11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

Last day of the 1st annual session (2017)

Birthdays: State Senator Bruce Tarr

Mass. Legislature refuses calls to update wiretap law » Boston Globe

New streaming network launching for liberals » Axios

Jury Is Still Out on Changes to New Jersey's Bail System » The Wall Street Journal

Why the U.S. Spends So Much More Than Other Nations on Health Care » New York Times

Top GOP Races To Watch In 2018 » The Huffington Post

Group insurance discounts preserved ahead of new year » State House News Service

Pick up the pace, Beacon Hill » Boston Globe

Ethics probe casts long shadow on Beacon Hill as legislators start new year » Gloucester Times

Democrats in high-tax states plot ways to blunt impact of new tax law » Boston Globe

Senator Hatch to retire, paving way for Romney run in Utah » Boston Globe

Big new seafood processing plant planned for Seaport » Boston Globe

Bill raising minimum wage stuck in Legislature » Worcester Business Journal

Welcome to Boomtown: Greater Lowell business grows » Lowell Sun

Pot rollout tentative in Cali » Commonwealth Magazine

Schools still recovering from cuts » Lowell Sun

Sports gambling case has Massachusetts casinos at the ready » Boston Globe

Dementia patients often need hospitals, which are often ill-prepared » Boston Globe

Employers face new health care assessments » Newburyport News

Hearing in Newburyport on proposed hospital merger » Newburyport News

Mayor Walsh unveils $10 million effort to end chronic homelessness in Boston » Boston Globe

With icy winds and frigid cold, money for Craig's Place shelter in Amherst released by Gov. Charlie Baker » Mass Live

For homeless people, the cold is life-threatening » Boston Globe

Federal courts will review sexual harassment policies » Boston Globe

For workers, much remains unsettled as new year begins » Boston Globe

Tax cuts are no substitute for pay raises » Boston Globe

$15 minimum wage still hung on Beacon Hill » The Salem News

How often did your state rep. toe the party line? » Sentinel & Enterprise

Fiorentini sworn in to eighth term » The Eagle Tribune

Ruthanne Fuller sworn in as Newton's mayor » Wicked Local Newton

Greenfield looks to progressive future as a city » MassLive

North Adams Swears in New Council, Mayor Bernard » iBerkshires

Taking the oath of office » Gloucester Times

Yvonne Spicer feels 'very fortunate' to lead Framingham as it becomes a city » Boston Herald

With VP Biden Presiding Over Ceremony, Marty Walsh Sworn in for 2nd Term as Boston Mayor » NBC Boston

Bernard sworn in as North Adams mayor » Berkshire Eagle

City Council and School Committee members take their oath in Medford » Lynn Daily News Item

Framingham to hold first inauguration on Monday » The Metro West Daily News

NEW YEAR'S A FAMILY AFFAIR AT KOWLOON » Lynn Daily News Item

Yvonne Spicer sworn in as Framingham's first mayor » Boston Globe

From Railers to bike sharing, 2017 brought revitalization to region » Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Driscoll Sworn In For Fourth Term As Salem Mayor » Framingham Patch

Council prez: Board will clash, compromise with mayor » Boston Herald

GAY: Some Dixon-esque predictions for this year » The Sun Chronicle

New Attleboro mayor's first challenge will be the most expensive in city history » The Sun Chronicle

Battenfeld: Biden beats liz to punch as bell rings for 2020 in Hub » Boston Herald

Our view: A nod to progress in the opioid battle » The Salem News

Editorial: Pols on Beacon Hill face packed agenda » Boston Herald

The terrible price of inaction » Commonwealth Magazine

Editorial: Monday mix on shelter funds; farm grants; library project » Gazette Net

Cashman: Expect political wins for Baker, Warren » Boston Herald

Boston's byways could use more 'Goody-goody' drivers » Boston Globe

Our view: Momentum lost on records reform » The Eagle Tribune

Boston needs a 'night mayor' » Boston Globe

What exactly is zero tolerance on sexual harassment? » Boston Globe

The ethics of warning the public about a dangerous president » Boston Globe

Time to repeal medical device tax once and for all » Commonwealth Magazine

Businesses want stronger clean energy mandates » Commonwealth Magazine

Momentum for more housing choices in the state » Commonwealth Magazine

Middle class a major focus as Mayor Marty Walsh sworn in » Boston Herald

While in prison, Brockton's Novak kept in contact with Massachusetts Republicans » The Enterprise

Economy lifts Baker, Walsh » Boston Herald

Crowded 3rd District congressional race likely to be volatile » Lowell Sun

He's back from prison — and running the Brockton Republican City Committee » Boston Globe

The Biggest Issues for States to Watch in 2018 » Governing

How Much Can Democrats Really Win in 2018? » Governing

Pro-charter school Massachusetts group fined for hiding 2016 campaign donors including Mitt Romney's campaign » The Republican

Officials Force Group to Reveal Ballot Question Donors » US News and World Report

Bay State nonprofit penalized for violating campaign finance law » Boston Herald

In Alli Bibaud texts, Worcester DA Early critiques media coverage » Worcester Mag

Governor's office restores $150,000 for winter shelter staffing in Berkshire County » Berkshire Eagle

Baker admin lifts hold on spending earmarks » State House News Service

Baker's move on earmarks sure to please legislators » Lowell Sun

Recap and analysis of the week in state government » Newburyport News

Riding the ups and downs of 2017 » Boston Globe

Baker gives green light to district priorities » The Salem News

Distributors of fermented cider say the state taxes them unfairly » Boston Globe

SALT deduction cap spurs call for tax code review, hearing » State House News Service

State explores impact of Trump's tax changes » The Salem News

MBTA says rail and bus lines are likely to be delayed this week » Boston Globe

Federal funding will help move along the long-awaited Green Line Extension Project » Lynn Daily News Item

Should young drivers have visible decals? Brockton-area police have mixed thoughts » The Enterprise

T: Operator error in trolley crash » Boston Herald

Companies tout renewable energy projects for Massachusetts | The Sun Herald » The Associated Press (AP)

Roslindale gas main fire has been burning since Sunday night » Boston Globe

In New England, Gone Are The Days When Septic Can Be Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind » WBUR

New tax code means big rate changes, uncertainty for power sector in 2018 » Utility Dive

Social Media Spotlight

massgovernor _jen_flanagan mbtapics

---

Massachusetts Gaming Commission MGC Meeting 12.21.17 CBS Boston Yvonne Spicer Makes History As First Mayor Of Framingham CBS Boston $10M Reward For Stolen Gardner Museum Art Expires Dec. 31 Sonia Chang-Díaz Double down on progress in 2018

---

---

Podcast Spotlight

Boston Herald Boston Herald Radio: Jim Borghesani on marijuana in Mass WBUR WBUR News: Boston's Homeless Have High Hopes For Marty Walsh's Second Term WAMC Northeast Report: MBI: Remaining Last Mile Towns On Set Path For Broadband Washington Post The Daily 202's Big Idea: Trump’s true priorities revealed in holiday news dumps

MassHousing Announces New Round of Neighborhood Stabilization Program Capital Grants » MassHousing

Fossil Fuel Companies Make Billions in Profit as We Suffer Billions in Losses: 2024 Edition » Union of Concerned Scientists

City of Boston and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Announce BlueBikes Support During 2024 MBTA Closures » Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Time to Speed Up the Pace of the Legislature » Progressive Mass

MBTA Commuter Rail and Keolis to Run Special Event Train Service for April 27 Match Between New England Revolution and Inter Miami CF » Keolis

Neal Opening Statement at Hearing on Biden Administration’s 2024 Trade Policy Agenda » Office of Congressman Richard Neal

Antisemitic Incidents in New England Soared 205 percent in 2023 » Anti-Defamation League

House Budget amendments need your voice! » National Association of Social Workers - Mass Chapter