11:00am The Official Seal and Motto of the Commonwealth, Virtual Hearing

2:00pm Department of Public Utilities Hearing, Via Zoom

A Mass-ive new climate law » Grist

Smith & Wesson CEO responds to Congressional subpoena, criticism of fear-based marketing at Springfield gunmaker » MassLive

Opinion: Massachusetts makes a losing bet on gambling » Boston Globe

State officials have made it harder to pass the MCAS » WBUR

Opinion: Maura Healey and the odd prosecution of Dean Tran » Boston Globe

‘Frustration and stress’: State officials fault rollout of monkeypox vaccine » Boston Globe

RI: Tackling The Housing Crisis With Public Power » The Lever

NJ: Disabled people want to work, and Murphy signed a law to help them. Why are state officials holding it up? » NJ.com

NJ: New Jersey lifting 'vax or test' mandate for teachers, government employees » POLITICO Pro

PA: John Fetterman Trolls Mehmet Oz's Campaign Over Questionable Grocery List » HUFFPOST

PA: Pennsylvania man arrested for threatening to slaughter FBI agents and ‘water the trees of liberty’ with their blood » The Philadelphia Inquirer

How ranked-choice voting could change the way democracy works » Washington Post

The curious timing of Trump naming two allies to access his records » Washington Post

Why Donald Trump’s declassification claim might not be that outlandish » Politico

Trump-allied lawyers pursued voting machine data in multiple states, records reveal » Washington Post

Senate G.O.P. Campaign Arm Slashes TV Ad Buys in Three States » New York Times

Trifecta vulnerability in the 2022 elections » Ballotpedia

Rand Paul Demands Law Donald Trump Could Go to Jail Over Be Repealed Immediately » Vanity Fair

Editorial: Reckless anti-raid rhetoric fuels surge in violence » Boston Globe

Robbins: The hits keep on coming as charges vs. Trump pile up » Boston Herald

Ambrose: Mar-a-Lago raid points to larger, partisan issues » Boston Herald

Playing with fire? Democrats who are boosting extreme candidates in GOP primaries will find out in the fall. » Boston Globe

‘An economic stimulus boon’: Local tech companies seek CHIPS Act money » Boston Globe

Inflation is hitting families shopping for the first day of school » Boston Globe

EV charging startup WiTricity raises $63M » Axios

Before the iRobot acquisition, Massachusetts was already at the forefront of all things robots » Boston Globe

Cannabis community meeting on proposed Florence dispensary turns fiery — even as Northampton is loaded with pot shops » MassLive

Schools move away from masks as studies suggest they are effective » Boston Globe

Mass. education leaders release COVID guidance for upcoming school year » Boston Globe

Massachusetts education board hikes MCAS graduation requirements » Boston Herald

State education board approves controversial proposal raising MCAS graduation requirements » Boston Globe

Students will need higher MCAS scores to graduate, amid equity concerns from advocates, Massachusetts board of education rules » MassLive

Boston is hemorrhaging school-aged kids » Commonwealth Magazine

Mass. High Schoolers Will Need Higher MCAS Scores to Graduate » State House News Service

Advocates celebrate passage of state climate bill » Gazette Net

Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville reports rise in revenue » The Sun Chronicle

MGM Springfield’s gambling take up from June, but trails receipts for July 2021 » MassLive

Why is there a shortage of nurses in Massachusetts? » Boston Business Journal

Boston is one of the top cities for live-work-play apartments » Axios

Amherst residents speak out on student rental woes » Gazette Net

Construction underway on a 200-unit Quincy Center project » Boston Business Journal

Councilors say Baker admin, not lack of quorum, sunk meeting plans » News 22 WWLP.com

Mass. voters support responsible development practices, wage theft prevention, poll shows » Boston Business Journal

12 hours inside the Starbucks strike on Commonwealth Avenue, the longest in company history » Boston Globe

Elizabeth Freeman statue to be unveiled » the Berkshire edge

James Harrington mounts second bid for state rep » Gazette Net

Massachusetts Republican lieutenant governor candidates face off in debate » Boston Herald

GOP lieutenant governor candidates split on Trump » Commonwealth Magazine

Blodgett endorses Tucker for district attorney » Newburyport News

Blodgett endorses Tucker for DA » Lynn Daily News Item

Maura Healey focuses on making Massachusetts more affordable in her first TV ad for governor » MassLive

Political notebook: Healey bringing campaign to Attleboro area » The Sun Chronicle

Cost of living, housing top of mind for voters in new poll » WGBH

Does a Trump endorsement mean a loss in Massachusetts? Lt. gov. hopefuls spar at debate » MassLive

Rivals in Berkshire sheriff's contest let the accusations fly. 'Woefully misinformed,' one says. 'A sheriff not equipped to do the job' » Berkshire Eagle

GOP candidates for lieutenant governor spar in radio debate » Boston Globe

Analysis: For and Against, High-Profile Women Take Sides in Sen. DiZoglio’s Bid for State Auditor » WHAV

Massachusetts Auditor Candidate Amore: ‘I’ve Done the Work, My Opponents Haven’t’ » WBSM

Tents may be gone from Mass. and Cass, but a humanitarian crisis remains » Boston Globe

‘A day full of hope’: Michael Cox sworn in as Boston’s new police commissioner » Boston Globe

Boston native Michael Cox sworn in as Boston Police Department commissioner » WCVB

Boston swears in new Police Commissioner Michael Cox » Boston Herald

TSA finds a covert pen gun, 17th firearm found at Logan this year » Boston Herald

Returning to lead BPD, Michael Cox calls for renewed bond between police and the public » WGBH

'A sad reality:' SouthCoast police acquire greater firepower as mass shootings increase » South Coast Today

North Quabbin residents continue to advocate for reproductive rights » Athol Daily News

A plan to give full-time Stockbridge residents a property tax break runs into resistance » Berkshire Eagle

Orange Line shutdown will cause ‘severe’ traffic congestion throughout the region, officials warn » Boston Globe

MBTA overtime on the fast track; $199,000 top OT earner with others closing » Boston Herald

Orange Line shutdown: Expect ‘severe’ traffic, says state’s transportation brass » Boston Herald

MBTA's Orange Line shutdown will have regional impact for drivers, bikers, walkers and subway riders » CBS News

Battenfeld: Orange Line shutdown a high stakes gamble for Baker, Wu » Boston Herald

Officials say Orange Line shutdown will clog commutes across region » WGBH

Orange Line shutdown: Travelers told to 'avoid the region altogether' » Boston Business Journal

Days away from Orange Line shutdown, MBTA and state officials say project will be worthwhile » WHDH

Social Media Spotlight

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GBH News Few ‘clear answers’ Medford Mayor voices frustration at Orange Line shutdown WCVB Channel 5 Boston Officials urge patience before Orange Line closure

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Podcast Spotlight

FiveThirtyEight Politics Podcast: Politics Podcast: Why Have Democrats’ Odds Of Winning The Senate Improved? Tech Freedom Tech Policy Podcast: #326: Content Moderation Potpourri NPR The NPR Politics Podcast: Bernie Sanders On The IRA, Joe Manchin And Upcoming Elections WBUR Radio Boston: GOP candidates for lieutenant governor debate live at WBUR's CitySpace Smitty Pignatelli Let's Talk with Smitty: Candidate Conversations with Attorney General Maura Healy

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