10:00am The State of Massachusetts Business Address hosted by the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), Virtual

10:00am Department of Agricultural Resources Public Hearing, Via Zoom

10:30am Head Start Advocacy Day, Great Hall, State House

11:00am "Ask the Mayor" with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu on GBH's Boston Public Radio, 89.7 FM or gbhnews.org

11:30am The State of Health Care hosted by the Boston Business Journal, Seaport Hotel, One Seaport Lane, Boston

1:00pm "Ask the AG" with Attorney General Andrea Campbell on GBH's Boston Public Radio, 89.7 FM or gbhnews.org

3:00pm 250th Anniversary Celebration of the American Revolution, Virtual Hearing

3:00pm Joint Committee on Rules, Teams Meeting - Joint Rules, Conference Committee Meeting

Urgency Around Tax Relief Wanes On Beacon Hill » State House News Service

Mayor Michelle Wu files rent control proposal with City Council, setting up debate » Boston Globe

Annie Dookhan took the blame for the state drug lab scandal, but she wasn’t the ‘sole bad actor,’ new documents show » Boston Globe

Report: Hundreds waiting for nursing home beds » The Eagle Tribune

New super PAC aims to elect Black candidates in local races » WGBH

Toxic 'forever chemicals' force Mass. towns to face 'true cost of water' » WBUR

Editorial: Don't repeal 62F, the Mass. tax cap law » Boston Business Journal

Public school advocates push to end receivership » The Bay State Banner

Mike Kennealy’s next stop after Baker’s cabinet: Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston » Boston Globe

RI: Plastic bag bans seem to work, the plastic straw law sputtered » The Providence Journal

VT: U.S. border agents in Vermont report sharp increase in activity » WBUR

NY: 58% of NYC charter schools shrank during COVID, even as the sector grew overall » Chalkbeat New York

NY: Buffalo clergy signal opposition to proposed menthol cigarette ban in New York » New York State of Politics

NJ: New Jersey’s cannabis market is poised for growth, top official says » POLITICO Pro

NJ: A South Jersey school district has pulled Toni Morrison’s ‘Bluest Eye’ from its curriculum » The Philadelphia Inquirer

NY: The rise of New York's Black political wave » Crain's New York Business

PA: Demand for housing vouchers soars in Philadelphia » Axios

OH: Controversial ShotSpotter expanded to troubled Columbus neighborhood » Axios

IL: For residents, Chicago's downtown is rated top-notch » Axios

CA: ‘I’d have to gut my house’: Plan to phase out natural gas devices sparks fierce debate in Bay Area » San Francisco Chronicle

CA: Former California official is a strong contender to become Biden’s next labor secretary » The Sacramento Bee

CA: California considers legalizing cannabis cafes to help struggling marijuana industry » Los Angeles Times

Ron DeSantis Is Not Scott Walker » New York Times

Teen girls "engulfed" in sadness and violence, new report says » Axios

The Real Reason Trump Is Calling DeSantis ‘Meatball Ron’ » The Daily Beast

Freedom Caucus Appropriators See Open Lane For Spending Slashes » Bloomberg Law

GOP targets drag shows with new bills in at least 14 states » Washington Post

One More Sign That Special Counsel Jack Smith Is Dead Serious » The Bulwark

Nikki Haley announces she is running for president » Washington Post

I Thought I Was Saving Trans Kids. Now I’m Blowing the Whistle. » The Free Press

Battenfeld: Joe Biden no Comforter-in-Chief when it comes to unidentified objects » Boston Herald

Editorial: We need answers – what’s going on in the skies? » Boston Herald

Goldberg: Ron DeSantis a GOP star now – can he make it last? » Boston Herald

‘Punxsutawney’ Powell and why investors need to cool their jets » Boston Globe

More labs aim for hot corner of the South End » Boston Globe

Biz Official Rings Alarm On “Dire” Challenges » State House News Service

Henderson students meet with Superintendent Skipper after protest » Dorchester Reporter

Multiple Massachusetts Schools Receive Threats Amid Swatting Calls Across the Country » NBC Boston

Debating vocational school admissions policies » Commonwealth Magazine

‘Hoax’ threats put Massachusetts, Boston schools on alert » Boston Herald

Amesbury, Chelmsford high schools experience alleged ‘swatting’ incidents Monday » MassLive

UMass Amherst chancellor finalist Javier Reyes visits from University of Illinois-Chicago » Gazette Net

Massachusetts deer harvest hits record high, extra venison donated to veterans’ families » Boston Herald

A decade after Concord’s landmark ban on bottled water, plastic pollution remains a scourge » Boston Globe

Sports betting companies spent hundreds of thousands on lobbying firms in Mass. » MassLive

Judge affirms placing Massachusetts tribal lands into trust » AP News

Super Bowl offered first big test for Mass. sportsbooks after in-person wagering launch » MassLive

Brockton Hospital remains closed after fire with no date for reopening » WCVB

State leaders call for action after 4 western Mass. nursing homes announce closures » Western Mass News

She was hit with a huge hospital bill she wasn’t expecting. Here’s how you can avoid the same fate. » Boston Globe

Springfield, Chicopee, Westfield officials meet with owners of 4 closing nursing homes in hopes of reversing decision » MassLive

State of Healthcare: Industry leaders weigh in on their biggest challenges » Boston Business Journal

Mental health services company with offices in Attleboro to pay nearly $1M in settlement with state » The Sun Chronicle

Wu Lays Out Plan to Slow Rent Hikes In Boston » State House News Service

Michelle Wu introduces Boston rent-control proposal » Boston Herald

Most towns are going along with the state’s new multifamily housing law. Not Middleborough. »

Thousands In Mass. Facing End To Elevated Food Aid » State House News Service

One border sector sees over 800% rise in Border Patrol encounters – in Vermont! » Boston Herald

South Hadley schools, union move forward with new contract, though 46% of members vote against ratification » Gazette Net

Correctional officer hired as Lawrence mayor's new chief of staff » The Eagle Tribune

Flynn to other Boston councilors: Open your doors » Boston Herald

In Attleboro, a kinder, gentler mayoral debate » The Sun Chronicle

Reintroducing Maura Healey » Axios

Easthampton health director takes new job, will play key role in overhaul of state’s public health services » Gazette Net

Beacon Hill lawmakers plan booze crackdown » Axios

For first time, next Massachusetts State Police leader could come from outside the department » WCVB

Boston police officers involved in shooting Juston Root outside Brigham and Women’s Hospital should not face charges: Special ADA » Boston Herald

Opinion: No, it’s not a crime to charge Lindsay Clancy with a crime » Boston Globe

After the killing of Tyre Nichols, a local attorney wants to make a failure to intervene a fireable offense for Pittsfield cops » Berkshire Eagle

DOJ giving states $231 million for gun violence prevention programs » Boston Globe

Stop, you're on camera: Proposed state bill targets drivers passing stopped school buses » Worcester Telegram

Boston police to investigate possible ‘disturbance’ at New England Holocaust Memorial » Boston Herald

Foundation Posts Up Issues Guardrails For Session » State House News Service

Strong public transit system, safety and infrastructure among Healey’s top focuses for Massachusetts » Fox 25 News

Filing Mandate Seen As Way To Seal Surtax “Loophole” » State House News Service

Cape bridges, rail expansion on Healey’s DC agenda » Boston Globe

Maura Healey brought Cape Cod bridge concerns directly to Biden Admin, she said » Boston Herald

On D.C. trip, Gov. Maura Healey spoke about West-East rail, infrastructure needs » MassLive

Bridges, rail expansion on Healey’s D.C. agenda » News 22 WWLP.com

Spat on, struck, and threatened: MBTA taking action to protect bus, train drivers from assault » Boston.com

Healey talks bridges and rail in DC visit » Commonwealth Magazine

In East Boston, 'mitigation' for a controversial project may cost residents » WBUR

Electric Service Probe Draws Little Interest Among Electeds » State House News Service

Social Media Spotlight

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GBH News Aliens or a foreign threat? What is behind the influx of UFOs shot down over US? CBS Boston Nero's Law delay knocked as 'not acceptable'

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Podcast Spotlight

Beacon Hill in 5 Beacon Hill in 5: Massachusetts awaits sports betting revenue results from Super Bowl bets Bloomberg Baystate Business Hour: Super Bowl Ad Analysis & the Oldest Candy Store in the U.S. BBC The Climate Question: How can oceans help us capture carbon? Cape Cod Public Affairs Programming The Spectrum: Cape Cod Commission

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