Birthdays: Rep. Steven Xiarhos

Most sheriffs scored a $20,000 raise in Legislature’s overdue spending bill, their second in three years » Boston Globe

Yes, building more housing does lower rents, study says » Commonwealth Beacon

‘Insane.’ T reports back-to-back worker safety incidents. Again. » Boston Globe

Mass. to close shelter in MBTA office building for homeless migrant families, shift ‘operations’ to Quincy » Boston Globe

Boston City Council measure slaps ‘scofflaw’ landlords with $2,000 fines, up from $300 » Boston Herald

Healey Pledges To Enforce Rezoning Mandate » State House News Service

Founders push for bill to stop “rampant” discrimination, sexual harassment in VC » Boston Business Journal

Massachusetts AG files lawsuit against neo-Nazi group NSC-131 » Boston Herald

Healey Picks Solicitor Dewar For First Open SJC Seat » State House News Service

Starbucks cafes in Newton, Somerville unionize » Boston Globe

Healey Deflects When Asked About Legislative Pace » State House News Service

CT: Former powerful CT lawmaker replaced on public defender commission. Calls it ‘lesson for all of us’ » Hartford Courant

CT: Grand jury convenes to consider federal charges in Connecticut state police ticket scandal » CT Insider

NY: Lawmakers try to boot Trump from 2024 ballot, ask state Board of Elections to remove » New York Daily News

NY: Candidate For George Santos' Open House Seat Is Convicted In Jan. 6 Riot » HUFFPOST

NJ: The State Where Unemployment Is Rising the Fastest Is Having Trouble Filling Jobs » The Wall Street Journal

NJ: Sweeney will enter governor’s race on Monday » New Jersey Globe

OH: Legal weed takes effect in Ohio as lawmakers scramble to change voter-passed law » Politico

KY: Kentucky’s revenues from sports wagering on pace to significantly exceed projections, governor says » AP News

IL: Chicago alders advance measure to bolster sanctuary city protections » Axios

MN: Out-of-state abortion patients in Minnesota spiked post-Dobbs decision » Axios

NC: Manning decides not to run again in North Carolina » Roll Call

FL: Sabatini-led Lake Republicans adopt platform to ban abortion, gay rights » Orlando Sentinel

TX: Texas Judge Grants Woman’s Request for Abortion, in Rare Post-Roe Case » New York Times

CO: How rogue officers stay on the job in Colorado » Axios

MI: When big marijuana money came to small U.P. towns » MLive.com

TikTok steps up state lobbying presence » Pluribus News

Trump appeals Jan. 6 immunity ruling, launching process that may delay trial » Washington Post

U.S. political ad market projected to reach record $16 billion in 2024 » Axios

Which voters matter in presidential elections? The ranks are shrinking. » Washington Post

Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Kash Patel, Stephen Miller: What a Trump Cabinet Might Look Like If He’s Reelected » Vanity Fair

DeSantis Super PAC Cancels Donor Event Citing Waning Interest » Bloomberg Politics

Private Prison Firms Set To Cash In On Immigrant Surveillance Boom » The Lever

UAW says over 1,000 workers at VW plant in Tenn. have signed cards seeking union representation » Boston Globe

Sen Vance in letter to Biden admin accuses WaPo writer of encouraging ‘open rebellion’ against US » Fox News

Jared Kushner Could Be Made Secretary of State in Second Trump Term, and No, That’s Not a Joke » Vanity Fair

Where Are All the Anti-Trump Republicans? » Politico

Opinion: Why the US must support Ukraine with aid » Boston Globe

Two networks announce GOP presidential debates just days apart at same New Hampshire school » AP News

Gov. Healey talks about what her new economic development plan means for the state » WBUR

Shutdowns, layoffs cap a tumultuous year for tech startups » Boston Business Journal

Robert Kraft’s nonprofit to fight antisemitism grows exponentially with $200M donation » Boston Business Journal

Trader Joe’s plans second Back Bay location » Boston Globe

Former WooSox executive named chief of staff for new Boston women’s pro soccer team » Worcester Business Journal

Gillette to pursue mix of commercial, housing, parks at South Boston site » Boston Business Journal

Economist: WooSox likely sold for $50-$70M » Worcester Business Journal

Boston tourism officials want visitors to put their money where their mouth is » Boston Globe

Mass. Rep. Ayanna Pressley unveils new bill to restore voting rights to incarcerated people » MassLive

As the left agonizes over Israel-Hamas cease-fire, New England’s progressive leaders stand apart » Boston Globe

Harvard releases expert review after morgue scandal, but admits no wrongdoing. ‘People find ways of getting around systems.’ » Boston Globe

Report on Harvard's morgue finds lack of oversight and no policy on handling of human bodies » WBUR

Howie Carr: Harvard poison ivy » Boston Herald

A plane flying over Harvard’s campus pulled banner that said ‘Harvard Hates Jews’ with Palestinian flag » Boston Globe

‘Harvard Hates Jews’ banner flies above Cambridge campus as president comes under fire for Congressional testimony about antisemitism » Boston Herald

Harvard, MIT, UPenn face Congressional investigation after ‘unacceptable’ testimony about antisemitism; rabbi resigns from Harvard committee » Boston Herald

Hampshire Regional superintendent to resign at end of school year, saying ‘half-truths, rumors and gossip’ led to her decision » Gazette Net

MCLA will provide an 'expedited transfer process' for students affected by the closing of College of Saint Rose » Berkshire Eagle

Editorial: John Kerry’s climate goals all about numbers, not people » Boston Herald

Moore: Cleaner environment slips as green priority » Boston Herald

Mass. barrels toward critical period of ‘rapid decarbonization’ » Commonwealth Beacon

Climate activists protest at office of Hanscom developer » Commonwealth Beacon

Pittsfield native Jeannine Ryder's nomination to major general in the Air Force was on hold for months. The Senate finally approved it » Berkshire Eagle

White House targets drug patents in latest effort to lower prices » Boston Globe

Bluebird bio nets 3rd gene therapy approval since company split » Boston Business Journal

‘Monumental’: FDA approves first CRISPR-based gene-editing drug, marking breakthrough for sickle cell disease » Boston Globe

Family Shelter Placements More Than Doubled Under Healey » State House News Service

Boston City Council measure slaps ‘scofflaw’ landlords with $2,000 fines, up from $300 » Boston Herald

Hadley seeking study of special district for congregate housing » Gazette Net

Homeless advocates question new jail lockup for people arrested near Mass. and Cass » WGBH

Governor says she will block funding to communities that ignore MBTA zoning law » Worcester Business Journal

23% jump in Lowell’s homeless population » Lowell Sun

Maura Healey says the number of people arriving in Massachusetts seeking shelter is ‘actually going down’ » Boston Herald

Federal money to shelter migrants caught in messy funding battle » Boston Globe

Mass. AG sues neo-Nazi group, two of its leaders over harassment, intimidation » Boston Globe

State solicitor tapped as Healey’s first SJC pick » Commonwealth Beacon

Healey taps state solicitor, former adviser to fill first open seat on Supreme Judicial Court » Boston Globe

Mass. launches multilingual enhancements to Paid Family and Medical Leave Program » The Herald News

Editorial: Wu scores some important wins in new police contract » Boston Globe

Our View: Auditor DiZoglio on the right track » Newburyport News

Winter Special Scheduled To Fill Vacant House Seat » State House News Service

Proposed switch away from city manager fails, and charter committee will ask for more time » Cambridge Day

How Worcester feels about trash and recycling - and how to make it better » Worcester Telegram

Sec. Galvin expects nearly a dozen 2024 ballot question petitions to be filed » Spectrum News

Challenger declares for Rep. Decker’s seat, aiming to pass more progressive legislation » Cambridge Day

Five College scholars join 1,000-plus educators to push New England senators for permanent cease-fire in Gaza » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Our View: Republican state lawmakers deserve our thanks » The Sun Chronicle

Revere mayoral recount confirms initial result » Boston.com

Dudley selectman Marsi enters race to fill 6th Worcester seat vacated by Durant » Worcester Telegram

There’s an empty state House seat in Central Mass. Here’s what we know about who’s running » MassLive

2 unusual childhood respiratory illnesses are in Worcester. Here's what to know » Worcester Telegram

Waltham mourns death of veteran police officer Paul Tracey, struck and killed in crash » Boston Herald

Gov. Healey talks about what her new economic development plan means for the state » WBUR

Baker Portrait To Be Unveiled Behind Closed Doors » State House News Service

Legislation to shift SSA voting structure gets a hearing » Martha's Vineyard Times

MBTA Prepping Plan To Expand Low-Cost Fares » State House News Service

What 400 years of Boston transit history tells us about the MBTA's future » WGBH

Eng says 'we are making progress' fixing the T » WGBH

Quabbin-Area Towns Draw on History in Quest for 'Equity' » State House News Service

State order seeks to limit natural gas pipelines, mains » Gazette Net

Social Media Spotlight

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GBH News How age restrictions impact parents working in MA cannabis industry WCVB Channel 5 Boston Heightened security for Boston Hanukkah menorah lightning

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Podcast Spotlight

MBTA Spilling the T: Championing the Cause with Jarred Johnson from TransitMatters Wall St. Journal What's News: Hate Crimes and Terror Threats Rise as Israel-Hamas War Rages

HB4204 - An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2023 for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects

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