11:00am Joint Committee on Ways & Means, Public Hearing

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

1:00pm Special Legislative Commission on Structural Racism in Correctional Facilities of the Commonwealth, Virtual Hearing

What does the dire new UN climate report mean for New England? » Boston Globe

COVID restrictions at Massachusetts State House in flux, Beacon Hill leaders indicate » MassLive

10 years after sex trafficking law took effect, Massachusetts now seen as national leader » WGBH

Pioneer Institute launching center to push issues in court » Commonwealth Magazine

'We feel exuberant, amazing': St. Vincent Hospital nurses vote to keep union with Mass. Nurses Association » Worcester Telegram

In Mattapan, there’s just one grocery store. So community leaders — and Mayor Wu — are eyeing other food avenues. » Boston.com

Local-option COVID approach slammed » Commonwealth Magazine

AAA study shows traffic fatalities spiked during pandemic because high-risk drivers dominated the roads » Boston Herald

Quincy High students join nationwide call for more transparency around sexual violence » Patriot Ledger

ME: Maine labor unions to form climate change panel » Press Herald

NY: New Psych Units at Rikers Delayed Despite Renewed Focus on Mental Health and Justice » The City

NJ: N.J.’s cannabis commission can’t shake discrimination, fraud allegations » NJ.com

FL: Language in FL law related to Black children is ‘proof that racism is still very much alive’ » Florida Phoenix

FL: Florida Legislature: Seven things to watch in the final two weeks » Miami Herald

MN: Minnesota's projected budget surplus grows to $9.25 billion » Axios

IA: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ national TV moment imminent with State of the Union response » The Gazette

TX: Texans go to the polls under sweeping new voting restrictions » Georgia Recorder

CA: Chaos in one of California’s largest government unions as VPs lock out Local 1000 president » The Sacramento Bee

'Shameful': Manchin votes with Senate GOP to filibuster abortion rights bill » Raw Story

The West ramps up the pressure on Putin's inner circle » Axios

Rep. Deutch to leave House to lead Jewish advocacy organization » Washington Post

Mass. delegation invites virtual guests to Biden address to highlight child care, infrastructure priorities » Boston Globe

Battenfeld: No masks in Capitol just in time for State of the Union » Boston Herald

Opinion: embodies what he says is the biggest danger — ‘people from within’ » Boston Globe

GOP leaders condemn Greene and Gosar’s appearances at white nationalist conference » Boston Globe

There is one nation that could tip the scales on the war in Ukraine. So far, it hasn’t tried to. » Boston Globe

Richard Blum, husband of California Senator Dianne Feinstein, dies » Boston Globe

Editorial: Another new world order quickly takes shape as Ukraine war rages on » Boston Globe

Many Capitol riot cases could hinge on first trial’s outcome » Boston Globe

‘A crisis usually enhances a president’: Ukraine gives Biden opportunity to lead at State of the Union address as poll numbers sag » Boston Globe

Opinion: How the world can influence Putin’s fateful choices in Ukraine » Boston Globe

Hillary Clinton calls out Biden’s Treasury Department over Russian access to cryptocurrency » Boston Herald

Board it up. That’s one town’s plea to prevent injury at the Berkshire Mall » Berkshire Eagle

Mayor Wu proposes limits to protesting at private residences » Boston Globe

Wu proposes restricting ‘targeted residential picketing’ » Commonwealth Magazine

Editorial: Wu’s home-picketing ban boon for all Bostonians » Boston Herald

Baker: Wu's Residential Picketing Plan Raises 'Worthy Topic' » NBC Boston

Wu moves to limit protests at Boston homes — including her own » WGBH

The masks come off: Face coverings now optional for many area schools » Gazette Net

Ending mask mandate brings mixed views at Amherst Regional High School » Gazette Net

U.S. Supreme Court denies Gordon College appeal — for now » Salem News

School is back in person, but the five-day school week often isn’t » Boston Globe

As Massachusetts school mask mandate expires, Gov. Charlie Baker touts high vaccination rate, low COVID risk » MassLive

Massachusetts schools and cities are dropping mask mandates. Why are we rushing? » WGBH

Intellia’s first CRISPR gene editing therapy shows promise in small study » Boston Globe

‘There is no post-Paul era.’ After Paul Farmer’s death, the global health movement he inspired carries on. » Boston Globe

FEMA to provide nearly $3.4M to Lowell General for COVID-19 costs » Lowell Sun

Broad Institute wins breakthrough CRISPR patent ruling » Boston Business Journal

Salem planners begin tackling condo conversion crisis » Salem News

Allston Yards developer proposes adding another 150 condos » Boston Business Journal

Mass. DCF working to ‘improve communication’ with other states in light of Harmony Montgomery case » Boston Globe

Massachusetts officials say changes coming in wake of disappearance of Harmony Montgomery » WMUR

Judge to Face Trial for Allegedly Blocking ICE Arrest in Courtroom » Newsweek

COVID-19 pandemic creates case backlog in MA courts » Fox 25 News

Federal appeals court allows case against Newton District Court judge to proceed » Boston Globe

Retirement board keeps fired New Bedford deputy fire chief's pension intact for now » South Coast Today

Nurses union survives vote to remain at Saint Vincent Hospital after bitter 9-month strike » Boston Globe

New House, Senate District Descriptions Available » State House News Service

Wu says she’ll wind down Boston’s urban renewal districts. Here’s what that means. » Boston Globe

State again rejects Methuen's use of some COVID money » The Eagle Tribune

Everett Poole, Town Moderator of Chilmark over four decades, dies at 91 » Boston Globe

New Bedford ends its vaccination or testing mandate for city employees » New Bedford Light

Commission says Quincy’s process when selecting the mayor’s son as a police officer was unfair » Boston.com

Mayor Mitchell wants the city to buy the century-old armory. Here's how much it will cost. » South Coast Today

Down to the wire on delegates: 8 towns yet to organize a Democratic Party caucus » Gazette Net

With Legal Firm, Pioneer Aims To Fill Void In New England » State House News Service

Republican challenger Jeffrey Sossa-Paquette apologizes for tweet supporting Marjorie Taylor Greene’s appearance at white supremacy rally » MassLive

Gray exploring run for state Senate » Newburyport News

Salem candidates line up to succeed Tucker as rep » Lynn Daily News Item

Michelle Wu seeks to ban protesters from demonstrating at her home in the early morning » Boston Herald

Wide open Lt. governor race draws crowd » The Eagle Tribune

‘I fear a cultural genocide’; Ukrainians in Western Mass. watch, worry and help » MassLive

MassGOP Introduces McMahon As Candidate For AG » State House News Service

Boston-area coronavirus wastewater is plateauing after steep plunge: ‘This isn’t too surprising’ » Boston Herald

Massachusetts reports 1,632 coronavirus cases over the weekend, hospitalizations drop again » Boston Herald

Panelists: Supports Needed To Ensure Black Wellness » State House News Service

State officials, advocates report 'considerable' progress in fight against human trafficking » Telegram & Gazette

Saugus receives $8,230 in state fire safety education grants for students and seniors » Wicked Local

Invasion Puts Focus On Contracts, Investments With Russian Ties » State House News Service

Baker orders review of state contracts, targeting potential deals with Russian companies » Boston Globe

‘We have to stand up’: US governors impose sanctions on Russia » Boston Globe

Gov. Charlie Baker, wary of harming immigrants, explores executive order targeting Russian businesses » MassLive

State urged to divest Russian-tied pension holdings » The Eagle Tribune

‘A no-brainer’: Merrimack Valley RTA makes all buses free to ride for two years » Boston Globe

Merrimack Valley RTA goes fare free for two years » Commonwealth Magazine

Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority Removes Fare Boxes and Ushers in Free Bus Service » WHAV

Customers of MBTA's paratransit service 'The Ride' air frustrations over delays, no-shows » WCVB

Lydia Edwards files proposal that could halt East Boston electric substation » Boston Globe

Healey says she had no choice on blocking Brookline's fossil fuel ban » WGBH

Social Media Spotlight

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GBH News What Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson could bring to the Supreme Court CBS Boston Pilot Program Begins For 3 Fare-Free Bus Routes In Boston

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Podcast Spotlight

WBUR Radio Boston: "Mondays with the Mayor" is back as we talk protests, mandates, and local Ukrainians Crooked Media Pod Save America: "The World Rallies Behind Ukraine." NPR The NPR Politics Podcast: "Awake Not Woke": How Republicans Are Defining Their Party in 2022

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