Sign up to receive the day's curated top stories, legislative schedule, press releases, and other daily features every morning in your inbox!

MassInsider
Jump To...
Go to our Job Board
MassInsider introduces our free Job Board.
Please contact jobs@instatrac.com to post open positions.
Today on Beacon Hill

10:00am Department of Public Utilities Hearing, Via Zoom

11:00am House Session, Full Formal Session

2:00pm Department of Mental Health Public Hearing, Via Zoom
Must-Reads
MASSACHUSETTS

Mass. Republican Party elects new leader, rejecting chairman Jim Lyons’s bid for third term » Boston Globe

Sports betting launches in Mass. at MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor » MassLive

Woburn teacher reps sound downbeat note as strike enters third day » WBUR

In about-face, MBTA says it plans to make ‘slow zone’ information public » Boston Globe

Healey won’t file legislation subjecting her office to records law » Commonwealth Magazine

Growing violence against health care workers prompts Mass. hospitals to adopt new codes of conduct » WBUR

Big Earners Punctuate Wide Wage Gap In Legislature » State House News Service

Lawmakers urge state, federal officials to secure funds to replace Cape Cod bridges » Boston Globe

Rules Plan Will Bring Reps Back To State House » State House News Service

‘It’s a matter of basic humanity.’ Healey says homeless people can stay in South Station on cold nights. » Boston Globe

Panel affirms Kassner's win in House race » Salem News

THE OTHER 49

NH: Sununu says he’s considering a run for president. But that might not be his real plan. » Boston Globe

RI: Two North Providence police union officials accused of embezzling union funds » The Providence Journal

RI: A new assault weapon ban will be introduced this session. Will it finally pass? » The Providence Journal

NJ: Federal judge blocks New Jersey law that allows state to sue gun industry » Politico

NY: Hochul’s rocky rollout roils fellow Democrats » Politico

NY: Hochul Could Face Battle With Fellow Democrats Over Corporate Tax Increase » New York Times

GA: Georgia lawmakers aim to take a bite out of retail sales of Delta-8 THC products statewide » Georgia Recorder

FL: New College of Florida trustees replace president with DeSantis ally » Axios

MN: Gov. Tim Walz signs law strengthening abortion rights in Minnesota » StarTrubune

MN: Minnesota marijuana bill would give buyers plenty of options » Axios

CO: Denver's new law enforcement watchdog wants to work with the public » Axios

AZ: Arizona Republicans fear they may blow it again » Politico

NATIONAL

Bias and Human Error Played Parts in F.B.I.’s Jan. 6 Failure, Documents Suggest » New York Times

New rules are limiting how teachers can teach Black History Month » Axios

Republicans Are Only Getting Sneakier With Their Antiabortion Proposals » Vanity Fair

‘They come to me’: Jane Roberts’ legal recruiting work involved officials whose agencies had cases before the Supreme Court » Politico

It's official: Nikki Haley running for president. Formal announcement Feb. 15 » Post and Courier

Republicans break with another historical ally: doctors » Axios

The Sotomayor and Kagan retirement question » Washington Post

The Dawn of Gas Stove Denialism » The New Republic

New AI tool instantly analyzes police bodycam footage » Axios

As Santos passes up his panels, GOP prepares to boot Omar from hers » Politico

Biden's EV surprise » Axios

“When it comes to the actual implementation, you’ll see some differences,” she said. “I mean as attorney general I was accustomed to complying with the public records law. I said that I would continue that as governor. Legally, I’m not required to [comply] until and unless there’s a legislative change.”

Governor Maura Healey

Healey said on Monday that she will not introduce legislation that would make her office subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law., but promises to comply with law most of the time.
News By Category
Beltway Politics

Howie Carr: Panic is over, not the payouts » Boston Herald

Republican-led panel targets COVID relief dollars for review » Boston Globe

Business

Wu seeks state OK to re-shape BPDA » Boston Globe

HubSpot to cut 500 jobs, or 7% of its workforce » Boston Business Journal

Could Boston face an ‘urban doom loop’? » Commonwealth Magazine

Egg prices recovering from staggering highs, trending downward: “The worst is over” » Boston Herald

‘Hotels all the way’: Readers share why they’re shying away from Airbnb » Boston.com

Why a major local developer is going big on renewable power for 43-building portfolio » Boston Globe

Odds of a ‘soft landing’ in inflation fight are rising, but a debt limit stalemate could crash the economy » Boston Globe

Civil Rights

Half a century after its passage, lawmakers try again to enshrine the Equal Rights Amendment » Boston Globe

Opinion: Why I won’t watch the Tyre Nichols video » Boston Globe

Education

Teacher Supports Flagged As Emerging Priority » State House News Service

Editorial: Colleges keep flunking transparency » Boston Herald

Nantucket Public Schools Close After Ransomware Attack » Nantucket Current

Environment

Fishing restricted off Mass. for three months to protect right whales » Boston Globe

Gaming

Off to the races: Sports betting kicks off at MGM in Springfield » Gazette Net

Legal sports betting finally begins in Massachusetts » CBS News

New Weapon For Plainridge In Gambling Competition » State House News Service

Sports betting goes live in Massachusetts with first in-person bets » Boston Herald

Casinos 'good to go' as sports betting arrives in Massachusetts » The Gardner News

It was a star-studded morning at Encore as the first legal sports bets were placed » Boston Globe

Keller @ Large: Could politics be the next frontier for legalized gambling in Massachusetts? » CBS News

'A long time coming': Sports betting opens at Plainridge in Plainville and other Mass. casinos » The Sun Chronicle

Housing

For some communities, MBTA housing law will have little impact » Salem News

Rep. Vargas Reports 32 Haverhill Residents Shared in $1 Million in State First-Time Homebuyer Grants » WHAV

Massachusetts bill would boost spending on emergency housing » WBUR

Labor

America is running out of working-age adults. Here’s how to solve the labor shortage. » Boston Globe

Judge orders Woburn teachers to return to work; strike to continue for third day » Boston Herald

Legislative

Expanding broadband and passenger rail service are top on Berkshire lawmakers to-do list this legislative session » Berkshire Eagle

Base Pay Just Tip Of Legislative Salary Iceberg » State House News Service

Split Panel Recommends Seating Kassner In House » State House News Service

Local Government

‘It’s beautiful’: Boston Mayor Wu tells ‘everyone off’ at US mayors conference in defense of The Embrace » Boston Globe

Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch Gives State Of The City Address » 95.9 WATD

Politics

Amy Carnevale elected MassGOP chair, Lyons denied third term » Boston Herald

MassGOP taps Amy Carnevale to be new party chair » WBUR

Public Health

Eight overdoses reported in Milford over 10 days. Police have made an arrest » Worcester Telegram

Public Safety

Worcester transfers Police Department investigations commander following T&G report » Worcester Telegram

Editorial: To honor Tyre Nichols, let’s get policing right » Boston Globe

Community responders making their mark in Amherst » Gazette Net

State Government

Mass. secretary of state Galvin turns down 20% raise » WGBH

Healey Still Mulling Solutions To Persistent Problems » State House News Service

Taxation

Gov. Maura Healey has yet to commit details on Mass. tax relief package » MassLive

Tax cut push by Healey continues, still no details on her plan » Boston Herald

Transportation

Healey supports giving Boston a seat on the MBTA board » WGBH

Father of woman stuck under MBTA Green Line train retains lawyer, says accident was preventable » Boston Herald

Healey Admin ‘Getting to the Bottom’ of T Train Contracts » Banker & Tradesman

Utilities

Barnstable County Doubles Down on Need for Broadband » Cape Cod Online

Job Board
Access Specialist - Mass. Office on Disability
Looking for jobs? Check out our Job Board
Hiring? Email us at jobs@instatrac.com
Recipe of the Week

Real-Deal Mapo Tofu Recipe

J. Kenji López-Alt — Serious Eats

Ingredients

2 tablespoons Sichuan peppercorns, divided (see notes)

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon cornstarch

2 teaspoons cold water

1 1/2 pounds medium to firm silken tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1/4 pound ground beef

3 garlic cloves grated on a microplane grater

1 tablespoon fresh ginger grated on a microplane grater

2 tablespoons fermented chili bean paste (see notes)

2 tablespoons Xiaoxing wine

1 tablespoon dark soy sauce

1/4 cup low sodium chicken stock

1/4 cup roasted chili oil (see notes)

1/4 cup finely sliced scallion greens

Directions

Heat half of Sichuan peppercorns in a large wok over high heat until lightly smoking. Transfer to a mortar and pestle. Pound until finely ground and set aside.

Add remaining Sichuan peppercorns and vegetable oil to wok. Heat over medium high heat until lightly sizzling, about 1 1/2 minutes. Pick up peppercorns with a wire mesh skimmer and discard, leaving oil in pan.

Combine corn starch and cold water in a small bowl and mix with a fork until homogenous. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil over high heat and add tofu. Cook for 1 minute. Drain in a colander, being careful not to break up the tofu.

Heat oil in wok over high heat until smoking. Add beef and cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Add garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add chili-bean paste, wine, soy sauce, and chicken stock and bring to a boil. Pour in corn starch mixture and cook for 30 seconds until thickened. Add tofu and carefully fold in, being careful not to break it up too much. Stir in chili oil and half of scallions and simmer for 30 seconds longer. Transfer immediately to a serving bowl and sprinkle with remaining scallions and toasted ground Sichuan pepper. Serve immediately with white rice.

45 Bromfield Street, 11th Floor, Boston, MA 02108
About Us
Privacy Policy
Connect With Us
Phone: (617) 292-1800

You have received this message because you are signed up for MassInsider. Click here to unsubscribe. Email us at info@instatrac.com. We appreciate any feedback or suggestions.

Copyright © 2024 Instatrac, Inc. All Rights Reserved.