11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Board of Fire Prevention Regulations Public Hearing, Department of Fire Services, State Road, Stow

1:00pm Joint Committee on Transportation, Public Hearing

5:30pm Rep. Tim Whelan's Holiday Reception with Gov. Charlie Baker

6:00pm Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera's Annual Holiday Party

How two housekeepers took on the president — and revealed that his company employed undocumented immigrants » Washington Post

Spilka and Budget Negotiators Cancel Flights to Israel » State House News Service

Climate activists not satisfied with Beacon Hill » South Coast Today

Experts: Revenue Boom Will Fade in Next Budget Cycle » State House News Service

Comptroller, Baker diverge on budget needs » Commonwealth Magazine

Keolis spending big bucks lobbying state » The Salem News

Sheriff’s e-mails show level of White House loyalty » Boston Globe

This isn’t a partisan hit job; Trump deserves to be impeached » Boston Globe

The key demographics of the Democratic Party are fragmenting » CNN

Bernie Sanders becomes top candidate for college students » Axios

Advocacy group: Naturalized citizens could swing battleground states in 2020 » The Hill

Ballot Question Landscape Coming Into Sharper Focus » Boston Herald

Prominent political donors charged in campaign finance scheme » Boston Globe

This isn’t a partisan hit job; Trump deserves to be impeached » Boston Globe

Warren Says Her Wealth Tax Would Pay For Needed Programs. Not Everyone Agrees » WBUR

John Kerry says he likes Elizabeth Warren and Deval Patrick. He’s endorsing Joe Biden. » Boston.com

Spotlight congestion investigation was McGrory’s idea » Commonwealth Magazine

Museum of Science names next president, nearly a year after departure of longtime leader » Boston Globe

Mass. banned vape sales more than two months ago. And now business in N.H. and Maine is booming » Boston Globe

Worcester, Pawtucket offer contrasting stadium incentives » Boston Globe

Prosecutors ask for 7- to 10-year prison term for drain company owner convicted in trench collapse case » Boston Globe

Law firm to move out of One Post Office Square, citing renovation work » Boston Business Journal

Urban Edge has $500M cash, is hungry for Boston area properties » Boston Business Journal

Court ruling a victory for open government » Boston Globe

‘No doubts about our future’: Ken Burns kicks off Hampshire College funding drive » Gazette Net

Free full-day kindergarten likely to happen » The Andover Townsman

Worcester school's Thanksgiving program rapped as 'insensitive' » Worcester Telegram

UMass lecturer disciplined for showing ‘offensive’ videos in class » Gazette Net

SJC to decide whether university should be held responsible for student’s rape » The Republican

NSCC president to retire in July » The Salem News

UMass accounting professor removed from classes until end of semester for ‘offensive’ extra credit videos » The Daily Collegian

Bills look to enable Mass. college athletes to be paid » The Herald News

Northampton climate plan generates comment, controversy » Gazette Net

The home of the largest barn swallow colony in Massachusetts will be demolished over safety concerns » The Republican

Note to Legislature: Don't Forget Simulcasting Law » State House News Service

Regulators Wading Through Region C Casino Issues » State House News Service

Report: Dorchester leads city in homeless prevention funds » Dorchester Reporter

Local legislators support bill that would protect immigrants in Massachusetts » News 22 WWLP.com

Citing religious beliefs, electrician sues SEIU, Boston College over mandatory union dues » Boston Globe

Experts: Labor Crunch Threatens State's Growth » State House News Service

Baker Backs Tarr Plan To Pair Senate and Prez Primaries » State House News Service

Weymouth council sheds light on next move regarding digital billboards » Wicked Local Weymouth

City Council votes to rezone Lynn’s waterfront districts » Lynn Daily News Item

Mayor claims zero tolerance for violence against city workers after DPW assault » The Eagle Tribune

Grant awards millions to infrastructure improvements around Somerville's Clarendon Hill redevelopment » Wicked Local Somerville

These Ballot Questions Just Took Big Leap Toward Making The Cut » Brookline Patch

Bourne selectman to enter state Senate race » Cape Cod Times

Newton Democratic party official calls Trump a ‘savage’ in holiday invite » Boston Herald

New tools needed in the fight against substance use disorder » Boston Globe

Flu is off to an alarming start, CDC says, with cases picking up in Massachusetts » Boston Herald

Guest column by Ananda Lennox: Protecting children from vaping » Gazette Net

End the religious exemption to vaccines » Commonwealth Magazine

Many Brookline schools have asbestos. Here’s what you need to know » Wicked Local Brookline

Legislature still at impasse over closing out 2019 books » Lowell Sun

Budget stalemate threatens Cape funding » Cape Cod Times

State's tax revenue boom appears to be fading » Boston Business Journal

Goldberg: S&P Not Ready for Mass. Rating Upgrade » State House News Service

Baker, Polito honor Gold Star families in Christmas tree ceremony at State House » Boston Globe

Despite fabricating degree, top official in medical examiner’s office promoted back into management » Boston Globe

Boston keeps homeowner property tax exemption, burden shifted to businesses » Boston Herald

Flavored tobacco ban expected to cost state $93 million » The Republican

Charlie Baker: Orange Line woes ‘unfortunate’ » Boston Herald

Gov. Charlie Baker supports decision to pull new Orange Line trains from service » WCVB

Former Merit Rating Board Director Thomas Bowes called employees ‘poor white trash,’ audit notes say » The Republican

Rep. William Straus On Baker Administration's Claims About The RMV: 'The Information Was In Front Of Them' » WGBH

T control board meeting less than law requires » Commonwealth Magazine

New Orange Line cars pulled from service due to ‘uncommon noise,’ return date unknown » Boston Globe

5 Things To Know About The East Coast Effort To Curb Transportation Emissions » New England Public Radio

Straus targets Pollack, d’Arbeloff on RMV » Commonwealth Magazine

Weston residents testify in support of gas legislation » Wicked Local Weston

Construction Begins on Weymouth Compressor Station » State House News Service

Social Media Spotlight

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WGBH News Rep. William Straus On Baker Administration's Claims About The RMV WCVB Channel 5 Boston Better to learn problems now, Baker says about Orange Line trains

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Podcast Spotlight

Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Murray The Horse Race: The Fourth Awakens WGBH Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan: Anti-Vaccination Movement Is Threatening Our Herd Immunity WBUR Radio Boston: Rep. Moulton Discusses Navy SEAL Pardon, Impeachment Hearings Bloomberg Baystate Business: Peloton, Housing, Steve Cohen NCSL Our American States: Teens in Foster Care: Challenges and Solutions

HB4210 - An Act relative to children's health and wellness

HB3008 - An Act to advance modern and sustainable solutions for transportation

HB2005 - An Act to prevent gun violence

HB4238 - An Act to improve and modernize the information technology systems and capacities of the judiciary

HB1971 - An Act relative to conducting fetal and infant mortality review

HB3146 - An Act relative to transportation infrastructure value capture

HB3999 - An Act relative to vaccinations and public health

HB102 - An Act to reduce deep poverty among kids

SB588 - An Act relative to mental health parity implementation

HB1907 - An Act relative to conducting fetal and infant mortality review

Audit Identifies Barriers to Access in Operational Services Division » MA Office of the State Auditor

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden Pays $5,000 Civil Penalty for Violating Conflict of Interest Law » MA State Ethics Commission

A Call for Climate Justice at the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights » Union of Concerned Scientists

Congresswoman Trahan Announces $3 Million In Head Start Funding For Making Opportunity Count In Fitchburg » Office of Congresswoman Lori Trahan

Whip Clark Statement on the Passing of Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. » Office of Congresswoman Katherine Clark

Administration opens Destination Development grant program » Mass. Municipal Association

Release: Airlines to disclose fees up front, give automatic refunds for cancellations, delays » MassPIRG

Ending the Tax Penalty Against Working Immigrants » Mass. Budget & Policy Center