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Today on Beacon Hill

10:00am AP Day on the Hill, Great Hall, State House

12:00pm Governor's Council Meeting, Governor's Council Chamber, Room 360, State House

Birthdays: Rep. F. Jay Barrows, State Senator Brendan Crighton

Must-Reads
MASSACHUSETTS

Tax Bill Emerging As Relief Vehicle For Seniors, Caregivers » State House News Service

MGH doctor, Harvard teacher and CDC advisor will head the Department of Public Health » Boston Business Journal

Head of Mass. Commission for the Blind steps down following Globe report of turmoil within the agency » Boston Globe

Report faults MassHealth for paying claims to dead people » The Eagle Tribune

Magic Mushrooms, MDMA would be legalized under Republican’s plan » Boston Herald

As statewide network gets overloaded with body cam data, Mass. DAs want better tech » WBUR

Health groups call on Mass. to keep mask mandates in health care settings » Boston Globe

Treasurer Goldberg wants the state pension fund divested from gun manufacturers » WGBH

Labor Pinch Felt In AG's Office, Courts » State House News Service

Healey names Massachusetts Latino council members » WBUR

City Councilor Kenzie Bok to head Boston Housing Authority » Boston Globe

THE OTHER 49

CT: Styrofoam ban a possibility, but critics say it would hurt kids and restaurants » Hartford Courant

NY: Mayor Adams’ administration orders another 4% cut to most NYC agency budgets, blames migrant crisis costs » New York Daily News

NY: Adams administration on track to reach labor settlement with police union » POLITICO Pro

NY: New York state budget still in limbo after talks between leaders stall » New York Post

NJ: Proposal to ban disposable cutlery, condiment packets at NJ restaurants » NJ Spotlight News

NJ: Critics question attendance rate of N.J. State Board of Education members » NJ.com

IL: Progressive Brandon Johnson wins Chicago mayor’s race » Politico

TN: Tennessee House moves to expel 3 Democrats after gun protest » AP News

TN: Tennessee Republicans Are Literally Trying to Purge Democrats from the Legislature » Vanity Fair

FL: Late-filed election-law revision would add yet more barriers to the right to vote » Florida Phoenix

AR & KS: Kansas passes trans bathroom bill; Arkansas OKs own version » AP News

NATIONAL

Case Against Donald Trump Leaves Defense Ample Openings, Say Legal Authorities » The Wall Street Journal

‘US going to hell’: Donald Trump attacks hush money case in grievance-filled Mar-a-Lago speech » The Guardian

McConnell lets an indicted Trump twist in the wind » The Hill

Opinion: Working-class voters didn’t leave the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party left them. » Boston Globe

Dispatches From the Heartland » The Liberal Patriot

Plastic wet wipes ban planned in England to tackle pollution » BBC News

The Italian government wants to ban foreign words, just like the fascists did in 1923 » Quartz

“People are suffering from debilitating mental health issues such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury, anxiety, and depression. These psychedelic compounds and plant medicines are offering hope and healing to those that were once hopeless,” Boldyga said. “Plant medicines have been used for thousands of years by various cultures around the world, they truly are revolutionizing how we approach mental health and wellbeing,”

Rep. Nicholas Boldyga

A former law enforcement officer turned Republican state representative has offered three pieces of legislation that would see a broad range of psychedelic drugs made legal for adult use.

News By Category
Beltway Politics

Experts say Trump prosecution far from sure thing » Boston Globe

Ambrose: Rogues gallery of suspicious actors » Boston Herald

Howie Carr: Trump case full of sound and fury, signifying nothing » Boston Herald

Editorial: Don’t gag Donald Trump » Boston Herald

Trump’s arraignment was a solemn proceeding. Outside the courthouse, the sideshows reigned. » Boston Globe

Business

Billionaires Strike Back: Clam Shack Faces More Challenges From Wealthy Neighbors » Nantucket Current

From interest rates to credit card debt, here’s a breakdown of everything affecting consumers right now » Boston Globe

Foundation launches campaign to save West Newton Cinema » WGBH

Developer pitches hotel near Boston Common » Boston Globe

Intro Session Previews Financial Services Issues » State House News Service

Education

Easthampton School Committee meeting canceled after public overwhelms online platforms » Gazette Net

A job offer was revoked for this superintendent finalist. The reason? For using the word ‘ladies’ in an e-mail, he said. » Boston Globe

UMass financial aid rises to $395M » Boston Herald

Union alleges coverup of incident involving gun at Southbridge High School » Worcester Telegram

Amherst council puts $5M in reserves toward new school tab » Gazette Net

Bill looks to stamp out toxic culture in middle, high school sports — starting with coaches » WBUR

Easthampton School Committee meeting shut down after more than 300 try to tune in » MassLive

Civil Rights office closes complaint filed against Newton by conservative parent group » Boston Globe

BU creates standards for chatbots in the classroom » Boston Globe

Easthampton School Committee meeting canceled after public overwhelms online platforms » Gazette Net

Augustus, former city manager, to leave chancellor post at Dean College » Worcester Telegram

Environment

Aggressive turkeys reportedly ‘following’ and ‘intimidating’ Dedham residents » Boston Herald

Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership Want to Change Name » iBerkshires

Memorial Drive in Cambridge shifts back to pre-pandemic Sunday closures as COVID-19 emergency ends » Boston Herald

Health Care

His uncle pioneered organ replacement. A Milford rep carries on that legacy » Worcester Telegram

Organ Donors Recall Giving Others New Shots At Life » State House News Service

Human Services

Southwick Republican Pushing Psychedelic Legalization Bills » State House News Service

Labor

Civil service promotional bias suit, initiated by Worcester officer, settles for $40 million » Worcester Telegram

Local Government

Ballot questions about changing Seekonk town government fail at hands of voters » The Sun Chronicle

Congressman, redistricting expert testify in federal suit challenging Boston's new map » WBUR

After 28 years, Boston city archivist John McColgan is history » Boston Globe

Oak Bluffs moves up last call » Martha's Vineyard Times

Agawam Town Council opts out of early voting by mail » MassLive

Is the four-year New Bedford mayoral term working? Not all councilors think it is. » South Coast Today

Politics

City Council President Peter Marchetti kicks off his campaign for mayor with vision of 'One Pittsfield' » Berkshire Eagle

Public Health

FDA plans to allow a second updated COVID booster for vulnerable Americans » Boston Globe

Public Safety

Body Camera Data Demands Create “Incredible Strain” for DAs » State House News Service

Murder Case Backlog May Take Years To Address » State House News Service

Boston partners with national researchers to develop new gun violence reduction strategy » Boston Globe

Boston joins ‘violence reduction’ program amid rising homicides » Boston Herald

State Government

Gov. Maura Healey taps these 40 leaders to serve on new Latino Empowerment council » MassLive

90 days in, Maura Healey takes on the T but otherwise remains cautious » Boston Herald

Taxation

Tax relief: Reading Mariano’s tea leaves » Boston Globe

Transportation

Is there a finance plan for the I-90 Allston project? » Commonwealth Magazine

It’s Official: State ‘Conservation’ Agency Will Reduce Park Access to Bring Back Motor Vehicle Traffic » Streets Blog Mass

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Recipe of the Week

Spiced Vanilla Hot Cross Buns Recipe

Stella Parks — Serious Eats

Ingredients

For the Dough:

1 vanilla bean, split and scraped

2 1/2 ounces sugar (rounded 1/3 cup; 70g)

1 1/2 teaspoons (6g) instant dry yeast

1 teaspoon (4g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt (for table salt, use the same weight or half as much by volume)

12 ounces all-purpose flour (about 2 1/3 cups, spooned; 340g)

3 ounces unsalted butter (6 tablespoons; 85g)

3 ounces cold milk, any percentage fat content (1/3 cup; 85g)

6 ounces cold plain Greek yogurt, any percentage fat content (2/3 cup; 170g); see note

1 ounce store-bought or homemade candied orange peel (2 tablespoons; 30g)

2 ounces dried apricots or other light fruit (1/4 cup; 55g), cut into 1/4-inch dice

2 ounces dried cherries or other dark fruit (1/3 cup; 55g), cut into 1/4-inch dice

1/2 teaspoon (1g) ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground coriander

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg

For the Egg Wash:

1 large egg yolk

1 1/2 teaspoons heavy cream (1/4 ounce; 7ml)

For the Frosting:

4 ounces powdered sugar (about 1 cup; 115g), preferably organic

Pinch salt

1 tablespoon heavy cream (1/2 ounce; 15ml)

1/2 teaspoon (2.5ml) vanilla extract

Directions

For the Dough: Rub vanilla seeds and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. Add yeast, salt, and flour and whisk to combine. Heat butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, swirling, until butter starts bubbling. Remove from heat and stir in milk and Greek yogurt. Add to bowl with dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon or flexible spatula until a dry, shaggy dough has formed.

Turn mixer on low speed and knead until a sticky ball has formed, about 1 minute. Continue about 6 minutes more. Increase speed to medium-low and continue kneading until dough is pliable and elastic enough to stretch relatively thin before it begins to tear, about 10 minutes longer. Add candied orange peel, dried apricots, dried cherries, cinnamon, coriander, allspice, and nutmeg and mix on low speed until evenly incorporated, about 1 minute. Remove hook, shape dough into a ball, place it in bottom of mixing bowl, cover with plastic, and set aside to rise until puffy and light, about 1 1/2 hours at room temperature. (The dough should retain a fingerprint when gently pressed; if it feels heavy or dense, continue letting it rise for another 15 minutes.)

Line a 9- by 13-inch aluminum brownie pan with parchment paper. Turn dough onto a clean, unfloured surface. Without kneading or rolling, divide into 15 roughly equal portions, about 2 ounces (55g) each. (They do not need to be exact; recutting and pinching will lead to dense bread.) Cup each portion beneath your palm and work in quick, circular motions to form a smooth ball. If the dough leaves a buttery residue behind, scrape clean with a bench knife from time to time. Arrange balls in baking pan, cover loosely with plastic, and allow to rise until each portion of dough feels puffy and light for its size, able to retain a shallow impression when gently pressed, with a distinctly "cushy" feel from the air cells trapped inside, about 1 1/2 hours total. If the dough feels dense, heavy, firm, or resilient, let it continue to rise another 15 minutes more. (See note for overnight rising instructions.)

For the Egg Wash: Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat to 350°F (180°C). Combine egg yolk and cream in a small bowl, stirring with a pastry brush until smooth. Gently paint the surface of each bun, taking care not to deflate dough. If you like, score with a sharp knife or razor to form a cross. (Skip this decorative step if your knife is dull.) Bake until buns are golden brown and approximately 210°F (99°C) inside, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool directly in pan until crumb is set, about 20 minutes.

For the Frosting: Combine powdered sugar, salt, cream, and vanilla in a small bowl. Stir with a flexible spatula until smooth and creamy, adding up to 1/2 teaspoon (2.5ml) water if too thick to pipe. Transfer half of frosting to a small parchment cone (instructions here) and snip 1/4 inch from the tip. Pipe a line of frosting across each row of buns, then repeat the other way to form a cross. Serve warm, with additional frosting on the side if desired. Hot cross buns are best fresh and warm, but leftovers can be stored at room temperature up to 24 hours in an airtight container; briefly microwave with a damp paper towel to rewarm.



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