10:00am Joint Committee on Revenue, Public Hearing

11:00am Civil Service Law and Personnel Administration Rules, Virtual Hearing

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

12:00pm Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Public Hearing

3:00pm Joint Committee on Transportation, Public Hearing

5:00pm Close of Comment Period for State Board of Retirement Regulatory Changes, Submission via mail or email

Birthdays: State Senator Lydia Edwards

Veteran GOP leaders share takes on policy, politics » News 22 WWLP.com

Ron Mariano defends decision to keep Massachusetts State House closed to the public amid coronavirus pandemic » Boston Herald

Without statewide mask mandate against COVID-19, health experts say Mass. will ‘fight this war with one arm tied behind our backs’ » Boston Globe

Sonia Chang-Díaz: Trust over balance on Beacon Hill » Boston Herald

Battling COVID surge and staffing shortages, Mass. hospitals ordered to limit elective procedures even more » MassLive

A shortage of special education staff leaves many students without services they need » WBUR

Arts organizations surprised and disappointed by federal funds allotment » Boston Globe

What exactly is affordable housing? Here are all the definitions you need to know » Patriot Ledger

Executive Privilege: Where the Fight for Number 2 Stands » Western Mass Politics and Insight

Of Course Trump’s Cronies Made an Actual PowerPoint of Their Coup Plan » Vanity Fair

Manchin cites a blind trust to justify climate votes. But much income from his family’s coal company isn’t covered. » Washington Post

NJ: Lawmakers would get state health benefits under new proposal » Politico

New Leader Pushes Teachers’ Union to Take On Social Justice Role » New York Times

NY: De Blasio defends vaccine mandates, points to effectiveness in NYC » Politico

Inflation, supply chain pain expected to linger, say Mass. business leaders » Boston Business Journal

FL: Gambling initiative legal fight dialed back » CBS 12

NY: Hochul Kills Hope For Utility Consumer Advocate » The Daily Poster

NJ: Peterson threatens to file charges against those who enforce statehouse vax policy » New Jersey Globe

CA: Newsom calls for gun legislation modeled on the Texas abortion law » Boston Globe

Peter Lucas: Joe Biden needs to answer questions on Hunter Biden’s Chinese connections » Boston Herald

Jan. 6 panel set to vote on holding Meadows in contempt » Boston Globe

Editorial: Legislature must get cracking on egg reform » Boston Globe

Protests and prayers » Boston Globe

Betting on themselves, sisters-in-law open Pepperell’s first cannabis dispensary » Sentinel & Enterprise

State gets mixed grades on personal, economic freedoms » Salem News

Sex traffickers prey on drug-addicted young men » WGBH

More than a teachable moment? » Boston Globe

UMass Lowell receives award for decarbonization efforts » Lowell Sun

Suffolk jury awards $1.7M to Black teacher after finding Boston schools retaliated against him for discrimination complaints » Boston Globe

Jury awards $1.7M to Boston teacher who alleged discrimination » WBUR

The lobster trap » Boston Globe

Boston University scientists getting closer to diagnosing CTE in living people using MRI » Boston Herald

Hospitals pushed to the brink by COVID-19 surge » The Eagle Tribune

Real estate report: Prospect of trains to Boston is already helping sell Fall River homes » The Herald News

How Quincy went from a blue-collar haven to one of the state's most expensive places to live » Patriot Ledger

Mass and Cass businesses, community groups organize against Michelle Wu’s Roundhouse hotel plan » Boston Herald

‘They have a “fight” mentality’: Haitians seek safety and stability in Boston, with the help of volunteers » Boston Globe

Massachusetts' governor weighs $20M in Afghan, Haiti aid » Salem News

OTR: Analyzing Suffolk DA Rachael Rollins' confirmation as US Attorney for Massachusetts » WCVB

A Boston lawyer accused of rape by as many as a dozen women has avoided conviction since 1996. Now, prosecutors are trying a different tack. » Boston Globe

Unemployment ‘roller coaster ride’ for businesses nearly over as Baker administration promises report » Boston Herald

Moore joins in call for accountability in state's unemployment fund » The Millbury Sutton Chronicle

New bridge in the works: East Street structure in Southampton coming down » Gazette Net

Decision looms on parking garage overlay district in downtown Amherst » Gazette Net

Monterey's election recall law hits snag after state lawmakers say to hold off on filing legislation » Berkshire Eagle

State tells Methuen to return $650K of pandemic relief funds » WBUR

Boston placed 23 city workers on leave for missing Oct. vaccine deadline, not 812 as it previously said » Boston Globe

Framingham council OKs ordinance allowing for permanent outdoor dining » The Metro West Daily News

State taking back $500K in COVID hazard pay 'bonuses' issued to Methuen city employees; $150K in restaurant relief » The Eagle Tribune

Baker's Exit Offers Chance for Women, Puts Pressure on GOP » NBC Boston

Q&A: Ben Downing discusses addressing climate change equitably in Massachusetts » The Tufts Daily

Pittsfield Police, other Berkshire County first responders to carry Narcan. Addiction experts say it will save lives » Berkshire Eagle

Opinion: This is what menstrual equity looks like » Boston Globe

Gov. Charlie Baker to make COVID testing announcement at Monday morning press conference » MassLive

‘Wearing a mask is not going to be forever,’ but can help US blunt COVID this holiday season, Dr. Anthony Fauci says » MassLive

Governor Baker To Make Announcement On COVID Testing In Massachusetts » CBS Boston

Massachusetts ‘ready to support’ recovery efforts in South, Midwest following devastating tornadoes » Boston Globe

Kentucky deadly tornadoes: Massachusetts first responders on the way to help with recovery efforts » Boston Herald

Expanded voting protections at risk in Massachusetts » The Berkeley Beacon

Northern tier east-west rail study begins amid renewed push for Springfield-Boston trains » MassLive

Free or cheap parking is the great enabler » Commonwealth Magazine

R.I.’s ‘Wave’ license plate will start receding. What will come next? » Boston Globe

Move to eliminate transit fares is growing » Boston Globe

State House lawmakers to consider a slew of traffic safety measures » Fox 25 News

Social Media Spotlight

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WCVB Channel 5 Boston OTR: Massachusetts House Speaker Ron Mariano addresses delays in ARPA funding distribution GBH News Why Rachel Rollins drives the GOP crazy, and what's next for her and the Suffolk DA's office

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Podcast Spotlight

Five Thirty Eight Politics Podcast: What Would It Take To ‘Fix’ Polling … And Other Questions From Podcast Listeners National Conference of State Legislatures Legislatures: The Inside Storey: Peter Groff: Leading Is All About Relationships | LTIS Episode 4 Crooked Media Pod Save America: Offline: Dr. Vivek Murthy on Defeating Doomscrolling with Human Connection CommonWealth Magazine The Codcast: Mariano sees offshore wind as top priority

Birthdays: State Senator Lydia Edwards

10:00am Joint Committee on Revenue, Public Hearing

11:00am Civil Service Law and Personnel Administration Rules, Virtual Hearing

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

12:00pm Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Public Hearing

3:00pm Joint Committee on Transportation, Public Hearing

5:00pm Close of Comment Period for State Board of Retirement Regulatory Changes, Submission via mail or email

5:30am Holiday Party with Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito

10:00am Joint Committee on Judiciary, Public Hearing

10:00am Joint Committee on Revenue, Public Hearing

11:00am LGBT Aging Commission, Virtual Hearing

12:00pm Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Public Hearing

1:00pm Joint Committee on Environment & Natural Resources, Public Hearing

1:30pm Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, Public Hearing

6:30pm Fundraiser for Attorney General Maura Healey

Primary for special election for former Sen. Joseph Boncore's seat

10:00am Joint Committee on Revenue, Public Hearing

1:00pm Early Education and Care Economic Review, Virtual Hearing

2:00pm Auto Body Labor Rates, Virtual Hearing

9:30am Mass. Gaming Commission Public Hearing, Via conference call

10:00am Department of Revenue Public Hearing, Via Webex

10:00am Special Legislative Commission on Structural Racism in Correctional Facilities of the Commonwealth, Virtual Hearing

10:00am Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness & Management, Oversight Hearing

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

12:00pm Women Leading the Finance & Banking Industry hosted by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Via webcast

10:00am Executive Office of Health & Human Services Public Hearing, Via Zoom

11:00am Special Commission on Facial Recognition, Virtual Hearing

1:00pm Future of Work Commission, Virtual Hearing

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