10:00am Joint Committee on Revenue, Public Hearing

1:00pm "Ask the Mayor" with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu on GBH's Boston Public Radio, 89.7 FM or wgbh.org/news

Hospitals pushed to financial ruin as nurses quit en masse » Boston Globe

Baker, lawmakers battle over who will oversee millions in mental health funding » Boston Business Journal

Chuck Hunt, state’s first ‘first husband,’ dies at 67 » Boston Globe

As cases surge, Gov. Baker calls up National Guard to help stretched hospitals » WBUR

Wu weighing higher developer fees, including for lab projects » Boston Business Journal

Forecasters predict modest state tax revenue growth next year » Commonwealth Magazine

Ayanna Pressley says Charlie Baker’s new mask advisory ‘falls well short’ » Boston.com

NY: N.Y.C. Mayor Announces $100 Booster Incentive Before New Year » New York Times

RI: RI COVID deaths hit 'heartbreaking milestone' as Gov. Dan McKee tries to combat COVID surge » The Associated Press (AP)

Fauci calls for Fox News host to be fired 'on the spot' for 'kill shot' comments » CNN

Coal miners' union urges Manchin to reconsider opposition to Biden plan » The Hill

Rep. Scott Perry calls Jan. 6 panel ‘illegitimate,’ refuses to cooperate » Roll Call

John Thune, a Likely Successor to Mitch McConnell, Weighs Retirement » New York Times

How The Koch Network Hijacked The War On COVID » The Daily Poster

Norfolk DA probing signature fraud on business-backed ballot measures including Uber/Lyft referendum » Boston Globe

Editorial: Debunking Manchin’s anti-Build Back Better myths » Boston Globe

Biden vows he, Manchin will ‘get something done’ on $2 trillion bill » Boston Globe

Representative Scott Perry denies Jan. 6 panel’s request for interview » Boston Globe

Local business react following Governor Baker's mask advisory » Western Mass News

Opinion: Voting is for citizens » Boston Globe

Northampton Education Foundation awards nearly $16K for six projects in city’s schools » Gazette Net

Ex-Boston Public Schools middle school dean is accused of raping child » Boston Herald

Harvard professor found guilty of lying about financial ties to Chinese university » Boston Globe

Going to school is 'safe, healthy,' Baker says » WCVB

Charlestown High School remake proposal draws fire » Commonwealth Magazine

Ceremony Amplifies Importance Of Genocide Education » State House News Service

Federal student loan payment pause extended to May 1 as Mass. lawmakers keep pressing for up to $50K in debt cancellation » MassLive

‘We’ve never had one here’: A rare Steller’s sea eagle, native to Asia, has been hanging out around the Taunton River » Boston Globe

Opinion: Global destruction isn’t funny, but when it comes to the climate crisis, it might have to be » Boston Globe

Baker halts non-essential hospital procedures, urges indoor mask wearing » Commonwealth Magazine

Gov. Charlie Baker to activate 500 members of National Guard to aid hospitals, ambulance providers as state updates elective procedure, mask guidance » MassLive

Michelle Wu outlines rent control, other affordable-housing plans for Boston » Boston Herald

Wu launches push to expand affordable housing, study rent control rules » Boston Globe

Median Home Sale Price Soars 30 Percent In Two Years » State House News Service

Verizon Wireless franchise owner donates $10K to Northampton Survival Center » Gazette Net

Shaun Jenkins won a new trial on his murder conviction. That trial shouldn’t happen » Boston Globe

DOJ says inmates on home confinement can stay out of prison » Boston Globe

Suffolk DA Rachael Rollins prepares to take over as Massachusetts U.S. attorney » WBUR

Two Framingham construction companies alleged guilty of payroll fraud » Worcester Business Journal

Federal funds to help Pepperell purchase new ambulance » Lowell Sun

Amherst Town Council OKs zoning for downtown parking garage » Gazette Net

Pittsfield Gets $100K Grant for Public Wi-Fi Infrastructure » iBerkshires

Grants help Massachusetts communities upgrade technology » MassLive

Gov. Baker to Attend Haverhill’s Inauguration Jan. 3 of Mayor, City Council and School Committee » WHAV

Pittsfield receives grant to provide better Wi-Fi access to residents » News 22 WWLP.com

Jasiel Correia fraud and corruption saga will continue in 2022. Here's what to expect » The Herald News

South Hadley imposes indoor mask mandate; effective Thursday » MassLive

Ballot drive signatures collected in Foxboro eyed in fraud probe by Norfolk County DA » The Sun Chronicle

After Lydia Edwards Wins the Special Election for Senate; A Field of Candidates Begin to Emerge for District Councilor » East Boston Times-Free Press

‘The Commonwealth can and must do more’: Pressley urges Baker to take stronger measures to combat Omicron wave » Boston Globe

Finding COVID tests. Scheduling booster appointments. Swabbing noses. Stressed moms have yet another job: medical practice manager » Boston Globe

Charlie Baker issues Massachusetts mask advisory, activates National Guard to aid hospitals as coronavirus cases surge » Boston Herald

Howie Carr: Omicron has killed as many people as … Alec Baldwin’s gun » Boston Herald

Charlie Baker has ‘no interest’ in mask mandate despite calls from Dems, doctors for stronger action » Boston Herald

These 5 charts show how fast Omicron is spreading » Boston Globe

Baker deploys National Guard to help stressed hospitals and advises residents to wear masks indoors » Boston Globe

Michelle Wu defends Boston vaccine mandate amid pushback » Boston Herald

Biden credits Trump, Warp Speed while pushing vax, testing for omicron surge » Boston Herald

MA Needs Full Mask Mandate Spilka, Rausch Urge » Framingham Patch

Biden to send millions of free COVID-19 tests, dispatch military to hospitals as experts worry about time already lost » Boston Globe

Why Baker Issued a Mask Advisory, Not a Mask Mandate, for Mass. » NBC Boston

Will Boston’s proof-of-vaccination order work without a verification system? » Boston Globe

Brookline’s ‘tobacco-free generation’ bylaw now in place » Boston Globe

Mass. cities and towns following Boston's lead on vaccine requirements for indoor venues » WGBH

Lawmakers Demand More Action From Baker on COVID-19 Front » State House News Service

Disappointed ‘beyond description’: State Sen. Becca Rausch faults Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on COVID response » MassLive

Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, others, receive total over $215,000 for drug treatment program » Fall River Reporter

Crime reports paint a picture of violence radiating through Mass. and Cass » Boston Globe

Essex County Sheriff Coppinger’s Office Receives Federal Grant to Help Transition Inmates off Drugs »

Analysts See State Tax Revenue Growth Rolling Along » State House News Service

2021 has proven to be a soul-destroying year of crushing commutes » Boston.com

Travelers are experiencing long lines at Logan Airport as holiday travel kicks into full gear » Boston Globe

Social Media Spotlight

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GBH News Senator Ed Markey on the future of Build Back Better's goals and covid testing in Massachusetts CBS Boston Masks Recommended For All In Massachusetts; Baker Activates National Guard To Support Hospitals

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Podcast Spotlight

Tech Freedom Tech Policy Podcast: #308: All Eyes on the FTC NPR The NPR Politics Podcast: How Successful Was The Biden Administration In Battling COVID This Year?

Directions

Audit Identifies Barriers to Access in Operational Services Division » MA Office of the State Auditor

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden Pays $5,000 Civil Penalty for Violating Conflict of Interest Law » MA State Ethics Commission

A Call for Climate Justice at the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights » Union of Concerned Scientists

Congresswoman Trahan Announces $3 Million In Head Start Funding For Making Opportunity Count In Fitchburg » Office of Congresswoman Lori Trahan

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