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Today on Beacon Hill

8:00am Transit NEXT: Challenges for the Mass. Transportation System in an Age of Diminishing Resources, MCLE, 10 Winter Place, Boston

9:30am Seasonal Communities Advisory Council Meeting, Via Zoom

10:30am Governor's Council Assembly, Governor's Council Chamber, Room 360, State House, Boston

11:00am Joint Committee on Housing, Committee Hearing

11:00am Senate Session, Full Formal Session

11:00am House Session, Full Formal Session

11:00am MassHire Awards and Celebration, Great Hall, State House, Boston

6:00pm Virtual Public Lecture with UMass Boston Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy Distinguished Public Service Fellow Jane C. Edmonds, J.D., Via Zoom

7:00pm MA Fights Back: Strengthening Our Democracy: What It Takes, Via Zoom

Last day for 2025 formal sessions

Must-Reads
MASSACHUSETTS

Health care workplace violence bill finding traction » Commonwealth Magazine

Mass. public school staff averaging 12 absences every year, state says » Worcester Telegram

South Boston developer, state senator’s brother, faces pile of lawsuits over stalled Dorchester Ave. project » Boston Globe

Long a coveted voice, Larry Summers withdraws from a half-dozen groups amid Epstein ties. Harvard’s not among them. » Boston Globe

State GOP candidates at odds over ICE car wash raid » Boston Globe

Healey facing renewed criticism in wake of Javonte Robinson arrest » Boston Herald

Opinion: After former aide’s arrest, Gov. Healey should elevate WMass office’s profile » MassLive

DiZoglio May Have a New Strategy to Force Massachusetts Audit » WBSM

Internet pitched as next frontier in gaming expansion » Lowell Sun

Harvard Is Said to Open New Inquiry Into Faculty Ties to Epstein » New York Times

Massachusetts Bid for Strictest Rent Control in U.S. Moves Forward » Bloomberg

Boston’s police oversight board sees ‘widespread refusal’ by officers to cooperate » MassLive

NATIONAL

How redistricting backfired on the GOP » punchbowl

The Populist Insurgency Against Political Parties Everywhere » The Atlantic

Trump administration launches plan to dismantle Education Department » Politico

Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results » THe Associated Press (AP)

The first signs the Trump-era of American politics is ending » Boston Globe

In Matt Gaetz Scandal, Circumstances Left Teen Vulnerable to Exploitation » New York Times

Boebert yells at Republicans on House floor after censure of Democrat fails » The Hill

In Major Rebuke to Trump, House Passes Epstein Files Resolution » The Bulwark

How Trump and Nvidia’s C.E.O. Became Partners on the International Stage » New York Times

Scoop: U.S. secretly drafting new plan to end Ukraine war » Axios

Trump Lauds Saudi Prince in Lavish Visit, Brushing Off Journalist’s Killing » New York Times

THE OTHER 49

FL: 'Anti-woke' makeover of New College of Florida has been very expensive » Washington Post

TX: “Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn’t Get an Abortion in Texas. » ProPublica

"Donald is a lifelong, hardcore misogynist, so he doesn't really like it when women ask him difficult questions. Now obviously that was wildly inappropriate and despicable, but it's also par for the course. I'd say that the only pig in that scenario is Donald. But actual pigs are intelligent and affectionate creatures, while Donald is just a vile, corrupt criminal who, also, unlike pigs, has absolutely nothing of value to contribute to the world."

Donald Trump's neice, Mary Trump

Donald Trump's neice, Mary Trump, in response to the President referring to a woman reporter as "Piggy."

News By Category
Beltway Politics

Opinion: Epstein, RFK Jr., and journalism’s week of shame » Boston Globe

Urged on by survivors, Congress ordered the release of the Epstein files. But a potential hurdle remains. » Boston Globe

Note to Democrats: Marjorie Taylor Greene is not your friend » Boston Globe

Business

Massachusetts contractor who scammed homeowners out of $500,000 was sentenced to prison » Boston Herald

‘Still not satisfied’: How the cycle of social media fuels middle-class discontent » Boston Globe

South Boston developer, state senator’s brother, faces pile of lawsuits over stalled Dorchester Avenue project » Boston Globe

Apartheid-Free pledge prompts name change at former Atlas Farm Store » Daily Hampshrie Gazette

Adobe to acquire Boston-based Semrush for $1.9 billion in all-cash deal » Boston Business Journal

Boston restaurant wins city's first-ever Michelin star; other local eateries honored » Boston Business Journal

The cost of living in Massachusetts is hard to manage. Here are some reader tips on how to make it easier. » Boston Globe

Zapata AI returns from shutdown as Zapata Quantum with debt restructure and new funding » Boston Business Journal

Peterson Oil customers poised to receive $14 million in biofuel settlement » Boston Globe

Cannabis & Psychedelics

Member of state’s Cannabis Control Commission resigns » Boston Globe

Cannabis commission member resigns » Boston Business Journal

Group seeks to end adult-use marijuana, preserve medical usage in Massachusetts » Athol Daily News

Civil Rights

Amherst LGBTQIA+ Caucus urges safeguards before reinstatement of dismissed counselor » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Crimes

Legislature revisits bills to criminalize sexual misconduct by school staff » The New Bedford Light

Education

Would you hire an electrician from Harvard Vocational School? » Boston Globe

In a way no one would have predicted, justice comes for Larry Summers » Boston Globe

Jeffrey Epstein helped broker a major gift for Larry Summers’ wife. She said it ‘changed everything’ for her at Harvard. » Boston Globe

Beverly parents call for LGBTQ+ Parent Advisory Council » Salem News

Is Cambridge’s equity-based school system finally facing a reality check? » Boston Globe

McCloskey: Too many kids can’t read – blame lack of spelling tests » Boston Herald

Mass. just released attendance records for its teachers — here’s what was found » MassLive

Sen. Warren slams Trump admin over plans to further dismantle US Dept. of Education » MassLive

Environment

Fernandes seeks to halt venting of radioactive vapor at Pilgrim » Plymouth Independent

A year after $10M project added sand to Mass. beach, ‘about half of it is gone' » NBC Boston

Fernandes seeks to halt venting of radioactive vapor at Pilgrim » Plymouth Independent

SJC declines to hear Springfield’s effort to keep biomass out » The Reminder

Guest columnist Wayne Feiden: Protecting Northampton’s landscape a shared value » Daily Hampshire Gazette

"Nature For All" campaign confident about signature haul » State House News Service

Federal

A creative approach to keeping Western Mass.' creative sector alive in the face of federal cuts » WAMC

Health Care

Health care workplace violence bill finding traction » State House News Service

He was the largest prescriber of high-dose oxycodone in the MassHealth program. Then a patient died. » MassLive

‘There are too many patients to be patient’: UMass officials advocate for state funding amid federal cuts » Greenfield Recorder

Health care workplace violence protections seeing support from Mass. lawmakers » NBC Boston

State tying weight loss drug use to new program » State House News Service

‘You have to stop this’: MA legislators hear testimony on bill to ban shock therapy » WGBH

Housing

The state’s Affordable Homes Act has Wellesley buzzing. But what about Natick? » Natick Report

Rent control backers say they’re on track to go before voters next year » Boston Globe

Wu wary of one-size-fits-all ballot question on rent control » WGBH

Waiting for rent costs to come down in Greater Boston? Don’t hold your breath. » Boston Globe

After shaky year, health leaders set sights on keeping scientists in Massachusetts » Boston Globe

Human Services

What to know about expanded work requirements about to kick in for SNAP » Boston Globe

Immigration

Opinion: The Allston Car Wash raid and what it means to be a neighbor » Boston Globe

‘Who gets to be an American?’ Globe Summit panel explores questions of identity and citizenship » Boston Globe

Boston asks judge to throw out feds’ lawsuit over immigration policy » MassLive

Three immigrant employees from Allston Car Wash released after bond delay » WGBH

Under Trump, immigrants are more fearful but determined to stay, poll finds » Boston Globe

Opinion: Settling the $10 million ICE lawsuit was the right decision » Dartmouth Week

Judiciary

Howie Carr: Karen Read’s lawsuit shines a taillight on ‘corrupt prosecution’ » Boston Herald

Karen Read's new lawsuit alleges others killed John O'Keefe, police failed to investigate » WCVB

Labor

Minimum gratuity during "peak" season, higher tip wage on the table at Massachusetts State House » CBS News

Legislative

MDDC Testifies on Bill Prohibiting Aversive Therapy » Mass.gov

Why Mass. Democrats are clearing out decades-old calls for a new constitution » Axios

Local Government

Worcester plans hand recount for close At-Large City Council race » WGBH

Salem Pantry lays out plan for new regional food distribution hub » Salem News

Easthampton mayor plans overhaul of executive assistant position held by rival » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Worthington Planning Board to hear from community over proposed solar array » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Haxhiaj to return to court as judge mulls dismissing charges against her » Worcester Telegram

Hubbardston Select Board accepts resignations from four employees » Worcester Telegram

New signage to guide Lynn visitors » Lynn Daily News Item

Water Department Breaks Ground on Facilities to Remove ‘Forever Chemicals’ » Westford CAT

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Light Department addresses complaints about ‘double poles’ » Marblehead Current

Race for Boston City Council president heats up, dividing council members on voting procedure » The Berkeley Beacon

Boston City Council aims to tackle local food waste » WGBH

Politics

Taiwanese government paid thousands for New England lawmakers to visit » WBUR

He investigated the people who investigated Karen Read. Now he wants to run for Norfolk DA. » Boston Globe

IL: House passes Chuy García disapproval resolution that divided Democrats » The Hill

TX: Court blocks GOP-friendly map in Texas » Washington Post

Public Health

Mass. families concerned about approval of Purdue Pharma opioid settlement » WBUR

Trump HIV prevention plan shuts out South Africa — the nation most affected » Boston Globe

Before Nov 23 at 5PM, Sign up to testify to protect the right to mask in Massachusetts » Mass Coalition for Health Equity

Doctor pleads guilty in first Mass. involuntary manslaughter case tied to opioids » WCVB

Public Safety

Massachusetts House Committee Releases Strong Privacy Bill » epic

Webster police release body camera footage of Taser arrest that has drawn criticism » Worcester Telegram

Fired Boston police officer awarded $1 million in damages for hostile work environment » Boston Globe

West Springfield officer who faced discipline promoted to sergeant » MassLive

Two charged with arson, attempted murder in Holyoke fire that displaced six » Daily Hampshire Gazette

State Finance

As headwinds close in, Gorzkowicz touts 'significant safeguards' » State House News Service

Taxation

Springfield proposes tax rate that will increase average home bill by $288 » MassLive

Plympton Tax Rate Drops to $14.26 as Selectmen Maintain Single Rate for All Properties » South Shore News

Transportation

Cape Cod bridges project needs new public notification network, businesses say » Cape Cod Times

MBTA announces major Green Line closure to replace 130-year-old infrastructure » MassLive

Press Releases

SparkCharge, MassCEC, and Zipcar Launch First Off‑Grid EV Charging Hub for Shared Mobility in Massachusetts » SparkCharge

Warren, MA Delegation Sound Alarm on Trump Cuts to Grants that Provide Funding for Massachusetts Anti-Poverty Programs » Office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Markey Legislation Eliminating Opioid-Related Infectious Disease Act Reauthorized into Law » Office of Sen. Ed Markey

Governor Healey Announces That Federal Heating Assistance Funding is Now Available » Mass. Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities

November Revenue Collections Total $2.562 Billion » Massachusetts Department of Revenue

Healey-Driscoll Administration Convenes First Meeting of Massachusetts Competitiveness Council » Mass. Executive Office of Economic Development

MassDOT and the RMV Recognize Older Driver Safety Awareness Week » Massachusetts Department of Transportation

OIG Calls Brockton Public Schools $18 Million Budget Deficit a Critical Failure of Leadership » Office of Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro

Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Official Opening of the Office of Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention » Mass. Executive Office of Health and Human Services

WCVB to air "Holiday Lights" Annual Tree Lighting Special on December 4 at 7pm » WCVB

NRC’s Rushed Approval of Bill Gates’ Experimental Wyoming Nuclear Reactor will Imperil Public Health, the Environment » Union of Concerned Scientists

MTA statement on interim report from the Statewide K-12 Graduation Council » Mass. Teacher's Association

UMassFive Employees Raise Over $17,000 For Local Non-Profits » Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce

Pause in Asylum Decisions – 12/2/2025 » MIRA Coalition

Boston Joins Local Governments and Nonprofits to Challenge New Federal Restrictions for Housing for Individuals and Families Who Formerly Experienced Homelessness » City of Boston

Senator Markey Statment on Release of $3.7 Billion in Federal Energy Assistance For Low Income Households » Office of Sen. Ed Markey

Stoneham Man Indicted for Using an Explosive to Damage Bank ATM » U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces 2026 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year » Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

MassDEP Fines Property Owner for Cleanup Violations at Former Gas Station Site in Uxbridge » Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches Statewide Pilot Program to Support Students Returning to College » Mass. Department of Higher Education


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