The Latest
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Massachusetts voters weigh ballot issues on union rights, wages and psychedelics
There are five questions on the ballot for Massachusetts voters, including whether or not to give union rights to drivers for ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft
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New England Governors Sign Pact to Help Reduce Transportation Pollution
The governors of three New England states and the mayor of Washington, D.C., have signed a regional pact aimed at dramatically reducing transportation pollution — an agreement they hope other states will eventually join. The Transportation and Climate Initiative Program is designed to reduce motor vehicle emissions by at least 26% by 2032. The initiative was signed Monday by Republican…
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Ed Markey, Joe Kennedy Face Off in First Televised Debate
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and his Democratic primary challenger, U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, sparred on everything from climate change to gun violence and foreign policy during their first televised debate Tuesday. While the two agreed on many issues, Kennedy argued he is better positioned than Markey to fight for those issues in Congress. “For this election this time...
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Gov. Baker Outlines Goals for Massachusetts in Annual Address
Gov. Charlie Baker said he wants to dramatically reduce the state’s reliance on polluting fuels while expanding housing opportunities and upgrading the state’s public transportation system. Baker outlined the goals Tuesday during his State of the Commonwealth address at the Massachusetts Statehouse. The Republican said one of his top goals for the new year is to help ease the...
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Lawsuit Seeks to Ease Adoption of Equal Rights Amendment
Supporters of the Equal Rights Amendment have filed a federal lawsuit in Massachusetts aimed at clearing a legal path for adoption of the long-delayed constitutional amendment. Backers say they’re wading into the debate over the amendment — which dates to the early 1970s — because Virginia is poised to become the decisive 38th state to approve the measure. But the…
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Markey, Kennedy Ramping Up Campaigns With Start of New Year
With the start of the new year, Democratic political rivals Edward Markey and Joe Kennedy III are ramping up their campaigns with Markey’s Senate seat hanging in the balance. Kennedy is opening new campaign offices in Lowell, Worcester and the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston while Markey is planning a Sunday town hall discussion on his Green New Deal resolution....
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Mass. Bans Hunting Contests Targeting Fur-Bearing Animals Like Coyotes, Foxes
Hunters in Massachusetts will no longer be allowed to participate in contests that target fur-bearing animals like coyotes. The state Fisheries and Wildlife Board this week approved regulations prohibiting the contests. The board pointed to concerns that the hunting contests are unethical, contribute to the waste of animals, and encourage indiscriminate killing that is at odds with conservation models. Besides…
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Gov. Baker Rejects Supervised Drug Injection Site Proposal
Gov. Charlie Baker brushed aside on Wednesday a proposal for Massachusetts to allow supervised injection sites for drug users. The Republican told reporters the proposal is illegal under federal law and he wants to focus on legal actions the state is taking to curb overdose deaths. Baker pointed to comments U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling has made warning that regardless of...
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Legislative Commission Recommends Creation of Supervised Injection Sites in Mass.
A legislative commission is recommending state lawmakers approve the creation of one or more supervised injection sites for drug users in Massachusetts. Commission members said Tuesday that the state should allow the sites on a test basis to see if they can help reduce the harm associated with injecting illegal drugs, including the risk of overdosing alone.
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House Speaker Robert DeLeo Proposes $1B for Energy Efficiency Grants
Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo has unveiled a plan to invest $1 billion over the next 10 years aimed at helping cities and towns adopt new technologies designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen infrastructure projects and reduce municipal costs. The initiative — called GreenWorks — would include funding for renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change resiliency efforts. The...
