10:00am Mass. State Lottery Commission Public Hearing, Via conference call

10:30am Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, Committee Hearing

11:00am Senate Session, Full Formal Session

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

2:00pm Massachusetts Business Outlook 2024 hosted by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Via webcast

4:00pm An Event Supporting Sen. Julian Cyr

Birthdays: State Senator Karen Spilka

SJC rules life without parole is unconstitutional for adults under 21 » Boston Globe

Credit Rating May Have Factored Into Budget Cut Decision » State House News Service

Urgent Care Expansion Catches Eye Of Regulators » State House News Service

Bill Belichick out as Patriots coach, ending historic run » Axios

Elon Musk goes after Gov. Maura Healey over using private homes to house homeless » Boston Herald

Affordable housing development in Boston faces a key obstacle: cost » WBUR

Fourth Walgreens to close in a predominantly Black and Latino Boston neighborhood in about a year, raising equity concerns » Boston Globe

Was last year really the least violent in Boston’s history? » Boston Globe

‘Revenge porn’ bill passes hurdle in Massachusetts House » Fox 25 News

‘The system is rigged’: How Massachusetts school districts fail dyslexic students and their families » Boston Globe

Inside Massachusetts' Proposed State IT Funding Plan » Government Technology

A new fund in Massachusetts could help level playing field in cannabis industry » The Providence Journal

Boston reaches $2.4 million settlement with female police commander over gender discrimination case » AP News

RI: With time running out, GOP candidates struggle to get enough signatures for RI's presidential primary » The Providence Journal

CT: Will Connecticut legalize psilocybin mushrooms? Some say it is 'very unlikely' » CT Insider

NJ: Lawmakers gave themselves a raise but failed to pass big bills in lame duck session. A recap. » NJ.com

OH: Ohio House overrides DeWine on trans rights bill » Axios

IL: Chicago leaders want to prioritize neighborhood schools » Axios

GA: Lawyer Tapped to Prosecute Trump in Georgia Is Now Under Scrutiny Himself » New York Times

FL: Top lawmakers won’t back near-total abortion ban or end to universal voting by mail » Orlando Sentinel

FL: Bill rolling back child labor laws advances in House » Florida Politics

CO: Colorado’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance program is now approving paid leave claims. Here’s how it works. » The Denver Post

CO: Democratic lawmaker trolls party leader in opening day of Colorado's legislative session » Axios

OR: Oregon Supreme Court could be next to rule on Trump’s eligibility for the ballot under the 14th Amendment » CNN

CA: Newsom proposes plan to close budget hole » Pluribus News

Christie ends his anti-Trump crusade » Politico

Previewing the Iowa Caucus » Sabato's Crystal Ball

Trump coasts in Iowa, as GOP debate turns into a ‘dumpster fire’ » Politico

The amicus brief SCOTUS could use to let Trump off the hook » Public Notice

Christie caught on hot mic: Haley is ‘gonna get smoked’ » Politico

America's unhappiest people » Axios

How Boeing Bought Washington » The Lever

Immigration fear heats up Trump-Haley clash, dominates GOP ad spending » Washington Post

‘Obamacare’ sign-ups surge to 20 million, days before open enrollment closes » AP News

A Super PAC Forms to Support No Labels » New York Times

Elise Stefanik wants to be Trump’s running mate. That’s unfortunate » The Guardian

The Progressive Youth Chimera » The Liberal Patriot

The winners and losers of the Republican debatein Iowa » Washington Post

The Shadow War to Determine the Next Trump Administration » New York Times

Editorial: Hunter Biden’s sense of privilege wearing thin » Boston Herald

Lucas: Joe Biden, you’re no George Washington » Boston Herald

NY: Lifting Street Vendor Permit Cap Could Raise $17 Million, Watchdog Says » StreetsBlog

Cruise ships will make 23 visits to Plymouth this year » Plymouth Independent

Massachusetts is the best state to raise a family in, new report says » CBS News

Crypto firm Circle files confidential paperwork to go public via IPO » Boston Business Journal

Cohen: Environmental investing in legal crosshairs » Boston Herald

Supporters of Everett soccer stadium renew push on Beacon Hill » WBUR

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen touts inflation reduction, clean energy opportunities in Boston visit » Boston Herald

Fall River businessman heading to federal trial for alleged role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot » The Herald News

Opinion: Judges scoffed at Trump’s immunity argument. But Americans shouldn’t. » Boston Globe

Educators float MCAS alternatives should voters opt to ditch test as a graduation requirement » The Recorder

Parents say new Amherst leader harmed trans students; administrator says she’s being targeted » MassLive

Boston Public School students and families to get free admission to Boston museums, Wu says » Boston Globe

House Committee Suggests Harvard Could Lose Tax-Exempt Status in Letter to Garber » The Harvard Crimson

The impossible role of university presidents: ‘Who would take this job in this day and age?’ » Boston Globe

Boston School Committee approves change to bonus points for exam school admissions » Boston Globe

Mass. rolls out college financial aid for all, regardless of immigration status » Boston.com

Massachusetts Senate plots another push for free community college despite budget cuts » Fall River Reporter

State education secretary takes to airwaves with a message: make school attendance ‘a priority’ » WBUR

‘The right next step’: Early education board votes to boost subsidy for child care providers » Boston Globe

Parts of the Northeast are underwater. Experts say expect more of that as the climate warms. » Boston Globe

Norah Dooley: State must shed influence of fossil fuel industry » The Recorder

Classification System Eyed To Improve Maternal Health » State House News Service

Massachusetts health insurer restricts anesthesia for colonoscopies, doctors object » Boston Herald

Mariano Says Shelter Costs Getting "Harder To Support" » State House News Service

Boston puts housing tax incentives on ice » Commonwealth Beacon

Dewar confirmed as SJC's newest justice » The Eagle Tribune

On the job training: 43-year-old State Solicitor unanimously confirmed to SJC » Boston Herald

Cybersecurity and artificial intelligence are a big focus on Beacon Hill » Spectrum News

Planning Board discusses draft plan for MBTA Communities Act compliance » Hopkinton Independent

Mayor Michelle Wu touts wins, public housing plan in State of the City speech » Axios

Mayor wants to end residency rule for some city employees » The New Bedford Light

Judge rules Billerica Select Board must set date for town center election » Lowell Sun

City councilor requests answers about impact of homeless population in Worcester libraries » Worcester Telegram

20 arrested following Boston State of the City address, charged with disorderly conduct » Boston Herald

Massachusetts House approves bill outlawing revenge porn for second session in a row » Boston Herald

Editorial: Gun-toting androids are not what we need right now » Boston Globe

House Adopts Revenge Porn, Survivor Protection Bill » State House News Service

New company joins online Lottery ticket workaround » Commonwealth Beacon

These Mass. communities had the highest tax rates in 2024 » Boston Business Journal

It’s ‘Groundhog Day’ at the T when it comes to worker safety. Agency acknowledges yet another close call. » Boston Globe

Social Media Spotlight

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GBH News Will Boston's MBTA slow zones end in 2024? WCVB Channel 5 Boston Christie ends presidential campaign, makes announcement in NH

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Podcast Spotlight

NPR Morning Edition: Christie drops out, 2 GOP presidential hopefuls debate as Iowa caucuses near Wall St. Journal Your Money Briefing: Fafsa Glitches Delay Financial Aid Applications

HB4038 - An Act relative to the planning board in the town of Shutesbury

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