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Today on Beacon Hill

8:00am Solutions to Massachusetts' Healthcare Workforce Challenges hosted by State House News Service, UMass Club, 1 Beacon Street, 32nd Floor, Boston

9:00am Providers’ Council 50th Annual Convention & Expo, Marriott Copley Place, 110 Huntington Avenue, Boston

9:30am Mass. Rivers Alliance Lobby Day, Room 437, State House, Boston

10:00am 2025 Massachusetts Cybersecurity Forum, Grand Staircase & Great Hall, State House, Boston

10:00am 9th Annual Mass. Cybersecurity Forum hosted by MassCyberCenter, State House, Boston

10:00am Energy Efficiency Advisory Council Equity Working Group, Via Zoom

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Joint Committee on Public Service, Committee Hearing

1:00pm Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, Committee Hearing

5:30pm Governor's Council Assembly, Old Superior Courthouse, 15 Gothic Street, Northampton

Must-Reads
MASSACHUSETTS

Inside the Republican Party, New England is where MAGA goes to die » Boston Globe

Massachusetts economy to face sluggish growth, experts say » Boston Herald

Massachusetts economy to face sluggish growth, experts say » Boston Herald

Markey, Mass. pols demand answers after Trump admin kills $466M in energy funding for the Bay State » MassLive

Massachusetts sues Trump admin. over $6.9M homeland security funding cuts » Axios

First civics MCAS finds most Grade 8 students not meeting expectations » Boston Globe

Bill to lower barriers to voting faces tough questions on Beacon Hill » The Sun Chronicle

Massachusetts sues Trump admin. over $6.9M homeland security funding cuts » Axios

Mass. mental health czar steps down after tumultuous year » Boston Business Journal

Why Mass. business owners are still feeling pessimistic, despite good 'fundamentals' » WBUR

‘I feel like a kid again.’ With Trump’s election, Boston-area seniors return to protest. » Boston Globe

NATIONAL

Supreme Court Rejects Appeal From Ghislaine Maxwell » New York Times

The Supreme Court Is Creating a King » The New Republic

It's Time for the States to Start Investigating Trump » The Bulwark

‘Bow to the Emperor’: We Asked 50 Legal Experts About the Trump Presidency » New York Times

How Chief Justice John Roberts Rewrote the Constitution and Helped Trump Return to Power » Zeteo

Week Two: Can Democrats stay united? » punchbowl

Exclusive: AI could erase 100 million U.S. jobs, Senate Dem report finds » Axios

Judge blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment in Portland for second time » Politico

Democrats Still Have No Idea What Went Wrong » The Atlantic

Voting is underway in California on new maps that could swing US House control, check Trump’s power » Boston Globe

Trump Canceled 94 Million Pounds of Food Aid. Here’s What Never Arrived. » ProPublica

"If public schools are to remain shared civic institutions, liberals must absorb a lesson: Inclusion cannot mean coercion, and pluralism—when practiced seriously—is not a dodge but a democratic ethic."

The Atlantic's Ross Weiner

Wiener references the Mahmoud v. Taylor case, where Muslim parents sought to opt their children out of LGBTQ+ curriculum. He uses it to argue that genuine liberalism requires accommodating such religious objections without coercion.

News By Category
Beltway Politics

Editorial: Comey case will rise or fall on the evidence » Boston Herald

Barabak: Did Kamala Harris just destroy her 2028 chances? » Boston Herald

Business

Gaskin: How riots and crime upended Black business districts » Boston Herald

Neiweem: Conservatives shouldn’t oppose data centers » Boston Herald

Over 400 Mass. neighborhoods could become new Opportunity Zones » Boston Business Journal

DCU Center in Worcester in line for name change with credit union merger » Worcester Telegram

Millard: Plastics biz surge boosts economy: report » Boston Herald

‘The bigger picture is grim’: Yes, Mass. snagged Hasbro, but can it compete with North Carolina? » Boston Globe

Why five feet of building space can doom construction » Boston Globe

Bay State business confidence comes in pessimistic for 7th straight month » Boston Herald

Mass. business leaders are getting more pessimistic on the economy » Boston Business Journal

Civil Rights

New chair of Boston’s Black Men and Boys Commission vows to ‘create more giants’ » MassLive

Crimes

Boston police cruiser burns during South End incident; 2 arrested » WCVB

Democracy

Boom time for US billionaires: why the system perpetuates wealth inequality » The Guardian

Is California’s secession from the US no longer unthinkable? » Boston Globe

Education

Cuts to public higher ed stipends break state promise, send horrible message » Commonwealth Beacon

Trump makes MIT an offer, one many on campus hope the school can refuse » Boston Globe

Hingham School Committee Approves 10 Electric School Buses, Saving District $200,000 in First Year » South Shore News

Harvard professor suspended after allegedly firing pellet gun near Brookline synagogue » Boston Herald

Pols & Politics: John Nucci’s ‘gift of life’ and an ass-kicking comment » Boston Herald

Editorial: MCAS results show state’s achievement efforts remain adrift » Boston Herald

‘You don’t always have to win’: John Nucci gets quite a retirement sendoff at Suffolk University » Boston Globe

Pellet Gun Incident Involving HLS Prof. Apparently Not Motivated by Antisemitism, Brookline Synagogue Leaders Say » The Harvard Crimson

Eileen Brown, founding president of Cambridge College, dies at 87 » Boston Globe

Mass. women’s college makes historic free tuition offer for families making up to $150K » MassLive

Environment

Large parts of New England are facing water restrictions amid rare drought conditions » NPR

EPA staffers describe 'confusion and uncertainty' in shutdown » WGBH

New FEMA flood maps prompt questions, concerns across Massachusetts » Commonwealth Magazine

Housing

RI: What could rent control look like in Providence? Portland, Maine, offers clues. » Boston Globe

Survey says Wu should do more to bring down Boston’s sky-high rents » Boston Globe

Despite housing shortage, Berkshires slow to embrace ADUs — here’s why » The Berkshire Eagle

WMass housing advocates collecting signatures for rent control ballot item » MassLive

Human Services

Lifting up girls, communities: Girls Inc. celebrates 110 years Oct. 4 with Anniversary Kickoff & Alumni Reunion » Worcester Telegram

Worcester nonprofit shut down after feds pull funding over its mention of DEI training » Worcester Telegram

Immigration

Illegal Immigrants Are Already Getting Health Care Under Donald Trump » The Bulwark

Massachusetts judge says sanctuary city funding claims are ‘speculative,’ sides with Trump » Boston Herald

Worcester Council says no to potential partnership between ICE, police department » MassLive

Judiciary

DOJ drops plans to block $1.4B in crime victim funds » Gloucester Times

Labor

CA: Newsom signs bill giving 800,000 Uber and Lyft drivers in California the right to unionize » The Associated Press

Legislative

Beacon Hill Roll Call: Revenue Committee considerations of several bills » Lowell Sun

Rep. Saunders reflects on trip to Israel » The Greenfield Recorder

Local Government

Holyoke Mayor Garcia receives Mayor of the Year award for renewable energy advancements » WWLP 22

Is the fight over the Quincy mayor's salary over? » Patriot Ledger

Meet candidates vying to be Brockton's next mayor in Nov. 4 election » The Enterprise

'This means everything': Italian heritage takes center stage in Worcester as parade enlivens Shrewsbury Street » Worcester Telegram

Politics

Durkan talks about Mass. and Cass clash, support for Wu » NBC Boston

The $1M club. Cash piles up in 2026 GOP campaign for Mass. governor » MassLive

AZ: Rating change: Arizona’s open 1st District shifts to Toss-up » Roll Call

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

McGovern, audience sound off on Trump cuts, Kirk at town hall meeting Friday at Clark U. » Worcester Telegram

Boston-area groups protest, mourn ahead of two year anniversary of Oct. 7 » Boston Globe

What’s the answer to political polarization on college campuses? Harvard researchers say trivia. » Boston Globe

The $1M club. Cash piles up in 2026 GOP campaign for Mass. governor » MassLive

Public Health

South End, Lower Roxbury residents plan to launch ‘Mass & Cass PAC’ with questionnaire focused on safety, drug use » Boston Herald

Like polio, the ‘iron lung’ grew obsolete after vaccines. Will it stay that way? » Boston Globe

Mass. mental health czar steps down after tumultuous year » Boston Business Journal

Public Safety

"Not welcome here": Boston leaders blast crowd that torched police cruiser » Axios

Taxation

September haul leaves tax collections up 3.2% after Q1 » State House News Service

'Absolution' and other films received millions in state aid last year » WBUR

Transportation

Boston woman’s attack on elder passenger not indicative of MBTA safety, GM says to Trump admin » Boston Herald

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

Utilities

Home-heating gas bills are set to hit peak-season rates. How expensive will it be? » Boston Globe

The Week Ahead

Monday - 10/6

8:00am Solutions to Massachusetts' Healthcare Workforce Challenges hosted by State House News Service, UMass Club, 1 Beacon Street, 32nd Floor, Boston

9:00am Providers’ Council 50th Annual Convention & Expo, Marriott Copley Place, 110 Huntington Avenue, Boston

9:30am Mass. Rivers Alliance Lobby Day, Room 437, State House, Boston

10:00am 2025 Massachusetts Cybersecurity Forum, Grand Staircase & Great Hall, State House, Boston

10:00am 9th Annual Mass. Cybersecurity Forum hosted by MassCyberCenter, State House, Boston

10:00am Energy Efficiency Advisory Council Equity Working Group, Via Zoom

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Joint Committee on Public Service, Committee Hearing

1:00pm Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, Committee Hearing

5:30pm Governor's Council Assembly, Old Superior Courthouse, 15 Gothic Street, Northampton

Tuesday - 10/7

7:30am Mass. High Tech Council 2025 Annual Meeting, Boston Marriott Burlington, One Burlington Mall Road, Burlington

10:00am ANF & Division of Banks Joint Public Hearing, One Federal Street, 6th Floor, Gold Room, Boston and via webcast

10:00am MASSInc Building Authority Briefing, Gardner Auditorium, State House, Boston

10:00am Special Commission on Extremely Low-Income Housing Meeting, One Ashburton Place, 21st Floor, Conference Room 3, Boston, and via Zoom

10:30am Joint Committee on Financial Services, Committee Hearing

10:30am Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund Advisory Committee Meeting, Via Zoom

11:00am Joint Committee on Transportation, Committee Hearing

12:00pm Mass. Commission for the Blind Statutory Advisory Board Meeting, Via Zoom

1:00pm Joint Committee on Environment & Natural Resources, Committee Hearing

1:00pm Joint Committee on Revenue, Commitee Hearing

1:00pm 2025 Massachusetts Book Awards Ceremony, Great Hall, State House, Boston

Wednesday - 10/8

9:00am Public Health Council Meeting, Department of Public Health, 250 Washington St. 2nd Floor, Henry I. Bowditch Public Health Council Room, Boston

9:30am Board of Building Regulations and Standards' Fire Prevention and Fire Protection Advisory Committee Meeting, Via Microsoft Teams

10:00am Joint Committee on Labor & Workforce Development, Committee Hearing

10:00am 36th Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial Service, Ashburton Park, State House, Boston

10:00am Mass. Coalition for the Homeless Legislative Briefing, Room 222, State House, Boston

10:30am Joint Committee on Financial Services, Committee Hearing

11:00am House Session, Full Formal Session

11:00am Governor's Council Assembly, Governor's Council Chamber, Room 360, State House, Boston

11:00am Funeral Mass for Sen. Ed Kennedy, Immaculate Conception Church, 144 East Merrimack Street, Lowell

11:00am Maternal Health Access and Birthing Patient Safety Task Force Meeting, Via YouTube

1:00pm Joint Committee on State Administration & Regulatory Oversight, Committee Hearing

1:00pm Joint Committee on Public Service, Committee Hearing

2:00pm Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month Celebration, Grand Staircase, State House, Boston

5:00pm Protect Our Care Town Hall: Merrimack Valley, Lawrence Public Library, 51 Lawrence Street, Lawrence

6:00pm SAPHE 2.0 Virtual Public Hearing, Via Zoom

Thursday - 10/9

8:30am Mass. Health and Hospital Association Communications Summit, MHA Conference Center, 500 District Avenue, Burlington

8:30am Mass. Select Board Association Fall Conference: Fiscal Summit, Cyprian Keyes Golf Club, 284 E. Temple Street, Boylston

9:00am Health Connector Authority Board Meeting, Via YouTube

9:00am Massachusetts Under Pressure – Aligning Cost-Containment with Workforce Well-Being hosted by AIM, OneDigital, 250 Royall Street, Suite 320W, Canton

10:00am Cannabis Control Commission Public Meeting, Via Microsoft Teams

10:00am Public Health Effects of Xylazine, Virtual Only

10:00am Office of Campaign and Political Finance Public Hearing, sarah.hartry@mass.gov, or by mail to: Sarah Hartry, General Counsel, OCPF, Room 411 , One Ashburton Place, Boston and via webcast

10:00am MASSPIRG Legislative Briefing on PFAS, Room 428, State House, Boston

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

11:30am Constitutional Convention, Constitutional Convention

1:00pm Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business, Committee Hearing

1:00pm Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, Committee Hearing

2:30pm Women Who Lead in Life Sciences hosted by the Boston Business Journal, The Ritz-Carlton, 10 Avery Street, Boston

4:00pm Mass. Vaccine Purchasing Advisory Council Meeting, Mass. Medical Society, 860 Winter Street, Waltham

5:00pm Young Professionals Community Networking Night hosted by AIM, Sam Adams Downtown Boston Taproom, Faneuil Hall, 60 State Street, Boston

5:30pm Protect Our Care Town Hall: Worcester, 242 Mill Street, Worcester

6:00pm 2025 Annual Dinner & Peters Lecture hosted by the Pioneer Institute, Location TBA

6:30pm Protect Our Care Town Hall: Metro North, St. James' Episcopal Church, 1991 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge

7:00pm Eliminating CSOs in The Charles: What Are Our Options? hosted by the Charles River Watershed Association, Via Zoom

Friday - 10/10

10:00am Korea Day, Great Hall, State House, Boston

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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