11:00am Joint Committee on Veterans & Federal Affairs, Public Hearing

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Public Hearing

2:00pm Joint Committee on Transportation, Public Hearing

New student loan ombudsman gets nearly 400 requests for help » Commonwealth Magazine

Report calls for state oversight of home care services » Newburyport News

New leader of Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in Massachusetts looks at casino plans with fresh eyes » WCVB

State to adopt stringent truck emissions rules » The Eagle Tribune

NY: New York City School Operations Crumble Under Omicron’s Weight » Bloomberg Politics

NY: New law allows noncitizens to vote in municipal elections in NYC » Boston Globe

The Biden administration has a COVID credibility crisis » Axios

NJ: Lame duck push to pad lawmakers' pensions begins » Politico

MassDOT urges east-west rail access as a condition for CSX to buy Pan Am Railway » Boston Business Journal

Conservatism and Fascism Are Not the Same Thing » New York Magazine

More than 1,700 congressmen once enslaved Black people. This is who they were, and how they shaped the nation. » Washington Post

Why Isn’t Biden’s Expanded Child Tax Credit More Popular? » New York Times

Is the US really heading for a second civil war? » The Guardian

Donald Trump Reportedly Dialed Sean Hannity Into Oval Office Meetings » HUFFPOST

Opinion: Steve Bannon Is Onto Something » New York Times

Sen. Ron Johnson, Super-Spreader of Election and Vaccine Misinformation, Will Seek Reelection » Vanity Fair

NY Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recovering after positive COVID test » Boston.com

NH: Morse decides to run for US Senate, to file paperwork this week, formal launch later in month » WMUR

Moderna plans to have omicron booster ready for the fall » Boston Business Journal

Biden comes out swinging against Republicans as his agenda stalls » Boston Globe

Battenfeld: Marty Walsh’s only way out of Biden’s sinking ship » Boston Herald

Editorial: The Justice Department should back off researchers » Boston Globe

Package stores pushing ‘compromise’ ballot question » Commonwealth Magazine

COVID-19 surge exposes Mass. educational inequities in livestreaming classes » WGBH

Educators question efficacy of state-issued masks » The Recorder

Michelle Wu calls for more flexibility for remote learning amid coronavirus surge » Boston Herald

‘Turned out to be a fiasco’: Mask controversy erodes Mass. educators’ faith in state » Boston Globe

Parents, students frustrated as Framingham pauses sports and extracurriculars for 2 weeks amid surge in COVID-19 cases » WHDH

As More Teachers’ Unions Push for Remote Schooling, Parents Worry. So Do Democrats. » New York Times

Pharmacists face pandemic burnout, too » Boston Herald

State issues COVID-19 booster mandate for nursing home workers » WBUR

Arciero files bill on behalf of Chelmsford colon cancer survivor » Lowell Sun

Final bill: St. Vincent paid city more than $4.1M for police detail during nurses' strike » Worcester Telegram

175 ‘MBTA Communities’ will have to start increasing multi-family zoning this year » Boston Herald

On housing, Wu should look to Somerville » Commonwealth Magazine

Veterans in Holyoke Soldiers’ Home dorm for the homeless face uncertain futures as closure of program looms » MassLive

From hotel to homeless housing: Owner of the Roundhouse aims to help at Mass. and Cass » Boston Globe

At Mass. and Cass, word is spreading: The tents are coming down and housing is available » Boston Globe

Cohasset, DCF, former principal tied up in court amid ongoing Knight sex abuse scandal » Patriot Ledger

Rachael Rollins to be sworn in as next US attorney for Massachusetts on Monday » Boston Herald

Massachusetts’ top Trial Court Security Department official resigns in the wake of report outlining assaults at training academy » MassLive

Report finds physical abuse, intimidation at state Trial Court Officer Academy » Boston Globe

Will Charlie Baker commute a convicted murderer’s life sentence? » Boston Globe

Omicron whips through the workforce, pushing overstretched staffs to the brink » Boston Globe

Northampton health board to take up vax passport proposal again » Gazette Net

New Lawrence mayor says it’s now the people’s turn » Commonwealth Magazine

Downtown Pittsfield steps into the digital age with $100K grant for public Wi-Fi network » Berkshire Eagle

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno appoints members to residency oversight commission ahead of City Council vote » MassLive

In Year 2 as Council Prez, Williams Reshuffles & Puts Transparency on the Menu » Western Mass Politics and Insight

COVID-19 surge among items for Worcester City Council's first 2022 meeting » Worcester Telegram

Politics and the City: Mayor's committee assignments reflect changing city — and changing council » Worcester Telegram

Eyeing governor's seat, state Sen. Chang-Díaz talks accomplishments on Beacon Hill » WGBH

Opinion: Pressing issues call for the attention of Mayor Wu, Governor Baker » Boston Globe

Lowell senator files resolution in support of free and fair elections in Cambodia » Lowell Sun

Possible candidates for governor have deep campaign accounts » AP News

Stuck in a long line for a COVID-19 test in Mass.? Here's why » WBUR

COVID may become endemic — meaning the virus and its mutations may never disappear » Boston Globe

Information chaos in public health » Commonwealth Magazine

Springfield police fatally shoot man who allegedly stabbed officer in face » Boston Globe

Worcester street renamed for police officer who drowned during rescue attempt » Boston Globe

Street renamed in honor of officer who drowned trying to save teen » Boston Herald

Head of anti-vaccine-mandate Boston first responders group placed on leave » Boston Herald

Boston police task force members worry that oversight office could stagnate » Boston Herald

‘People are driving recklessly’: More than 400 people died on Massachusetts roads last year, a 19% spike from 2020 » Boston Herald

Springfield Mayor Sarno backs Gov. Baker bill to toughen ‘dangerousness’ legislation » MassLive

What comes after Omicron? We need a plan » Boston Globe

'Cause for concern': Warren, Markey seek federal review of Plymouth jail conditions » Patriot Ledger

$876m Mass. tax workaround set in motion » Commonwealth Magazine

MBTA driver shortage made worse by COVID surge » Boston Globe

Increased federal energy aid available as winter weather arrives in Massachusetts » Boston Globe

Social Media Spotlight

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GBH News Which leaders should be stepping up where in latest COVID surge in Massachusetts? CBS Boston Keller @ Large: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Stresses Importance Of Vaccination And COVID Testing

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Podcast Spotlight

National Conference of State Legislatures Our American States: State of State Legislatures 2022 | OAS Episode 149 Crooked Media Pod Save America: Offline: Alex Stamos on Leaving Facebook and Zuckerberg’s Reign

11:00am Joint Committee on Veterans & Federal Affairs, Public Hearing

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Public Hearing

2:00pm Joint Committee on Transportation, Public Hearing

Birthdays: State Senator Karen Spilka

11:00am Joint Committee on Housing, Public Hearing

11:30am Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, Public Hearing

12:45pm Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness & Management, Oversight Hearing

Special election for former Sen. Joseph Boncore's seat

10:00am Joint Committee on Revenue, Public Hearing

2:00pm Legislative Briefing - Multiple Sclerosis Treatment, Virtual Hearing

5:30pm Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression, Virtual Hearing

8:30am 2022 Economic Outlook hosted by the Boston Business Journal, Via Zoom

10:00am Special Legislative Commission on Structural Racism in Correctional Facilities of the Commonwealth, Virtual Hearing

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Formal Session

12:30pm Department of Correction and Sheriff's Department Funding, Virtual Hearing

9:30am Executive Office of Health & Human Services Public Hearing, Via Zoom

10:00am A meeting of the Subcommittee on Municipalities Not Subject to Civil Service Law, of the Special Legislative Commission to Study and Examine the Civil Service Law, Virtual Hearing

5:00pm Close of Comment Period for Mass. Teachers' Retirement System Proposed Regulatory Changes, Submission via mail or email

Alzheimer's Association Part the Cloud Grants $3 Million to Develop Innovative Treatments, Bringing Total Investment to $68 Million » Alzheimer's Association

ICYMI: At Hearing, Warren Presses Army Leadership on Military Housing Crisis, Need for Quality, Safe Accommodations » Office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren

New England Aquarium and retail partner Event Network take significant step to remove plastic from gift shop » New England Aquarium

Gov. Healey's Secretary's Tirade Caught on Camera » MassFiscal Alliance