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By CHRIS LISINSKI

Hundreds of workers and leaders at nonprofits across Massachusetts overwhelmingly agreed that the Bay State will fare worse under the Trump administration, voicing concerns about funding cuts and heightened stress on vulnerable populations.

By CHRIS LISINSKI

BOSTON — While Senate Democrats do not have much legislative action ready to launch in response to President Donald Trump, they spent more than two hours Monday ripping into the administration’s immigration crackdown and warning about damage to the rule of law.

By CHRIS LISINSKI

Stress over the prospect of an economic downturn appears to have ticked higher due to dramatic trade and tariff machinations, but the Healey administration last week slightly upgraded its already-strained forecast for the state’s unemployment insurance system.

By CHRIS LISINSKI

BOSTON — Progressive activists are growing impatient with what they view as a slow start on Beacon Hill, while the top House Democrat said lawmakers are “shooting in the dark” as they grapple with uncertainty from the federal government.

By CHRIS LISINSKI

A pair of western Massachusetts lawmakers made an urgent plea to their colleagues Tuesday to allow smaller farms to access property tax benefits currently available only to their larger peers.

By CHRIS LISINSKI

BOSTON — Health care costs in Massachusetts surged at “unsustainable” levels in 2023, adding more pressure to already-strained household budgets, according to new state data.

By CHRIS LISINSKI

BOSTON – A bill pumping another $425 million into the state’s overburdened emergency family shelter system landed on Gov. Maura Healey’s desk Wednesday, more than three weeks after administration officials said they ran out of funding to pay providers for new services.

By CHRIS LISINSKI

BOSTON — Two years after policymakers enacted mental health care reforms designed to mitigate the problem, the share of patients experiencing long waits in Massachusetts emergency departments remains elevated, according to new state research.

By CHRIS LISINSKI

The Healey administration moved to overhaul the way vocational and technical schools admit students after years of criticism that the system excludes applicants from certain backgrounds, but some advocates who sought the changes are concerned the proposal will lead to “the same discriminatory selection pattern.”

By CHRIS LISINSKI

Gov. Maura Healey’s proposal to increase state funding for local road and bridge projects also overhauls the way those dollars are distributed, and includes major boosts for smaller and rural communities with smaller property tax bases but more road miles to care for.

By CHRIS LISINSKI

BOSTON — The opioid epidemic has affected tens of thousands of people across Massachusetts, and later this year, vehicles on the state’s roads will be able to offer reminders that survivors and grieving families are all around us.

By CHRIS LISINSKI

Top Democrats needed a few extra months to reach agreements on major laws this session, but wrapped up business for the term with almost a day to spare and New Year’s Eve plans intact.The House and Senate adjourned their last meetings of the 2023-2024...

By CHRIS LISINSKI

BOSTON – Reforms in a bill that could clear the Legislature soon would “dramatically” improve efforts to monitor street-level drug supplies for dangerous contaminants, according to one expert.As lawmakers prepare to send Gov. Maura Healey a...

By CHRIS LISINSKI

President-elect Donald Trump continues to pledge large-scale deportations of foreign-born residents, stoking concerns about massive economic consequences and reigniting debate in Massachusetts about law enforcement cooperation.Trump spent much of his...

By CHRIS LISINSKI

Running consistent passenger rail service for 140 miles through northern Massachusetts communities to connect North Adams and Boston could attract hundreds of riders per day, but would also require hundreds of millions of dollars in up-front capital...

By CHRIS LISINSKI

Gov. Maura Healey spent months clamoring for lawmakers to finish work on a sweeping jobs package she filed in March, and she wound up needing only about 60% of the time allotted for her review before making it law.Healey on Wednesday signed her...

By CHRIS LISINSKI

BOSTON — The House on Thursday moved to overhaul audits of the chamber’s business after voters overwhelmingly said the state auditor has the power to audit the Legislature. Representatives voted 135-10 to adopt a House rule change that provides...

By CHRIS LISINSKI

BOSTON — Bay Staters should conserve water and avoid burning anything outdoors amid an “unprecedented” wildfire season that likely will not abate until significant rain — or seasonal frost — arrives, state and local fire officials said this...

By CHRIS LISINSKI

Democrats plan next week to finish their work on a stalled jobs bill designed to supercharge the state’s economy, especially the life sciences and climate technology industries.More than three months after they ended scheduled formal sessions for the...

By CHRIS LISINSKI

BOSTON — Auditor Diana DiZoglio on Monday escalated her long fight with the Legislature, publishing a report slamming lawmakers for a lack of transparency that the top House Democrat derided as “pure political self-promotion and...

By CHRIS LISINSKI

Massachusetts voters have a lot of big decisions to make this election season, including who should serve as the next president, whether U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren gets a third term, and the fate of five proposed laws.Those stakes do not extend all...