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Today on Beacon Hill

11:00am House Session, Full Formal Session

“Every scientist and medical professional I hear from says we need the same six things, four Ts and two Ps: testing, tracing, treatments, time, PPE, and proof that what we think we know about the virus is accurate," he said in a statement. "From everything I’ve seen, the governor’s plan takes that advice seriously.”

Representative Seth Moulton

Commenting on Governor Baker's plan for economic re-opening.

News By Category
Beltway Politics

“WITH OBAMA HE’S GOING FOR THE JUGULAR”: AS TRUMP GOES AFTER OBAMA, SOME IN TRUMPWORLD SEE A “BIG RISK” » Vanity Fair

Joe Biden ducks Trump’s Obamagate hits: ‘I don’t want to get down in the mud’ » Boston Herald

Opinion: Finally, Obama hits back as Trump continues to scapegoat former president » Boston Herald

Opinion: It’s Trump vs. Obama 2020 » Boston Globe

‘We are not a virus, we are human beings.’ Trump’s China bashing could alienate Asian-American voters » Boston Globe

Business

What The Mass. 4-Phase Reopening Plan Looks Like For Arts & Culture Organizations » WBUR

Small businesses on Outer Cape and others need $150M state relief program » Wicked Local Provincetown

Oxford Gym Defying Gov. Baker’s Orders Receives Warning From Town Board Of Health » CBS Boston

Cape Cod Memorial Day weekend amid coronavirus: Expect masks on the beach, shuttered hotels » Boston Herald

Baker's reopening plan allows popular outdoor festival » Cape Cod Times

Virus trends may enable Cape to salvage season » South Coast Today

Grubhub says a cap on delivery fees in Boston would be an ‘overstep.’ Restaurants say the costs are unsustainable. » Boston.com

After farmers market Facebook page says ‘Don’t bring children,’ Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno demands apology » The Republican

Cape Cod Task Force 'Cautiously Optimistic' About Summer Season As Mass. Reopens » WBUR

This is what happens if a business violates Massachusetts’ COVID-19 safety standards for reopening » Boston.com

Big expectations as movie-goers await theaters' re-opening » Worcester Telegram

'Ultimate slap in the face’: Restaurant owners in disbelief as Mass. avoids providing details for industry to reopen » MassLive

How Will Reopening Restrictions Be Enforced? Jon Keller Answers Your Questions » CBS Boston

Massachusetts’s Ban on Debt Collection Calls During COVID-19 Struck Down as Unconstitutional » National Law Review

Newton mayor urges AG to protect restaurants from increased delivery fees during coronavirus crisis » Boston Globe

Massachusetts gym owner ignores state ban amid coronavirus pandemic, tells gyms to join him » Boston Herald

While Some Local Businesses Prepare To Open Doors, Others Remain In The Dark » WBUR

Baker Stresses Phase One Restart Decisions Up to Employers » State House News Service

Editorial: Reopening should create a better place to live and work in Greater Boston » Boston Business Journal

Baker says municipalities can set office occupancy caps lower than 25% » Boston Business Journal

Civil Rights

ACLU sues Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson’s office after ‘violent incident’ over coronavirus testing at immigration detention facility » MassLive

Education

Boston University to halt contributions to employee retirement funds due to Covid-19 issues » Universal Hub

BC intends to hold classes on campus, as other colleges wrestle with decisions on fall semester » Boston Globe

Activists push back on state intervention in BPS » The Bay State Banner

Worcester teachers union raps superintendent over remote learning, plans protest » Worcester Telegram

Roxbury Community College Prepares For Potential Surge In Enrollment Amidst Pandemic » WBUR

‘Online education is going to be more and more important,' UMass president says » Boston Business Journal

Environment

As Summer's Siren Calls, Trustees Reopen 5 More Properties Before Memorial Day Weekend » WBUR

Federal

Warren, Mnuchin Spar Over Coronavirus Funding Oversight During Senate Hearing » WBUR

Warren presses Mnuchin on terms of CARES Act business loans, wants CEOs held criminally liable for violations » Boston Globe

Health Care

Opinion: As reopening begins, we worry about a second surge » Commonwealth Magazine

Why was Wellesley COVID-19 test site dropped? » Commonwealth Magazine

DPH finds psychiatric beds at Providence Behavioral Health Hospital ‘necessary’ » Gazette Net

Why does it take so long to make a vaccine? » Boston Globe

‘This is not how you do science’: Cambridge biotech Moderna’s potential COVID-19 vaccine stirs hope — and criticism » Boston Globe

Tewksbury Hospital reports increased COVID-19 numbers » Lowell Sun

Health system turns slowly back to preventative care » Lowell Sun

A Coronavirus Fad Or The Future Of Medicine? Telehealth Is Having A Moment » WBUR

Human Services

Food Pantry Staffer Embraces 'Rewarding Exhaustion' In Essential Duties » New England Public Radio

Immigration

Markey Calls For Halting Deportations To Haiti During Pandemic » WBUR

Labor

Boston Fed chief: Expect double-digit unemployment through 2020 » Boston Globe

Union: Labor Needs 'Seat At The Table' In Reopening » WBUR

Labor Chief Will Eye Clues in Unemployment Data » State House News Service

Legislative

Opinion: Fitchburg State Sen. Dean Tran is a lame duck » Lowell Sun

Massachusetts State House remains closed as state begins reopening process during coronavirus pandemic » The Republican

Local Government

Somerville is restricting access to cars on some streets to create a network for pedestrians and cyclists » Boston Globe

Walsh may move slower than Baker on reopening » Commonwealth Magazine

Gardner task force weighs Gov. Baker's plan to reopen state from shutdown » The Gardner News

With Mass. starting the reopening process, Walsh strikes a cautious note » Boston Globe

Somerville Deviating From State Reopening Timeline » Brookline Patch

Natick Town Administrator Melissa Malone offers to take a pay cut during pandemic » The Metro West Daily News

Ashland town manager anticipates no layoffs, furloughs for fiscal 2021 » The Metro West Daily News

Coronavirus in Boston: Marty Walsh urges caution in reopening, says he’ll put health and safety first » Boston Herald

Politics

Moran wins Senate seat in Plymouth and Barnstable District » Patriot Ledger

Markey takes heat from Kennedy backer over service to black community » Boston Herald

After Arduous Campaign, Victory for Velis & a Vastly Changed World » Western Mass Politics and Insight

Public Health

Opinion: Moderna’s claim of favorable results in its vaccine trial is an example of ‘publication by press release’ » Washington Post

Opinion: Science isn’t liberal or conservative, red or blue » Commonwealth Magazine

Boston mayor: Caution needed to avoid second shutdown » South Coast Today

Former Massachusetts health commissioner: How to avert future coronavirus crisis » Boston Herald

Mass. reports 873 new coronavirus cases, 76 new fatalities; UMass model predicts death toll will rise over 8,100 » Boston Globe

What we know — and don’t — about the new child inflammatory syndrome linked to coronavirus » Boston Globe

Health Experts Are Hopeful But Nervous About Mass. Reopening » WBUR

Pressley, Elugardo, Goldstein Talking About COVID-19 Path to Recovery on May 20 » Jamaica Plain News

Drug Consumption Pilot Netted 13 Votes on Committee » State House News Service

How to stay safe from coronavirus as you venture out during Mass. reopening » Boston Globe

Two studies suggest COVID-19 antibodies provide immunity » Boston Globe

Public Safety

ACLU Sues Bristol Sheriff For Access To Incident Recordings » WBUR

Massachusetts District Attorney tried to do the right thing in Dover doctor domestic violence case » Boston Herald

Lawyers in Gregg Bigda police brutality trial fight to bar testimony on ‘toxic love triangle,’ alleged drinking on the job » The Republican

Coronavirus Speedway: Massachusetts State Police report extreme speeding during coronavirus pandemic » Boston Herald

State Government

Reopening’s risks, rewards becomes state’s uncertain path » Lowell Sun

Howie Carr: Welcome to the commonwealth of micro-managing » Boston Herald

2020: The Year of the Tyrant [OPINION] » WBSM

Transportation

MBTA Debt, Spending Plans Flagged as Concerns » State House News Service

A Lawmaker Wants Fast Trains to Rev Up the US Economy » Wired

Greater Attleboro Transit Authority getting over $18M from feds » The Sun Chronicle

MBTA overseer: Pandemic offers opportunity to revamp how we get to work » Boston Business Journal

Utilities

Attorney General Offering Utility and Telecom Bill Advisories » Cape Cod Online

Job Board
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Recipe of the Week

Ingredients

Dough
1 tsp. active dry yeast
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1½ tsp. sugar
1 tsp. kosher salt
4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
¾ cup. (1½ sticks) chilled unsalted European-style butter, cut into ½" pieces
1 Tbsp. finely grated Parmesan
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. onion powder
¼ tsp. dried oregano
¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
¼ tsp. paprika

Filling
1 24-oz. jar marinara sauce
2 oz. sliced pepperoni, chopped
2 oz. sliced hot or sweet soppressata, chopped
8 oz. low-moisture whole-milk mozzarella, finely chopped
6 Tbsp. finely grated Parmesan
¼ tsp. dried oregano
¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt (optional)

Seasoning Mix and Assembly
2 Tbsp. plain fine dried breadcrumbs
½ tsp. kosher salt
½ tsp. onion powder
¼ tsp. paprika
Pinch of cayenne pepper
All-purpose flour (for dusting)
1 large egg white, beaten to blend

Directions

Dough: Whisk yeast and ¼ cup warm water in a large bowl until yeast is dissolved. Whisk in oil, sugar, salt, and 1¼ cups room-temperature water. Add 4 cups (500 g) flour and stir with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.

Turn dough out onto a clean surface and knead to bring together and incorporate any loose flour. Continue to knead, dusting with more flour as needed to prevent sticking, until the dough is very smooth and firm and no longer sticky, 10–12 minutes. Gather dough into a ball, dust with more flour, and place in a clean large bowl. Cover with a damp towel. Let the dough sit in a warm draft-free spot until doubled in size, about 1½ hours.

Meanwhile, place butter on a large sheet of parchment paper and sprinkle Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, pepper, and paprika on top; toss butter to coat. Place in a pile on 1 side of parchment. Fold opposite side of parchment over; lightly beat with a rolling pin in several directions until butter is pliable and forms into a single mass (it should still be cold and have a waxy texture, not soft and greasy looking). Unfold parchment and use a small offset spatula or butter knife to spread butter into about a 7" square. Fold parchment back over butter, this time enclosing it in a neat square packet like you’re wrapping a present. Place packet seam side down, then roll over it with the rolling pin to smooth butter into an even layer and work into corners of packet. Chill until dough is ready.

Turn dough out onto surface and punch down with your fist to deflate. Place on a rimmed baking sheet lined with a sheet of plastic wrap and stretch into about a 9" square, flattening it with the heel of your hand. Cover with another sheet of plastic wrap and freeze until dough is very firm but not frozen solid, 10–15 minutes.

Remove dough from freezer and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Remove butter from refrigerator and unwrap. Place butter on top of dough, arranging in the center at a 45° angle so it looks like a diamond set inside the square of dough. Fold dough corners up and over butter so they join in the center. Pinch along the seams to seal. You should now have a square of dough completely encasing the butter.

Dust underneath and on top of dough with more flour, then roll out into a long, even slab that’s about 3 times longer than it is wide, keeping the ends as square as possible. Fold slab from short ends into thirds like a letter to form a square packet, then rotate the dough 90-degrees and roll out again to the same dimensions. Try to work quickly to prevent butter from softening and making dough sticky and hard to roll (if this happens, chill dough about 10 minutes before proceeding). Fold in thirds again, then wrap in plastic and chill until dough is very firm, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.

Filling: Arrange a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°. Line a small rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and pour marinara onto sheet; spread into a single layer. Bake, stirring with a heatproof rubber spatula every 15 minutes, until sauce is thickened, darker in color, and starting to blacken around the edges, 45–60 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300° and continue to cook, stirring every 15 minutes, until sauce holds its shape and is the consistency of tomato paste, 45–60 minutes more. Let cool.

Meanwhile, toss pepperoni, soppressata, mozzarella, Parmesan, oregano, and red pepper flakes in a large bowl to combine. Add reduced tomato sauce and mix well to evenly distribute. Taste filling. It probably doesn’t need salt, but add a pinch if you think it does.

Using a kitchen scale, measure out filling into 60 g portions. Press each portion between your hands (wear gloves if you have them) to form tightly compacted 4x1" rectangles. Place portions on a large plate or a rimmed baking sheet and chill, uncovered, until ready to assemble hot pockets.

Do Ahead: Filling can be made 4 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.

Seasoning Mix and Assembly: Toss breadcrumbs, salt, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne in a small bowl to combine; set aside.

Roll out chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to a large ¼"-thick slab a little more than 22x11", dusting underneath and on top with more flour as needed. Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut into a sharp even 22x11" rectangle, then cut rectangle in half lengthwise. Cut each half crosswise in fourths to make eight 6x5½" rectangles.

Working with 1 square at a time, lightly floured work surface and thin out and elongate both longer sides of dough with rolling pin, leaving about a thicker 1½" wide strip in the center. Place a portion of filling on thicker part, then brush thinner sides with a thin layer of egg white. Trim the thinner edges to make them straight, if needed, then fold them up and over the filling, overlapping as much as possible. Trim away all but about 1½" excess dough on shorter sides, then pinch them firmly together to seal. Fold shorter sides up and over like a burrito. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, seam side down. Once you have finished assembling all of the hot pockets, make sure they are evenly spaced out on the baking sheet and cover with a damp towel. Let sit at room temperature until slightly puffed, 15–25 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 300°.

Uncover hot pockets and brush all over with remaining egg white. Sprinkle with reserved breadcrumb mixture and cut four ½"-long vents in the surface of each one, spacing evenly. Bake until hot pockets are puffed and golden brown all over and illing is lightly bubbling, 30–35 minutes. Let cool before serving.

Do Ahead: Hot pockets can be made 2 days ahead. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature.



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