10:00am MassDOT Public Hearing, Via Zoom

10:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Mass. School Building Authority Public Hearing, Wahconah Regional High School, 150 Old Windsor Road, Dalton

11:00am 250th Anniversary Celebration of the American Revolution, Virtual Hearing

11:00am Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, Committee Hearing

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Fiscal Year 2025 Consensus Revenue Hearing, Gardner Auditorium

1:00pm Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, Committee Hearing

6:00pm MWPC Winners Circle Awards, UMass Club, 1 Beacon Street, 32nd Floor, Boston

Birthdays: Rep. Angelo Puppolo, Jr., Rep. Marcus Vaughn

Racist remarks cited before cannabis regulator’s suspension, court documents say » Boston.com

Report Card: State Keeping Pace With Climate Goals » State House News Service

Massachusetts weighs the legalization of psychedelics — and the future of tripping » Boston Globe

Metco wants to expand student enrollment but faces a fight on Beacon Hill over funding » Boston Globe

Short takes: Josh Kraft for mayor? » Commonwealth Beacon

John Walsh: The Operative Who Paved the Way for Obama’s 2008 Win » Politico

When you can’t afford to live in Boston, where do you go? » Boston Globe

They’re poor, but not poor enough to qualify for emergency housing in Massachusetts » Boston Globe

MassGOP chair calls for return to formal sessions, defends delay tactics » Boston Herald

Mariano likens Massachusetts GOP to Washington Republicans after budget delayed a 3rd time » Boston Herald

RI: Ethics Commission appointee resigns after Globe investigation into sexual harassment complaints » Boston Globe

CT: CT has an electric car problem. Here’s what’s driving delays, debate and new economic inequality. » Hartford Courant

CT: As CT schools struggle to fill jobs, a new coalition seeks to simplify teacher certification process » CT Insider

KY: ‘Everybody’s daughter’: The rape victim behind Kentucky’s viral abortion ad » Washington Post

GA: Georgia lawmakers exchange sharp words as GOP-drawn political maps clear key vote Friday » Georgia Recorder

GA: Atlanta police use Signal to discuss ‘Cop City’ amid outcry over transparency » The Guardian

FL: Florida GOP chairman under fire as more details emerge in rape inquiry » Washington Post

FL: In Florida’s Hot Political Climate, Some Faculty Have Had Enough » New York Times

UT: Recordings show how the Mormon church protects itself from child sex abuse claims » AP News

AZ: Democrats bank on abortion playing pivotal role in Arizona Senate race » The Hill

AZ: Kari Lake struggles to court moderates, imperiling GOP Senate pickup » Washington Post

The breathtaking hypocrisy of Alito » Public Notice

Trump’s revenge? GOP braces for daily blasts from ‘orange Jesus’ » Politico

“This Is the Final Compromise”: Donald Trump and the Implosion of the American Evangelical Movement » Vanity Fair

Affordable Housing Is Saving Paris » The Lever

Dems launch pro-Biden super PAC in New Hampshire, give Dean Phillips the cold shoulder » Politico

Has No Labels Become a Stalking Horse for Trump? » New York Times

Trudeau plays the Trump card » Politico

Trump Wants The End Of The World As We Know It, And Corporate Media Feels Fine » The Lever

Protesters now chant and challenge Biden over Gaza at every chance » Washington Post

Newsom camp: Hannity, DeSantis cheated. They dispute the charges. » Politico

Class Conflict and the Democratic Party » The Liberal Patriot

FDA poised to approve first gene-editing therapy, made by local drug firms » Boston Globe

For iRobot and Amazon, European antitrust roadblock is just one hurdle » Boston Globe

DEI gaps persist at Boston-area biotechs » Axios

Boston developer to make largest investment in Lynn’s history » Lynn Daily News Item

Boston City Council looks to ban the sale of guinea pigs at pet shops » Boston Herald

Pro soccer team owners propose bar, restaurant at White Stadium » Axios

In life sciences, people of color are still 'terribly' underrepresented, MassBio report says » Boston Business Journal

New England’s decades-old shrimp fishery, a victim of climate change, to remain closed indefinitely » AP News

Boston, We Have a Wealth-Gap Problem » Boston Magazine

Williamstown Farms Awarded State Grants » iBerkshires

Cannabis chair O'Brien was suspended after accusations of racism, court docs reveal » Boston Business Journal

Top cannabis regulator suspended after she allegedly made racist remarks, which she denies » Boston Globe

Tree House incentivizing recycling of cannabis plastic containers » Commonwealth Beacon

Howie Carr: If it were anybody but Shannon O’Brien, I might feel a little sympathy » Boston Herald

Commentary: The cameras are gone, but the work is not done » Boston Business Journal

Opinion: The Constitution is not optional — Trump is disqualified » Boston Globe

A majority of the state’s youngest students struggle to read, new report finds » Boston Globe

Opinion: Generation to generation, hope runs smack into harsh realities » Boston Globe

Lacking counselors, US schools turn to the booming business of online therapy » Boston Globe

Vineyard committee exploring universal preschool » Martha's Vineyard Times

And the ‘Oscars of teaching’ goes to Andrew Rebello » The New Bedford Light

Editorial: Harvard Should Be Bigger » The Harvard Crimson

‘Bullied Into Leaving’: Harvard Research Admin File Workplace Complaints, Leave Department En Masse » The Harvard Crimson

Harvard President Claudine Gay Will Testify Before Congress on Tuesday. Here’s What You Need to Know. » The Harvard Crimson

‘There’s no way to sugarcoat it.’ The state’s first climate report card is out, and the grades are mixed. » Boston Globe

Report Card: State Keeping Pace With Climate Goals » State House News Service

US joins in other nations in swearing off coal power to clean the climate » AP News

'Lifesaving' $20 million in funding announced for the removal of the crumbling Bel Air Dam in Pittsfield » Berkshire Eagle

Hunters take aim at 'blue law' Sunday ban » Gloucester Times

Most intense decarbonization period nearing: 2025 – 2030 » Gazette Net

The US government can’t quit Elon Musk - even amid erratic behavior » Boston Globe

Biogen vet's new startup raises nine-figure round, moves to Watertown » Boston Business Journal

A miracle on Clarendon Street: How a Back Bay building became apartments for homeless people » Boston Globe

Amherst landlords decry town’s rental permitting plan » Gazette Net

Augustus eyes changes to controversial 40B affordable housing program » Boston Business Journal

Investors snagged 1 in 5 homes for sale in Greater Boston, worsening housing crisis, report finds » Boston Globe

New group coming to Boston will provide low-interest loans to people returning from prison » WGBH

O’Brien: Leadership broken, not immigration system » Boston Herald

Lucas: Healey needs to set limits on incoming migrants » Boston Herald

Boston Police union, city reach tentative 5-year contract deal » Boston Herald

Boston police union and city agree to tentative 5-year contract after years of delay » WBUR

City of Boston, Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association reach tentative contract agreement » Boston Globe

Mariano likens Massachusetts GOP to Washington Republicans after budget delayed a 3rd time » Boston Herald

Baker salutes staff— and takes a bow— at Florian Hall party » Dorchester Reporter

Roxbury residents weigh ideas for playground near Mass and Cass » Boston Herald

‘Step aside,’ Lori Trahan tells Corey Robinson » Lowell Sun

Catching up with Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune » NBC Boston

Methuen City Councilors file resolution to buttress voter turnout » The Eagle Tribune

Gosnold Embarks on Town Administrator Search » Vineyard Gazette

Amherst council gives town manager mostly high marks » Gazette Net

Massachusetts EMS providers blast Department of Public Health over new vaccine regulations » Boston Herald

Fate of billions for opioid victims from Sacklers rests with Supreme Court » Boston Globe

Making phone calls from prison is now free in Massachusetts » WLFI

Has Northampton’s crisis response team become police alternative? Not yet. » MassLive

State awards Nahant Police $43K for surveillance tech » Lynn Daily News Item

Never forget: Worcester pays tribute to six firefighters who died in '99 Cold Storage blaze » Worcester Telegram

Mass. House again fails to pass $3 billion spending bill amid GOP opposition » Boston Globe

Massachusetts Republicans stall funding, again, to shelter the homeless and migrants » The Sun Chronicle

Is ‘somewhat safe’ good enough when it comes to transportation? » Commonwealth Beacon

Editorial: New electric truck comes with own gas generator » Boston Herald

Social Media Spotlight

massltgov repbradjones mayorwu

---

GBH News A new spending bill would fund Mass. shelters. Republicans want to block it CBS Boston Keller @ Large: Sen. Elizabeth Warren says cryptocurrency must be regulated WCVB Channel 5 Boston OTR: MassGOP chair says right-to-shelter law 'unsustainable' for taxpayers

---

Podcast Spotlight

WGBH Under the Radar: Daniel Mason's 'North Woods' explores a vibrant history of New England Wall St. Journal Tech News Briefing: Why Meta Can't Seem to Rid Its Platforms of Pedophiles

Birthdays: Rep. Angelo Puppolo, Jr., Rep. Marcus Vaughn

10:00am MassDOT Public Hearing, Via Zoom

10:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Mass. School Building Authority Public Hearing, Wahconah Regional High School, 150 Old Windsor Road, Dalton

11:00am 250th Anniversary Celebration of the American Revolution, Virtual Hearing

11:00am Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, Committee Hearing

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Fiscal Year 2025 Consensus Revenue Hearing, Gardner Auditorium

1:00pm Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, Committee Hearing

6:00pm MWPC Winners Circle Awards, UMass Club, 1 Beacon Street, 32nd Floor, Boston

9:30am Mass. Gaming Commission Public Hearing, Via conference call

10:00am Joint Committee on Financial Services, Committee Hearing

11:00am Mass. School Building Authority Public Hearing, Lawrence Public Library, 51 Lawrence Street, Lawrence

11:00am Joint Committee on Municipalities & Regional Government, Committee Hearing

1:00pm Joint Committee on Judiciary, Committee Hearing

1:00pm Joint Committee on Election Laws, Committee Hearing

7:00pm You've Got a Friend in Joe: An Evening Concert with James Taylor & President Joe Biden

Birthdays: State Senator Cindy Friedman

11:00am Mass. School Building Authority Public Hearing, Dennis-Yarmouth Intermediate/Middle School Auditorium, Kenneth T. Jenks Performing Arts Center, 286 Station Avenue, South Yarmouth

1:30pm Joint Committee on Economic Development & Emerging Technologies, Committee Hearing

6:00pm Holiday Celebration in Support of Suffolk County Register of Probate Stephanie Everett

11:00am Mass. School Building Authority Public Hearing, Via Zoom

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

Birthdays: Rep. Steven Xiarhos

No Hearings Scheduled

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