11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Study Commission, Virtual Hearing

Nearly a year later, panel rethinking Massachusetts’ state seal is behind schedule and still shorthanded » Boston Globe

State threatens to fine Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester if decision regarding closed beds isn’t reached » MassLive

With the $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure bill done, what's next for east-west rail in Massachusetts and the Berkshires? » Berkshire Eagle

Benjamin LaGuer and the cruel reality of medical parole » Commonwealth Magazine

At the top, a generational shakeup unfolds as boomers begin to step aside » Boston Globe

‘Playing chicken:’ Massachusetts governor’s race on hold as Maura Healey, Charlie Baker sit on their hands » Boston Herald

Mass. liquor stores say they have enough signatures to advance ballot question » WBUR

Taking reps’ roll call vote attendance in 2021 » Lowell Sun

Democratic midterm fears mount as policies fail to resonate with voters » Washington Post

The Disconnect Between Biden’s Popular Policies and His Unpopularity » New York Times

GOP courts anti-vaxxers with jobless aid » Axios

‘They’re all begging me’: Trump’s 2024 veep tryouts get underway » Politico

What will US’s future look like if abortion becomes a crime again? » The Guardian

Marjorie Taylor Greene to Kevin McCarthy: Meet My Cultish Demands If You Ever Want To Be House Speaker » Vanity Fair

Renters strike back as cities cap price hikes by landlords » Politico

Lobbyists turn to infrastructure law's implementation » The Hill

NY: Erie County hospitals are ‘at or near capacity,' mask mandate put in place » WGRZ

NJ: Assembly Republicans won’t follow vaccine or Covid test mandate » New Jersey Globe

Battenfeld: Biden spends down time in tony Nantucket oblivious to spike in coronavirus, inflation » Boston Herald

In Kevin McCarthy’s 8-hour tirade, a rambling attempt to show he can lead the rancorous Republicans » Boston Globe

Editorial: Justice Department’s inspector general needs more authority » Boston Globe

High inflation? Low polling? White House blames the pandemic » Boston Globe

Blaming COVID: Biden sees common culprit for country’s woes » Boston Globe

Curley: Democrat wokeness even more contagious under new omicron variant » Boston Herald

Inside the ‘big wave’ of misinformation targeted at Latinos » Boston Globe

Alnylam is getting a rare kind of leader » Boston Globe

Some ‘Boston-based’ companies are hardly here » Boston Globe

The newest ‘ghost kitchen’ could be coming to a parking lot near you » Boston Globe

‘Faneuil Hall is a mess’: As holidays approach, stores struggle with vacancies, fight with landlord » Boston Globe

Jamie Dimon talks JP Morgan’s new Mattapan branch, idea of ‘shareholder value’ » Boston Business Journal

‘An utter failure’: Law meant to clear old convictions, including for marijuana possession, helps few » Boston Globe

Harvard Graduate Students Union votes to ratify contract with university » Boston Globe

First-graders are playing catch-up this fall after missing out on in-person kindergarten » Boston Globe

Schools struggling to ease mask mandates » Newburyport News

With Hanukkah, leaders see chance to shine light on past » Boston Herald

Worcester Schools superintendent search topic of virtual panel event » Worcester Telegram & Gazette

School food service workers scramble to feed students amid supply chain issues » The Metro West Daily News

Right whale coalition calls for moratorium on wind turbines to protect endangered species » Cape Cod Times

Opinion: Budding technology should be adapted for eldercare » Boston Globe

Congress moved to protect Americans from surprise medical bills, but some lawmakers worry the coming rule favors insurers » Boston Globe

Atlas-backed startup raises $100M for protein 'hotspots' » Boston Business Journal

Opinion: How science, technology, and industry can work together to cure Alzheimer’s » Boston Globe

Massachusetts distributes 80 percent of money for foster kids » Commonwealth Magazine

Editorial: A strategy to fight veteran suicides » Boston Herald

Legislators, advocates urge state to improve shelter system for homeless » Gazette Net

Organizers seek up to $25,000 from donors to fund Mayor Wu’s inauguration » Boston Globe

Rule barring city employees from serving in elected office sparks protest, debate at Holyoke City Hall » Gazette Net

Judge grants former Fall River mayor's request to delay start of prison sentence » WGBH

Dracut authorizes pay raise for Town Manager Ann Vandal » Lowell Sun

In Monterey, another complaint, a massive (and expensive) request for documents, and a new flap brewing » Berkshire Eagle

Taunton mayor withdraws pick for city's first chief financial officer » Taunton Gazette

Medford mayor OKs 'review' of city clerk's office, fails to inform City Council of plans » Wicked Local

OTR: Is Massachusetts primed for Baker vs. Healey gubernatorial race in 2022? » WCVB

Less than a year before the gubernatorial election, will Baker run again? » WBUR

OTR: Revere School Committee member Anthony D'Ambrosio makes his case for Massachusetts Senate seat » WCVB

Local restaurant worker challenging Tarr » Gloucester Times

Fall River Democrat wants to unseat Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson » The Sun Chronicle

Editorial: Polito’s poor polling weighs on Baker’s third-term decision » Lowell Sun

Worlds apart politically, Baker and Wu begin to forge relationship » Boston Globe

Congressional district division reversed » Daily Times Chronicle

Gov. Baker: Mass. may need to up booster shot availability in response to new COVID-19 variant » WGBH

Teen vaccination rates lag in most Massachusetts towns hit hardest by coronavirus: report » Boston Herald

'Big questions:' Mass. officials discuss new omicron COVID-19 variant » WCVB

EDITORIAL: No time to let down the guard » Newburyport News

Massachusetts booster sites: Mobile vaccination clinics pop up, as pharmacy appointments hard to find » Boston Herald

Will the vaccines stop Omicron? Scientists are racing to find out » Boston Globe

Michelle Wu says there’s a ‘race against the clock’ to try to ward off the spread of the new coronavirus variant » Boston Herald

Journalist Quinones' book links new meth with growth of cities' tent encampments » WBUR

Moderna, Pfizer fast-track fight against omicron variant of Covid-19 » Boston Herald

Massachusetts is now flush with cash, possibly reshaping debate over proposed millionaires tax » Boston Globe

E-mails show officials were slow to fix stairs at JFK/UMass Station where professor fell to his death » Boston Globe

Holiday travelers at Logan say they were comfortable flying with precautions taken » Boston Globe

Worcester Regional Transit Authority has been offering free bus rides for a year, but has done little to promote it » MassLive

Social Media Spotlight

paulfeeneyma repfrankmoran cityofboston

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WCVB Channel 5 Boston Gov. Baker talks about what Mass. is doing about omicron variant WCVB Channel 5 Boston OTR: Will former Sen. Scott Brown run for US Senate seat in New Hampshire?

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Podcast Spotlight

National Conference of State Legislatures Legislatures: The Inside Storey: Mike Haridopolos on Politics, Power and Navigating the Legislature | LTIS Episode 3 Crooked Media Pod Save America: Offline: DeRay Mckesson on How Twitter Saved Black Lives Wbur Radio Boston: Record numbers of people seeking food this holiday season

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Study Commission, Virtual Hearing

Birthdays: State Senator Michael Rush, State Senator Pavel Payano

10:00am Metropolitan Beaches Commission, Virtual Hearing

1:00pm Joint Committee on Transportation, Public Hearing

1:00pm Joint Committee on Veterans & Federal Affairs, Public Hearing

2:00pm Glyphosate Commission, Virtual Hearing

Special election for former Rep. Brad Hill's seat

9:00am Operational Services Division Public Hearing, Via Zoom

11:00am Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, Public Hearing

1:00pm Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy, Public Hearing

2:00pm Commission on Structural Racism in the Massachusetts Parole Process, Virtual Hearing

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

2:00pm Greater Boston Chamber Government Affairs Forum: Chairman Richard Neal, Via webcast

10:00am Special Legislative Commission to Study and Examine the Civil Service Law, Virtual Hearing

10:00am Department of Correction and Sheriff's Department Funding, Virtual Hearing

11:00am "Ask the Superintendent" with Boston Superintendent Brenda Cassellius on GBH's Boston Public Radio, 89.7 FM or wgbhnews.org

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

5:00pm Close of Comment Period for Department of Transitional Assistance Proposed Regulatory Changes, Submission via mail or email

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

2024 ‘State of the Air’ Report Reveals Most ‘Hazardous’ Air Quality Days in 25 Years » American Lung Association

Environmentalists and Youth Group Sue Maine for Failure to Act on Climate Change » Conservation Law Foundation

Senate President Spilka Pledges "Comprehensive Climate Bill" In Senate » American Council of Engineering Companies of Mass.

NEW VIDEO: Maura Healey's Embattled Secretary of Transportation » MassFiscal Alliance