10:00am Joint Committee on Environment & Natural Resources, Public Hearing

Birthdays: Rep. Joseph McGonagle, Jr.

Mass. Senate president and House speaker had a warm, collaborative relationship. An end-of-session surprise changed things. » Boston Globe

Shannon Liss-Riordan won millions for workers. But did she take too much for herself in the process? » Boston Globe

Bump dismisses claim of tax cap pressure on her office » Commonwealth Magazine

The non-race for Massachusetts governor » Commonwealth Magazine

Boston’s new mental health czar lays out his goals » Boston Globe

Education secretary challenges New England states to get creative in addressing teacher shortage » Boston Globe

RI: In bid for governor, Democrat Matt Brown says voters are looking for something different » The Providence Journal

NY: NYC’s migrant surge now around 6K amid Texas bus transports: City Hall » New York Post

PA: Women are registering to vote in Pa. in numbers far exceeding men since the Supreme Court abortion decision » The Philadelphia Inquirer

FL: New voting landscape » Sarasota Herald-Tribune

TX: Election staff abruptly quits, upending rural Texas county » Boston Globe

SD: Attorney general's office to investigate ethics complaint against Gov. Kristi Noem » Argus Leader

The Rise of the Neither Party » The Liberal Patriot

AP-NORC poll: Most in US say they want stricter gun laws » AP News

The Future of Democracy Is Now at the Top of Midterm Voters' Minds » Vanity Fair

An Unusual $1.6 Billion Donation Bolsters Conservatives » New York Times

Are unions responsible for the decline of unions? » Quartz

What Are the Real Warning Signs of a Mass Shooting? » New York Times

White coats in the state capital: OB-GYNs become political force in abortion wars » Politico

McConnell says voter fraud is rare and he isn't worried about threats to democracy » NBC News

Trump’s attack on Elaine Chao revs up feud with McConnell » The Hill

Trump seeks special master to review Mar-a-Lago documents » Boston Globe

Battenfeld: Dr. Anthony Fauci fleeing Washington just before midterm elections » Boston Herald

Editorial: Poll numbers are in – Americans hurting under Biden » Boston Herald

Robbins: Fanning the flames of domestic extremism in the U.S. » Boston Herald

Markets slump on inflation concerns ahead of Powell’s speech » Boston Globe

Somerville cleantech entrepreneur joins Biden for signing of bill to help chip industry » Boston Globe

Opinion: Corporations, you’re either part of the effort to secure democracy or dismantle it. Choose. » Boston Globe

UMass Lowell is blasted by free speech group for banning ‘offensive’ material online » Boston Herald

Ahead of fall and winter seasons, COVID-19 still a concern for some educators in Massachusetts » Spectrum News

UMass Amherst ranked first again for Best Campus Dining » WCVB

Four first-year Worcester Public Schools teachers share feelings on city, year ahead » Worcester Telegram

Four Finalists Named for Top Higher Education Post » State House News Service

A ‘model of excellence’: Trout Unlimited Deerfield River Watershed chapter lauded for its conservation work » Gazette Net

Worcester declares Stage 1 drought, triggering water restrictions » Worcester Telegram

Inflation may push Social Security COLA up around 10% in 2023 » Boston Herald

'Sparks will fly': UMass Chan rare disease research facility takes shape in Worcester » Worcester Telegram

Peabody’s mayor takes aim at abandoned housing » Lynn Daily News Item

Opinion: Fear and loathing of immigrants drives license ballot question » Boston Globe

Boston sees sluggish summer for connecting youth to career pathways » WBUR

Sen. Elizabeth Warren discusses labor shortage and child care issue in Gardner » Worcester Telegram

Job boost for low-income people in Worcester? Climate bill could do it. » Worcester Telegram

Four-way race underway for J.P.-based 15th Suffolk » The Bay State Banner

Gloves Are Off in Democrat Primary for Bristol County Sheriff » WBSM

Elements of state seal in 'Alf' Barbalunga's campaign materials too small to matter, official says » Berkshire Eagle

Robyn Kennedy and Mayor Joe Petty debate ahead of Sept. 6 primary for First Worcester district State Senate seat » MassLive

Healey regrets 2020 comment on ‘how forests grow’ » Commonwealth Magazine

We asked the Dem. AG candidates about neo-Nazis, the MBTA, and Maura Healey. Here are their answers. » Boston.com

Voting by mail in Massachusetts: More than 160,000 voters have already returned their ballots ahead of Sept. 6 primary » MassLive

Opinion: Senator Lydia Edwards believes in Kevin Hayden for DA » Boston Globe

AG Maura Healey Backs Manny Cruz, Paul Tucker In Democratic Primary » Salem Patch

Massachusetts did not report excess deaths amid spring COVID wave: Brigham and Women’s researchers » Boston Herald

Mass. health leaders call for stepped-up COVID plans for fall and winter » Boston Globe

Coalition Wants COVID Prevention Plan For Fall » State House News Service

Provincetown clinic giving 100+ monkeypox vaccines per day; new guidelines in effect » WCAI

New study highlights areas of improvement for inmate release » Gazette Net

Off-duty Trooper Todd Girouard charged with drunken driving in West Brookfield » Worcester Telegram

Two Pittsfield Firefighters Honored By Governor For Meritorious Conduct » iBerkshires

Watchdog groups argue $3B in tax relief is under threat in Massachusetts » Boston Herald

Legal Teams Ready To Defend Tax Relief Law » State House News Service

Tax relief: Massachusetts officials face threat of lawsuit if they don’t comply with state cap tax law returning excess revenues to Bay Staters » MassLive

Taxpayer groups braced to sue if Massachusetts doesn’t follow refund law » Boston Business Journal

‘We’re in this together’: Residents get creative to help others navigate Orange Line shutdown » Boston Globe

Monday’s commute was light, MassDOT says it won’t last » Boston Herald

Big Orange Line test will come when Boston schools return, Michelle Wu says » Boston Herald

Orange Line work progressing, MBTA asks drivers to continue to stay home » Boston Herald

What Led to MBTA's Decline? Weld Defends Against Criticism of Administration » NBC Boston

'It’s a nuisance:' MBTA passengers adjust to commuting without the Orange Line » WGBH

Gov. Baker largely out of sight for first big commute of Orange Line shutdown » WCVB

Amtrak’s planned Albany connection could be stepping stone to Springfield’s east-west passenger rail service goal » MassLive

New Bedford voters' OK needed to open new South Coast Rail stations » South Coast Today

‘Adapt and adjust.’ With grit and grumbles, commuters weathered the first Monday without the Orange Line. » Boston Globe

MBTA shutdowns: ‘This would never fly in Brooklyn’ » Boston Herald

After Successful First Weekday Commute, Biggest Challenges of Orange Line Shutdown Still Ahead » NBC Boston

First full weekday of MBTA Orange Line closure hits Boston with some of the scheduled work already completed » MassLive

Gov tries updating system, feels the heat » Boston Herald

Social Media Spotlight

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CBS Boston Confusion in Somerville as Green Line, Orange Line close at the same time WCVB Channel 5 Boston Baker takes Commuter Rail on Day 1 of shutdown

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Podcast Spotlight

Five Thirty Eight Politics Podcast: Politics Podcast: The Trump Investigations And What Americans Think About Them NPR The NPR Politics Podcast: Democrats Claw Back Ground In Fight For Senate Control Crooked Media Pod Save America: "Will Trump Cost Mitch the Senate?" WBUR Radio Boston: Mayor Wu addresses MBTA shutdowns, city leadership and climate

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