8:00am Back to Taxachusetts? A Policy Discussion on the Legislature’s Tax Hike Amendment with Pioneer Institute hosted by the Mass. High Tech Council, Via Zoom

9:00am Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Public Hearing

11:00am House Session, Informal Session

4:00pm Advancing our Democracy: A Fundraiser in Support of Secretary of State Candidate Tanisha Sullivan

7:00pm Fundraiser for Gov. Candidate Geoff Diehl and Lt. Governor Candidate Leah Cole Allen

Birthdays: State Senator Walter Timilty

State budget is a lot more than just a spending plan » Commonwealth Magazine

Two Democratic statewide candidates get public funds for campaigns » Boston Globe

Mass. insurers will cover abortion travel costs for members » WBUR

When policy is personal: Why Beacon Hill is split on abortion bill » Boston Globe

‘Who’s calling the shots at the T?’ MBTA leaders face questions over $300 million to address federal safety concerns » MassLive

Beacon Hill amendment would give $10 million toward Boston Long Island ferry service » Boston Herald

Straus asks whether the T is still needed » Commonwealth Magazine

Hearing for former state senator Dean Tran to be held on July 28, Attorney General says » MassLive

Senate Unveils $4.3 Billion Economic Development Bill » State House News Service

Taxpayer relief would come sooner under Senate’s version of sweeping economic development bill » Boston Globe

Black girls disciplined in school more often than Whites » Commonwealth Magazine

NH: Maggie Hassan's lucky break » Axios

NJ: VP Kamala Harris at NAACP convention in N.J.: ‘Freedom and liberty and democracy are on the ballot’ » NJ.com

NY: Debate Over Monkeypox Messaging Divides N.Y.C. Health Department » New York Times

PA: Democrats boosted a MAGA longshot in the Pa. gov’s race. Now he’s got a real shot at winning. » Politico

PA: Warren to head fundraiser for Fetterman in Pennsylvania » The Hill

ID: “Pro-Life” Idaho Republicans Declare Women Should Be Left to Die to Save Fetuses » Vanity Fair

Opinion: Joe Manchin Is a Symptom, but It’s the Senate That’s Sick » New York Times

It's not just Hunter Biden: Prepare for a 2023 packed with House GOP investigations » Politico

Report: Trump Thinks Running for President Again Is His Get Out of Jail Free Card » Vanity Fair

Democrats Want Biden To Go 'Beast Mode' And Fight Climate Change Via Executive Action » HUFFPOST

Tom Cotton previews plans for federal anti-BDS legislation » Jewish Insider

Robbins: Biden’s Mideast trip starts warm, ends on chilly note » Boston Herald

Rare $530M national, $13.7M state Lottery jackpots hook Massachusetts players » Boston Herald

Gas prices drop 11 cents in Massachusetts for second straight week: ‘We’re in a summer lull’ » Boston Herald

What’s in a name? For GE, post-breakup, quite a bit » Boston Globe

Here are the new names and logos for GE's three future companies » Boston Business Journal

Gary Vecchio, 68, vocal leader on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, has died » Worcester Telegram

Editorial: Computer chips are vital to national security. US needs to make more of them on American soil. » Boston Globe

Pro-Trump store in North Attleboro closing this month » The Sun Chronicle

State to buy UMass Dartmouth Star Store campus in New Bedford for $1, continue art studies » South Coast Today

Harvard Lobbies Congress to Cut Endowment Tax » Inside Higher Ed

Massachusetts home prices hit new record over $600,000 » Boston Herald

Merrimack Valley brothers accused of illegally storing asbestos, carcinogenic materials in apartments they marketed to college students » MassLive

Attorney for Springfield Gardens apartments addresses living condition concerns » Western Mass News

Two Pittsfield churches are poised to help the city address its housing gaps » Berkshire Eagle

Social service agencies to gather at DCU Center to aid displaced residents of Mill St. apartment building » Worcester Telegram

Boston adds tech jobs slowest among 15 top markets, says CBRE report » Boston Business Journal

At the office, unrewarded work often falls to women » Boston Globe

Michelle Wu declares heat emergency for Boston: ‘Oppressive’ heat on the way The city will likely have its first heat wave of the summer » Boston Herald

Nearly a year later, city councilor’s OUI case has yet to be heard » New Bedford Light

Springfield City Council resumes in-person meetings after 2+ years of COVID-prompted remoteness » MassLive

Orange uses $4K grant to hire intern focused on healthy food systems » The Recorder

Mitchell: New Bedford ‘In a Competition’ for Offshore Wind Opportunities » WBSM

Remote Access for Public Meetings Extended » Vineyard Gazette

Biden may visit Mass. this week » WPRI.com

JP Progressives Hosting Attorney General Candidate Forum on July 20 » Jamaica Plain News

‘Oh my god, not again’: COVID variant making reinfections more common » Boston Globe

Study finds 2,800 Massachusetts deaths in 2019 connected to air pollution » Boston Globe

Inside Provincetown’s ‘Herculean’ effort to save the summer from monkeypox » Boston Globe

New study attributes thousands of Mass. deaths to air pollution » Boston.com

Opinion: Antibiotic-resistant infections could dwarf the COVID-19 pandemic » Boston Globe

Medical experts urge caution as COVID case numbers rise in Boston » WBUR

Boston police unions sue city, council over tear gas, rubber bullet restrictions » Boston Herald

Mass. Democrats are still examining gun safety options in the wake of the recent Supreme Court ruling » Berkshire Eagle

Trump policies cut funds for Transition House; Help for survivors of violence relies on state bill » Cambridge Day

Massachusetts colleges may soon be required to provide medication abortion at campus health centers: ‘Absolutely a measure that would further gender justice’ » MassLive

Abortion: Massachusetts Senate proposes $17.5 million funding boost for reproductive health care, family planning » MassLive

When Massachusetts tried to ban an opioid, a court said no. What about abortion pills? » The Dallas Morning News

$52.7 billion state budget heads to Baker's desk » WBUR

State budget balloons to $52.7 billion, passes both chambers unanimously » Boston Herald

Budget Negotiators Invented New Spending Plans In Conference » State House News Service

What to know about the $52 billion budget deal struck by Mass. lawmakers » Boston.com

House and Senate plan to pass state budget for Massachusetts » News 22 WWLP.com

Massachusetts lawmakers send $52.7 billion budget to governor » Axios

$52.7 Billion State Spending Plan Goes to Gov. Baker; Includes Vargas’ Free School Meals Plan » WHAV

Former state employee Brooke Merkin accused of working two state jobs simultaneously in violation of conflict of interest law » MassLive

Massachusetts commission considers designs for a new state seal and motto » WBUR

Massachusetts tax relief: Senate unveils changes to estate tax, plus child care credit and rental deduction cap, among other cuts » MassLive

Blue Line wall of silence becomes focus of MBTA oversight hearing » Commonwealth Magazine

Battenfeld: Lame duck Charlie Baker takes brunt of beating for MBTA problems » Boston Herald

Legislators grill MBTA chief, transportation secretary over T failings, secrecy » Boston Herald

Boston to change parking app next month » Boston Herald

‘What good does it do to keep the public in the dark?’ Lawmakers grill state’s top transportation officials in safety oversight hearing » Boston Globe

Lawmakers Press Transpo Officials On Transparency » State House News Service

Mandated Fixes Will Cost More Than $300 Mil, MBTA Chief Says » State House News Service

Lawmakers Slam MBTA’s Lack of Transparency: ‘Riders Will Never Come Back if They Can’t Trust the Information They’re Getting’ » Streetsblog Mass

Taunton's wastewater plant gets lifeline as city grapples with costly mandates » Taunton Gazette

Social Media Spotlight

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GBH News Tanisha Sullivan on her bid for secretary of state CBS Boston Lawmakers question MBTA leaders during oversight hearing at State House WCVB Channel 5 Boston Heat emergency declared in Boston

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Podcast Spotlight

Five Thirty Eight Politics Podcast: Americans Are Pessimistic And It’s Changing Our Politics NPR The NPR Politics Podcast: Black People Are The Fastest-Growing Group Of Gun Owners In The U.S. Crooked Media Pod Save America: "Why Republicans Can't Get Over The Trump." WBUR Radio Boston: A Massachusetts congressman steps in twice to help the MBTA — why? Smitty Pignatelli Let's Talk with Smitty: State Representative Josh Cutler of the 6th Plymouth District