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Today on Beacon Hill

10:00am Civil Service Law, Virtual Hearing

10:30am Governor's Council Meeting, Governor's Council Chamber, Room 360, State House

11:00am House Session, Full Formal Session

1:00pm Joint Committee on Education, Committee Hearing

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

Must-Reads
MASSACHUSETTS

Healey defends pushing $1 billion tax package, despite tax revenue shortfall » Boston Globe

Healey Cut Blocks Benefit Bump For Poor » State House News Service

Massachusetts legislative audit ballot campaign raised more than $250K in 2023 » Boston Herald

America Has Plenty of Natural Gas. So Why Is New England Left Out in the Cold? » The Wall Street Journal

Here are the highest earners on the Massachusetts state payroll for 2023 » Boston Globe

In State of the City, Wu makes her case that Boston’s future is bright » Boston Globe

Mass. springs up the progressive state tax rankings » Commonwealth Beacon

Salem Hospital doctors are organizing a union » Boston Globe

Springfield’s top election official says FBI is passing on mayoral voter fraud investigation » MassLive

At Boston’s high-flying charter schools, academic performance slow to bounce back from the pandemic » Boston Globe

Springfield broker Kevin Sears takes helm of national real estate trade group » MassLive

Free buses across New Bedford put “money back in people’s pockets” » The New Bedford Light

Massachusetts' Yvonne Hao on using AI to make work fun again » Axios

THE OTHER 49

NH: Majority of likely New Hampshire primary voters say abortion will factor into their vote, according to Globe poll » Boston Globe

CT: As bottle deposit grows to 10 cents in '24, customers flock to Connecticut redemption centers » CT Insider

NY: Hochul pushes more limited plan to spur housing » Politico

NY: Hochul focuses on mental health to help reduce crime » Politico

NJ: Phil Murphy pushes again for abortion access and New Jersey affordability in State of the State » Politico

GA: Allegations Against Prosecutors Bolster Trump’s Criticism of Georgia Case » New York Times

FL: After three decades, should FL legislators — even millionaire lawmakers — get a raise or not? » Florida Phoenix

FL: DeSantis returns to Florida as campaign lags and mood in Tallahassee shifts » Washington Post

CO: Lauren Boebert’s Ex-Husband Arrested on Weapons and Assault Charges » The Daily Beast

CO: Colorado Democrats target progressive Denver lawmaker » Axios

MT: A City’s Campaign Against Homelessness Brings Stories of Violence » New York Times

NATIONAL

Executives say they're still committed to DEI, new survey finds » Axios

Carbon pollution is down in the US, but not fast enough to meet Biden’s 2030 goal, new report says » Boston Globe

Republicans win faster IRS cuts in funding deal » The Hill

The Governor Who Wants to Be Trump’s Next Apprentice » The Atlantic

Trump suggests unauthorized migrants will vote. The idea stirs his base, but ignores reality » AP News

"It's paradoxical": Judges voice skepticism at Trump lawyer's immunity claims » Axios

How Justin Trudeau lost his grip » Politico

The GOP debates are down to the saddest final 4 ever » Public Notice

"First of all, when it comes to coaches' salaries at UMass, the significant portion — it looks like a big number — the significant portion of that is coming from private revenue, revenue generation at the facility, and a lot of it is coming through friends and boosters groups, OK? It's not taxpayer dollar," Healey told Jim Braude and Margery Eagan. "I talked to UMass. It does not reflect taxpayer dollar, OK? So I want people to understand that. Because you see that number, you're like, 'Whoa,' right? But understand that a significant portion of that is not taxpayer dollar."

Governor Maura Healey

Almost one-fifth of the state's highest earning employee's belong to UMass, and many of them relating to sports. This has attracted interest after Healey's budget cuts on Monday.

News By Category
Beltway Politics

Ron DeSantis PAC flexes ground game ahead of Iowa Caucuses. Is it enough to beat Trump? » Des Moines Register

Opinion: Beware any candidate who values loyalty above all else » Boston Globe

Business

Plagiarism accusations are everywhere. Here’s how detection software works. » Boston Globe

Alford has shut down Fergie Chambers' communist gym for permit breach » Berkshire Eagle

When it comes to the economy, we’re never going back to 2019 » Boston Globe

Holy Cross grad to be next JetBlue CEO, as airline inaugurates new Worcester route » Worcester Business Journal

Yankee Candle’s South Deerfield distribution facility to close by end of 2024 » Greenfield Recorder

Local inventor challenges Google in billion-dollar patent fight » Boston Globe

Gaskin: Supplier diversity can reduce racial wealth gap » Boston Herald

BlackRock, State Street singled out in investor voting study » Boston Globe

Sublime Systems selects Western Mass. city for its first low-carbon cement plant » Boston Business Journal

Cannabis & Psychedelics

DeSantis Says He Would ‘Respect The Decisions That States Make’ On Marijuana Legalization, Despite Personal Opposition » Marijuana Moment

Democracy

Andover group joined 'Rally to Save Democracy' to mark Jan. 6 anniversary » The Andover Townsman

Violent political threats surge as 2024 begins, haunting American democracy » Boston Globe

Education

Mass. Gov. Healey ‘disappointed’ by ex-Harvard President Claudine Gay’s exit » MassLive

Healey defends former Harvard President Gay, calls out GOP Rep. Stefanik » Boston.com

Editorial: How colleges can head off plagiarism wars » Boston Globe

The short, strange end to Claudine Gay’s once-promising Harvard presidency » Boston Globe

In Massachusetts’ richest towns, many top-ranked schools cling to outdated methods of teaching reading » Boston Globe

Congress Gives Harvard Two Weeks to Produce Documents for Antisemitism Investigation » The Wall Street Journal

Environment

2023 ties record for warmest year in Massachusetts » WBUR

Governor Healey slams Elise Stefanik for ‘hypocrisy’ over attacks on higher education » Boston Globe

Overhaul Urged For Mass. Disaster Response » State House News Service

Health Care

What to know about Healey’s budget cuts to MassHealth’s fee-for-service payments and more » WBUR

Admin: Redetermination Not Reason For MassHealth Cut » State House News Service

Dana-Farber makes first pitch to state regulators about need for new cancer center » Boston Globe

The FDA warned an asthma drug could induce despair. Many were never told. » Boston Globe

Housing

Boston is using public buildings — like libraries — to build affordable housing. It's still pricey » WBUR

Our Opinion: Healey admin. should learn from MCLA shelter proposal spat and center transparency in migrant housing plans » Berkshire Eagle

Fewer families call Days Inn in Methuen home » The Eagle Tribune

Salem to explore boarding houses in 2024 » Salem News

Immigration

Migrant families being moved out of Attleboro area towns » The Sun Chronicle

Labor

Expert: Aging Workforce In Mass. "Rearing Its Head Now" » State House News Service

New AIM CEO decries ‘exodus of working-age people’ from Mass. » Boston Business Journal

Local Government

Boston Mayor Wu to put rejected anti-terror grant before City Council again » Boston Herald

Vote looms on contentious new Shutesbury wetlands bylaw » Gazette Net

Boston Mayor Wu lays out 2024 vision highlighted by housing, education and protesters » Boston Herald

City sets hearing for $166.59M Pickering borrowing » Lynn Daily News Item

Springfield’s Mayor Sarno lists courthouse rebuild on riverfront, more housing as goals for 2024 » MassLive

From potholes to housing policy, Wu talks priorities in 2d State of City » Commonwealth Beacon

Politics

Economy tops US priorities for government across racial groups, new poll shows » Boston Globe

Public Health

Editorial: Fentanyl ID bill a step in the right anti-drug direction » Sentinel & Enterprise

Howie Carr: Masking COVID truth (Biden needs the Panic) » Boston Herald

Public Safety

NY: Hochul calls for tools to crack down on hate crimes » Politico

Nick Fleisher: Sensible regs lower gun mortality rates » Gazette Net

Boston agrees to settle police gender discrimination case for $2.4 million, lawyer says » Boston Globe

Falmouth’s plan to solve severe dispatcher shortage lands in Cape Cod court » MassLive

State Finance

MassHealth, schools, fire depts.: Losers in Mass. Gov. Healey’s $375M spending cut » MassLive

State Government

Healey Files $1.2 Bil Plan To Recapitalize State IT Efforts » State House News Service

Editorial: Mass. can get $$ for IT, but cuts programs » Boston Herald

Mass. Gov. Healey files $1.2B plan to recapitalize Bay State’s IT efforts » MassLive

Taxation

Gov. Maura Healey defends tax cuts as Massachusetts faces $1 billion revenue slowdown » Boston Herald

Healey Defends "Absolutely Essential" Tax Cuts » State House News Service

Healey stands by tax cuts after trimming state budget » WGBH

These Mass. communities had the highest tax rates in 2024 » Boston Business Journal

Moore: Blue states just can’t stop taxing » Boston Herald

Yellen to visit Boston to tout clean energy tax credit benefits » Reuters

Transportation

Cambridge installed a bus bench backward, facing a hedge. Residents complained almost immediately. » Boston Globe

Utilities

GE business to fill order for turbines to power Western Hemisphere’s largest wind project » Boston Globe

Eversource stock falls as it writes down value of wind investments » Boston Globe

Job Board

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Recipe of the Week

Italian Braised Beef and Potatoes

Food Wishes — Chef John

Ingredients

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

3 pounds beef shank, cut into thick cross sections (osso buco-style)

1 large yellow onion, diced

1 cup chopped celery

2 tablespoons tomato paste

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, or 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary

1 teaspoon dried marjoram or oregano

1/2 cup white wine

2 cups beef broth or chicken broth

1 bay leaf

2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley (optional)

1 fresh lemon, cut into wedges

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

 

Mix salt, black pepper, and cayenne together in a small bowl, and generously season both sides of beef. Reserve remaining seasoning mix to use later in the recipe.

 

Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over high heat; add beef to the pot and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on both sides. Remove beef to a plate; set aside.

Reduce heat to medium. Add onion and celery to the pot with a large pinch of seasoning. Cook, stirring, until onions begin to turn translucent, 3 to 5 minutes.

Stir in tomato paste, garlic, and dried herbs, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in wine, and cook for a few minutes until most of the wine has disappeared.

Add broth and bay leaf, and turn heat to high to bring the pot back to a simmer. Add beef back in; baste with some of the cooking liquid.

Roast, covered, in the preheated oven until meat is almost fork tender, but not falling off the bone, about 2 hours.

Drizzle potato pieces with olive oil, and sprinkle with a big pinch of the seasoning mix, or just some salt. Spoon a few tablespoons of beef fat from the top of the braising liquid over the potatoes, and mix well.

Transfer potatoes in and around beef. Rinse the bowl with about 1/2 cup water and add to the pot.

Cover; roast at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) until meat and potatoes are very tender, about 1 hour more.

Serve in a bowl with cooking liquids spooned over. Sprinkle with parsley and chili flakes and serve with fresh lemon wedges.



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