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Today on Beacon Hill

7:00am El Mundo Boston Hispanic Heritage Breakfast, 50 Park Plaza, Boston

10:00am Joint Committee on Revenue, Committee Hearing

10:00am Executive Office of Health & Human Services Public Hearing, Via Zoom

11:00am MassHealth Public Hearing, Via Zoom

1:00pm Panel on Justice-Involved Women Meeting, Via Microsoft Teams

Must-Reads
MASSACHUSETTS

Lowell state Sen. Edward Kennedy has died, remembered as a ‘steadfast advocate’ for his city » MassLive

Does Ed Markey deserve re-election? Poll shows MA views on leaders, crime and vaccines » The Herald News

Local businesses, not just Big Tech, push back on data-privacy legislation » News From the States

Massachusetts gears up to protect access as FDA reviews abortion pill » Boston Globe

Suffolk Construction hits back at Global Partners ‘underhanded’ tactics in MassDOT service plaza contract dispute » Boston Herald

Among Massachusetts public schools, sobering results, incremental improvements » NEPM

Everything we know about the death of Enrique Delgado-Garcia, more than a year later » MassLive

Rebates, rent control and tax cuts. What a new poll tells us about Mass. voters’ mood in Trump 2.0 » MassLive

Republican to make Sunday Night Football ad debut in Massachusetts governor’s race » Washington Examiner

Boston Police Deployed 71 Drone Flights Over Caribbean Carnival » Binj

School schedules are breaking parents — and hurting kids » Boston Globe

NATIONAL

James O’Keefe, Of All People, Won’t Let Trump Skate on Epstein » The Bulwark

The Rise of MAGA Christian Identity » The Bulwark

Trump barrels toward uncharted legal territory with plans for layoffs during shutdown » The Hill

Duke Was Paring Back Diversity Programs. Trump Targeted It Anyway. » New York Times

TrumpRx Could Let Government Steal All Your Data, Legal Expert Warns » The New Republic

Trump charts path to total control amid government shutdown » Axios

The Jobs Report That Wasn’t Leaves Economists Guessing » New York Times

Day Three: How John Thune sees the shutdown » punchbowl

Better Skills and Better Jobs: A labor agenda for the working class » The Liberal Patriot

“Someone who says I’m against abortion but is in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life,” the pope explained. “Someone who says I’m against abortion but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro life ... So they are very complex issues and I don’t know if anyone has all the truth on them,” he continued, “but I would ask first and foremost that they would have respect for one another and that we search together both as human beings and in that case as American citizens ... as well as Catholics, to say that we need to be close to all of these ethical issues. And to find the way forward as a Church. The Church teaching on each one of those issues is very clear.”

Pope Leo XIV

The pope says true “pro-life” means opposing abortion, the death penalty, and mistreatment of immigrants. He highlights complexity and urges respect. This frames why honoring Sen. Durbin, who backs some life issues but not all, is controversial.

News By Category
Beltway Politics

Trump no longer distancing himself from Project 2025 as he uses shutdown to further pursue its goals » The Associated Press (AP)

Citing shutdown, U.S. seeks to pause some lawsuits challenging Trump actions » MassLive

Trump calls shutdown an ‘unprecedented opportunity,’ and eyes deep cuts » Boston Globe

Business

State tax data suggests Mass. restaurant revenue has beat pre-pandemic levels » Boston Business Journal

Fired Market Basket CEO Arthur T. Demoulas is fighting for his job back — in court » WBUR

Here's how the federal shutdown will affect Mass. business sectors » Boston Business Journal

South Shore real estate broker charged with diverting $11.6 million from clients, colleagues to finance ‘luxury lifestyle’ » Boston Globe

Massachusetts backs AI-powered biotech startups with BioHub program » Cambridge Day

Cannabis & Psychedelics

O'Brien chairs her first CCC meeting since reinstatement » NEPM

Civil Rights

Elon Musk digs in on ‘Cancel Netflix’ crusade » The Hill

Democracy

In Mass., four people were charged with assaulting ICE agents. Federal officials warn more arrests could come. » Boston Globe

Education

Charter bills spark debate over funding, school choice » WWLP 22

Editorial: Programs to help low-income kids attend college hit by Trump cuts » Boston Globe

Trump asks 9 colleges to commit to his political agenda and get favorable access to federal money » The Associated Press

Brown, MIT, Dartmouth, and other elite colleges face fresh demands from Trump administration with new compact » Boston Globe

10.3.25 » Boston Focus

MTA pushes for approval of research funding bill » The Eagle Tribune

Layoffs at Berklee College of Music; 70 staff members let go in face of budget crunch » Boston Globe

The balloon that could: NASA secures special exemption to launch UMass Lowell-built telescope after government shutdown » Boston Globe

‘Devastating’: Trump admin abruptly ends college prep program for vets » MassLive

This WMass school cut absenteeism, boosted scores and earned state honor » MassLive

Springfield Technical Community College president to step down » MassLive

Federal judge delays Harvard funding case due to government shutdown » MassLive

Trump admin asks MIT, other universities to sign a ‘compact’ for a funding edge » MassLive

Trump administration wants MIT, other colleges to sign ‘compact’ for preferential funding terms » WGBH

Environment

Shovels in the sand: New chapter begins for Sandy Neck Beach Park in West Barnstable » Cape Cod Times

State recommends continuation of fossil fuel-free pilot project » State House News Service

Makepeace defends ‘distasteful’ posts about environmental activist » Plymouth Independent

New Tactic Could Be a Big Help in Tracking Right Whales » Vineyard Gazette

$5.1M awarded to Cape Cod organizations focus on ocean technology innovation » Cape Cod Times

Health Care

Provincetown to Have Methadone Clinic Starting Nov. 1 » The Provincetown Independent

Lessons from the collapse of Steward Health Care » Brookings

Will TrumpRx save me money on drugs or not? » Vox Media

Advocates continue push for bill allowing pharmacists to dispense insulin in emergencies » Worcester Business Journal

Housing

Assembly Seeks County-Wide Transfer Fee » The Provincetown Independent

Editorial: Data show jury’s still out on ADU housing option » Sentinel & Enterprise

Filling the gap: Advocates call for more ‘missing middle’ housing » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Could a fee on high-end real estate sales on Cape Cod help housing crisis? Some say yes. » Cape Cod Times

It's been vacant nearly 40 years, but developer plans to transform this Worcester building » Worcester Telegram

Exploration of social housing given a step forward by Cambridge councillors amid affordability crisis » Cambridge Day

Immigration

Federal government shutdown not slowing down ICE Boston in Massachusetts » Boston Herald

Judiciary

Worcester Legal Aid lawyer backed for Probate and Family Court judgeship » Worcester Telegram

Labor

Suffolk County leads Massachusetts wage growth, other counties show mixed results » Boston Business Journal

Legislative

Sen. Edward Kennedy of Lowell dies, at 74 » State House News Service

Sangiolo, Schwartz weigh on on legislature audit fight » The Newton Beacon

Ed Kennedy, state senator from Lowell, dies at 74 » Boston Globe

Local Government

Orange improperly established five-member Selectboard, town counsel says » Greenfield Recorder

Editorial: What’ll it be Boston? Help addicts or a soccer team? » Boston Herald

Three key issues on the agenda for fall Special Town Meeting » Nemasket Week

Boston city councilor challenges Mayor Wu to divert White Stadium funds to recovery campus amid Mass and Cass crisis » Boston Herald

Hadley crunches numbers in wake of failed override » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Mayor Peter Marchetti asks Pittsfield businesses for surveillance video to help address downtown complaints » The Berkshire Eagle

Politics

Rebates, rent control and tax cuts. What a new poll tells us about Mass. voters’ mood in Trump 2.0 » MassLive

Opinion: Homeschooling, anti-vax, homeopathy: My left-wing childhood is back, on the right » Boston Globe

Weiss Wrecking Ball; CBS News Layoffs; Dealbook’s New Editor » Breaker

NH: Lewandowski weighs bid against Gov. Ayotte amid White House pressure campaign » Politico

Gov. Maura Healey criticizes Republicans for not providing ‘serious’ end to shutdown » Boston Herald

Sign of things to come? Mass. Rep. Moulton leads Sen. Ed Markey in new poll » MassLive

Cell phones and voke ed. are key topics in debate of School Committee district candidates » Worcester Telegram

Shortsleeve: Bristol County Critical in Massachusetts Governor’s Race » WBSM

Poll Suggests Ed Markey Is Vulnerable, Maura Healey Has Modest Lead, and Most Massachusetts Voters Want Lower Taxes » New Boston Post

Public Health

Jamica Plain Campus Named in Honor of Esteened Public Health Leader » Hoodline

Western Mass leaders praise public health overhaul » Greenfield Recorder

Murphy: Boston needs recovery, not safe injection sites » Boston Herald

Public Safety

Firefighting runs deep for Granby’s new chief » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Belsito: Battery guidance lacks juice to deal with Mass. projects » Boston Herald

Drones responding to 911 calls? Worcester City Council discussing the possibility » Worcester Telegram

Methuen declares ‘war’ on human trafficking, urges others to do the same » Boston Herald

Reproductive Rights

F.D.A. Approves Generic Abortion Pill as Opponents Push Trump for New Restrictions » New York Times

State Finance

Breaking News: Indicted Suffolk County sheriff burned through tens of thousands in taxpayer cash on everything from pricey restaurants to bras » Contrarian Boston

State Government

Massachusetts Governor Healey condemns Trump for $7.5 billion in “vindictive funding cuts” » Fall River Reporter

Massachusetts A.G. monitoring effects of latest federal government shutdown » Cape Cod Online

Connection between street list, voter registration questioned » State House News Service

Transportation

Inside the MBTA's aging signal system as it gets a $295 million upgrade » WBUR

Threat to MBTA is part of Trump administration’s tactics against Wu » Boston Globe

Suffolk urges Healey to reject new bidder for Mass. service plaza contract » WCVB

Goodbye, ugly white flexposts. Hello, Zebra barriers. » Axios

Howie Carr: Plaza-gate ripe for federal probe of MassDOT » Boston Herald

Suffolk Construction urges Healey administration not to pick Global for service plaza redo » Boston Globe

Utilities

Healey administration steps up effort to spur more nuclear power in state » Boston Globe

The Week In Review

Most read bills of the week:

House Actions This Week: 378

Senate Actions This Week: 115

Press Releases

$11M for New Housing in Hyannis » MassDevelopment

$300K Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Grant Fuels Initiative to Grow Cyber Resilience and Specialized Workforce Throughout the Region » UMass Lowell

Cindy Fitzgibbon, Ro Dooley Webster to be inducted into the prestigious Silver Circle by NATAS » WCVB

Healey-Driscoll Administration Invests Over $5.5 Million to Strengthen Public Safety Across Massachusetts » Mass. Office of Grants and Research

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $1.1 Million to Protect Coastal Water Quality and Restore Habitat » Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM)

Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches $2.5 Million Employer Child Care Innovation Fund » Mass. Executive Office of Education

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $7.5 Million in Grants for Trail Improvements Across the State » Mass. Department of Conservation & Recreation

Governor Healey Issues Statement on Two-Year Anniversary of October 7th Attack » Office of Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll

AG’s Office Secures Court Order Preventing Two Waste Management Companies from Dumping Solid Waste into Blackstone Wetlands » Office of Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell

Office of Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll » Federal Funding Dashboard Update Shows Trump’s Billions of Dollars in Cuts to Massachusetts

Department of Public Health’s Tewksbury Hospital and Tewksbury Police Department Strengthen Partnership to Enhance Safety and Security » Mass. Executive Office of Health and Human Services

State Fire Marshal, Fire Chiefs Make Statewide Push on Expired Smoke Alarms » Mass. Department of Fire Services

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $7.4 Million to Train and Place Over 1,100 Workers in Industries Statewide » Mass. Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $2.6 Million to Protect Massachusetts Nonprofits from Extremist Violence » Mass. Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

Healey-Driscoll Administration Declares October “Massachusetts Cranberry Month” » Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources

Governor Healey Supports Blue Star Family License Plate Legislation » Massachusetts State Police

Cynobacteria Bloom in Charles River Expands » Charles River Watershed Association


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