10:00am Healthy Youth Act Lobby Day, Great Hall, State House

10:00am Joint Committee on Higher Education, Committee Hearing

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business, Informational Hearing

1:00pm Joint Committee on Housing, Oversight Hearing

Special election for former Rep. Jon Santiago's seat

Special election for former Rep. Ed Coppinger's seat

Birthdays: State Senator Michael Rodrigues

Massachusetts has passed just 10 laws this year, the fewest to open a legislative session in decades. It’s a sign of the times. » Boston Globe

4 big issues to watch as Mass. lawmakers broker a new budget » WBUR

Springfield Rep. Orlando Ramos launches petition over water rates, quality » MassLive

Feds reject MBTA plan for track safety, which calls for 2024 completion » CBS News

Central Mass could get a big money boost from a proposed rail trail. Will it happen? » Worcester Telegram

Divided MassGOP plays blame game for $600K party debt » Boston Herald

‘We’re in a crisis’: PCA shortage is a matter of life and death for people with disabilities » WGBH

High levels of hunger persist in Mass., as COVID-era benefits roll back » Boston Globe

Worcester pays $250,000 to settle excessive force lawsuit involving autistic 10-year-old » Worcester Telegram

RI: Providence mayor's way to crack down on loud noise in the city: Give police decibel readers » The Providence Journal

CT: Health experts seeing spikes in drug shortages. ‘I view this as a national health emergency.’ » Hartford Courant

NY: Historic New York doctors’ strike points to growing labor movement » Politico

NY: Despite Hochul’s Vow, Her Policies Have Indirectly Aided Husband’s Firm » New York Times

NJ: Did Sen. Robert Menendez and Wife Get Car, DC Apartment, Other ‘Gifts' From NJ Business? » NBC New York

PA: School start times status quo » Axios

PA: No more ski masks on SEPTA transit — agency announces it’s ramping up enforcement » WHYY

OH: Columbus has several pool 'deserts' according to report on city aquatics » WOSU Public Media

OH: AEP Ohio electricity bills are going up » Axios

IL: Why Chicago's shrinking tree canopy hurts communities » Axios

FL: How Ron DeSantis shaped Florida’s environment » Politico

FL: GOP officials: Top aides in governor's office asked lawmakers to endorse DeSantis » Tallahassee Democrat

TX: Texas Republicans pass voting bills targeting large Democratic county » Washington Post

TX: Texas House impeaches Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton » Washington Post

Ron DeSantis Wants To Take His 'War On Woke' National. There’s One Big Problem: The Constitution. » HUFFPOST

LGBTQ+ activists call for new strategies to promote equality after Target backlash » Boston Globe

Editorial: Taxpayers score some wins in debt ceiling deal » Boston Herald

Lucas: DeSantis can beat Biden, his real test is Trump » Boston Herald

Robbins: GOP’s race to the White House all about Trump » Boston Herald

Opinion: Ron DeSantis, unlikable as he is, can still win » Boston Globe

Why spending cuts probably won’t shake the economy » Boston Globe

The Multi-Million Dollar COVID-19 Loan Fraud With A Nantucket Connection » Nantucket Current

Massachusetts must take charge of its narrative » Boston Globe

Opinion: Let’s give AI a chance » Boston Globe

Slack CEO looks to artificial intelligence for help in rolling out new products » Boston Globe

Sen. Warren helped New Bedford celebrate its new electric school buses » South Coast Today

Massachusetts spends thousands more on school construction aid for white students than for students of color » Boston Globe

A higher ed game-changer?: Could MassReconnect change college education in Massachusetts? Experts say yes » Gazette Net

‘Everybody should go here’: Spirits high as UMass graduates 9,500 students » Gazette Net

Most in US say don’t ban race in college admissions but that role should be small, new poll shows » Boston Globe

Meet Edward Blum, the man behind the Harvard affirmative action case » Boston Globe

State school board to be briefed on impact of artificial intelligence » Newburyport News

They’re building an ‘ice penetrator’ on a hillside in Westford » Boston Globe

Editorial: Nipping litter in the bud » Boston Globe

Baby eels remain one of America’s most valuable fish after strong year in Maine » Boston Globe

Gov. Healey describes 'all hands on deck' approach to climate policy » WGBH

Special agent in charge of FBI Boston Division to retire » MassLive

Health centers could get infusion of fed funding » Salem News

UMass Memorial wants to close Leominster maternity ward; lawmakers vow to fight » Worcester Telegram

Ruling on 'home equity theft' could affect Bay State » The Eagle Tribune

Challenges of renting in Boston » Boston Globe

High levels of hunger persist in Mass., as COVID-era benefits roll back » Boston Globe

Hundreds of Thousands Have Lost Medicaid Coverage Since Pandemic Protections Expired » New York Times

Following Rachael Rollins’s resignation as US attorney, selecting her successor may be challenging » Boston Globe

Proposed task force would address Mass. domestic violence records law found to shield abusers » WBUR

Restaurant group sees possible minimum wage ballot question as ‘threat’ » Lowell Sun

Barnes & Noble employees unionize in Hadley » Gazette Net

Fire in Hull put election in danger. Judge says town will get another chance to vote. » Patriot Ledger

Mayor Wu signs Boston redistricting map, but court may need to weigh in too » Boston Herald

'Incredible opportunity': Pangallo sworn in as Salem's new mayor » Salem News

'Something always comes up.' Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe blocked from town committee seats? » Cape Cod Times

Kalkut eyes another run for state representative seat; Vaughn mum on re-election plans » The Sun Chronicle

After Revere Beach shootings and fights, Massachusetts State Police union ‘disgusted with the violence and unlawful behavior’ » Boston Herald

Revere Beach reopens after two shootings injure three people Sunday night » Boston Globe

State rules against city in The Light’s request for records related to alleged police misconduct » The New Bedford Light

Healey reestablishes council tasked with advising her on veterans’ services » Boston Herald

Miles-long trains are blocking first responders when every minute counts » Washington Post

Wind turbine spins out of control on Deer Island » Boston Herald

WATCH: Object flies off of ‘out of service’ wind turbine on Deer Island, prompting closure to public accessway » WHDH

Construction halts on Vineyard Wind as longshoremen protest lack of local workers on jobsite » The Public's Radio

Social Media Spotlight

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CBS Boston CBS Boston Increased police presence remains at Revere Beach after shootings and fights WCVB Channel 5 Boston WCVB Channel 5 Boston Feds reject MBTA safety plan, order new plan to be submitted

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Podcast Spotlight

WBUR The Common: Radioactive waste and Cape Cod Bay continued... WBUR Radio Boston: How farmers markets in Massachusetts are connecting people to fresh food Building Boston & Beyond Building Boston & Beyond: Abby and Richard Gray - DO Mor for Cancer Gala Washington Post Post Reports: Reinventing the Disney princess business

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