11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

Baker Nominee Drops Bid for District Court Judgeship » State House News Service Lisa Lippiello, a Northampton-based defense attorney and former New York City police officer, was nominated last month to a seat on the District Court. But one day before her public interview with the…

Mass. Health Boards Overwhelmed, Unready To Protect Workers » WBUR With federal regulators missing from the field and state leaders scrambling to manage the COVID-19 crisis, Massachusetts’ 351 overtaxed local boards of health were unwittingly thrust into a new role…

Baker urged to restore rules for jobless benefits » Salem News "As the summer months approach, businesses are going to struggle to fill vacancies and meet consumer demand," said Chris Carlozzi, state director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.…

Opioid deaths rose 5 percent in Massachusetts last year » Boston Globe “Massachusetts was in a steady decline in opioid overdose deaths before the pandemic hit,” Dr. Monica Bharel, state public health commissioner, told the Public Health Council on Wednesday. “Desp…

Will carmakers defeat Question 1 in court? » Boston Globe The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents the top US and foreign automakers, filed suit in federal court to block the law, arguing that it conflicts with federal laws governing automoti…

‘Liz Cheney is absolutely right’: Charlie Baker says after Republicans vote Cheney out of leadership for speaking out against Trump » Boston.com While some high-profile Republicans — including former GOP governors — are threatening to leave the party citing its fealty to Trump’s election falsehoods, Baker says he has no plans to ditch an…

Nonprofit Leadership Is Becoming More Diverse In Boston. What Took So Long? » WGBH “Finally, finally we are having these discussions,” said Jay Kim, who became the executive director at Foundation for MetroWest in January. “If you look at the history and systemic racism, that'…

NJ: House Republicans File Ethics Complaint Against Democrats Who Made Unsubstantiated Claims That GOP Led ‘Reconnaissance’ Tours Before Capitol Riot » Daily Caller The complaint specifically mentioned a letter sent by New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill and 33 other Democrats to the Capitol Police asking them to investigate unsubstantiated claims that Members of Cong…

NY: Andrew Yang apologizes for pro-Israel tweet after criticism from the left » New York Post Democratic mayoral contender Andrew Yang revised his staunchly pro-Israel tweet amid the ongoing conflict with Palestinian militants — after critics on the left, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cor…

POLITICO Playbook: How Palm Beach is preparing for a possible Trump indictment » Politico An obscure clause in Florida’s statute on interstate extradition gives Gov. RON DESANTIS the ability to intervene and even investigate whether an indicted “person ought to be surrendered” to law…

FL: Sen. Marco Rubio says Rep. Ilhan Omar ‘out of her mind’ for anti-Israel tweet » New York Post “Israeli air strikes killing civilians in Gaza is an act of terrorism. Palestinians deserve protection. Unlike Israel, missile defense programs, such as Iron Dome, don’t exist to protect Palestini…

CA: Caitlyn Jenner’s bid to be California’s next Governator is falling flat » The Guardian The Olympic track star and Kardashian step-parent has not lacked for media coverage since announcing her campaign last month. In the past week alone, she has been interviewed by the Los Angeles Times,…

CO: Colorado policymakers push ahead on eviction defense protections » Axios 31.5% of Colorado adults live in households that are behind on payments and where eviction or foreclosure in the next two months is likely, according to the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey.…

GA: Floodgates swing open for special-interest money during session » Georgia Recorder Think of him as the Senate’s maître d’, the man who stands at the door and decides who gets a place to dine and who does not. That’s a great deal of power, and it helps to explain why Mullis ha…

GOP downplays Jan. 6 violence: Like a 'normal tourist visit' » The Hill Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) made the tourist comment, saying that calling what happened at the Capitol on Jan. 6 an insurrection “is a boldfaced lie.” “Watching the TV footage of those who entered…

Hearing on Jan. 6 violence exposes stark partisan divisions » Boston Globe Republicans sought to rewrite the history of the Jan. 6 insurrection during a rancorous congressional hearing Wednesday, painting the Trump supporters who attacked the Capitol as patriots harassed by …

Garland calls Capitol attack top threat to US democracy » Boston Globe The deadly Jan. 6 assault on the US Capitol was the most dangerous threat to American democracy in decades, eclipsing other recent acts of violence such as attacks on courthouses and police stations l…

‘Peaceful patriots’: Months after Jan. 6 insurrection, GOP members of Congress attempt to recast events of deadly attack » Boston Globe Months after the insurrection at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., some Republican members of Congress are attempting to revise the events of Jan. 6, offering false characterizations of the people who …

Plotting the Ways & Means Forward in the 117th Congress » Western Mass Politics and Insight President Joe Biden has raised the stakes on his presidency, laying out suite of proposals from infrastructure investment to rebuilding the nation’s social support system. Many of these will soon la…

With Cheney out and Stefanik likely in, Republicans decide to live and die with the Big Lie » Boston Globe It took just 16 minutes on Wednesday morning for House Republicans to surgically remove Representative Liz Cheney from their leadership team, an act that both expunged a conservative stalwart who has …

Republicans tried to cancel Liz Cheney. They may have launched her presidential bid instead » Boston Globe Just like that, without even a recorded vote, House Republicans kicked Representative Liz Cheney out of her leadership role on Wednesday morning. Cheney had been the third-highest-ranking Republican i…

Have no fear: This inflation is temporary » Boston Globe Close to 60 percent of people in the United States are under age 45 — too young to really remember the last time the cost of living got out of control.…

Opinion: The Grocery Stories: Transactional work relationships » Boston Globe There are many good people working at my store, and we get on well. In many ways, though, we are strangers commuting on the same train.…

Editorial: Massachusetts should stop exporting death » Boston Globe Historically, the Commonwealth has been a center of US gun manufacturing. Now a welcome move is afoot to prohibit making the kind of assault weapons so often used in mass shootings.…

Employers can soon book appointments at mass vaccination sites — or host pop-up clinics in their offices » Boston Globe The Baker administration on Wednesday said it would launch an employer-based vaccination program beginning on Monday, allowing businesses to snag appointments for their employees.…

Gasoline prices hit $3 as shortages grow on pipeline outage » Boston Globe Gasoline stations and terminals from Florida to New Jersey are running dry as shortages worsen five days into the shutdown of the biggest US fuel pipeline.…

Parties in civil suit over turkeys » Eagle-Tribune What began as a charitable effort to feed those in need has turned into a civil lawsuit involving two nonprofits, a Lawrence business, 1,200 turkeys and the question of who was supposed to pay for the…

Tight job market driving inflation, hurting small businesses, report shows » WCVB If it seems like you're paying more for everything these days, you're right. A new federal report shows inflation is up 4.2% over this time last year --- the biggest yearly jump since 2008. A tight jo…

Marijuana retailers seek impact fee relief » Newburyport News Marijuana shop owners are urging the state to curtail fees they are forced to pay to cities and towns to set up operation, arguing that they have minimal impact on police, fire and other municipal ser…

Graduation plans announced at University of Massachusetts campuses » Boston Globe The University of Massachusetts will hold a series of graduation events, beginning this week with its Amherst and Lowell campuses, college officials said Wednesday.…

Bridgewater student’s Harvard admissions essay about finding passion for life after losing her mother to cancer goes viral on TikTok » Boston Globe When Abigail Mack sat down to write her college application essay in October, she had a sudden realization: She strongly disliked the letter “s.”…

Boston School Committee raises graduation standards and hears proposal for nine major school construction projects » Boston Globe The Boston School Committee on Wednesday night approved a plan to toughen the standards for earning a high school diploma, representing the biggest changes to the system’s graduation requirements in…

School Districts Debate COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements For Students » CBS Boston The debate over whether schools should mandate the COVID-19 shot for students and staff is gaining momentum.…

Pandemic drives up rates of chronic absenteeism in Cape schools » Cape Cod Times The rate of chronic school absenteeism shot up across Massachusetts this academic year, with many Cape districts surpassing the state average of 17%.…

State denies Brockton High's waiver request to remain hybrid this school year » The Enterprise Brockton Public Schools officials have said a return to full-time in-person learning at Brockton High School, the state's largest school, is "simply not feasible" this spring amid the COVID-19 pandemi…

Baker: “More to say” soon about youth sports guidance » News 22 WWLP.com Gov. Charlie Baker hinted Wednesday that he will soon “have more to say” about updated guidance for COVID-19 youth sports after the state altered some restrictions on industries such as restaurant…

Chairs say launch of Rural Schools Commission ‘a big win’ for region » Greenfield Recorder State Sen. Adam Hinds and state Rep. Natalie Blais recently chaired the first meeting of the state’s Rural Schools Commission, and they expect that the body will have recommendations by the end of t…

Charlie Baker says ‘no’ to COVID kid vaccine mandate as CDC poised recommend shots for teens » Boston Herald Gov. Charlie Baker has uttered a definitive “no” on the question of mandating coronavirus vaccines for public school students this fall.…

State releases $6.5M for Greylock Glen rec center; work to start this year » Berkshire Eagle The phone call Jay Green took Monday was years in coming. On the other end: Gov. Charlie Baker, calling to tell the Adams town administrator that money will be released to start work on a long-planned…

DraftKings shunned even as Wall Street heavyweights say buy » Boston Globe Investors are shunning DraftKings despite signals from some of Wall Street’s most prominent names to buy the shares of the former high-flying online gaming company.…

Pandemic Punctuated Health Care Workforce’s Fragility, Shortages » State House News Service As the state's Health Policy Commission continues to study how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the state's health care system, one major area it is exploring is the impacts on the workforce.…

Opinion: Mass General Brigham’s plans for expansion stir concern » Boston Globe I am a former, decade-long employee of Partners HealthCare, now Mass General Brigham, and was dismayed to hear about the health system’s plans for an ambulatory care site in Woburn and other suburbs…

Here’s what a Moderna executive said about the possibility of a COVID-19 booster shot » Boston Globe Moderna’s chief executive on Wednesday discussed the biotech’s progress in developing a booster shot against COVID-19 variants, saying the company hopes to have authorization from the Food and Dru…

Rep. Katherine Clark leads bipartisan push to help kids with serious health conditions get quicker out-of-state care » MassLive Rep. Katherine Clark is leading a renewed bipartisan push to bolster health equity by improving timely access to critical pediatric care when families must rely on out-of-state providers.…

Holyoke Planning Board greenlights $35 million Appleton Mill Apartments project; awaits state funding decision » MassLive The Planning Board has expedited Winn Development’s $35 million proposal to convert the former Farr-Alpaca Mill at 216 Appleton St. into 88 mixed-income rental units.…

Charlie Baker signals no plans to drop $300 bonus weekly unemployment checks » Boston Herald Gov. Charlie Baker signaled he wouldn’t join a growing number of Republican-led states that have moved to cancel the federal government’s $300 boost in weekly unemployment benefits.…

Foxborough senator tries to revive hazard pay for essential workers » The Metro West Daily News A Foxborough lawmaker is renewing a push to institute hazard pay for employees of essential services who worked outside their homes during the COVID-19 state of emergency.…

With no end to strike in sight, St. Vincent Hospital to hire permanent replacement nurses » The Metro West Daily News With no end in sight for the St. Vincent Hospital nurses' strike that has continued for more than two months, the hospital has started hiring permanent replacement nurses.…

The Revolving Door at the Springfield City Clerk’s Office Spins Again » Western Mass Politics and Insight Flux is returning to the Springfield City Clerk’s office after the current clerk, Tasheena Davis, tendered her resignation effective June 1. Mayor Domenic Sarno, in a press release, announced that D…

Amherst’s progressive reputation on trial at stormy Board of Registrars meeting » MassLive The town’s progressive reputation ended up on trial during a stormy Board of Registrars meeting Monday, when board member Demetria Shabazz said she may resign, accusing the municipality of voter “…

Yvonne Spicer seeks second term as Framingham mayor » Metro West Daily News The city’s first mayor is seeking a second term. Mayor Yvonne Spicer officially announced her re-election bid in a video message Thursday morning. In 2018, Spicer became Framingham’s first mayor a…

Activists tell Boston mayoral candidates ‘no votes’ without plan for ‘inhumane’ conditions at Methadone Mile » Boston Herald Activists from Roxbury and the South End say they are fed up with “inhumane” conditions surrounding the opioid-addicted population that roam their neighborhoods.…

CDC authorizes use of Pfizer vaccine in kids 12-15, clearing the way for states to vaccinate » Boston Herald Children age 12-15 may now receive a Pfizer coronavirus vaccine following CDC authorization on Wednesday, a move marked as a large step in continuing to knock down the pandemic.…

The Grandkids Are Back, But Pandemic Effects Linger For Some In Long-Term Care » WBUR A plate of glass separated Mary Smith from her family when she celebrated her 100th birthday last April.…

Officials Hope Vaccinating Kids 12 And Older Will Help Halt Virus Spread » WBUR Children as young as 12 can start receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine in Massachusetts on Thursday, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday, pending an expected final go ahead from federal regu…

Will COVID-19 Vaccines Still Work Against The Variant From India? » WBUR The world has a new coronavirus mutant spreading from one continent to another — and it looks like a tough one to stop.…

Opioid overdose deaths among Black men in Massachusetts spike 69% during COVID pandemic, new data shows » MassLive The COVID pandemic has exacerbated substance use issues across Massachusetts, and new data from the Department of Public Health shows that Black men of color have seen the highest number of opioid ove…

Gov. Baker: Younger teen vaccinations may start Thursday » Worcester Telegram Roughly 400,000 teenagers and preteens in Massachusetts could start getting vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as Thursday after the Pfizer vaccine cleared a final regulatory hurdle.…

Mass. DPH working with providers for vaccine rollout for ages 12-15 » Western Mass News Governor Charlie Baker said plans are being put in place to get COVID-19 vaccines into the arms of children as soon as possible.…

Vaccinating Teens Means Getting Buy-in From Parents » WGBH The state's vaccination drive is going well, but white residents are still getting COVID-19 shots at roughly twice the rate of their Hispanic peers.…

626 confirmed cases, 13 deaths, and 58,254 vaccinations: See today’s new COVID-19 data from Mass. » Boston Globe Massachusetts reported 626 new confirmed coronavirus cases Wednesday, bringing the total number in the state to 654,734.…

58,254 more coronavirus vaccine shots given in Massachusetts, 626 new virus cases » Boston Herald More than 58,000 coronavirus vaccine doses were administered in Massachusetts during the most recent day of vax data, while state health officials on Wednesday also reported 626 new virus cases and 13…

Do police still have political pull in Boston? » Boston Globe Support from police unions is no longer the political treasure it once was in Boston. But has the city reached a point where such backing would actually be disqualifying? Let’s hope so. Especially w…

Worcester groups renew calls for civilian police review board with subpoena powers » Worcester Telegram Eighteen community groups, citing a lack of police transparency and oversight, wrote a letter to city leaders and politicians Wednesday renewing calls for a civilian review board with subpoena powers.…

DiDomenico Hosts Language Access and Inclusion Briefing » Everett Independent Senator Sal DiDomenico has joined forces this legislative session with Representative Adrian Madaro of East Boston and a coalition of immigrant and civil rights advocates from across the Commonwealth …

Responsibility rests with chief medical examiner » The Haverhill Gazette The difference between a policy and a law in state government is that the former can be ignored or altered, depending on who is in charge, and the latter carries the weight of the Legislature and the …

Senate budget calls for child care tax refund » Salem News More than 85,000 low- to moderate-income families would be eligible for a refundable child care tax credit under a Senate plan unveiled Tuesday.…

Residents along South Coast Rail project are hearing more train horns. Here's why. » South Coast Today Johnny Cash used to sing that he could “hear the train a’comin” and now those living near – even not so near – the South Coast Rail construction sites are finding themselves singing the same…

Nation’s first wind project in federal waters approved off Martha’s Vineyard » News 22 WWLP.com The Baker-Polito Administration applauded the Record of Decision issued by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) granting approval to the Vineyard Wind project.…

Donald Trump seems pretty unhappy about the newly approved wind project off Martha’s Vineyard » Boston.com Donald Trump says Martha’s Vineyard will “never be the same” after President Joe Biden’s administration gave final approval to the country’s first large-scale offshore wind project miles off…

Social Media Spotlight

nickcollinsma ddizoglio thembta

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MassGovernor COVID-19 Update: Visit to Moderna CBS Boston CDC Approves Pfizer Vaccine For Children 12 To 15 Years Old

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Elizabeth Warren @SenWarren KateLipperGarabedian @KateforRep

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Podcast Spotlight

Mass Climate Action Network The Climate Minute: Floors, Ceilings and Net Zero Building Codes: The Climate Minute The MassINC Polling Group The Horse Race: Episode 181: A Trot Down Memory Lane NPR The NPR Politics Podcast: House Republicans Oust Liz Cheney After Persistent Criticism of Donald Trump

TechNet Applauds the Bipartisan Passage of the Endless Frontier Act Out of the Senate Commerce Committee » Technet

New Species of ‘Water Bear’ Named after Sam ‘Ohu Gon » The Nature Conservancy

From the Web: ACA Members and CEO Mark Neeb Share Implications of Hunstein Case for the ARM Industry in American Banker » ACA International

The Senate Ways and Means FY22 Budget Proposal » Strategies for Children

Weekly Download: How to Plan Your Business Comeback » North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce

USACE Task Order Memo Released: Updated Procedures for the Selection of Task Orders on A/E Indefinite Delivery Contracts (IDCs) » American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts

Coalition of Advocacy, Immigrant Rights, and Health Care Organizations Call on Congress to Pass the HEAL for Immigrant Families Act » Planned Parenthood

Senator Markey, Stand Up For Palestine » Concerned Public & Constituents of Ed Markey

Assistant Speaker Clark Calls for Permanent Expansion of the Child Tax Credit » Office of U.S. Representative Katherine Clark (MA-5)

Assistant Speaker Clark Introduces Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Improve Health Equity for Kids » Office of U.S. Representative Katherine Clark (MA-5)

The Mel King Institute Held Its Largest Virtual Stand Against Racism Event on April 29 » MA Association of Community Development Corporations

Senate Ways and Means Releases FY 2022 Budget Recommendations » Office of MA Senator Joan Lovely

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Employer Vaccination Program, Extension of Targeted free COVID-19 Testing Sites, Provides Weekly Dose Updates » MA Executive Office of Health and Human Services

May 2021: Latest Updates From The Department of Neighborhood Development » City of Boston

The FDA Office of Minority Health and Health Equity: Working to advance health equity through diversity in research » Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

21st Affordable Housing Development Competition Winners Announced! » Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA)

The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (LWVMA) announces the winners of its "Democracy Challenge" Student Video Contest » League of Women Voters of Massachusetts

Senators Markey, Wicker, and Blumenthal Applaud Senate Committee Passage of Bipartisan Air Travel Task Force Legislation » Office of U.S. Senator Ed Markey

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $950,000 in Grants to Protect Houses of Worship » MA Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

UCS Scientist Joins Scientists, Catholic Leaders Urging President Biden to Work for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons » Union of Concerned Scientists

Opioid-related overdose deaths rose by 5 percent in 2020 » MA Department of Public Health