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Today on Beacon Hill

10:45am Navigating Risk featuring General Stan McChrystal hosted by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Huntington Ballroom, The Colonnade Hotel, Boston

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

7:00pm Joint Committee on Public Service, Public Hearing

Must-Reads

Senate's climate change plan faces pushback » Newburyport News

City councilors share focus on mental health as top priority in police budget » Boston Globe

Mass. wants more electric vehicles. How about more chargers? » Boston Globe

Amid leadership transition, labor tensions grow in Boston Public Schools » Boston Globe

How BECMA’s new president aims to close the racial wealth gap in Massachusetts » WGBH

Fishermen from Mass., N.J., sue federal government to block ban on fishing near Gulf of Maine » Boston Globe

ME: Maine will close loophole that allows out-of-state waste into state landfill » WBUR

NY: New York's lieutenant governor resigns after arrest in federal bribery case » Politico

NY: NY to Make Absentee Ballots More Accessible for Voters with Disabilities » City Limits

NJ: New effort to recruit more men of color as teachers » NJ Spotlight News

NJ: Newark to make $23M upgrade at water treatment plant to prevent future lead exposure » Gothamist

FL: Providers still waiting for state to deliver $1.2B in supplemental Medicaid funds » Florida Politics

FL: Trump faces tough decision on DeSantis endorsement » The Hill

OK: Oklahoma governor signs bill criminalizing the performing of abortions » Washington Post

Are Democrats Headed for a Shellacking in the Midterm Election? » Sabato's Crystal Ball

Amazon’s Union Buster Has Major Labor Clients » The Lever

The Memo: Democrats face nightmare scenario, ‘biblical disaster’ » The Hill

'The Birchers have won': How right-wing paranoia has become the GOP's defining feature » Raw Story

“Corporate greed is Pacific Gas & Electric handing out a $51 million compensation package to its CEO after triggering the 2nd largest wildfire in California's history, increasing rates by 22%, lobbying against rooftop solar and advocating for a solar tax. We need a Green New Deal.”

Bernie Sanders

Pacific Gas & Electric has agreed to pay more than $55 million to avoid prosecution for two major wildfires. PG&E has been blamed for more than 30 wildfires since 2017 that wiped out more than 23,000 homes and businesses and killed more than 100 people.

News By Category
Beltway Politics

GOP voters will soon vote in primary contests. But Trump’s impact in the home stretch appears to be decidedly mixed. » Boston Globe

Editorial: The Jan. 6 Committee should not make political bets » Boston Globe

Opinion: Russians aren’t alone in being deluded by lies and propaganda » Boston Globe

Editorial: Musk, lift Twitter ban on Trump » Boston Herald

Business

Howie Carr: Biden out to empty your pockets » Boston Herald

Biden tries a different tack on inflation — blame Putin » Boston Globe

The news on inflation is bad. It will be for a while. » Boston Globe

Needham’s old Muzi dealerships could make way for lab or office ‘headquarters location’ » Boston Globe

Boston crypto startup Circle partners with world’s biggest investment firm » Boston Globe

This is what it’s like inside Providence’s Superman building right now » Boston Globe

Cannabis & Psychedelics

Think Massachusetts' cannabis products are subpar? Blame growing pains » WGBH

Civil Rights

Attorney General Maura Healey ‘troubled’ by Bishop McManus’ call for Nativity School of Worcester to remove Pride and Black Lives Matter flags » MassLive

Education

Boston City Councilors slam idea of state control over BPS » Boston Herald

Opinion: More than meets the eye in uproar over UMass Boston dean » Boston Globe

Curtains for Marty Walsh? Boston Arts Academy parents, teachers push back on putting his name on new theater » Boston Herald

Children’s Vision Agenda Coming Back Into Focus » State House News Service

Boston University laying off up to 175 employees from COVID-19 testing sites » WCVB

Environment

Andover holds first climate summit » The Andover Townsman

Nipmuc Nation wants return of ancestral land in Belchertown » Gazette Net

Level Of Climate Projects Questioned In Infrastructure Bill » State House News Service

Danvers superintendent will retire » Salem News

Health Care

Activists Press For Response To Rise In Dementia » State House News Service

Housing

With Emergency Rental Aid Window Closing, Advocates Warn of Impacts » State House News Service

Mass Consultants Use Questionable Tools To Investigate Eviction Relief Applicants » Dig Boston

Human Services

Auditor finds over $6-million in benefit fraud in FY21 » News 22 WWLP.com

Judiciary

Koonce murder sentence commuted after 31 years in jail » Commonwealth Magazine

Inmate granted the state’s first commutation of a life sentence for murder in 25 years to be set free » Boston Globe

Labor

Feeney presents funding to address truck driver shortage, supply chain crisis » Wicked Local

Local Government

Somerset political infighting continues » Commonwealth Magazine

Wu Excited For “Safe, Fun” Boston Marathon » State House News Service

Wu to detail $3.99 billion budget, city priorities for COVID relief funds » Boston Globe

Select Board votes against recommending several citizens’ articles for Town Meeting » Wareham Week

Politics

Executive office hopefuls make pitches at Northampton forum » Gazette Net

Healey racks up cash in bid for governor » Salem News

‘We don’t want to be left out’: GOP gubernatorial Chris Doughty hopeful joins chorus of debate requests » MassLive

Massachusetts AG candidate Quentin Palfrey tests positive for COVID, reports ‘mild’ symptoms » MassLive

Wisconsin Supreme Court to hear arguments on ballot boxes » Boston Globe

Wrentham businessman Chris Doughty agrees to May 10 GOP candidates forum, but he may be alone » The Sun Chronicle

Chicopee state representative race expands with candidate Sean Goonan announcing he will run as an independent » MassLive

DiZoglio Brings Working Class Beginnings to the Massachusetts’ Auditor’s Race » WBSM

Public Health

Air quality in Springfield’s East Forest Park is good, while those with respiratory, heart disease in Upper Hill need to be careful, new Pioneer Valley pollution level tracking website states » MassLive

STDs are on the rise again as pandemic eases » Boston Herald

Massachusetts COVID cases spike 53% in past week, virus hospitalizations jump » Boston Herald

Boston ‘not there yet’ on mask mandate — which now is health board decision » Boston Herald

Where do U.S. opioid trials, settlements stand? Here’s what to know. » Boston.com

‘More Like a Bump Than a Peak': What Increase in COVID Cases Means for Boston Area » NBC Boston

UMass model was most accurate at predicting COVID-19 deaths, study finds » Boston Globe

FEMA Providing $7.7M to Massachusetts for COVID Costs » Cape Cod Online

State AG’s Office launches new website for Pioneer Valley » News 22 WWLP.com

Public Safety

Chicopee mayor to name permanent police chief following scandal » MassLive

‘This isn’t how I want to live’: As two gangs feud, their neighborhoods grieve » Boston Globe

Gov. Charlie Baker: Expect heightened security but no sign of ‘specific’ threat in Massachusetts following NYC subway shooting » MassLive

Nero’s Law ceremoniously signed 4 years after death of Sgt. Sean Gannon » Boston Herald

Injured police dogs are now able to be transported by medical personnel thanks to Nero’s Law » MassLive

State prison system uses 'unreliable' drug test to screen mail in violation of court order, complaint says » WBUR

Monson fire receives new safety and training equipment » News 22 WWLP.com

No ‘credible threat’ but full Boston Police call-up for Boston Marathon Monday » Boston Herald

Mayor Wu, police officials urge vigilance at Boston Marathon security briefing » Boston Globe

How local police are preparing for the Boston Marathon following the NYC subway shooting » WBUR

Taxation

House not looking to budget for tax reform » Commonwealth Magazine

As House budget reveal looms, Gov. Charlie Baker pushes for tax relief package amid COVID pandemic » MassLive

Gas Tax Suspension "Unlikely" to Impact Bond Rating, S&P Says » State House News Service

Bond rating firm not alarmed by gas tax suspensions » Commonwealth Magazine

Transportation

Baker makes the case for $9.7B transportation bond bill » Boston Herald

Blue Line shutdowns to begin at the end of the month » Boston.com

Man’s death wasn’t the first time a person was trapped and dragged by a T subway train » Boston Globe

JetBlue CEO blames Logan delays on staff shortages, plans to reduce service through summer » WGBH

Attorney General Maura Healey calls Boston Red Line death ‘tragic’ but comments on general transportation issues rather than specific incident » MassLive

MBTA police: Brooklyn subway attack does not represent threat to Boston riders » Boston Herald

Utilities

Weymouth compressor station upgrades to address unplanned gas releases » Patriot Ledger

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Recipe of the Week

Spiced Vanilla Hot Cross Buns Recipe

Stella Parks — Serious Eats

Ingredients

For the Dough:

1 vanilla bean, split and scraped

2 1/2 ounces sugar (rounded 1/3 cup; 70g)

1 1/2 teaspoons (6g) instant dry yeast, such as SAF; not RapidRise or active dry (more info here)

1 teaspoon (4g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt (for table salt, use the same weight or half as much by volume)

12 ounces all-purpose flour (about 2 1/3 cups, spooned; 340g)

3 ounces unsalted butter (6 tablespoons; 85g)

3 ounces cold milk, any percentage fat content (1/3 cup; 85g)

6 ounces cold plain Greek yogurt, any percentage fat content (2/3 cup; 170g); see note

1 ounce store-bought or homemade candied orange peel (2 tablespoons; 30g)

2 ounces dried apricots or other light fruit (1/4 cup; 55g), cut into 1/4-inch dice

2 ounces dried cherries or other dark fruit (1/3 cup; 55g), cut into 1/4-inch dice

1/2 teaspoon (1g) ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground coriander

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg

For the Egg Wash:

1 large egg yolk

1 1/2 teaspoons heavy cream (1/4 ounce; 7ml)

For the Frosting:

4 ounces powdered sugar (about 1 cup; 115g), preferably organic

Pinch of salt

1 tablespoon heavy cream (1/2 ounce; 15ml)

1/2 teaspoon (2.5ml) vanilla extract

Directions

For the Dough: Rub vanilla seeds and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. Add yeast, salt, and flour and whisk to combine. Heat butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, swirling, until butter starts bubbling. Remove from heat and stir in milk and Greek yogurt. Add to bowl with dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon or flexible spatula until a dry, shaggy dough has formed.

Turn mixer on low speed and knead until a sticky ball has formed, about 1 minute. Continue about 6 minutes more. Increase speed to medium-low and continue kneading until dough is pliable and elastic enough to stretch relatively thin before it begins to tear, about 10 minutes longer. Add candied orange peel, dried apricots, dried cherries, cinnamon, coriander, allspice, and nutmeg and mix on low speed until evenly incorporated, about 1 minute. Remove hook, shape dough into a ball, place it in bottom of mixing bowl, cover with plastic, and set aside to rise until puffy and light, about 1 1/2 hours at room temperature. (The dough should retain a fingerprint when gently pressed; if it feels heavy or dense, continue letting it rise for another 15 minutes.)

Line a 9- by 13-inch aluminum brownie pan with parchment paper. Turn dough onto a clean, unfloured surface. Without kneading or rolling, divide into 15 roughly equal portions, about 2 ounces (55g) each. (They do not need to be exact; recutting and pinching will lead to dense bread.) Cup each portion beneath your palm and work in quick, circular motions to form a smooth ball. If the dough leaves a buttery residue behind, scrape clean with a bench knife from time to time. Arrange balls in baking pan, cover loosely with plastic, and allow to rise until each portion of dough feels puffy and light for its size, able to retain a shallow impression when gently pressed, with a distinctly "cushy" feel from the air cells trapped inside, about 1 1/2 hours total. If the dough feels dense, heavy, firm, or resilient, let it continue to rise another 15 minutes more. (See note for overnight rising instructions.)

For the Egg Wash: Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat to 350°F (180°C). Combine egg yolk and cream in a small bowl, stirring with a pastry brush until smooth. Gently paint the surface of each bun, taking care not to deflate dough. If you like, score with a sharp knife or razor to form a cross. (Skip this decorative step if your knife is dull.) Bake until buns are golden brown and approximately 210°F (99°C) inside, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool directly in pan until crumb is set, about 20 minutes.

For the Frosting: Combine powdered sugar, salt, cream, and vanilla in a small bowl. Stir with a flexible spatula until smooth and creamy, adding up to 1/2 teaspoon (2.5ml) water if too thick to pipe. Transfer half of frosting to a small parchment cone (instructions here) and snip 1/4 inch from the tip. Pipe a line of frosting across each row of buns, then repeat the other way to form a cross. Serve warm, with additional frosting on the side if desired. Hot cross buns are best fresh and warm, but leftovers can be stored at room temperature up to 24 hours in an airtight container; briefly microwave with a damp paper towel to rewarm.



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