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By SAM DRYSDALE

In a state where over 10% of the population lives in poverty, activists, public officials and members of the public have now pitched solutions to the problem to the lawmakers tasked with coming up with solutions.A legislative commission charged with...

By SAM DRYSDALE

As scores on statewide standardized tests rolled in Tuesday, revealing that students are still struggling from pandemic-related learning losses, education officials contemplated an overhaul of the state’s accountability system – against the backdrop...

By SAM DRYSDALE

Kids in Massachusetts, and nationwide, are behind on reading.In her State of the Commonwealth address at the beginning of this year, Gov. Maura Healey proposed a $30 million investment over five years to boost early literacy efforts.“Every child in...

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON — A commission tasked with considering the structure and sustainability of the state’s beleaguered emergency family shelter system is up against a quickly approaching deadline, with still broad disagreement amongst its members about what...

By SAM DRYSDALE

Six months later and $180 million lighter, lawmakers on Thursday returned to Gov. Maura Healey a spending bill that ratifies 38 collective bargaining agreements for state employees and approves millions in last-chance spending of federal pandemic...

By SAM DRYSDALE

As business leaders and Beacon Hill officials have focused more on competing with other states to keep residents in Massachusetts, a new report says that domestic outmigration may be threatening one of its key advantages.Among the state’s greatest...

By SAM DRYSDALE

Students with cognitive disabilities and English language learners could stand to benefit the most from a ballot initiative that would “greatly diminish the state’s role as a gatekeeper to high school graduation,” and lower the stakes of statewide...

By SAM DRYSDALE

After speculation surfaced on a national TV show last weekend, Gov. Maura Healey resolutely denied having any interest in serving as attorney general under a potential future President Kamala Harris administration.Healey has been actively promoting...

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON – In the first year after sports betting was legalized in Massachusetts, the state made inroads but didn’t substantially redirect much of the revenue from illegal sports wagering into its coffers, according to new research from the University...

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON — As Gov. Maura Healey and lawmakers celebrated what they called “historic” housing legislation getting signed into law Tuesday, some of the advocates credited with influencing the bill say it is “underwhelming” and watered down, with a number...

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON – Top Senate Democrats ruled that policies with majority support meant to target the toxic and cancer-causing chemicals known as PFAS were outside the scope of a major health care bill that the chamber passed last week, before making a...

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON — The Massachusetts House was split along party lines Wednesday night in voting to support climate and energy legislation that would “help accelerate the green transition,” according to the bill’s lead architect. “The bill before you continues...

By SAM DRYSDALE

The Senate will dig into a massive economic development package Thursday after top Democrats on Monday morning released their own vision for how Massachusetts should pursue job and economic growth opportunities.The Senate’s bill (S 2856) authorizes...

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON — Leyla Connolly’s battery-powered wheelchair has been broken for over a year. As she waits for it to be fixed, she is consigned to her Dorchester apartment, where she feels trapped without a safe way to leave to get groceries, go to doctor’s...

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON — Two powerful lawmakers are trying to push a widely supported bill to ban toxic “forever chemicals” over the finish line before the looming end of session, but neither said Tuesday that the issue is a priority for their branch.House Speaker...

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON – Massachusetts is now the 49th state to prohibit revenge pornography, with Gov. Maura Healey signing a bill late last week that also cracks down on sexual harassment and coercive control by domestic abusers.The bill closes a legal loophole to...

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON — The base of a late-session climate bill that has been promised by top Democrats in both branches is being drafted by Gov. Maura Healey’s administration, which says that reform to the siting and permitting of clean energy infrastructure is...

By SAM DRYSDALE

A proposed tax on high-value real estate transactions to pay for affordable housing would add an estimated 3,210 affordable homes in Massachusetts over five years, according to the governor’s administration – a drop in the bucket of the state’s...

By SAM DRYSDALE

Dollars coming from Washington to support survivors of violent crimes have dried up in recent years, and state funds to prop up struggling service providers are held up in a spending bill awaiting legislative action.Federal funding through the Crime...

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON — Signaling the potential for more change in the transportation and energy sectors, Senate President Karen Spilka revealed Monday that the Senate plans to tackle a major climate bill before formal sessions come to a close in just over three...

By SAM DRYSDALE

Senate Democrats plan this week to make a big push for reforms to the state’s motor vehicle “Lemon Law,” insurance coverage for home heating oil leaks and the controversial competitive electric supply industry.The Senate on Monday formally added a...