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Today on Beacon Hill

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, Public Hearing

2:00pm Commission on Structural Racism in the Massachusetts Probation Service, Virtual Hearing

4:00pm Boston Business Journal's 2021 Best Places to Work, Via Zoom
Must-Reads

The Seaport Cost Billions To Build. What Will It Take To Save It? » WBUR

Life sciences is poised to be Boston’s dominant industry. Has the area become the Silicon Valley of biotech? » Boston Globe

Southern Baptists elect Ed Litton as their president, a defeat for the hard right » Washington Post

Days Late, Beacon Hill Gets Its Post-COVID Act Together — Almost » WGBH

'We’re In A Bad Way': Calling For A Civic Rebirth, Danielle Allen Launches Gubernatorial Bid » WGBH

‘We will not be broken:’ Nurses strike in Worcester reaches 100 days » Boston Globe

‘It was exhaustion, it was sadness, it was fatigue’: America’s mayors call it quits » Politico

NY: New York’s insurgent left turns its focus to Buffalo » :Politico Pro

FL: A DeSantis-Fried debate breaks out during Florida Cabinet meeting » Florida Phoenix

In launching gubernatorial bid, Danielle Allen says Democrats have ‘settled for too little’ under Baker » Boston Globe

Is state primed for sports betting? » Commonwealth Magazine

With housing at center of Boston mayor’s race, labor and developers are organizing to push candidates » Boston Globe

Jared Kushner agrees book deal for ‘definitive’ account of Trump presidency » The Guardian

“PURE INSANITY”: TRUMP PRESSURED THE DOJ TO INVESTIGATE A CRACKPOT THEORY THAT ITALIAN SATELLITES CHANGED TRUMP VOTES TO BIDEN ONES » Vanity Fair

CA: Enough fentanyl to kill San Francisco: the new wave of the opioid crisis sweeping California » The Guardian

Biden pressed to go ‘big and bold’ in rooting out housing discrimination » Politico

Unknown to Most, Mariano Voted Last Week from Florida » State House News Service

"Too Much Steam" Building Around Redistricting Process, Senator Says » State House News Service

ME: Maine Legislature close to enacting measure to rein in foreign referendum spending » Bangor Daily News

Bishops to debate banning communion for president » The Hill

“Under the Trump Administration, we saw this arcane and cruel policy weaponized, resulting in an unprecedented execution spree. The Boston Marathon bombing was a devasting day in our city and I am deeply committed to accountability and healing for the families robbed of a loved one and our community writ large. But let me be clear – no just nation should be in the business of executing people.

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley

Making a statement on the request by the Department of Justice for the Supreme Court to reinstate the death penalty in the Dzhokhar Tsarnaev case.
News By Category
Beltway Politics

US Senate passes bill to recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday » MassLive

Buoyed by allied summits, Biden ready to take on Putin » Boston Globe

Senate approves bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday » Boston Globe

Pelosi says the House will move forward with Jan. 6 investigations » Boston Globe

Military defends Jan. 6 response as House steps up probes » Boston Globe

Opinion: Mitch McConnell, a.k.a. the new ‘Mr. Nyet’ » Boston Globe

‘Two great powers’: Biden, Putin plunge into hours of talks » Boston Herald

Opinion: Biden strategy takes on homegrown extremism » Boston Globe

Business

Massachusetts lawmakers hammering out COVID policy extensions including to-go alcohol sales, eviction protections » MassLive

Big E announces 2021 fair on day Massachusetts drops pandemic restrictions » Hartford Courant

Mass. Lawmakers File Legislation To Avoid 'Egg Armageddon' After 2016 Animal Rights Referendum » WGBH

Automakers Unable to Comply With Right to Repair Law, Group Says » Bloomberg Law

Salem Firm Agrees To Repay State $3.5 Million For Promised Medical Masks, In Deal With AG » WBUR

Cannabis & Psychedelics

Cannabis Commission order continues curbside pickup option » News 22 WWLP.com

State Urged to Form Equity Fund to Address Cannabis Industry Access » State House News Service

Minority marijuana businesses seek state-backed capital » Commonwealth Magazine

First recreational marijuana dispensary opens in Upper, Mid-Cape areas » Cape Cod Times

Civil Rights

Ed Markey, Elizabeth Warren, Ayanna Pressley reintroduce legislation to stop government use of facial recognition » Boston Herald

At Boston Pride forum, candidates talk cops at parade, loss of queer spaces » Dorchester Reporter

Crimes

Baker backs Biden push for death sentence in Boston Marathon bombing » News 22 WWLP.com

Death penalty should be reinstated for Tsarnaev in Boston Marathon bombings case, Biden administration tells Supreme Court » Boston Globe

Education

UMass to immortalize hoops stars with bronze statues » Gazette Net

State provides $25 million to Bridgewater State for education, health sciences expansion » The Enterprise

A lottery for exam schools in Boston? Mayoral hopefuls react to the idea » Boston Globe

Environment

Earth Matters: Conte wildlife refuge is a 30x30 example for the nation » Gazette Net

Maura Healey calls on SEC to require companies to disclose climate change financial risks » Boston Herald

Gaming

Gambling revenues up at Encore Boston Harbor, down slightly at MGM Springfield, Plainridge Park » MassLive

Health Care

COVID-19 shots for health-care workers a sensible demand » Lowell Sun

Housing

Mental health and housing instability worsened for LGBTQ youth during pandemic, report says » Boston Globe

Somerville protest demands eviction moratorium be extended » Fox 25 News

Human Services

Independent Review Office Sought to Ensure Foster Care Accountability » State House News Service

Holyoke Soldiers’ Home reopens search for new superintendent after first pick backs out » MassLive

Labor

Western Mass. home health agency failed to pay workers overtime and travel time » News 22 WWLP.com

Legislative

Unknown to Most, Mariano Voted Last Week from Florida » State House News Service

Local Government

Walczak honored with naming of ball field at Szot Park » The Reminder

Emergency ‘lifted’ in Pittsfield, but health officials continue vigilance » Berkshire Eagle

Our View: About those remote meetings » The Eagle Tribune

How Massachusetts communities are celebrating the state’s first official Juneteenth » Boston Globe

Little change in municipal building routine as emergency ends » Dartmouth Week

Following state's lead, Pittsfield lifts state of emergency » Berkshire Eagle

'Viva Fall River' mural in the city is more than a painting, it's a movement » WPRI.com

Politics

Candidate for governor Danielle Allen visits Springfield » News 22 WWLP.com

Mayoral candidate Rick McKenna envisions Framingham as transportation hub » The Metro West Daily News

Michelle Wu looks to city of Boston resources in Methadone Mile mayoral plan » Boston Herald

Nevada Democrats just passed a law taking aim at the New Hampshire primary. But infighting and other circumstances might spare it » Boston Globe

Allen Touts “Core Progressive Values” in Guv Campaign Launch » State House News Service

Harvard professor Danielle Allen announces run for governor » Boston Herald

Executive Privilege: Danielle Allen Joins Still-Settling Gubernatorial Field » Western Mass Politics and Insight

Public Health

‘Stop The Stubbornness’: Mass. GOP Official Urges Fellow Conservatives To Get Vaccinated » CBS Boston

COVID Command Center comes to an end » News 22 WWLP.com

Baker announces ‘VaxMillions’ lottery program, offering $1 million cash prizes to boost vaccination rates » Boston Globe

Charts: A good summer appears on the horizon as coronavirus numbers drop to low levels » Boston Globe

Mass. joins several other states already deploying vaccine lotteries » Boston Globe

Baker to announce new initiative to increase vaccination rates in Mass. » Berkshire Eagle

Charlie Baker announces $1 million ‘VaxMillions’ giveaway » Boston Herald

Your vaccine card could make you a millionaire with new ‘Vax Millions’ giveaway » News 22 WWLP.com

Massachusetts launches Bluetooth coronavirus alert as state of emergency ends » Boston Herald

Coronavirus was present in Massachusetts in December 2019, weeks before first reported cases: NIH » Boston Herald

Five $1M cash prizes aim to entice unvaccinated in Massachusetts » Berkshire Eagle

More than 4 million people fully vaccinated in Massachusetts, hospitalizations at record low » Boston Herald

55 cases, 2 deaths, and 47,980 vaccinations: See today’s new COVID-19 data from Mass. » Boston Globe

Commuter Rail Vax Express Brings COVID-19 Shots to Lawrence on Haverhill Line Saturday » WHAV

Gov. Charlie Baker launches MassNotify, new tool to enhance COVID-19 exposure awareness » WCVB

Public Safety

Boston police officer accused of slamming person will face charge after previous dismissal » Boston Herald

'It's taken some bad people off the streets': Major drug ring busted up in New Bedford » South Coast Today

Editorial: Where mental illness and criminal justice meet » Boston Globe

Prosecutor Supports Commutation Petition For William Allen » WBUR

State Government

Lottery prepares address-check policy in wake of audit » News 22 WWLP.com

Lawmakers strike deal to restore pandemic-era policies, including eviction protections, to-go cocktails » Boston Globe

Editorial: A lemon of a census could be election reform lemonade » Boston Globe

Howie Carr: Good time Charlie Baker’s got the lotto blues » Boston Herald

“Too much steam” building around redistricting process, senator says » News 22 WWLP.com

Pandemic Policies Compromise Sent to Guv’s Desk » State House News Service

Taxation

Remote-Work Tax No Longer an Issue, Massachusetts Tells Justices » Bloomberg Business

Transportation

Mass. RMV still requiring appointments as state of emergency ends » WPRI.com

Utilities

A power play? Steam plant owner aims to decarbonize downtown with huge building project » Boston Globe

Federal judge blocks Biden’s pause on new oil, gas leases » Boston Globe

Job Board
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Recipe of the Week

Ingredients

For the Topping:

5 ounces light brown sugar (about 2/3 cup, packed; 140g)

3 3/4 ounces whole wheat flour (about 3/4 cup, spooned; 105g)

4 ounces old-fashioned rolled oats (about 1 1/3 cups; 115g)

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon whole anise seed (optional)

1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder

1/4 teaspoon (1g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use half as much by volume or use the same weight

5 ounces unsalted butter (10 tablespoons; 140g), soft but cool, about 68°F (20°C)

5 ounces raw pecan pieces (about 1 cup; 140g)

 

For the Filling:

2 3/4 pounds rhubarb, cut into 3/4-inch pieces (about 11 cups; 1.25kg), from around eighteen 24-inch stalks (3 pounds; 1.35kg)

10 1/2 ounces sugar (about 1 1/2 cups; 300g)

2 1/2 ounces tapioca flour (about 2/3 cup; 75g), such as Bob’s Red Mill

2 ounces elderflower liqueur or water (1/4 cup; 55g)

3/4 teaspoon (3g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use half as much by volume or use the same weight

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Directions

For the Topping: Combine brown sugar, whole wheat flour, rolled oats, cinnamon, anise seed (if using), five-spice powder, salt, and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed to form a thick dough, about 5 minutes. Alternatively, this can be done by hand. Toss in pecans, transfer to a zip-top bag, and refrigerate until needed, up to 1 month.

For the Filling: Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat to 400°F (200°C). In the same bowl from the stand mixer (no need to wash), combine half the prepared rhubarb (about 5 1/2 cups; 22 ounces; 620g), sugar, tapioca flour, elderflower liqueur or water, and salt with a flexible spatula; the mixture will be extremely dry. Transfer to a 7- by 11-inch baking dish or 9-inch deep-dish pie pan, sprinkling any remaining sugar/starch on top, and cover with foil. Place on a foil- or parchment-lined half-sheet pan and bake until rhubarb is wilted and juicy, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, transfer remaining fruit to the same bowl.

To Finish: Remove baking dish from oven, discard foil, and sprinkle with baking soda. Stir carefully with a heat-resistant spatula until juices begin to fizz. Pour over remaining rhubarb and fold to combine, then return to baking dish. Top with handfuls of prepared streusel, flattening each addition into a thin sheet to achieve even coverage. Continue baking until crisp is bubbling in the very center, about 35 minutes more. (The time will vary dramatically depending on the exact dimensions and material of your baking dish.)

Cool at least 30 minutes before serving, as the filling will be dangerously hot and extremely runny at first. The crisp will thicken as it cools to room temperature. If you like, serve à la mode or with dollops of strawberry or brown sugar whipped cream. Wrapped in foil, the crisp will keep 3 days at room temperature.

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