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Today on Beacon Hill

4:00pm Mass. Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education Hearing on Proposed Charter Schools, Plymouth Public Library Otto Fehlow Meeting Room 132 South St.

Birthdays: State Senator Michael Rush, State Senator Pavel Payano

‘‘What I've seen through these discussions I've had with President-elect Trump, as well as what we've seen in his speech the night of his victory, as well as the people he’s selected as part of his transition, all of those things combined give me increasing hope that President-elect Trump is the very man who can lead us to that better future,’’

Mitt Romney

Speaking after his meeting with President-elect Donald Trump.
News By Category
Business

Will Eataly take a bite out of Boston's food scene? » Boston Globe

AG Maura Healey: Only 41 cents of every $1 raised by professional fundraisers goes to charity » The Republican

Ex-CEO says aides 'pushed' IndyCar race ticket sales » Boston Herald

Wells Fargo shamed by Elizabeth Warren for forcing customers into arbitration over fake accounts scandal » Boston Business Journal

Two Plot a Neon 'Welcome' Sign for Boston in the Heart of San Francisco » BostInno

Fenway CDC eyes freeze on college plans » Boston Herald

Civil Rights

Transgender community gets free legal aid with name-change paperwork » Boston Globe

Education

Mass. Senate President to meet with Hampshire College about flag controversy » WWLP 22

More flag-waving rallies planned at Hampshire College to protest decision not to fly flag » The Republican

Two UMass professors named to list of 'radicals' » Gazette Net

State ed officials defer to locals on Boston school closing » State House News Service

Environment

State Announces $3.9 Million in Grants for Land Protection Projects » Cape Cod Online

Health Care

A year later, state's digital health initiative takes more concrete shape » Boston Business Journal

State orders nursing homes to stock Narcan, better train staff » Boston Globe

Massachusetts urged to prepare for repeal of Obamacare » The Herald News

Fighting for a $15 minimum wage » Commonwealth Magazine

Trump's Pick For Health Secretary Generates Some Anxiety In Mass. » Commonwealth Magazine

Women Could Pay More Than Men For Health Care Under Trump » WBUR

House leader not sensing groundswell for health care rate setting » State House News Service

Housing

Real estate poised for another strong year » Boston Globe

Judiciary

Texas judge known for his 'folksy manner' » Boston Herald

Rehoboth resident among Baker's Bristol County court nominations » Taunton Gazette

Labor

Attleboro area business leaders, legislators say minimum wage hike unlikely » The Sun Chronicle

Group Begins Push For $15 Minimum Wage In Mass. » Commonwealth Magazine

Sen. Eldridge among dozens arrested at minimum-wage protest » Nashoba Publishing

Legislative

Crighton to take on 'The American Dream' » Lynn Daily News Item

State Rep. John Velis adds voice to Fox News: flag removal at Hampshire College an 'absolute disgrace' » The Republican

Jamie Eldridge Arrested While Protesting for $15 Minimum Wage in Cambridge » Boston Magazine

Rules accord struck between Speaker and Senate prez » State House News Service

Local Government

Mayor to speak with college president over US flag decision » Sentinel & Enterprise

Springfield mayor to speak with Hampshire College president Thursday as flag controversy rages on » The Republican

Salem council to consider 'sanctuary' ordinance » The Salem News

With marijuana legalization coming in Massachusetts, Hampshire County town plans special committee to address impact » The Republican

Communities save estimated $186K through state bulk buying program for anti-overdose drug Narcan » The Republican

City will weather Trump removal of funds, officials say, but racial ugliness is growing » Cambridge Day

Opinion

Obama should make George W. Bush his role model » Boston Globe

Don't rip up the Iran deal, enforce it » Boston Globe

Guest Opinion: Pursuit of progressive environmental agenda needs to continue » Taunton Gazette

Editorial: Councilors play nanny » Boston Herald

Politics

Raise Up seeks more from millionaires » Boston Globe

Boston's presidential election numbers » Commonwealth Magazine

Hedge fund could lose millions for campaign violation » Commonwealth Magazine

Third candidate for Lawrence mayor may enter race » Eagle Tribune

STATE HOUSE ROUNDUP -- A full plate of Thanksgiving news » The Enterprise

Public Health

Progress in slowing HIV's spread endangered by opioid epidemic » Boston Globe

Ex-workers cite Attleboro uranium plant radiation for illness, death » Boston Globe

After Soda Tax Proposals Pass Elsewhere, Issue To Be Raised Again In Mass. » WBUR

Public Safety

State honors Fitchburg firefighters for heroism at deadly fire » Worcester Telegram

Date is set for Uber driver checks » Lowell Sun

2 from Cape honored with state firefighting awards » Cape Cod Times

Marijuana-impaired driving case speaks to need for 'urgent' drug law, DA says » Metro

Commissioner Evans Defends Social Media Monitoring: “We're Not Going To Snoop On Anybody” » WGBH News

Bill seeks to change when Halloween is celebrated » Lowell Sun

DA: Pot-impaired driving law needed » Nashoba Publishing

Evans: Nothing 'nefarious' with online tracking » Boston Herald

State Finance

Mass. treasury boosts short-term borrowing level to $1.5 billion » State House News Service

State Government

The Gold Star 'no family ever wants' » Boston Herald

Gov. Baker heading to DC to discuss transportation, military » WWLP 22

Maura Healey threatens to sue Donald Trump » Boston Globe

AG Maura Healey says she'll sue Trump to protect state if needed » Boston Herald

High price tag for defense of AG in suit by Exxon Mobil » Boston Herald

Lawmakers and state officials signal possible delays to legal pot, retail stores » The Republican

Transportation

Commuter Rail proposal for daily Gillette Stadium service draws concerns » My Fox Boston

Planners seek solutions to wrong-way driving » Cape Cod Times

Beset by delays, Worcester commuter rail line gets new attention from Keolis » Worcester Telegram

Baker-Polito Administration reaches agreement with Transportation Network Companies to begin implementation of nation's most comprehensive state background checks » Sampan

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Recipe of the Week

Makes 6 to 8 Servings

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more as needed to thicken sauce
  • 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or other vegetable oil
  • 1 3-1/2- to 4-1/2-pound boneless pork shoulder (pork butt or Boston butt), excess fat removed
  • 1 pound whole pearl onions (frozen and thawed or fresh)
  • 10 ounces sliced button (white) mushrooms
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 cups hard cider, preferably local
  • 1-1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 3 large apples, any variety, skin on, cored and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • Garnish: fresh thyme sprigs

Directions

In a shallow bowl, stir together 3 tablespoons of flour, 2 tablespoons of salt, and the pepper. Roll the pork shoulder in the flour mixture to coat; then shake off any excess.

Preheat your oven to 325° and set a rack to the middle position. On the stovetop, set a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the oil and let it heat for a minute; then add the pork. Brown the meat all over, 3 to 4 minutes per side, adjusting the heat as needed to keep the flour from burning. Remove the pork and all but 3 tablespoons of fat from the pot. Set the pork aside and discard the excess fat.

Add the onions to the pot and increase the heat to high. Cook, stirring often, until browned in parts, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove half the onions with a slotted spoon and set them aside. Add the mushrooms to the remaining onions and cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms are nicely browned and have visibly shrunk, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the allspice and thyme and stir; then add the cider, stirring the bottom of the pot to pick up any browned bits. Add the chicken broth, and then return the pork to the pot. Bring the liquid to a simmer; then cover the pot and transfer it to the preheated oven. Cook 2 hours; then remove from the oven.

Add the apples and reserved onions to the pot, stir, and return to the oven. Cook 30 minutes more. The pork should now be very tender when poked with a fork; if not, cook 15 minutes more. Remove the pork from the pot, transfer to a carving board, and tent with foil. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the apples and onions to your serving bowl.

If you like, thicken the sauce: Pour about cup of it into a small bowl and whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour until smooth; then stir it back into the pot and simmer until the rest of the sauce thickens. Check the seasoning and add more salt if needed.

Slice or shred the pork as you prefer; then transfer to your serving bowl with the onions and apples. Pour the sauce over all, garnish with additional fresh thyme, and serve over polenta, noodles, mashed potatoes, spaetzle, or couscous. 

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