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

MBTA looking at years of costs outpacing revenue » WBUR

Starbucks workers’ union victory could lead to more coffee shops organizing » Boston Globe

Report finds Hispanic residents have harder time getting health care » Commonwealth Magazine

Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux heading to Washington, DC, considering run for higher office » The Sun Chronicle

A new state commission aims to unite the diverse disability community » WGBH

Maine judge deals blow to Mass. climate change plan » Commonwealth Magazine

'A crisis state': Baystate Health reconsiders rationing care due to staffing, Covid cases » Boston Business Journal

PA: Philly’s program that prevents evictions will continue through 2022 » Philadelphia Inquirer

MO: Rick Scott acknowledges ‘real concerns’ about controversial Missouri Senate candidate » Florida Politics

GA: Lobbying group dubs Ga.’s top court a ‘hellhole’, providing fodder for perennial business-friendly tort push » Georgia Recorder

NJ: New proof Atlantic City casinos doing well; tax breaks near » AP News

FL: Florida’s nursing home residents are trailing most of the US in getting booster shots » Sun Sentinel

Judge overturns Purdue Pharma’s sweeping opioid settlement » Boston Globe

The Memo: Failure on big bill would spark cascade of trouble for Biden » The Hill

N.H.’s Hassan announces her support for scrapping filibuster to advance voting rights legislation » Boston Globe

The biggest Pinocchios of 2021 » Washington Post

Kanye West may have broken law hiding links to Republicans during presidential bid: report » Raw Story

Auchincloss creates new PAC to support state, local candidates in Mass. » WPRI.com

Manchin’s child tax credit stance draws criticism back home » Boston Globe

Senate Democrats begin to concede $2 trillion economic package may be delayed into 2022 » Boston Globe

Howie Carr: Joe Biden is off his rocker … or should be in one » Boston Herald

Retailers seeing opportunity as shoppers eye deals closer to home » Dorchester Reporter

Adagio stock soars on hopes antibody treatment can work against Omicron » Boston Globe

Egg, pork concerns linger as Mass. lawmakers break without deal » WHDH

Roy says Worcester County inmates, communities influenced work on cannabis commission » Worcester Telegram

Massachusetts schools dealing with flood of threats as police investigate series of social media messages » Boston Herald

Across the US, schools step up security in response to threats on TikTok » Boston Globe

TikTok school shooting threats deemed bogus by authorities have school districts, police on high alert across Massachusetts, US » MassLive

Idea to convert Charlestown High School called ‘hostile takeover’ » Boston Herald

Boston School Committee votes to close three schools » Boston Globe

The Harvard Job Offer No One at Harvard Ever Heard Of » New York Times

New COVID cases reported in 7,223 students, 1,153 staffers at Massachusetts schools as infections increase statewide » MassLive

'An astronomical number': Taunton councilors weigh in on $300M B-P project » Taunton Gazette

New Bedford and Fall River Speak Out Against Charter School Proposal » WBSM

Amid surge in patients, hospitals treat more people at home » Boston Globe

US regulators lift in-person restrictions on abortion pill » Boston Globe

Baystate grappling with four crises: COVID, staffing, capacity, behavioral health » Gazette Net

In less than a year, the number of Boston hospital chiefs on corporate boards is down by half » Boston Globe

Hospital group boss cites ‘terrifying increase’ in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Mass. » Boston Globe

Mass. Lawmakers, Health Care Leaders Discuss Solutions To Curb Pandemic After ‘Terrifying Increase’ In COVID Cases » CBS Boston

Opioid maker agrees to stop in-person marketing to doctors » Boston Herald

With resurgent COVID, Baystate Health’s Dr. Mark Keroack says region faces crisis, urges state impose mask mandate » MassLive

Vaccine mandates kick in as hospitals struggle with staffing » Commonwealth Magazine

Massachusetts health workers tell legislators they’re exhausted and overwhelmed » WGBH

Ballot initiative seeks to reduce dental costs » The Eagle Tribune

Maps Offer Visual Of Single-Payer Support Among Legislators » State House News Service

'A perfect storm:' Brockton rental crisis leaves scores facing homelessness » The Enterprise

Reaction to Boston’s immediate Mass. and Cass plan is decidedly mixed » Boston Globe

Senate parliamentarian deals Democrats blow on immigration » Boston Globe

A teary Charlie Baker urges action one last time on dangerousness and revenge porn loopholes » Boston.com

T’s largest union signs new contract » Commonwealth Magazine

Chicopee begins distribution of free at-home COVID-19 test kits » Western Mass News

Coronavirus test kits to be distributed in Attleboro starting Friday » The Sun Chronicle

Grind Of Pandemic Affecting Local Officials » State House News Service

Lowell to distribute at-home COVID-19 tests Saturday » Lowell Sun

Perry: Hazard pay return 'not falling on the taxpayers – yet' » The Eagle Tribune

Our Opinion: North Adams council right to give more than 1 administration a good look at Mohawk Theater proposal » Berkshire Eagle

Westfield unanimously votes to reinstate indoor mask mandate as COVID cases rise around the state » MassLive

Haverhill Councilors Approve City Voting Districts Under Protest; 8 Subprecincts are Created » WHAV

Holiday Gathering for Ward 7 Councilor Jay Walsh » Lynn Journal

New Bedford Mayor Mitchell looks forward to 2022, mum on if it includes a run for governor » South Coast Today

Why hasn't Maura Healey announced a run for governor yet? Because she doesn't have to » WGBH

Opinion: Saving democracy’s front lines — local newspapers » Boston Globe

Sonia Chang-Diaz staffer takes off hat insulting police after uproar » Boston Herald

Fare-Free Buses, Electrification Anchor Chang-Díaz Climate Plans » State House News Service

Biden administration details push to finally rid the nation of millions of lead pipes » Boston Globe

TD Garden will up mask enforcement. But will that be enough to keep fans in the stands amid Omicron? » Boston Globe

Massachusetts cities and towns start giving out rapid, at-home self tests ahead of Christmas gatherings » Boston Herald

Baker admin. officials absent from Legislative COVID-19 hearing as virus surges again » Boston Herald

Editorial: New York is home to the first supervised injection sites in America. Let Boston be next. » Boston Globe

Massachusetts coronavirus cases surge 5,883, the highest daily count in 11 months » Boston Herald

Gov. Baker resists imposing Massachusetts indoor mask mandate despite COVID spike, pressure from health professionals » MassLive

Has COVID made us too clean? » Boston Globe

Nearly $160 million later, the state’s COVID-19 contact tracing program is ending » Boston Globe

Top Officials ‘Unable to Participate' in COVID-19 Hearing » NBC Boston

Experts Urge Mask Use To Slow COVID-19 Surge » State House News Service

Sen. Elizabeth Warren renews push to fight substance use disorder epidemic ‘head on’ with $125B bill to expand treatment, mental health support across US » MassLive

How Are Free Home COVID Tests Being Distributed? Mass. Cities Are Being Strategic » NBC Boston

All state troopers given body cameras after overtime scandal » AP News

Boston police bought spy tech with a pot of money hidden from the public » WBUR

Hugs, tears as Gold Star tree tradition resumes » WHDH

Hiring Bonuses Feature In MBTA Driver Push » State House News Service

Legislators push for towns' flexibility to lower speed limits on Massachusetts roads » WGBH

Support for North Adams-to-Boston rail service is clear. But, Rep. Barrett asks: Does the study need to take 18 months? » Berkshire Eagle

State approves second project for geothermal energy » Boston Globe

Wu pitches lower electricity rates through supplier program » Dorchester Reporter

Social Media Spotlight

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WCVB Channel 5 Boston COVID-19 tests, booster shots in high demand ahead of Christmas GBH News Mayor Wu’s Mass. & Cass. plan has some residents skeptical

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Podcast Spotlight

NPR The NPR Politics Podcast: Gun Control Activists Are Training To Run For Office Crooked Media Pod Save America: “Fox’s Insurrection Group Chat.” WBUR Radio Boston: Lawmakers could have egg on their faces if they don't get cracking on animal welfare law

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