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Today on Beacon Hill

9:00am Massachusetts Library Legislative Day, Grand Staircase & Great Hall, State House

10:00am Status of Persons with Disabilities, Virtual Hearing

10:00am Salem State University Northeast Delegation Breakfast, Nurses Hall, State House

10:00am Feed Kids Campaign Lobby Day, Great Hall, State House

12:00pm 2024 Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark Hearing, Gardner Auditorium, State House

12:00pm Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, Public Hearing
Must-Reads
MASSACHUSETTS

Healey Overhauls Regulators On State DPU Board » State House News Service

State officials warn of child care closures » The Eagle Tribune

Massachusetts providers brace for Texas antiabortion ruling, a threat ‘knocking at our front door’ » Boston Globe

Superior Court Openings To Pile Up This Year » State House News Service

In Audit Push, DiZoglio Getting No Response From Legislature » State House News Service

EPA's move to limit 'forever chemicals' would go beyond Massachusetts' existing regulations » WGBH

Boston formally drops vaccine mandate for some first responders unions » Boston Globe

Jan. 6, Breonna Taylor, and vaccines: Details emerge about why 3 Boston police officers were fired » Boston Globe

Governor Healey announces end of state COVID-19 public health emergency » Boston Globe

Gov. Healey says Mass. should ‘grow the pipeline’ of construction workers as building trades unions gather in Springfield » MassLive

THE OTHER 49

RI: Providence schools lost more teachers than they brought in last year » The Providence Journal

NY: Albany Dems reject Gov. Hochul’s bail reform fix, charter school hike in budget » New York Post

NY: State Senate budget includes wage hike that differs from Hochul's plan » Albany Times Union

NJ: NJ man threatened Florida sheriff who stood up to neo-Nazi groups » News 12 New Jersey

NJ: Longtime Local 54 president resigning to lead national pension fund » The Press of Atlantic City

PA: Philadelphia City Council candidate floats drone policing program » Axios

PA: Doug Mastriano and his super fans aren’t yet willing to let go » Politico

MI: Michigan Lawmakers Vote To Repeal State’s ‘Right To Work’ Law » HUFFPOST

SC: Death Penalty For Abortions Is On The Table In South Carolina » HUFFPOST

MO: Challenger to Hawley: Quit Your ‘Fake Populism’ » The Bulwark

GA: Georgia House plan to expand mental health services hits turbulence in state Senate » Georgia Recorder

FL: Just 30 seconds? Despite complex bills, Floridians are limited on public testimony in Legislature » Florida Phoenix

CO: Denver is paying another $1.6 million to George Floyd protesters » Denverite

AZ: Critics say lobbyists 'bought Sinema's vote' that resulted in bank collapse » Raw Story

CA: S.F. Mayor Breed and supervisor propose separate efforts to speed up housing development » San Francisco Chronicle

NATIONAL

Democrats, led by Warren and Porter, unveil bill to repeal Trump-era bank law » NBC News

First look: Young and unaffiliated Latino voters surge across U.S. » Axios

Democrats in ‘frontline’ districts put hopes of retaking the House in jeopardy » Politico

Congress stares down dim prospects for banking reform » Axios

Donald Trump, Under Criminal Investigation for January 6, Declares It Was All Mike Pence’s Fault » Vanity Fair

Tucker Carlson’s Ex-Producer Called Election Deniers ‘Terrorists... Cousin F***ing Types’ » HUFFPOST

Trump prepares an extensive opposition file on ‘Ron DeSanctimonious’ » Politico

Why School Board Elections Matter and What You Need to Know » Ballotpedia

Greens sue Biden over Willow oil project approval » Politico

"The Legislature has yet to respond to our engagement letter. We will soon be following up to our initial engagement letter in accordance with Government Auditing Standards. Our team is still proceeding in their outreach to both chambers to schedule an entrance conference -- kicking off the engagement," DiZoglio said Tuesday. "We are hopeful the Legislature welcomes the opportunity to work together and shine a light on areas of potential improvement."

Auditor Diana DiZoglio

One week since she formally notified them of her plan to launch the first audit of the Legislature in a century, Auditor Diana DiZoglio said Tuesday that her office still has not received any response from the House or Senate.
News By Category
Business

South Shore, Dedham Savings banks to merge, but keep their respective brands » Boston Globe

After SVB’s collapse, here’s what you need to know about banking » Boston Globe

Silicon Valley Bank’s rise and fall in Greater Boston » Axios

Howie Carr: SVB wokest to brokest bank overnight » Boston Herald

Banks will be OK. Inflation is still a nasty problem. » Boston Globe

Silicon Valley Bank Failure Triggers Response From Healey » NBC Boston

Education

Wellesley College referendum supports admission of transgender men, but administrators disagree » Boston Globe

At Wellesley College, Students Vote to Admit Trans Men » New York Times

Environment

Wilmer Cutler attorney Bonnie Heiple named MassDEP commissioner » Boston Globe

Here are the Massachusetts towns that got more than 2 feet of snow in nor’easter » MassLive

Gaming

Gaming commission holds first hearings for sports betting violations » Boston Herald

Sports Betting Launch Triggers More Than 400,000 Accounts » State House News Service

Housing

How to win the campaign for rent control » Commonwealth Magazine

Commercial real estate vital to law encouraging new housing near public transit » The Metro West Daily News

Human Services

New Boston program to offer free postpartum support to parents » Boston Globe

Judiciary

Cape and Islands DA Robert Galibois cited for failing to report car crash » Boston Globe

Cape and Islands DA Robert Galibois cited by Barnstable police for ‘failure to report a motor vehicle crash’ » Boston Herald

Labor

Boston formally drops COVID-19 vaccine mandate for firefighters, some police » Boston Herald

New MBTA, Carmen agreement would allow T to hire some retirees part-time » Boston Herald

Gov. Maura Healey talks plans to support trade union workforce » News 22 WWLP.com

Editorial: Another minimum wage hike bad for biz » Boston Herald

The $15 minimum wage in Massachusetts is the fourth-highest in the nation. A poll shows strong support for raising that to $20 » Berkshire Eagle

Unemployment rate rises almost full percentage point across Central Mass. » Worcester Business Journal

Legislative

Area lawmakers generally welcome audit of Legislature, but to different degrees » The Sun Chronicle

Editorial: DiZoglio’s audit of Legislature should follow the money » Boston Globe

Kearney Discusses Budget, Legislative Audit, MBTA » 95.9 WATD

Local Government

Deadline looms in prelim for mayoral special election » Salem News

Leverett says no to CPA money for track at regional school, yes to preserving 91 acres near town center » Gazette Net

Police cameras, housing, jobs, improvements touched on as Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan delivers 2023 State of the City » Fall River Reporter

Newton voters reject tax increase for city, public education Tuesday » Boston Globe

Foxboro election will feature no contests » The Sun Chronicle

Nip Ban Heads to Edgartown Town Meeting » Vineyard Gazette

Politics

Ward 6 Has the First Contested Ward Race of 2023 in Springfield » Western Mass Politics and Insight

Public Health

Though Berkshire residents are still dying of COVID, this past winter was the least deadly yet. What you need to know about COVID-19 now, three years into the pandemic » Berkshire Eagle

State spends $5.2M on gift cards to close vaccine 'equity' gap » The Eagle Tribune

Public Safety

Biden issues executive order to strengthen background checks for guns » Boston Globe

Boston formally drops COVID-19 vaccine mandate for firefighters, some police » Boston Herald

Silverglate: A proposal for simple, effective police reform » Boston Herald

Boston Police Department fires two controversial officers » WGBH

Biden on gun control: ‘Do something, do something big’ » Boston Herald

Reproductive Rights

Abortion pill challenge goes before judge in Texas » Boston Herald

State Finance

Muni Leader Wants New State Revenue-Sharing Plan » State House News Service

State Government

Gov. Healey braves Nor’easter to give keynote speech at Springfield convention » Western Mass News

State Launches Northeast Emergency Management Training, Education Center » Cape Cod Online

Taxation

Moore: Death taxes are immoral – and they don’t work » Boston Herald

Progressive Coalition Mulling Tax Questions For Ballot » State House News Service

Transportation

Boston pushes for fare-free bus expansion, says 42% of riders saved money » Boston Herald

Worried about spills from a derailment? Springfield City Councilor Sean Curran is » MassLive

Legislation Aims to Take the Measure of Traffic Impacts From App-Based Delivery Services » StreetsBlog

Utilities

Over 32,000 without power in Mass. as storm brings heavy snow, strong winds, rain to New England » Boston Globe

With new appointments, Healey administration aims to create ‘a 21st century DPU’ » Boston Globe

Job Board
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Recipe of the Week

Shepherd’s Pie

Samantha Seneviratne — New York Times Cooking

Ingredients

2 tablespoons kosher salt, plus more for seasoning

2½ pounds (about 3 to 4 large) russet potatoes, peeled and quartered

8 tablespoons unsalted butter

½ cup whole milk

1 cup shredded aged white Cheddar

Freshly ground black pepper

1 small yellow onion, diced small (about 1¼ cups)

2 medium carrots, peeled and diced small (about 1¼ cups)

4 cloves garlic, minced

4 sprigs fresh thyme

2 4-inch sprigs fresh rosemary

¾ pounds lean ground beef

¾ pounds ground lamb (or use all ground beef)

⅓ cup tomato paste

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

¾ cup beef stock

1 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

In a large pot, bring a gallon of water and 2 tablespoons salt to a boil over high heat. Add potatoes to boiling water and boil for about 15 to 20 minutes, until soft; a knife should go in with almost no resistance.

In a small saucepan or a microwave oven, heat 6 tablespoons of the butter and milk together until butter melts. Drain potatoes well and return to pot. Using a masher or a ricer, mash hot potatoes until smooth. Mix in the hot butter mixture, just until blended. Stir in the Cheddar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and set aside.

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large oven-safe skillet with high sides or an enameled cast-iron braiser (at least 2½-quart capacity) over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, garlic, thyme and rosemary and cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until the onions are translucent and the carrots are just tender, about 10 minutes. Add the beef and the lamb and cook, breaking the meat up with a spoon, until it is no longer pink. (At this point, you can drain off some of the excess fat if you like.) Season the mixture to taste with salt and pepper.

Add the tomato paste and stir, cooking until it is well combined, another 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and cook for 1 minute. Add the beef stock and cook, stirring, until the liquid has thickened slightly. Stir in the parsley and remove the thyme and rosemary stems. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Top the meat mixture with dollops of the mashed potatoes then spread them out over the top. (Or transfer the meat mixture to a 3-quart casserole dish and spread into an even layer, and top with potatoes.) Transfer to the oven and, if the mixture is at the top edges of your pan, set a foil-lined baking sheet underneath the pan to catch any drips. Bake the pie until the potatoes have begun to brown and the edges are bubbling, about 30 minutes. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

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