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Today on Beacon Hill

8:20am Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu on WGBH’s Morning Edition with Joe Mathieu, 89.7 FM

9:00am Joint Committee on Revenue, Public Hearing

10:00am Division of Family & Medical Leave Public Hearing, Via WebEx

11:00am Mass. State Lottery Commission Public Hearing, Remote hearing via teleconference

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Full Formal Session

Birthdays: Attorney General Andrea Campbell

Today's Graphic
via Commonwealth Magazine

“The fact that [Baker] is ready puts pressure on all of the people who normally wouldn’t come and negotiate with the Black and Latino caucus,” Holmes said. “The community needs to know that we heard them and we can pass something quickly. We don’t want this to get tied up in the fight back and forth in the building.”

Representative Russell E. Holmes

Speaking about proposed legislation to sharpen the accountability of the state’s police departments.

News By Category
Beltway Politics

Patrick Kennedy’s ties to Iranian exile group becomes campaign issue in South Jersey » Politico

Opinion: Calling for law and order isn’t fascist » Boston Herald

By chance, Ed Markey was standing in his driveway. ‘Welcome to the compound!’ » Boston Globe

Trump dodges police reform as Americans show huge shift in favor of Black Lives Matter » Boston Globe

Trump picks Tulsa and June 19 for return of signature campaign rallies » Boston Globe

Facing electoral headwinds, Trump brings back his 2016 team » Boston Herald

Business

Simon Property leans on pandemic to nix deal with rival Taubman » Boston Globe

Hampden County sheriff, Chicopee mayor distribute face masks, shields to salons, barbershops » The Republican

AMC Theatres expects to fully open locations by July following financials woes caused by the coronavirus pandemic » The Republican

North End restaurateurs optimistic as city accelerates outdoor seating » Boston Herald

Financing crunch forces developers to downsize plan for Winthrop Center tower » Boston Globe

Owner of Prime Fitness in Oxford ordered to close gym after operating in defiance of Gov. Charlie Baker’s phased coronavirus reopening plan » The Republican

On tenterhooks, Mass. businesses navigate start of Phase 2 » Boston Business Journal

Consumer prices dropped for a third straight month in May, a first » Boston Globe

Coronavirus canceled this year’s pro.found market in Lancaster, organizers created a website for week-long virtual experience set to launch Thursday morning » The Republican

Springfield’s promotion of outdoor dining has restaurants excited about opening » The Republican

Plimoth Plantation staff gears up for reopening » The Metro West Daily News

Simon Reopens Several Massachusetts Malls » CBS Boston

Boylston Street Four Seasons hotel lays off nearly half its staff » Boston Globe

More money for owner and employee pay? Experts weigh in on new PPP law » Boston Business Journal

'I Have A Guy In China': Inside The Pandemic Market For Medical Masks » WBUR

Millennium Partners cuts residential units from Winthrop Center » Boston Business Journal

As Reopening Continues, a Not-Quite-Normal Mall Experience Awaits » Boston Magazine

Fog Clearing and Some Sun in Cape’s Summer Biz Outlook » State House News Service

State Putting Up $$$ to Help With Dining, Retail Logistics » State House News Service

Mass. restaurant attracts many outdoor diners after rolling out ‘touchless’ menu » WHDH

Four hotels announce layoffs; a sector struggles to survive » Boston Business Journal

Cannabis & Psychedelics

Google, YouTube block Mass. marijuana PSAs » Boston Business Journal

Civil Rights

King memorial nearly ready for Boston Common as backer begins second effort to honor civil rights leader » Boston Globe

Why We March: For Morphic CEO, ‘it requires all of us’ » Boston Business Journal

'I want my life to matter' -- Haverhill voices heard at forum on racism » The Eagle Tribune

Crimes

Petition Calls For Hate Crime Charge Against Bus Driver » Brookline Patch

Education

Newburyport schools to set up reopening task force » Newburyport News

Massachusetts schools face uphill battle on reopening guidelines, funding for the fall » Boston Herald

Students likely to attend school only part time this fall, local officials warn » Boston Globe

Classes on weekends, no spring break: Colleges scramble academic schedules for upcoming year » Boston Globe

‘I feel terrible about how all this has played out for you’: Gov. Charlie Baker tells Massachusetts high school graduates in state-wide virtual commencement » The Republican

Dorothy Zinberg, a founding member of the Belfer Center at the Harvard Kennedy School, dies at 92 » Boston Globe

22 Spencer-East Brookfield teachers to get pink slips » Worcester Telegram

Berklee College bans Boston cops from restrooms » Boston Herald

Actress Jenny Slate asks Massachusetts high school graduates to vote and to ‘use your voices to make this world a sweeter, more just and safer place’ in virtual ceremony » The Republican

Opinion: Police aren’t needed in schools » Commonwealth Magazine

Plans for new consolidated school in Mason Square section of Springfield moving forward » The Republican

UMass Dartmouth chancellor to exit after three years » Boston Business Journal

Environment

Bump in wildlife sightings as Salem quarantines » Wicked Local Salem

DCR Re-opens Parking at Constitution Beach Last Thursday after a Flurry of Complaints from Neighbors » East Boston Times-Free Press

Health Care

Despite pandemic, health care jobs may be lost » Commonwealth Magazine

Testing accelerated for coronavirus vaccine developed by Beth Israel, Johnson & Johnson » Boston Globe

Moderna’s expedited Covid-19 vaccine trial to test 30,000 » Boston Business Journal

Mass. health-spending target won’t change in 2021 » Boston Globe

Furloughed nurses concerned Mass. hospital money problems will impact care » Health Leaders

Mass. physician practices face potential closures, consolidations » Boston Business Journal

Close, Sell, Consolidate? Tough Prognosis For Some Massachusetts Health Care Providers » WBUR

Human Services

DiDomenico Leads the Fight to End Deep Poverty » Everett Independent

Governor Baker tours Greater Boston Food Bank » News 22 WWLP.com

Insurance

Connector Asks Feds to Mitigate Health Insurance Risks » State House News Service

Judiciary

Appeals Court Judge Plans Return to Superior Court » State House News Service

Gov. Baker nominates Judge Edward McDonough of Longmeadow for return to Superior Court » The Republican

Labor

Editorial: Public-sector cuts next cloud on jobs horizon » Boston Herald

Job Losses Sting Usually Stable Health Care Sector » State House News Service

1.5 million more laid-off workers seek unemployment benefits » Boston Herald

Unemployment fraud is on the rise in Massachusetts » WCVB

Legislative

Taunton Rep. Doherty sworn in, ready to focus on school budgets » Taunton Gazette

Rep. Day visits Life Care Center of Stoneham » Wicked Local Stoneham

Black and Latino Caucus meet with legislative leaders to discuss changes to policing in MA » News 22 WWLP.com

New Taunton Rep Worried About School Budget Cuts » State House News Service

Senate President Spilka Forms Senate Advisory Group on Racial Justice » Framingham Source

Moran Appointed to 3 Senate Committees » Cape Cod Online

Local Government

Our View: Town meetings innovate under stress » The Eagle Tribune

Melrose departments prepare to re-open, residents patience with coronavirus protocals appreciated » Wicked Local Melrose

O.B. town hall set at $13.4 million » Martha's Vineyard Times

Springfield won’t open city pools amid coronavirus pandemic » The Republican

Beach rules change for Phase 2 » Gloucester Times

Boston city councilors call for policing, school reforms » Boston Herald

Vandalized statue of Christopher Columbus will be removed pending a review, Mayor Walsh says » Boston Globe

Walsh: Boston Playgrounds, Splash Pads Can Reopen June 15 » CBS Boston

Mayor Walsh says he's open to talks on renaming Faneuil Hall » Boston Business Journal

Brookline Election: Hamilton, VanScoyoc Win Seats On Select Board » Brookline Patch

Brookline To Raise Banner To Support Black Lives Matter: Greene » Brookline Patch

Motion over redirecting $4.1M in police funding causes council to explode in anger, accusations » Cambridge Day

Beheading of Columbus statue prompts discussion » Commonwealth Magazine

Someone Beheaded the Christopher Columbus Statue in Boston…Again » Boston Magazine

BOSTON USED FACE RECOGNITION BEFORE. DESPITE POTENTIAL BAN, IT LIKELY WILL AGAIN. » Dig Boston

Politics

Could crises end Marty Walsh’s reign of mayor? » Boston Herald

Mary Foley Bulger, wife of former state Senate president, dies at 84 » Boston Globe

Will protesters march into voting booths this year? » Boston Globe

Councilor Gomez to Again Contest Hampden Senate Primary » Western Mass Politics and Insight

In race for open Kennedy seat, candidates try anything to break through » Boston Globe

SEIU backs Mermell in 4th District race » WPRI.com

Democrat Auchincloss, seeking Kennedy seat, was a registered Republican in 2014 » Boston Globe

Walsh goes from shoo-in to hot seat » Commonwealth Magazine

Progressive Caucus co-chair endorses Kennedy in Massachusetts Senate primary » The Hill

Greenfield mayor, other officials endorse Markey for Senate » The Recorder

Our View: Another sleepy election » The Andover Townsman

CANDIDATE FOR PLYMOUTH SELECT BOARD: John T. Mahoney Jr. » Wicked Local Plymouth

Public Health

UMass forecast update: COVID-19 deaths nationwide will reach 130,000 by July 4 » The Republican

Mass. reports 267 new coronavirus cases, 46 new deaths as key metrics continue to fall » Boston Globe

Opioid Overdose Deaths Down 5.7 Percent in First Quarter » State House News Service

Focus shifts to racial disparities in the health of mothers as lawmakers respond to coronavirus pandemic, calls for racial justice » The Republican

UMass team forecasts 130,000 COVID-19 deaths in US by July 4 » Gazette Net

Protests, reopenings cause fears of coronavirus spikes in Massachusetts cities with highest infection rates » Boston Herald

Opioid overdose deaths in Massachusetts declined in first three months of 2020, state health officials say » MassLive

Massachusetts DPH reports steady decline in Covid-19 testing » News 22 WWLP.com

Late night deals, international holdups, and curious characters: Inside the state’s quest for PPE » Boston Globe

Group pushes Baker on opioid deaths » The Metro West Daily News

Public Safety

National Guard moving out of Boston as protests continue » Boston Herald

Big 3 on board for policing, racism legislation » Commonwealth Magazine

Massachusetts Police Reform Bill Would Require Officers Be Certified, Ban Chokeholds » CBS Boston

Protesters call for city to reallocate police funding, remove officers from schools » Boston Globe

Surveillance technology used by police gets fresh scrutiny after nationwide protests, looting » Boston Globe

‘More of a free spirit’ than anarchist, pastor says of Worcester teen arrested for allegedly possessing Molotov cocktails at protest » Boston Globe

DeLeo, Spilka Attach Immediacy to Policing, Justice Bill » State House News Service

‘Cutting the budget doesn’t deal with racism’: Mayor Walsh says slashing police funding isn’t enough to bring change » Boston Globe

Boston police officers’ personal info leaked online » Boston.com

Marty Walsh not looking to lay off Boston police as he mulls reallocating funds » Boston Herald

Boston police support the effort to ban facial recognition technology — for now » Boston.com

Fireworks complaints in Boston skyrocket by 2,300% during coronavirus pandemic » Boston Herald

A massive group of athletes, including Tom Brady and several Patriots, are voicing support for Ayanna Pressley’s qualified immunity bill » Boston.com

A longtime effort to license Mass. police officers is gaining support — and lawmakers could take action soon » Boston.com

Baker readies bill to create statewide certification process for police » Boston Globe

'We're Tired Of Being Scared': Bostonians Who Have Had Close Encounters With Police Say It's Time For A Change » WBUR

Time for standardized police training in Massachusetts? » Commonwealth Magazine

State Government

HHS Secretary Was Warned Of 'Crisis' At Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Earlier Than Administration Has Said, Documents Suggest » WBUR

Brockton legislators split over legalizing online Lottery sales » The Enterprise

Healey Advises Stimulus Debit Cards are Legitimate » Cape Cod Online

Gov. Charlie Baker stands by timeline for when he learned about coronavirus deaths at Holyoke Soldiers Home as reports question when administration knew » The Republican

Baker Warns That Reopening Plans Could Change if Infections Rise Again » NECN

Taxation

As Massachusetts analysts take stock of economic toll of coronavirus, report makes case for Baker’s sales tax modernization proposal » The Republican

Transportation

East-West rail facing big hurdles » Commonwealth Magazine

MassDOT Jacks Up East-West Rail Ridership Estimates » State House News Service

East-West Rail Use Estimates Were Way Off, MassDOT Says » New England Public Radio

Senate, House Now In Agreement on $300 Mil Road Program » State House News Service

$5 million grant program aims to create new shared spaces in Massachusetts » WCVB

MassDOT Offering Municipal Grants to Outdoor Dining, Mobility » iBerkshires

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The Week In Review

Most read bills of the week:

SB2680 - An Act relative to municipal governance during the COVID-19 emergency

HB4768 - An Act relative to voting options in response to COVID-19

HB4672 - An Act addressing COVID-19 data collection and disparities in treatment

HB4745 - An Act providing hazard pay for essential workers in the COVID-19 emergency

HB4774 - An Act addressing challenges faced by food and beverage establishments resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic

SB2739 - An Act authorizing and accelerating transportation investment

HB4740 - An Act relative to emergency hazard health benefits for essential employees

HB4547 - An Act authorizing and accelerating transportation investment

SB2618 - An Act providing additional support to those affected by the novel coronavirus through the unemployment insurance system

HB4778 - An Act relative to voting options in response to COVID-19

House Actions This Week: 50

Senate Actions This Week: 32


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