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

Healey Padding Campaign Account Ahead Of Decision » State House News Service

Mariano sees offshore wind as top priority » Commonwealth Magazine

Sonia Chang-Diaz defends staffer over anti-police hat, doubles down on need for reform » Boston Herald

Opinion: Boston should follow New York’s lead and allow noncitizens to vote in local elections » Boston Globe

Brigham and Women’s nurses accuse hospital of defying state order to delay certain surgeries » Boston Globe

Most MIT graduate students have signed cards supporting a union, organizers say » WBUR

Starbucks employees at two Boston locations move to unionize » WGBH

Elizabeth Warren slams Elon Musk's 'person of the year' title, saying the tax code should be changed so he stops 'freeloading off everyone else' » Business Insider

VT: Vermont’s first female member of Congress is looking like a sure thing » Boston Globe

GA: Herschel Walker confronts his mental health, domestic violence allegations » Axios

MI: Activists target corporate campaign cash in battle against voting restrictions » Florida Phoenix

America’s Anti-Democratic Movement » New York Times

“The Messaging Is an Absolute Failure”: Biden’s COVID Strategy Is About to Face a Major Test » Vanity Fair

Democrats Are Solidly Behind Biden. There’s No Consensus About a Plan B. » New York Times

'Conflicted Congress': Key findings from Insider's five-month investigation into federal lawmakers' personal finances » Business Insider

NY: Supreme Court rejects move to block New York vaccine mandate » Politico

FL: Anthony Sabatini removed from House panel over unexcused absences » Florida Politics

NJ: Will Atlantic City casinos really close without tax breaks? » AP News

Sports betting, charitable tax deduction among Mass. GOP priorities in 2022 » Boston Business Journal

Editorial: Why aren’t all New England’s senators unified to end the filibuster for voting rights? » Boston Globe

Wilmington robotics maker going public in $5.5 billion SPAC deal » Boston Globe

‘You’re looking at just a huge shortage.’ Eggs could largely disappear from store shelves in January without legislative action, industry warns. » Boston Globe

The disconnect between economic indicators and how Americans feel about the economy grows » Boston Globe

Anchors away? City launches bidding process for popular spot on Charlestown waterfront » Boston Globe

Bodyworks Bill Runs Into Chair’s Concerns, Healing Practitioner Objections » State House News Service

Taunton halts construction on pot shop, calling any further work 'unlawful' » Taunton Gazette

UMass Forecasts Increase in Enrollment » State House News Service

Harvard professor accused of hiding ties to Chinese talent program goes to trial » Boston Globe

Opinion: Massachusetts’ emissions targets take a couple of hits » Boston Globe

David Phelps to retire as president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems » Berkshire Eagle

Mass and Cass crisis: Boston neighbors slam Roundhouse Hotel plan » Boston Herald

‘A safe place.’ For LGBT asylum seekers, a new shot at life » AP News

Rollins discusses her confirmation as US attorney for Mass., in TV interview, and threats she has faced » Boston Globe

Labor shortage at chain pharmacies causes limited hours, long lines, canceled vaccines for Berkshire residents » Berkshire Eagle

She overcame monumental challenges after arriving in Boston as a child. Now, Tania Fernandes Anderson will break multiple barriers as city councilor. » Boston Globe

Boston prepares for winter weather with new plows, plans for Mass and Cass population » Boston Herald

City councilors ask: Will Boston residents benefit from the flood of biotech jobs? » Boston Business Journal

Nuon supporters rally outside Lowell City Hall » Lowell Sun

Wu vows to remove Mass. and Cass encampments by winter, faces criticism on expanded housing services » WGBH

Setting the record straight on ‘Five Car Flaherty’ » Boston.com

Boston confident of snow removal plans, despite statewide plow driver shortage » WGBH

Lowell to institute indoor mask mandate effective Thursday » Lowell Sun

Battenfeld: Charlie Baker’s pass on a third term looking better by the day » Boston Herald

Ben Downing has the backing of the Berkshire House delegation, and others statewide, in the race for governor » Berkshire Eagle

Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Ben Downing releases first slate of endorsements » MassLive

Walsh Not Speculating About Potential Run for Governor » NBC Boston

Shaunna O’Connell Not Running For Governor of Massachusetts, Sources Say » New Boston Post

Massachusetts reports 11,078 coronavirus cases over the weekend, hospitalizations climb to highest level in 10 months » Boston Herald

State will distribute 2.1 million free COVID-19 rapid at-home tests to hardest hit communities, Baker says » Boston Globe

These Massachusetts cities, towns are receiving free rapid coronavirus tests for residents » Boston Herald

Massachusetts won’t reinstate mask mandate as COVID cases rise, Gov. Charlie Baker says » MassLive

Former Gov. Deval Patrick calls on Biden to support kids who lost parents to COVID-19 » WGBH

Rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations in Mass. is driven by those who are unvaccinated, Baker says » Boston Globe

'Potentially a game-changer': Free COVID at-home test kits available in four Cape towns » Cape Cod Times

Massachusetts joins other states in distributing free at-home tests. » New York Times

Baker: ‘No plans’ to bring back statewide mask mandate » WHDH

State Delivering 2.1 Mil Free Rapid Tests » State House News Service

Legislation proposed to destroy illegal dirt bikes in Springfield » News 22 WWLP.com

Rep. Carey files bill that aims to strengthen high-speed chase law » Gazette Net

‘I just want to help the town out’: Plainfield firefighter Ed Morann retires after serving more than 55 years » Gazette Net

New Bedford Police Union leadership resigns en masse » New Bedford Light

Springfield police detective Gregg Bigda found not guilty of brutality, abusive interrogation » MassLive

State Auditor Suggesting Changes for Nantucket Sheriff’s Department » Cape Cod Online

Baker signs $4 billion COVID relief bill, but wrests control of how, and when, to distribute worker bonuses » Boston Globe

Charlie Baker signs $4 billion coronavirus recovery bill with vetoes to ‘immediately’ disburse cash » Boston Herald

Baker Signs $4 Billion COVID-19 Relief Bill » State House News Service

Gov. Charlie Baker signs massive COVID relief bill, but vetoes sections that could slow support to cities and towns » MassLive

Baker signs $4 billion federal relief bill with change to payments for frontline workers » WGBH

Wu’s $8m fare-free bus plan hits snag » Commonwealth Magazine

US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh touts passenger rail in visit to Springfield Union Station » MassLive

Springfield Rep. Carlos Gonzalez slates public meeting on Eversource gas pipeline » MassLive

Social Media Spotlight

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MassGovernor December 13, 2021: COVID-19 Testing Announcement GBH News Rachael Rollins, newly confirmed U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, on her priorities & GOP criticism

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Podcast Spotlight

Five Thirty Eight Politics Podcast: Why High Inflation Is Such A Political Landmine Tech Freedom Tech Policy Podcast: Complexity Theory in One Lesson NPR The NPR Politics Podcast: How One Authoritarian Used Migrants As A Political Tool, And Why It Worries Biden Crooked Media Pod Save America: “Mark Meadows’ Fascist PowerPoint.” WBUR Radio Boston: More than 2 million rapid COVID tests are headed to local cities, towns

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

MMA webinar reviews digital equity planning and programs » Mass. Municipal Association

Pressley, Warren Celebrate $1M Secured for Black Economic Council of Massachusetts » Office of Congressman Ayanna Pressley

Southcoast Health Recognized by the White House for Sustainability Efforts » Southcoast Health

House Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Protect America’s National Security, Support U.S. Allies, Surge Humanitarian Aid to Gaza » Office of Congresswoman Lori Trahan