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Must-Reads
MASSACHUSETTS

Tax relief, rent control, Beacon Hill transparency: 2026 ballot Qs clear a key hurdle » MassLive

Trump’s war on offshore wind: Tracking the actions and impacts » The New Bedford Light

Appeal could prolong fight for control of state cannabis commission » Boston Globe

As national consensus on vaccines unravels, Mass. and other states chart disparate paths » Boston Globe

Josh Kraft parts ways with top advisers, in major shakeup to campaign staff » Boston Globe

As cannabis commission saga takes another twist, industry insiders long for closure » WGBH

'It Makes No Sense': Healey Urges Trump to Stop Wind Attacks » Bloomberg

Many private attorneys in Mass. are still refusing new defense cases as they consider unionizing » WGBH

Nursing homes in Mass. are being rapidly bought and sold in deals that prioritize quick profit over long-term success » Boston Globe

As a federal judge rules in Harvard’s favor, the campus community is warily optimistic » MassLive

Long-shot candidate outshines Michelle Wu, Josh Kraft in Boston mayoral forum » Boston Herald

NATIONAL

John E. Sununu reportedly considering another bid for US Senate in New Hampshire » Boston Globe

The group behind Project 2025 wants a ‘Manhattan Project’ for more babies » Washington Post

Florida Says It Plans to End All Vaccine Mandates » New York Times

House GOP weighing bills to remove elected D.C. AG, overhaul justice policies » Washington Post

The 25 House districts that shifted the most from 2022 to 2024 » Roll Call

The Saddest Little Dictator » The Bulwark

Judge Spells Out the Danger of Trump’s Lawlessness » The Bulwark

MAGA escalates U.S.–India tensions into cultural clash » Axios

Republicans’ Obamacare mess » punchbowl

John Deere, a U.S. Icon, Is Undermined by Tariffs and Struggling Farmers » New York Times

THE OTHER 49

Washington, Oregon and California governors form alliance in rebuke of Trump administration » The Associated Press

FL: STUDIES IN STUPIDITY: Florida to ban vaccine mandates, here comes the Panhandle Pokey, and what insurrection? » Tropic Press

"Democrats have managed to take control of crime narratives before. Bill Clinton seized on the issue when he ran for president in 1992, which led to the passage of the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act. That legislation had sweeping implications: While it authorized new spending for police officers, approved the assault weapons ban and expanded the federal death penalty, it was also blamed for increasing mass incarceration in the United States. How much Democrats shifted on crime was evident when Hillary Clinton ran for president in 2016 and her support of the 1994 crime bill was one of the biggest criticisms of her from the left, leading to several protests at her events. Almost a decade later, Democrats are still looking for the right message. But it seems top Democrats hope to balance the party’s tough-on-crime image of the ’90s with a more nuanced approach over three decades later."

Washington Post's Matthew Choi & Dan Merica

Democrats’ struggle to balance crime messaging: once tough-on-crime in the ’90s, later criticized for mass incarceration, and now seeking a more nuanced stance.

News By Category
Beltway Politics

Editorial: Sorry, DC pols — your stock trading bucks stop here » Boston Herald

Congress returns to the Capitol — and the unrest and discord it left over the summer » Boston Globe

What to watch for as RFK Jr. faces scrutiny at Senate hearing » Boston Globe

Business

He booked a U-Haul to help his daughter with college move-in. He ended up waiting near Mass. and Cass. » Boston Globe

These are the AI companies Boston's tech insiders are watching » Boston Business Journal

At a Wilmington startup backed by Nvidia, 3D printing gets a burst of speed » Boston Globe

Developer seeks wetlands leeway for South Amherst project » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Cannabis & Psychedelics

Opinion: Shannon O’Brien deserves her job back as cannabis chair » Boston Globe

Cannabis agency reaches $305K settlement with former communications chief, as total spent on employee disputes reaches $1.5M » Worcester Business Journal

O'Brien's return to CCC will spark turmoil, confusion, state treasurer claims » State House News Service

Democracy

Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft makes changes to campaign team » NBC Boston

Record number of measures remain in play for 2026 ballot » State House News Service

Education

Westfield, Gateway Regional awarded state preschool grants » The Reminder

Judge orders Trump administration to unfreeze nearly $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard » NBC News

Judge reverses Harvard funding cuts by Trump administration » Boston Business Journal

Strike by Mount Holyoke College staff comes to quick end » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Shelter-in-place order issued at UMass Lowell after report of man carrying weapon » MassLive

Health insurance, food aid cuts could trigger less school aid » State House News Service

Recent graduates weigh in on what high schools should offer » State House News Service

A Phoenix rises: Holyoke unveils new Peck School » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Federal judge rules that Trump administration unlawfully cut nearly $3 billion of Harvard’s research funding » Boston Globe

Judge reverses Trump administration's cuts of billions of dollars to Harvard University » WBUR

Birge to step down as MCLA president next spring, closing out 10-year run » WAMC

Tufts to open new ‘Center for Expanding Viewpoints’ » Boston Globe

Amherst couple commits $4M to strengthen UMass research » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Recent graduates were asked what high schools should offer in the post-MCAS era. Here's what they said » Berk

Healey announces launch of free early literacy tutoring » Lowell Sun

Federal

Gov. Healey: No reason for Trump to federalize Mass. National Guard » MassLive

Trump asks Supreme Court to quickly take up tariffs case and reverse ruling finding them illegal » The Associated Press (AP)

Gaming

Editorial: Panel’s oversight of legalized gaming gets reality check » Lowell Sun

Health Care

Feds laud health centers with for quality improvements » Daily Hampshire Gazette

State Adds Mental Health Providers for Children Covered by MassHealth in Haverhill Area » WHAV

Lawsuit: Gabriel House resident with one leg carried naked from building in deadly fire » The Herald News

Housing

Massachusetts rent control ballot proposal clears first hurdle » Axios

Human Services

Stone Soup Cafe, United Way named members of anti-hunger task force » Greenfield Recorder

Immigration

How Chicago and Boston officials are readying for Trump’s promise of more immigration raids » NBC News

Gov. Healey questions border czar Homan’s ‘fixation’ on Massachusetts » The Huffington Post

Trump’s War on Latino Art » The Bulwark

Labor

Many private attorneys in Mass. are still refusing new defense cases as they consider unionizing » WGBH

Labor activists take to the streets » Bay State Banner

Moore: Trump’s retirement plan a boon for everyone » Boston Herald

Local Government

Former U.S. Attorney Rollins weighs in with White Stadium opponents » WBUR

Plainfield special TM to consider van for FD, money to Rec Department » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Framingham MA city councilor announces 'temporary hiatus.' What it means » Milford Daily News

Politics

Former U.S. Attorney Rollins weighs in with White Stadium opponents » WBUR

Boston mayoral candidates fight for votes at church forum » WBUR

Recap: Wu, Kraft talk ICE, rats and rent at Boston mayoral forum » NBC Boston

In ‘record-breaking’ year, Mass. attorney general approves 44 ballot proposals, including one restoring rent control » Boston Globe

Locals urge Moulton to support the end of US arms to Israel » Salem News

Boston City Council candidate faces complaints after first days of early voting in crowded District 7 race » Boston Globe

Battenfeld: Battle over Everett soccer stadium the perfect setup for Michelle Wu » Boston Herald

Josh Kraft parts ways with top advisors to his Boston mayoral campaign ahead of preliminary election » Boston Herald

NY: Trump Advisers Have Discussed a Job for Adams if He Quits Mayor's Race » New York Times

Massachusetts voters could decide a record number of ballot questions in 2026 » WGBH

Advocates revive push for same-day voter registration, other election reforms » WGBH

Public Health

Healey counters FDA, makes COVID boosters widely available in Mass. » Boston Globe

Northeastern states consider regional approach to vaccine guidance after CDC changes » NBC Boston

States form vaccine policy coalitions amid federal policy shifts » WCVB

5 ways Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is dismantling public health as we know it » Boston Globe

Healey fast-tracks COVID-19 booster: Here's what it means for Massachusetts » Worcester Telegram

Against FDA restrictions, Healey issues order making COVID boosters more accessible in Mass. » Boston.com

Why more people on Martha's Vineyard are turning vegan. Hint: Not because they're 'woke' » Cape Cod Times

Opinion: How to respond to Kennedy’s purge at the CDC » Boston Globe

Exclusive: RFK Jr. and the White House buried a major study on alcohol and cancer. Here’s what it shows. » Vox Media

Public Safety

BPD officers that share unauthorized info with ICE will be disciplined, Wu says » Boston.com

At Suffolk sheriff’s office, employees say a troubled history is repeating itself » Boston Globe

Boston City Council to hold public hearing Thursday over Mass. and Cass safety issues » Boston Globe

Wu administration planning police crackdown at Boston’s Mass and Cass amid crime surge » Boston Herald

Editorial: Swarming dirt bike riders are a nuisance. There, we said it. » Boston Globe

State Government

Gov. Healey: No reason for Trump to federalize Mass. National Guard » MassLive

Lucas: Cracker Barrel redesign fiasco a lesson for Mass. » Boston Herald

Taxation

Crown Royal dethroned in Canada as whisky company shifts some operations to US » The Guardian

Transportation

Want to see state's Cape Cod bridges plans so far? Draft report goes public Sept. 10. » Cape Cod Times

Young driver deaths on pace to reach 10-year high in Mass. » WGBH

Utilities

Trump administration to reconsider permit for SouthCoast Wind project off Nantucket » NBC Boston

Healey backs natural gas transmission project » State House News Service

Gas pipeline owner Enbridge launches $300 million expansion in Mass. and R.I. » Boston Globe

Projects blocked. Work stopped. Funds canceled. What’s left of offshore wind? » Boston Globe


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