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Today on Beacon Hill

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

11:00am Black History Month Flag Raising, Beacon Street Well, Boston

Must-Reads
MASSACHUSETTS

What to know about Trump's tariffs, including how they will impact Mass. residents » NBC Boston

The state has eliminated cannabis ‘impact fees.’ But many Mass. towns are still charging them. » Boston Globe

‘Their lives are awful’: More doctors are quitting medicine, citing burnout and workplace issues » Boston Globe

Berkshire County towns never added fluoride to drinking water. Is this a good thing? » Berkshire Eagle

Beacon Hill eying 2017 immigration-related court ruling. Here’s what the decision means » Boston Herald

‘A forgotten generation’: Older Black men in Boston are dying of drug overdoses at alarming rates » Boston Globe

Amid Trump threats, local nonprofits are strategizing to stay active » WGBH

No Added Duties, But Legislative Stipends Will Be Retroactive » State House News Service

NATIONAL

Thousands of US government webpages have been taken down since Friday » Boston Globe

What to know about Ken Martin, the next chair of the DNC » The Hill

The Young, Inexperienced Engineers Aiding Elon Musk’s Government Takeover » Wired

Trump’s Tech Donors Have Big Plans For Greenland » The Lever

Confusion over federal funding freeze prompts public health concerns » The Hill

Editorial: The Dumbest Trade War in History » The Wall Street Journal

How Climate Change Could Upend the American Dream » ProPublica

DeSantis, Florida GOP tensions spill out into open » The Hill

Democrats ask: Why would we help Trump and the Republicans? » Punchbowl News

USAID security officials on leave after refusing access to Musk allies » Washington Post

Trump’s school choice executive order could upend K-12 education, opponents and supporters agree » Boston Globe

"The third-place finisher, Martin O’Malley, energized the crowd when he warned against “turning the Democratic Party over to a handful of billionaires who pull strings behind curtains and try to walk our elected officials on short leashes like dogs.” The outgoing DNC leader, Jaime Harrison, repeatedly denounced what he said were outside threats against how DNC members planned to vote, referencing reports of “having donors call and say we’re going to pull funding because of their vote.” And when one of the chair candidates, Marianne Williamson, dropped out and endorsed Martin, she hailed him as the best candidate to end the “billionaire-funded corruption” in the DNC’s ranks. How much that mood benefited Martin is up for debate. He said at one forum that he doesn’t “rub elbows with billionaires” — a perceived shot at Wikler — but Martin didn’t get more specific than that as he closed the race expressing confidence in his chances and feeling little pressure to go more negative."

Meryl Kornfield and Patrick Svitek, The Washington Post

The DNC has a new chair for Trump’s second term: Ken Martin. The longtime party insider, who leads Minnesota Democrats, easily won the election Saturday, beating his closest competitor, Ben Wikler, by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.

News By Category
Beltway Politics

Elizabeth Warren says Trump will have a ‘fight’ if he destroys the CFPB » Boston Herald

‘We can stop this guy.’ Democrats still mapping strategy to Trump response amid early onslaught. » Boston Globe

The lie embedded in the election of the newest DNC chair » Boston Globe

Business

'Creating weekends to brag about,' sustainable tourism ventures into Central Massachusetts » Worcester Telegram

North American Trade War begins as Canada and Mexico respond to Trump tariffs » Boston Herald

As new tariffs set to be imposed, New England residents will see increased costs on gas, food, experts say » WCVB

Tariffs on Massachusetts’ three largest trading partners will leave residents facing price hikes, Healey tells Herald » Boston Herald

Civil Rights

Gaskin: Progress & backlash mark Black History Month » Boston Herald

Education

Hold the phone » MASSterList

Tufts lacrosse Navy SEAL workout report draws condemnation, confusion from student body » Boston Globe

UMass launches federal actions webpage to inform community of Trump administration actions » Gazette Net

BU closes antiracist research center as founding director leaves » Axios

Environment

Some like it hot: Warmer winters mean more rats in Boston » WBUR

Federal

At Boston supermarkets, shoppers brace for Trump tariffs to spike prices » Boston Globe

Why does Musk want USAID 'to die'? And why did its website disappear? » WBUR

Health Care

Mass. hospital CEOs will have tough choices in face of Trump proposals » Boston Business Journal

At $31 a day, is Vertex’s new non-addictive painkiller worth the price? » Boston Globe

Opinion: We continued funding the Pappas Hospital 15 years ago. Gov. Healey should too. » Boston Globe

Trump executive order misstates facts about sex and gender, scientists say » Boston Globe

Healey slammed for looking at children’s rehab hospital as a ‘budget problem’ » Boston Herald

Gov. Healey to revisit plan to close Canton children’s rehab, congressman says » Fox 25 News

Rep. Sabadosa, other pols again co-sponsor ‘Medicare for All’ bill » Gazette Net

Housing

These Boston-area rentals have discounts — if you can afford them » Axios

Dalton Planners to Discuss Movable Tiny Homes Bylaw » iBerkshires

Immigration

Lucas: Boston mayor could make history, or not » Boston Herald

ICE given rare show of FBI, DEA, ATF support for illegal immigrant raids around Boston » Boston Herald

Judiciary

Stimson: Progressive prosecutors deny the science » Boston Herald

Labor

Political Notebook: New nonprofit swings into action on unemployment insurance » Commonwealth Beacon

How a $2.5 billion error could be an opportunity to fix the state’s ailing unemployment system » Boston Globe

Legislative

Massachusetts Senate president on efforts to audit legislature » CBS News

Beacon Hill Roll Call: Bills the House let expire through inaction » Lowell Sun

REP. REYES: Tying up Loose Ends Before A New Legislative Session » The Valley Patriot

State Sen. John Velis maps out goals and priorities for 2025 » MassLive

Local Government

Emails reflect frosty negotiations between Boston mayor, Krafts over Everett stadium deal » Boston Herald

Lawsuit targets Brookfield: resident claims discrimination, retaliation by town officials » Worcester Telegram

Going out ‘on a high note’: Longest-serving City Clerk LaBombard lauded for city work, rail trail » Gazette Net

State officials review development plans in Athol » Athol Daily News

Politics

Who is Josh Kraft, the nonprofit leader and son of the Patriots dynasty, challenging Michelle Wu for mayor? » Boston Globe

Analysis: Amid Trump & Elon’s War on Reality, Does Neal Have the Response Dems Need? » Western Mass. Politics & Insight

Massachusetts Senate president says state auditor is acting like President Trump » CBS News

Public Health

Editorial: Long Island isn’t the solution to the state’s addiction crisis » Boston Globe

Critical data on disease transmission, LGBTQ+ health vanishes from government websites » Boston Globe

Public Safety

Fitchburg, Sutton welcome new police chiefs » Worcester Telegram

Cruz: Victims’ voices deserve to be heard » Boston Herald

State Government

Editorial: State, local leaders must make cyber defenses top priority » Boston Herald

Mass. AG Campbell claims win after another federal judge puts brakes on Trump funding freeze » MassLive

Taxation

Healey Trying Again For Local Option Tax Hikes » State House News Service

These local leaders are lining up behind Gov. Healey’s tax plan. Here’s why » MassLive

Maura Healey wants to let Massachusetts cities, towns hike taxes on meals, hotel stays » Boston Herald

A sweet deal? Massachusetts moves to tax candy » Boston Globe

Transportation

South Coast Rail nearing final testing phase » The New Bedford Light

Safety improvements eyed for intersection where teen was fatally struck » Nemasket Week

Our View: Don't use speed cameras as money grab » The Sun Chronicle

Editorial: Safety in the skies needs to be top priority, ASAP » Boston Herald

Utilities

Canadian tariffs could have broad impact on New England energy costs. Here’s what that means. » Boston Globe

Bay State lawmakers react to Trump tariffs as electrical grid operator awaits guidance » Boston Herald

Editorial: Taking steps toward a more rational US energy policy » Boston Herald

The Week Ahead

Monday - 2/3

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

11:00am Black History Month Flag Raising, Beacon Street Well, Boston

Tuesday - 2/4

9:00am 7th Annual Brain Injury Education Day, Grand Staircase & Great Hall, State House, Boston

Wednesday - 2/5

12:00pm Black History Month Event, Great Hall, State House, Boston

11:00pm Go Red for Women, Grand Staircase, State House, Boston

Thursday - 2/6

Birthdays: Rep. Joseph McKenna

10:30am Mass NOW 2025 Advocacy Day, Via Zoom

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

11:00am House Session, Full Formal Session

Friday - 2/7

Birthdays: Rep. Alyson Sullivan-Almeida

12:00pm Department of Higher Education Public Hearing, Via Zoom

1:00pm "Ask the Governor" with Governor Maura Healey at UMass Boston, 89.7 FM or gbhnews.org

Press Releases

Senator Eldridge announces 44th Annual Senior Conference for Thursday April 24th » Office of Sen. Jamie Eldridge

Home Health Agencies, Laboratory, And Physician Indicted For MassHealth Fraud And Kickback Schemes Involving Over $7.8 Million In False Claims » Office of Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell

Governor Healey Unveils Exhibition Celebrating Women Veterans and Legacy of Former Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers » Office of Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll

Nashoba Valley Health Planning Working Group Submits Report Outlining Regional Health Care Needs, Services, Strategies » Mass. Executive Office of Health and Human Services

Governor Healey Nominates Robert Palumbo as Clerk Magistrate of the Barnstable County/Town of Plymouth Juvenile Court » Office of Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll

Healey-Driscoll Administration Releases Recommendations to Make Child Care More Affordable and Accessible » Mass. Department of Early Education and Care

AG Campbell Urges U.S. Supreme Court To Defend Medicaid Recipients' Freedom To Choose Their Providers » Office of Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell

AG Campbell Sues Trump Administration Over Unlawful Efforts To Dismantle Department Of Education » Office of Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $8.7 Million to Compliant MBTA Communities in Support of New Housing » Office of Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll

Vote Explainer - H.R. 1968 - Continuing Resolution (2025) » Office of Congressman Seth Moulton

Teaching Biodiversity, One Program at a Time » Mass. Audubon

Mass Cultural Council's 2024 Cultural Asset Inventory Reveals Key Insights » Mass Cultural Council

Chamber Supports Mayor’s Request for Prescription Benefit Management Report » Worcester Chamber of Commerce

Massachusetts families and businesses are struggling with some of the highest energy prices in the country—and state policies are making it worse. » MassFiscal Alliance

Ahead of Tax Filing Deadline, Governor Healey Promotes Savings for Families Under Expanded Child Tax Credit » Office of Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll

AG Campbell Secures Temporary Block Of Trump Administration's Unlawful Termination Of K-12 Teacher Preparation Grants » Office of Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell

Latest Seasonally Unadjusted Unemployment and Job Estimates for Local Labor Markets in Massachusetts for January 2025 » Mass. Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

Governor Healey Signs Executive Order to Ensure Safe, On Time, and On Budget Construction Projects » Office of Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll

Springfield School Creates Winning Attendance Video » Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Success of Higher Education Financial Aid Road Show » Mass. Department of Higher Education


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