10:00am Executive Office of Public Safety & Security Public Hearing, Via Zoom

10:00am Joint Committee on Ways & Means, Consensus Revenue Hearing

Birthdays: Rep. Kimberly Ferguson

Senate President Karen Spilka returns to Statehouse after mild stroke » Boston.com

VT: Vermont wants to ban qualified immunity. Success in other New England states is lacking. » Patriot Ledger

Baker administration issues advisory urging residents to wear masks indoors; national guard activated to help hospitals » Boston Globe

RI: R.I. health care system ‘is currently collapsing,’ emergency doctors warn » Boston Globe

'A lot of money on the table': Fight brews over surprise medical bills » Politico

Black lawmakers threaten to cut off K St unless it diversifies » Politico

The Democratic retirement floodgates just burst open » CNN

House Jan. 6 committee seeks information from GOP Rep. Perry about communications with Trump White House officials » Washington Post

Fanone resigns from D.C. police force 11 months after battling rioters at Capitol » Washington Post

Geoff Diehl, Republican candidate for governor, was among protesters at Mayor Wu’s announcement of new COVID rules » Boston Globe

Schumer will try to change Senate rules if GOP stalls voting bill » Boston Globe

Manchin assails efforts to press him on Biden’s domestic policy bill » Boston Globe

With tents sprouting in Newmarket Square, food businesses face a flood of filth » Boston Globe

Feared egg, pork shortages over easy after lawmakers strike deal to stave off new strict regulations » Boston Herald

Pace Shrinks, But Mass. Economy Still Growing » State House News Service

Rite-Aid to close 63 stores » Boston Business Journal

‘It made my job a lot easier.’ Boston businesses react to Wu’s proof-of-vaccine program » Boston Globe

Bill set to overhaul voter-approved animal welfare law heads to Baker's desk » WBUR

New Boston vaccine mandate will apply to fans, but not players » Boston Globe

Verrill grows Mass. presence through combination with Boston law firm » Boston Business Journal

Downtown Hudson wins sixth annual 'America’s Main Streets' contest » The Metro West Daily News

Charlestown high students, teachers blast planned takeover » The Bay State Banner

Opting against vaccine mandate for extracurriculars, Berkshire Hills votes to ‘recommend’ COVID pool testing » the Berkshire edge

At UMass lab, McGovern, state lawmakers tout efforts to combat PFAS in water supplies » Gazette Net

Opinion: For Laura’s Law to succeed, DPH must heed our advice » Boston Globe

COVID surge: Gov. Charlie Baker restricts all non-urgent surgeries at Massachusetts hospitals » MassLive

Judge dismisses Keith Hovan’s domestic assault and battery case » New Bedford Light

Inside a New Hampshire hospital overwhelmed by COVID » WBUR

Markey, Moulton and congressional Democrats press Biden administration on Afghan families seeking refuge » Boston Globe

As some rethink Supreme Court, 9 is not so magic a number » Boston Globe

Spilka Discloses “Mild” Stroke, Says She’s “Feeling Great” » State House News Service

North Attleboro distributing test kits to qualified residents » The Sun Chronicle

Gender neutral changes in Attleboro charter approved ... almost » The Sun Chronicle

Lynn and Salem expected to follow Boston’s lead on COVID » Lynn Daily News Item

As coronavirus swirls and the holidays near, COVID-19 tests are in high demand » Boston Globe

Omicron becomes dominant variant in Mass., already ‘straining the system’ » Boston Globe

Vaccine mandate: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has ‘different view’ than gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl » MassLive

Mayor Wu announces new vaccine requirements for some indoor businesses, city workers » Boston Globe

Biden to send 500 million free COVID tests, dispatch military to overwhelmed hospitals » Boston Globe

Where (and how) to get a COVID-19 test in Mass. » Boston Globe

Boston indoor vaccine mandate takes effect next month, Mayor Michelle Wu announces » MassLive

Biden to urge Americans to get vaccinated as Christmas nears » Boston Globe

Study: Vaccines Prevented Severe Illness in 97% of Mass. Breakthrough Cases » NBC Boston

Editorial: City’s vaccine mandate a path back to normal » Boston Globe

Omicron sweeps across nation, now 73% of new US COVID-19 cases » Boston Globe

Boston institutes COVID vaccine mandate for leisure-related indoor spaces » Commonwealth Magazine

Boston To Require Vax Proof To Enter Many Businesses » State House News Service

'Line of duty' designation in COVID deaths still subject to debate » Salem News

State troopers aid Dalton, after half of the local police force tests positive for COVID-19 » Berkshire Eagle

It’s Not That Simple: Passenger rail service in Berkshire County » the Berkshire edge

Social Media Spotlight

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Boston City TV COVID-19 Announcement - 12/20/21 GBH News As omicron spreads, Boston to require proof of vaccination indoors starting January CBS Boston Gov. Baker Addresses Anxiety Around Rising COVID Cases

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Podcast Spotlight

Five Thirty Eight Politics Podcast: Why Manchin Is A ‘No’ On Build Back Better Tech Freedom Tech Policy Podcast: #308: All Eyes on the FTC NPR The NPR Politics Podcast: Sen. Manchin Closes The Door On Biden's Build Back Better Plan Crooked Media Pod Save America: What A Year! (LIVE from LA) WBUR Radio Boston: Mondays with the Mayor: Mayor Wu on everything from COVID to the T

MassHousing Announces New Round of Neighborhood Stabilization Program Capital Grants » MassHousing

Fossil Fuel Companies Make Billions in Profit as We Suffer Billions in Losses: 2024 Edition » Union of Concerned Scientists

City of Boston and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Announce BlueBikes Support During 2024 MBTA Closures » Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Time to Speed Up the Pace of the Legislature » Progressive Mass

MBTA Commuter Rail and Keolis to Run Special Event Train Service for April 27 Match Between New England Revolution and Inter Miami CF » Keolis

Neal Opening Statement at Hearing on Biden Administration’s 2024 Trade Policy Agenda » Office of Congressman Richard Neal

Antisemitic Incidents in New England Soared 205 percent in 2023 » Anti-Defamation League

House Budget amendments need your voice! » National Association of Social Workers - Mass Chapter