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Today on Beacon Hill

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

Must-Reads

NJ: Latest bill to expand New Jersey’s film tax credit program moving quickly in Assembly » Politico New Jersey

‘I don’t know if I’ll ever recover.’ Lawmakers urge more funding for struggling restaurants » Boston Globe

DOT kicks off 18-month project to assess viability of North Adams-Boston rail service » Berkshire Eagle

Editorial: Massachusetts needs another mask mandate » Boston Globe

House debate on ‘Islamophobia’ devolves into attack on Muslim lawmaker » Boston Globe

Report: Socialism attacks hurt Dems with Latino voters » Politico

Where Will $4 Billion in COVID Relief Money Be Distributed in Mass.? » NBC Boston

Will the Legislature let pandemic mail-in and early voting reforms expire? » WBUR

Process overtakes promise on ARPA spending bill » Commonwealth Magazine

Feeling Better, Spilka Working Away From State House » State House News Service

A path forward: How Sen. Eric Lesser could be a key player in the shifting Massachusetts political landscape » MassLive

Trump’s Next Coup Has Already Begun » The Atlantic

Covid’s deadly tradeoffs, by the numbers: How each state has fared in the pandemic » Politico

A junkie’s guide to the 2022 midterms » Politico

‘I’m proud of who I am, of how I got here’: Lydia Edwards likely bound for historic win after claiming victory in state Senate special primary election » Boston Globe

CA: With Proposed Assault-Weapons Ban, Gavin Newsom Tries to Get on Conservatives' Level » Vanity Fair

Proud Boys Regroup, Focusing on School Boards and Town Councils » New York Times

PA: Willie Brown, longtime head of SEPTA transit workers union, has stepped down » The Philadelphia Inquirer

FL: FL School Boards Association withdrew from national affiliate; Was it a partisan move or not? » Florida Phoenix

Fireworks erupt on Fox News after Geraldo blames Trump for inciting Capitol riots » Raw Story

NY: Years Before a Police Union Leader Was Raided by the FBI, Local Investigators Didn’t Pursue Allegations Against Him » ProPublica

Ahead of gig worker ballot question, a new survey ignites debate » Boston Business Journal

"Everyone is already paying too much at the grocery store and not addressing this egg supply issue will further drive up costs. I urge lawmakers to reach consensus soon before these rules go into effect in January," Baker said. "We all want to have a bill on my desk this week or next, and I’m confident lawmakers can set aside their differences and get it done soon."

Governor Charlie Baker

With just eight weeks to go until the enactment of a 2016 ballot initiative rendering some egg and pork products illegal, House and Senate conferees are still working on a compromise.

News By Category
Beltway Politics

Moulton, Trahan seek tougher penalties against storage companies who sell belongings of servicemembers » Boston Globe

Opinion: The truth will come out on the Jan. 6 insurrection » Boston Globe

House votes to hold Mark Meadows in contempt in Capitol insurrection probe » Boston Globe

Business

Baker urges lawmakers to get cracking on compromise egg legislation » Boston Globe

Businesses face payroll, scheduling woes after ransomware attack on Kronos » Boston Globe

Historic Citizens Bank building to be redeveloped into apartments » Boston Globe

Wholesale inflation jumps record 9.6% over past 12 months » Boston Globe

Oil supply is expected to catch up to demand, offering relief on prices » ProPublica

Cannabis & Psychedelics

Massachusetts’ first legal marijuana purchase, a chocolate bar, was never opened — now it’s in a museum » MassLive

Civil Rights

Opinion: Roe’s ‘viability’ standard has been overtaken by science » Boston Globe

Education

Empower Retirement CEO, wife, give $1 million to Boston Catholic school » Boston Globe

Big Expansion Eyed For Higher Ed Grants » State House News Service

Attleboro area school officials say remote learning is not an option this year, and snow days will be days off » The Sun Chronicle

Environment

Carbon Pricing Gets Push After TCI’s Demise » State House News Service

Health Care

Pfizer data shows that its COVID-19 pill is effective against severe disease » WBUR

Hopes dashed, shares slashed: Adagio drug looks ill-suited to omicron » Boston Business Journal

Human Services

WCAP Radiothon brings in over $200,000 » Lowell Sun

Rattled Child Care Programs Poured Grants Into Operations » State House News Service

Judiciary

District courthouse shut down after employee, who had been in the building earlier, tests positive for COVID » Berkshire Eagle

Labor

Employees at two Boston-area Starbucks move to unionize » Boston Globe

Baker Expects To Meet Premium Pay Deadline » State House News Service

Local Government

Wu's contracting equity pilot would be a first for Massachusetts » WGBH

Michelle Wu visits the White House and delivers a message that Boston is prepared to show how federal funding can fuel recovery » Boston Globe

Amherst creates 2 depts. to improve community safety and equity » Gazette Net

Worcester City Council reviews federal relief plan: 'We need to stay nimble,' says Augustus » Worcester Telegram

Politics

What's next for Essaibi George? She says she’s keeping the ‘doors of opportunity’ open » Dorchester Reporter

Markey, Rollins, Pressley, and more congratulate Lydia Edwards on victory in state Senate special primary election » Boston Globe

Edwards beats D’Ambrosio in special election primary for state Senate » Commonwealth Magazine

McGee reflects on his term in the corner office » Lynn Daily News Item

Editorial: Chang-Diaz deflects, but damage is done » Boston Herald

Public Health

Amid COVID surge, Massachusetts eclipses vaccination milestone, Gov. Charlie Baker announces » MassLive

COVID could soon turn from a pandemic to an endemic, panel says » Boston Herald

Massachusetts reports 4,039 new coronavirus cases, highest daily death count in 9 months » Boston Herald

Massachusetts doctors urge indoor mask mandate » Boston Herald

Vaccine alliance chief: Omicron could trigger ‘Inequity 2.0′ » Boston Globe

As pressure mounts for a new statewide mask mandate, experts are divided on whether such requirements work » Boston Globe

Public health experts urge masking, boosters as most U.S. omicron cases are hitting the fully vaccinated » Sentinel & Enterprise

Springfield officials discuss plans to rollout state's at-home COVID-19 test kits » Western Mass News

West Springfield to receive 5,000 free at-home COVID-19 test kits » Western Mass News

Surge Renews Debate Over Indoor Mask Mandate » State House News Service

A never-ending battle? A rocky journey as US enters third year fighting COVID » Boston Globe

Public Safety

Suffolk County Sheriff's Office reports fifth death in six months » WGBH

Springfield narcotics detective acquitted of brutality charges » Boston Globe

DCR Gearing Up For Lifeguard Recruitment, Swim Safety » State House News Service

Police, driving groups back Baker bill to crack down on drugged driving » Sentinel & Enterprise

Sheriff: 11 COVID cases at Hampshire County jail, all unvaccinated » Gazette Net

State Government

Attorney General Healey says she will appeal judge’s decision to dismiss charges against former Holyoke Soldiers’ Home leaders » Boston Globe

Attorney General Maura Healey appeals after charges nixed in Holyoke Soldiers’ Home COVID outbreak » MassLive

Healey appeals dismissal of charges against former Holyoke Soldiers’ Home leaders » Boston Herald

Lt. Governor Polito announces site readiness projects in Ludlow » News 22 WWLP.com

Transportation

T ‘Looking at Everything’ to Address Driver Shortage » Banker & Tradesman

Utilities

Eversource natural gas pipeline proposal listening session held in Springfield » News 22 WWLP.com

Job Board
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Recipe of the Week

Moist and Chewy Lebkuchen

Grace Parisi — Serious Eats

Ingredients

For the Dough:

1/2 cup hazelnuts (2 ounces; 57g)

1/2 cup almond meal (2 ounces; 57g)

2 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour (12 ounces; 320g)

2 tablespoons (14.8g) unsweetened cocoa (preferably dark)

1 1/2 teaspoons (7.5g) baking powder

1/2 teaspoon (2.5g) baking soda

2 teaspoons (4.2g) ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon (2.1g) ground powdered ginger

1/2 teaspoon (1g) ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon (1g) ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon (1g) ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon (0.5g) ground cardamom

1/2 teaspoon (2.8g) kosher salt

1/2 cup tightly packed chopped candied orange rind (4 ounces; 113g)

1/4 cup tightly packed chopped crystallized ginger (2 ounces; 57g)

4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick; 57g)

3/4 cup dark brown sugar (5.3 ounces; 150g)

1 cup honey (12 ounces; 340g)

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon (15mL) pure vanilla extract

Nonstick spray, for greasing

 

For the Glaze:

3 cups confectioners' sugar (13 ounces; 375g)

1 tablespoon (15mL) kirsch, Grand Marnier, or rum (or pure vanilla extract)

3 to 4 tablespoons warm water (1.5 to 2 ounces; 45 to 60mL)

Directions

For the Dough: Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread hazelnuts on a baking sheet and toast until the skins blister, about 14 minutes. Let cool slightly, then transfer nuts to a clean kitchen towel and rub together to remove the skins. Transfer nuts to a food processor and cool completely. Pulse until finely ground. Transfer to a bowl along with the almond meal, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, powdered ginger, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, cardamom, and salt.

Put the candied orange rind and crystallized ginger into food processor along with 1 cup of the dry ingredient mixture and pulse until very finely chopped. Add the remaining dry ingredients and pulse to combine.

In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter with brown sugar at medium speed until creamy. Add honey and beat until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and beat to combine. At very low speed, add dry ingredients by the heaping spoonful (to avoid powder eruptions) and beat until combined. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl and beat again until evenly combined.

If Making Bars: Line a half-sheet pan (13 inches by 18 inches) with parchment paper, extending paper a few inches over the short sides. Lightly spray the unlined sides of the pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread the dough into a thin, even layer and bake in the center of the oven until surface is dimpled and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. The cake should be springy but firm. Let cool on a rack for 15 minutes.

If Making Individual Round Cookies: Chill dough until quite firm, about 4 hours. Working in 2 batches, line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment. Dip a 1 3/4-inch ice cream scoop (2 level tablespoons) into water, shake off excess water, and scoop level scoops of dough. Roll into balls and place 2 inches apart. Bake in the lower and middle thirds of the oven, shifting pans from top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until a toothpick inserted in center of cookies comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Slide parchment onto a wire rack to let cookies cool slightly while you bake the remaining cookies.

For the Glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk confectioners' sugar with kirsch and add enough water to make a thin but spreadable glaze. Spread glaze on just-warm cake or cookies and let cool completely. If making bars, slide cake (with parchment) from pan onto cutting board. Cut into 8 short strips, then cut each strip into 6 bars.

The lebkuchen can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, and improve significantly in texture and flavor if allowed to stand at least 1 day before serving.



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