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Today on Beacon Hill

10:00am Peace Officer Standards & Training Commission Public Hearing, Via Zoom

10:00am Joint Committee on Economic Development & Emerging Technologies, Public Hearing

11:00am The Senate President and the Speaker: Insights on the Legislative Session and Beyond hosted by SHNS, Via Zoom

Birthdays: Rep. Thomas Stanley, State Senator Paul Feeney

Must-Reads

Receivership 'counterproductive' for Boston schools, Wu says » WBUR

Massachusetts high gas prices: Republican lawmakers keep pushing for gas-tax break, as other states suspend tax for drivers » Boston Herald

Former Mass. advocate for the deaf sued Baker, charging he was fired to give governor ‘political cover.’ A federal judge tossed the case. » Boston Globe

Demand for mental health services spike in jails, sheriffs report » WBUR

Commission calls for limiting police use of facial recognition technology » Commonwealth Magazine

Tom Golden will be only interviewee for Lowell city manager » Lowell Sun

Newton considers 'net zero' mandate for bigger buildings » Boston Business Journal

Worcester City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. announces he is stepping down in May » Worcester Telegram

State health officials tout 'surprise billing' law » The Eagle Tribune

RI: Republican Ashley Kalus is officially running for governor of R.I. » Boston Globe

NY: How Hochul's policy opacity may be helping critics define her » POLITICO Pro

NY: There is ‘no evidence’ bail reform rollback would cut crime: NYC Comptroller Brad Lander » New York Daily News

NJ: Mask mandate at New Jersey Statehouse repealed » POLITICO Pro

GA: House Speaker’s priority mental health reforms run into Senate buzzsaw » Georgia Recorder

FL: Florida Dems back down after LGBTQ caucus threatens boycott of annual gala amid Disney dust-up » POLITICO

CO: Denver's cannabis and common consumption programs aren't catching on » Axios

CA: Health Officials See Bright Future in Poop Surveillance » California Healthline

Teens are trying — but failing — to quit vaping nicotine, new research shows » Boston Globe

Youth turnout could save, or sink, Democrats in 2022 » CNN

Debra Meadows appears to have filed three false voter forms » Washington Post

Scoop: Jamie Dimon pushes Biden for domestic energy "Marshall Plan" » Axios

While Democrats Debate ‘Latinx,’ Latinos Head to the G.O.P. » New York Times

GOP's 2024 contenders leap into Supreme Court spotlight » POLITICO

The Other Manchin’s Conflicts Of Interest » The Lever

‘Morally bankrupt’: outrage after pro-Israel group backs insurrectionist Republicans » The Guardian

Trump withdraws endorsement of 'woke' Mo Brooks » The Hill

DNC officials circulate plan that would change presidential primary calendar and threaten Iowa's first-in-the-nation status » CNN

“Why do you still believe that takeovers are saving our educational system when you have been in control of Lawrence Public Schools for 10 years and you have failed us?” Guzman said. “If you as a body wish to be anti-racist, you must first show some respect for communities of color and recognize that we understand the needs of our children better than any outsiders.”

Lawrence School Committee member Jonathan Guzman

As Boston Public Schools face a possible state takeover, Guzman shares how a takeover has harmed students in Lawrence.

News By Category
Beltway Politics

Editorial: Biden needs to step up if he wants U.S. to take the lead » Boston Herald

Lucas: Biden must meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, somehow » Boston Herald

Seth Moulton, Jake Auchincloss introduce ‘Yachts for Ukraine’ Act to direct oligarch assets to aid Ukraine » Boston Herald

‘Ukrainians are fighting to win’: Rep. Lynch visits refugees in Poland » WGBH

Ketanji Brown Jackson pushes back on GOP critics and defends her record on second day of hearings » Boston Globe

Defending her record, Jackson back for third day of hearings » Boston Globe

Opinion: Democrats’ sunken-failure agenda vs. GOP’s don’t-ask-because-we-aren’t-telling path » Boston Globe

Business

Baker says he’ll try again for funds to boost downtowns post-pandemic » Boston Globe

Mass. regulators fine bitcoin mining company $1 million » Boston Globe

Scrap metal operation shuts down in Somerset » Commonwealth Magazine

Cannabis & Psychedelics

‘Impact fee’ on recreational pot shops is canceled until the city finds any impacts it needs to pay for » Cambridge Day

Civil Rights

‘A solid road map’: State commission report offers reforms for facial recognition tech » Boston Globe

Can I be happy to be nappy in Massachusetts? » WGBH

Education

Northampton schools chief to launch outside probe amid math program controversy » Gazette Net

UMass student seriously injured in hit-and-run on Amherst campus » Gazette Net

Massachusetts to conduct a review of Boston Public Schools next week » Boston Herald

Mayor Wu urges state education board against Boston Public Schools takeover » Boston Globe

Mass. tops list of states with the most college closures » Boston Business Journal

Environment

Joining hands to address climate change: UMass events bring together artists, scientists and activists » Gazette Net

Gaming

Our View: A sure bet » The Sun Chronicle

Health Care

Pioneer Institute alleges hospitals abusing federal program to finance low income patients’ medical care » Boston Herald

From menial jobs to a Tufts neurologist, a doctor’s long and torturous journey » Boston Globe

Telehealth abortion is 'revolutionizing' service in some states, including Mass. » WGBH

Housing

High cost of Massachusetts housing is the state’s biggest challenge, Charlie Baker tells Chamber » Boston Herald

Report: Nonwhite residents hit harder by post-moratorium evictions » Lowell Sun

Eviction rates in communities of color higher during pandemic, report finds » Boston Globe

Labor

More relief coming to Massachusetts residents looking to enter the workforce, Gov. Charlie Baker says » MassLive

Baker eyes new approach to aid unemployed » WHDH

Legislative

Local reps, senators speak to focus on solar, transportation this legislative session » Athol Daily News

Local Government

Wu reflects on first 100 days — and the road ahead — in wide-ranging Globe town hall » Boston Globe

Mayor Sisitsky has a message for Framingham's sister city in Russia » The Metro West Daily News

Edward Augustus Jr., Worcester city manager who helped change the city, announces departure » MassLive

One solar bylaw struck by Attorney General; two more up for votes at Town Meeting » Wareham Week

Politics

‘This is a really humbling job,’ Gov. Charlie Baker, offers advice for successor as he pushes for political civility » MassLive

Massachusetts Auditor Candidate Chris Dempsey Wants to Bring the Office Front and Center » WBSM

Public Health

Massachusetts reports rise in new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations tick up » Boston Herald

State-run program to provide COVID tests to daycares could expire this summer » WGBH

Omicron subvariant now accounts for over half of all COVID-19 cases in New England, CDC says » Boston Globe

Public Safety

Facial recognition panel looks to balance police needs with privacy » Boston Herald

Day says panel found balance on facial recognition » News 22 WWLP.com

Boston police defend purchase of surveillance equipment; councilors call for an end to the secrecy » WBUR

Editorial: BPD foot-dragging on Jan. 6 probe hits new lengths » Boston Globe

State Government

Baker presses for $750M clean energy fund, hints at more business support » Boston Business Journal

Taxation

Mass. senators push for gas tax pause and Russian divestment » WBUR

Transportation

Wu, Janey, Pressley tout benefits of new fare-free bus service in Boston » Boston Globe

MBTA apologizes after CharlieCard Store customers wait hours for help » WCVB

Job Board

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Recipe of the Week

Ingredients

6 slices (about 6 ounces; 170g) thick-cut bacon

1 pound (450g) spring onions, trimmed, white and green parts divided and thinly sliced (see note)

1 fennel bulb (about 1 pound; 450g), cored and thinly sliced, fronds reserved

1/4 cup (60ml) water

Kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup (235ml) heavy cream

1 pound (450g) dried orecchiette pasta

Freshly ground black pepper

1 cup (about 3 ounces; 85g) grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus extra for serving

Directions

In a large, straight-sided sauté pan or Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium-low heat, turning occasionally, until meaty parts are crisp and fatty parts are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Using tongs, transfer bacon to a cutting board and reserve rendered bacon fat in the pan. Cut bacon crosswise into 3/4-inch pieces; set aside.

Return pan to stovetop and increase heat to medium-high. Add white and light green spring onion parts, fennel, and water, season with salt and cook, stirring frequently with a rubber spatula, until vegetables just begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add baking soda, stir to combine, and continue to cook until vegetables are very soft and beginning to break down, about 8 minutes longer.

Add remaining green parts of spring onions. Cook until well-incorporated with vegetable mixture and just beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add cream, bring to a simmer, and cook until mixture is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.

Transfer mixture to a blender and blend on high speed until smooth and emulsified, about 1 minute. Season lightly with salt. Wipe out sauté pan and transfer blended sauce back to the pan, passing through a fine-mesh strainer if desired. Warm sauce over low heat, occasionally scraping down the sides of the pan to prevent skin from forming.

Meanwhile, in a pot of salted boiling water, cook orecchiette until just shy of al dente (about 1 minute less than the package directs). Reserve pasta cooking water.

Transfer pasta to pan along with 1/2 cup pasta water and bacon, increase heat to high, and cook, stirring rapidly until sauce has thickened slightly and pasta is well-coated, about 1 minute. Remove from heat, season generously with pepper, add Parmigiano, and stir rapidly to combine. Season with salt, if needed. Divide pasta into serving bowls and garnish with reserved fennel fronds. Serve immediately, passing more cheese at the table.



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