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Today on Beacon Hill

9:00am UNCF Governor's Breakfast, Grand Staircase, State House

10:00am Department of Environmental Protection Public Hearing, Via Zoom

10:00am Mass. Cultural Council Grant Celebration, Grand Staircase, State House

5:00pm Department of Environmental Protection Public Hearing, Via Zoom

5:30pm UMass Boston Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy Distinguished Public Service Fellows Welcome Reception, UMass Boston Campus Center, Alumni Lounge (2nd Floor), 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston

5:30pm Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression, Virtual Hearing

Must-Reads
MASSACHUSETTS

Those charged with murder can no longer cite infidelity as provocation to kill, Supreme Judicial Court rules » Boston Globe

‘Dire and immediate’ challenges for employers in Massachusetts, business leader says » Boston Herald

Illegal Harvard Basketball bets were made at MGM Springfield; regulators investigating » MassLive

Bill extending anti-discrimination laws to investments back on Beacon Hill » Boston Business Journal

Push is on again for Better Bottle Bill » The Sun Chronicle

In tight market, low-income renters can wait years for federal vouchers and still not find a home » WBUR

Mayor Wu doubles down on her opposition to an elected school committee » WGBH

As Mass Reconsiders Life Without Parole For 18 To 20-year-olds, Will Race Matter? » Dig Boston

Private well owners stuck with costs to treat 'forever chemicals' » WBUR

State Wire: Affordability Limits MA’s Higher-Ed Attainment Goals » Dig Boston

Massachusetts Inspector General’s office eyeing Boston schools busing contract » Boston Herald

Healey faces a ‘critical’ choice in naming next State Police leader: to look inside, or out » Boston Globe

Muni Officials Appeal For Remote Meeting Extension » State House News Service

Stunning amount of problems with China train deal exposed » Boston Herald

THE OTHER 49

RI: Sexually transmitted infections are increasing in Rhode Island. Here's what to know. » The Associated Press (AP)

CT: Judge orders reversal of Trump-era rule that stripped thousands of disability benefits » CT Insider

NY: Adams tells school principals to meet weekly with NYPD to boost safety » Gothamist

NY: NYPD Tactics Raise Concern of Return to ‘Stop and Frisk’ » Bloomberg Politics

NJ: New Jersey to expand access to African American studies » POLITICO Pro

NJ: They lost everything. New measure would prohibit nursing homes from preying on residents. » NJ.com

PA: Striking grad students feel the toll of Temple’s tactics but remain steadfast » The Philadelphia Inquirer

PA: Starbucks wrongly fired Philadelphia workers, board says » Axios

WV: Justice strongest candidate against Manchin, GOP poll says » Politico

FL: Measure legalizing fentanyl test strips advances in Florida Senate » Florida Phoenix

FL: Manatee County to become a 'Second Amendment sanctuary' to combat gun control measures » Herald-Tribune

MI: Michigan Dems consider faster push on gun laws after MSU shooting » Politico

MI: MSU Student Who Also Survived Sandy Hook Demands Change On Gun Violence » HUFFPOST

MN: St. Paul weighs new safety measures following fatal school stabbing » Axios

IA: Iowa Democrats prepare to fight for their caucus — and their relevance as rural voters » Politico

MT: Trouble on the horizon in Montana for Senate Democrats » Raw Story

CA: Why California was over Feinstein's retirement before it happened » Politico

NATIONAL

America turns against immigration » Axios

Anita Dunn and Bob Bauer: The Couple at the Center of Biden’s Inner Circle » New York Times

Tesla to make some EV chargers available to all, White House says » Boston Globe

Report: Trump Wants to Bring Back Hangings and Firing Squads in His Second Term, Is Thinking About Guillotines Too » Vanity Fair

Crypto Investors Brace for More Crackdowns From Regulators » The Wall Street Journal

Club for Growth endorses Scott and dings McConnell » Politico

WHO confirms Marburg virus outbreak in Equatorial Guinea: What to know about the viral disease » USA Today

“We conclude that the exception in the Commonwealth to the mere words rule for sudden oral revelations of infidelity has run its course. The exception rests upon a shaky, misogynistic foundation and has no place in our modern jurisprudence,” Gaziano wrote. “Going forward, we no longer will recognize that an oral discovery of infidelity satisfies the objective element of something that would provoke a reasonable person to kill his or her spouse.”

Justice Frank M. Gaziano

The state’s high court shed centuries of misogynistic reasoning Monday, declaring a man can no longer avoid a murder conviction by saying he killed a woman because she told him she had been unfaithful.

News By Category
Beltway Politics

Howie Carr: The fog of Biden » Boston Herald

Editorial: Biden owes the public explanations on mysterious airborne objects » Boston Globe

Business

AIM head is worried about the labor shortage in Mass. » Boston Globe

South Coast lawmakers call for review of State Pier development deal » The New Bedford Light

Coming soon to Boston Common: Brews and tunes » Boston Globe

From a jazz club to a speakeasy, more Black-owned businesses are coming to the Seaport » Boston Globe

Arctic freeze damages Massachusetts fruit crop » Boston Globe

Local startups dive into generative AI » Boston Globe

Are former FTX Digital exec Ryan Salame’s extensive Lenox investments safe? Uncertainty sparks community concern » Berkshire Eagle

Education

Did a viral spat over Chinese restaurant prices cost Harvard professor tenure? » Boston Globe

More Worcester families are saying no to district's sex ed curriculum. What to know. » Worcester Telegram

Schools in Clinton put on lockdown after hoax; FBI joins wider investigation » Worcester Telegram

UMass Lowell’s NERVE Center celebrates 10 years of robot development, testing » Lowell Sun

State inspector general warns Boston schools to proceed at its own risk with bus contract » Boston Globe

Gov. Healey recognizes Black History Month at UNCF HBCU Breakfast » WHDH

School ‘swatting’ incidents continue with spate of hoaxes » Boston.com

Environment

Well-water testing on horizon in Mass. » Worcester Telegram

Gaming

All three state casinos self report for taking prohibited college bets » Boston Herald

Illegal Sports Bets Create Quick Challenge For Regulators » State House News Service

MGM Springfield reports 2 illegal sports bets on collegiate games » Western Mass News

Health Care

Local leaders discuss closures of nursing homes in Springfield, Chicopee, Westfield » News 22 WWLP.com

New owners of South Hadley senior health care center take control as 4 other nursing homes in region face closure » Gazette Net

Fisher: Biden talks of healthcare $$ woes, but solution exists » Boston Herald

Ganzert: VA needs mental health program with 4 legs » Boston Herald

Chicopee, Springfield, Westfield nursing homes want to remain open: Lawmakers searching for ways to make them financially viable » MassLive

Housing

Opinion: In clashes over new housing, can we turn down volume on foes’ voices? » Boston Globe

Wu’s rent control plan takes hits from both sides » Commonwealth Magazine

Human Services

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

Editorial: Feds cut SNAP funds as food costs soar » Boston Herald

In Revere, a plan to help the homeless faces fierce opposition » Boston Globe

Judiciary

SJC upholds conviction in 2009 Salem murders » Salem News

A changing of the guard, and a name with deep roots in Boston history, at Suffolk Superior Court » Dorchester Reporter

Labor

Company fined $70K for labor violations including failure to pay local lifeguards » Worcester Telegram

Local Government

Potholes, private streets take driver's seat at City Council » Worcester Telegram

When is a City Council gathering public, and who should be able to see and hear it? » The New Bedford Light

Public Health

How do pandemics begin? There's a new theory — and a new strategy to thwart them » WBUR

Public Safety

FBI investigating string of hoax threats against Massachusetts schools » MassLive

Worcester names new permanent fire chief » Worcester Telegram

Healey evaluating options for new state police leadership » News 22 WWLP.com

Reproductive Rights

Mass. reproductive justice advocates are calling for comprehensive maternal care » Milford Daily News

State Finance

Locals Urge State To Rethink Local Aid Approach » State House News Service

State Government

Annie Dookhan might not have failed alone in drug lab scandal, new documents allege » Boston Herald

Campbell previews changes to AG's office, weighs in on crime lab convictions and Justin Root investigation » WGBH

Monster-sized budget surpluses allow new governors to dream big » Politico

Transportation

MBTA plans diversions for three subway, two commuter rail lines in March » Boston Herald

Healey gets right to work on east-west rail (Editorial) » MassLive

Huge cost of MBTA’s new Quincy bus garage forces agency to scale down plans » Boston Globe

Transportation secretary Fiandaca visits troubled Red and Orange Line car factory in Springfield » Boston Globe

Utilities

Advocates flag concerns over solar subcontractor at old Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Amherst » Gazette Net

Job Board

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Recipe of the Week

Gâteau Basque

Kristina Razon — Serious Eats

Ingredients

8.8 ounces all-purpose flour (about 2 cups; 250g)

1.7 ounces almond flour (1/2 cup; 50g)

1 teaspoon (4g) baking powder

3/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt, divided; for table salt, use half as much by volume

7.4 ounces unsalted butter (15 tablespoons; 210g), softened to about 65°F (18°C), plus more for greasing

5.2 ounces granulated sugar (3/4 cup; 150g)

1 large egg (50g), brought to slightly cooler than room temperature, plus 1 large egg and 1 large egg yolk (15g), straight from the fridge, for egg wash

8 ounces (1 cup; 225g) vanilla pastry cream

1/2 tablespoon (7ml) rum, optional

1/4 teaspoon pure almond extract

1 tablespoon (15ml) heavy cream

3 ounces (about 1/3 cup; 85g) black or other cherry jam, spread, or preserves

Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon salt until thoroughly combined. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine butter and sugar and mix on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down bowl and paddle, add the 1 large egg, and mix on medium speed until fully incorporated, about 1 minute. Scrape down bowl and paddle, add half of flour mixture, then mix on low speed until just combined, about 15 seconds. Repeat with remaining flour mixture, scraping down bowl and paddle as needed.

Scrape dough, along with any loose bits, onto a lightly floured work surface and, using your hands, bring dough together into a smooth ball (dough should be soft and slightly sticky but refrain from adding more flour). Divide dough into 2 equal portions (about 340g each) and shape into flat, round disks. Wrap each disk tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to 1 day.

Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease an 8-inch cake pan with butter and set aside. Remove dough disks from refrigerator and set on clean work surface.

In a medium bowl, whisk together pastry cream, rum (if using), and almond extract until thoroughly combined. Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining whole egg and egg yolk with the cream and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt until homogeneous. Set egg wash aside.

Place one dough disk on a lightly floured work surface. Using a rolling pin and adding flour as needed underneath and on top of the dough to prevent sticking, roll out to a 9-inch circle that’s about 1/4-inch thick. Transfer to the prepared cake pan by carefully rolling dough around the rolling pin, then unrolling over the pan. Press dough gently yet firmly into the corners and up the sides of the pan. Dust off excess flour with a pastry brush.

Add cherry jam to the center of the dough, and using the back of a spoon or a small offset spatula, spread in a smooth, even layer, leaving 1/2-inch of space around the perimeter. Repeat with prepared pastry cream, spreading evenly on top of jam.

Place second dough disk on a lightly floured work surface. Using a rolling pin and adding flour as needed underneath and on top of the dough to prevent sticking, roll out to a 8.5-inch circle that’s about 1/4-inch thick. Transfer to the cake pan by carefully rolling dough around the rolling pin, then unrolling over the filling. Using your hands, tuck the top layer of dough in along the space around the perimeter, making sure that the outermost edge of the dough is upright. Using your thumbs, seal the top and bottom edges of dough together. Fold the excess dough up and back over the top, pressing down around the perimeter to smooth out the dough. Dust off excess flour with a pastry brush.

Using a pastry brush, brush top surface all over with egg wash. Using the tines of a fork, gently scrape a decorative pattern onto the surface (a crosshatch pattern is traditional but you can be as creative as you like).

Bake cake until puffed and deep golden brown, about 45 minutes.

Transfer cake pan to a wire rack and let cool completely to room temperature, about 2 hours. Run a butter knife along edges to loosen, then invert onto wire rack, remove pan, and place cake right side up on a serving platter. Slice and serve.



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