10:00am Department of Public Health Hearing, Via conference call

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

Baker ‘seriously considering’ vaccine requirement for state employees » Boston Globe

Lydia Edwards eyes run for state Senate seat » Boston Globe

Federal judge rejects Trump-era permits for major Alaska oil project » Washington Post

Ron DeSantis has no idea what he's talking about » CNN

RI: Health-care workers who aren't vaccinated will be blocked from entering facilities » The Associated Press (AP)

Key U.S. Senator Unveils Bill To Combat Profiteers In Low-Income Housing » WBUR

The lambda variant is ominous for what it says about the future trajectory of the pandemic » Raw Story

Baker proposes $1B to defray UI costs for businesses » Boston Business Journal

OPINION: Children are dying for Republican ‘freedom’ » Georgia Recorder

OPINION: How Our Classrooms Became Battlegrounds » New York Times

Biden ramps up virus strategy for nursing homes and schools, and urges booster shots » Boston Globe

Top House Democrat Who Fought To ‘Cancel Rent’ Made Hundreds Of Thousands On Rental Properties » The Daily Caller

Revolutionary Clinics ranks No. 4 on Inc. magazine’s list of fastest-growing private companies » MassLive

She was the only member of Congress to vote against war in Afghanistan. Some called her a traitor. » Washington Post

Israel, Once the Model for Beating Covid, Faces New Surge of Infections » New York Times

FL: Miami, Tampa schools defy DeSantis on masks despite threats » Politico

Democratic-led committees vow investigations on Afghanistan » Boston Globe

Editorial: Getting Trump’s tax returns is only the beginning » Boston Globe

Charlie Baker wants to spend $1B to cover Massachusetts unemployment deficit » Boston Herald

Baker: Use Surplus $$$ To Reduce Employer UI Burden » State House News Service

Design firm CBT to depart downtown for Charlestown » Boston Globe

US wealth gap rises with Jackson Hole coming at the top » Boston Globe

Boston City Council votes to overhaul marijuana licensing process — again » Boston Globe

Pressure for school mask mandate mounts, but Charlie Baker leaves it up to districts » Boston Herald

MIAA board recommending student-athletes wear masks in fall, but not requiring them » Boston Herald

OPINION: How parents can help prevent campus sexual assault » Boston Globe

Guv: 'Virtually Every' Unvaccinated Student Expected to Mask Up » State House News Service

Woburn School Officials Vote to Require Masks This Fall » NBC Boston

New Bedford schools failed to report arrest data » The New Bedford Light

Amherst College keeping promise to ban nonvaccinated from campus » MassLive

Grants boost Mohawk Trail recreation, wood products, emergency response » MassLive

State Sets Emissions-Reduction Goal For Energy-Efficiency Plan » Business West

In a highly vaccinated field, life sciences leaders weigh mandates » Boston Business Journal

Rep. Madaro testifies on his bill to end housing discrimination » East Boston Times-Free Press

Advocates struggle to find homes for tenants with new emergency vouchers in Northampton area » Gazette Net

State scrambles to get federal money to former foster youth » Commonwealth Magazine

US jobless claims hit a pandemic low as hiring strengthens » Boston Herald

Federal unemployment benefits to end Labor Day, cutting off millions » Boston Herald

On gig economy ballot question, both sides are brawl-in » Commonwealth Magazine

OSHA seeks $1.3m in fines from company after two workers killed in downtown Boston dump truck accident » Boston Globe

Boston adds early-voting sites in overlooked neighborhoods after brouhaha » Boston Herald

Janey faces criticism from Boston city council on multiple fronts » Boston Herald

First they came for the divers. Now they’re coming for the whole beach » Boston Globe

After complaints, Boston election authorities to add early voting sites in several neighborhoods » Boston Globe

‘Simply not true’: Council President Matt O’Malley slams Kim Janey, pushes for COVID-19 vaccine passports » Boston.com

Williamsburg commissioners say toilet flushing practices warrant rate increase » Gazette Net

The 413’s Umbrella Labor Group Speaks on 2021 Municipal Races » Western Mass Politics and Insight

Battenfeld: Mask mandates: The new third rail of American politics » Boston Herald

Boston city councilor making plans for state senate seat » Boston Herald

Handshakes, smiles and comfy shoes: Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi’s annual cookout returns at Springfield Elk’s Club » MassLive

Hampden County Sheriff Cocchi announces re-election at annual cookout » News 22 WWLP.com

Popular TV program invites mayoral candidates to appear on show — except John Barros » Boston Globe

Holyoke mayoral candidate’s campaign video raises ethics concern » Gazette Net

Boston Has As Much As $560 Million To Spend In COVID Relief Funds. The Mayoral Candidates Weigh In On How To Spend It. » WGBH

Mitchell Chapman: Booster shots, return of mask-wearing a small price to pay » Berkshire Eagle

Feds to start coronavirus booster shots in September as vaccine effectiveness wanes » Boston Herald

Boston-area coronavirus wastewater tracker: Northern sewage data is skyrocketing amid delta variant » Boston Herald

Keller @ Large: For Charlie Baker, There’s Only One Call To Make On Mask Mandate » CBS Boston

Ex-head of Purdue denies responsibility for opioid crisis » Boston Globe

We asked doctors for advice on the Delta variant for kids under 12. Here’s what they said » Boston Globe

Baker promises 'aggressive' booster vaccine rollout » Patriot Ledger

Here's Why Gov. Baker Wasn't Happy With Biden's COVID Booster Announcement » NBC Boston

Kim Janey Holds Ground On No Vaccine Mandate For Indoor Activities — For Now » WGBH

OPINION: Lack of effective prison oversight results in hidden cruelty. It’s time to fix this » Boston Globe

Gov. Baker says prison shakedowns should be videotaped » Boston Globe

‘Western Mass. has been shortchanged for a long time’: Secretary of state William Galvin sees slow growth here as call to action » MassLive

Over Past Decade, Diversity Grew from the Cities to the Suburbs » State House News Service

EJ communities need rep on new T board » Commonwealth Magazine

Delta Air Lines returning to Worcester Regional Airport following COVID shutdown with new daily flight to New York’s LaGuardia Airport » MassLive

Social Media Spotlight

massdot staterephendricks boston_mayor

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GBH News Back-To-School Season Clashes With The Delta Variant & Politicization Of Masks WCVB Channel 5 Boston Gov. Baker disappointed by lack of federal guidance on COVID-19 booster shots

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Podcast Spotlight

WBUR Radio Boston: WBUR Investigates Civil Forfeiture In Massachusetts Tech Freedom Tech Policy Podcast: #299: Can Apple Protect Children While Respecting Privacy? NPR The NPR Politics Podcast: Election Officials Still Get Death Threats

MBTA Celebrates Autism Acceptance Month with Inaugural Participation in the Autism Transit Project » MBTA

MMA’s 2nd ‘Climate Action’ webinar focuses on planning » Mass. Municipal Association

Massachusetts Gaming Commission Grants $1.5M in Workforce Development Initiatives to Boost Career Training across Commonwealth Grants Funded by Community Mitigation Fund » Mass. Gaming Commission

Union Carpenters Hold Rally at Polar Park » North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters

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