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Today on Beacon Hill

1:15am Office of Behavorial Health Promotion and Prevention Launch, Grand Staircase, State House, Boston

8:00am 2025 Boston Biotech Summit, Boynton Gateway, 495 Columbia Street, Somerville

9:00am 2025 New England Energy Summit hosted by NEPGA & The Dupont Group, The Colonnade Hotel, 120 Huntington Avenue, Boston

9:30am Mass. Gaming Commission Public Hearing, Via conference call

10:00am Special Commission on Extremely Low-Income Housing Meeting, Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities, 100 Cambridge Street, Conference Room 2A, Boston and via Zoom

1:00pm Joint Committee on Education, Committee Hearing

1:00pm Mass. Commission for the Blind (MCB) Rehabilitation Council Meeting, Via Zoom

6:00pm Division of Marine Fisheries Public Hearing, Via Zoom

Must-Reads
MASSACHUSETTS

State’s plan for post-MCAS graduation requirements features both tests and projects » WGBH

The Mass. Legislature cuts World Cup funding in half, despite Healey's $20 million request » NEPM

Nature groups say ballot proposal would tap $100 million from Mass. sales tax for conservation » WBUR

Moulton says 'inhumane' conditions persist for detainees at ICE Burlington office » WBUR

South Shore Health resolves contract dispute that could have affected 2,000 patients » Boston Globe

Healey outlines ‘framework’ for new high school graduation requirements including end-of-course tests, capstone projects » Boston Globe

Graduation framework recommends new high school tests » Commonwealth Magazine

Healey environmental bond bill clears committee » State House News Service

Bye-bye Markey? Ayanna Pressley Senate bid may be imminent » Contrarian Boston

‘People have a right to know’: Flood disclosures poised to step into legislative limelight next year » Commonwealth Magazine

NATIONAL

Trump vowed to slash the federal budget deficit. Analysts say his policies will increase it by $4.1 trillion. » Boston Globe

How Trump Is Using Claims of Antisemitism to End Free Speech » The Nation

Rise of crisis pregnancy centers highlights shift in anti-abortion movement » PBS Newshour

Dozy Don: A Pictorial History » The Borowitz Report

It’s Election Day in Tennessee » punchbowl

Trump Administration Live Updates: Honduran Ex-President Is Freed From Prison After Pardon » New York Times

Here Come the Nick Fuentes Clones. » The Bulwark

Trump’s Kill List, Brought To You By Obama And Cheney » The Lever

Witkoff and Kushner meet Putin to discuss Ukraine peace plan » Axios

Michael Dell to fund 25 million "Trump accounts" with $6.25B gift » Axios

Pete Hegseth, Moral Failure, and the Erosion of Military Legitimacy » The Bulwark

Pete Hegseth Needs to Go—Now » The Atlantic

"Vice President JD Vance, who falsely blames high housing prices on immigrants, said that “it is totally reasonable and acceptable for American citizens to look at their next door neighbors and say, ‘I want to live next to people who I have something in common with.’” This is precisely the argument made by segregationists when opposing the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which made it illegal for landlords to refuse to rent to someone based on their race, religion, or national origin. Vance also insists that Canada is “stagnating” because it has too much diversity."

Public Notice's Joseph Dye

Dye argues Vance’s claim that people should live near those “like them” echoes segregationist arguments used to oppose the 1968 Fair Housing Act. It also says he falsely blames immigrants for housing costs and frames diversity as harmful.

News By Category
Beltway Politics

Schoen and Mangel: Could Dems look to Shapiro for 2028? » Boston Herald

Business

Moore: Time to stop the trial lawyer tax » Boston Herald

Opinion: Proposed Mass. data privacy law would harm small businesses serving ethnic communities » Boston Globe

Local TV stations are losing viewers. A new ‘survival guide’ urges a digital-first pivot. » Boston Globe

The Architectural Team’s leadership transition is complete, as Schultz takes over for Binette » Boston Globe

Costco sues Trump administration for ‘full refund’ of tariffs » The Hill

Cannabis & Psychedelics

Belchertown adopts cannabis host community agreement to comply with state law » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Civil Rights

It’s now cheaper and easier to change your name in Massachusetts » WGBH

Democracy

The White House’s new media ‘bias’ tracker is a desperate gimmick » The Guardian

Education

MA proposes new high school graduation standards, including testing » Worcester Telegram

Gov. Healey announces new Mass. high school graduation requirements » NBC Boston

Healey outlines ‘framework’ for new high school graduation requirements » Boston Globe

Healey unveils new high school graduation framework; top union blasts it as ‘poison’ » MassLive

Plymouth Violates own Policy to Push New Sex Ed Curriculum, Parents Fight Back » Mass. Informed Parents

Healey outlines ‘framework’ for new high school graduation requirements including end-of-course tests, capstone projects » Boston Globe

Elizabeth Warren calls on Education Secretary McMahon to resign amid department dismantling » Boston Globe

Editorial: Proposed new graduation framework is ambitious, but implementation questions swirl » Boston Globe

Healey unveils post-MCAS graduation plan with new end-of-course tests » Axios

Trahan pitches new plan to standardize NIL deals » The Eagle Tribune

Meet 3 new superintendents navigating future for Cape Cod students » Cape Cod Times

Boylston teacher, paraprofessional charged with indecent A&B on children » Worcester Telegram

State council recommends new high school graduation framework, includes testing component » Boston Herald

Plymouth parents blast school committee over attempt to hide explicit sex ed curriculum » JohnFGately.com

Brandeis bets big on rebuilding the liberal arts around real-world skills » WGBH

Harvard Endowment Appoints 3 New Directors, Including JPMorgan Exec Who Managed Epstein’s Bank Accounts » The Harvard Crimson

Proposed new graduation framework is ambitious, but implementation questions swirl » Boston Globe

DESE to conduct review of Westfield’s English learner education program this week » MassLive

5 takeaways from MassLive’s look at a Florida college inspiring Trump threats to higher ed » MassLive

Environment

At dawn, they rescue stranded sea turtles on Cape Cod » Boston Globe

He’s responsible for more than 100 square miles of water » Plymouth Independent

Ready for ballot, conservation advocates hope for win in Legislature » State House News Service

Federal

Boston joins lawsuit against Trump administration over changes to HUD grant program » Boston Globe

Gaming

Lucky for Life game on its last legs » State House News Service

Health Care

Troubled nursing chain Genesis sells itself in controversial bankruptcy deal » Boston Globe

Pediatrician fighting for visits with his granddaughter said he was ‘unaware’ of rules against treating family members » Boston Globe

Housing

Editorial: Students shouldn’t be ‘leverage’ in MBTA zone law fight » Boston Herald

Boston joins lawsuit against Trump administration over changes to HUD grant program » Boston Globe

High Costs Drive Massachusetts Exodus, Report Finds » New Boston post

Human Services

Local nonprofit awarded $5 million to fight family homelessness » Boston Globe

‘Perfect storm of food insecurity’: State Anti-Hunger Task Force ramps up listening sessions » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Giving Tuesday arrives as some local nonprofits see a drop in donations » WGBH

Somerville faces SNAP delays as households and local food providers brace for more instability » The Tufts Daily

Boston Mayor Wu sues President Trump over $29M in federal homelessness funding cuts » Boston Herald

Fall River zoning laws halt plans for daycare in Highlands neighborhood » The Herald News

Immigration

Legal teams are having to work ‘miracles’ to get immigrants out of detention » Boston Globe

Bostonians ‘can do a lot’ this Giving Tuesday, aid groups and religious charities say » Boston Globe

Trump’s ICE dragnet catches Leavitt’s family member » Boston Globe

Ecuadorian family prepares to self-deport, despite having open trafficking case » WGBH

Ecuadorian family prepares to self-deport, despite having open trafficking case » WGBH

Insurance

GOP pessimism grows over any deal to extend expiring health care subsidies » The Hill

Labor

Schrager: AI more likely to cause a labor shortage » Boston Herald

‘An unemployable generation’: Is mentorship for young workers collapsing? » Boston Globe

Michelin-recommended La Padrona hit with class action lawsuit from employees claiming wage theft » Boston Globe

New Bedford lawmaker’s child labor bill hits a dead end » Ocean State Media

Local Government

Taunton auditor gets $50K raise as budget director plans 2026 retirement » Taunton Gazette

Here's how much Brockton's trash fees might go up by » The Enterprise

Fall River appoints CFO, city auditor, but not without contract limits » The Herald News

‘A good way to get involved’: Amherst residents find path to public service through civic academy » Daily Hampshire Gazette

Organizations aim to harness momentum of 250th celebrations to build Arlington’s tourism sector » Your Arlington

Politics

GBH Daily: How a ballot question becomes a bill » WGBH

Battenfeld: Marty Walsh choice for VP under fire in children’s food scandal » Boston Herald

Bye-bye Markey? Ayanna Pressley Senate bid may be imminent | Mass. trails Georgia and Mississippi in crackdown on rapists attempting to gain parental rights | » Contrarian Boston

Briefings: All the Story of McKnight Told Over…but Now with a Stronger Hand…? » Western Mass. Politics and Insight

Briefings: All the Story of McKnight Told Over…but Now with a Stronger Hand » Western Mass. Politics and Insight

All-party primaries seen as 'changing the incentives' » State House News Service

Public Safety

Report: Housing Immigrants Made Boston Logan Airport Less Safe » WBSM

Karen Read investigator Michael Proctor mentioned at Brian Walshe trial » Boston Herald

State trooper charged with stealing golf balls no longer certified to be a cop » Worcester Telegram

Editorial: Pricey prison phone call plan wrong number for taxpayers » Boston Herald

Editorial: State recognizes heroism of Fitchburg, Lowell firefighters » Lowell Sun

Emergency notification system CodeRED is hacked » MassLive

Reproductive Rights

Abortion opponents coming before the Supreme Court in challenge to state investigation » Boston Globe

State Government

Child enticement charge dropped against Worcester man who served on state board » The Gardner News

Taxation

Council starts process to set Boston's 2026 Tax Rates » Boston Policy Institute

Transportation

Boston Mayor Wu appoints interim chief of streets to replace bike-lane friendly predecessor » Boston Herald

Utilities

Massachusetts Experiences Second ‘Power Caution’ Advisory » WBSM

Maine’s first major data center project touts green innovation » Boston Globe

State says MWRA plan stirs Clean Water Act concerns » State House News Service

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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