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Today on Beacon Hill

10:00am MSPCA Animal Bills Awareness Event, Nurses Hall, State House

1:00pm Governor's Council Meeting, Governor's Council Chamber, Room 360, State House

4:00pm Mass. School Building Authority Public Hearing, Via Zoom

5:45pm House Session, Informal Session

6:00pm , Governor Healey's Address -- General Concerns

7:00pm 'State of the Commonwealth' 2024, House Chambers, State House, Boston

Birthdays: State Senator Michael Moore
Must-Reads
MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts State Police approaching year under interim leadership » New England Public Media

Healey Going Big With Early Care Investments » State House News Service

Massachusetts public schools fail students with dyslexia » Boston Globe

We don’t have a lot of babies in Mass. Here’s how that will impact the economy. » Boston Globe

Checking in on Gov. Healey's promises and goals, one year later » WBUR

Editorial: Scrutinize private equity’s involvement in health care » Boston Globe

New superintendent named for embattled Chelsea veterans home » NBC Boston

Looking for ‘creative ideas,’ the T signed a $325,000 deal. It got nothing of value, investigators say. » Boston Globe

METCO Students Reaping Benefits, Research Shows » State House News Service

Rallies in Springfield, across state target predatory lending, seek action on discrimination » MassLive

THE OTHER 49

NH: DeSantis faces a rocky road in New Hampshire next week, analysts say » Orlando Sentinel

NH: ‘I support him no matter what’: Trump remains hugely popular among N.H. Republicans » Boston Globe

NH: Some N.H. residents want better answers from 2024 candidates on the opioid crisis » WBUR

RI: 6 takeaways from RI Gov. Dan McKee's State of the State address Tuesday night » The Providence Journal

NY: Why Hochul’s budget won’t be an easy one » Politico

PA: AIPAC signals potential 2024 moves against U.S. Rep. Summer Lee » WESA

WI: Democrats ask Wisconsin’s high court to consider new congressional map » The Hill

FL: Democrat Keen wins state House 35 special election over GOP’s Booth » Orlando Sentinel

AL: ‘Control the narrative’: how an Alabama utility wields influence by financing news » The Guardian

TX: Diabetes Is Fueling an Amputation Crisis for Men in San Antonio » New York Times

NM: Daughter of former GOP senator launches Senate run in New Mexico » Politico

CA: California offshore drilling ban advances » Pluribus News

CO: Democrats try a new approach to boosting affordable housing in Colorado » Axios

IL: Texas paused sending migrant buses to Chicago during extreme cold » Axios

NATIONAL

Trump Signals Plans to Go After Intelligence Community in Document Case » New York Times

Donald Trump beat his opponents. But can he beat the courts? » The Guardian

What is the Positive Vision for Biden’s Second Term? » The Liberal Patriot

Weeks after backlash for Civil War remarks, Nikki Haley says ‘we’ve never been a racist country’ » Boston Globe

These will be the biggest policy debates in 2024 » Politico

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan steps down from No Labels’ board in a possible sign of a 2024 bid » AP News

How US minimum wage laws discriminate against young workers » Quartz

Hillary Clinton Rips Republicans Over Child Food Move: ‘What Is Wrong With These People?’ » HUFFPOST

The ‘Sleeping Giant’ Case that Could Upend Jack Smith’s Prosecution of Trump » Politico

The Supreme Court takes up major challenges to the power of federal regulators » Boston Globe

“Dictatorial systems make one contribution to their people which leads them to tend to support such systems – freedom from the necessity of informing themselves and making up their own minds concerning these tremendous complex and difficult questions”.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Eisenhower, who had led the armies that defeated Hitler, wrote a letter in 1958 warning against authoritarianism and to beware the danger posed by those seeking freedom from the “mental stress and burden” of democracy.
News By Category
Beltway Politics

‘We gotta show big margins’: Leading in the polls, Trump calls for another blowout in New Hampshire » Boston Globe

Nikki Haley was right all along » Boston Globe

Woodward: Candidates need to talk about the debt crisis » Boston Herald

Howie Carr: It’s over! Trump will be the nominee » Boston Herald

In new filing, Trump lawyers foreshadow potential lines of defense in classified documents case » Boston Globe

Editorial: Dems dismiss Trump supporters at their peril » Boston Herald

Ron DeSantis is in survival mode as Nikki Haley battles Trump in New Hampshire » NBC News

N.H. Republican debate canceled after Haley says she'll only participate if Trump does » WBUR

Business

Proposed ‘baby bonds’ legislation targets racial wealth gap in Massachusetts » Boston.com

Uber is shutting down Drizly, says CEO » Boston Business Journal

JetBlue’s $3.8 billion buyout of Spirit Airlines is blocked by judge citing threat to competition » Boston Herald

In Somerville’s Davis Square, a bookstore curated to connect with the community » Boston Globe

Last call for Drizly: Liquor delivery service shutting down » Boston Globe

Downtown dynamo shifts gears: Gould leaving Amherst BID but still taking care of business » Gazette Net

‘I live in the best state.’ And yet, for many living in Mass., the state of the Commonwealth is a complicated one. » Boston Globe

Cannabis & Psychedelics

NY: Hochul proposes repeal of marijuana 'potency tax' » Times Union

Crimes

Three Mass. residents charged in COVID-era $7 million-plus payroll loan fraud scheme, US attorney’s office says » Boston Globe

Democracy

NY: Far-right extremism is thriving in rural areas. Here's what it looks like in Upstate NY » North Country Public Radio

Education

Gov. Healey Expands Funding For State's Pre-K Financial Support Program » WBZ News Radio

Healey signs executive order for ‘universal, high-quality Pre-K access’ for gateway cities » Fox 25 News

Healey pushes to expand free preschool and subsidize daycare for more families in Mass. » Boston Globe

BC cuts ties to swimming and diving coaches, extends team suspension after hazing inquiry » Boston Globe

Amherst Regional superintendent search begins with public input sessions » Gazette Net

Students testify for financial literacy education bill » North Star Reporter

MCLA leaders tell faculty and staff that enrollment is 'stabilizing' and the college is in a strong position » Berkshire Eagle

Interim option at Andover High to tackle overcrowding, security and mechanics » The Eagle Tribune

Pembroke Schools votes down policy barring staff from displaying Pride flag, discussing political views » Boston Globe

Healey announces millions towards universal pre-K in Gateway cities » Boston Herald

Massachusetts rolls out financial aid for undocumented students » Axios

Environment

Mass. agriculture department unveils plan to preserve, expand state's farmland » Worcester Telegram

Progress being made on Greylock Glen outdoor center development » Spectrum News

Gaming

MGM Springfield reports $23.6M gambling take in December » MassLive

Health Care

Milford Regional CEO eager to affiliate with UMass Memorial » Worcester Business Journal

Walsh Memo Lays Out Approach To Patient Surge » State House News Service

How do Mass. academic medical centers stack up? » Commonwealth Magazine

UMass Memorial/Milford Regional Medical Center sign corporate affiliation agreement » Worcester Telegram

Housing

Worcester home sales declined 23% in 2023 as statewide sales fell to 12-year low » Worcester Business Journal

Greater Boston housing market still frozen — and it’s not just the weather » Boston Globe

Human Services

Mass. plans to make early education, child care more affordable for families in 26 communities » NECN

$24,000 will help assist those with disabilities in Lynn » Lynn Daily News Item

Immigration

Lowry: Why Republicans have upper hand on the border » Boston Herald

Legislative

Ahead of Healey’s address, Pignatelli reviews her first year, defends police entering Great Barrington middle school over “Gender Queer” book » WAMC

Local Government

Amherst Historical Commission to support application for historic state tax credits for Jones Library project » Gazette Net

Danvers residents file citizens' petition to eliminate new trash fee » Salem News

Special TM in Shutesbury rescheduled to Jan. 23 » Gazette Net

Politics

FL: Florida bill to force disclosure on political ads that use AI adds criminal penalty » The Associated Press (AP)

Opinion: Healey borrows one from the GOP playbook » The Sun Chronicle

Boston Mayor Wu supports federal delegation’s ‘positions and actions’ in Israel-Hamas War » Boston Herald

Boston Mayor Wu to campaign for Biden in New Hampshire on heels of Trump victory in Iowa » Boston Herald

Public Safety

Interviews for State Police leadership to begin soon » Gloucester Times

McGovern files bill to aid victims of scams, disasters » The Recorder

Essex County Sheriff’s Department swears in 32 new officers » Newburyport News

There were 19 domestic violence homicides in Massachusetts in 2023, data show » Boston Globe

State Government

State reopening contract bids in effort to diversify vendors » Worcester Business Journal

2024 Vote By Mail Application deadline fast approaching » News 22 WWLP.com

Governor Healey to address the Commonwealth on Wednesday » News 22 WWLP.com

Housing, schools to feature in Mass. Gov. Healey’s 1st State of the Commonwealth address » MassLive

Transportation

Attaching EV chargers to utility poles is cheap, easy — and illegal in Massachusetts » Boston Globe

New year, same terrible T commute » Boston Globe

MBTA riders frustrated after Tuesday service disruptions on Red and Orange lines » WHDH

Smoke, Electrical Problems Disrupt Red, Orange Lines » State House News Service

Mayor Wu responds to morning MBTA chaos » WGBH

Love letter to Massachusetts' highway signs: RIP 'use yah blinkah,' 'stay classy' » Axios

Utilities

Opinion: Nuclear ambitions in the push for renewable energy » Boston Globe

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Recipe of the Week

Ingredients

2 tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter

1 medium yellow onion or large leek, finely diced (about 8 ounces; 225g)

3 medium cloves garlic, sliced (about 1 tablespoon; 15g)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

About 6 tablespoons (90ml) extra-virgin olive oil

1 large russet potato, peeled, quartered, and cut into 1/4-inch slices (about 1/2 pound; 225g)

2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, quartered, and cut into 1/4-inch slices (about 1/2 pound; 225g)

6 cups (1.4L) homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock

1 bunch curly or lacinato kale, tough stems removed, leaves finely chopped (about 3/4 pound; 340g)

12 ounces (340g) cooked linguiça or other garlicky pork sausage, cut into 1/4- to 1/2-inch slices (see note)

Minced fresh chives, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Heat butter in a large Dutch oven or saucepan over medium heat until melted. Add onion (or leek) and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring frequently, until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes, adding olive oil as necessary to keep the mixture loose and moist.

Add potatoes and stock and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Add kale and continue to cook until russet potato slices have completely broken down (you can press them with a spoon or potato masher for an even thicker texture), the Yukon Golds are tender, the greens have softened, and the soup has thickened to a creamy consistency, 25 to 30 minutes. Stir in sausage. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper and serve garnished with chives, if desired.

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