealth Magazine

Beacon Hill Roll Call, Jan. 9-13 » Gazette Net

Area lawmakers acclimate to redrawn districts » The Recorder

History repeating itself with city vs. town debate in Saugus » Lynn Daily News Item

F is for flag: Many area towns’ banners judged harshly in national survey » Gazette Net

Revolt: MassGOP Chairman faces multiple challengers amid accusations of campaign violations » Boston Herald

Mass. Democratic Party isn’t all that different from GOP counterpart » Commonwealth Magazine

New England fiscal groups to gather in Boston, plan course ahead » Boston Herald

‘I’m torn’: New Bedford mayor says re-election bid is up in the air » WPRI.com

American political dysfunction is on full display this month » The Sun Chronicle

'Firefighter’s hero': Diane Cotter featured in PFAS documentary produced by actor Mark Ruffalo » Worcester Telegram

Like his predecessor, Wu’s incoming street violence prevention guru aims to focus on root causes » Boston Globe

Healey has committed to equity ‘in all that we do.’ Advocates are pushing for more Latino representation. » Boston Globe

Healey tells MLK breakfast audience about equity plans, says the state can do more » Boston Herald

Meet Yvonne Hao, the state’s new economic secretary who just ‘gets stuff done’ » Boston Globe

Western Massachusetts community leaders hopeful Gov. Maura Healey will visit » Maine Public

Our view: Healey off to fine start — now time for follow-through » Salem News

Workers building the new Orange and Red Line cars in Springfield describe a toxic, error-prone factory » Boston Globe

Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey outline ‘repeated failures’ in MBTA oversight » Boston Herald

Schell Bridge project takes funding blow in Northfield » Gazette Net

Social Media Spotlight

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GBH News What will The Embrace bring for the future of Boston and the world? | Basic Black CBS Boston Keller @ Large: Task force faces challenges in discussions over reparations for Black Bostonians

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Podcast Spotlight

WBUR Morning Edition: At Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury, where MLK once preached, a drive to continue his legacy of service Office of Mayor Tom Koch City View with Mayor Tom Koch: Mayor Koch talks taxes in Quincy, State of the City coming & new city property WBUR Radio Boston: A look at Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy and his enduring impact on civil rights BBC The Climate Question: How do we stay cool in a warming world?

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