April 1, 2025

• Greenfield seeks renewal of CDBG Slum and Blight designation to bring in funds for infrastructure. Greenfield Recorder

• Sewer overflows and spiking bacteria cause for concern along Merrimack River. Eagle Tribune

• State says Trump’s executive order targeting funding to libraries will lead to loss of popular services in Attleboro area. The Sun Chronicle

• Framingham community center plans intact despite federal setback. MetroWest Daily News

• Framingham community center plans intact despite federal setback. MetroWest Daily News

• Breathing dirty air is worse for your health than we thought. Washington Post

• MTA president offers ways for legislators to address ‘unprecedented dangers’ to K-12 education in state. Daily Hampshire Gazette

March 31, 2025

• Deerfield to pilot child care program at April’s Annual Town Meeting. Greenfield Recorder

• A $45 million Lenox wastewater plant upgrade is set for takeoff. How will the town pay for it. Berkshire Eagle

• Chatham Installs Alternative Nesting Platform For Ospreys To Prevent Fires, Outages And Electrocutions. Cape Cod Chronicle

• How Holyoke is fighting blight. MassLive Media

• Ways and Means Committee questions school funding, local aid at packed hearing. MassLive Media

• Area public works officials slam new state regulations on truck emissions. Telegram & Gazette

• Beavers are slowing water flow from these Southwick lakes. Stopping them won’t be easy. MassLive Media

• Middleboro drops suit against state over MBTA zoning. What settlement was reached. Patriot Ledger

• Eco-restoration Project To Begin At Hinckleys Pond. Cape Cod Chronicle

March 28, 2025

• Where’s the money: Tracking Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. WCVB

• Even well-to-do towns like Milton are hard hit by school fiscal problems. Boston Globe

• Could Hanover have to close its public library without a tax override? What we know. Patriot Ledger

• Falmouth is a hub for climate scientists. Now, its local economy is shaking. Boston Globe

• New England food banks struggle to keep up with demand after federal government cuts $1 billion in funding. Boston Globe

• Judge orders HUD to release $30 million in grants to fair housing groups. CommonWealth Beacon

March 27, 2025

• North Adams City Council approves sale of former Sullivan School property to Mass MoCA. Berkshire Eagle

• New Bedford drafts new plan for dealing with disasters. New Bedford Light

March 26, 2025

• Shortfalls fuel growing call for Mass. education funding overhaul; Education Secretary Tutwiler says administration would follow Legislature’s lead in conversation. NBC Boston

• Natick voters approve $7 million override. MetroWest Daily

• Easthampton suspends zoning enforcement on short-term rentals. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Gov. Healey blasts EPA delay of $50M for lead pipe replacement. Eagle Tribune

• Food assistance programs starved by fed funding cuts. Lowell Sun

• Are local government and school board meetings getting too long? Some in Fall River say limits needed. Herald News

• What Trump’s funding cuts could mean for one Mass. town. MassLive Media

March 25, 2025

• Legislators: State’s school funding formula has ‘left us out,’ call for changes at hearing held at UMass. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Massachusetts releases long-awaited model bylaw for accessory dwelling units. Berkshire Eagle

• Strapped for school funding, Valley schools eye lagging state aid. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Lawsuit filed in Boston aims to block Trump from dismantling U.S. Department of Education. WBUR

• Mayor Petty: Worcester schools threatened by ‘heartbreaking’ Trump bid to kill Education Department. Telegram and Gazette

March 24, 2025

• Multi-town contingent organizes education funding appeal for UMass legislative hearing. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• South Coast Rail is finally running again. Commuters to Boston ready for Day One. The Herald News

• Area school officials discuss impact of dismantling US Dept. of Ed. Sentinel and Enterprise

• After Baltimore Collapse, Risk Reviews Urged for Dozens of U.S. Bridges. New York Times

• Dracut selectmen hold off on seeking MBTA Communities exemption. Lowell Sun

• Kitty Dukakis, tireless advocate who shared her struggles with the public, dies at 88. Boston Globe

• Trump order to dismantle DOE comes under fire. Eagle Tribune

• North Andover Public Schools to cut 40 staff members next school year. WCVB

March 21, 2025

• ‘Live, work, play’: Is form-based code the recipe for Eastham’s strategic plan. Cape Cod Times

• Needham Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick is a cheerleader for women in government. Needham Observer

• Trump signs order aiming to close the Education Department. WBUR

• On DEI, Massachusetts leaders are following public sentiment; poll shows broad support for initiatives among state residents. Commonwealth Beacon

• Spiking health insurance costs burdening municipal budgets. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Belchertown voters will decide whether to raise property taxes to meet a $2.1 million gap in school budget. New England Public Media

March 20, 2025

• Trump to sign order aiming to close the Education Department. WBUR

• A dangerous dam in Mount Washington receives a $400K state grant for removal. Berkshire Eagle

• Nicholas J Costello, Amesbury’s first mayor, dies. Newburyport News

• Waltham celebrates new affordable housing development for its older residents. GBH

• Needham celebrates return of hometown hero astronaut Sunita Williams. Boston Globe

• What do massive cuts to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ budget mean for North Adams’ flood chutes. Berkshire Eagle

• USDA halts millions of dollars worth of deliveries to food banks. Politico

• South Hadley Select Board reluctantly backs budget that members agree does not meet resident needs. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• State prepares in case of collapse of Commonwealth Care Alliance, insurer for 50,000 poor, elderly, and disabled people. Boston Globe/li>

March 19, 2025

• Cost of transportation for homeless students stresses municipal budgets. Lowell Sun

• Belchertown to float estimated $2.4M override for school, town budgets. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Springfield department heads trim positions, supplies to balance budget in uncertain times. MassLive Media

• Lawrence police therapy dog wins ‘Hometown Hero’ recognition. Eagle Tribune

March 18, 2025

• Somerville plans to build the city’s first universally accessible playground. Cambridge Day

• Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to hire regional energy manager for 15 communities in Hampshire, Hampden counties. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Springfield, the ‘asthma capital’ of the US, has improved. Now cuts to federal funding threaten those gains. Boston Globe

• Winthrop residents sue to get out from under MBTA rezoning requirement they say will ruin the town. Universal Hub

March 17, 2025

• 3 Town Meetings, 3 different results as North Middlesex towns weigh in on budget override. Boston Globe

• Pittsfield’s American Rescue Plan Act dollars must be spent by end of 2026: Here are the remaining projects. Berkshire Eagle

• Becket wind turbine project moves forward with a $139,500 state grant. Here’s what’s next for it. Berkshire Eagle

• Lawrence schools to lose $14 million in federal funding with Dept. of Education demolition. Eagle Tribune

• Massachusetts-based company Solstice launches program to fund community solar projects. CommonWealth Beacon

• Rejected by Washington, federal workers find open arms in state governments. New York Times

• The story behind Evacuation Day, the holiday Boston officially recognizes on March 17. WBUR

• West-East Rail funding uncertain under Trump administration. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Fall River to retroactively award graduation diplomas. GBH

March 14, 2025

• How many towns in the Berkshires should be designated as seasonal communities. Berkshire Eagle

• Salem gets $1 million for 3A compliance to advance infrastructure upgrades. Salem News

• Brown University Alumni Spotlight: Jillian Harvey ’19 MPA, MMA Chief Equity Officer. Watson Institute

• How federal cuts to the VA could impact Massachusetts. GBH

• Average property tax bills in Mass. top $7.5K; see costs town-by-town. MassLive Media

March 13, 2025

• Municipal leaders urge action to keep remote meetings alive. Greenfield Recorder

• A ban on gas-powered leaf blowers is arriving in Cambridge. Boston Globe

• New Hubbardston documentary traces town’s legacy in photos; where to see “Then and Now”. Gardner News

• Massachusetts cities and towns brace for ‘catastrophic’ federal budget cuts. GBH

• Healey bemoans federal funding cuts, says loss of up to $16B would be ‘devastating’. GBH

• Massive Education Department layoffs to affect all Boston employees. MassLive Media

• New England schools and food programs take ‘devastating’ hit after USDA funding cuts. Boston Globe

• South Shore towns looking to tax overrides to balance budget. What it means for taxpayers. Patriot Ledger

• Fifth town sues state over MBTA Communities Act. MetroWest Daily

• Boston braces to consider ranked choice voting in local elections. GBH

March 12, 2025

• Hamilton’s historic Town Hall going net zero. Salem News

• A Pittsfield neighborhood is about to get 40 native trees thanks to a state grant. Berkshire Eagle

• Ashfield opts out of mail-in voting for May 3 town election. Greenfield Recorder

• Cummington receives boost for old school rehab; Plainfield, Belchertown also secure rural grants. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Barnstable County Water Quality Lab earns key certification for PFAS water testing. Cape Cod Times

• Spending on Massachusetts health care has grown more than twice as fast as state hoped, new report shows. Boston Globe

• Here’s how National Park Service cuts are affecting sites in Mass. Boston.com

• Federal unemployment claims jump in Massachusetts. Cape Cod Times

March 11, 2025

• Housing alliance: Fixing homelessness in Worcester not as simple as it may sound. Telegram and Gazette

• A plan for the ‘big issues’: What Wellfleet’s Town Administrator had to say about sewers. Wicked Local

• Drought raises fire danger across Massachusetts. New England Public Media

• Massachusetts bracing for “all hands” response to federal funds threat. GBH News

• Trump firings hit NOAA scientists, analysts on South Coast. New Bedford Light

• James Carlin, entrepreneur who led Chelsea out of financial ruin, dies at 84. Boston Globe

March 10, 2025

• Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan won’t seek re-election. Here’s what he said. Enterprise News

• New Bedford locks in final ARPA spending plans. New Bedford Light

• ‘Town Crier’ podcast launches in Westminster, hosted by Town Administrator Stephanie Lahtinen. Gardner News

• Lynn’s Faustina Cuevas: A leader in regional DEI. Item Live

• Headed into budget season, Mass. collected $2.1B in taxes in February. MassLive Media

• Massachusetts Gov. Healey ‘cannot commit’ to funding towns fighting MBTA zoning law. Sentinel and Enterprise

• Zoning changes under MBTA Communities Act spurs 3K new houses – so far. MassLive Media

• Amherst’s town budget facing $500K deficit. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Taunton faces $6.4 budget gap — But CFO says city will balance budget and maintain services. Taunton Gazette

• Mass. reaches out to fired federal workers with new website. MassLive Media

• Program that monitors New England waterways, drinking water threatened by Trump cuts. WBUR

March 7, 2025

• Trump federal funding cuts make for a ‘challenging’ budget cycle, state officials say. Boston Globe

• A green revival? Plainfield unveils $1.1M plan to reshape village center encompassing church, Town Hall. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Franklin Regional Council of Governments to inventory 280 ‘blighted’ properties in Orange. The Recorder News

• Wrentham files suit against state over MBTA zoning law. The Sun Chronicle

• A second federal judge has ruled to block the Trump administration’s spending freeze. WBUR

• Veterans Affairs workforce reduction could have big impact in New England. Boston Globe

• Local shelter workers say HUD cuts would destabilize ‘an already unstable environment’ for housing in the Berkshires. Berkshire Eagle

• What staff loss may mean at Cape Cod National Seashore. Cape Cod Times

March 6, 2025

• Resistance to MBTA zoning law flares up in Plymouth County. Cape Cod Times

• Every year, the water in this Western Mass. town turns brown. When will residents finally get a solution. Boston Globe

• Mass. receives $2 billion in federal education funds. It can’t replace it. MassLive Media

• Trump administration terminates 17 commercial leases in Massachusetts. MassLive Media

March 5, 2025

• Worcester housing plan says city needs more than 12,000 new units in 8 years to meet demand. MassLive Media

• New Watertown Civics Academy offers a look at inner workings of city government. Watertown Mass. News

• Worcester leaders enthusiastic about Healey transportation plan. Telegram & Gazette

March 4, 2025

• Wrentham receives state grant to tackle climate change. The Sun Chronicle

• Minuteman Company to re-enact March to Concord. Sentinel and Enterprise

• Closure looms this summer for Fish & Wildlife Services HQ in Hadley; 36 probationary workers already fired. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Bridgewater-Raynham families, teachers hold rally for override to fund schools. Taunton Gazette

• Tariffs would raise Massachusetts energy costs by millions, Healey says. Axios

March 3, 2025

• State approves new Mass Save plan, but slashes budget by $500 million. WBUR

• Rising water bills could affect household budgets; what’s expensive? Pipes, people, and water plants. Boston Globe

• Mass. regulators approve plan to rein in sky-high utility bills. MassLive Media

• The use of AI in local news faces a substantial obstacle: trust. Boston Globe

• Fear, confusion over staffing cuts roil National Park Service. Boston Globe

• Middleborough sues Healey, state over MBTA housing law requirements. Boston Globe

Feb. 28, 2025

• Harwich floats new health and human services division, combining health care access, mental health, housing and social services. Cape Cod Chronicle

• New Bedford could allow taller, denser buildings near commuter rail station: What we know. South Coast Today

• Multiple school buildings that surpass half a billion dollars? They’re on the horizon as the cost of construction rises sharply. Boston Globe

• Everyone250 initiative launches to uplift diverse voices in celebrating America’s founding. GBH

Feb. 27, 2025

• How 2 Cape towns face million-dollar shortfalls on wastewater plans. Cape Cod Times

• Hudson Town Election to have override question: What money will pay for, plus tax impact. MetroWest Daily News

• Spring in Mass. has warmed considerably over past 55 years, which means earlier fire seasons and a greater risk of drought. CommonWealth Beacon

• Climate change drives new storm: Vineyarders consider leaving island over home insurance hikes. GBH

Feb. 26, 2025

• Feds pull $20M in grants from Holyoke for infrastructure, urban forestation program. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Land abounds at former Army base in Devens — but turning it over for housing has been a conundrum. Boston Globe

• One way to solve Worcester’s litter problem? City officials say more trash cans. GBH

• How climate change is leading some Provincetown residents to lift homes as much as 10 feet. Cape Cod Times

• Holden agrees to drop its opposition to MBTA housing law. Telegram and Gazette

Feb. 25, 2025

• Natick voters must decide on $7M override at town election. MetroWest Daily News

• Springfield’s $20M EPA grant moving forward after pause from federal government. MassLive Media

• Secretary of State Galvin orders overhaul of Boston election practices. WBUR

• Auditor’s office declares that the MBTA Communities law is an ‘unfunded mandate’. CommonWealth Beacon

• State AG intends to keep enforcing MBTA law despite auditor’s ruling; Wrentham weighing options. The Sun Chronicle

• Norwood launches campaign to find new operator for local hospital. WCVB

• Somerville and Chelsea are asking a federal judge to block the Trump administration’s “illegal campaign of bullying and intimidation.”. Boston.com

Feb. 24, 2025

• Bernardston opts out of mail-in voting for spring town election. The Recorder News

• Ramsha Baluch named director of Arlington’s DEI efforts. Your Arlington

• Fare-free buses draw riders, but gaps remain in Brockton transit. Boston Globe

• After Steward hospital closure, ambulances rush patients out of town. Boston Globe

• Vacation home trends add to Massachusetts housing crunch. CommonWealth Beacon

• New Bedford, Mass., a Coastal City Undergoing Transformation. New York Times

• Growth, tackling tough problems: Key takeaways from Taunton Mayor O’Connell’s State of City address. Taunton Gazette

Feb. 21, 2025

• Lawmakers urged to keep remote meetings. Eagle Tribune

• DPW crews battle freezing conditions to repair water main break in Fitchburg. Sentinel and Enterprise

• Westford Select Board supports Municipal Empowerment Act. Westford Cat

• Seven years in the making: North Truro housing development groundbreaking date set. Cape Cod Times

• How do we fix ambulance shortages and ambulance deserts? Panel discussion will address the public health crisis. Berkshire Eagle

Feb. 20, 2025

• Amherst’s unarmed community responders are busier, but questions remain about its mission. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• State education department proposes requiring Mass. vocational schools to use admission lotteries. Boston Globe

• Rather than filing MBTA Communities action plan by deadline, Milton Select Board votes to challenge ‘rapid transit community’ designation. Boston.com

• Newton dispensaries bring fight over community impact fees to the courts. Boston Globe

Feb. 19, 2025

• Grant aids in effort to transform vacant mills into affordable housing in Lawrence. Eagle Tribune

• Truck sales in Massachusetts are frozen over new EV requirements. Boston Globe

Feb. 18, 2025

• The next frontier for housing: Suburban office parks. Boston Globe

• Wellesley shares equity audit results against backdrop of changing political climate. The Swellesley Report

• Salem kickstarts no-cost home flood resilience assessment pilot program. Salem News

• Taxes, housing top reasons for outmigration. Eagle Tribune

• How Mass. leads the nation in funding the federal government. Axios

• ‘Profound sadness’: Carol Doherty, Taunton state rep and ex-school board member, has died. Taunton Gazette

• Norton, Wrentham submit intentions to state to comply with MBTA law. The Sun Chronicle

Feb. 13, 2025

• Great Barrington bridge replacement cost estimate jumps to $50 million after further inspection by state. Berkshire Eagle

• Cape Cod elevated to significant drought status amid ongoing dry conditions. Cape Cod Times

• The pandemic led to more access to local town meetings. Beacon Hill will decide what comes next. CommonWealth Beacon

Feb. 12, 2025

• In dramatic overhaul, Cambridge becomes one of the first cities in Mass. to eliminate single-family zoning. Boston Globe

• Tewksbury Planning Board sends MBTA Communities zoning back to Town Meeting following Milton decision. Lowell Sun

• Boston federal appeals court won’t halt order requiring Trump administration to unfreeze federal cash. Boston Globe

• Worcester City Council passes sanctuary resolution for transgender community. Boston Globe

Feb. 11, 2025

• Methuen’s transparency dashboard is now online. Eagle Tribune

• Backing Healey and House lawmakers, Mass. Senate moves to restrict emergency shelter stays. Boston Globe

• Mass. communities fought for opioid settlements but aren’t spending the money. WBUR

Feb. 10, 2025

• Berkshire communities are getting creative to stretch their supply of road salt as storms keep coming. Berkshire Eagle

• Mass. school districts face another year of dire cuts. Boston Globe

• Deerfield officials eye federal grant program for flooding mitigation. The Recorder News

• Leyden, Phillipston honored by MMA for top-notch annual reports. The Recorder News

• Watertown Receives Municipal Website Award from MMA. Watertown Mass. News

• Republican and Democratic lawmakers push for a statewide water conservation strategy. CommonWealth Beacon

• South Coast Rail coming March 24. New Bedford Light

• South Coast legislators’ bill would help protect Buzzards Bay. New Bedford Light

Feb. 6, 2025

• Mass. House moves to cap emergency shelter stays, limit system to 4,000 families. Boston Globe

• Disaster relief fund, championed by local legislators, grows to $15M in FY26 budget proposal. The Recorder News

• Franklin Town Administrator Jamie Hellen elected to lead MMA Board of Directors. MetroWest Daily News

• Acton staff and electeds learn and win an award at MMA’s Connect 351. Acton Exchange

• Easthampton’s plans for municipal electricity program get state go-ahead. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Merrimack Valley could make state history with permanent fare-free transit. GBH

• What else is gone from federal websites? Troves of census data, rattling local groups. Boston Globe

Feb. 5, 2025

• Mass. state officials ask departments to prepare ‘if tap is turned off’ by Trump in future funding freeze. Boston Globe

• Nahant to receive $3.5 million FEMA grant. Item Live

• Trump’s attempted funding freeze was blocked. So why are billions in grants for solar still locked up. Boston Globe

• Advocates concerned Massachusetts could lose transportation funding under Trump. GBH

Feb. 4, 2025

• Federally funded climate projects in Mass. face uncertainty under Trump. WBUR

• Northampton Mayor Sciarra: Uncertainty over fed funds looms over budget. Daily Hampshire Gazette

Feb. 3, 2025

• These local leaders are lining up behind Gov. Healey’s Municipal Empowerment legislation. MassLive Media

• Accessory dwelling units allowed by right in Massachusetts. Here’s what you need to know. Berkshire Eagle

• Amesbury mayor named VP of Mass Municipal Association. Salem News

• Rep. Gordon honored by Massachusetts Municipal Association for ‘Leading Civil Service Reform’. The Bedford Citizen

• Mashpee Board of Selectmen Voted To Be Replaced With Select Board. Cape News

• South Coast Rail nearing final testing phase. New Bedford Light

• This Black History Month, take a self-guided tour through time at these 4 spots in Boston. WBUR

Jan. 31, 2025

• State funding will support dam removal studies, including one in Pittsfield. Berkshire Eagle

• Springfield passes ordinance regulating in-law apartments before state law goes into effect. MassLive Media

• Boston will require new buildings to hit net zero standards. Boston Globe

• Middleboro was once one of largest towns in the U.S. Surprising story of when, why. Taunton Gazette

Jan. 30, 2025

• Boston becomes first city to launch fund for families of drug overdose victims. Boston Globe

• Country’s first fully-underground electrical substation breaks ground in Cambridge. WBUR

• New Bedford Mayor Mitchell: Offshore wind is ‘here to stay’ despite federal changes. South Coast Today

Jan. 29, 2025

• Gov. Healey seeks more road money for cities, towns. Eagle Tribune

• Holyoke voters change city charter to appoint treasurer’s post. MassLive Media

• New Bedford schools will look to state AG if immigration calls. Is likelihood growing. South Coast Today

• Milton struggles to chart a path forward after MBTA Communities ruling. CommonWealth Beacon

Jan. 28, 2025

• Trump is pausing federal loans and grants as his administration reviews spending. Boston Globe

• Gov. Healey says rural roads and bridges need more state funding. She has proposed a new formula to make that happen. Berkshire Eagle

• Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson elected president of Massachusetts Mayors Association. The Gardner News

• Why Mayor Charlie Sisitsky, in his State of the City, said Framingham is ‘strong’. MetroWest Daily News

• How Orleans Is Rethinking Public Health. Cape Cod Chronicle

• ‘A place of their own’: Will Brockton’s new 24-7 housing center end homelessness crisis. Enterprise News

• Wu: Amid ‘bluster’ from Trump, Boston is on firm legal ground with immigration policy. GBH

• School leaders reassure families as fears spread over feds’ immigration crackdown. WBUR

Jan. 27, 2025

• Healey, Driscoll Talk Transportation Funding, Municipal Empowerment. iBerkshires

• Healey mileage plan aims to aid rural roads in Central, Western Mass. Telegram and Gazette

• Mass. cities and towns stay committed to DEI despite Trump’s federal order. GBH

• Work underway to transform former church into Foxboro’s new community center. The Sun Chronicle

• Shutesbury, Hadley lauded for digital inclusion. The Recorder News

• Governor signs three Williamstown-related measures into law this month. Berkshire Eagle

• Sackler, Purdue settlement would bring over $100 million to Mass. GBH

• Boston City Hall is officially a historic landmark. WBUR

• Gov. Healey urges lawmakers to pass her proposal to allow cities and towns to install cameras to identify speeding drivers. NBC Boston

• Nantucket to pay homeowners in exchange for year-round deed restrictions on their homes. WBUR

• Framingham wins ‘conditional approval’ for MBTA Communities Act plan. What it means. MetroWest Daily News

• Gov. Healey’s shelter plan is on hold. Here’s why. Berkshire Eagle

Jan. 22, 2025

• Northampton bans use of fossil fuels in new buildings, renovations; new rules start Jan. 27. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Facing worker shortage, Brookline privatizes curbside trash collection. Brookline News

• FEMA gives Boston, MBTA $13M to reduce flood risks. WBUR

• Boston launches free legal aid program for families facing eviction. MassLive Media

• POST settles with police groups who sued over questions about social media posts. Boston Globe

• Offshore wind projects off Mass. coast threatened by executive order that could change the region’s energy game. Boston Globe

Jan. 21, 2025

• New Bedford Mayor Mitchell speaks at sessions on climate, hate at annual winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. New Bedford Light

• Boston clinches more than $35 million in federal climate funds days before Biden leaves office. Boston Globe

• Mass. must now pay feds $2.1 billion to resolve unemployment mistake over 10 years. WBUR

• Editorial: EPA report reminds us of area’s tainted waste-disposal past. Sentinel and Enterprise

• AGs urge Congress to protect Inflation Reduction Act. Eagle Tribune

Jan. 17, 2025

• 5 takeaways from Gov. Healey’s 2025 State of the Commonwealth. GBH

• Acton Fire Department launches pilot program in February to test new service delivery models. Wicked Local

• In his first State of the City address, Mayor Peter Marchetti lays out plan for a unified Pittsfield. Berkshire Eagle

• Planned video will show North Andover residents how municipal budget process works. Eagle Tribune

• New DEI curriculum implemented for Worcester Police Department academy. MassLive Media

Jan. 16, 2025

• Beverly considers new green energy code for all new housing. Salem News

• Pittsfield Toter System Reducing Waste, Increasing Recycling. iberkshires

• Mass. Gov. Healey calls for residency requirement for shelter law. MassLive Media

• With MBTA zoning OK’d, Haverhill on track for special grants. Eagle Tribune

Jan. 15, 2025

• Gardner Mayor Nicholson delivers State of the City address; here’s what he said. The Gardner News

• Martha’s Vineyard towns starting to restrict short-term rentals. MassLive Media

• Westminster town clerk is no longer an elected position: What this means for the town. The Gardner News

• In townwide vote, Needham rejects housing plan. Boston Globe

• Sandwich Town Meeting votes on extra water infrastructure. Ballot vote is next. Cape Cod Times

Jan. 14, 2025

• State of the Merrimack Valley: Municipal leaders gauge growth, challenges ahead. Eagle Tribune

• Hadley Media aims to bring broadband to last 32 homes in the town without it. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• How Massachusetts is preparing for future wildfires. GBH

• Town officials in Marshfield and Marblehead plan to push for MBTA Communities Act compliance after high court decision. WBUR

• In latest town to be split by housing plan, Needham voters head to the polls. Boston Globe

Jan. 13, 2025

• Locals weigh in on state’s accessory dwelling unit regulations. The Recorder News

• From development to water issues, Attleboro Mayor Cathleen DeSimone reflects on past year in office, things to come. The Sun Chronicle

• Carrying a badge – and a Ph.D.: Worcester police officer on duty with cybersecurity degree. Telegram and Gazette

• Electric cars are catching on, but where are all the EV chargers in the Berkshires and why aren’t there more. Berkshire Eagle

• Massachusetts gets $14.4M federal grant for EV chargers. CNHI

• Merrimack Valley in compliance with MBTA zoning. Eagle Tribune

• Q&A: A conversation with incoming CCC Executive Director Travis Ahern. GBH

• 2024 was third hottest year on record for Massachusetts. WBUR

Jan. 10, 2025

• State officials announce $102 million in federal grants to support infrastructure projects across Mass. Boston Globe

Jan. 9, 2025

• Methuen finds short-term use for Searles Estate. Eagle Tribune

• In Beverly, Carter-era solar site still charging the future. CNHI

• The New York Times names 2 Mass. towns among top 52 places to visit in 2025. MassLive Media

• Montague flag soon heading to State House. The Recorder News

• Needham, Nashoba school districts among those possibly affected by PowerSchool data breach. Boston Globe

Jan. 8, 2025

• It’s red, plastic, and snaps together: Provincetown’s new flood barrier. GBH

• Greenfield mayor cites housing, economic growth as 2025 goals. The Recorder News

• In $20M deal with W.D. Cowls, New Hampshire timber company buys, will preserve 2,400 acres in 7 communities in Hampshire and Franklin counties. Daily Hampshire Gazette

Jan. 7, 2025

• Hampshire County lawmakers spell out priorities as next legislative session gets underway. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• A lot of ‘little snowstorms’ are still eating up Berkshire snow removal budgets. Berkshire Eagle

• Fire chiefs: EMS response in North Central Mass. ‘on verge of collapse’ after hospital closing. Telegram and Gazette

• $75K grant will fund study of shared services between Leyden and Bernardston. The Recorder News

• Transportation funding task force nears finish line. CommonWealth Beacon

Jan. 6, 2025

• Holyoke special election to decide whether city treasurer post is elected or appointed. MassLive Media

• Great Barrington needs affordable housing. Does that include manufactured homes. Berkshire Eagle

• Rail trail extension into Pittsfield part of much larger plan for 25 miles of bike and multi-use paths. Berkshire Eagle

• Nantucket’s African Meeting House Celebrates Its Bicentennial. Nantucket Current

• Year-round housing subsidies top agenda for Seasonal Communities. Cape and Islands – NPR

Jan. 3, 2025

• Marblehead misses MBTA Communities deadline possibly losing thousands in grants. Item Live

• Massachusetts Senate president eyes K-12 funding reform, primary care overhaul. Berkshire Eagle

Jan. 2, 2025

• Mass. legislative leaders begin new session with promises to improve transparency, efficiency. Boston Globe

• Holliston town administrator Travis Ahern agrees to executive director job at Cannabis Control Commission. GBH

• Amherst town charter to undergo extensive review. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Winthrop to revamp emergency response procedures in wake of patient deaths. Boston Globe

Dec. 20, 2024

• Winthrop rejects MBTA Communities zoning plan. CommonWealth Beacon

• Lawrence, Haverhill projects awarded $5M in state housing incentives. Eagle Tribune

• Framingham geothermal project lands $7.8 million federal grant. What could happen next. MetroWest Daily

Dec. 19, 2024

• Cannabis Control Commission names Holliston town manager to lead agency. Boston Globe

• Cities and towns face end-of-year zoning deadline to fall in line on Mass. housing law. GBH

• Framingham won’t meet deadline to comply with MBTA Communities law. What’s next. MetroWest Daily

• Amherst aims to secure ARPA funds from D.C. clawback. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Computer servers, radio equipment among items approved for ARPA funding in Mattapoisett. Sippican Week

• New dashboard will offer deep dive into city finances, including salaries. Eagle Tribune

• Healey will deliver ‘State of the Commonwealth’ speech on Jan. 16. WBUR

Dec. 18, 2024

• Millions in Mass. water infrastructure projects could be coming; here’s how. MassLive Media

• Mass. lawmakers reach deal on long-stalled opioid bill, nix proposal to allow for supervised consumption sites. Boston Globe

• Contractor hired to document 140 historical properties in Erving. The Recorder News

• Amherst-Pelham Regional towns struggle to split school budget tab. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Massive Coalition Drops Report On Dire State Of Mass Transit In Massachusetts. Horizon Mass

Dec. 17, 2024

• Elected officials from 39 cities and towns call on Gov. Healey to rescind recent shelter stay policies. Boston.com

• Somerville City Council votes to ditch required parking rules for new developments. CommonWealth Beacon

Dec. 16, 2024

• A $180K state grant for a group of South Berkshire towns aims to prevent ambulance deserts. Berkshire Eagle

• Eight Berkshire County towns have been designated seasonal communities by the state. Here’s what that means. Berkshire Eagle

• Andover considers repurposing office buildings for future uses. Eagle Tribune

• Great Barrington weighs zoning changes to ease reuse of Simon’s Rock campus. Berkshire Eagle

• Boston helped hundreds of families accomplish the seemingly impossible this year: buying a home in the city. Boston Globe

Dec. 13, 2024

• Boston launches new fund to preserve affordable rental properties. GBH

• Belchertown becomes first in Western Mass. to phase out nicotine sales. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Richmond unveils a new plan for the town to cover its own emergency services. Berkshire Eagle

• North Middlesex Regional School District to close two schools following failed Prop 2.5 overrides. Sentinel and Enterprise

• Peabody adopts MBTA zoning. Cape Cod Times

Dec. 12, 2024

• Massachusetts spent less on emergency shelters in FY24 than originally projected, report shows. Boston Herald

• Springfield doubles tax break for disabled veterans through HERO Act. MassLive Media

• The last of the Pittsfield’s available American Rescue Plan Act dollars have been allocated. Here’s how the money was spent. Berkshire Eagle

• Wilmington Town Meeting rejects MBTA Communities zoning. Lowell Sun

Dec. 11, 2024

• Acting Mayor D.J. Beauregard wins Methuen mayoral race. Eagle Tribune

• Worcester city manager says he’ll explore civilian review board for police oversight. Telegram and Gazette

Dec. 10, 2024

• Massachusetts issues long-awaited draft regulations for ADUs. Berkshire Eagle

• New emergency shelter limits kick in. Eagle Tribune

• Lynn allocates $75 million of ARPA funds. Item Live

• Boston is slowly sinking. That doesn’t help sea level rise due to climate change. GBH

• Massachusetts is making a billion-dollar bet on climate tech. Here’s how. Boston Globe

• Trees falling, rocks rolling and sleep deprivation: Great Barrington fire chief recalls what it was like to fight the wildfire. Berkshire Eagle

• UMass Amherst profs pilot new PFAS detection method. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Massive new food distribution hub in Roxbury aims to combat food insecurity, provide more fresh produce. Boston Globe

• Researchers find some worry, some hope for AI in democracy. CommonWealth Beacon

• Greenfield Planning Board recommends nixing housing unit cap, updating ADU bylaws. The Recorder News

Dec. 9, 2024

• Methuen votes for new mayor on Tuesday. Eagle Tribune

• Lenox voters approve new ADU bylaws and a $26 million GE settlement transfer. Berkshire Eagle

• Great Barrington will hold its annual town meeting on a Saturday to test whether more voters will show up. Berkshire Eagle

• Becket gathers momentum for dark-sky bylaw after hosting statewide annual conference. The Berkshire Edge

• Danvers Select Board pleads for more civil behavior at meetings. CNHI News

• Amherst Commission considers hunting prohibition on conservation lands. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• A behind-the-scenes look at how Stockbridge rolled out the holiday magic for NBC’s ‘Today’ show on Friday. Berkshire Eagle

Dec. 6, 2024

• A new shared fire and EMT services plan is moving forward for Stockbridge and West Stockbridge. How much will it cost. Berkshire Eagle

• ‘Wayfinding’ Study Group Presents Plan to Williamstown Select Board. iBerkshires

• ‘Quincyopoly’ board game hits shelves for Christmas. Monocle and top hat not included. Patriot Ledger

• Gloucester joins towns reconsidering approval of MBTA Communities zoning. MassLive Media

Dec. 5, 2024

• Haverhill ties its economic future to ‘Mass Leads Act’. Eagle Tribune

• Stockbridge eyeing projects to meet new affordable housing development goal. Berkshire Eagle

• Chatham, Orleans and Harwich Awarded State Wetland Grants. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Chatham Fire Department To Join County Dispatch System. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Bus transit gets a boost to expand, connect routes throughout Western Mass. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Massachusetts governor signs law to form EPR commission for packaging, other categories. Waste Dive

• Methuen City Council approves MBTA zoning. Eagle Tribune

• Weston votes down MBTA Communities Act zoning proposal. Boston.com

• Petition knocks Gloucester out of 3A compliance. CNHI News

Dec. 4, 2024

• Ruthanne Fuller, longtime Newton mayor, says she will not seek re-election. Boston Globe

• State and local housing advocates broke ground Tuesday on 37 new supportive housing apartments and a housing resource center in Pittsfield. Berkshire Eagle

• New street signs in Cambridge honor Indigenous history with translation to Massachusett tribe language. Boston Globe

• Nature preserve comes from thinking outside the bogs. New Bedford Light

Dec. 3, 2024

• In Lexington, the state’s housing law is on track to produce nearly 1,000 new homes. Boston Globe

• Worcester remembers six firefighters killed 25 years ago in warehouse blaze. Boston Globe

• Boston nails down a nearly $10 million climate job training contract. Boston Globe

• Richmond’s old Town Hall is about to get a second life … in the tech industry. Berkshire Eagle

• State overrules Shutesbury bylaw limiting grid batteries. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Salem breaks ground on redevelopment of 2 former schools into 61 affordable rental units. Salem News

• State expands solar net-metering program. Eagle Tribune

• New Bedford-area developers say high construction costs and low rents make it impossible to build apartments without heavy government subsidies. New Bedford Light

• Boston hosts inaugural equity, inclusion summit for city workers. GBH

Dec. 2, 2024

• Windsor is planning to revive its long-closed landfill as an educational forest. Berkshire Eagle

• Upcoming rail connection to New Bedford to happen as the city sees a significant economic shift. Boston Globe

• Newly digitized Parks Department scrapbooks are a one-way ticket to Pittsfield’s past. Berkshire Eagle

• Teacher strikes in Marblehead, Beverly end with tentative deals. GBH

• Some Mass. towns use beet juice or molasses to fight winter storms: Why are they doing it. Telegram and Gazette

• Mass. is the only state in the nation to significantly cut food waste. How did we do it. Boston Globe

• SAPHE 2.0 to modernize local health care. The Recorder News

• With Trump set to take office, Massachusetts could see drop in federal funds. Boston Globe

• Framingham City Council creates new plan to address state’s multifamily zoning law. MetroWest Daily News

Nov. 26, 2024

• House vote sends Boston property tax bill to Senate. GBH

• Ashfield talks regionalization amid Police Department hiring struggles. The Recorder News

• Federal funds go to migrant support in Boston shelters. GBH

• 2024 fire season in Massachusetts burns more acres in 2 months than previous 2 years. CommonWealth Beacon

• Springfield, Pittsfield, Greenfield, Ware’s air quality worsens, according to report. MassLive Media

Nov. 25, 2024

• 100 days since signing, the state reports progress on implementing Affordable Homes Act. Berkshire Eagle

• Donald R. Marquis, longtime Arlington town manager, has died. Your Arlington

• Lack of volunteers stymies Southampton’s affordable housing efforts. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Northampton City Hall closing for asbestos removal. MassLive Media

• Vacant mills hold dangers and opportunities for Western Mass. communities. MassLive Media

• Schools to remain closed in Beverly, Marblehead as strikes continue. Boston Globe

• More than 100 communities OK zoning to comply with MBTA Communities law. Sentinel and Enterprise

• Dracut Town Meeting rejects MBTA Communities zoning. Lowell Sun

• New law aims to shore up and equalize state’s public health services. Boston Globe

Nov. 22, 2024

• It’s finally raining in Massachusetts. But it’s not enough to end the drought. GBH

• Post-election report shows accessibility, ballot and registration issues. WBUR

Nov. 21, 2024

• Fairhaven OKs a new ‘smart growth’ district for more affordable housing: What it means. South Coast Today

• A multibillion-dollar data center project is coming to Western Mass. Boston Globe

• Overdose deaths are trending down, but Winthrop sees a record increase. MassLive Media

• Yarmouth to give sign-on bonuses to police officers, firefighters, amid staffing shortages. Cape Cod Times

• Gov. Healey grants Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe state recognition. WBUR

• AG’s office rejects Wendell’s battery energy storage bylaw. The Recorder News

• Methuen City Council delays debate on MBTA zoning, passes contingency. Eagle Tribune

Nov. 20, 2024

• Thousands of Mass. property owners warned of potential lead exposure in their water. GBH

• Three town properties in Falmouth freed up for new use by voters. Cape Cod Times

• Dartmouth Select Board allocates remaining ARPA funds as deadline approaches. Dartmouth Week

• Housing at former Wing School in Sandwich expected to be ready in September. Cape Cod Times

• The price for emergency housing in Mass. may pass $1 billion. A report has 10 ideas to help the strained system. Boston Globe

• Sagamore Bridge to be replaced by two, three-lane bridges over Cape Cod Canal. Cape Cod Times

• Drought in Massachusetts reaches ‘critical’ phase. WBUR

• Foxboro residents decide to comply with MBTA zoning law. The Sun Chronicle

• Seekonk votes to acquire old Firefly Golf Course, passes MBTA zoning. The Sun Chronicle

• Shirley races to comply with looming zoning mandate. Sentinel and Enterprise

Nov. 19, 2024

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute agrees to pay city for lost revenue after buying hotels for dorms. MassLive Media

• Sunderland to explore sharing transfer station with neighbors. The Recorder News

• Boston awards final small business grants with federal pandemic relief funds, as celebrated program ends. Boston Globe

• How is historic drought affecting Mass. drinking water supplies. Boston Globe

• At Special Town Meeting, Shrewsbury debates and adopts MBTA zoning law. Telegram and Gazette

• New Bedford calls on suburbs to pitch in on affordable housing. New Bedford Light

• One hundred entities sign letters of support for Northern Tier Rail. The Recorder News

Nov. 18, 2024

• Federal grant will help replace closed grocery store in Winchendon. Telegram and Gazette

• Bourne Select Board Moves Forward With Opioid Settlement Fund Mini-Grants. Cape News

• Barnstable Council OKs $2.6 million to buy Cotuit land for conservation. Cape Cod Times

• Cyber Security Lab Opens at Salem State University. WBZ News Radio

• Schools to remain closed Monday in three North Shore communities amid teacher strikes. Boston Globe

• Which Mass. cities and towns add fluoride to drinking water. MassLive Media

• Special education is becoming more expensive for schools. That’s one reason why they can’t pay educators more. Boston Globe

Nov. 15, 2024

• At emergency meeting, Attleboro mayor updates residents on serious water supply situation. The Sun Chronicle

• Judge issues fines against striking teachers in Beverly and Gloucester, starting at $50,000 per day. Boston Globe

• Select Board Adopts Remote Work Policy for Town Manager. Provincetown Independent

• Framingham geothermal program is up and running. There have been a few hiccups. Milford Daily News

• Foxboro Select Board endorses plan for use of nearly $1M in opioid abatement funding. The Sun Chronicle

• To meet housing crisis, report finds Gateway Cities need twice as much construction. GBH

• 2024 Boston Marathon generated $509 million across the state and city, study finds. GBH

Nov. 14, 2024

• Lee and Clarksburg awarded wellness grants from MIIA. Berkshire Eagle

• Grant funds insulation upgrade at Robertson Memorial Library in Leyden. The Recorder News

• Medway OKs borrowing $7.9M to fund design of new town hall-public safety building. MetroWest Daily News

• Tisbury to Shift Taxes on Commercial Properties as Residential Values Soar. Vineyard Gazette

Nov. 13, 2024

• Lt. Gov. Driscoll outlines commission’s shelter system report. New England Public Media

• Lenox board to revise bylaws on accessory dwelling units to align with the state Affordable Homes Act. Berkshire Eagle

• Officials make pitch for $100 million fund to make Connecticut River watershed more resilient. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Great Barrington just got more than $6 million in grants. Here’s where the money is going. Berkshire Eagle

• Mass. Gov. Maura Healey asks public to conserve water amid wildfire battle. MassLive Media

• Gloria Fox, longest-serving Black woman representative in Mass. history, dies at 82. Boston Globe

Nov. 12, 2024

• As drought persists, officials in Attleboro declare water emergency, seek emergency connections. Boston Globe

• Stockbridge and West Stockbridge have agreed to share a fire chief as a possible first step to a larger agreement. Berkshire Eagle

• In Chelsea, a new model for public housing opens its doors. Boston Globe

• City of Methuen pays tribute to Mayor Perry’s legacy. Eagle Tribune

• Public land could unlock 85K new homes in Greater Boston, report says. MassLive Media

• 3 North Shore school districts closed Tuesday as teacher strikes to continue after Veteran’s Day. Boston.com

Nov. 8, 2024

• Mass. lawmakers say they have a deal on stalled economic development package. Boston Globe

• Housing advocates warn of ‘paper compliance’ to state’s new multifamily zoning law. MetroWest Daily

• DEP to revise state water withdrawal regulations. CNHI News

• Drought reaches ‘critical’ level in Massachusetts. Red flag warning issued for increased wildfire risk. CNHI News

• 51 years later, overdue book is finally returned to Worcester Public Library. GBH

Nov. 7, 2024

• Needham Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick announces plans to move on. Needham Observer

• Three Berkshire County towns deliver mixed election results on Community Preservation Act ballot questions. Berkshire Eagle

• Holyoke mayor calls Moody’s withdrawal of credit rating for his city a timing issue. MassLive Media

• Community Preservation Act measure fails in Colrain. The Recorder News

Nov. 6, 2024

• Yes’ on 1 and more results for the 2024 Massachusetts ballot questions. GBH

• Northampton orders city-wide ban on fires after devastating wildfire. MassLive Media

• Northborough votes nearly 2-to-1 to approve building new $41.3M fire station. MetroWest Daily

Nov. 5, 2024

• Mass. election chief projects record turnout, reaffirms integrity of electoral process. GBH

• Despite unique challenges, Boston’s homeless voters are finding their way to the polls. GBH

• Tewksbury sees 4 water main breaks in 5 days as Select Board seeks to address aging pipes. Lowell Sun

• Town weighs in on future chemical emissions at Gillette plant. Eagle Tribune

• Crowds flock to West Stockbridge to send off New York’s Rockefeller Christmas tree. WBUR

• ‘Everything is transparent.’ Here’s how one Berkshire County town is tallying votes on Tuesday the old fashioned way — by hand. Berkshire Eagle

Nov. 1, 2024

• Proposed EPA requirements would target thousands of large property owners in Mass. GBH

• In a first, Medford seeks a Proposition 2 1/2 override to fund schools, roads and a new fire station. Boston Globe

• Western Mass towns receive $10.3M in state grants for redevelopment projects. The Recorder News

• Pittsfield will officially reopen Springside Park Pond on Saturday. Here’s how this recreational resource was restored. Berkshire Eagle

• Leicester, Shrewsbury eye partnership to turn former Becker College site into voc school. Telegram & Gazette

• Red flag warning issued for Southern New England as Boston area reaches ‘severe drought’ conditions. Boston Globe

• Data, tax credit aim to reach chronically unemployed veterans. Boston Globe

Oct. 31, 2024

• Northampton only municipality in WMass invited into state fossil fuel-free building pilot program. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Boston City Council green lights compromise property tax proposal, sends to Beacon Hill for approval. Boston Globe

• Holyoke acquires ‘graffiti eater’ to help clean up city. The Reminder News

• New SouthCoast partnership tackles dual crises: Affordable housing and workforce training. South Coast Today

• Mayor Jon Mitchell announces steps to ensure safe, anxiety-free New Bedford Election Day. South Coast Today

• State lawmakers weigh independence, structure of Cannabis Control Commission as they consider reforms. GBH

Oct. 30, 2024

• Holyoke school district to transition out of state receivership in 2025. Boston Globe

• Five Berkshire County towns win $450,850 toward replacing culverts. Berkshire Eagle

• Berkshire County sees $310K in grants for Digital Equity. iberkshires

• Springfield Union Station, west-east rail net $37M from feds. MassLive Media

• Wildfires spread across Massachusetts amid dry, windy weather. MassLive Media

• Swansea voters approve $16M Town Hall Annex project. Herald News

• Legislative committee to hold first of two hearings on Cannabis Control Commission. CommonWealth Beacon

Oct. 29, 2024

• Cannabis Control Commission selects new executive director. GBH

• Natick Town Meeting OKs zoning plan in effort to satisfy MBTA Communities Act. MetroWest Daily

• Attleboro water supply ‘becoming a critical concern’. The Sun Chronicle

• A new fire and EMS plan calls for three towns to share emergency services. But is it enough for Richmond. Berkshire Eagle

• State agency wins half million dollar federal grant aimed at reducing emissions at New Bedford port. GBH

• Hazy skies persist as firefighters face challenges containing brush fires in eastern Massachusetts. WCVB

• More than 1 million Mass. voters have already cast a ballot. WBUR

Oct. 28, 2024

• Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno reveals cancer diagnosis. New England Public Media

• $11M in state grants to flow to region. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Former Amesbury Mayor Ken Gray dies at age 74. Eagle Tribune

• $25M Mass Audubon grant will fuel Connecticut River watershed conservation. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• North Shore brush fire grows to 130 acres in Salem, Lynn. WCVB

• Methuen City Council bashes MBTA zoning as local communities face deadline. Eagle Tribune

Oct. 25, 2024

• Boston program to buy buildings and keep them affordable is starting to make a dent. Boston Globe

• Test center in Sandwich looks beyond backyard septic systems to develop more efficient wastewater management systems. Cape Cod Times

• Fare-free service announced for 13 regional bus lines across Massachusetts. Boston Globe

• Lynn Mayor Nicholson joins Metropolitan Mayors Coalition. Item Live

• How can artificial intelligence threaten the voting process? Researchers explain. MetroWest Daily News

• New report says Brazilians, the biggest immigrant group in Mass., shouldn’t be forgotten. GBH

Oct. 24, 2024

• Boston Mayor Wu and business leaders strike deal on property tax plan. Boston Globe

• Local officials prep for election, take extra safety measures. The Recorder News

• Andover making room for ADUs, with limits. Eagle Tribune

• A new Boston development is prioritizing first-generation home buyers. It could help close the racial wealth gap. Boston Globe

• Heat pumps were supposed to transform the world. But it’s not going as planned. Boston.com

• Municipalities pass and propose limiting nicotine pouches to adult-only stores. CommonWealth Beacon

• Mass. state Representative Susan Williams Gifford, House minority whip, dies at 64. Boston Globe

Oct. 23, 2024

• ‘Our histories are intertwined’: Burying Hill study gets green light in Bourne. Cape Cod Times

• Maintenance Problems Plague Cemeteries. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Mashpee town meeting approves $2.8M to buy 475 Nathan Ellis Highway to protect resources. Cape Cod Times

• Boston averages 1,900 serious or fatal crashes per year. Here are the city’s most dangerous intersections. Boston Globe

• Deadly summer on Worcester roads, with 10 deaths topping city average. Telegram and Gazette

• Granby voters nix animal control bylaw. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Why fixing up a kiosk in Harvard Square is costing millions and taking years. Boston Globe

• Norton opts against approving MBTA zoning bylaw. The Sun Chronicle

Oct. 22, 2024

• State regulators delay truck emissions rules. Eagle Tribune

Oct. 21, 2024

• Six Berkshire municipalities awarded state paving grants. Is your town on the list. Berkshire Eagle

• Susan Kay, Weymouth’s first female mayor, has died at age 74. Patriot Ledger

• Northampton lands grant to help mitigate disruption by Picture Main Street construction. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Egremont will vote on a workplace housing plan that relies on owner-occupied duplexes. Berkshire Eagle

• Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, business leaders near a compromise on property tax shift plan. Boston Globe

Oct. 18, 2024

• $730 million ‘closeout budget’ passes state House of Representatives. Berkshire Eagle

• Mass. lawmakers announce a deal on stalled clean energy bill. WBUR

• Communities get millions to manage flooding and erosion. Milford Daily News

• Here’s how Berkshire County could be ‘a key piece of the puzzle’ in Gov. Healey’s plans to create a climate corridor. Berkshire Eagle

• Lenox’s historic library is in need of repairs and updates, and the price has tripled. Berkshire Eagle

• Lowell creates a ‘literary corridor’ to horror legend with local ties: Edgar Allan Poe. Boston Globe

• Early voting in Massachusetts starts tomorrow. Here’s what to know. Boston Globe

Oct. 17, 2024

• Salem, Marblehead coastal resiliency projects get funding to address climate change. Salem News

• Gov. Healey, utilities form pact for low-income savings. GBH

• Black Reparations Committee nears formation in Amherst. Daily Hampshire Gazette

Oct. 16, 2024

• Mass. online lottery launch pushed to 2026. WBUR

• $100M sewer upgrade called ‘largest in modern history’. Eagle Tribune

• These towns are seeing results from the MBTA Communities Act. Boston.com

Oct. 15, 2024

• State, local officials see economic opportunities first-hand in valley tour. The Recorder News

• EPA says cities and towns must remove lead pipes in 10 years. How is Central Mass. doing. Telegram and Gazette

• Salem launches guaranteed-income program for 100 residents living in poverty. GBH

• Emergency responders can be blindsided. Quincy hopes new hazardous chemical law will help. Patriot Ledger

• Conservation agent to serve five towns. The Recorder News

• Haverhill honors retired mayor’s 20 years of leadership. Eagle Tribune

• $1M in grants to repair regional dams flow to region. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• MBTA housing act sees push-back in Peabody, Ipswich. Salem News

• Norton select board votes against MBTA zoning law now headed to town meeting voters. The Sun Chronicle

• Could a big hurricane whack New England? ‘More of a question of when than if’. Boston Globe

• With major work still undone, Mass. House leader suggests lawmakers ‘reevaluate’ their decades-old calendar. Boston Globe

• Indigenous Peoples Day isn’t a statewide holiday. Here’s why. Boston Globe

Oct. 9, 2024

• ‘I love the ability to help someone.’ Leominster City Councilor Claire Freda longest serving elected city official. Sentinel and Enterprise

• Haverhill City Council considers plan for solar farm. Eagle Tribune

• Arlington officials: Insurance company has recouped some of lost cybercrime funds. Wicked Local

• Plainville residents strongly support $25.6 million water treatment plant. The Sun Chronicle

• Pioneer Valley Transit Authority to waive fares, launch new Amherst-to-Greenfield route. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Vocational schools, home to one-eighth of Mass. high school students seek aid to grow more. Boston Globe

• Mass. cannabis regulators hear testimony about proposed regulatory changes on delivery, telehealth. New England Public Media

Oct. 8, 2024

• Mass. nabs nearly $60M in federal grant money to fight opioid crisis statewide. MassLive Media

• Biden sets a 10-year deadline for US cities to replace lead pipes and make drinking water safer. Boston Globe

• Echoes of Helene flooding in Massachusetts climate planning; resiliency head talks flood prediction and mitigation in the Bay State. CommonWealth Beacon

• Methuen’s mayoral election set for Dec. 10. Eagle Tribune

Oct. 7, 2024

• Good news for climate efforts: New funding for electric buses and clean energy in New England. GBH

• Amherst officials float ideas to reduce expenses next fiscal year as deficit looms. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Down a tanker, ambulance and office space, Henry Fristik, Sandisfield’s new fire chief, looks to rebuild, grow department. Berkshire Eagle

• Swansea pitches $16M Town Hall Annex project to voters. Old building is ‘bleeding money’. Herald News

• Minor changes coming to Williamsburg zoning to comply with new accessory dwelling state laws. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Work to begin on upgrades to Memorial Drive in Cambridge following cyclist’s death. Boston Globe

• It’s Massachusetts vs. Milton at the state’s high court on Monday. Boston Globe

• Healey secures $350 million for Cape Cod bridges reconstruction program. Boston Globe

Oct. 4, 2024

• State tax collections lag slightly behind projections, but exceed pace of last year. CommonWealth Beacon

• Threats, requests, and expanded voting: Mass. clerks are gearing up for a daunting election. Boston Globe

• Sen. Markey tours Berkshire County, meets with local leaders in North Adams, Pittsfield, Great Barrington. WAMC Radio

• Boston needs billions to protect itself from sea level rise. Can the city find the money. Boston Globe

• Boston awards $ $2.2M to aid community economic development efforts. MassLive Media

Oct. 3, 2024

• Lee public safety project gets $1 million in federal funding. Berkshire Eagle

• Norton opens its long-awaited, $11 million senior/community center. The Sun Chronicle

• ‘For the next generation.’ Dennis voters unanimously approve the first phase of a $248 million wastewater treatment plan. Cape Cod Times

• Cape Cod research group gets $3 million to expand wastewater innovation hub. WBUR

• State lowers risk level for EEE in several municipalities. Boston.com

• ‘Forest management is nuanced.’ A behind-the-scenes look at how foresters decide which trees to cut or save. Berkshire Eagle

• Did you know Provincetown hosts an international town crier competition. Cape Cod Times

• Milton developing contingency MBTA rezoning plans. CommonWealth Beacon

• A nonprofit is offering millions to help cities cut emissions. Will Worcester get some. Telegram & Gazette

• Buzzards Bay Coalition wants federal aid to fix New Bedford’s sewer problems. New Bedford Light

• EPA’s drinking water limits for PFAS are under threat – and that’s nothing new. The Guardian

• Spotted lanternfly infestation seen in Millbury, state officials say. MassLive Media

Oct. 1, 2024

• Brookline’s generational tobacco ban catching on in Mass., with SJC’s blessing. CommonWealth Beacon

• Boston City Council wants the city to prioritize turning old school, municipal buildings into affordable housing. Boston Globe

• Fall River is cracking down on vacant and abandoned properties. Here’s what the law does. Herald News

• Petitioners seek tighter regs for accessory dwelling units in Greenfield. The Recorder News

Sept. 30, 2024

• Reducing the carbon footprint in Devens’ new growth. Sentinel and Enterprise

• Massachusetts housing secretary says ADU guidelines are coming. Housing Secretary Ed Augustus wants municipalities to weigh in on how the state crafts accessory dwelling unit regulations. Berkshire Eagle

• Hundreds pay their last respects to Methuen Mayor Neil Perry. Eagle Tribune

• Brookline launches food waste drop-off test program. WCVB

• Worcester aspires to be ‘best-managed city in the country’: Here’s what’s in its 5-year strategic plan. Telegram & Gazette

• Haverhill gets $1M grant to help with dam removal. Eagle Tribune

• Brookline Mourns the Loss of Former Town Administrator Richard Kelliher (town announcement). Brookline Town News

• Nonprofit pursues $20M grant for PFAS research, environmental fixes in Westfield. MassLive Media

• Are cannabis cafes coming to Massachusetts? Here’s where the issue stands with the Cannabis Control Commission. Berkshire Eagle

Sept. 27, 2024

• Administration and Finance Secretary Gorzkowicz says state bracing for ‘unavoidable deficiencies’ ahead. Berkshire Eagle

• Gov. Healey pledges support to speed clean energy permitting. Boston Globe

• Mosquito threat: Why some Central Mass. towns don’t have all the tools to fight the menace. Telegram & Gazette

• Andy Hogeland reflects on departure from Williamstown Select Board. The Williams Record

• Amherst-Pelham Regional superintendent warns of funding shortfall. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Orleans Follows Through On Pledge To Promote Indigenous Roots. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Stockbridge leaders and Mohican tribal liaison dedicate new Housatonic crossing signs marked ‘Wa’thatinik’. Berkshire Eagle

• Mass. doles out $28M to preserve open space. Eagle Tribune

Sept. 26, 2024

• Mayor Wu unveils $100 million development fund to jump-start stalled housing projects. Boston Globe

• EPA must address fluoridated water’s risk to children’s IQs, US judge rules. Reuters

• Healey administration launches groups to address loss of Carney and Nashoba hospitals. GBH

Sept. 25, 2024

• State House climate negotiators resume talks. CommonWealth Beacon

• Mass. is a national leader in keeping food waste out of landfills, study finds. WBUR

• Southwick board sees no easy solution to fund rising cost of town sewer. MassLive Media

• 20 groups weigh in on MBTA Communities Act case. CommonWealth Beacon

Sept. 24, 2024

• Lt. Gov., Cape Senator Promote Affordable Homes Act. Cape Cod Chronicle

• For sale at a deep discount: Richmond’s vacant, historic former Town Hall. Berkshire Eagle

• Shelburne Planning Board crafting bylaws on short-term rentals, battery storage. The Recorder News

• MBTA gets $472M federal grant, largest in agency’s history. MassLive Media

• Shawsheen Adult Education announces new partnerships to address workforce needs in EMS, municipal water treatment (Submitted article). Lowell Sun News

• PFAS contamination: Lawsuit in Westminster could be first of its kind in US. Telegram & Gazette

• Nahant Planning Board pushed to regulate accessory dwelling units. Item Live

Sept. 23, 2024

• Leaders mourn death of Methuen Mayor Neil Perry; Acting Mayor D.J. Beauregard to serve until special election in 60 days. Eagle Tribune

• Attleboro area communities striving to comply with MBTA Communities housing law. The Sun Chronicle

• The Clarksburg Police Department disbands as its chief, Michael Williams, retires. Berkshire Eagle

• Big projects in Amherst to bolster, protect diverse water supply. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• The tide is ‘wicked high.’ It’s a glimpse into Boston’s future if climate change continues to worsen. Boston Globe

• Cape Cod sees nearly a foot of rain from 3-day storm system. Boston Globe

• A mayor’s legacy: Methuen remembers leadership, compassion of Neil Perry. Eagle Tribune

Sept. 20, 2024

• Quincy thanks vets with tax relief. What new benefits they’ll be getting. Patriot Ledger

• From Wareham to Westport, towns face millions in wastewater upgrades to stop nitrogen pollution. New Bedford Light

• Election security a concern, but Secretary of State William Galvin is confident heading into November. MassLive Media

• Concord Select Board still grappling with guest flag policy. Concord Bridge

• Climate change may be contributing to more frequent, widespread EEE outbreaks. GBH

Sept. 19, 2024

• Accessory dwelling units loom as next housing front. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell proposes three zoning changes to spur housing development. South Coast Today

• Boston City Council to review residency requirements for city workers. Boston.com

• U.S. overdose deaths plummet, saving thousands of lives, data show. WBUR

• Oct. 7 Court date set for showdown over MBTA housing law. GBH

• New MassBudget report says outmigration panic based on ‘inconsistent’ data. CommonWealth Beacon

Sept. 18, 2024

• Chatham to spend $4M for quahogs, boating, public access at piers to promote ‘Waterfront history.’. Cape Cod Times

• For Fifth Time, Nantucket Voters Reject Short-Term Rental Zoning Bylaw Amendments. Nantucket Current

• Fall River expanding housing development opportunities to South End mills. Here’s the plan. Herald News

Sept. 17, 2024

• Boston spending down pandemic relief aid to boost affordable housing, small biz programs. Boston Globe

• First site plan in Arlington under MBTA Communities Act approved. Your Arlington

• Modern Main Street in Goshen: Projects to rehab historic town hall, ‘Re-Imagine’ downtown advance. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Two years on, Amherst police alternative CRESS still finding footing. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• ‘Once-in-a-lifetime’: Sandwich to buy 86.5 undeveloped acres. Here’s what the town plans to do with it. Cape Cod Times

• Fairhaven special Town Meeting to vote on ‘smart growth’ zoning plans. What to know. South Coast Today

• Short-Term Rentals On Center Stage Again At Special Town Meeting in Nantucket. Nantucket Current

Sept. 16, 2024

• Legislature sends $362 million spending bill to Gov. Maura Healey. Berkshire Eagle

• It doesn’t matter if you’re rich, poor, or in between, if you live in Cambridge pre-k is now free. Boston Globe

• Whately’s Community Preservation Committee recommends $96K toward Center School restoration. The Recorder News

• ‘Baby steps’ toward recovery – on the beat with Holyoke PD’s outreach team. MassLive Media

• Western Mass. officials show support for proposed Northern Tier Rail. The Recorder News

• Housing: With bond bill signed, developers, cities eye moving projects from drawing board to construction. MassLive Media

• Worcester City Manager Eric Batista named to MassDOT Directors. Telegram and Gazette

• ‘PFAS is everywhere’: A Mass. class action lawsuit may set a new standard for damages. Boston Globe

• AG issues stern warning after Marblehead Select Board scuttles zoning revote. Marblehead Current

• Community Development Director presents MBTA Communities law options to Select Board. Home News Here

Sept. 13, 2024

• Following Boston, Cambridge announces its first chief climate officer. WBUR

• Greenfield residents, councilors weigh bevy of housing proposals. The Recorder News

• New housing development adds hundreds more affordable units in Springfield’s Mason Square. New England Public Media

• Norton making move to new town hall. The Sun Chronicle

• Firefighters hopeful for change nationwide in elimination of ‘forever chemicals’ from fire gear. MassLive Media

• ‘Outgrown the building’: New Bedford to build new police headquarters. South Coast Today

• Washington is about to get a much-needed new police cruiser, thanks to a little help from the Massachusetts Legislature. Berkshire Eagle

Sept. 12, 2024

• Gov. Healey files spending bill to bring FY24 budget into balance, includes clean energy siting changes. CommonWealth Beacon

• Pittsfield has $2 million in leftover ARPA funds. Here’s what Mayor Marchetti would like to spend the money on. Berkshire Eagle

• New Bedford school projects must race to meet COVID-dollar deadline. New Bedford Light

• Climate investment in new middle school could save Lynn millions. Item Live

• Natick Select Board readying a flag policy. Natick Report

• Unpaid building code violation fines top $20.7 million, Holyoke says. MassLive Media

Sept. 11, 2024

• Cambridge and Somerville renew push for triple-decker development, dense residential projects. GBH

• Weather for the history books: Leominster still rebuilding 1 year after raging floods. Telegram & Gazette

• After decades representing ‘the first line of democracy,’ Deerfield town admin retiring. Recorder News

• With just 49 towns in state still using hand-counted ballots, Whately seeks electronic tabulator. Recorder News

• Worcester City Council lowers citywide speed limit to 25 mph. MassLive Media

• Roadway project aims to improve safety, add shared-use path. Eagle Tribune

• State awards $19 million to Worcester for Curtis Apartments overhaul. Telegram & Gazette

• Adapting together: Local support, federal funding help farms respond to climate change. Recorder News

• Granby marks 9/11 with special memorial made out of piece of NY fire truck, rather than World Trade Center. Daily Hampshire Gazette

Sept. 10, 2024

• Leaders excited about what $2B statewide authorization will mean for public housing. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• These Mass. towns will share in $25M in federal aid to make their streets safer. MassLive Media

• Canton Fire Department is first in Mass. to equip its ambulances with blood for transfusions. Boston Globe

• Boston is offering $250 grants to help residents throw Halloween block parties. WBUR

• Looking ahead at West-East Rail; First rides expected in 2029, part of larger intercity rail plan. CommonWealth Beacon

Sept. 9, 2024

• Low applicant pools vex local police departments. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Mayor Jon Mitchell moves to improve internet service and affordability in New Bedford. South Coast Today

• Pedestrians in Boston face speeding motorists and scooters. The city focuses on safety, but work remains. Boston Globe

• How urban forests can keep Boston cool, and more healthy. MassLive Media

Sept. 6, 2024

• With New Housing Bill, State And Local Officials See Opportunity. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Extremely challenging for us’: Nashoba Valley hospital closure stresses fire departments. Telegram and Gazette

• Lynn to build 24 new affordable-housing units. Item Live

Sept. 5, 2024

• New $30M hotel project includes a payment to town of Lenox for affordable housing. Berkshire Eagle

• Rehoboth gets $225,000 clean energy grant. The Sun Chronicle

• Developer eyes 9-acre battery energy storage system in Erving. The Recorder News

Sept. 4, 2024

• Why Massachusetts schools are having an ‘extremely difficult’ financial year. WBUR

• Mass. lawmakers announce deal to add 225 new liquor licenses for Boston. Boston Globe

• Towns are grappling to control short-term rentals. One rural Berkshire County town, Alford, has taken a strict stance. Berkshire Eagle

• Mass. public health officials confirm 2 more human cases of West Nile virus for a total of 6. Boston Globe

Sept. 3, 2024

• Omnibus bill urges statewide ban on products containing PFAS. Wicked Local

• Nahant uses ARPA funds for geographic database upgrade. Item Live

• State’s climate chief says ‘compromise’ may be in the works for Mount Washington forest project after top officials tour site. Berkshire Eagle

• Windsor, Savoy and Stockbridge win state grants to fix problematic culverts. Berkshire Eagle

• House advances Martha’s Vineyard housing transfer fee bill. Boston Globe

• Removing dams can prevent flooding in Massachusetts. But for the owners, it’s bittersweet. Boston Globe

• After bad student behavior, Somerville is closing its central library for hours each weekday right as school lets out. Boston Globe

• Massachusetts thinks building ADUs will help unlock housing opportunities. But what does that mean for Berkshire County zoning laws. Berkshire Eagle

• Amherst Black Reparations Committee just a council vote away from reality. Daily Hampshire Gazette

Aug. 29, 2024

• Mass. gets $20M from feds to help cover shelter system costs. MassLive Media

• Rural fire chiefs: New OSHA regulations could cripple small departments. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Boston receives $15M federal grant to install at least 300 EV charging ports citywide. Boston.com

• Worcester discusses street safety, lowering speed limits. Telegram and Gazette

• ‘It’s the only one of its kind in the world’: The story behind a 153-foot historic tower in Scituate. Boston.com

• Mass. high court strikes down 67-year-old switchblade ban, citing Supreme Court gun decision. WBUR

• Boston ranks No. 19 of top 20 metros for new apartment construction. Boston.com

Aug. 28, 2024

• Rehoboth awarded $87,500 state grant for water quality improvements. The Sun Chronicle

• Growing concerns over rare mosquito-borne illnesses. NBC Boston

Aug. 27, 2024

• Hadley surveying residents’ internet access, skills. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• More online services accompany extended North Attleboro town hall hours. The Sun Chronicle

• Cambridge ended towing, but two years into a pilot program, illegal parking continues to rise. Boston Globe

Aug. 26, 2024

• State’s new housing law to trigger zoning reset for accessory dwellings. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Montague Selectboard introducing new meeting policy in response to hack. The Recorder News

• Amherst rec department hailed for sensory challenge expertise. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Franklin County towns expanding access to opioid overdose reversal drug. The Recorder News

• First human case of EEE in Mass. since 2020 prompts warnings – and in one town, a curfew. Boston.com

• State to spray parts of Plymouth and Worcester counties due to high risk of EEE. Boston Globe

• A North Adams city councilor is kayaking the Hoosic River to raise money for its revival. Berkshire Eagle

• Cannabis equity fund tops $27M. Eagle Tribune

Aug. 14, 2024

• Framingham Public Schools will receive $120,000 as part of vape lawsuit settlement. MetroWest Daily

• AG issues “friendly” warning on MBTA rezoning; despite pending SJC case, she tells towns compliance isn’t optional. CommonWealth Beacon

• Great Barrington is heading to court to appeal the state’s ‘unjust’ approval of waterworks’ rate hike. Berkshire Eagle

Aug. 13, 2024

• In vote-by-mail era, no rest for weary election workers. Boston Globe

• Reports break down challenges facing emergency response managers across western Mass. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Can in-law apartments be added to private homes in Seashore? At least one town says ‘yes’. Cape Cod Times

• Greenfield health board shrinks to zero members. The Recorder News

Aug. 12, 2024

• Massachusetts ‘millionaires tax’ generated $2.2 billion in first full year, but FY24 budget gap remains. Boston Globe

• Homelessness is surging in Greater Boston. A new study blames the state’s housing crisis. Boston Globe

• Mass. Select Board Association President Andrew Hogeland Stepping Down from Williamstown Select Board. iberkshires

• Granby Town Administrator Christopher Martin to retire after 23 years. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Worcester puts spending information back online as part of revamped data portal. Telegram & Gazette

• Boston’s partnership with Google is its latest AI experiment. Axios

Aug. 9, 2024

• Healey signs sweeping law aimed at boosting veterans and their families. GBH

• Kestrel Land Trust, Southampton, Westhampton and Montgomery reach milestone in effort to conserve 1,000 acres in three communities. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• FEMA firefighter grant program awards $595K to Franklin. Here are the town’s plans. Milford Daily News

• Boston should expect 12 to 19 days of high-tide flooding next year, per NOAA. WBUR

• Former Stoughton Selectman David ‘Spanky’ Sousa remembered for service to town. MassLive Media

• Wrentham working on alternative electricity program. The Sun Chronicle

• ‘This is not simple.’ Wellfleet has 21 acres for affordable housing but now what. Cape Cod Times

• Canton Select Board shifts to Zoom meetings after months of verbal attacks. Boston Globe

Aug. 8, 2024

• Boston’s mandate for residents’ say in spending city tax dollars is coming to life. GBH

• $5M in CDBG money to help area towns with infrastructure, housing, social services. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• How Worcester is handling an influx of residents priced-out from elsewhere. Boston Globe

Aug. 7, 2024

• ‘Huge problem’; Mass. town pleads for ’emergency’ declaration amid hospital closures. WCVB

• State awards millions in flood resilience grants to area communities. Daily Hampshire Gazette

Aug. 6, 2024

• State starts fiscal 2025 with drop in revenue; year-end fiscal 2024 report still pending. CommonWealth Beacon

• Boston announces a new climate resilience office. WBUR

• Southwick receives nearly $950K in Community Block Development Grant funds for roads, Town Hall, food pantry. MassLive Media

• Next stop, free bus fares: $30M inserted in new state budget will allow PVTA to waive fees. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Select Board To Vote On Town Funding For “Lease To Locals” Program Initiated By ACK Now. Nantucket Current

Aug. 5, 2024

• House, Senate leaders to call lawmakers back into formal session. CommonWealth Beacon

• Haverhill, Lawrence and North Andover share nearly $5M in climate grants. Eagle Tribune

• $3.9M to boost housing, services in six Franklin County towns in Community Development Block Grants. The Recorder News

• Carver and Middleborough now have ‘high’ EEE risk, state says. Boston.com

• Tick, tick… boom? Mild weather has kept populations rising, experts say. MassLive Media

• Boston eyes PILOT program to help make up falling property tax revenue. MassLive Media

• ‘Too much, too fast,’ OSHA’s proposed Emergency Response Standard might decimate rural fire departments. Berkshire Eagle

Aug. 2, 2024

• Worcester leaders declare ‘road safety and traffic violence crisis.’ What does it mean. Telegram & Gazette

• In Boston’s redlined neighborhoods, the summer’s heat waves are even hotter. Boston Globe

• State approves a Housatonic Water Works plan that will raise rates 90 percent over 5 years to help fund system repairs. Berkshire Eagle

• Editorial: Boost in IT funding makes state’s systems more secure, effective. Sentinel and Enterprise

Aug. 1, 2024

• Bill banning PFAS in firefighter gear passes House, on its way to governor. Telegram & Gazette

• Gov. Healey signs wage transparency bill. WBUR

• Up all night: In hectic close to session, Mass. lawmakers strike housing deal, fail to move sweeping economic development bill. Boston Globe

• On eve of new 5-day overflow shelter limit, Mass. says providers can extend stays up to a month. Boston Globe

July 31, 2024

• Norton school budget woes eased somewhat. Sun Chronicle

• Dial 911 in Cambridge? Now social workers, rather than police, are responding to some calls. Boston Globe

• Cannabis commission governance headed for legislative review; receivership rejected, but hearings on other options slated for fall. CommonWealth Beacon

• New Bedford wins multimillion-dollar deal with MBTA over land taken for rail stations. South Coast Today

• Amid migrant influx, cost of running Mass. emergency shelter system surpasses $1 billion. Boston Globe

July 30, 2024

• Mass. Senate passes ban on PFAS in firefighter turnout gear. Will House act. South Coast Today

• Federal Housing bill would add units, decrease costs. Item Live

• Municipal titles often — but not always — reveal extent of day-to-day responsibilities. MetroWest Daily

• ‘Big heart for Stoughton’: Community mourns loss of ‘unbelievable’ former Select Board member David ‘Spanky’ Sousa. Enterprise News

• Greenfield Police introduce community liaison to bridge divide between law enforcement, residents. The Recorder News

• Gardner receives $925K from the state: What’s planned for the money – a one minute read. The Gardner News

• Mosquitos in Boston test positive for West Nile. WBUR

• Lenox aims to cast a wider net into a pool of town manager applicants — but first it needs to change the residency and education rules. Berkshire Eagle

• Can a trash bag vending machine help with Worcester’s trash problems. GBH

• Mass. Senate pushes forward bill to get Boston 264 new liquor licenses. MassLive Media

July 29, 2024

• Franklin County towns back paint recycling bill. The Greenfield Recorder

• Peabody to enforce state hemp laws. Item Live

• Norton tackles budget cuts after failed tax hikes. The Sun Chronicle

• Hatfield inks one-year deal for with Northampton veterans services coverage. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Housatonic Water Works receives grant to beef up its cybersecurity. Berkshire Eagle

• EEE detected in mosquito sample in Barnstable, health officials say. MassLive Media

July 26, 2024

• DPU issues new guidelines to streamline process for municipal aggregation. Five Berkshire towns had already applied. Berkshire Eagle

• Springfield gets $20 million federal grant for a ‘broad suite’ of climate resilience. MassLive Media

• The Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail is officially live – a delicious way to cap off National Ice Cream Month. Boston Globe

July 25, 2024

• Boston city councilors discuss regulating extreme heat in workplaces. Boston Globe

• $400 a month in no-strings-attached money for Chelsea residents improved health outcomes, study finds. Boston Globe

• West Nile virus found in Worcester neighborhood. Here’s what to know. Telegram & Gazette

• Fall River is trying to save money on its $9 million annual trash bill. Here’s how. Herald News

• Foxboro MBTA commuters now have free access to hundreds of library audio, books, newspapers for their ride. Sun Chronicle

July 24, 2024

• Healey places new limits on emergency family shelter program. WBUR

• State officials receptive to plans for downtown Westfield cultural district. MassLive Media

• 800 acres in Barre to be protected from development. Telegram & Gazette

• Northampton council backs completion of 104-mile rail trail to Boston. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• In Williamstown, an affordable housing subdivision is a prayer answered for some and a sore spot for others. Berkshire Eagle

July 23, 2024

• 3 bills to watch as the clock winds down on Beacon Hill. WBUR

• New England states win $450 million federal grant to launch heat pump adoption program. WBUR

• Agawam council looking at affordable housing, accessory units. The Reminder

July 22, 2024

• Montague gets $10 million to convert abandoned mill buildings to riverfront park. WBUR

• House and Senate reach agreement on bill that would promote salary transparency, help close racial and gender wage gaps. Boston Globe

July 19, 2024

• Orleans To Break Ground On $7 Million Affordable Housing Project. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Company can’t dump nuclear plant wastewater into Cape Cod Bay, Mass. rules. WBUR

• West-East rail project picks up $123M in funding. New England Public Media

• Most US monuments celebrate white men. Boston hands out funding to broaden the focus. Boston Globe

July 18, 2024

• With the help of the nation’s leading rat expert, Boston unveils new plan to tackle rat problem. Boston Globe

• Amherst to gauge interest in new trash system as changes to bylaw examined. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• A federal grant for Lenox will pay back costs of emergency repairs to Town Hall roof, cupola. Berkshire Eagle

• Op-ed by Mayor Robert Sullivan: Renaissance taking place in downtown Brockton. CommonWealth Beacon

July 17, 2024

• State provides $7M for cybersecurity systems. Eagle Tribune

• Amid volunteer shortages for fire and EMT services, Stockbridge, West Stockbridge and Richmond start talks about paying for 24/7 coverage. Berkshire Eagle

• Two years in, Massachusetts 988 mental health hotline has received more than 130,000 calls. GBH

• Mass. officials say it could be 8 to 10 years to replace each Cape Cod bridge, project could stretch through 2030s. Boston Globe

July 16, 2024

• South Hadley to set up affordable housing trust. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Great Barrington responds to lawsuits by pot shops, asking courts to force cannabis businesses to pay the town. Berkshire Eagle

July 15, 2024

• Greenfield seeks feedback on uses for opioid settlement funds. The Recorder News

• It’s struggle for city to get rid of hazardous household waste in Boston. GBH

• Feds give another $1 billion to replace the Cape Cod bridges. WBUR

• A plan to rein in summer traffic mayhem in Provincetown stirs debate. Boston Globe

July 12, 2024

• Federal dollars coming to Mass. to buy cleaner, electric buses. Boston Globe

• Rat birth control considered in Boston after successful pilot program. MassLive Media

July 11, 2024

• Mass. communities increasingly seek property tax votes to pay for schools, other town services. Boston Globe

• Colrain Selectboard considers implementing hybrid meetings, online surveys. The Recorder News

• Slow down: Boston is installing more than 2,000 speed humps on city streets. WBUR

July 10, 2024

• Mass. Dept. of Public Utilities unveils plan to speed up municipal electricity aggregation approvals. CommonWealth Beacon

• Orleans, Brewster and Dennis Join Together To Manage Shoreline. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Belchertown unveils more user-friendly website. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Op-Ed by Gov. Healey & chancellor of UMass Boston: Climate change mitigation is no longer enough. We need sharper focus on adaptation, resilience. CommonWealth Beacon

• Legislators wary of ‘nuclear option’ with cannabis commission; Inspector General urges Legislature to address dysfunction. CommonWealth Beacon

July 9, 2024

• Senate releases $2.8 billion economic development bill. Boston Globe

• Unpaid property taxes in Pittsfield add up to $16.8 million — here’s why the city doesn’t expect most of it to be repaid. Berkshire Eagle

• As federal pandemic aid dries up, Mass. nonprofits scramble for new revenue. Boston Globe

July 8, 2024

• A 10,000-unit housing development at Suffolk Downs is on hold indefinitely due to high construction costs & interest rates. Boston Globe

• Windsor might reconsider ‘host community’ status in light of new Cannabis Control Commission regulations. Berkshire Eagle

• Lenox Affordable Housing Trust rolls out expanded first-time homeowner program. Is it enough to bring homeownership within reach. Berkshire Eagle

• $1.4M coming to region for trail work in six communities. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Townsend voters reject overrides, again. Lowell Sun

• Orange libraries narrowly escape shuttering as town grapples with tight budget, fraud fallout. MassLive Media

July 3, 2024

• In the Berkshires, an effort to corral climate change, one stream at a time. Boston Globe

• Lowell receives $4.5 million for two downtown housing developments through the Housing Development Incentive Program. Lowell Sun

• Healey administration awards $45M to extend broadband infrastructure in the Pioneer Valley. MassLive Media

• West Nile virus detected in Massachusetts for first time this year: ‘Take steps to prevent mosquito bites.’ Boston Herald

July 2, 2024

• Brockton City Council slashes school transportation funding as district tries to move past budget deficit. Boston.com

• Hadley accepts gift of 5-plus acres near Conn. River. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• In Salem, explosion of visitors has become a hot-button issue. Boston Globe

July 1, 2024

• Feds eye flood mitigation measures in Pioneer Valley. The Recorder News

• Homelessness in Worcester County increases for third straight year. GBH

• Outgoing Lenox town manager reflects on his 10-year tenure and challenges facing his successor. Berkshire Eagle

• Massachusetts will start new fiscal year without state budget in place for 14th straight year. Lowell Sun

• Harwich Seeks Advice On Charter Review. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Weather service confirms tornado touched down in Rehoboth, microburst in Seekonk. The Sun Chronicle

June 28, 2024

• Inflation is costing Mass. students hundreds of millions. Now, Gateway Cities and advocates are calling on the state to increase school aid. Boston Globe

• PFAS bill has majority support, but uncertain outlook. The Recorder News

• Amherst to buy land in Shutesbury to protect drinking water. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Greenfield begins recycling outreach ahead of single-stream launch. The Recorder News

• Pittsfield City Council amends city code governing marijuana retailers, a ‘housekeeping’ measure pending a comprehensive policy shift. Berkshire Eagle

June 25, 2024

• Here’s what’s in the Mass. Senate’s more than $5B housing bond bill. MassLive Media

• Homelessness reaches new high for Cape, Vineyard and Nantucket in one-night count. Cape Cod Times

• Gov. Healey offers $15M to help Boston convert downtown office buildings into housing. Boston Globe

June 24, 2024

• On Martha’s Vineyard, costly housing is forcing workers out and threatening public safety. AP News

• During heat wave, Bridgewater enacted emergency ban on outdoor water use due to dangerously low water tank levels. The Enterprise

• Hubbardston’s inaugural Citizen of the Year recipient is William Shea, for decades of civic engagement, volunteerism and philanthropy. Gardner News

• Taunton’s road improvement program earns national recognition. Taunton Gazette

June 21, 2024

• Mass. Gov. Healey awards $227M to support affordable housing statewide. MassLive Media

• Western Mass mayors discuss challenges, solutions to housing crisis. MassLive Media

• Water supply emergency declared in Bridgewater, officials enact outdoor watering ban. Boston Globe

June 20, 2024

• Springfield considering change in residency requirement for city jobs. MassLive Media

• Out of room and with a useless second floor, Otis is hoping to win a grant to build a new library. Berkshire Eagle

• Ipswich Select Board votes to remove historic dam, addressing environmental concerns. WBUR

• The Department of Energy is eyeing the Berkshires as a place to strengthen the grid. Berkshire Eagle

• Firewall system problem blamed for outage in state’s 911 system, officials say. Boston Globe

June 18, 2024

• Easthampton lands grant to help enhance water system using fiber-optics. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Oak Bluffs Approves Island’s First Veteran Housing Project. Vineyard Gazette

• 11 months after flooding ruined Berkshire crops, no farms have been lost, the state’s director of rural affairs says. Berkshire Eagle

• AAPI-owned businesses in Mass. cite lack of access to funding, resources in new report. Boston Globe

• State leaders press for migrant funding. Eagle Tribune

June 17, 2024

• Gov. Healey announces $3.6M from state for flood damage in Leominster in Sept. Telegram and Gazette

• Somerville plans to install 29 miles of new bike lanes in the next 6 years. Boston.com

• Short on shelter, New Bedford mulls homeless camp. New Bedford Light

• Braintree voters OK $8M override. How much your property taxes will increase. Patriot Ledger

June 14, 2024

• State Rep. William ‘Smitty’ Pignatelli will serve as interim town manager in Lenox. Berkshire Eagle

• Springfield celebrates $34 million renovation of affordable housing complex. MassLive Media

• Springfield City Councillor Lavar Click-Bruce serves and coaches community. MassLive Media

• Springfield boosts inspector salaries with ‘market rate adjustment’ to fill vacant jobs. MassLive Media

June 13, 2024

• Easthampton creates fund to receive estimated $1M in opioid settlement money over next 10-15 years. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Here’s why Stockbridge is raising its waste disposal fee from $50 a year to $150. Berkshire Eagle

• Springfield City Councillor Malo Brown uses his role in politics to advocate for his community. MassLive Media

• Opioid overdose deaths in Massachusetts declined 10% in 2023. New England Public Media

June 12, 2024

• 12 years in, here’s a look at how Fairhaven Wind turbines benefit the town. South Coast Today

• Boston will receive nearly $10M for job training in coastal resilience. WBUR

• A historic bridge in Stockbridge is in danger of collapse. Town officials have chosen a $1 million solution. Berkshire Eagle

June 11, 2024

• Rural leaders meet in Orange to discuss economic needs. The Recorder News

• Fitchburg Parks and Recreation Director James Bunnell receives ‘Impact of the Year’ award by Mass. Parks and Rec Association. Sentinel and Enterprise

• Fall River’s homeless outreach team busy with new program after state tears down camps. Herald News

• Worcester ranks in the top 20% of best 1,000 cities in the world. Here’s why. Telegram & Gazette

• Shrinking the transportation gap with micro-transit; even with regional rail initiatives, local connectors are a part of transit puzzle. CommonWealth Beacon

• Lawmakers from Lowell, Springfield say cities would welcome economic jolt, appeal for statewide focus for $3.5 billion economic development bill. CommonWealth Beacon

• A ‘beautiful symbiotic relationship’: solar panels and … sheep. Boston Globe

June 10, 2024

• FEMA authorizes $3.5M for individual assistance for flood damage in Bristol and Worcester counties. The Sun Chronicle

• Mass. cities and towns that invest in sustainability win federal grant dollars. Boston Globe

• Brookline launches new sustainability division within its DPW, funded by anonymous donor. Brookline News

• Cyberattacks cost town of Arlington nearly $450,000. MassLive Media

• NOAA map shows where Mass. will be underwater as sea levels, temperatures rise. MassLive Media

• Billerica Select Board wants to wait for Milton case outcome before deciding on MBTA Communities. Lowell Sun News

June 7, 2024

• Healey admin awards $3.4M to help grow Mass. ‘climate workforce’. MassLive Media

• Chelmsford Select Board, legislative delegation talked ADUs ahead of this week’s housing bond bill vote. Lowell Sun

• Hancock is seeking an exemption to a school choice bylaw that would hit rural districts hard. Rep. Smitty Pignatelli is in favor. Berkshire Eagle

June 6, 2024

• Massachusetts May tax collections take a step back after booming April haul. Boston Herald

• Soaring PFAS levels force a reckoning for worried Hyannis residents. GBH

• Islanders Highlight Housing Crisis During Housing Secretary Ed Augustus’ Visit. Vineyard Gazette

• Boston City Council passes Mayor Wu’s property tax shift proposal. Boston Globe

• With Rising Tides, Oak Bluffs Looks to Shore Up Hospital Access. Vineyard Gazette

• After months of waiting, Haitian migrants in Greenfield start getting work authorizations, UMass jobs. WBUR

June 5, 2024

• Low-income Massachusetts families can get cash for food this summer, Gov. Maura Healey announces. Boston Herald

• How has PFAS contamination affected Westfield residents? A new survey will find out. MassLive Media

June 4, 2024

• Legislators, advocates meet to support Gov. Healey’s Affordable Homes Act. New England Public Media

• Calling 911 in Cambridge? Soon, the city may send social workers instead of police. Boston Globe

• The country’s first utility-run geothermal heating and cooling system launches in Framingham. WBUR

• Report finds strong economic growth — and challenges — in post-pandemic Boston. WBUR

• Poll: Mass. voters open to housing crisis solutions. Daily Hampshire Gazette

June 3, 2024

• The next ‘natural’ step in waste removal is composting. Here’s how some Berkshire towns turn egg shells into a money-saving resource. Berkshire Eagle

• Municipal officials, residents air concerns with FirstLight Hydro at MassDEP hearing. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Healey seeks $146M in federal energy rebates. Eagle Tribune

• Healey Administration holds off emergency shelter exit notices to July. WBUR

• Opinion: The biggest challenge facing Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard law enforcement is the cost of housing. CommonWealth Beacon

May 31, 2024

• State Housing Secretary Ed Augustus is beating the drum for affordable housing bill. MetroWest Daily News

May 30, 2024

• Business leaders say housing shortage is top concern. CommonWealth Beacon

• Study finds 1 in 3 Massachusetts households struggle with hunger. GBH

• Andover to examine charter as some residents seek to eliminate Town Meeting. Eagle Tribune

• Framingham City Council votes to create regional fire, police dispatch center. MetroWest Daily

May 29, 2024

• AG Campbell names head of new unit to enforce state housing laws. Boston Globe

• Plymouth Select Board OK’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. Plymouth Independent

• The AAPI population in Mass. is growing and changing. Charts and maps show which Asians are fueling change and where. Boston Globe

• Healey expands universal pre-K across 8 Massachusetts school districts. Boston Herald

• Should Brookline become a city? Residents weigh in as charter campaign advances. Brookline News

May 28, 2024

• They save lives, but can’t buy a house: First responders hit by Cape and Islands housing crisis. WBUR

• In Berkshire County, trash and recycling policies are as different as the towns they serve. Berkshire Eagle

• Pittsfield recycling program will save money, officials say. Are residents on board. Berkshire Eagle

• $1M in federal funding will jumpstart process of creating Malden’s 1st community center for people of Asian descent, who account for 27.5% of city’s population. Boston Globe

• Eastham voters approve two tax overrides to fund education costs and police staffing. Cape Cod Times

• Mansfield town meeting approves new zoning to comply with MBTA law. The Sun Chronicle

• Guaranteed basic income helps working class families. So why isn’t it more widespread. Boston Globe

• South Coast Rail coming to New Bedford, but city won’t need to pay MBTA assessment. CommonWealth Beacon

May 22, 2024

• Addressing housing crisis: In Worcester, $98M overhaul to Great Brook Valley block breaks ground Tuesday. Telegram & Gazette

• Salisbury Beach receives $1.75 million from state to boost sand dunes and protect against flooding. Boston Globe

• Mayor Wu kicks off Boston’s plan to mitigate community violence this summer. WBUR

• For Boston reparations task force, redress is a work in progress. Boston Globe

• Sheffield voters approve zoning changes intended to ease housing woes. Berkshire Eagle

• Uxbridge budget mess: All school employees set to receive pink slips. Telegram & Gazette

• Russian hacker posted Lowell’s data from 2023 attack. Lowell Sun News

May 21, 2024

• Mass. Senate kicks off debate on $57.9B budget that is ‘sustainable and compassionate”. MassLive Media

• State’s ‘millionaires tax’ has already generated $1.8 billion this year, blowing past state projections. Boston Globe

• Gov. Healey expands housing tax credits. Eagle Tribune

• These are the fastest growing and shrinking cities in Mass.; look up your town. MassLive Media

• Lenox leaders demand an improved disposal site for PCB toxins removed during Rest of River cleanup. Berkshire Eagle

• U.S. Census Bureau: Worcester remains 2nd largest city in New England as population grows. Telegram & Gazette

• With shelter deadlines looming, English classes prepare residents for ‘self-sufficiency’. WBUR

• Hanover residents defeat $6 million override proposal. Wicked Local

May 20, 2024

• Much of Boston is built on artificial land. It’s vulnerable to sea level rise and hard to protect. Boston Globe

• Merrimack River water quality concerns resurface. Eagle Tribune

• Uxbridge schools may send layoff notices after voters shoot down budget plan. Telegram & Gazette

• The state’s new housing law aimed to help fix the affordability crisis. Experts now say it won’t deliver. Boston Globe

• I walked the entire 90-mile perimeter of Boston. It was surprising and delightful. Boston Globe

May 17, 2024

• High speed internet can be expensive. Do towns in Western Massachusetts hold the secret to sustainable, affordable connectivity. Boston Globe

• Regional listening session to inform development of statewide housing plan. The Recorder News

• How Mass. cities and towns are being reimbursed for hosting emergency shelters. MassLive Media

• Fatal overdoses in Massachusetts drop by over 10%, new CDC data shows. Boston.com

• This Mass. city is one of the best places to retire, according to Forbes. Boston Globe

• Gov. Healey launches political advocacy group to dive into local housing fights. Boston Globe

• Norfolk town meeting voters support MBTA zoning law, despite strong concerns from some. The Sun Chronicle

• Norfolk residents raise concerns over emergency housing planned for former prison. Boston.com

• In Ipswich, a dam’s history butts heads with the river’s future. WBUR

May 16, 2024

• A Cambridge City Council panel’s proposal would legalize six-story buildings throughout city. Boston Globe

• On Instagram, Boston Urban Archive shares history of Black communities. WBUR

May 15, 2024

• Study calls for better funding for regional transit authorities in Massachusetts. New England Public Media

• Peabody put cameras on some school buses to record illegal passes. The results were alarming. WBUR

• North Andover passes MBTA affordable housing zoning; up to 1,365 new units could be built. Eagle Tribune

• Foxboro town meeting voters reject MBTA zoning law. The Sun Chronicle

• Seekonk residents reject MBTA zoning proposals. The Sun Chronicle

• Lee voters approve debt exclusion for new public safety facility. Berkshire Eagle

• Rowe voters back park addition, two-town fire district. The Recorder News

• Town caught off guard by state’s plan to use Mass. prison as homeless housing. Patriot Ledger

May 14, 2024

• How can Massachusetts keep college graduates in Boston. GBH

• Mass. will convert former Norfolk prison into a shelter for homeless families. WBUR

• Worcester Public Schools budget proposes cutting 163 teaching positions. MassLive Media

May 13, 2024

• On Keller at Large, MMA Executive Director Adam Chapdelaine discusses migrant housing crisis, MBTA Communities, and state & local budgets. WBZ

• Mass. to get $155 million in housing grants. Eagle Tribune

• Tyngsboro Town Meeting approves MBTA Communities zoning. Lowell Sun

May 10, 2024

• Council authorizes Attleboro mayor to borrow $35 million to build PFAS filtering plant. The Sun Chronicle

• Federal grants ease Lawrence homelessness, aid Haverhill affordable housing. Eagle Tribune

• Andover gets state funds to expand services for seniors. Eagle Tribune

• Tewksbury Town Meeting rejects MBTA Communities article. Lowell Sun

• Savoy voters OK town budget and other spending measures, adopt 6% short-term rental tax. Berkshire Eagle

• South Hadley Town Meeting OK’s budget that lays off 24 school staff. Daily Hampshire Gazette

May 9, 2024

• Housing: The all-encompassing issue; Governor emphasizes business, economy, health, and transportation are impacted. Item Live

• In Worcester, Gov. Healey, biz leaders talk housing and the high cost of living. MassLive Media

• Proposal to Abolish Single-Family Zoning in Cambridge Moves Forward. The Crimson

• Hopkinton Town Meeting narrowly rejects MBTA Communities zoning bylaw. Hopkinton Independent

• Watertown Police to be Removed from Civil Service, Use Body Cams & Vehicle Cams. Watertown News

• Attleboro mayor says no fireworks this year, proposes laser light show instead. The Sun Chronicle

May 8, 2024

• Boston Globe map tracks compliance with MBTA Communities law. Boston Globe

• Boston’s Sumner Tunnel closure this summer will be only half as long as expected. GBH

• New Marlborough is adopting 4 percent room tax and a short-term rental bylaw. Berkshire Eagle

• Concord schools hit with cyber attack, officials say. Boston Globe

• Meet the fourth-grade teacher named ‘Massachusetts Teacher of the Year’. WCVB

• Marblehead Town Meeting votes down new zoning to comply with MBTA Communities law. Boston Globe

• Wilmington Town Meeting punts on MBTA Communities zoning; refers zoning back to Planning Board. Lowell Sun

• Supreme Court to rule on Worcester’s homeless encampment ban. Telegram & Gazette

• What reclassifying cannabis could mean for Mass. businesses. Axios

May 7, 2024

• A 34-acre parcel offered to Stockbridge could support up to 76 affordable housing units. The town accepted the gift, but now what. Berkshire Eagle

• Profile: Lisa Wong was the first Asian American woman to be a mayor in Mass. MassLive Media

• Western Mass school leaders rally for funding at State House. The Recorder News

• After five years of prep, New York to charge drivers $15 to enter Lower Manhattan. Boston Globe

May 6, 2024

• April state tax collections for fiscal 2024 come in strong. NBC Boston

• Building for 2070: Salem officials unveil coastal resilience zoning. Salem News

• ​Berkshires ‘Community Hero of the Month’: ​Adams Select Board Chair Christine Hoyt. iberkshires

• ​Westford voters approve MBTA Communities article at Town Meeting. Lowell Sun News

• ​Buckland backs short-term rental bylaw. The Recorder News

• ​Hadley Town Meeting OKs battery storage bylaw. Daily Hampshire Gazette

May 3, 2024

• Massachusetts could get almost $60M in new opioid funding from Biden admin to fight overdose crisis. Boston Herald

• As beaches erode, Cape and Islands gamble on sand replenishment. Boston Globe

• The unlikely story of ‘Wimpy Kid’ author Jeff Kinney’s Plainville revitalization. Boston.com

• Concord Town Meeting approves multi-family zoning districts. The Concord Bridge

• Why are people leaving Massachusetts? Here’s where the state is falling short — and what the impact is. Boston Globe

• Worcester schools face $22 million budget deficit. Telegram and Gazette

• Weymouth to cut 26 school workers due to budget shortfall. What administrators are saying. Patriot Ledger

• Change in federal drug classification could help cannabis shops. Daily Hampshire Gazette

May 2, 2024

• School districts across Massachusetts weigh teacher and staff cuts. GBH

• Andover Town Meeting approves new town seal. Eagle Tribune

• Office of Travel and Tourism director tours Franklin County, looks to increase presence. The Recorder News

• Somerville joins cities piloting a guaranteed basic income by giving 200 families at risk of homelessness $750 a month for a year. Boston Globe

May 1, 2024

• Lenox Town Manager Christopher Ketchen to become Director of Finance and Local Payments at Division of Local Services. Berkshire Eagle

• Salisbury leaders announce $6 million plan to fight catastrophic beach erosion. Boston.com

• DPH issues opioid overdose death statistics report for 2023; Worcester tops list. MassLive Media

• Andover voters approve MBTA zoning. Eagle Tribune

• Wakefield joins growing resistance to MBTA Communities Law. CBS News

• Minute Man National Historical Park and Walden Pond are on list of ‘most endangered’ sites, says National Trust for Historic Preservation. Boston Globe

April 30, 2024

• Sunderland voters OK battery storage bylaw, agree to ask Legislature to lower municipal voting age. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• State loan program aims to ease burden of home energy retrofits. MassLive Media

• You can’t throw out most textiles in Mass. So why are some people still doing it. Telegram & Gazette

• With federal COVID funding running out, state ends housing programs for those in ‘Mass. and Cass’ encampment. WBUR

• Court rulings may force action on home equity theft. The Recorder News

• Rockport residents file lawsuit, allege plan to comply with MBTA zoning law is unconstitutional. Boston Globe

April 29, 2024

• SJC rules police officers’ names can’t be kept secret from misconduct investigation records on privacy grounds. Boston Globe

• Northborough Town Meeting OKs plan to buy Whitney Street land to use as green space. MetroWest Daily

• Tick activity has surged early amid New England’s unusually warm winters; New England states have seen the largest increases in Lyme Disease cases over the past several decades. Boston Globe

• A long, hot U.S. summer is looming, forecasters say. Axios

April 26, 2024

• Communities to use Green Communities grant money to pay for energy-related projects. Eagle Tribune

• Massachusetts schools need more funds; some point to flaw in education finance law. New England Public Media

• Mass. cannabis sales top $1B for third year in a row. MassLive Media

• New FEMA flood maps are coming; many homeowners say they’ve experienced risks firsthand. New England Public Media

April 25, 2024

• House budget debate kicks off with fiscal warnings from Democrats and Republicans. Boston Herald

• Harwich is losing housing affordability race, says draft housing production plan. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Salem seeks solution to homeless encampment. Boston Globe

• The airport in Hyannis plans to expand. What’s the strategy for PFAS contamination there? Cape Cod Times

April 23, 2024

• On tap for the Mass. House: a budget debate including about 1,500 amendments. New England Public Media

• Marshfield voters reject MBTA zoning plan. Patriot Ledger

• Greenfield DPW director: Chapter 90 funding ‘doesn’t go nearly as far as it used to.’ The Recorder News

• Building a backyard cottage is now much easier in this South Shore town. Patriot Ledger

• Before court ruling, Brookline’s generational ban on tobacco sales was an oddity. That has quickly changed. Boston Globe

• Feds approve Mass. request to use Medicaid funds for shelter crisis. MassLive Media

• How a $500 monthly stipend is helping more than 100 Springfield-area families. MassLive Media

• Massachusetts ‘find’ of more low-income students brings $8.6M in additional aid to some districts. New England Public Media

April 22, 2024

• EPA will force polluters to pay for PFAS cleanup. WBUR

• Mass. judge rules that state’s method of taking property for unpaid taxes is unconstitutional. Boston Globe

April 19, 2024

• New federal PFAS rules to protect health will cost Mass. communities millions. WBUR

• Mid-April tax collections up in Mass., but state downplays significance. Boston Globe

• Shelter money fading but new funding explored. Eagle Tribune

• Worcester mayoral task force aims to ramp up commuter rail service across Mass. Telegram & Gazette

April 18, 2024

• Brookline Police Department starts rolling out body cameras for officers. Brookline News

• Water Resources Authority considers how western Mass. towns can benefit from Quabbin Reservoir. New England Public Media

• Worcester wants to plant two new forests, with the public’s help. MassLive Media

• New checklist helps Massachusetts fire officials identify lithium-ion battery fires. New England Public Media

• Boston plans sweeping replacement of city parking meters; one- and two-space units are out, and multi-space kiosks are in. GBH News

• With the clean energy transition, low-income communities fear they’ll be saddled with big infrastructure projects, again. Boston Globe

April 17, 2024

• Boston now has a Chief Climate Officer. WBUR

• Why Nantucket is testing out mushroom-based buoys. WBUR

• In-person, hybrid or remote; Meeting access debated by Methuen City Council. Eagle Tribune

• After long delay, cannabis social equity fund starts up; Gov. Healey hands out $2.3 million to 50 marijuana businesses. CommonWealth Beacon

April 16, 2024

• Housing authorities in Methuen, Lowell, Andover to get help from feds, municipalities. Eagle Tribune

• Attleboro-area communities working to comply with stricter federal rules on PFAS in drinking water. The Sun Chronicle

• With a federal subsidy ending, nearly 370,000 Mass. households at risk of losing internet access. Boston Globe

• As Worcester struggles to fill job, Boston, Springfield find success with DEI chiefs. MassLive Media

• Barnstable agrees to tri-town pact to build regional dispatch center. Yarmouth is next. Cape Cod Times

April 12, 2024

• New England states to get $69 million to protect transportation infrastructure from sea level rise, flooding. Boston Globe

• Westfield ahead of new federal PFAS contamination limits. WWLP22 News

• Chatham To Share Energy Manager With Other Towns. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Worcester County needs 1,000 ‘supportive housing’ units in 10 years to tackle homelessness. MassLive Media

• Massachusetts senator says shelter funds running out this month. New England Public Media

• Former Mass. Gov. Michael Dukakis celebrated at Northeastern. “He just stood for being absolutely straight,” said former Gov. William Weld. Boston Globe

April 11, 2024

• How the EPA’s new limits on ‘forever chemicals’ will affect Mass. MassLive Media

• Springfield launches mental health initiative for first responders. New England Public Media

• ‘Do not drink’ order issued for Harwich drinking water after Dennis fire. What we know. Cape Cod Times

• Connecting North Adams and Boston by train is years and hundreds of millions of dollars away. Here’s what the planning study outlines. Berkshire Eagle

• The ‘voice of cities and towns’ in Mass. has a new leader. And he wants to talk housing. Boston Globe

April 10, 2024

• EPA sets first national limits on PFAS in drinking water. WBUR

• Editorial: Towns face tough decisions in wake of override vetoes. Sentinel and Enterprise

• Nahant working on short-term rental rules. Item Live

• Amherst council approves mandatory rental inspection program. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Worcester weighs extending fare-free transit another year. Boston Globe

• Mass. preparing for 250th anniversary of Battle of Lexington and Concord. WBUR

• Mass. Senate poised to vote on $200M road, bridge funding bill. MassLive Media

• South Coast Rail is on track. What could it mean for the housing market? Boston Globe

April 5, 2024

• No deal on to-go drinks, outdoor dining as weekend beckons. MassLive Media

• There are more electric vehicles in Boston, but the region lags behind other metros. WBUR

• Boston’s defense against rising seas leans on private development. What happens when the money dries up? Boston Globe

• Groton-Dunstable override defeated. Lowell Sun

April 4, 2024

• March revenues ‘more positive than we expected,’ Gov. Healey says; Monthly tax collections beat projections even as year-to-date haul lags benchmark. Boston Herald

• Pittsfield Mayor Marchetti says his budget will bring cuts, but still can’t fend off tax increases. Berkshire Eagle

April 3, 2024

• Housing bond bill is an ‘economic winner’ for Mass., Lt. Gov. Driscoll says at hearing. MassLive Media

• Springfield continues to look at ways to improve pedestrian safety. New England Public Media

• A new Pittsfield advisory committee aims to help the city confront challenges with mental health and substance use disorders. Berkshire Eagle

• Firefighters prep to meet ‘unique challenge’ as electrical vehicles gain popularity. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Tree wreckers causing havoc: Spongy moth, emerald ash borer killing off oak and ash populations in area towns. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Amid dismal revenue forecast, Healey administration plans to freeze state hiring. Boston Globe

April 2, 2024

• State rules governing to-go drinks, outdoor dining expire as politicians figure out next steps. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Markey, Mass. pols call on Biden administration to send cash to states dealing with migrant surge. MassLive Media

• Alongside Healey, Kim Driscoll has carved out a significant role in oft-overlooked office. Boston Globe

• As business booms in Boston Harbor, port communities pay the health costs. GBH

• Why do the Berkshires have their own currency? Boston.com

April 1, 2024

• Expanded outdoor dining, to-go cocktails among Massachusetts pandemic-era policies expiring. WCVB

• Housing Secretary Ed Augustus says housing bond bill is a key to addressing state’s shortages. MassLive Media

• Provincetown launches long-term rental program for local workers. NBC Boston

• More than 400 Massachusetts bridges are considered at the ‘end of their useful life’. Boston Globe

• An unseen climate change impact: rising groundwater levels in Mass. MassLive Media

• Housing bylaw coming to Whately Town Meeting. The Recorder News

• Stockbridge wants a townwide speed limit of 25 mph on local roads. Residents will decide at town meeting in May. Berkshire Eagle

• Springfield City Council supports program for statewide paint recycling. MassLive Media

March 29, 2024

• Mass. finalizes $1.4B for water infrastructure projects. MassLive Media

• As office market struggles, Wu moves to hike commercial tax rates in bid to bolster city budget. Boston Globe

• Several small towns in Mass. welcoming big developments. Spectrum News 1

• Major UMass Lowell development project aims to transform city, encourage young people to stay. GBH

• Templeton Town Hall dedicated to former town coordinator and the impact he made in town. The Gardner News

• It’s official: Belchertown’s request to create town manager position OK’d by state. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Massachusetts toughens rules on air pollution sources in communities of color. Boston Globe

• Where Massachusetts ranks in women holding elected office. Axios

March 28, 2024

• ‘Concerns’ confirmed: Sports betting sidelines Mass. Lottery’s scratch tickets. MassLive Media

• State’s congressional delegation says FEMA excluded costs in disaster review. Sentinel And Enterprise

• Boston city council approves a new planning department for city. WBUR

• Mass. official: @CityofHolyoke schools ‘officially entering the transition process to end state control’. New England Public Media

• Westfield board looking to loosen restrictions on government building signs. MassLive Media

• Greenfield health officials eye stricter tobacco regulations. The Recorder News

• Eagle Reels: Q&A with Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer. Berkshire Eagle

• Berkeley Will Repeal Its Landmark Ban on Natural Gas in New Homes. New York Times

March 26, 2024

• Healey wants communities to work with state on MBTA housing. Boston Globe

• Families in Massachusetts overflow shelters will be limited to one month, or must reapply to stay. WBUR

• Opinion: Western Mass. has untapped economic potential; report identifies opportunities in food science, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy. Boston Globe

• State and local leaders call police hiring, retention a ‘major issue’ in Massachusetts. The Recorder News

March 25, 2024

• Ludlow mulls proposal to regionalize trash disposal with neighboring towns. MassLive Media

• Fighting the ‘forever’ problem: How Westfield is coping with PFAS contamination. MassLive Media

• Here are the hotspots of PFAS contamination in the Pioneer Valley. MassLive Media

• Hundreds of Mass bridges deemed structurally deficient. Here’s how many are near Brockton. Enterprise News

March 22, 2024

• Andover officials forge ahead with MBTA zoning. Eagle Tribune

• Worcester needs $53M to build 300 affordable housing units, seeks help from state. MassLive Media

• Healey administration reaches new agreement with feds on Cape Cod bridge project. Boston Globe

• House eyes MWRA expansion; Speaker Mariano says water service will be crucial to increased housing production. CommonWealth Beacon

• West Newbury grapples with small town compliance to MBTA zoning law. Boston Globe

March 21, 2024

• ‘The kids are not OK’: Boston officials unveil new mental health initiative. WBUR

• Mayor, council ponder: Who should live in New Bedford to work for the city? South Coast Today

• Lee again sues GE, Monsanto over PCBs in the Housatonic River. New England Public Media

• Mass. Department of Public Health launches plan to address ‘serious public health threat’ of racism. NBC Boston

• Mass. health department warns of PFAS in Easton company’s bottled water. MassLive Media

• Former Medford mayor John J. “Jack” McGlynn among WWII veterans of ‘Ghost Army’ to be awarded Congressional Gold Medal. Boston Globe

• In response to council request, Attleboro mayor says municipal electric department ‘would be virtually impossible’ due to cost. The Sun Chronicle

• S&P puts Brockton on ‘credit watch.’ What does that mean? Enterprise News

March 20, 2024

• Map: Hundreds of structurally deficient bridges throughout Massachusetts. WCVB

• City struggles to persuade property owners to replace their lead pipes. Boston Globe

• New Bedford unveils new marketing campaign: ‘Explore New Bedford’. South Coast Today

• Gov. Healey pushes for additional housing to keep people living and working in Mass. WBUR

• Town plans to overhaul police hiring by leaving state civil service system. Brookline News

March 19, 2024

• Franklin Regional Council of Governments leaders meet with local, state officials to talk transportation challenges. The Recorder News

• Mass. Senate to vote on its own version of limits on emergency shelters, setting up dispute over handling migrants. Boston Globe

• Milton housing lawsuit will head to state’s highest court later this year. Boston Globe

• Racial disparities, lack of adequate data flagged in equity audit of Worcester police. Telegram & Gazette

March 18, 2024

• Gov. signs home rule petition changing Marblehead Select Board terms to three years. Marblehead Current

• As summer nears, judge’s ruling could spell trouble for Nantucket short-term rentals. Boston Globe

• Andover, Dracut and Tewksbury select boards ‘perambulate’ their borders. Eagle Tribune

• Among Holyoke’s parking woes, an oversupply of spots, study says. MassLive Media

• Great Barrington cannabis shops bring $6M lawsuit against town. MassLive Media

• Opinion: Many cities & towns across Mass. have been leading the way in tackling single-use plastics crisis, but more can be done. Boston Globe

March 15, 2024

• Supreme Court rules public officials can sometimes be sued for blocking critics on social media. Boston Globe

• School districts in region warn they are nearing edge of ‘fiscal cliff’. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Judge Rules Against Town In Short-Term Rental Court Challenge. Nantucket Current

• Boston’s first office-to-apartment conversion project moves forward. WCVB

March 14, 2024

• Boston’s Mayor Wu in talks with MBTA on city-funded commuter rail stop; Station would be located on Needham Line in West Roxbury. CommonWealth Beacon

• Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer is trying to get every government agency in Mass. to take responsibility for the problem. Here’s how it’s going. Boston Globe

• In wake of student incidents, Southwick leader proposes town DEI policy. MassLive Media

• Coastal flooding washes away half of $600,000 effort, paid for by property owners, to save sand dunes on Salisbury Beach. Boston Globe

• Gov. Healey announces sweeping pardons for simple possession of cannabis. WBUR

March 13, 2024

• Massachusetts school funding overhaul hits an inflation glitch. Boston Globe

• Mayor Coogan says Fall River’s recovery ‘happening before our very eyes’: 6 stats to know. Herald News

• Some Cape towns have housing production plans, and some don’t. Here’s a detailed look at the issue. Cape Cod Times

• Somerville looks to become second Massachusetts city to get rid of ‘unnecessary’ parking spaces. Boston Herald

• Libraries struggle to afford the demand for e-books, seek new state laws in fight with publishers. WBUR

• Barnstable Council approves funds to study police exit from civil service. Cape Cod Times

• Greenfield shelter leaders ponder impacts of potential funding infusion, stay limit. The Recorder News

• Survey: Many young people ready to leave Boston region. GBH

March 12, 2024

• Nantucket’s new short-term rental registry goes live. Nantucket Current

• Westminster gets grant to inform public on PFAS contamination issue: how will it work? Gardner News

• $50K grant will fund geothermal heat study in South Deerfield. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Massachusetts cranberry bogs were hit hard by climate change. Now, they’re a tool in the battle against it. Boston Globe

• Trahan, Moulton seek $3B for migrant housing. Eagle Tribune

• Ads to run on buses, billboards, and social media. CommonWealth Beacon

• New York’s transit agency is balancing its budget. Can the MBTA learn from it? GBH

March 11, 2024

• Opinion: “Real impact” of MBTA Communities zoning “will be far less than the rhetoric from both sides of the debate.”. CommonWealth Beacon

• How will Hopkinton reduce PFAS in drinking water? Two ideas are pitched as solutions. MetroWest Daily News

• Athol receives $10,000 grant for Public Works’ employee safety from the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association. Athol Daily News

• Westfield council takes step toward de-merging DPW after 3 failures to hire. MassLive Media

• Citing cybersecurity fears, Worcester will no longer post spending online for public view. Telegram & Gazette

• Massachusetts’ highest court upholds novel Brookline rule banning tobacco sales to anyone born this century. Boston Globe

• AG Campbell proposes new unit to tackle housing affordability. Eagle Tribune

March 8, 2024

• Mass. officials push to pass legislation, open new units to combat housing crisis. GBH

• Holyoke Mayor Garcia says city seeing results from anti-blight “flex squad.” MassLive Media

• Massachusetts Senate plans another push for major early education and child care bill. WBUR

• Another ‘smashed’ weather record: Local meteorologists, experts say the impacts are very real. Boston Globe

March 7, 2024

• Northborough “Select Board” name change approved by governor. Community Advocate

• Six towns in Franklin, Hampshire counties seek regional conservation agent. The Recorder News

• Where sinking cities are pushing sea level rise into overdrive. CNN

• What lies beneath towns may be the downfall of the MBTA Communities law. GBH

• Amid migrant arrivals, Mass. House votes to limit how long homeless families can stay in state-run shelters. Boston Globe

March 6, 2024

• Natick, Wellesley work to comply with MBTA zoning law. Where they hope to build new homes. MetroWest Daily news

• Mass. looks to end veteran homelessness with $20M campaign. Boston Herald

• Greater Boston cities, towns team up to address homelessness amid housing, migrant crisis. Boston Herald

• Gardner Mayor Mike Nicholson appointed to state transportation task force. The Gardner News

• Saugus revisits project to restore salt marsh. Item Live

• $50 million fund aims to spur more affordable housing in Mass. WBUR

• Report recommends Cambridge police adopt new policies to help responses to mental health crises. WBUR

March 5, 2024

• Mass. to receive $350 million to replace Cape Cod bridges through federal appropriations bill, officials say. Boston Globe

March 4, 2024

• At state budget hearing at GCC, rural district school officials share unique challenges they face. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Greenfield expands hybrid meetings, access to online recordings. The Recorder News

• Brookline cracks down on waste violations to improve rodent control. Boston.com

• City to replace gas stoves with electric in two Dorchester apartment communities. Boston Globe

• Lawmakers trying something new, with one special committee reviewing all proposed ballot questions. CommonWealth Beacon

March 1, 2024

• MBTA transit bill doesn’t force cities, towns to build more housing, state says. Boston Herald

• Wrentham asks for an exception from MBTA Communities Act. WBUR

• Biden nominates former Boston Mayor Martin Walsh to Postal Service board of governors. Boston Globe

Feb. 29, 2024

• Winchester presented with MIIA Health and Wellness Award. Daily Times Chronicle

• Boston votes to install 250 curbside EV-chargers on city streets. WCVB

• Boston says ‘transformational’ bus system is coming to traffic-choked Blue Hill Avenue. Boston Globe

• Mass. Board of Elementary & Secondary Education names former W. Springfield Public Schools administrator Russell Johnston as interim education commissioner. New England Public Media

• Newburyport’s mayor pitches agenda for coming year. Newburyport News

• Hyannis residents learning of prior PFAS exposure from blood tests. Cape Cod Times

Feb. 28, 2024

• Healey says her economic development bill will target life sciences, climate tech, AI. Boston Herald

• AG Campbell sues Milton over snub of state housing law. Boston Globe

• Milton Select Board divided on next steps in zoning issue. CommonWealth Beacon

• Immigrant influx is squeezing city budgets. Axios

• State to fund security audit for all Brockton Public Schools. Enterprise News

Feb. 27, 2024

• Gov. Healey says new overflow shelter for migrants in Boston’s Fort Point is opening ‘as soon as possible’. Boston Globe

• Could development hurt drinking water? Marshfield is spending $120,000 to find out. Patriot Ledger

• City prevails again in second suit on bike lanes, ruled as markings, not regulations by a judge. Cambridge Day

Feb. 26, 2024

• As climate change soaks New England, flash flooding is costing cities. Boston Globe

• Leverett, Shutesbury, Westhampton join digital equity program to expand internet to all residents. Daily Hampshire Gazette

Feb. 23, 2024

• Mass. communities grapple with how to prevent ‘Zoom bombing’ of public meetings. Boston Globe

• City to hire new position with opioid settlement money. Salem News

• South Hadley town administrator proposes merging three departments. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Beach erosion threatens sewage-treatment plant on Nantucket. Boston Globe

• Fall River has a new trolley and a bookmobile. A water taxi is starting this summer. Herald News

Feb. 22, 2024

• ‘Crucial lifeline’: Warren, Markey call for $5B for states dealing with crush of migrants. MassLive Media

• South Coast confronts rising seas. New Bedford Light

• Draft Report: Chatham Water Demand Still Outstrips Capacity. Cape Cod Chronicle

Feb. 21, 2024

• Brookline ban on fossil fuels in new buildings becomes official, 5 years after initial vote. GBH

• Worcester City Council tweaks public comment rules after hate speech interruptions. GBH

• Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo To Serve On MMA Labor Relations committee. Patch

• Clarksburg Select Board OKs Municipal Proposals, Paint Stewardship Bill. iBerkshires

• Mass. Sen. Markey: Affordable internet program must be extended before funding runs out. MassLive Media

Feb. 16, 2024

• Jeff Riley stepping down as education commissioner. CommonWealth Beacon

• Swampscott mulls lowering voting age to 16 in town elections. Salem News

• Cambridge city manager elevates sustainability and housing into new departments. Cambridge Day

Feb. 15, 2024

• Milton voters overturn state-mandated housing plan. Boston Globe

• Report: Boston faces more than $1 billion tax shortfall due to empty offices. WBUR

• City council meetings disrupted by antisemitic group trying to gain a foothold in New England. GBH

• Sen. Pacheco one of a dozen Mass. lawmakers who plan to leave office at end of the year. Boston Globe

Feb. 14, 2024

• State revenues continue to lag, but A&F Secretary Gorzkowicz says administration has no plans for additional spending cuts. Berkshire Eagle

• Municipal officials hail Gov. Healey’s local-option tax plans. MassLive Media

• Study: Disadvantaged Mass. communities twice as likely to endure poor roads. MassLive Media

• FEMA denies Gov. Healey’s disaster declaration request for Sept. flooding. WCVB

• Latest nor’easter revives concerns of sea’s unceasing march on Nantucket. Boston Globe

• In Eastie, an early glimpse at Boston’s existential and expensive struggle to hold back the sea. Boston Globe

• Edgartown Faces Big Wastewater Expenses. Vineyard Gazette

• Boston Mayor Wu says migrant shelter system is ‘rapidly changing’ to meet demand. GBH

• Tisbury Approves New Aquaculture Rules to Aid Farmers. Vineyard Gazette

• Cannabis Control Commission focused on legislative meetings, host community agreements. The Recorder News

Feb. 13, 2024

• Digging out from deluge: Municipal clerks scramble amid flood of ballot requests, paperwork. The Recorder News

• Cambridge Black History Project shares the histories of 23 Black trailblazers. WBUR

• Report: Tourism brings $1.3B to three-county region. Daily Hampshire Gazette

Feb. 12, 2024

• Cape Cod needs to clean up its water. The solutions could cost billions. WBUR

• Bourne Select Board Pursues DEI Objectives. Cape News

• Nonprofit In Lynn Recognized For Its Innovative Programming. WBZ News Radio

• Nantucket Select Board Grants $4 Million To Habitat For Humanity For New Affordable Housing Project. Nantucket Current

• Beverly to install AEDs at parks, fields, beaches. Salem News

• Amesbury Mayor Gove looks ahead to first 4-year term. Newburyport News

• Wealthier Mass. communities avoid brunt of expanding shelter crisis, Globe analysis shows. Boston Globe

Feb. 9, 2024

• Two new urban forests are coming to Worcester. Here’s what we know. Telegram and Gazette

Feb. 8, 2024

• Cape officials look to curb storm surge floods on low-lying roads. Cape Cod Times

• Report: Drastic increase in New Bedford housing needed to overcome crisis. New Bedford Light

• When a rural road goes bad: Leverett’s unpaved Dudleyville Road illustrates challenges facing local towns. The Recorder News

• Healey names Andy Koziol as director for east-west rail. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Mass. joins 8 states in setting new electric heat pump goals. WBUR

• Shelter in Roxbury rec center fills up quickly. WBUR

• The state’s MBTA communities law can put local officials in a difficult spot, drafting zoning laws their communities oppose. Boston Globe

Feb. 7, 2024

• State lawmakers hear proposal from Gov. Maura Healey to leverage rainy day fund for federal infrastructure dollars. Berkshire Eagle

• Gov. Healey not planning on reducing revenue expectations, budget cuts, finance official says. Boston Herald

• Gloucester gets nearly $60K to study road flooding. Gloucester Daily Times

• Boston extends free bus fare program on three routes until March 2026. Boston Globe

• Rat sightings have been more common in Marlborough. What the city is doing to combat it. MetroWest Daily

• Saugus Selectmen to send letter seeking funding for floodgates project. Item Live

• Massachusetts breaks record for marijuana sales, for the 6th year in a row. Boston.com

Feb. 6, 2024

• State tax revenues continue slide in January, come in nearly 7% below lowered forecast. CommonWealth Beacon

• Closed for 20 years, Chicopee library to get new life as multi-use community space. MassLive Media

• State plans energy innovation center in New Bedford. New Bedford Light

• Mass. Sens. Warren, Markey press for more disaster relief for farmers hit by flooding. MassLive Media

• Here’s what’s in the Senate border deal for Mass. Boston Globe

• Select Board bans rat poison on town property. Newburyport News

• U.S. Sen. Markey, in Chicopee, explores lead risk from old telephone cable. MassLive Media

Feb. 1, 2024

• Replacing aging municipal buildings posing challenges to local communities, taxpayers. The Sun Chronicle

• Town of Brewster Sweeps Municipal Awards. CapeCodcom

Jan. 31, 2024

• Gloucester Councilor Gilman chairs statewide Women Elected Municipal Officials steering committee. Gloucester Daily Times

• Framingham officials want a city workforce that looks like its population. Why it matters. MetroWest Daily

• Springfield road clearing is a numbers game, and city is losing that with lack of plow drivers. MassLive Media

• Holyoke seeks electrification funding to keep up with clean energy wave. MassLive Media

• With Windsor’s ‘erratic’ mail delivery, some residents are wondering if their mail-in primary ballots will make it in time. Berkshire Eagle

• Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson delivers second State of the City speech. Item Live

Jan. 30, 2024

• Massachusetts Select Board Association handbook dedicated to Worthington’s Stephen Kulik. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson joins state Housing Advisory Council. Item Live

• As shelter system struggles, Healey to launch pilot program to house, employ migrants. Boston Globe

• 23 Western Mass municipalities, public school districts to receive training in cybersecurity awareness. MassLive Media

• 5 Western Mass municipalities have received Green Communities funding from state. MassLive Media

• Westminster’s PFAS-contaminated well problem has spread to Fitchburg – what’s happening. The Gardner News

Jan. 29, 2024

• New Pittsfield Councilors Reflect on MMA Conference. iberkshires

• North Attleboro officials say more money will be needed to fix flooding problems. The Sun Chronicle

• Boston outlines plans to spend millions in opioid settlement money. Boston Globe

• Boston wants T buses to be free to ride. The T wants to charge. What happens next? Boston Globe

• Will Uxbridge court case force a statewide change in cannabis shop fees? Cape Cod Times

• Stockbridge seeks closer ties with Mohican tribe through joint commission. Berkshire Eagle

Jan. 26, 2024

• Healey renews push to approve housing plan. Newburyport News

• Boston’s first geothermal heating system to replace gas in public housing. MassLive Media

• Developers of affordable housing in Gloucester have a shot at $1.5M in ARPA money. Salem News

• Housing is now unaffordable for a record half of all U.S. renters, study finds. WBUR

• State agencies eliminating minimum education level for hiring. New England Public Media

• Teachers increasingly willing to put up with costs of strikes to gain better pay. Boston Globe

Jan. 25, 2024

• Gov. Maura Healey asks Legislature for $893M for shelter system, though a $91M shortfall would still remain. CommonWealth Beacon

• Worcester officials discuss increase in fatal opioid overdoses. GBH

• Mayor Neil Perry sees Methuen reaching ‘new heights,’ notes that bond rating continues to improve. Eagle Tribune

• Land gift provides vital conservation, recreation link in Hilltowns. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Balancing solar with farms and forestland: Experts tout middle way in picking sites. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• U.S. EPA sends Rest of River transportation plan back to GE to ‘better evaluate rail usage’. Berkshire Eagle

• The population of Mass. grew last year for the first time since 2020. No one is more relieved than Yvonne Hao. Boston Globe

Jan. 24, 2024

• Healey among 9 governors asking the federal government to act on immigration. WBUR

• Easthampton Mayor LaChapelle tapped to lead state Mayors’ Association. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Two Cape, Islands housing projects get money from state, Healey says. Cape Cod Times

• Selectmen vote to ask state for beach aid. Newburyport News

• After Slow Start, County Searches for Septic Grant Applicants. Vineyard Gazette

• Time is almost up for federally funded broadband program, threatening internet access for 361,000 Mass. households. Boston Globe

Jan. 23, 2024

• Housing in Springfield, Holyoke, South Hadley, Northampton gets boost in state money, tax credits. MassLive Media

• Mayors, town managers envision year ahead in the Merrimack Valley. Eagle Tribune

• Building a salt marsh, in the city: New Bedford is reclaiming a piece of urban waterfront for nature. GBH

• With initial support, Greenfield DPW director to move forward with $2M recycling grant. The Recorder News

• Attleboro council members plan to ask mayor to look into creating municipal electric department. The Sun Chronicle

• Nearly $200K approved to alleviate Methuen mental health crisis. Eagle Tribune

• Healey shelves, for now, a proposal to strip lawmakers of their control of liquor licenses. Boston Globe

Jan. 22, 2024

• Crush of testimony reflects seriousness of housing crisis. Eagle Tribune

• Franklin County towns exploring changes to accountant positions. The Recorder News

• As solar array and battery storage debate heats up, Whately backs municipal zoning bill. The Recorder News

• Boston Mayor Michelle Wu plans to extend fare-free bus pilot. CommonWealth Beacon

• The seas are coming for coastal homes. How will communities, and the state, respond? Boston Globe

• AG Campbell threatens legal action against Milton over MBTA zoning act. Boston.com

• Healey budget cuts affect Tewksbury. Tewksbury Town Crier

• Narcan saves lives — but finding it can be onerous in Massachusetts. Boston Globe

• Lynn is a winner in Mass. Municipal Association’s Innovation Award competition. Item Live

Jan. 18, 2024

• Healey calls for new money for education, MBTA in first State of the Commonwealth speech. Boston Globe

• Fall River allots more ARPA funding toward public safety and infrastructure. Herald News

• State of the Waters report: Water quality ‘unacceptable’ for 90% of Cape Cod’s coastal bays. WBUR

Jan. 17, 2024

• Healey pushes to expand free preschool and subsidize daycare for more families in Mass. Boston Globe

Jan. 16, 2024

• Frequent Boston flooding shows climate change is here, residents say. GBH

• Saugus River floodgates again considered. Item Live

• SCOTUS decision prompts Mass. municipalities to review, create flag-flying policies. Taunton Gazette

• Attaching EV chargers to utility poles is cheap, easy — and illegal in Massachusetts. Boston Globe

• Dracut’s FY25 deficit exacerbated by state cuts, town manager says. Lowell Sun

• Migrants want to work. And employers want to hire them. Boston Globe

• State Reopening Contracts To Diversify Vendors. GBH

Jan. 12, 2024

• Healey’s budget cuts affecting projects and nonprofits in western Massachusetts. New England Public Media

Jan. 11, 2024

• Four western Mass. towns get grants for culvert work. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Parts of the Northeast are underwater. Experts say to expect more of that as the climate warms. Boston Globe

Jan. 10, 2024

• Disastrous weather throughout Massachusetts in 2023 prompts lawmakers to seek relief fund. South Coast Today

• Here’s what Cape towns will get from the additional funding for road repairs. Cape Cod Times

• Aquinnah among seven communities chosen for fossil-fuel free building pilot. What is it?. Cape Cod Times

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

• Andover Select Board votes to limit its role in employee appointments. The Eagle Tribune

• Wu promises more housing, progress in schools during State of the City address. WBUR

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

Jan. 9, 2024

• Weather is delivering more ‘gap disasters,’ Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency chief says. Berkshire Eagle

• Fall River making headway against homelessness. But federal COVID-era funding is drying up. Herald News

• Holliston has moved its 9-1-1 services to a regional center. How it saves the town money. Milford Daily News

• New Bedford mayor urges halt to residency requirement, says 3-year-old ordinance puts city at ‘major competitive disadvantage’. CommonWealth Beacon

• Nantucket considering spending millions to acquire existing landfill infrastructure. Nantucket Current

• More electric school buses are coming to Boston; a federal grant provides money for a fleet upgrade. Boston Globe

• 10-cent deposit for a water bottle in Mass.? Environmentalists say it’s time. GBH

Jan. 5, 2024

• State tax revenues coming in much lower than forecast; halfway through fiscal year, $769m lower than projected. CommonWealth Beacon

• New state report outlines how to manage Mass. forests to store more carbon. WBUR

• Andover looks for input on roads. Eagle Tribune

• ‘Neighborhood traffic circles’ spin into Somerville. Boston Globe

• Nicholson touts accomplishments and outlines goals at inauguration. The Gardner News

• Sandwich board faces request to fly pro-life flag on town flagpole. Here’s what happened. Cape Cod Times

Jan. 4, 2024

• House, Senate leaders tapping brakes on spending growth. CommonWealth Beacon

• Report shows which Massachusetts communities have the most families at emergency shelters. WBZ

• Gov. Maura Healey announces $50M toward forest land conservation. MassLive Media

• Next step for 7 possible ballot questions? The Legislature. GBH

• Erin Joyce takes office as Braintree mayor. She’s facing a tough challenge. Patriot Ledger

• ‘We do not give up’: Why Brockton mayor says city’s future ‘very bright’ despite challenges. Enterprise News

• DeSimone sworn in to first full term as Attleboro mayor; calls for moving ‘forward together’. Sun Chronicle

• Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt promises progress, preservation in seventh term. Salem News

• Methuen’s Neil Perry pledges to finish what he started as mayor. Eagle Tribune

Jan. 3, 2024

• Massachusetts emergency shelter report shows wait list, costs are growing. Berkshire Eagle

• Millions of dollars flow to local water, sewer projects through the state’s Clean Water Revolving Trust Fund. Eagle Tribune

• Haverhill’s inauguration marks a number of firsts. Eagle Tribune

• Greenfield swears in new mayor after police-focused campaign. New England Public Media

• Cambridge city councilors elect Simmons to third mayoral term. Boston Globe

• Newly inaugurated Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti calls for ‘one Pittsfield’ in the new year. Berkshire Eagle

• Worcester Mayor Petty discusses future in inaugural address. Telegram & Gazette

Jan. 2, 2024

• Mass. Senate president sets her priorities for 2024. Here’s what to watch for. GBH

• As the calendar turns, some eastern Mass. cities begin new eras of leadership under new mayors. Boston Globe

• Mass. cities, towns cautious or confused about how to spend millions in opioid settlement funds. WBUR

• ‘Looking forward to rolling up my sleeves’: Sarno sworn in to another term in Springfield. New England Public Media

• Dumais inaugurated as 83rd Marlborough mayor during New Year’s Day ceremony. MetroWest Daily News

• Chicopee mayor enters third term vowing to make city safe, affordable. MassLive Media

• Mayor Linda Tyer has packed her office and moved her boxes. Here are her parting words to Pittsfield. Berkshire Eagle

• New Year, new mayor: Pangallo outlines vision for 2024, beyond. Salem News

• Gov. Healey swears New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell in for 6th term, he has public’s ‘trust’. South Coast Today

• Gloucester rings in 401st year with inauguration of city leaders. Gloucester Daily Times

Dec. 29, 2023

• $1.5 billion in estimated revenue: A look at the Mass. ‘millionaire’s tax’ first year. WBUR

• After a tragic year for pedestrian deaths, Pittsfield is using a new grant to rewrite the book on street safety. Berkshire Eagle

• Bus stop library program expanding to Pioneer Valley Transit riders. WBUR

Dec. 28, 2023

• Infrastructure law pumps billions into fixing Massachusetts roads, bridges. Gloucester Daily Times

• Massachusetts making inventory of water service lines to identify those made of lead. New England Public Media

• Racial Equity Municipal Action Plan aims to address wealth gap at local levels, where it was caused. Boston Globe

• A ‘bittersweet’ farewell: Haverhill’s mayor says goodbye after 20 years. MassLive Media

• ‘Step aside and enjoy what I have left in life here’: Sapelli leaves office after long run in Agawam. New England Public Media

• Kokoros looks back on accomplishments as he ends four years as Braintree mayor. Patriot Ledger

• After a long tenure on the City Council, Marchetti prepares to become Pittsfield’s mayor. New England Public Media

• Fairhaven has adopted diversity, equity and inclusion measures. Here’s what it means. South Coast Today

• Hawley’s new website recognized by Massachusetts Municipal Association. The Recorder News

Dec. 20, 2023

• Somerville City Council unanimously approves home rule petition for local rent stabilization. Boston Globe

• State DPU OKs Andover power-pooling plan. Eagle Tribune

• Mass. Gov. Healey: ‘I’ll continue to press’ for East-West rail between Boston and N.Y. MassLive Media

Dec. 19, 2023

• Healey admin proposes dipping into surplus funds to fill hole in shelter funding. Boston Globe

• Oak Bluffs considers housing municipal workers. The MV Times

• Manchester weighs state, local harbor management plans. Salem News

• Untreated sewage overflow, emergency-level flooding strike Greenfield. MassLive Media

Dec. 18, 2023

• Biden administration awards Mass. nearly $400M toward Cape bridge project. Boston Globe

• Wastewater surveillance a proactive tool in stemming drug abuse. Commonwealth Beacon

• Town of Reading reckons with its past as it looks to honor Celtics great Bill Russell. WBUR

• A victim of early success on solar, Mass. now lags behind. Boston Globe

Dec. 15, 2023

• Hundreds of Boston Public Schools jobs on the line as federal funds run out. Boston Globe

• 850-unit apartment complex coming to Lynn waterfront, helped along by a $45M tax break. Boston Globe

• A one-of-a-kind homeless shelter in Attleboro gets attention of state housing secretary. The Sun Chronicle

• Maura Healey reflects on her first year in office, in interview with State House News Service. New England Public Media

Dec. 14, 2023

• Gov. Healey asks Biden to issue a major disaster declaration for fall flooding. MassLive Media

• Explosion settlement fund fuels solar-powered street lights. Eagle Tribune

• Granby voters OK $5.3M to rehab old school into space for town offices, senior center. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Rockport introducing new municipal, school websites. Gloucester Daily Times

• Who lives here: Digging deep into Boston’s demographics. WBUR

• Worcester zoning now allows accessory dwelling units throughout city. Telegram & Gazette

• Opioid-related overdose deaths fall in Mass., but remain near record highs. Boston Globe

Dec. 13, 2023

• Rat infestation complaints drop in Cambridge after combination of efforts, and more to come. Cambridge Day

• Why did half of Massachusetts’s counties abolish their governments in the ’90s. Boston.com

• The owner of the Great Barrington fairgrounds has never had to pay property taxes. The town says now they do, and the state agrees. Berkshire Eagle

• Andover Select Board reworks wording of question on town meeting. Eagle Tribune

Dec. 12, 2023

• Swampscott Town Meeting OKs bylaw prohibiting single-use plastic takeout containers, utensils. Item Live

• Towns consider pitching in opioid funds for islandwide position. Vineyard Gazette

• Lawmakers seek more fuel assistance funding. Eagle Tribune

• Nearly 350 Mass. farms to receive $20 million in disaster aid. Boston Globe

• Hadley officials look to bring town pay up to market value. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Got a snowplow and need to make some money? At least one South Shore town needs drivers. Patriot Ledger

Dec. 11, 2023

• Feds push to remove lead drinking water pipes. Salem News

• In face of municipal recruitment challenges, Wellfleet welcomes five new employees. Cape Cod Times

• Foxborough Select Board adopts new flag policy. The Sun Chronicle

• Housing Secretary Augustus sees migrants adding to Cape workforce. Cape Cod Times

Dec. 8, 2023

• Gov. Healey talks about what her new economic development plan means for the state. WBUR

• Mass. to close shelter in MBTA office building for homeless migrant families, shift ‘operations’ to Quincy. Boston Globe

• Proposed switch away from city manager in Cambridge fails, and charter committee will ask for more time. Cambridge Day

Dec. 7, 2023

• Mass. outlines new strategy for getting customers and utilities off of natural gas. WBUR

Dec. 6, 2023

• State officials celebrate Community One Stop for Growth grants in Turners Falls. The Recorder News

• Outdoor boxes with Narcan getting plenty of use in Northampton and Greenfield. New England Public News

Dec. 5, 2023

• Fiscal storm clouds on the horizon in Mass.; tax collections falling short of targets as growth slows. Commonwealth Beacon

• There’s a snow plow shortage in Massachusetts. Here’s how one town is sweetening the deal for drivers. WBUR

• Cambridge street signs to include Indigenous translations. Boston Globe

• Peabody’s first woman city councilor dies at 91. Salem News

• Veterans Memorial Bridge added to list of bridges deemed ‘structurally deficient.’ Another ‘frustrating’ infrastructure issue for North Adams, mayor says. Berkshire Eagle

• Jane Swift’s life of public scrutiny and personal challenge; Former governor finds hope in grief, considers the changing place of women in public life. Commonwealth Beacon

Dec. 4, 2023

• ‘There’s no way to sugarcoat it.’ The state’s first climate report card is out, and the grades are mixed. Boston Globe

• Has Northampton’s crisis response team become police alternative? Not yet. MassLive Media

• Aging dams in central and western Massachusetts to be removed in $25M project. MassLive Media

• ‘There are ambulance deserts here.’ What happens when a broken economic model puts emergency services at risk in Berkshire County. Berkshire Eagle

Nov. 27, 2023

• As overflow shelters are prepared, Gov. Healey says migrant influx may be waning. Boston.com

• Methuen launching initiatives on homelessness, addiction. Eagle Tribune

• Community members turned an abandoned Roxbury bus yard into a mixed-use ‘urban village’. Boston.com

• Lawmakers are pushing to revitalize cultural districts across Mass. Boston Business Journal

• Brookline has banned anyone born this century from buying tobacco in town, but some question whether bylaw is legal. Boston Globe

Nov. 20, 2023

• The Amesbury miracle: How a dying mill town went through a vibrant renewal. Boston Globe

• Rep. Peter Durant to be sworn-in as state senator on Nov. 29, officials confirm. Boston Herald

• Cannabis Control Commission director to leave in December. Athol Daily News

• Repairing the MBTA will cost $25 billion, according to new analysis. Boston.com

Nov. 15, 2023

• Upton residents approve change from board of selectmen to select board. Why the change was made. Milford Daily News

• Bernardston launches new website. The Recorder News

• Blais, Comerford launch bills to establish disaster relief fund. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Healey and Driscoll reflect on first 10 months in office. Item Live

• More Lenox land may be opened for solar arrays. But the zoning change also comes with more restrictions. Berkshire Eagle

Nov. 13, 2023

• State hits Healey’s shelter cap of 7,500 families. CommonWealth Beacon

• Rep. Blais, Sen. Comerford file bill to allow police and fire personnel to serve until age 72. Athol Daily News

• Beverly voters approve 4-year mayoral term. Salem News

• SJC looks at Brookline’s ‘novel’ phased tobacco ban. CommonWealth Beacon

• Sorting recycling is a drag. So these UMass grads are teaching AI to do it. Boston Globe

• Monica Tibbits-Nutt named Massachusetts secretary of transportation. Boston Globe

• Newburyport gears up for election recount for 2 council seats. Newburyport News

• Massachusetts rent control supporters end 2024 ballot question push. Berkshire Eagle

Nov. 9, 2023

• Mass. lawmakers vote to move 2024 state primary to day after Labor Day, again shifting political calendar. Boston Globe

• Mass. officials hopeful billions in rail funding will advance state goals. WBUR

Nov. 8, 2023

• History in the making: First female mayor elected in Haverhill. Eagle Tribune

• McClain becomes first Black woman elected to Lynn City Council. Item Live

• House to review $250M shelter funding in Healey’s spending bill. Athol Daily News

• Contracted firm says PFAS filtration system at Swift River School is successful. Athol Daily News

• Did you make it to the jam-packed Swansea Town Meeting? You deserve this T-shirt. Herald News

Nov. 6, 2023

• Concrete getting pulled into state’s carbon battle. The Recorder News

• Mental health expert to join some police calls in Hatfield, Sunderland, Whately. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• 4 interesting Massachusetts mayoral races to watch this week. WBUR

• Voters face key decisions in municipal elections on Tuesday. Daily Hampshire Gazette

Nov. 3, 2023

• Healey weighing limits on how long homeless families can stay in emergency shelters, as system strained by migrant influx. Boston Globe

• Western Mass legislators want rural representation in housing bond bill. The Recorder News

• Pioneer Valley residents testify in favor of rural school aid bill. Athol Daily News

Nov. 1, 2023

• Holyoke mayor announces $1M public safety plan in wake of Oct. 4 shooting. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Tewksbury Planning Board votes to recommend MBTA Communities districts. The Lowell Sun

Oct. 30, 2023

• As Mass. nears deadline to cap shelter capacity, state to partner with feds to help migrants obtain work permits. Boston Globe

• Huge crowds pour into Salem for Halloween. Salem News

• Climate migration to Massachusetts ‘an urgent concern’. CommonWealth Magazine

• Cannabis businesses sue over federal prohibition. Daily Hampshire Gazette

Oct. 26, 2023

• Voters in 11 Tri-County communities approve funding construction of new voke school. Milford Daily

• Want to buy a vintage Town Hall? Here’s why Richmond’s is expected to go on the market. Berkshire Eagle

• Am I pronouncing the town of Raynham’s name right? Hint: it’s not ‘rain-am’. Enterprise News

• State picks Hadley motel for homeless shelter; town prepares to accommodate 34 people placed at the Knights Inn. Daily Hampshire Gazette

Oct. 24, 2023

• Chelmsford Town Meeting approves specialized energy code for new buildings. Lowell Sun News

• ‘A rare opportunity’: Provincetown voters approve property purchase. How will it be used? Cape Cod Times

• Leominster rebounding from flooding that caused $40 million in damage, says mayor. Telegram & Gazette

• Two Holyoke projects hold promise of reaching long-sought compliance on sewer overflows. MassLive Media

• Washington held an election in which no one ran. Now it’s unclear whether the winner will serve. Berkshire Eagle

• An eight-town school district merger has been rejected — mostly by voters in the Southern Berkshire Regional district. Berkshire Eagle

Oct. 23, 2023

• Danvers moves toward trash fee to fund special-ed services and strained budget. Salem News

• Congressional report says failure to replace Cape bridges could be ‘catastrophic’. Boston.com

• Sewage can overflow into Mass. waterways when it rains. Fixing the problem isn’t cheap. WBUR

• Egremont voters reject eight-town school district merger by wide margin. Berkshire Eagle

• Property tax exemption for Stockbridge full-time residents again turned down by Select Board. Berkshire Eagle

• Analysts see Massachusetts outmigration trend as ongoing threat. The Recorder News

Oct. 20, 2023

• Boston to create 63 affordable homeownership units in Dorchester. MassLive Media

• Atlantic hurricanes are getting stronger, faster, study finds. Boston Globe

Oct. 19, 2023

• As state pleads for federal help, Mass. lawmakers meet with Homeland Security secretary on migrants. Boston Globe

• Gloucester’s climate change journey, one podcast at a time. Gloucester Daily Times

• When will GE’s $55 million to five towns be released? Here’s the expected timeline. Berkshire Eagle

• Haverhill among cities, towns with racial deed covenants. Eagle Tribune

• $7M rejected for Scituate sea wall. How it could still get built. Patriot Ledger

Oct. 18, 2023

• Cambridge passes new affordable housing rules, paving the way for taller buildings. Boston Globe

• Boston’s hot spots could find relief with new $11.4 million grant from the U.S. Forestry Service. GBH

• Nantucket Reps Take Aim At “Dark Money” Influencing Town Meetings. Nantucket Current

Oct. 17, 2023

• Taunton will not join regional 911 dispatch center. Here is what we know. Taunton Gazette

• Cannabis Control Commission picks Hilton-Creek as acting executive director. WBUR

Oct. 16, 2023

• Massachusetts municipal officials say greener power wrapped in red tape. Boston Herald

• Auditor’s office eyes PILOT reforms to address inequities hurting rural towns. The Recorder News

• Upton could be latest Mass. community to to switch to a gender-neutral title for its board of selectmen. Milford Daily

• Voluntary online system collecting household, biz data to ensure efficient emergency response in Greenfield. The Recorder News

• Solar panel waste could become a problem. A nascent recycling industry has some solutions. Boston Globe

• Push for electric school buses faces procurement bump in the road; current law complicates effort by requiring separate bids for buses and charging stations. CommonWealth Magazine

Oct. 13, 2023

• Driscoll warns Mass. shelters ‘at capacity’. Boston Globe

• Department of Justice awards Massachusetts $118M+ in public safety grants. Boston Herald

• FEMA officials visit Leominster to assess damage from ‘catastrophic’ flooding. Boston Globe

• 4 Mass. towns get $550K to help protect Buzzards Bay Watershed. MassLive Media

• ‘Ambitious’ community housing article heads to Provincetown special town meeting. Cape Cod Times

• iLottery still a priority for treasurer as online betting evolves. CommonWealth Magazine

Oct. 11, 2023

• Healey housing approach taking shape. Salem News

• After debate, Gloucester council favors sustainability rules for city buildings. Gloucester Daily Times

Oct. 10, 2023

• Biden administration to send team to assess migrant situation in Massachusetts. Boston Globe

• New Massachusetts Municipal Association Executive Director Adam Chapdelaine views shelter crisis as a top priority. Boston Herald

• New PFAS water treatment facility in operation in Mansfield. The Sun Chronicle

Oct. 6, 2023

• Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia seeks state, local help in dealing with gun violence. New England Public Media

• State launches new respiratory illness dashboard to track COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Boston Globe

Oct. 5, 2023

• House OKs pay range disclosure bill; Information would be required in hiring advertisements. CommonWealth Magazine

• Chicopee ballot will measure public support for 4-year mayoral term. MassLive Media

Oct. 4, 2023

• In Reading, a solution for local flooding aims to help the whole watershed. WBUR

• Mass. Gov. Healey: Cops will get more than $3.6M in grants for body cameras. MassLive Media

• MBTA will keep ferries running until late fall. WBUR

Oct. 3, 2023

• Deerfield seeks support for green municipal campus from state climate chief. The Recorder News

• Mass. can expand solar without chopping so much forest, report says. WBUR

• Wage theft rules to become law in Salem. Salem News

• Baltimore’s school building program could offer model to close gaps in Massachusetts. Boston Globe

Oct. 2, 2023

• Larger than life: Charlie Lyons was a civic leader, family man and friend. Your Arlington

• Study finds 24/7 ambulance service in Hatfield a costly endeavor. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Chicopee topped state list of most pedestrian fatal crashes last year. What is being done to fix that. MassLive Media

• A new Massachusetts department wants you to get outdoors. WBUR

Sept. 29, 2023

• Boston City Council green lights Mayor Wu’s hike to affordable housing requirement. Boston Globe

• $8.6 million price tag: FEMA grant will cover hiring of 30 firefighters in Worcester. Telegram & Gazette

Sept. 28, 2023

• Healey hopes to blunt impacts of potential federal government shutdown on Mass. WBUR

Sept. 27, 2023

• Massachusetts lawmakers unveil $1 billion tax relief deal; votes planned this week. Boston Globe

• Report sets reparations framework for Amherst; calls for BIPOC youth center, housing help, entrepreneurship program. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Richmond residents welcome their new Town Hall & Library. Berkshire Eagle

• Framingham Planning Board puts forward ADU plan, recommends its approval. Milford Daily

• Cambridge picked as a national hub for new federal health research agency. Boston Globe

• State funds Mass. hotline to reduce risk of fatal overdoses. WBUR

• As pandemic funding expires, 56k Mass. kids could lose child care. MassLive Media

Sept. 26, 2023

• Healey plans clean energy permitting overhaul. Newburyport News

• Cannabis Control Commission votes to put new restrictions on payments to municipalities. Enterprise News

• Inspector general flags high-tech lighting problems at Wilbraham school as example of mistake to avoid. MassLive Media

• Wrentham starts program to help respond to people with mental health, medical issues in an emergency. The Sun Chronicle

Sept. 25, 2023

• Blais, Comerford pitch new building authority to aid towns. The Recorder News

• Haverhill wins $1M to plant, maintain street trees in the inner city. Eagle Tribune

• Massachusetts receives $108M federal grant to support East-West rail. New England Public Media

Sept. 22, 2023

• Mass. lawmakers say they reached a deal on tax relief, ending months of closed-door talks. Boston Globe

• Biden administration speeds up work permits that could help thousands of Mass. migrants. GBH

• MassDOT organizing new climate-focused office. Salem News

• Attorneys speak to ‘uncertainty’ of tax title-taking process given Supreme Court decision, conflicting state law. The Recorder News

• City solicitor reviewing policy on flag displays at Attleboro City Hall. The Sun Chronicle

Sept. 21, 2023

• Massachusetts school districts juggle registering migrant students, vaccine requirements. WCVB

• Broadband is limited in many Mass. towns; new Northampton study talks solutions. MassLive Media

• Keeping public records secret is costing Mass. municipalities. WBUR

• These 275 Massachusetts schools were identified as needing state assistance or intervention. Boston Globe

Sept. 20, 2023

• Gov. Maura Healey doubles-down on call for Congress, Biden to help with migrant crisis. MassLive Media

• Healey faces decision over single open spot in fossil fuel pilot. Salem News

• Leominster’s longtime mayor has led the city through tough weather before. But last week’s flooding was a beast of its own. Boston Globe

Sept. 19, 2023

• 13 Mass. communities are voting in preliminary elections on Tuesday. WBUR

• FEMA will help Leominster after last week’s damaging floods, mayor says. MassLive Media

• Healey unveils ‘groundbreaking’ policies on biodiversity and single-use plastic. GBH

Sept. 18, 2023

• Greenfield’s sustainability chief will lead Northampton’s new climate action department. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Resident assemblies could be added to charter, adding form of direct democracy in Cambridge. Cambridge Day

• Regular bouts of deadly heat are coming sooner than expected. Boston Globe

• Friends, family and colleagues remember former Mayor, state Rep. and Register of Deeds Edward Early Jr. Lowell Sun News

• Reckoning looms over ‘home equity theft’; Supreme Court decision puts Mass. law, cities and towns in spotlight. CommonWealth Magazine

• Massachusetts cannabis agency chair Shannon O’Brien suspended. WBUR

Sept. 15, 2023

• Leominster mayor says damage from devastating storm could total ‘$25 to $35 million’. Boston Globe

• Feared collapse of Leominster dam highlights hundreds more that threaten damage. GBH

• It’s not easy to find building inspectors for hire. So Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox and Stockbridge will share some. Berkshire Eagle

• A journey continues: migrants reflect one year after being flown to Martha’s Vineyard. GBH

• After new safety troubles, feds put T on tighter leash. Boston Globe

Sept. 14, 2023

• Mayors say lack of housing is region’s top problem. Gloucester Daily Times

• Leominster flood damage costs between $25M to $45M for infrastructure, mayor says. MassLive Media

• Lowell’s cyberattack cleanup continues. Lowell Sun News

• Littleton to soon address PFAS contamination with completion of treatment plant. Lowell Sun News

• With flashier floods and stronger hurricanes, ‘I don’t think we know what normal is anymore’. Boston Globe

• Boston Mayor Wu says planning department will be re-organized to launch new zoning initiatives. CommonWealth Magazine

• Boston’s first “passive” single-family homes preview greener future. Axios

Sept. 13, 2023

• National Guard deploying to Mass. migrant shelters on Wednesday. Taunton Gazette

• Gov. Healey pledges help for ‘devastation’ in Leominster, North Attleborough in the wake of flash flooding. WBUR

• Boston group calls on state to fix dams after ‘catastrophic’ Leominster flooding. MassLive Media

• It’s been a summer of rain and flooding misery in Mass. WBUR

• The Lee Planning Board has approved regulations for short-term rentals. Voters will weigh in later this fall. Berkshire Eagle

Sept. 12, 2023

• Leominster Declares Emergency After ‘Catastrophic’ Flash Flooding. New York Times

• Orange to offer training following visits from ‘First Amendment auditors’. The Recorder News

• Work begins on $7.6M fiber-optic network in Easthampton. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Secretary Augustus: No silver bullets in the housing crisis. CommonWealth Magazine

• After sharp drop in federal funding to replace lead water lines, state races to find out why. Boston Globe

Sept. 11, 2023

• Mayoral races highlight fall election landscape. WWLP22

• Maura Healey says Farm Resiliency Fund may stick around. Sentinel and Enterprise

• As Migrants Are Placed Around Massachusetts, Towns Are Welcoming but Worried. New York Times

Sept. 8, 2023

• ‘I don’t want to be left holding the bill’: Migrant arrivals push Mass. shelters, and towns, to the brink. Boston Globe

• Northampton squad operating as alternative to police started this week. MassLive Media

• West Tisbury pursuing land purchase for affordable housing. MV Times

Sept. 7, 2023

• In contest for federal funds, Mass. officials need $800 million more in state money to compete, report says. Boston Globe

• The Bel Air Dam in Pittsfield is in such bad shape the state is removing it — as well as hundreds of tons of contaminated soil. Berkshire Eagle

• Local advocates press Healey to fund Municipal Reforestation Program. The Recorder News

• New undersecretary engages with western Mass. communities on environmental justice issues. New England Public Media

• Too hot to handle: As schools reopen in a heat wave, a warning of the climate future; Older school buildings across New England are ill-equipped for extreme heat, which is becoming increasingly common. Boston Globe

• Massachusetts needs more senior housing. Can prioritizing it help fix the wider crisis? Boston Globe

Sept. 6, 2023

• 6 Franklin County communities getting $800,000 for climate resilience planning. The Recorder News

• U.S. Sens. Warren, Markey back Mass.’ push for Cape Cod bridge funding. MassLive Media

• Healey expected to propose major housing bond bill this month. MassLive Media

Sept. 5, 2023

• Healey activates Mass. National Guard to help with migrant crisis. GBH

• Experts warn to heed lessons of previous floods, push analysis of aging infrastructure. Athol Daily News

• Northampton installs outdoor Narcan boxes to counter opioid overdoses. New England Public Media

• Ditching the town’s ‘drive-through’ image: Work begins on $300K ‘Re-Imagine Goshen’ project. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• State awards $100K to Attleboro for stormwater flow study. The Sun Chronicle

• Cambridge prepares to talk reparations; Commission enacted by law is the start. Cambridge Day

• Hull town meeting voters turn a new leaf in support of recreational marijuana. Patriot Ledger

Aug. 31, 2023

• Boston charts the future of downtown development in new plan. Boston Globe

• Peabody adopts Stretch Code in search of Green Community status. Salem News

• Brewster Debates Uses For Opioid Settlement Cash. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Mayor Joshua Garcia introduces meet-the-mayor initiative. MassLive Media

• Some Massachusetts school districts have enough bus drivers, others still short as school year starts. Boston Globe

• MEMA declines to pursue federal disaster declaration for region. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• The Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans is reclaiming 351 acres of sacred homeland in Stockbridge. Berkshire Eagle

Aug. 29, 2023

• Mass. transportation secretary set to step down in September. WBUR

• Aquinnah Breaks Ground on Affordable Apartments. Vineyard Gazette

• Sumner Tunnel reopening: What to know and when it will be closed next. Boston.com

Aug. 28, 2023

• After years of resistance, some cities and towns plan to move back from eroding coasts. CommonWealth Magazine

• As climate warming drives more extreme weather, ‘everything we care about is on the line’. Boston Globe

Aug. 24, 2023

• Community Preservation Act backed in Swampscott. Item Live

• Federal officials tout Dorchester remodel as future of clean energy projects. GBH

• Lowell may welcome migrant families. The Lowell Sun

• Public toilets, more green space, or both? Somerville residents will decide how to spend $1 million. Boston Globe

Aug. 23, 2023

• North Andover sustained nearly $30 million in flooding damage, town official says. Boston Globe

• Massachusetts awards four grants to repair culverts over Berkshire County brooks and streams. Berkshire Eagle

• Wayland is trying a four-day week for town employees. MetroWest Daily

• Digitizing record books may give details on enslaved and freed Black community in the Berkshires. WBUR

• A bumpy start — and lessons learned — as Somerville lines busy roads with ‘speed humps’. Boston Globe

• Springfield to use gaming commission funds to study casino and drunk driving. MassLive Media

• Healey, Spilka say they expect tax cuts before the end of the year. Boston Herald

Aug. 22, 2023

• Woburn prepares to shelter up to 100 migrant families. WCVB

• Healey admin seeks over $2 billion from federal grant programs; Cape bridges, Mass Pike, North Station, Route 9 could see improvement. Boston Herald

• Mass. police oversight panel releases public database of officer disciplinary records. Boston Globe

• Massachusetts to change how Asian, Black, and other populations are counted in ‘most expansive’ effort in country. Boston Globe

• Cranberries, cod and turkeys: Massachusetts officials want you to help design the state’s new seal. WBUR

Aug. 21, 2023

• Feds send almost $2 million to Massachusetts for migrant housing and transit. GBH

• Municipalities assess damage as residents grapple with aftermath of more flooding. Eagle Tribune

• Pollution is threatening Cape Cod’s famous waters. Its towns are spending hundreds of millions to head off an environmental disaster. Boston Globe

• Cambridge legalizes EV charging across the sidewalk; City requires a permit and use of a ramp or swing-arm for safety. Boston Globe

• Massachusetts cities and towns have spent millions restoring historic religious sites. They don’t know if it was constitutional. CommonWealth Magazine

• 8-year-old on trek to every town is proclaimed Westfield’s Mayor for the Day. MassLive Media

Aug. 11, 2023

• Merrimack Valley residents, businesses assess damage from powerful storm as flood warnings continue. Boston Globe

• ‘An antiquated model’: Why Holliston will have free full-day kindergarten. MetroWest Daily

Aug. 10, 2023

• Free school meals now permanent in Mass. with new state budget. GBH

• Chicopee wastewater system overflows into 2 valley rivers. MassLive Media

• Community health survey aimed at addressing inequities in Massachusetts. GBH

• Slammed by climate emergencies, Mass. farmers ask, ‘Now what?’ WBUR

Aug. 9, 2023

• ‘Right-to-shelter’ law is unique to Massachusetts. It has a long history. Boston Globe

• State gets fed funding for green building codes. Eagle Tribune

• Southwick Select Board starts process of amending zoning bylaw to allow cannabis retailers in town. MassLive Media

• Two tornadoes touched down in Massachusetts Tuesday morning, weather service says. Boston Globe

Aug. 8, 2023

• Deerfield officials brace for millions in road repairs. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Windsor applied for a municipal aggregation plan in March 2022 to lower residents’ electric rates. It still hasn’t been approved. Berkshire Eagle

Aug. 7, 2023

• People want to go electric. Cambridge is launching a program to help them figure out how. Boston Globe

• Amid crush of migrant and homeless families in shelter system, Healey expected to announce plan to help. Boston Globe

Aug. 4, 2023

• Potential 2024 ballot questions: rent control, voting rights, psychedelics and more. GBH

• Nahant votes to lower quorum requirements for town meeting. Item Live

• Summer Driving Dangers: Reckless driving surge in western Mass. WWLP

Aug. 3, 2023

• Gov. Healey set to sign $375M transportation bill. New England Public Media

• Plainville, Foxboro, Wrentham get casino mitigation money. The Sun Chronicle

• $12 million plan seeks to promote recreation and climate resilience in Dorchester waterfront. WBUR

• How one housing project in Newton may change the way we think about building green. Boston Globe

• After all that rain, Boston had its second wettest July on record. WBUR

Aug. 2, 2023

• ‘Keep our channels open.’ Six Cape towns receive $5.65M to retain boat access to ocean. Cape Cod Times

• Federal authorities designate seven counties in Mass. as ‘natural disaster’ areas in wake of July floods. Boston Globe

Aug. 1, 2023

• East-west rail not in state budget, but backers see other funding options. MassLive Media

• State opens second welcome center for migrants and families experiencing homelessness. GBH

• Mass. lawmakers eye a ‘Netflix tax’ to fund community TV channels. Boston Globe

• Mayor Wu bans fossil fuels in new City of Boston buildings and major renovations. WBUR

• Worcester to launch universal basic income program using ARPA funds. MassLive Media

• Young urban planners: Boston students study solutions to extreme temps in city ‘heat islands’. WBUR

July 31, 2023

• Fall River native and former city admin Adam Chapelaine gets new statewide job. Herald News

• Easthampton Municipal Building closed indefinitely while air quality issues addressed. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Severe thunderstorms left trail of damage in Massachusetts on Saturday night. Boston Globe

July 26, 2023

• Marblehead is the latest town to ban use of gas-powered leaf blowers during summer. Boston Globe

July 25, 2023

• House suggests Gov. Healey come up with another interim state budget as deadline looms. MassLive Media

• State-funded shelters in Mass. reach new record: nearly 5,000 families. WBUR

• At risk: Eight dams in Hampshire/Franklin counties at threat to fail as a warming climate brings bigger storms. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Chicopee releases draft plan for land use and development. MassLive Media

• A 27-mile community-made trail brings urban hiking to Boston. Boston Globe

• Massachusetts gets $58 million to get the lead out of schools. GBH

• Worcester has recouped nearly $1 million in tax liens since 2018, report shows. MassLive Media

July 24, 2023

• State farm caucus spells out priorities: Bevy of legislation focuses on food access, farmland and economic development. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Mayor Joshua Garcia: Holyoke is prepared for migrant influx, but state must ‘up its game’. MassLive Media

• An eight-town board has endorsed plans to merge Southern Berkshire, Berkshire Hills school districts. Berkshire Eagle

July 20, 2023

• More and more small Berkshire County towns are struggling to staff town halls and government positions. Berkshire Eagle

• In Hudson, the American downtown is back. MassLive Media

• With federal flood maps too focused on the past, Cambridge goes its own way on risk predictions. Cambridge Day

• Pedestrian road fatalities hit record high of 101 in 2022. Commonwealth Magazine

• MassDOT board approves investment spending plan. WBUR

July 19, 2023

• Haverhill receives $250K grant for dam removal. Eagle Tribune

• Beacon Hill wrangles over local road funding. Eagle Tribune

• In face of housing crisis, Mass. lawmakers appear aligned on one of the first of many responses. Boston Globe

• Massachusetts State House to remain closed Wednesday as fire investigation continues, officials say. Boston Globe

July 18, 2023

• Damage assessments ongoing after western Massachusetts floods. New England Public Media

• Sen. Mark, Rep. Blais talk infrastructure funding, green energy in Whately. The Recorder News

• Kathleen Keresey wins select board seat in West Stockbridge after voters break tie. Berkshire Eagle

July 17, 2023

• As the climate changes, obsolete dams put Mass. at risk for flooding similar to Vermont. GBH

• A new tourism study shows Fall River has much potential. Here’s what the report found. Herald News

• 8-year-old visits Danvers on quest to see all city and town halls in Massachusetts. Salem News

• How did the town of Lee get its name? From ‘a bad guy, court-martialed and thrown out of the army.’ New historical society exhibit traces Lee’s ‘Coming of Age’. Berkshire Eagle

July 14, 2023

• What happens to the glass containers you think you’re recycling. WBUR

July 13, 2023

• Flood exposes ‘infrastructure crisis’ in Mass. as Gov. Healey visits devastation. MassLive Media

• State to expand ‘welcome centers’ for homeless and migrant families amid influx of new arrivals. Boston Globe

• It seems unnatural to think of cities as part of nature. But environmental resilience depends on it. Boston Globe

July 12, 2023

• Many Cape Cod firefighters say they can’t afford to live in the towns they cover. Boston Globe

• New Town Manager Weighs In On Orleans’ Housing Struggles. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Clarksburg faces more than $1 million worth of repairs after the storm, while North Adams residents wait for the waters to fully recede. Berkshire Eagle

• Franklin receives help to clean up contaminated land in town. MetroWest Daily

• Vermont floods show limits of America’s efforts to adapt to climate change. Boston Globe

July 11, 2023

• Clarksburg declares a state of emergency as its town hall floods; Many North Adams roads closed due to ‘significant flooding’. Berkshire Eagle

• Boston Mayor Wu’s administration will offer tax breaks to turn office buildings into housing. Boston Globe

• ‘Full-scale humanitarian crisis’: Chelsea receives a growing number of migrant families. GBH

• Martha’s Vineyard is creating a first-of-its-kind neighborhood for veterans. Cape Cod Times

• Boston wants more EV chargers for on-street parking spots. WBUR

July 10, 2023

• Report: Massachusetts has ample solar power potential. The Recorder News

• Cambridge enacts ambitious building emissions reduction standards. Boston Globe

• Study finds 104-mile rail trail connecting Northampton to Boston would generate millions, increase health. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Amid hiring slump, some Massachusetts police departments look to leave civil service. Boston Globe

• Great Barrington made a new law about weedkiller use on public property. Here’s what it says. Berkshire Eagle

July 6, 2023

• Here’s what happened when West Springfield police added a mental health clinician. MassLive Media

• Former state Rep. Sean Curran tapped as shared town administrator for the towns of Middlefield and Washington. Berkshire Eagle

• Massachusetts must change ‘unconstitutional’ tax foreclosure laws, AG says. MassLive Media

July 5, 2023

• Landscape shifts on voting methods, as state backs off its financial support during pandemic. MassLive Media

• Cape Cod’s housing shortage has seasonal workers, and their employers, facing a squeeze. Boston Globe

• Which Mass. town has the most electric vehicles? New state dashboard lets you see. MassLive Media

• Pittsfield Police Chief Michael Wynn signs off in emotional ceremony. Berkshire Eagle

• Clock to start ticking for Cape towns to reduce nitrogen pollution. Which town is exempt. Cape Cod Times

June 30, 2023

• Westfield hires substance use outreach coordinator using state lawsuit funds. MassLive Media

• Advocates renew push to expand bottle bill. Eagle Tribune

• Report ranks Massachusetts fourth in the country on electric vehicle policies. WBUR

June 29, 2023

• The new rural affairs director makes first official visit to Berkshires. Here’s what she had to say. Berkshire Eagle

• Peabody adds new safety-security director post following school hoax. Salem News

• Oak Bluffs Endorses Veterans Housing Project. Vineyard Gazette

• Cambridge toughens ordinance for net zero buildings. Cambridge Day

June 28, 2023

• Fall River buys the farm: Why the city is preserving historic acreage for a nature center. Herald News

June 27, 2023

• Massachusetts lawmakers send 1-month state budget to governor. WBUR

• Wenham special election will expand Select Board to 5 members. Salem News

June 26, 2023

• State launches first welcome center in Allston for immigrant and homeless families amid ‘rising need’. GBH

• 3M to pay $10 billion to clean up ‘forever chemicals.’ Critics say that’s not enough. WBUR

• Methuen takes action against ‘forever chemicals’ in firefighting gear. Eagle Tribune

• As legislators renew push for plastic bag ban, much of Massachusetts already covered. Boston Globe

• Officials warn commuters to plan for weeks-long shutdown of Sumner Tunnel. Boston Globe

June 23, 2023

• ‘We need 10 times that.’ Housing shortages on Cape emphasized in Healey visit. Cape Cod Times

• From pickle ball sets to kayaks; libraries are loaning out free access to fun. New England Public Media

• Mass. set a record for opioid overdose deaths. Black residents were hardest hit. WBUR

• Marblehead to make serious cuts in staff after failure of tax override. Salem news

June 22, 2023

• Healey files interim budget to keep government running. The Recorder News

• Final regulations target nitrogen pollution on Cape; Propose watershed permits with 20-year timeline. CommonWealth Magazine

• South Coast towns spared from costly new septic rules; State will offer guidance and assistance on nitrogen pollution, but South Coast towns won’t be subject to the same requirements as towns on Cape Cod. New Bedford Light

• Pangallo settles in as new mayor. Salem News

• What increased AAPI representation in Mass. politics means to local city councilors. GBH

• Cambridge files to stop solar project in Lexington that would raze 1,000 trees, expose water source. Cambridge Day

• Foxboro select board approves sale of some of town’s sewer capacity for Sharon project. The Sun Chronicle

June 21, 2023

• Grid operator dials back electricity concerns through 2027, in part due to solar power growth. CommonWealth Magazine

June 20, 2023

• Boston to receive $3M for program aimed at sparking dialogue around monuments. Boston Globe

• Experts say parks have ‘public health superpowers’ — and Boston is a national leader. GBH

• The Forgotten Legacy of Boston’s Historic Black Graveyard. Boston Magazine

• State policy lags behind single-use plastic rules in cities, towns. Salem News

• Massachusetts needs more housing. How much should be affordable vs. high-end. GBH

June 15, 2023

• Massachusetts to receive over $1 billion in opioid settlements. WBUR

June 14, 2023

• Mass. municipal budgets at mercy of Beacon Hill state aid decision. MassLive Media

• Worcester moving $4M in ARPA funding to address food insecurity, housing. MassLive Media

• The country’s first gas utility-run networked geothermal heating and cooling system breaks ground in Mass. WBUR

June 13, 2023

• Municipal green electricity offering taking shape for Amherst, Northampton, Pelham residents. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• In race to beat debt limit deal, state doled out $80m in unspent COVID highway funds. The Boston Globe

• Plymouth voted down town charter changes, but committee finds favor with both sides of recently failed new charter. Wicked Local

June 12, 2023

• Chilmark considers buying homes for affordable housing. The Martha’s Vineyard Times

• Hubbardston town election is Tuesday – but with too few candidates, will the town function. The Gardner News

• In Holyoke, buildings bought for cannabis industry sit idle as buzz fades. MassLive Media

• Winters in the Northeast could see a 109% increase in extreme precipitation, new report finds. Boston Globe

June 9, 2023

• Mass. Senate offers $600M tax relief bill that would boost housing support, without business-friendly cuts. Boston Globe

• In Fall River, homeless people are cleaning up the city. It’s a path back to the workforce. Herald News

• Report finds food insecurity to be greatest in Western Massachusetts. MassLive Media

• Police, schools, face uptick in serious threats. Salem News

• Retailers urge lawmakers to reject online lottery. Eagle Tribune

June 8, 2023

• State formalizing forestry role in emissions fight. The Recorder News

• State converts Greenfield hotel into shelter to house low-income families. MassLive Media

• Amherst eyes new approach to road repairs. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• 7,000 trees: Worcester hopes to throw shade with backing from feds. Telegram and Gazette

• New report examines if the Community Preservation Act could help address the housing crisis. WBUR

• Trustees of Reservations names former environmental secretary Katie Theoharides as next leader. Boston Globe

June 7, 2023

• Feds offer little help with asylum seeker costs. Eagle Tribune

• Fairhaven voters said ‘no’ to a Proposition 2½ override. Now what. South Coast Today

June 6, 2023

• State tax revenues bounce back, yet still short of benchmark. CommonWealth Magazine

• Housing advocates in western Massachusetts have wish list for the state’s new housing secretary. New England Public Media

• To meet new state housing law, Newton aims to make its villages a little taller. Boston Globe

• Dartmouth research shows increase in extreme precipitation in the Northeast by the end of the century. WBUR

• Hopedale approves $1.35M override to balance town budget. MetroWest Daily News

• Wu announces $4 million effort to get 1,000 Boston workers into biotech jobs. WBUR

• Three ‘forever chemicals’ makers settle public water lawsuits. Boston Globe

June 2, 2023

• Westfield, Holyoke, Springfield land $202K in Mass. Gateway Cities grants to help green up. MassLive Media

• For some on a tight margin, debt ceiling deal could make things even tighter. Boston Globe

June 1, 2023

• Advocates pitch early priorities for Ed Augustus as he starts as new housing secretary. Boston Herald

• Somerville’s civic engagement efforts are featured in Harvard case studies. Boston Globe

• Boston Supreme Court case has Framingham mulling a new policy on flying flags. Metrowest Daily News

• Report: Northampton mayor, elected officials deserve big pay bump. Daily Hampshire Gazette

May 31, 2023

• Driscoll’s role in new administration: Housing remains a priority but not the only focus. CommonWealth Magazine

May 30, 2023

• ‘First Amendment auditors’ sweep through local communities, ‘harass and humiliate’ town officials on camera. Sentinel and Enterprise

• ‘Incredible opportunity’: Pangallo sworn in as Salem’s new mayor. Salem News

• The TriTown Connector in Great Barrington, Stockbridge and Egremont offers on-demand ride service for everyone. Berkshire Eagle

• Fire in Hull put election in danger. Judge says town will get another chance to vote. Patriot Ledger

• After 7 years as Revere mayor, new DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo is stepping out of his ‘comfort zone’. WBUR

• Following Supreme Court ruling, Gov. Healey describes ‘all hands on deck’ approach to climate policy. GBH

• High levels of hunger persist in Mass., as COVID-era benefits roll back. Boston Globe

• Town Administrator Steve Ellis joins state council on economic development. The Recorder News

• Supreme Court ruling on municipal foreclosures will preserve equity for Massachusetts homeowners. GBH

• Massachusetts spends thousands more on school construction aid for white students than for students of color. Boston Globe

• At Massachusetts 911 call centers, severe staffing issues and burnout. Boston Globe

• In Provincetown, Mass., a Matchmaker Helps the Desperate Find Housing. New York Times

• PFAS levels in ground and air could be higher than expected, research suggests. The Guardian

May 26, 2023

• After cyber attack, Lowell allocates $1M for LifeLock protection; city, school employees to receive monitoring. Lowell Sun

• New ‘food forest’ in Mattapan is a space to harvest food and grow community. WBUR

• Brewster’s new water stations make a difference for humans, dogs. Cape Cod Times

• Cape bridge repairs highlight how the housing crunch has exacerbated commutes. Boston Globe

• Pack your patience: Mass. summer tourism destinations face labor shortage. WBUR

May 25, 2023

• Amherst officials grapple with how to loosen housing squeeze. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Cambridge to launch free public preschool for all 4-year-olds, some 3-year-olds. Boston Globe

• Cities need better public transit, less driving, new international report says. That makes Mass. a laggard, not a leader. Boston Globe

• With deadline looming, Boston City Council approves new district map. Boston Globe

• After pandemic success, a push to bolster Mass. rent relief program. Boston Globe

May 24, 2023

• Mass. housing, transportation patterns trend south while migration rises, report says. MassLive Media

• Nantucket Voters Endorse $6.5 Million Tax Override For Affordable Housing. Nantucket Current

• If you host a block party in Cambridge, the city will give you $200 for supplies. Boston Globe

• Report: Mass. leads nation in rate of special education services for kids under 3. WBUR

• Immigration advocates ‘hopeful’ new Healey hires will bring better coordination to migrant response. Boston Globe

May 23, 2023

• Cannabis Commission scraps plans for pilot marijuana cafes, will focus on writing regulations for wider launch. WBUR

• Wu announces new program to improve pedestrian safety and reduce traffic crashes. Boston Globe

• Hate crimes in Mass. grew by 1/3 in 2022, ADL report finds. Boston Globe

• Report: Mass. economic growth slows, projected to go negative. CommonWealth Magazine

May 22, 2023

• YouTubers film, insult public workers in towns across Mass. for self-declared ‘First Amendment audits’. Boston Globe

• No winner, again, in West Stockbridge Select Board election recount. What’s the next step. Berkshire Eagle

• Medway wants to make it harder to sell tobacco. Here’s what the plan entails. Milford Daily

• U.S. Rep. Richard Neal says east-west rail ‘is going to happen’ in push for regional equity. MassLive Media

May 19, 2023

• Fall River has $100K in ARPA money to plant free trees for homeowners: How to request one. Herald News

• Election-day fire threatens results in Hull, court says voters likely ‘disenfranchised’. Patriot Ledger

May 18, 2023

• Healey to pledge up to $700 million to replace Cape Cod bridges, doubling state’s share. Boston Globe

• These three Berkshires water systems were shut down due to PFAS ‘forever chemicals’. Berkshire Eagle

• Otis wins $200,000 grant to transform the former St. Paul’s Church into a cultural center. Berkshire Eagle

• Springfield officials question the city’s ability to accommodate an influx of arrivals. MassLive Media

May 17, 2023

• Pangallo to become Salem’s next mayor. Salem News

• Agawam Mayor William Sapelli says he will not seek reelection. MassLive Media

• ‘After exhausting all other options’ Brockton lays off 130 teachers as enrollment plummets. Enterprise News

• New Mass. DPH director wants to bolster beleaguered department, rebuild trust in public health. Boston Globe

May 16, 2023

• Study: Toxic contamination at Joint Base Cape Cod could persist for centuries. WBUR

• Amherst Town Council charts racial equity steps. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Northampton report ID’s barriers to civic service. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Hingham joins 24 communities in Massachusetts with single-use plastic water bottle ban. Patriot Ledger

• State politicians eye bill to protect soil, farms from PFAS. Daily Hampshire Gazette

May 15, 2023

• Winchendon seeks letters of interest for Board of Health after a failure to elect. Gardner News

• Change to town manager OK’d in Belchertown. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• New data: Homelessness in western Massachusetts reaches five-year high. New England Public Media

• Hackers claim to publish data seized from Lowell in cybersecurity breach. Boston Globe

• Great Barrington has made more than $6 million in ‘impact’ fees from pot shops. Some owners want the town to return it. Berkshire Eagle

• Back Bay to Nubian Square: 2 miles and a 23-year life expectancy gap. WBUR

May 12, 2023

• Boston-area mayors sign compact to improve diversity in real estate projects. GBH

• Somerville extends free taxi service for low-income residents. WBUR

• Once-abandoned mills are now home to thousands of Massachusetts residents. GBH

• As climate change fuels fiercer rains, a new report on 2010 Massachusetts floods sends a dire warning. Boston Globe

• Sen. Comerford, locals urge state to update outdated mosquito-control plan. Daily Hampshire Gazette

May 11, 2023

• A new plan for Mattapan area of Boston imagines a safer, more vibrant neighborhood after decades of neglect. Boston Globe

• Is the COVID pandemic really over? Here’s what the data show. Boston Globe

May 10, 2023

• Feds investigating cyberattack of Lowell network; Ransomware group claims responsibility; Data recovery under way. The Lowell Sun

• The race for a West Stockbridge Select Board seat ended in a tie. So what happens next. Berkshire Eagle

• Worcester’s in housing crisis; Here’s how the city manager plans to fix it. MassLive Media

• As COVID emergency ends, Mass. officials say state is prepared to deal with future surges. Boston Globe

• Influx of migrants in Massachusetts continues to overwhelm state resources. Boston Globe

May 9, 2023

• Sara Robertson, Worcester’s first woman mayor, dies at 88. MassLive Media

• Cities, towns are frontline in addressing climate change. CommonWealth Magazine

• You have the right to be rude in public comment at a meeting, the state’s highest court ruled. What does that mean in the Berkshires. Berkshire Eagle

• Editorial: More options are better for public meetings. The Sun Chronicle

• Spilka following different path on tax relief; Says Senate will take up tax package sometime after budget is done. CommonWealth Magazine

• Massachusetts joins probe into health impact of gas stoves. WCVB

May 8, 2023

• Mayor Michelle Wu takes the stage for the Concert for the City at Symphony Hall. Boston Globe

• Local communities take different approaches to public meetings as pandemic wanes. The Sun Chronicle

• Healey says revenue shortfall ‘accounted for’ as some fear budget cuts. Boston Globe

May 5, 2023

• Wu announces $16.5 million in federal funds to tackle homelessness in Boston. GBH

• Facing a scarcity of affordable housing, Egremont residents vote to form a trust that could lead to solutions. Berkshire Eagle

• State gets ‘C-‘ for lead in school drinking water. Salem News

• Beacon Hill bill promotes tree canopies in climate fight. Salem News

• Minority-owned firms see big jump in Massachusetts state contracts. Salem News

May 4, 2023

• April tax revenues plunge 23% below forecasted levels. CommonWealth Magazine

• In Mass. race to shelter homeless families, some local governments balk. The state is moving to change that. Boston Globe

May 3, 2023

• Mass. police oversight committee releases first-ever report. WBUR

• Effort to Restore West Tisbury’s Trees Starts to Take Root. Vineyard Gazette

• What’s a town to do as cemeteries fill? Washington looks for new space for burials. Berkshire Eagle

• Is your trash barrel ready for the garbage? Fall River will fix or replace it on the spot. Herald News

• New Marlborough voters pass everything at annual town meeting, and give a nod to one resident who has attended every town meeting for 67 years. Berkshire Eagle

May 2, 2023

• Dalton residents approve climate road map, alternative voting sites. Berkshire Eagle

• Hancock voters approve town budget, opt out of mail-in voting for next year’s municipal election. Berkshire Eagle

• Some of the state’s most exclusive golf clubs use state program to eliminate hundreds of thousands in local property taxes each year. Boston Globe

• Worcester ordered to pay Holden nearly $27 million in sewer dispute lawsuit. MassLive Media

May 1, 2023

• Pittsfield police want to reduce the level of force used by officers. Some have taken up jujitsu training as a less-lethal option. Berkshire Eagle

• Teacher retention sees sharp drop across Franklin County districts. The Recorder News

• Mass. set up a mental health hotline. 6,000 people called in the first 3 months. WBUR

April 28, 2023

• Peabody Council Approves 80-acre Open Space Purchase. Item Live

• Short-Term Rental Rules Adopted in Chatham; Registration Begins July 1. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Bill would compensate towns harmed by creation of Quabbin Reservoir. The Recorder News

April 27, 2023

• Harwich Health Board Moves To Eliminate Tobacco Sales. Cape Cod Chronicle

April 26, 2023

• Cyber attack on Lowell City Hall’s network. Lowell Sun

• Worcester to look into feasibility of municipal broadband despite high cost. MassLive Media

• Holyoke Mayor emphasizes equity, transparency for city’s final ARPA fund disbursement. MassLive Media

• Child care costs about the same in Western Mass., but the subsidies are much smaller. Boston Globe

• Watchdog report questions Boston’s ability to sustain ARPA-funded projects. Boston Herald

April 25, 2023

• Massachusetts House begins busy budget week. New England Public Media

• Municipal broadband in Quincy? It’s coming to 2 neighborhoods soon. Patriot Ledger

• Regional leaders huddle to discuss housing crisis. Eagle Tribune

• New surtax exempt from state tax cap. Athol Daily News

April 24, 2023

• A year after SCOTUS decision, Mass. towns and cities are wrestling with flaps over flags. Boston Globe

• Gove pushes for increased state funding. Newburyport News

• Can Stockbridge survive if it keeps losing year-rounders? A fierce debate erupts over a zoning proposal aimed at balancing a ‘distorted’ housing market. Berkshire Eagle

• Boston’s first law to expand the city’s tree canopy is in the works. Boston Globe

• ‘If not now, then when?’ What motivates the new Mass. commissioner for environmental protection. GBH

April 21, 2023

• Springfield City Council upgrades technology, making meetings more accessible to the public. New England Public Media

• Hopkinton is latest to find elevated PFAS in drinking water. How it will fix the issue. Milford Daily News

• Lee Select Board seeks meetings with Rest of River Committee towns in escalating struggle against PCB landfill. Berkshire Eagle

• Massachusetts Legislature, hostile to rent control, includes more landlords than renters. Boston Globe

April 20, 2023

• Healey touts ‘A ton more money’ for municipal climate planning. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Holyoke’s anti-blight Flex Squad on the prowl again, mayor says. MassLive Media

• Lynn announces use of cannabis funds for traffic signal improvement. Item Live

• Worcester Regional Transit Authority is only urban transit agency in Mass. to surpass pre-COVID ridership, report says. MassLive Media

April 19, 2023

• State legislators want to give residents a better way to recycle paint. For less than a buck up front, a nonprofit might be the answer. Berkshire Eagle

• Boston Public Library president: Libraries adding affordable housing could solve two problems at once. GBH

• Mass. firefighters and their families are on the front lines of a battle with ‘forever chemicals’. WBUR

• Watertown’s Goose Dog is on the Job. Watertown News

April 18, 2023

• Could tiny homes be on Amherst’s housing menu? Trust hears of N.H village project. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Can a Colorado-inspired housing program help Provincetown? Here’s the plan. cape cod times

• City plans to take downtown building by eminent domain. Salem News

• Greenfield police resume 24-hour coverage amid staffing shortage. MassLive Media

• Agawam takes steps to restore early mail-in voting option by adjusting election dates. MassLive Media

• Dracut selectmen approve reduced polling hours for uncontested town election. Lowell Sun

• Electric school buses serve as mini power plants during the summer. WBUR

April 14, 2023

• With high costs and little new housing, Lexington becomes first town to meet ambitious new zoning law. Boston Globe

• Mass. House passes $1.1 billion tax package it says will help families, businesses, and even the dead. Boston Globe

• State Senate signs off on Gov. Healey’s plan to create Mass. housing secretary. MassLive Media

April 13, 2023

• 2nd cohort of Lowell department heads & staff receive their diversity, equity & inclusion certificates from Middlesex Community College. Lowell Sun

• Mass. to receive $41 million in multi-state settlement with Juul, AG Campbell announces. Boston Globe

• UMass gets $15M grant to help study next generation of safer, smarter roads. MassLive Media

April 12, 2023

• During the pandemic, cities opened their streets to pedestrians. So what now. Boston Globe

• Strained by housing crisis, Mass. funneling millions of dollars each month to shore up shelter system for homeless families. Boston Globe

• How a new slogan, ‘Stop the Drop,’ aims to curb littering in Chicopee. MassLive Media

• Islandwide nip ban approved. MV Times

April 11, 2023

• $223K awarded to aid in PFAS remediation for Franklin County, North Quabbin. Athol Daily News

• Mass. lawmakers look to create 4-day work week pilot program. Boston.com

• Poll shows Massachusetts residents want tax relief. New England Public Media

April 10, 2023

• Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo named Department of Conservation and Recreation commissioner. MassLive Media

• Brookline and Somerville team up to find ways to buy more from women and people of color. GBH

• After 147 years, Holyoke City Hall finally receives official dedication. MassLive Media

• Mass. House leaders to propose making eviction protection measure permanent. Boston Globe

April 7, 2023

• Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is seeking proposals to redevelop a library branch to put affordable housing on top. Boston Globe

• Teachers in Mass. are mostly white. A Lowell program is trying to change that. WBUR

April 6, 2023

• Boston City Council votes to adopt new climate-friendly state building code. Boston Globe

• Washington and Middlefield boost the salary and readvertise for shared town administrator. Berkshire Eagle

• Northampton plans to use reserves to help stave off significant cuts in its schools. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• EPA invests millions more in New England water infrastructure upgrades. New England Public Media

• Poll: Massachusetts voters want tax relief, back Gov. Healey’s proposal. MassLive Media

April 5, 2023

• Former CDC adviser appointed head of Department of Public Health. Boston Globe

• Ballot questions about changing Seekonk town government fail at hands of voters. Sun Chronicle

• New Bedford receives over $2 million for homeless assistance. South Coast Today

• Town of Lee sues Bayer company over Monsanto’s role in manufacturing PCBs sold to General Electric Co. Berkshire Eagle

• Easthampton School Committee meeting canceled after public overwhelms online platforms. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Greenfield mayor’s proposed $61.6M budget curtails school funding. Recorder News

• Agawam Town Council opts out of early voting by mail. MassLive Media

April 4, 2023

• Marlborough Mayor Arthur Vigeant says he’ll retire instead of running for a seventh term. MetroWest Daily News

• Boston could ban mini-alcohol bottles, as officials cite public health and littering concerns. Boston Globe

• Provincetown town meeting funds full-time fire and rescue. Now to the ballot. Cape Cod Times

• At 18, most teens cast their first vote. In Belmont, Angus Abercrombie is the one on the ballot. Boston Globe

April 3, 2023

• Lee Town Meeting turns back clock 54 years, leaves representative voting system behind. Berkshire Eagle

• What’s in a board’s name? Depends on town. Gloucester Daily Times

• Massachusetts residents receiving SNAP benefits will get additional aid in April. New England Public Media

• Opinion from New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell: ARPA is giving local officials the tools they need. CommonWealth Magazine

March 31, 2023

• SJC rules Mayor Wu had the authority to require municipal workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Boston Globe

• 17-year-olds may soon be able to vote in Southborough. MassLive Media

• Seekonk looking at changing its form of government. The Sun Chronicle

• With climate planning, Boston has a chance to redress racial inequity, report says. Boston Globe

• Suffolk County has lost 30,000 residents since start of pandemic, according to US Census. Boston Globe

• Few state tax breaks have sunset dates. Eagle Tribune

March 30, 2023

• Mayor Jon Mitchell announces wide-ranging New Bedford housing plan. South Coast Today

• WRTA committee recommends extending free bus service another year in Worcester area. MassLive Media

• Massachusetts investing $62 million from state, federal money in new affordable housing projects. WCVB

• FDA approves the overdose-reversing drug Narcan for over-the-counter sales. WBUR

• East-West Rail would give an economic boost to Worcester and Central Mass., experts say. MassLive Media

• Our sewage often becomes fertilizer. Problem is, it’s tainted with PFAS. WBUR

• Pedestrians killed in crashes rose by 35 percent across Massachusetts last year, study finds. Boston Globe

• A new report found that Mass. has the highest GDP per capita in the country. Here’s what that means for you. Boston.com

March 29, 2023

• ‘Lower and lower’: Mass. cities urged to change election timing to boost turnout. WPRI

• Lawsuit threatens to overturn train whistle bans in dozens of communities in hopes of reducing tragedies. Boston Globe

• Boston leader Mel King dies at 94. GBH

• At least 28 Massachusetts schools received hoax threats Tuesday. MassLive Media

• New data finds some Massachusetts counties are much healthier than others. Boston Globe

• A Needham company tried to solve the problem of urban garbage with solar-powered bins. But it wasn’t a clean-cut solution. Boston Globe

• ‘History has blown by’ the Mass. Constitution’s gendered language, one Rep. says. GBH

March 28, 2023

• Lawmakers echo concerns they hear about PFAS. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Nationwide study to packaging bans: What the Cape can do about PFAS, the forever chemicals. Cape Cod Times

• Western Massachusetts gets $1 million to entice tourists to winter attractions. MassLive Media

• New policy will spell out that Amherst Common flagpoles are for government speech. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Newburyport loses legendary Mayor Byron Matthews. Newburyport News

March 27, 2023

• Greenfield and sheriff work out deal to cover overnight police shifts. New England Public Media

• The Milford Police Department has a new use of force policy. Milford Daily News

• ‘Pulse of creativity’: Cummington becomes Massachusetts cultural district. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• In update a year after federal agreement, Springfield police now has a use of force review panel. WBUR

• Does Bourne need to comply with the MBTA’s housing mandate? A look at how that would work. Cape Cod Times

• Inside the crazy, mixed-up world of electric-vehicle charger pricing. Boston Globe

March 23, 2023

• Number of homeless and migrant families living in emergency hotels rises in Massachusetts. Boston Globe

• With school transportation an ‘equity’ issue, mayor wants Home Rule petition to change law. Herald News

• Holyoke’s agreement with EPA cuts sewer discharges into Connecticut River. MassLive Media

• This Sheriff’s Office tool helps police officers promote peaceful solutions. Milford Daily

• More women are getting elected, but stereotypes persist. GBH

• Lexington bans sale of new fur products in near-unanimous town meeting vote. MassLive Media

March 22, 2023

• Chicopee receives additional $2.8 million federal earmark to fund wastewater treatment upgrades. MassLive Media

• South Coast residents to lose only bus service to Boston. GBH

• Eviction prevention policy set to expire March 31. WBUR

March 21, 2023

• It’s been 3 years since the pandemic began, will Massachusetts lawmakers continue remote meetings? New England Public Media

• Boston exploring expanded rules to allow easier beekeeping in the city. MassLive Media

• Climate Change at Home: A place for burning wood in state’s green energy future? Daily Hampshire Gazette

March 20, 2023

• Sheffield wants to make it easy to have a “tiny house” to help ease a housing crisis. Berkshire Eagle

• Meet Nicolas Resca, a Lee teen who is helping the town rewrite its master plan. Berkshire Eagle

• Becket to consider merging ambulance service with Otis. Berkshire Eagle

• Westfield City Council votes against charter proposal for 4-year mayoral term. MassLive Media

• ‘Wakeup call’: Braintree chemical fire, Ohio derailment show need for stronger emergency planning, experts say. Boston Globe

• There’s momentum at last for East-West Rail, but Postal Service still stands in the way. Boston Globe

March 17, 2023

• State’s 1st environmental justice undersecretary plans to focus on communities of color. WBUR

• Mayor Wu announces steps to cut oil and gas from Boston buildings, creating ‘clear pathways’ to a fossil-free future. Boston Globe

• International Association of Fire Fighters files lawsuit in Dedham to remove ‘cancer-causing’ PFAS chemicals from gear. Boston Herald

• Winchendon town meeting rejects CPA – next steps for dam repair remain unclear. The Gardner News

• Northampton cannabis tax revenue dropping fast. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• State to launch nine new early college programs. Boston Globe

March 16, 2023

• Meeting EPA’s new standards for PFAS in drinking water will be costly and take time, say industry leaders. GBH

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

• Healey will end the COVID vaccination mandate for Massachusetts workers. New England Public Media

March 15, 2023

• EPA proposes regulations on 6 toxic ‘forever chemicals’ chemicals in drinking water. WBUR

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

• Leverett says no to CPA money for track at regional school, yes to preserving 91 acres near town center. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Foxboro election will feature no contests. The Sun Chronicle

March 14, 2023

• Rural schools in Massachusetts still need funding, even with boost in Healey’s proposed budget. New England Public Media

• Bonnie Heiple, an attorney, named MassDEP commissioner. WBUR

• Chatham Center for Active Living could become housing. Here’s how that would happen. Cape Cod Times

• High-speed internet, a new playground and a town welcome basket are just some of the ways Windsor is attracting younger families to its remote town. Berkshire Eagle

March 13, 2023

• Gov. Maura Healey announces new rural affairs position. WBUR

• A ‘relentlessly optimistic’ Cathleen DeSimone sworn in as Attleboro mayor. The Sun Chronicle

• McGovern makes reparations pitch to Biden, using Amherst as model. Daily Hampshire Gazette

March 10, 2023

• ‘A defining issue of our time’: Massachusetts’ first-ever climate chief is bringing an all-of-government approach to climate change. Boston Globe

March 9, 2023

• State budget writers weigh how to handle waning federal aid. GBH

• Emergency migrant center in Devens might close next week. What happens next? MassLive Media

• Boston City Council approves rent control proposal. WBUR

• ‘Drinks to go’ debate is back at the State House, and as contentious as ever. Boston Globe

March 8, 2023

• Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno joins MMA in requesting more funding for public road projects. MassLive Media

• SJC rules that free speech at public hearings includes right to use ‘rude, personal, and disrespectful’ words. Boston Globe

• Mass. Secreatry of State Galvin seeks more money for early, mail voting. Eagle Tribune

• Long-discussed ordinance on short-term rentals in North Adams finalized. Berkshire Eagle

• Gloucester will make $150M in upgrades to waste treatment facility to resolve Clean Water Act violations. Boston Globe

• In 13 state parks, Mass. officials issue advisories for fish consumption due to PFAS. WBUR

• New statewide poll shows strong support for rent control. Boston Globe

• Mass. ranks 29th on renewable energy, new analysis shows. Boston Globe

March 7, 2023

• Lawmakers to plug hole in food stamp benefits. Gloucester Daily Times

• Gov. Healey calls for housing production during visit to Worcester affordable development. MassLive Media

• Salem to try again on noise pollution control. Salem News

• Healey’s proposed tax credit could help ease cost of septic system repairs. CommonWealth Magazine

• Elevated PFAS found in fish from 4 Central Mass. lakes and ponds. Telegram and Gazette

March 6, 2023

• Bill aims to slow spread of PFAS damage. Boston Globe

• Western Mass. mayors and former mayors cite advantages of 4-year term. MassLive Media

March 3, 2023

• Police department in Greenfield ends overnight patrol shift. MassLive Media

March 2, 2023

• Westport schools joined a new lawsuit against YouTube, TikTok and other apps. South Coast Today

March 1, 2023

• DeSimone wins Attleboro special mayoral election plan. The Sun Chronicle

• Rural challenges: Hilltown officials outline bevy of concerns in a visit by state auditor. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Revere Mayor Brian M. Arrigo won’t seek reelection. Boston Globe

• Williamstown voters approve new fire station project during packed special town meeting. Berkshire Eagle

Feb. 28, 2023

• Governor Healey releases $750 million tax reform plan. WBUR

• New Bedford offering $5,000 sign-on bonus to new police officers. New Bedford Light

• Springfield launches youth mental health campaign. WBUR

• Mayor Wu outlines plans to commemorate 10th anniversary of Boston Marathon bombings. Boston Globe

Feb. 27, 2023

• A year later, Boston office for Black men and boys laying foundation for their future. Boston Globe

• Healey to create advisory council on Black empowerment, taps over 30 Black leaders. MassLive Media

• Boston’s residential neighborhoods are thriving, while downtown struggles. Boston Globe

Feb. 24, 2023

• Lawmakers, advocates call for faster rollout on local fossil fuel bans. GBH

Feb. 23, 2023

• Lawmakers press state on municipal power agreements. Eagle Tribune

• State eyes vacant Newton hotel for temporary emergency shelter use. Boston Globe

• Mayor moves to ease residency rules in New Bedford. CommonWealth Magazine

• Boston names Corean Reynolds as city’s first director of nightlife economy. Boston Globe

Feb. 22, 2023

• Orleans Struggles To Fill Open Positions. Cape Cod Chronicle

• West Tisbury to sue PFAS manufacturers. Vineyard Times

• Brookline’s Council on Aging releases videos to help seniors access transit options. Boston Globe

• Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Mayor Linda Tyer won’t seek reelection. New England Public Media

• Superintendent: School Cyberattack Situation Is “Far From Over”. Nantucket Current

• Elizabeth Mahony, formerly of attorney general’s office, to lead Department of Energy Resources. Boston Globe

• Charlemont, Hawley officials push Healey for more rural school aid. The Recorder News

Feb. 21, 2023

• Historic moment: Northampton creates climate action department. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Northampton City Council approves commission to study reparations for Black residents. WBUR

• PFAS expert tips: How to reduce your exposure to harmful ‘forever chemicals’. New England Public Media

• Holyoke receives $432K insurance settlement for downtown sidewalk construction error. MassLive Media

• A Lenox man says the town is allowing too many short-term rentals. The Select Board will explore adding tougher regulation. Berkshire Eagle

• With shelter system at capacity, state turns to Concord hotel for emergency use. Boston Globe

• Small-scale solar is driving down electricity demand in New England during historic peak times. WBUR

• Healey names state Representative Jon Santiago secretary of Veterans’ Services. Boston Globe

Feb. 15, 2023

• Press One To Approve: Chatham Moves Ahead With Electronic Voting System. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Short-term rental ordinances in North Adams move forward, but in two pieces. Berkshire Eagle

• Becket residents, officials discuss short term rental tax proposal, short term rental hosts critical of 6 percent tax idea. Berkshire Eagle

• Private well owners stuck with costs to treat ‘forever chemicals’. WBUR

• Boston Mayor Wu doubles down on her opposition to an elected school committee. GBH

Feb. 14, 2023

• Gov. Healey talks bridges and rail in DC visit, calls new spans to Cape a ‘top priority’. CommonWealth Magazine

• Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ force Mass. towns to face ‘true cost of water’. WBUR

• These Massachusetts communities are working to provide reparations to Black people. MassLive Media

• A decade after Concord’s landmark ban on bottled water, plastic pollution remains a scourge. Boston Globe

• Mayor Wu files plan to fight Boston’s skyrocketing rents. WBUR

• Amesbury, Chelmsford high schools experience alleged ‘swatting’ incidents Monday. MassLive Media

Feb. 13, 2023

• In visit to Devens facility, Driscoll pushes funding request to address overflowing emergency shelters. Boston Globe

• Berkshire County has more than 30 high-hazard dams, meaning a breach would likely cause serious damage. Berkshire Eagle

• Fiorentini not seeking reelection. Berkshire Tribune

• Longtime Former Watertown Town Manager Michael Driscoll Passes Away. Watertown News

• Worcester Board of Health considers cap on tobacco sellers, could vote next month on rule. Telegram & Gazette

Feb. 10, 2023

• Barnstable County has $11 million for Cape housing crisis. These ideas could get the money. Cape Cod Times

• Mass. Senate removes term limits for its president. GBH

• Under Wu, residency waivers for Boston municipal jobs have spiked. Does it matter? Boston Globe

• Group says Westport will see layoffs, lose services unless voters OK a $3 million tax hike. Herald News

Feb. 9, 2023

• Power outage in Windsor knocks out Town Hall’s new heating system and freezes pipes. Berkshire Eagle

• Heat pumps had their first major test last weekend. Here’s how it went. Boston Globe

Feb. 8, 2023

• Wu appoints task force to consider reparations in Boston. WBUR

• Boston plans to launch pilot program offering free menstrual products in city buildings. Boston Globe

• Beverly to donate fire truck to Ukraine. Salem News

• How much is Housatonic’s water system worth? Appraisal is underway as residents press for town ownership. Berkshire Eagle

• Bob Whynott, who served the city for 30 years, dead at 77. Gloucester Daily Times

Feb. 7, 2023

• Fall River firefighters were tested for cancer-causing chemicals; the results are worrying. Herald News

• Mayor touts Boston’s electric school bus pilot program as ‘largest of its kind’ in the Northeast. WBUR

• Scituate starts on-demand ride-share program. Boston Globe

Feb. 6, 2023

• State tax revenues miss mark for first time since June 2020. CommonWealth Magazine

• Kassner sworn in to House seat. Newburyport News

• Librarians are at the center of increasingly bitter culture wars. Boston Globe

Feb. 3, 2023

• Wayland is latest municipality to file federal lawsuit over PFAS in groundwater. Milford Daily News

• Fall River unveils new city logo. Herald News

• 4 key takeaways from the 2023 ‘Condition of Education’ data report. WBUR

• Mass. Senate eyes keeping pandemic-era remote voting rules after colleagues in House votes to do away with them. Boston Globe

• As new housing law takes effect, just 7 out of 175 communities that had to submit preliminary plans for new MBTA zoning law failed to do so by deadline. Boston Globe

• Federal complaint claims discrimination in Mass. vocational school admissions. GBH

Feb. 2, 2023

• More than a year after Mass. COVID-19 emergency officially ended, state House lawmakers return to in-person voting. Boston Globe

• Northampton Mayor Sciarra proposes climate action department. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• The national COVID-19 public health emergency will end in May but some of its provisions may survive in Mass. Boston Globe

Feb. 1, 2023

• Ransomware attack forces Nantucket Public Schools to shut down. Boston Globe

• Dangerous intersections and roads in Boston and Springfield are about to get multi-million dollar upgrades. Boston Globe

• New Reading website wins statewide accolades. Boston Globe

• Williamstown Select Board allocates more than $500,000 in federal funds to town projects. Berkshire Eagle

• Over 300 apartments being considered for North Attleboro mall, town manager. The Sun Chronicle

• Gov. Maura Healey vows new housing in Mass. can be sustainable, meet climate goals. MassLive Media

• ‘Stabilize, heal and transform’: Mass. education secretary announces priorities. WBUR

• Lawmakers urge state, federal officials to secure funds to replace Cape Cod bridges. Boston Globe

• EPA asks federal appeals court to dismiss challenge to Housatonic River cleanup plan. New England Public Media

Jan. 31, 2023

• Healey: Emergency aid depleted, family shelters at capacity. GBH

• Why Somerville officials say this affordable housing tweak is a ‘game changer’. WBUR

• Worcester is booming amid Boston’s housing affordability crisis. Now its home prices are soaring, too. Boston Globe

• Inspired by Worcester woman, national firefighters union takes action against PFAS in gear. Telegram & Gazette

• Biden to end Covid health emergency declarations in May. Politico

• Gas stove bans weighed amid health, climate concerns. Salem News

• As a new session begins, this is what Berkshires lawmakers will be pushing to achieve. Berkshire Eagle

• ‘Holding the wall:’ Ambulance response times in Boston slow as crews get stuck in hospital gridlock, short staffing. Boston Globe

• A social equity exemption in Northampton’s marijuana store cap raises concerns. New England Public Media

Jan. 30, 2023

• Brookline health officials to study impacts of retail marijuana on community, youth. Boston Globe

• Regional mattress recycling program sees strong response. The Recorder News

• Former Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito finds a new role. Telegram & Gazette

• Massachusetts Latinos worry about high cost of living, significant housing expenses. New England Public Media

Jan. 27, 2023

• Mattapan will be a case study in how to balance economic growth and racial equity. WBUR

• Great Barrington is looking at tax breaks for those who rent at affordable rates. Provincetown is already doing it. Berkshire Eagle

• Williams College has pledged to pay $5 million toward the town’s proposed $22.5 million fire station. Berkshire Eagle

• Dighton opts out of allowing residents to vote by mail for town election for “no excuse”. Taunton Gazette

• Town administrators once went to school here. Now, the former Cheshire Elementary School will become town hall where they can do business. Berkshire Eagle

• New coronavirus waste water surveillance program reveals neighborhood disparities. Boston Globe

Jan. 26, 2023

• Newton school officials say tax increase would supply ‘critical funding’ to spare teacher cuts. WBUR

• Town officials seek local real estate transfer fee in Amherst. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Mayor: Taunton’s credit rating upgraded to AA+ — highest in city’s history. Taunton Gazette

• Boston Mayor Wu calls job ‘most important work in the world,’ envisions sustainable city of 800,000 people. CommonWealth Magazine

• Reardon: City’s future is bright. Newburyport News

• New England sees record heat in 2022, as nation faces $165B in annual climate disaster damage. New England Public Media

Jan. 25, 2023

• How much money will the Mass. millionaires tax add to state revenue? Experts offer divergent estimates. MassLive Media

• Wrentham earns Green Community status, and $144,600 grant. Boston Globe

• Framingham City Council has approved a new, higher standard for affordable housing. MetroWest Daily

• Mass. school officials defend new school accountability plan. WBUR

• Lawmakers push for universal free school meals. Eagle Tribune

• Bill seeks to ‘level playing field’ for local access stations. The Recorder News

• Town of Orleans Addressing Lead Exposure At DPW. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Source: Healey picks BMC chief to head health and human services; Kate Walsh to run largest department in state government. CommonWealth Magazine

Jan. 24, 2023

• McGovern: Municipal projects could suffer under current debt ceiling. The Recorder News

• Mass. lawmakers consider state funding for migrant housing, school. MassLive Media

• ‘More buying power’: Weymouth mayor pushes for municipal electricity aggregation. Patriot Ledger

• ‘Why Northampton?” Online panel will explore call for reparations commission. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• No early mail-in voting for Foxboro spring election. The Sun Chronicle

• Climate change is making power outages more common. Boston Globe

Jan. 23, 2023

• Healey urges ‘aggressive’ approach to the housing crisis. GBH

• Healey pledges full funding of 2019 education law. Salem News

• Gilman chosen for leadership role in Women Elected Municipal Officials Committee. Gloucester Daily Times

• More Massachusetts districts are switching to electric school buses. WBUR

• Mayor Jennifer Macksey looks back, and ahead, from her corner office in North Adams. Berkshire Eagle

• Somerville program tackles pay disparities, backs projects creating jobs for women. Boston Globe

• Thomas F. Birmingham, former state Senate president, dies at 73. Boston Globe

Jan. 19, 2023

• Greenfield gets $300,000 grant to ‘assist’ in police staffing, mayor says. MassLive Media

• Worcester eyes colleges, universities for possible tax revenue to aid taxpayers. Telegram & Gazette

• Edgartown proposes ban on nip bottles. Martha’s Vineyard Times

• Fall River has spent millions in ARPA funds. And the city still has $49M left to spend. Herald News

Jan. 18, 2023

• Brookline and Watertown are first to adopt new building code in Mass. that discourages fossil fuels. Boston Globe

• If this Egremont dam fails, it could destroy the town’s water system. Officials are looking at options for this and a slew of problems. Berkshire Eagle

• Cape Cod bridges, old and obsolete, frustrate locals and tourists. And there’s no good solution in sight. Boston Globe

Jan. 17, 2023

• Newton Fire Department will use device to quell electric vehicle hazards to firefighters. WBUR

• North Adams to receive $629,000 state grant over five years to prevent violence. Berkshire Eagle

• City of Lynn working to break the language barrier. Boston Globe

• Meet Yvonne Hao, the state’s new economic secretary who just ‘gets stuff done’. Boston Globe

• Nantucket homeowners group agrees to remove their hotly contested erosion shield. Boston Globe

Jan. 13, 2023

• Boston launches COVID-19 wastewater surveillance program. Boston.com

• Mayor Wu announces new office aimed at helping city’s youngest residents. Boston.com

• McGovern: Amherst a reparations role model, hopes work locally will push feds to create a commission. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• E. coli indicator found in raw Raynham water, treated water tests clean, town says. Taunton Gazette

• Citing increasingly toxic climate, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu turns away from Twitter. CommonWealth Magazine

Jan. 12, 2023

• Replacing Bourne and Sagamore bridges is overdue, but hundreds of Mass. bridges are ‘structurally deficient’. Boston Globe

• Lauren Jones tapped for Massachusetts labor secretary post. WBUR

• Lynn is revamping city and school websites. Boston Globe

• ‘Boston is losing the frozen season’: 2022 was one of Massachusetts’ hottest years on record, analysis shows. Boston Globe

• With emergency SNAP benefits ending, food banks ‘cannot make up that large of a difference’. New England Public Media

• Federal lawsuit challenges tax foreclosure law. Gloucester Daily Times

• Police reform two years later: Legislators and officials reflect on landmark law in Mass. MassLive Media

Jan. 11, 2023

• Stockbridge to transfer 18th-century documents to Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans. New England Public Media

• Worcester councilors back zoning change for in-law apartments. Telegram & Gazette

• Traffic congestion got much worse in 2022 but is still below pre-pandemic levels. WBUR

• Extreme weather, fueled by climate change, cost the U.S. $165 billion in 2022. WBUR

• New Airbnb registration fees raise hackles as Great Barrington works to cover its costs. Berkshire Eagle

• Plans for Worthington’s 1st senior center get a $2M boost. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Nauset Towns Authorize Additional Funds For High School Renovation. Cape Cod Chronicle

• City boosts pay in attempt to find new diversity director. Salem News

Jan. 10, 2023

• After 35 years, Orange Town Moderator Christopher Woodcock bids adieu. The Recorder News

• Proposal to expand Wenham Select Board goes to voters. Salem News

• Top lawmakers weigh in on Healey’s housing, community college plans after first meeting. GBH

• Could Northampton see a limit on cannabis shops? City council will decide. MassLive Media

• Proposal to expand Wenham Select Board goes to voters. Salem News

• State to forgive part of Orange infrastructure loan for new sewer, water mains. The Recorder News

• House panel will try to decide who won 2 rep races. CommonWealth Magazine

Jan. 9, 2023

• Baker’s public safety secretary will stay on under Healey. GBH

• State provides more than $1.6 million in loan forgiveness for sewer overhauls in Great Barrington and Adams. Berkshire Eagle

• Grant to help save Newbury’s centuries-old town records. Newburyport News

• Board of Selectmen Chair believes it’s time for Saugus to amend its charter and become a city. Item Live

Jan. 6, 2023

• Mass. launches 24/7, 365 days-a-year mental health hotline. GBH

• With a $400 million infusion, Massachusetts shifts transition to electric vehicles into drive. Boston Globe

• Boston employee vaccine mandate heads to SJC. CommonWealth Magazine

• Pittsfield health officials put local tobacco rules in line with state law. Berkshire Eagle

Jan. 5, 2023

• Speaker Mariano and President Spilka share some top priorities in new legislative session. GBH

• Award-winning soil study strengthens Deerfield’s climate resiliency efforts. The Recorder News

• Beverly, Swampscott land grants for green projects. Salem News

• Charlie Baker takes ‘Lone Walk’ out of State House and into the next chapter. The Boston Globe

• Heroux moves out, DiLisio moves in to Attleboro mayor’s office. The Sun Chronicle

• Federal government again rejects Cape bridge replacement funds. The Boston Globe

Jan. 4, 2023

• Tyngsboro town government change from Town Administrator to Town Manager approved. The Lowell Sun

• Chatham Officials Hope Wastewater Plan Will Satisfy New State Septic Regs. Cape Cod Chronicle

• Swansea Public Schools canceled on Wednesday after cyber attack. Herald News

• Baker signs bill making roads in Massachusetts safer for pedestrians, bicyclists. New England Public Media

• 15 Mass. police officers suspended by POST Commission. MassLive Media

Jan. 3, 2023

• Governor Baker reflects on what he did — and didn’t — accomplish over 8 years in office. GBH

• Outgoing Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito will focus on family, possible mentorship role. New England Public Media

• Salem council to appoint acting mayor this week. Salem News

• The lieutenant governor isn’t usually a powerful post. Kim Driscoll may change that. Boston Globe

• Mayor Verga looks back at first year in office. Gloucester Daily Times

• Orleans, State Officials Bid Farewell To John Kelly. Cape Cod Chronicle

• New year, new rules for Airbnbs in North Adams? City Council gives initial OK to a short-term rental ordinance. Berkshire Eagle

• A New England Town Invaded by Coyotes Calls in the Sharpshooters. New York Times

• A Toxic Stew on Cape Cod: Human Waste and Warming Water. New York Times

Dec. 21, 2022

• 80% of Pittsfield’s $40.6M in federal ARPA money has been set aside, spent or allocated to city & community projects. Berkshire Eagle

• Filling municipal jobs in the Berkshires can be hard. A new shared human resources director in Adams, North Adams and Williamstown will help. Berkshire Eagle

• Gov.-elect Healey says she won’t claim public records exemption, supports more transparency for Legislature, judiciary. Boston Globe

• Sheila Russell, former mayor of Cambridge, dies at 87. Boston Globe

• Springfield City Council, mayor to see pay increases in 2024. MassLive Media

Dec. 20, 2022

• Marylou Sudders, state’s health secretary and COVID-19 response leader, announces retirement. WBUR

• An ‘amazing public servant’: Retired hilltown lawmaker Steve Kulik dies at 72. The Recorder News

• Healey taps Melissa Hoffer of the EPA to serve as state’s first climate chief. Boston Globe

• Beverly receives $200,000 grant to plan for coastal flooding. Boston Globe

• Maura Healey wants to go big on climate tech, housing, as she prepares to take office. Boston Globe

Dec. 19, 2022

• Former Lynn Schools superintendent named as next secretary of education. WBUR

• Northfield Selectboard approves 3 more uses for ARPA funding. The Recorder News

• State eyes $108M for corridor improvements as east-west rail plans move forward. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• New Hampshire becomes latest state to ban TikTok from government devices. New England Public Media

Dec. 16, 2022

• Newbury town administrator recognized by state. Newburyport News

• With Worcester’s unsheltered population jumping 50.6% over last year, city looks to increase shelter beds. MassLive Media

• Wu set to require developers to build more affordable housing in new projects. Boston Globe

• Mass. is about to open 25 behavioral health centers with 24-hour crisis intervention. MassLive Media

Dec. 15, 2022

• Climate change threatens groundwater supplies in Greater Boston, study says. GBH

• Boston City Council approves committee to study reparations. Boston Globe

• Attleboro’s mayoral special election set for Feb. 28. The Sun Chronicle

• Boston enters winter with more snow removal equipment but shortfall of city employees, Wu says. Boston Globe

• Opioid overdose deaths leveling off, but at high level; 2021 was deadliest year on record. CommonWealth Magazine

• People leaving Mass., workforce shortages harming state economy, report says. MassLive Media

• Drought in Northeast, Cape Cod regions of Mass. worsen; state officials encourage residents to save water. Boston Globe

Dec. 14, 2022

• Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Driscoll to resign as mayor of Salem after delivering last State of City address. Salem News

• Mass. officials plan to distribute 3.5 million free COVID rapid tests. MassLive Media

• Vouchers for all? Housing groups call for $3.2b investment to provide ‘universal’ rental aid in Mass. The Boston Globe

Dec. 13, 2022

• Transition, planning continues for Massachusetts Gov.-elect Maura Healey. New England Public Media

• Mass. due $230 million in opioid settlement with CVS, Walgreens. GBH

• State could get more federal money for sewer outfalls. Eagle Tribune

Dec. 12, 2022

• Somerville and Medford mayors discuss Green Line extension, T’s largest expansion in decades. WBUR

• Commission holds first meeting on train service between Boston and the Berkshires. New England Public Media

• Opinion: Old laws, like Prop 2 1/2, need to adapt to the times. CommonWealth Magazine

• $36 million Westborough library renovation voted down at special town meeting. MetroWest Daily

• Nahant, Massachusetts, teams with wildlife officials to shoot, kill nuisance coyotes. WCVB

Dec. 8, 2022

• Some Chelsea residents got $400 a month, no strings attached. Here’s what happened next. Boston Globe

• Attleboro special mayoral election tentatively set for Feb. 7. The Sun Chronicle

Dec. 7, 2022

• Worcester receives $4.2 million from state for economic development. MassLive Media

• At Newton City Hall, a community garden provides shelter to pollinators. Boston Globe

• Manchester wins $4.5M federal grant to fight Sawmill Brook flooding. Gloucester Daily Times

• New enrollment for fuel assistance has doubled already in western Massachusetts. New England Public Media

• New England winters are getting much warmer, data show. Boston Globe

• Quincy promises city-owned building, new statue, curriculum changes to Massachusett Tribe. Patriot Ledger

• Thousands of mail ballots rejected in midterms. Eagle Tribune

• In absence of legislative action, Baker administration acts on shelter crisis. GBH

• City Council signs deal with Eric Batista, city manager. Telegram and Gazette

• New enrollment for fuel assistance has doubled already in western Massachusetts. New England Public Media

Dec. 6, 2022

• Mass. tax collections outpaced benchmark in November. MassLive Media

• Northampton moves closer to opening community ‘resilience hub’ to serve people without homes. New England Public Media

• Amherst to buy old VFW building for a permanent homeless shelter. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Salem commits additional $500,000 to heating assistance. The Boston Globe

• Worcester to spend $1 million of ARPA funds for fuel assistance for struggling families. MassLive Media

• Congress seeks to limit PFAS exposure for firefighters. Eagle Tribune

• With Fall River extension complete, South Coast Rail is on track to open late 2023, Baker and MBTA announce. The Boston Globe

• Clock is ticking for Mass. lawmakers to pass supplemental budget bill for emergency shelters. New England Public Media

• Hull considers fate of nonfunctioning wind turbine. The Boston Globe

• Haverhill City Council to consider zoning amendment for accessory dwellings. Eagle Tribune

• Boston to set up 11 wastewater testing sites to increase COVID-19 detection. The Boston Globe

Dec. 5, 2022

• Shirley adopts Community Preservation Act at Special Town Meeting. Sentinel And Enterprise

• Mass. 2022 midterm: Why did the poorest communities have a low voter turnout? MassLive Media

Dec. 2, 2022

• The ‘last mile’ broadband gap is nearly closed. Money is now flowing to people who can’t afford internet. Berkshire Eagle

• Vineyard Towns Will Send Full Housing Bank Legislation to State. Vineyard Gazette

• Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux to resign effective Jan. 3 to start Bristol County sheriff job. The Sun Chronicle

• Westfield charter panel mulls public vote on changing mayor term to 4 years. MassLive Media

• Mansfield special town meeting postponed for lack of quorum. The Sun Chronicle

Dec. 1, 2022

• Galvin orders recounts in two Massachusetts House races. Boston Globe

• Boston welcomes Prince and Princess of Wales for Earthshot awards, in a showcase for Michelle Wu’s climate agenda. Boston Globe

• Holyoke mayor hopes more vacation days will attract new Public Works superintendent. MassLive Media

• Boston City Council backs letting more teens vote, but push faces an uphill climb. GBH

• US Rep. Katherine Clark elected second ranking House Democrat, continuing her national rise. GBH

Nov. 30, 2022

• Mass. to receive generous federal infrastructure money, report finds. MassLive Media

• Officials urge Massachusetts communities to prepare for influx of migrants. New England Public Media

• More work to be done in fight against opioids, Baker and Healey say. GBH

• Quincy council approves $23 million more for public safety building. Boston Globe

• Massachusetts police get more body cameras with new round of state funding. New England Public Media

Nov. 29, 2022

• Beacon Hill lawmakers continue to pass straightforward legislation in informal session. New England Public Media

• Mayor mastering transition: Driscoll working dual roles as swearing-in looms. Salem News

• Thousands of Cape Cod homeowners may need to replace septic systems under new state regulations. WBUR

• Massachusetts to get another $130M from opioid deal. Gloucester Daily Times

• In-person Election Day voting boosted turnout to 2.5M. CommonWealth Magazine

• Judge rules against cannabis shop; lawsuit expected to go to trial. Eagle Tribune

Nov. 28, 2022

• Area police departments begin behavioral health training. Newburyport News

• State funding will remove regional dams. Salem News

• Southeastern towns in Mass. saw the most deer collisions last year. Now, the state hopes hunters will help clear the roads. The Boston Globe

• With snow season near and fuel prices high, some communities give plow contractors a raise. New England Public Media

Nov. 23, 2022

• Mass. launching emergency intake center for migrants, homeless people. MassLive Media

• Natick, Westborough consider how best to spend Community Preservation Act funds. MetroWest Daily News

• Report: Charles River flooding will increase considerably with climate change. WBUR

• South Hadley-Easthampton veterans district to dissolve; communities to offer services on their own. Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Manchester selectmen mull next steps after Town Meeting snafu. Gloucester Daily Times

Nov. 22, 2022

• State extends COVID-19 policy to deal with RSV. Eagle Tribune

• Boston will use federal funds for free training for early educators. WBUR

• A tax discount plan for full-time locals? Here’s what the Stockbridge Select Board decided. Berkshire Eagle

Nov. 21, 2022

• Boston is building more than 300 homes on vacant lots, using $60 million in federal funding. Boston.com

• It’s not just the dump — it’s the dump trucks. Lee health officials to study health risk of GE’s proposed PCB site. Berkshire Eagle

• Cambridge switches back to municipal water supply after changing to MWRA supply during the summer. Boston Globe

Nov. 18, 2022

• Plans underway to convert two historic court buildings in Salem. via The Boston Globe

• Will pickleball find a future at Springside Park with ARPA funds? The Pittsfield Parks Commission says yes. via The Berkshire Eagle

• ‘Our emergency food system shouldn’t have to serve 40% of Massachusetts families’: Food aid programs showing few signs of diminishing. via The Boston Globe

• Lt. Gov-elect Kim Driscoll aims to ‘avoid theater’ in transition. via MassLive Media

• Harvard doctors warn of viral triple threat for the holidays; RSV cases have plateaued, but an early, aggressive flu could disrupt gatherings. via The Boston Globe

Nov. 17, 2022

• Decade-long decline in town committee volunteers affects town government. via Gardner News

• Healey administration must tackle Mass. workforce crisis, policy analyst. via MassLive Media

• How are Mass. public school graduates faring? Here are key takeaways from a new state report. via Boston Globe

• Southwick voters approve municipal fiber network, tax incentive for Whalley. via MassLive Media

• Braintree council approves spending opioid settlement money. via Patriot Ledger

• Attleboro mayor to submit resignation Nov. 23, proposes Jan. 31 for election to replace him. via The Sun Chronicle

Nov. 16, 2022

• State to get $61M from Walmart opioid settlement. via Newburyport News

• Fire officials call for increased state support as droughts lead to more wildfires. via GBH

• In Gloucester, ARPA money to go for parking analysis, wayfinding and electric study. via Gloucester Daily Times

• Massachusetts will send COVID tests to schools ahead of the holidays. via WBUR

• ‘We are clerks; we make it work’: The increasingly stressful duties of local election officials. via New England Public Media

• Falmouth voters approve bylaw to destroy surplus police assault weapons. via Cape Cod Times

• Newton family offers city nearly 15 acres for $24 million. via The Boston Globe

• Finding new trash hauler among Lawrence mayor’s first-year achievements. via The Eagle Tribune

Nov. 15, 2022

• In fight against rats, additional money, urgency for weapons from electrocution to birth control. via Cambridge Day

• Brookline to bring in high-tech traps to zap and track rodents. via Boston Globe

• Biden appoints former Mass. congressman Michael Capuano to Public Buildings Reform Board. via Boston Globe

• Voters call on Beacon Hill to pry open meetings. via Eagle Tribune

Nov. 14, 2022

• ‘Ravaged by retirements and burnout’: Raynham health board considers regionalization. via Taunton Gazette

• Natick will remove its 90-year-old dam after contentious process. via GBH

• Williamstown’s climate goals are guiding the design of a proposed fire station. via Berkshire Eagle

• MassHousing provides $25.9 mil for historic Lawrence mill renovation. via Eagle Tribune

• At least roughly $1 billion in tax refunds sent to Mass. residents so far. via MassLive Media

Nov. 10, 2022

• ‘Ballot question wins in New Bedford, Fall River pave way for South Coast Rail. via Boston.com

• Agawam voters reject question on extending mayoral term. via MassLive Media

• As Worcester housing crisis grows, a recommendation for inclusionary zoning with affordability requirements. via MassLive Media

• Gov.-elect Healey, outgoing Gov. Baker start planning transition. via GBH

• Voter turnout strong in mid-term election with some communities with highly-contested races beating statewide averages. via MassLive Media

• In a nation bitterly divided, the transfer of power from Baker to Healey in Massachusetts gets off to a warm start. via Boston Globe

Nov. 9, 2022

• New Bedford voters say ‘yes’ to South Coast Rail. via New Bedford Light

• Worcester says yes to Community Preservation Act. via MassLive Media

• ‘Millionaires tax’ hangs in balance as voters weigh Question 1. via The Boston Globe

Nov. 8, 2022

• Towns grapple with new ban on mattress and textile disposal. via Patriot Ledger

• New Bedford, Fall River 2 of 5 MA districts to get electric bus funding — what it means. via South Coast Today

• Cambridge moves to ban vehicles turning ‘right-on-red. via Boston Globe

• $7.5M to bolster infrastructure projects, workforce training in Franklin County. via The Recorder News

• Amherst receives $75,000 grant to fund more inclusive streetscape. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Veteran Services developing digital grave map for Chicopee. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

Nov. 7, 2022

• Merrimack Valley communities receive state grant funding for local projects. via Eagle Tribune

• Pittsfield last updated its tobacco policies in 2019. Here’s what the Board of Health wants to change. via Berkshire Eagle

• Your town might have a secret vault. Its purpose? Storing election ballots. via GBH

Nov. 4, 2022

• Legislature sends $3.8 billion spending bill to Baker. Here’s what is — and isn’t — included. via The Boston Globe

• Forums will give residents a platform to pose questions directly to Greenfield mayor. via The Recorder News

• Mayor Linda Tyer and community partners outline their approach to addressing homelessness in Pittsfield. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Worcester schools’ fix for bus delays? Take over the fleet. via WBUR

• Mass. has started spending $50M in American Rescue Plan aid on internet access. via MassLive Media

Nov. 3, 2022

• Boston’s 2030 climate goal is out of reach, a new report finds. via The Boston Globe

• Mass. to get $160M in federal fuel assistance. via Eagle Tribune

• Fall River dismantles ‘dangerous’ homeless camp and offers outreach assistance. via The Herald News

Nov. 2, 2022

• Energy-saving upgrades planned for Arlington town buildings. via The Boston Globe

• Springfield Civic Engagement Working Group to host virtual roundtable Thursday. via MassLive Media

• Bids and buses: Why districts worry as competition plummets in school bus industry. via WBUR

• Can elected officials oust citizens from public meetings for being rude? via GBH

• Latino representation ‘has just never been there’ in Mass., says Chicopee Councilor Delmarina López. via GBH

Nov. 1, 2022

• Waste management departments in Western Mass. adapting to mattress recycling law. via MassLive Media

• Gas disaster monies to fund energy-efficient apartments in historic Lawrence mill. via Eagle Tribune

• Springfield Union Station will be site of Cybersecurity Center of Excellence with $1.5 million state grant. via MassLive Media

• Salem takes in record numbers of Halloween tourists. via GBH

• Patients in Massachusetts face delays as hospitals struggle to fill 19,000 jobs, report finds. via New England Public Media

Oct. 31, 2022

• Amherst committee hears ideas for spending $2M on reparations for Black residents. via New England Public Media

• Billions in state tax refunds to start flowing to taxpayers on Tuesday, officials say. via The Boston Globe

• For Indigenous voters in Massachusetts, tribal sovereignty, child welfare, gaming and state iconography among key issues. via The Berkshire Eagle

Oct. 28, 2022

• About 700,000 visitors have already flocked to Salem to celebrate Halloween activities in October, officials say. via The Boston Globe

• Boston surpasses San Francisco as second-most expensive city for renters. via Boston.com

• Tax relief in the form of Beacon Hill’s stalled economic development bill may materialize soon. via MassLive Media

• Should New Bedford officials get pay raises? Finding − and keeping − talent is tough. via South Coast Today

Oct. 27, 2022

• Website aimed at helping small businesses find opportunities with Brookline. via The Boston Globe

• Wellesley teed up a bold move on climate action. Then came an offer it couldn’t refuse. via The Boston Globe

Oct. 26, 2022

• Cambridge becomes 5th municipality in Mass. to ban fur sales. via MassLive Media

• As vote-by-mail demand increases regionally, Salem sees Spanish voting expansion. via Salem News

• North Adams selling several vacant lots to neighbors in effort to reduce blight. via Berkshire Eagle

• Six things we learned about Boston’s housing crisis from the new Boston Foundation housing report card. via The Boston Globe

• ‘The last thing I want to invest in’: Holyoke will install ShotSpotter, but some are skeptical. via New England Public Media

Oct. 25, 2022

• Chicopee plans to spend much of remaining federal COVID recovery money to improve infrastructure. via MassLive Media

• Worcester County receives $2.6M from HUD to address youth homelessness. via The Telegram & Gazette

• Parking minimums are ended in Cambridge, giving choice to eliminate or rent out spaces. via Cambridge Day

• How pavement can help cool overheated cities, even in chilly Mass. via Cambridge Day

Oct. 24, 2022

• North Attleboro, Norton, Mansfield get millions more in pandemic funds. via The Sun Chronicle

• More than 1M mail-in ballots requested in Massachusetts, but officials say turnout is ‘slow’ so far. via New England Public Media

• America’s election workers are leaving in droves. via The Boston Globe

• Chelmsford Town Meeting narrowly votes to remove deputy fire chief from Civil Service. via The Lowell Sun

Oct. 21, 2022

• How missed cybersecurity threats cost Quincy millions of dollars. via MassLive Media

• West Stockbridge mulls best uses for federal money that comes with a deadline. via Berkshire Eagle

• The Hinsdale dam that failed was not monitored by the state. Many other dams in Berkshire County that are being watched pose high risks. via Berkshire Eagle

• The new Mass. EV incentives won’t kick in until sometime in 2023. via WBUR

• Local officials reject concerns about voter fraud as they prepare for the election. via WBUR

Oct. 20, 2022

• ‘Our town looks like a trash yard’: Delayed and missed garbage pickups plague Mass. communities. via The Boston Globe

• Attleboro area communities putting plans in place as mattresses and box springs banned from trash statewide by DEP. via The Sun Chronicle

• Attleboro bans sale of dogs, cats, guinea pigs and rabbits by pet stores. via The Sun Chronicle

• This past Saturday, Salem was full by 11 a.m. Here’s what it’s like to live there in October. via Boston.com

• Active shooter response tool coming to Taunton schools. What is it? via Taunton Gazette

• Women chair more than half of prominent state boards and commissions, new study finds. via The Boston Globe

Oct. 19, 2022

• Orleans Voters Say No To Short-Term Rental Registrations. via Cape Cod Chronicle

• Lawrence mayor to fine trash hauler over no-show service. via Eagle Tribune

• PVTA gets $67.5 million jolt in federal, state funding for electric buses, chargers and workforce training. via MassLive Media

• Here’s the latest Mass. town suffering through weeks of uncollected, rotting trash. via Boston.com

• Westford Town Meeting rejects $12 million fire station project, approves library expansion. via Lowell Sun

• ‘This is a critical moment for our community’: Newton mayor asks voters to back nearly $15 million tax hike for schools, roads, building projects. via The Boston Globe

• Mayor Michelle Wu Wants to Change Boston. But Can Boston Change? via The New York Times

Oct. 14, 2022

• Newburyport Mayor Reardon announces water treatment pilot program. via Newburyport News

• Computer kiosks will expand access to legal help in Springfield. via New England Public Media

• Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer says officials hear residents’ complaints about panhandling, but there’s little they can do. via Berkshire Eagle

• Is Massachusetts losing its competitive edge? Business groups say they’re worried. via The Boston Globe

Oct. 13, 2022

• Newton moves closer to Chapter 40B affordable housing threshold as more developments proposed. via The Boston Globe

• City of Boston program to promote civic engagement by Black men and boys. via GBH

• Springfield City Council OKs $2.7 million in Community Preservation grants; 16 projects across city to be funded. via MassLive Media

• Gloucester council decides to stick with Zoom. via Gloucester Daily Times

• Rating agencies praise state, but also issue warning. via CommonWealth Magazine

• COVID-era rent relief programs are vanishing, and evictions could follow. via The Boston Globe

Oct. 12, 2022

• Chicopee hit with new $65.2 million federal mandate to improve sewage treatment: $4.5 million grant awarded to fund 1st phase. via MassLive Media

• Randolph police credit community efforts, new tech for almost violence-free summer. via Patriot Ledger

• Free meals for Worcester Housing Authority residents available in new pilot program. via The Telegram and Gazette

• Chicopee hiring municipal workers through job fair. via MassLive Media

Oct. 11, 2022

• Attleboro area election officials faced with fielding out-of-state requests for information. via The Sun Chronicle

• Methuen City Council launches Youth Action Committee. via The Eagle Tribune

• Wu moves to speed up Boston affordable housing construction with executive order. via GBH

• MassDEP issues order for waterworks fixes as officials mull financial aid to Housatonic residents for their water. via The Berkshire Eagle

Oct. 7, 2022

• Mass. getting $145 million in federal funds to boost broadband access. via The Boston Globe

• Watertown forms trust to help fund affordable housing development. via The Boston Globe

• Massachusetts will soon ban mattresses, clothing, commercial food waste from trash. via New England Public Media

Oct. 6, 2022

• ARPA funding to the rescue; $79.5 million allocation to Lowell. via Lowell Sun

• What inclusionary zoning means and what @TweetWorcester is considering before it happens. via GBH

• Spingfield Mayor Domenic Sarno says city reduced its energy use by 25%. via MassLive Media

• Wu blocks new artificial turfs in Boston parks, refrains from calling it a ban. via GBH

• Defunct hotels offer new real estate for housing homeless people. via Boston Globe

Oct. 5, 2022

• Pittsfield police get ready to test body cams, begin developing policies for video record requests. via New England Public Media

• What Are Orleans’ Harbors Worth? Town Officials Want To Know. via Cape Cod Chronicle

• Towns Collaborate On Shoreline Management Study. via Cape Cod Chronicle

• Biking got more popular during the Orange Line shutdown. Can Boston make it safer? via GBH

• Federal money to replace Cape Cod bridges has yet to arrive, but lawmakers maintain confidence. via The Boston Globe

• Brookline recognized in Fortune’s ‘25 Best Places to Live for Families’. via The Boston Globe

• Amherst officials want next UMass chancellor to work with the town. via MassLive Media

Oct. 4, 2022

• Holyoke City Council mulls food truck ordinance. via MassLive Media

• Developers will have to explain their decisions, but law to abolish parking minimums proceeds. via Cambridge Day

Oct. 3, 2022

• Doughnut breakfast sandwich, selfies, ribbon-cuttings: Baker quietly taking local roads to exit. via The Boston Globe

• Methuen officials pleased with financial progress. via The Eagle Tribune

• $100K grant to reduce Greenfield’s reliance on fossil fuels. via The Recorder News

• Westfield mayor announces ambitious $5M plan for road repairs before winter. via MassLive Media

• These Braintree projects are being funded by Community Preservation Act money. via The Patriot Ledger

• Local wastewater shows an uptick in COVID. What does it mean? via GBH

• What’s to come at Mass. and Cass, as Boston mayor acknowledges long path ahead. via GBH

• Courts could throw state marijuana markets into disarray, and only Congress has the power to stop it. via Politico

• Mass. residents to receive $37 million in extra heating help in Congress’s short-term spending bill. via The Boston Globe

Sept. 30, 2022

• Baker, Polito reflect on ‘community compact’ partnerships with local governments. via Herald News

• Senate Ways and Means Chair Mike Rodrigues says he expects Economic Development Bill to get done this fall. via WBSM

• More Mass. liquor licenses? How Ballot Question 3 could impact your community. via MassLive Media

• Latest MCAS results show uneven academic recovery statewide. via WBUR

Sept. 29, 2022

• Report shows how putting cities and towns first, building trust was key to Baker-Polito strategy. via MassLive Media

• Communities sign ‘historic’ charter to address water problems. via Salem News

• Meet Lynn’s mayor Jared Nicholson, who wants to develop the waterfront and clean up the beaches. via GBH

• ‘Things are looking better’: Here’s what Raynham’s doing to tackle PFAS in water. via The Taunton Gazette

• Holyoke’s new ‘Flex Squad’ ready to combat blight. via MassLive Media

• Watertown has been a city for decades. Now, it’s acting like one. via The Boston Globe

• Lenox faces up to $65 million in projects. Where will Town Hall find the funding? via The Berkshire Eagle

• Lawrence mayor calls trash delays ‘outrageous,’ sets deadline for pickup. via The Eagle Tribune

• Town Meeting approves location of new water treatment plant. via The Boston Globe

• Southwick can expect quarterly water quality violations for 2-3 years, DPW director says. via MassLive Media

Sept. 28, 2022

• State Awards Two Conservation Grants; Harwich Gets $400K, HCT Receives $175K. via Cape Cod Chronicle

• Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia takes MassHire’s pledge to support workers recovering from addiction. via MassLive Media

• Braintree, Randolph win $4.1 million state grant for regional dispatch center. via The Patriot Ledger

• Lottery facing headwinds, sales down; Officials say lotteries across country are facing similar problems. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Federal money is now headed to states for building up fast EV chargers on highways. via WBUR

• Trouble brewing in the power grid as officials warn of possible electricity shortages this winter. via The Boston Globe

Sept. 27, 2022

• FEMA promises $14.1M for 60 new Worcester firefighters; another $800K to be used for equipment. via The Telegram & Gazette

• Communities receive latest round of ARPA funds. via The Sentinel And Enterprise

• Help on vacant storefronts: Northampton secures state designation to provide tax incentives for new businesses. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Springfield seeks to hire municipal workers through interview initiative. via MassLive Media

Sept. 26, 2022

• Springfield, Agawam, Easthampton among Western Mass communities sharing $2.5 million in state funding for parks, open space projects. via MassLive Media

• Littleton in uproar at hosting at least 80 gun dealers inside old mill building; officials ask for enforcement help. via The Boston Globe

• With new headstone, Marblehead won’t let enslaved woman be forgotten. via The Boston Globe

Sept. 23, 2022

• Huge win’: South Shore communities to get millions for coastal infrastructure projects. via Patriot Ledger

• WRTA buses to remain free through June 2023. via GBH

• Heavy rains cause 11 million gallon sewage overflow into Blackstone River. via MassLive Media

• MWRA drops entry fees for regional water system. via Eagle Tribune

• Where does Western Mass. begin? The debate plays out on WBZ radio. via The Boston Globe

• Dunstable water given all-clear. via The Lowell Sun

• Plainville, North Attleboro under boil water notice after E. coli detected in towns’ water. via Boston.com

Sept. 22, 2022

• Beverly to spend $1 million to help alleviate flooding. via Salem News

• Springfield opens welcome center to serve Puerto Ricans who may arrive after Hurricane Fiona. via New England Public Media

• Boston’s Mayor Wu announces investment in trees for cooling, flood reduction and beauty. via WBUR

• Northampton councilors consider possible cap on pot shops. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

Sept. 21, 2022

• Cannabis commission to revisit regulations around equity, host agreements in Massachusetts. via New England Public Media

• Will less parking mean more housing in Cambridge? via The Boston Globe

• Shrewsbury ‘Select Board’ Name Change Approved By State. via Patch

• Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno seeks ways to curb panhandling downtown. via MassLive Media

• Worcester awarded $1.2 million from FEMA for running COVID-19 hospital at DCU Center. via Telegram & Gazette

• Northfield 350th Anniversary Committee’s oral history project gets underway. via The Recorder News

• House advances Boston real estate transfer tax. via WBUR

• Worcester moves away from fossil fuel ban; some climate activists disagree. via Telegram & Gazette

• Only the 2nd community in the nation to officially commit to reparations, Amherst is in important and uncharted territory. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• State gets federal funds to expand EV charging stations. via Eagle Tribune

• Pittsfield state Senator Adam Hinds named CEO of Edward M. Kennedy Institute. via Berkshire Eagle

Sept. 20, 2022

• Gov. Baker talks Mass. wind turbines, resiliency planning at climate meeting run by Clinton foundation. via MassLive Media

• Rising sea levels challenging New Bedford hurricane barrier. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Worcester, Springfield schools could get millions for air quality fixes. via MassLive Media

• Bourne schools ready to welcome children of migrants staying on Joint Base Cape Cod. via Cape Cod Times

• Orange Line reopens on time after month-long shutdown. via WBUR

• In Massachusetts, huge disparity in which voters choose to cast ballots by mail. via New England Public Media

Sept. 19, 2022

• Independent EMS, new public works department: How Fall River government will be reorganized. via Herald News

• Here’s what Brockton is doing to combat scorching heat islands downtown. via Enterprise News

• Massachusetts clerks are getting bombarded with conspiracy-fueled records requests about the 2020 election. via The Boston Globe

• This August was the hottest on record in Mass. via WBUR

• Elected officials divided over voting by mail. via Eagle Tribune

Sept. 16, 2022

• Vineyard Community Rallies Relief Efforts to Assist Stranded Migrants. via Vineyard Gazette

• Massachusetts has 8 sanctuary cities, and how they cooperate varies. via CBS News

• Springfield council president Jesse Lederman says city needs to address vacant positions on boards. via MassLive Media

Sept. 15, 2022

• Drought, supply chain woes and toxic chemicals create a ‘perfect storm’ for Mass. water systems. via WBUR

• Boston moves to ban fossil fuels in new construction. via GBH

• Gloucester Mayor proposes master plan update amid MBTA communities process. via Gloucester Daily Times

• Pittsfield invited ‘influencers’ in to help sell the city’s charms. Here’s what they had to say. via Berkshire Eagle

• Massachusetts coalition report reveals growing achievement gap, especially among students of color. via New England Public Media

Sept. 14, 2022

• Pittsfield used ARPA funds for a marketing campaign. City leaders say it’s paying off. via Berkshire Eagle

• Seven Franklin County towns receive $574K to fund climate resiliency. via The Recorder News

• Mayor Wu says the 2020 Census undercounted Boston residents. Now, the city is challenging the tally. via Boston.com

• T chief confident Orange Line will reopen Monday. via The Boston Globe

Sept. 13, 2022

• President Joe Biden, Gov. Charlie Baker celebrate federal funding jolt at Boston Logan International Airport. via MassLive Media

• Provincetown hooked up to large electricity battery; designed for reliability, project is one of largest in nation. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Surging rents and housing shortage spark homelessness in Lawrence. via The Boston Globe

• Pittsfield Health Board Continues to Tackle Tobacco Regulations. via iBerkshires

• Moulton secures $1.2 million for Boxford Rail Trail. via Salem News

• Residential tax exemption petition fails at Rockport Town Meeting. via Gloucester Daily Times

• Stockbridge board abandons ‘divisive’ tax shift to benefit full-time vs. seasonal homeowners. via Berkshire Eagle

Sept. 12, 2022

• 80% of Methuen ARPA funding to be used for water, sewer overhaul. via Eagle Tribune

• Amherst begins planning for $27M in affordable housing projects. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Mayor seeks more funding to advance downtown Westfield green space project. via MassLive Media

• With plans for affordable housing, Wellfleet Town Meeting approves purchase of Maurice’s Campground for $6.5 million. via Cape Cod Times

• Staff shortages, growing demand spur long wait lists for after-school care. via The Boston Globe

Sept. 9, 2022

• Mass. voters solidly embrace mail balloting. via Newburyport News

• Here’s how much the rain this week helped the drought in Mass.; Conditions are better, but we still have a ways to go. via Boston.com

• Fall River is rebranding. Do you have a logo idea that could land the $500 prize? via The Herald News

• Blackstone River still suffers from pollution 50 years after massive cleanup. via WGBH

Sept. 8, 2022

• Chatham Names First Housing And Sustainability Director. via Cape Cod Chronicle

• Primary results suggest sea change for women in Massachusetts politics. via The Boston Globe

Sept. 7, 2022

• What to know about the Mass. state primary results. via WBUR

• Kim Driscoll, who has served as mayor of Salem since 2006, wins Democratic primary for lieutenant governor. via Boston.com

• Kelly To Retire As Orleans Town Administrator. via Cape Cod Chronicle

• Boston is getting 9.4 miles of new bike lanes, 100 new Blue Bike stations, says Mayor Wu. via Boston.com

Sept. 6, 2022

• It’s not just a job: City, town governments struggle to fill slots. via The Sun Chronicle

• Study details costs of Franklin County’s aging infrastructure. via The Recorder News

• The MBTA cut bus service because it doesn’t have enough drivers. In Lawrence, higher pay has led to more drivers and more frequent service. via The Boston Globe

• Mississippi Crisis Highlights Climate Threat to Drinking Water Nationwide. via The New York Times

• Area chiefs speak to staffing strain following police reform measures. via The Recorder News

• Wu administration backs effort to streamline marijuana licensing in Boston. via The Boston Globe

Sept. 1, 2022

• Report deems 644 Massachusetts bridges ‘structurally deficient’. via MassLive Media

• Woburn seeing elevated PFAS levels in local water supply. via Daily Times Chronicle

Aug. 31, 2022

• In sweeping report, federal transit officials decry T’s lack of safety focus, feckless state oversight. via The Boston Globe

• Attleboro area towns get state money for dam projects. via The Sun Chronicle

• Hudson Select Board approves town’s armory purchase. Here’s what happens next. via MetroWest Daily

• Maine court revives Mass.-financed hydroelectric power line. via CommonWealth Magazine

• SJC says Legislature has broad powers on voting, explains why it dismissed early, no-excuse voting challenge. via CommonWealth Magazine

Aug. 30, 2022

• Worcester reviews removing barriers to hiring, like drug testing and parking fees, as it looks to fill open positions. via MassLive Media

• Baker announces $120K grants to boost Holyoke’s tree canopy. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Worcester to begin construction on micro-units for chronically homeless. via GBH

• Barnstable County launches application portal for $5 million in ARPA grants. via Cape Cod Times

• Low fuel inventories cause special concern in Northeast. via WBUR

• A cap on cannabis? Northampton City Council to explore limiting the number of pot shops in town. via MassLive Media

• Boston Mayor Wu calls for additional federal help to shore up MBTA workforce. via WBUR

• Report finds regionalization may only be ‘partial solution’ to challenges posed by low enrollment, less rural school aid. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

Aug. 29, 2022

• Cambridge finds elevations of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water; will switch to MWRA. via The Boston Globe

• Newton officials consider one-year moratorium, tighter rules on cutting trees on private property. via The Boston Globe

• Mayor Michael Nicholson recognized by Worcester Business Journal as one of ’40 under Forty’. via The Gardner News

• Ware Town Hall could be sold as community weighs options. via MassLive Media

• Port designation poses big hurdle for redevelopment of power plant land in Everett. via The Boston Globe

• Survey of Springfield residents impacted by the justice system emphasizes need for housing, jobs. via New England Public Media

• Polluters could pay billions in fines for PFAS cleanup under new Biden plan; The Environmental Protection Agency wants to include two common ‘forever chemicals’ in Superfund law. via The Guardian

• ‘Flash droughts’ and weather ‘whiplash.’ Welcome to New England’s climate future. via WBUR

• Bans on outside police chief candidates raise civil rights concerns, officials say. via WBUR

• The government will no longer be sending free COVID-19 tests to Americans. via New England Public Media

Aug. 24, 2022

• Buses in Lawrence move to 30-minute frequency. via CommonWealth Magazine

Aug. 16, 2022

• Armed for battle: SouthCoast police add to weapons stockpile. via South Coast Today

• In Stockbridge, part-time residents push back hard on nascent tax-break idea. via Berkshire Eagle

• How the Boston area is weaning off fossil fuels. via Axios Boston

• Construction underway on a 200-unit Quincy Center project. via Boston Business Journal

Aug. 15, 2022

• Fed up with proliferation of trash, Holyoke mayor going on offensive. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

Aug. 12, 2022

• Provincetown restaurants ordered to close in ‘sewer emergency’. via WBUR

• Raynham residents warned about high levels of PFAS in drinking water. Here’s what to know. via The Taunton Gazette

• Holliston, Franklin officials say their transport infrastructure will soon improve. via MetroWest Daily

• CDC drops quarantine, screening recommendations for COVID-19. via The Boston Globe

• Melrose is leading the nation on new EV charging technology. via Boston.com

Aug. 11, 2022

• Pittsfield moves to hire social workers and co-responders to help people in mental health crisis. via The Berkshire Eagle

• New study based on Mass. schools finds masks protected students, staff from COVID-19. via The Boston Globe

Aug. 10, 2022

• Orange Line riders — and mayors — still in the dark about how commuters are supposed to get around during shutdown. via The Boston Globe

• Election reform bill will require additional staff, Southwick clerk says. via MassLive Media

Aug. 9, 2022

• Baker returns public health bill unsigned, with amendment. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Newton to gather public feedback on proposed zoning changes for village centers. via The Boston Globe

• With Worcester residents to vote on Community Preservation Act this fall, report says city could raise $3.7 million in first year. via MassLive Media

• Experts urge Massachusetts residents to conserve water amid drought. via The Boston Globe

• The past three weeks have been the warmest ever recorded in Boston. via The Boston Globe

• New diversity officers struggle to make an impact in Massachusetts cities and towns. via GBH

Aug. 8, 2022

• Mayors of Malden, Medford and Melrose say MBTA needs to beef up Orange Line alternative plan. via WCVB

• Erving officials considering cross-town trail to Wendell, Orange. via The Recorder News

• Salem spends $9.5M in ARPA funds on affordable housing. via Item Live

Aug. 5, 2022

• Not just books on loan: Boston Public Library offers free start-up advice. via WBUR

• Springfield awards $4M in 7th round of ARPA grants. via MassLive Media

• CDC expected to ease Covid-19 recommendations, including for schools, as soon as this week. via CNN

• A slow start to youth COVID vaccination in Massachusetts. via GBH

Aug. 4, 2022

• Rodents give residents, city the runaround. via The Lowell Sun

• MBTA will shut down Orange Line trains for a month. via WBUR

• Massachusetts’ high housing costs are pushing out workers. via GBH

Aug. 3, 2022

• Data: Mass. pandemic shows little sign of quitting. via The Boston Globe

• With Worcester residents to vote on Community Preservation Act this fall, report says city could raise $3.7 million in first year. via MassLive Media

• Two mental health clinicians to aid police in six communities. via The Boston Globe

• Wayland moves ahead with climate action plan. via The Boston Globe

• NOAA predicts up to 18 days of high-tide flooding for Boston next year. via WBUR

Aug. 2, 2022

• Massachusetts lawmakers retreat on economic development bill. via New England Public Media

• T safety, East-West rail, e-bikes, and EVs get boost in transportation bond, climate bills sent to governor. via The Boston Globe

• Town officials eye $4M in new energy-efficiency savings. via The Daily Times Chronicle

• Dearth of resources, declining enrollment stinging rural school districts. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

Aug. 1, 2022

• Sports betting, gun control, tax relief. Here’s what Mass. lawmakers did — and didn’t — agree to overnight. via The Boston Globe

• East-West rail to receive $275 million in funding, as lawmakers send transportation bond bill to Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk on final day of formal lawmaking. via MassLive Media

• New Bedford to receive ‘significant’ funding increases in state budget. via South Coast Today

• Boston’s new curbside composting program is here. The demand’s been there for a long time. via GBH

• FTA orders immediate MBTA ‘safety standdown’. via GBH

July 29, 2022

• Gov. Baker agrees to major spending increase in his final budget. via WBUR

• Public school enrollment falls in Mass. amid pandemic, high housing costs, and aging suburbs. via The Boston Globe

• Somerville maps fastest path to state’s first supervised consumption clinic — starting in a parking lot. via WBUR

• Drier and drier: Severe drought area in Massachusetts expands. via The Boston Globe

July 28, 2022

• Orleans Officials Hope New Policy Will Boost Interest in Serving on Committees. via Cape Cod Chronicle

• With time short, lawmakers seek to reshape local public health; Bill sets new standards, provides additional funding. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Home-rule petition allowing Amherst reparations under review. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Springfield meets inclusive hiring goals, released from rules governing police and fire departments. via WBUR

• Towns crack down on water use in Mass. as drought continues with no end in sight. via The Boston Globe

• Driver shortage already prompting changes at regional transit authorities across Massachusetts. via GBH

• ‘For a major city to not have reliable public transportation is a huge problem’. via The Boston Globe

July 27, 2022

• Wu, state officials take steps to bolster child care offerings. via GBH

• Plainville approves forming new department to maintain buildings. via The Sun Chronicle

• Rep. McGovern, Sen. Markey begin push for federal ‘Wild and Scenic’ designation for Deerfield River. via New England Public Media

• ‘It needs to rain’: Parks and public gardens adapt to ongoing drought. via The Boston Globe

• Beverly’s longest-serving mayor writes ‘My Story: Bringing Beverly Back From The Brink’. via Salem News

• Springfield City Council rejects funding police oversight jobs; cites hiring process. via MassLive Media

July 26, 2022

• Mass. cities scurry to contain rats with electronic traps, carbon monoxide and birth control. via WBUR

• Melrose asks public how to design new ‘wayfinding’ signs. via The Boston Globe

• Greenfield awarded DPH grant to support five area towns. via The Recorder News

• Heat islands create health risks in some New Bedford neighborhoods. via New Bedford Light

• SJC rules in favor of Boston in its battle with Quincy to rebuild Long Island Bridge. via WBUR

• Attleboro City Council postpones vote on nip bottle ban proposal. via The Sun Chronicle

• Barriers at the Beach: People tussle over scarce access as sea levels and property values rise. via GBH

July 22, 2022

• Changing financial picture puts Amherst’s plan for four big projects in jeopardy. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Mayor says Attleboro experiencing water supply ‘crisis,’ pleads for cooperation from residents. via The Sun Chronicle

July 21, 2022

• Legislature set to vote on compromise climate bill Thursday. via CommonWealth Magazine

• ‘A clear and present danger’: At Brayton Point, president announces climate actions. via Herald News

• Police say they want more mental health collaborators, but there’s a shortage. via New England Public Media

• Worcester takes next step toward policy to increase affordable housing. via GBH

• Feeling the heat in Greater Boston? Blame historic racist housing practices. via GBH

• This little known fund has put over $7.5 million toward open space, recreation areas in Worcester and over $120 million statewide. via MassLive Media

• Chilmark set to analyze its government. via MV Times

July 20, 2022

• Here’s how two Massachusetts towns are making it easier for their communities to reduce waste. via Cape Cod Times

• Tiny Somerset attracts visit from president; Community has been a bellwether for the nation on energy. via CommonWealth Magazine

July 19, 2022

• Mass. Senate unveils a ‘huge’ $4.3 billion economic development bill. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Springfield City Council resumes in-person meetings after 2+ years of COVID-prompted remoteness. via The MassLive Media

• ‘The beginning of the answer’: Superintendents weigh in on report calling for $60M for rural schools. via The Recorder News

• New study attributes thousands of Mass. deaths to air pollution. via Boston.com

• Orange cereal factory blaze a warning bell for local towns. via The Recorder News

• Inside Provincetown’s ‘Herculean’ effort to save the summer from monkeypox. via The Boston Globe

• Negro Election Day celebrated as Mass. lawmakers vote to approve new holiday. via GBH

July 18, 2022

• What to watch at the end of the Massachusetts legislative session. via GBH

• Western Massachusetts town clerk says local officials overwhelmed by ‘predatory records requests’. via New England Public Media

• Where’s downtown? Richmond now has an $8 million answer. via Berkshire Eagle

• Several Berkshires projects win state grants to contend with our changing climate. via Berkshire Eagle

• ‘The right thing to do’: New Bedford poised to submit COVID death benefits petition. via South Coast Today

• With inflation on the rise, Pittsfield considers ‘guardrails’ to cost of living increases to city employees. via Berkshire Eagle

• City encourages indoor masks as Boston’s COVID cases rise nearly 40 percent in past week. via Boston.com

• Report: Massachusetts needs another 108,000 homes. via CommonWealth Magazine

July 14, 2022

• Boston City Council approves $367 million in COVID relief funds for housing, environmental efforts. via The Boston Globe

• Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Council President Jesse Lederman agree to continue remote meetings for city boards. via MassLive Media

July 13, 2022

• Fitchburg reconfiguring Main St., arts initiative, new housing – all pieces of revitalization puzzle. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Special Commission on Rural School Districts calls for $60M in funding to support rural school districts. via The Berkshire Eagle

• The drought in Massachusetts is getting worse. via WBUR

• Galvin raises concerns about remote notarization plans. via Newburyport News

July 12, 2022

• SJC upholds no-excuse voting by mail. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Bourne is the only Cape Cod town impacted by a state law mandating more multifamily zoning. via Cape Cod Times

• Williamstown DPW employees seek hazard paycheck of $4,000 each for performing duties during pandemic “public safety crisis”. via The Berkshire Eagle

July 11, 2022

• State officials will scale back the frequency of COVID data reporting to one day a week. via The Boston Globe

• Lawrence officials say homelessness cannot be answered ‘municipality by municipality’. via GBH

• Senate passes bill to embark on major early ed changes. via WBUR

• How have Massachusetts school districts spent their $2.5 billion in federal COVID funds? Mostly, they still haven’t. via The Boston Globe

• One Small Step for Democracy in a ‘Live Free or Die’ Town. via The New York Times

July 7, 2022

• Boston is investing $20 million to expand access to early education. via WBUR

• Want to open a new business in a Gardner storefront? Now there’s a grant for that. via The Gardner News

• Newton City Council eases rules governing the display of election signs over free speech concerns. via The Boston Globe

• Homelessness persists as Lawrence cleans up encampments. via The Eagle Tribune

• Policing alternatives: Amherst swears in first group of unarmed responders tasked with handling certain public safety calls. via MassLive Media

• Massachusetts towns struggle to keep municipal managers and workers. via WBUR

July 6, 2022

• Senate OK’s pandemic policy extensions bill that would make it easier for cities and towns to operate remotely. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Swampscott town hall trying out 4-day work week. via WBZ

• Buckland preps for public engagement process in shared-policing plans. via The Recorder News

• Salem uses federal funds to boost alternative transportation. via The Boston Globe

• State’s high court to hear GOP challenge to Mass. mail-in voting law. via The Boston Globe

• Is a solar energy project a farm? That’s the question, as Lenox faces a legal challenge from a major developer. via The Berkshire Eagle

July 5, 2022

• In its second season, Polar Park has helped transform Worcester’s Canal District, but it’s also introduced new challenges. via MassLive Media

• Massachusetts releases grants to improve vaccine equity, advocates say more should be done. via New England Public Media

• Will lieutenant governor hopefuls follow Karyn Polito’s lead on local relations? via Telegram & Gazette

• Judge rules that Cambridge bike lanes can roll on, at least for now. via The Boston Globe

• High court ruling impacts Massachusetts gun licensing rules. via The Boston Globe

July 1, 2022

• Out of city hall, but still loving their cities: 5 former mayors embark on their next acts. via The Boston Globe

June 30, 2022

• Pittsfield awards $3M in ARPA money to another set of community organizations. via Berkshire Eagle

• New East Boston affordable housing effort would be the first of its kind on East Coast. via GBH

• Municipal leaders urge lawmakers to boost regional transit funding. via Gloucester Daily Times

• A new oversight board is rushing to certify thousands of police officers by July 1. via The Boston Globe

• Social media, membership questions ruled inappropriate in police recertification. via WBUR

• Black and Latino households got more mortgages than ever in 2020 — but continued to buy houses in only a small number of Mass. communities. via The Boston Globe

June 29, 2022

• Manchester selectmen vote to regionalize safety dispatch. via Gloucester Daily Times

• Internet access lacking in many Mass. cities; More than half of homes in Chelsea, Fall River, and Springfield lack reliable broadband access. via The Boston Globe

• Saying it’s no time for ‘pettiness,’ a North Adams city councilor is proposing a code of conduct. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Amherst Town Council paves way for $2 million reparations bank. via MassLive Media

• Great Barrington residents file complaint against board, ask state to overturn short-term rental vote. via The Berkshire Eagle

June 28, 2022

• It’s an overdose crisis, not just an opioid crisis: takeaways from reporting on deaths in Brockton. via WBUR

• Fall River will give some city workers $3,000 COVID bonuses, and ARPA is paying for it. via Herald News

• State, Boston reach agreement on school improvement plan. via CommonWealth Magazine

June 27, 2022

• Mansfield opens new water treatment plant to handle ‘forever chemicals’. via The Sun Chronicle

• Decades in the making: Tri-Town agreement paves way for new Braintree water treatment plant. via The Patriot Ledger

• State awards grant money to ‘green’ communities. via The Eagle Tribune

• Municipal officials urge state not to sit on ARPA funds. via The Sentinel And Enterprise

• Adams drops requirement for garbage disposals in new housing, hoping to reduce the cost of construction and the cost to the environment. via The Berkshire Eagle

• How long does it take a town to spend nearly $2 million? In Lenox, 12 minutes, 24 seconds. via The Berkshire Eagle

June 24, 2022

• Massachusetts GOP files lawsuit against mail-in voting reform signed into law this week by Gov. Charlie Baker. via MassLive Media

June 23, 2022

• Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno calls on legislature to pass $3.5 billion downtowns package. via MassLive Media

• Lawrence mayor commits $1.5M to child care scholarship. via Eagle Tribune

• Gov. Baker signs bill ensuring mail-in ballots, early voting in Massachusetts. via WBUR

• Mass. high court rules ‘millionaires tax’ question was written ‘fairly.’ It goes before voters in November. via The Boston Globe

June 22, 2022

• Fairhaven Town Meeting OKs next step for ‘cheaper, faster’ town Broadband. via South Coast Today

• Fall River police launch body-worn camera pilot program. via Herald News

• Family, friends remember Wayne Marquis. via Salem News

• Police oversight body says majority of officers up for review will be recertified. via GBH

• Hundreds of dead birds wash up on Martha’s Vineyard. via WBUR

June 21, 2022

• Franklin awarded AAA bond rating, first time in town history. via Milford Daily News

• Wellfleet’s Housing Angels, advocacy efforts earn Housing Hero Award. via Cape Cod Times

• High wages, gas prices jack up school busing costs. via GBH

• Northampton delays rules curbing plastic use by businesses. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Former mayor publishes book reflecting on 35 years in government. via The Eagle Tribune

• Meet the 19-year-old town coordinator’s assistant who helped Warwick secure nearly $663K. via The Recorder News

June 16, 2022

• Ipswich adopts needle exchange. via Salem News

• Salem leaders tackle safety concerns. via Salem News

• Watertown plans to start universal PreK with COVID relief grant. via Watertown Mass News

• With ‘fentanyl everywhere’ and Black deaths soaring, advocates in Brockton test ways to save lives. via WBUR

• Massachusetts House leader throws cold water on east-west rail authority proposal. via New England Public Media

June 15, 2022

• Western Mass. public officials outline municipal labor challenges at meeting with state leaders. via MassLive Media

• AG OKs Dighton ban on LGBTQ, other flags at Town Hall — but only Town Hall. via Taunton Gazette

• Many Harwich Leadership Positions Remain Vacant; Building Inspector Latest To Resign. via Cape Cod Chronicle

June 13, 2022

• Savoy posts go unfilled due to a lack of interest, leaving some duties undone. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Hampshire County COVID-19 vaccination rates continue to lag rest of western Massachusetts. via New England Public Media

• ‘No one wants to be a cop these days’; Across Massachusetts, police chiefs say hiring and retaining officers is a challenge. via MassLive Media

• Employers piece together a hodgepodge of COVID-19 safety policies to stay open and healthy. via The Boston Globe

June 10, 2022

• Fall River wants to revitalize its downtown. This group went to Cambridge for inspiration. via The Herald News

• Gov. Charlie Baker talks impact of long-term hybrid work model in Massachusetts. via New England Public Media

• Mass. Senate overrides Baker veto: Undocumented immigrants will be able to get driver’s licenses. via GBH

• County Bank willing to donate Ware building to town for use as new police HQ. via MassLive Media

June 9, 2022

• Report: Massachusetts opioid overdose deaths reached new high in 2021. via New England Public Media

• Salem now required to provide ballots in Spanish. via Salem News

• Time is running out on key East-West Rail development as Gov. Charlie Baker hopes Mass. doesn’t lose out on federal funds. via MassLive Media

• Huntington TM OKs overrides for library, ambulance service. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Massachusetts House overrides Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto of driver’s license bill, advancing legislation to Senate. via MassLive Media

• MassDOT stares down scarcity of engineers, proposes pay raises. via GBH

• Marblehead was lacking in local news coverage. Three residents launched their own news site. via Boston.com

June 8, 2022

• Great Barrington Town Meeting approves restrictions on short-term rentals. via New England Public Media

• Short-staffed and strapped for cash, state parks struggle to handle surge of warm-weather crowds. via The Boston Globe

• Nonprofit executive to be next Cambridge city manager. via Wicked Local

June 7, 2022

• After years of uncertainty, Falmouth wind turbines to be demolished. via The Cape Cod Times

• Nearly one in three adults in Mass. are struggling to get enough food to eat, study finds. via The Boston Globe

June 6, 2022

• Topsfield installs solar-powered smart bench. via Salem News

• Great Barrington Town Meeting to consider dueling proposals for short-term rental rules. via New England Public Media

• After paying $30,000 to evict bats, a Dalton Town Hall project needs help to take flight. via The Berkshire Eagle

June 3, 2022

• Cape teens confront climate anxiety, learn how to make change at local level. via Cape and Islands

• Car-free streets coming to Boston’s Dorchester, Roxbury and Jamaica Plain neighborhoods. via GBH

• How leaders are working to address the racial wealth gap in Boston. via GBH

• New Bedford annual homeless count is lowest since 2017: 370 adults or children. via South Coast Today

• Former Somerville mayor Joe Curtatone energized by new job as president of Northeast Clean Energy Council. via The Boston Globe

June 2, 2022

• Mayor Wu directs grants to Boston family child-care providers. via The Boston Globe

• Malden taps COVID relief funds to provide $1,000 scholarships for all high school grads heading to college. via The Boston Globe

• Massachusetts Legislature’s approach to East-West rail authority remains clouded. via New England Public Media

June 1, 2022

• New Bedford awarded $72.7 million in federal infrastructure funds for harbor cleanup. via South Coast Today

• On Cuttyhunk Island, dwindling year-rounders look to recruit newcomers. via Boston Globe

• Heat, sewer problems and less lobster: New report details climate change’s impact in Boston. via WBUR

• New mayor reflects on Gloucester’s past and future fishing industry, beloved by Hollywood. via GBH

• Departing Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus reflects on transition, next steps. via MassLive Media

• Despite traffic and cars turned away, Gloucester encouraged by beach reservation system. via Gloucester Daily Times

May 31, 2022

• New department will maintain Braintree school and municipal buildings. via The Patriot Ledger

• In cities, murals emerging as a form of community development. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Communities urged to tap into infrastructure money. via The Eagle Tribune

• Boston police bought another ‘high performance’ drone — and want to create a new unit to fly it. via The Boston Globe

May 26, 2022

• ‘It’s opening up the doors’: Advocates push to make remote participation in public meetings permanent. via The Boston Globe

• Easton votes to spend $1 million to bring historic hall back to life. via The Boston Globe

• Worcester weighs new policy to increase affordable housing. via GBH

• Attleboro mayor, police chief tout school gunshot detection system in wake of Texas tragedy. via The Sun Chronicle

• Somerville City Council to consider legal protections for trans people. via Boston Herald

• Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes nominated to be US Marshal. via The Boston Globe

• Great Barrington residents divided on Airbnb rules now headed to a June vote. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Tisbury voters support housing bank. via MV Times

May 25, 2022

• Hey, Hopkinton: Does Town Meeting work for you? Let town officials know. via The Milford Daily News

• Worcester to implement new 311 customer service hotline with options for phone, text, WhatsApp and smartphone app. via MassLive Media

• Cambridge issues mask advisory, as COVID cases rise. via WBUR

May 24, 2022

• Senators push to expand school transportation funding in state budget. via The Eagle Tribune

• ‘The need for affordable housing in our community continues to grow’: Worcester to consider inclusionary zoning policy. via MassLive Media

• Brookline reinstates COVID mask mandate in schools and other indoor town spaces after CDC risk level rises to ‘high’. via MassLive Media

May 23, 2022

• Malden launches services to ease housing insecurity. via The Boston Globe

• Local officials & MassDEP at odds with National Grid over half-mile riverwalk on banks of Malden River. via The Boston Globe

• In storied New England mill city, Cambodian Americans make political history. via The LA Times

• Kim Janey to lead nonprofit targeting poverty. via The Boston Globe

• Barriers at the Beach: State law and town rules keep most of Mass. shoreline off-limits. via GBH

May 20, 2022

• North Attleboro pulling plug temporarily on EV charging stations. via The Sun Chronicle

• With COVID-19 cases on the rise, Boston health officials urge residents to take precautions. via The Boston Globe

• Mass. delays new police misconduct database. via WBUR

• In Sandisfield, voters agree on pot regulations allow up to 500,000 square feet of grow area with big setbacks, and two retail shops. via Berkshire Eagle

May 19, 2022

• New COVID-19 cases put Berkshire County among hardest-hit areas in continental U.S.. via Berkshire Eagle

May 18, 2022

• How lettuce — and jobs — could sprout from this downtown Brockton vertical farm. via Enterprise News

• Newton launching $1.75 million program to support low- and moderate-income residents. via Boston Globe

• Milton delays, shifts Town Meeting online due to COVID-19 concerns. via Boston Globe

May 13, 2022

• In Chelsea, cooling an urban heat island one block at a time. via WBUR

• Wu to launch a new era of school construction, pledging $2 billion to revamp city’s school facilities. via Boston Globe

• ‘We need this’; Free school meals on the chopping block as child hunger returns in Mass. and pandemic-era federal food programs disappear. via MassLive Media

• Brockton outlawed panhandling in 2019. Here’s why City Council just repealed the ordinance. via Enterprise News

May 12, 2022

• Chatham To Buy Church Land For Affordable Housing. via Cape Cod Chronicle

• Greenfield partners with local charities for textile recycling. via The Recorder News

• COVID Concerns Convince Board To Move Chatham Town Meeting Outdoors. via Cape Cod Chronicle

• Mask mandate back in place at Attleboro municipal buildings after rise in employee COVID cases. via The Sun Chronicle

• Senate announces four more COVID cases as masks are ‘strongly recommended’ in State House. via MassLive Media

May 11, 2022

• Mayor Mitchell announces grant program for arts-culture infrastructure revitalization. via South Coast Today

• Chronic homelessness just doubled across western Massachusetts. Experts are clear about why. via Berkshire Eagle

• Mass. Latino communities ‘struggling’ with employment, educational opportunities, report finds. via Boston Globe

• Verizon Wireless files federal lawsuit against Pittsfield Board of Health to block cell tower order. via Berkshire Eagle

May 10, 2022

• Municipal leaders eager to work on projects outlined in Baker’s economic development bill. via GBH

• ARPA funds to support festivals, special events in Salem. via Salem News

• Shared mental health clinician begins service in Erving, neighboring towns. via The Recorder News

• Northampton mayor proposes expanded health department to include Community Care Department. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Report: Homeless problem in western Massachusetts now worse in some ways, better in others. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• You can now get free rapid COVID tests at a pharmacy by showing your insurance card. via GBH

• Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge schools urging students to mask up after rise in COVID-19 cases. via The Boston Globe

• Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge schools urging students to mask up after rise in COVID-19 cases. via The Boston Globe

May 9, 2022

• The supply of trained, experienced municipal professionals is running mighty low, and Berkshires towns say problem now at ‘crisis’ stage. via Berkshire Eagle

• State grant will allow Adams, North Adams and Williamstown to share a human resources director. via Berkshire Eagle

• Seven Massachusetts counties ranked with high COVID-19 levels, says CDC; masks recommended. via The Boston Globe

• Hadley Town Meeting approves ban on single-use plastic bags. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Chicopee approves $3,000 COVID pandemic bonuses to employees. via MassLive Media

• Fed, business groups to update study that found average Black Boston household had net worth of $8; Researchers plan to take a more comprehensive survey to study Boston’s huge racial wealth gap in Boston. via The Boston Globe

May 6, 2022

• Gov. Baker, negotiators eye path to energy bill compromise. via GBH

• Franklin County towns grapple with spike in trash disposal prices. via The Recorder News

• Need a ride and there’s no bus, taxi or Uber? Three South County towns are poised to test ‘on-demand’ service, even on Sundays. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Marlborough City Council rescinds prior approval of mayor’s ARPA fund plan. via MetroWest Daily

• Peabody mayor asks state for $3 million to expand senior center. via Salem News

• Municipal governments endorse state ‘millionaires tax’ to address local budget shortfalls. via Wicked Local

• A solar battle in Wareham is pitting environmentalists against each other. via The Boston Globe

• New plan charts 30-year course for equity and resilience in Greater Boston. via GBH

May 5, 2022

• Cape committee: Climate Change Demands Local Action Including Tougher Regs, Better Planning. via Cape Cod Chronicle

• Springfield, West Springfield taking part in initiative to reduce carbon footprint. via MassLive Media

• Jump in COVID-19 cases in Pittsfield has schools considering whether to resume masking. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Housing Secretary Kennealy says state must get MBTA zoning proposal ‘right’. via Gloucester Daily Times

• The Birds have landed. Here’s what you need to know about Pittsfield’s new e-scooters. via The Berkshire Eagle

• In Malden, a diverse city strives to be ‘a place for everyone’. via The Boston Globe

May 4, 2022

• Nantucket voters send short-term rental regs back for more work; Decline to pass zoning rules to either restrict or allow rentals. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Harwich OK’s Six Ponds Land Acquisition; Town Meeting Backs CPC Affordable Housing Funds. via Cape Cod Chronicle

May 3, 2022

• Dalton nudges zoning with elders in mind, allowing ‘accessory dwelling units’. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Covid funds will power $22M in cash assistance, but the federal money is being spoken for quickly. via Cambridge Day

• Supreme Court rules Boston violated First Amendment rights by refusing to fly Christian flag at City Hall Plaza. via The Boston Globe

• Marblehead clears overrides in wild first night of Town Meeting. via The Salem News

• Savoy bylaw seeks ‘control’ of town’s cannabis future. Only one business would be allowed at a time. via The Berkshire Eagle

May 2, 2022

• MBTA to unveil new bus network design. via GBH

• SJC will consider challenges to all four ballot questions; three lawsuits aim to throw questions out due to ‘relatedness’. via CommonWealth Magazine

April 29, 2022

• Cambridge will give $500 a month to every family below the poverty line; first city in the country to take this step, the mayor said. via The Boston Herald

• Why do so many Massachusetts’ town names end in ‘ham’? via GBH

• Chicopee starts long process to make up $286 million in unfunded retirement liabilities. via MassLive Media

• Chilmark Gives Housing Bank Its Fourth Win at the Ballot Box. via Vineyard Gazette

• Wayfair’s Pittsfield jobs promise from 2019 still unrealized, despite tax breaks. via New England Public Media

• Rejected provisional ballots cited by voting reform advocates. via The Eagle Tribune

April 28, 2022

• Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides steps down. via The Boston Globe

• ‘The New Bedford we aspire to build’: What Mayor Mitchell said about the state of the city. via South Coast Today

• After 100 days in office, affordability is the top priority for Somerville’s new mayor. via GBH

April 27, 2022

• See which Brockton projects are tapped for federal millions. via Enterprise News

• Wellesley launches Recycling & Disposal Facility app. via The Boston Globe

• Springfield outlines plans for $7.2M from opioid settlement. via MassLive Media

• Melrose releases plan to reduce city’s carbon footprint. via The Boston Globe

• Municipal electric companies lag on using clean energy. via The Boston Globe

• Deerfield voters give nod to $3M for wastewater plant. via The Recorder News

• Gov. Charlie Baker shows support for East-West rail in Massachusetts. via New England Public Media

• Consultant Will Try To Find PFAS Contributors, Focusing Around Drinking Water Wells. via Cape Cod Chronicle

April 26, 2022

• Easthampton launches ‘NaloxBox’ program, placing anti-opioid overdose medication within easy public reach. via MassLive Media

• Amesbury named to LEED program, a green feather in its cap. via Newburyport News

• Long-sought NYC-Pittsfield rail link will get its test this summer with Berkshire Flyer. via Berkshire Eagle

• Arlington Residents Eager To Ban Single-Use Water Bottles. via CBS Boston

April 25, 2022

• Ipswich Board of Health considering syringe service program. via The Salem News

• Attleboro mayor trying out electric cop cars. via The Sun Chronicle

• Continued student struggles are weighing on teachers in the third year of the pandemic. via The Boston Globe

• How Extreme Weather Has Created a Disaster for School Infrastructure. via The Washington Post

April 22, 2022

• Fall River’s homeless count doubled. Now, it will get $3.8 million to address the crisis. via The Herald News

• Newton struggling to make ends meet as new budget year approaches. via The Boston Globe

• Federal disaster relief approved for Mass. communities hit by blizzard in January that dumped two feet of snow. via The Boston Globe

• In an effort to curb Lyme disease, scientists hope to release thousands of genetically altered mice on Nantucket. via The Boston Globe

• Conflicting mask rules, requirements surface, after decision by federal judge in Florida. via New England Public Media

• Just one paycheck away.’ Report finds 163,000 low-income Mass. families need affordable housing. via New England Public Media

April 21, 2022

• PFAS Task force seeks to phase out use of “forever chemicals”. via CommonWealth Magazine

• More than 30 Massachusetts communities are using ARPA funding to support first responders. via New England Public Media

• Great Barrington earmarks $850,000 in pandemic relief funds for affordable housing. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Maynard plastic bag, polystyrene bans begin in July. via The Boston Globe

• Biden administration to appeal ruling striking down transit mask mandate. via The Washington Post

April 20, 2022

• Mayor Fiorentini encourages Haverhill residents to apply for thousands in new federal funding. via The Eagle Tribune

• Hanover to offer counseling to veterans, but still needs clinicians. via The Patriot Ledger

• Milford police officers must report misconduct without fear of retaliation. via The Milford Daily

• MetroWest Regional Transit Authority to resume fare collection in May with new system. via The Boston Globe

• Masks are no longer required on the MBTA. via WBUR

April 19, 2022

• Lenox’s tourism tax revenue is on a record-setting pace — it’s ‘spectacular’ says the town manager. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Local chiefs hail Civil Service exit as ‘one of the best decisions’ for their departments. via The Recorder News

• Poll: Mass. residents concerned about climate change, but more worried about health care, education and jobs. via WBUR

April 14, 2022

• With emergency rental aid window closing in Massachusetts, advocates warn of impacts. via New England Public Media

• Wu unveils nearly $4 billion Boston operating budget. via GBH

April 13, 2022

• Gov. says his infrastructure bond bill would help state compete for additional federal infrastructure dollars. via Newburyport News

• Chatham Turns Focus to Treatment Rather Than Finding PFAS Source. via Cape Cod Chronicle

• Berkshire communities will share $4.5 million from an opioid settlement. Now they are figuring out how to spend it. via The Berkshire Eagle

• As Boston COVID cases rise, Mayor Wu urges marathon-goers to take precautions. via Boston.com

• Wu to detail $3.99 billion budget, city priorities for COVID relief funds. via The Boston Globe

• As House budget reveal looms, Gov. Charlie Baker pushes for tax relief package amid COVID pandemic. via MassLive Media

• A much-debated proposal on short-term rentals in North Adams has been sent back to the city for changes. via The Berkshire Eagle

• A Hundred Days In Office For Mayor Nicholson In Lynn. via Item Live

• Danvers hires first director of equity and inclusion. via Salem News

• Senate’s climate change plan faces pushback. via Gloucester Daily Times

• Mass. wants more electric vehicles. How about more chargers? via The Boston Globe

April 12, 2022

• Medway lands $2.75M in federal funds to be put toward water treatment project. via Milford Daily News

• House plans $110 million investment in early childhood ed and care. via GBH

• Music, food, Dunkin’: Here’s how Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wants to bring people back downtown. via The Boston Globe

• Research finds stark racial disparities in how Boston responds to unhealthy conditions that trigger asthma. via The Boston Globe

• Baker’s plan to reprioritize health spending is running out of time. via GBH

April 11, 2022

• Lawmakers, local officials share priorities at Western Massachusetts Municipal Conference hosted by MMA. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• More COVID funding flowing to these Massachusetts community organizations to help with vaccine equity. via MassLive Media

• It’s not just in your head, potholes really are worse this year. via GBH

• ‘It’s devastating.’ As Boston-area weeklies close, towns ponder civic life without local news. via The Boston Globe

April 7, 2022

• Gloucester Mayor Verga said listening was important during first 100 days. via The Gloucester Daily Times

• Second night of Falmouth Town Meeting passes potential fiber optic network for town. via Cape Cod Times

• Bodycams are coming soon for Great Barrington and Sheffield police officers; Towns are first in Berkshire County to get the technology. via The Berkshire Eagle

April 6, 2022

• Somerville launches mattress recycling program ahead of Massachusetts’ ban on beds in trash. via WCVB

• Massachusetts to receive more than $525 million from opioid settlement. via GBH

• Gloucester mayor pushes back on MBTA zoning guidelines. via Gloucester Daily Times

• As Beacon Hill moves toward undocumented drivers’ licenses, big-city mayors voice support. via GBH

April 5, 2022

• New Inclusive Boston ad campaign aims to change perception of city; 30-second ad emphasizes that there is not just one Boston accent. via The Boston Globe

• Natick officials continue to preserve the town’s history, one page at a time. via MetroWest Daily News

• Communication plan hopes to improve dialogue in Burlington. via Daily Times Chronicle

• Maps: What’s the average commute for workers in your town? via The Boston Globe

• With federal funds in hand, public housing also at play in Mayor Wu’s agenda. via The Boston Globe

• How Mass. climate goals align with the latest UN report. via WBUR

• Mayor looks to expand outdoor dining Haverhill. via The Eagle Tribune

• ‘An unprecedented level of nastiness’. via Salem News

• Changes to how we work are here to stay. A new report shows how Mass. needs to change with them. via Boston.com

• https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/04/04/boston-massachusetts-hotel-hospitality-tourism-summer. via WBUR

April 4, 2022

• Springfield City Councilors propose using ARPA funds to pay for 3 free bus routes. via New England Public Media

• Town Meeting supports bid to expand Select Board in Wenham. via The Salem News

• Cape Cod businesses struggle to find workers ahead of expected banner summer. via WBUR

April 1, 2022

• Material costs are inflating price tags for municipal projects like schools and roads. via GBH

• Plainville gets $1.5 million in federal funds to expand water system. via The Boston Globe

• Montague sorts out best use of American Rescue Plan Act funds. via The Recorder News

• An international shout-out for Boston planning efforts. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Town planners lay groundwork for accessory dwelling units in Worthington. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Somerville mayor launches listening sessions on city’s pandemic recovery. via The Boston Globe

Mar. 31, 2022

• Ordinance limiting protest hours OK’d by Boston City Council. via WBUR

• The Berkshires is plagued with chronic housing issues. A new report aims to address those problems. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Cyclists say Mass. needs a legal framework for electric bikes. via GBH

Mar. 30, 2022

• New Census data confirms Massachusetts has some of the highest housing costs in the US. via The Boston Globe

• Mass. revisits rules about burning wood for electricity, including environmental justice protections. via WBUR

• Technology, remote work shaping future labor force; Childcare, transit, housing seen as essential for workforce. via CommonWealth Magazine

• As Boston weighs a reparations commission, questions of cost and control arise. via GBH

• There’s never been such a severe shortage of homes in the U.S. Here’s why. via WBUR

Mar. 29, 2022

• New website tracks progress on Massachusetts climate law requirements. via MassLive Media

• Rehoboth can’t use well at new town hall due to PFAS chemicals. via The Sun Chronicle

• On second thought, T zoning proposal needs a redo (opinion). via CommonWealth Magazine

• Local officials challenged to take ‘two steps’ against antisemitism. via Salem News

Mar. 28, 2022

• Making of a mayor: Settling in at city halls, new mayors navigate ‘connecting phase’. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Mental health alternatives to policing gather steam in western Massachusetts. via New England Public Media

• Boston ordinance would reduce carbon emissions more than 60% by 2050. via Boston.com

• Expansion of bottle bill to include nips has supporters, critics in Attleboro area, state. via The Sun Chronicle

• Lee takes a step closer to an open town meeting form of government at special town meeting. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Mass. plans bond sale of $2 billion to $3 billion to bolster unemployment trust fund. via The Boston Globe

• ‘We have to be proactive’: Municipal leaders attending summit to combat rising antisemitism, commemorate Holocaust in Massachusetts. via MassLive Media

• Worcester to dedicate memorial for public to reflect and remember pandemic victims. via WBUR

Mar. 25, 2022

• To-go cocktails, expanded outdoor dining likely here for at least another year. via MassLive Media

• Five Franklin County towns receive grants to explore shared police, EMS services. via The Recorder News

• Wastewater data sends mixed signals amid dip in Boston-area COVID-19 cases. via GBH

• Thousands of residents left Suffolk County during the pandemic. via WBUR

Mar. 24, 2022

• Senate climate change bill likely to coincide with Earth Day, Senate President Karen Spilka says. via MassLive Media

• Wu announces new office focused on LGBTQ+ Bostonians. via GBH

• Mass. House Speaker says lawmakers could tackle soaring childcare costs ‘right away,’ potentially in next month’s budget. via The Boston Globe

• Baker offering employers $4,000 for each worker hired. via CommonWealth Magazine

• ‘We have the will’: Mental health bill gaining traction on Beacon Hill, with House Speaker Ron Mariano backing reform. via CommonWealth Magazine

• MBTA zoning regulations garner mixed reviews from Amesbury officials. via Newburyport News

Mar. 23, 2022

• Auditor flags 29 bills for impact on local budgets. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Bar Association, Salem create program to aid in housing stability. via Salem News

• State weighs plans to expand EV charging stations. via Gloucester Daily Times

• More relief coming to Massachusetts residents looking to enter the workforce, Gov. Charlie Baker says. via MassLive Media

• State-run program to provide COVID tests to daycares could expire this summer. via GBH

• Rockport pushes back against state’s proposed MBTA housing requirements. via Gloucester Daily Times

• ‘Impact fee’ on recreational pot shops is canceled until the city finds any impacts it needs to pay for. via Cambridge Day

• Worcester City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. announces he is stepping down in May. via Telegram & Gazette

Mar. 22, 2022

• ARPA money coming to Haverhill, Lawrence water/sewer projects. via The Eagle Tribune

• Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña on his plans to turn around the city’s schools. via GBH

Mar. 21, 2022

• Western Mass. lawmaker says transportation bill filed by governor could be transformative for region. via New England Public Media

• Gloucester mayor eyes surplus properties for affordable housing. via The Gloucester Daily Times

• Amesbury mayor makes call for action on city’s bond bill money. via The Newburyport News

• Wu, MBTA have different takes on fare-free bus results. via CommonWealth Magazine

• State to conduct second review of Boston Public Schools amid concerns it could pursue receivership. via The Boston Globe

• How one Mass. school board got caught in the culture wars. via WBUR

Mar. 18, 2022

• With typical emergency response times of 20 to 30 minutes, Richmond and West Stockbridge explore sharing EMT services. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Sheffield to measure residents’ internet dissatisfaction with survey and speed checks; Town is considering building its own fiber-optic system. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Op Ed: PILOT payments should be standardized statewide; legislation would set payment level at 25% of commercial rate. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Mass. workers have the fourth-longest commute time among US states, according to new Census data. via The Boston Globe

• Baker urges quick adoption of new $9.7 billion transportation bill. via WBUR

• City Council nominates candidates for Boston Commission on Black Men and Boys. via GBH

Mar. 17, 2022

• Inflation blunts impact of school aid increases in Baker’s budget; more than 40% of school districts would receive an increase of only about 1%. via WBUR

• Feds roll out plan seeking to replace every lead pipe in New England. via New England Public Media

• Broadband providers offer free Internet to low-income families. via The Boston Globe

• Data shows unsafe bacteria levels in Merrimack River after sewer overflows. via WBUR

• Boston-area coronavirus wastewater is ticking back up after plunge: ‘Something we need to keep our eye on’. via The Boston Herald

Mar. 16, 2022

• Local officials growing frustrated with ‘inadequate’ Chapter 90 funding for roads. via The Sentinel And Enterprise

Mar. 15, 2022

• EPA designates Lower Neponset River in Boston and Milton a Superfund site. via WBUR

• Two years into the pandemic, rental assistance continues to climb. via GBH

• Modernizing the bottle recycling program in Mass. would have big benefits, report finds. via WBUR

• Fixing early ed system could cost $1.5 billion a year; Legislative commission recommends more spending on childcare. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Waterfront development: How Fall River will spend $1.5 million from federal spending package. via The Herald News

• A shortage of college students will soon hit the Northeast. via The Boston Globe

• Senate seeks fixed date for bus electrification; Poftak said more money needed to transition more quickly. via CommonWealth Magazine

Mar. 14, 2022

• Lawmakers seek to limit train idling times. via Newburyport News

• Two years of COVID: A new analysis reveals a heavy toll on young families of color in Massachusetts. via The Boston Globe

Mar. 11, 2022

• Lawmakers consider revising road funding formula; Rural communities have complained of being shortchanged. via CommonWealth Magazine

• 85 square miles, one police chief. Becket and Otis begin sharing top cop this week. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Wu launches committee to deliver rent control policy recommendations. via WBUR

• MBTA projects a $230M deficit after federal aid runs out. via WBUR

• 2020 Census undercounted Latinos, Blacks and Native Americans, bureau estimates show. via The Washington Post

Mar. 10, 2022

• The fight against light in New Marlborough, to prevent loss of ‘our stars’. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Lynn hires part-time interpreters in four languages. via The Boston Globe

• Boston Public Health Commission to drop state of emergency declaration. via GBH

• Massachusetts a healthy ‘green’ when it comes to COVID-19 levels — except Hampshire County. via New England Public Media

• 1 in 5 local election officials say they’re likely to quit before 2024. via WBUR

• Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty running for state Senate. via GBH

• Amherst will petition state for reparations initiative. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Nantucket Select Board looking to fund town-employee housing costs. via The Inquirer and Mirror

• Report suggests how Newton should spend federal pandemic relief funds. via The Boston Globe

• Federal COVID funds offer Boston Mayor Michelle Wu a big boost with her big plans. via The Boston Globe

• How Air Pollution Across America Reflects Racist Policy From the 1930s. via The New York Times

Mar. 9, 2022

• Lexington residents vote to restrict, eventually ban gas-powered leaf blowers. via WCVB

• Homeownership program offers hope for residents in Boston’s low-income communities. via GBH

• Agawam Senior Center will buy van with COVID relief funds. via MassLive Media

• Deaf residents want to take part in civic life. But how often are interpreters provided? via South Coast Today

• House Ways & Means Committee pares down Gov. Baker’s supplemental budget bill to $1.6B. via CommonWealth Magazine

• To-go cocktails could stay legal in Mass. for a while longer. via The Boston Globe

Mar. 8, 2022

• Holyoke lands $555K-plus grant to address youth, gang violence. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

• With no sign of relief from years of rat problems, Cambridge wants to deploy ‘Smart Box’ zappers. via Cambridge Day

• Cape is running out of space for trash. One solution – ship it to another state by train. via Cape Cod Times

• Massachusetts vows to maintain rapid COVID test stockpile as virus reaches ‘endemic’ stage. via MassLive Media

• National business group survey says what employers know: Hiring is tough. via Newburyport News

Mar. 7, 2022

• State House to drop COVID-19 mask, vaccine requirements for visitors. via The Boston Globe

• Wastewater Drives 6.65% Harwich Budget Increase. via The Cape Cod Chronicle

• Arlington launches rental and mortgage assistance program with federal funds. via Wicked Local

• In Fall River, homeless people can get free ID cards. Here’s why that’s critically important. via The Herald News

• Massachusetts will close 30 of its free COVID testing sites this month. via WBUR

• In Springfield, some people are losing their homes to a program intended to fix blighted property. via GBH

• Four-year mayoral term, expanded School Committee recommended. via The Salem News

• Chicopee experiment merging 2 departments ends with employees overwhelmed, work undone. via MassLive Media

• Five years after voter approval, state lawmakers revisiting marijuana regulations. via GBH

• In Boston, a constant of New England winter proliferates: ‘endless’ potholes. via The Boston Globe

Mar. 4, 2022

• Massachusetts could receive $110 million from new Purdue settlement. via WBUR

• Zoning changes, MBTA communities process collide. via Gloucester Daily Times

• Wage study set for West Newbury town employees. via Newburyport News

• Swampscott Finds Itself Short-Staffed. via Item Live

Mar. 3, 2022

• Mass. pandemic emergency sick leave program to end March 15. via GBH

• The White House has a new plan for COVID-19 aimed at getting things back to normal. via WBUR

• Bettencourt joins board of director for mayors’ association. via The Salem News

• The Green Line is coming to Somerville. Big changes are coming too. via The Boston Globe

• Boston City Council approves real estate transfer tax on sales over $2M. via GBH

Mar. 2, 2022

• Boston to lift mask mandate for businesses, other venues. via WBUR

• Mass. no longer requiring masks on school buses for K-12 students, officials say. via The Boston Globe

• Many dams in Massachusetts are hazards. But demolishing them is no small feat. via WBUR

• Somerville Pilots New Rodent Control Technology. via Patch

Mar. 1, 2022

• New Massachusetts House, Senate district descriptions available. via The Berkshire Eagle

• New head of EPA New England wants to engage with ‘historically overburdened’ communities. via New England Public Media

• What does the dire new UN climate report mean for New England? via The Boston Globe

• 10 years after sex trafficking law took effect, Massachusetts now seen as national leader. via GBH

• New Bedford ends its vaccination or testing mandate for city employees. via New Bedford Light

• Wu’s plan would restrict ‘targeted residential picketing’. via WBUR

• Fitchburg policy highlights complexity of municipal communications. via The Sentinel And Enterprise

• Everett Poole, Town Moderator of Chilmark over four decades, dies at 91. via The Boston Globe

• Wu says she’ll wind down Boston’s urban renewal districts. Here’s what that means. via The Boston Globe

• AG Healey says she had no choice on blocking Brookline’s fossil fuel ban. via GBH

Feb. 28, 2022

• Brookline wants a fossil fuel-free future. With latest ruling, the AG says: Not yet (again). via The Boston Globe

• Small Berkshire towns of Savoy, Washington and Windsor explore jointly hiring a single full-time administrator. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Haverhill Mayor pushes for $160 million downtown redevelopment project. via The Eagle Tribune

• Lynn’s new mayor, Jared Nicholson, vows to oversee ‘inclusive growth’. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Franklin County towns join legal brief in land use case. via The Recorder News

• As schools remove mask mandates, some students may struggle with transition. via The Boston Globe

• At long last, employers are rolling out return-to-office plans (again). via The Boston Globe

• Mayor Mitchell wants the city to buy the century-old armory. Here’s how much it will cost: $10. via South Coast Today

Feb. 25, 2022

• Boston mayor says city will increase food production efforts. via WBUR

• Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority free bus rides begin March 1. via The Eagle Tribune

• Deerfield enters pact with Amherst to cover wastewater plant operations. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

Feb. 24, 2022

• Governor Charlie Baker announces $75 million in aid for small businesses. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Boston to open new early childhood office to streamline access to care options for parents. via WBUR

• Somerville mayor announces new plan to diversify boards and commissions. via The Boston Globe

• Wellesley launches new Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. via The Boston Globe

• FEMA presents coastal erosion hazard map for Essex County. via Newburyport News

• Needham launches discussion series on police and the community. via The Boston Globe

• Weymouth mayor says town taking ‘holistic approach’ to improve coastline. via The Patriot Ledger

• Weymouth Town Council take big action on Route 3 billboards. via The Patriot Ledger

• Nantucket Select Board undecided on short-term-rental articles. via The Inquirer and Mirror

• Town of Tewksbury swindled out of more than $100K in phishing scam from fraudulent email with copycat posing as regular vendor. via MassLive Media

Feb. 23, 2022

• State auditor says it will cost $2 million to keep polls open in 2022. via WBUR

• Spring Town Meeting petition article would ban new fur sales in Plymouth. via Wicked Local

Feb. 22, 2022

• Massachusetts State House reopens Tuesday morning to the public; Here’s what COVID policies to expect. via MassLive Media

• Threats and outbursts directed at local health leaders are driving many to quit. via The Boston Globe

• Andover to bulk up mental health resources. via The Eagle Tribune

• Utilities make progress on fixing gas leaks. via The Eagle Tribune

• Digital access to public meetings has been embraced in Stockbridge. Town leaders are debating whether to continue the hybrid format. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Hearing reopening on proposed ‘memorial forest reserve’ in Ashfield. via The Recorder News

• Heroux makes case for mayoral succession charter change in Attleboro. via The Sun Chronicle

• Bernardston approves cannabis sales tax, PILOT agreements at Town Meeting. via The Recorder News

• Boston lifts proof of vaccination requirement for businesses. via GBH

• Towns’ landscape, infrastructure make housing compliance difficult. via Newburyport News

• Lawmakers want to restrict local pot shop fees. via Newburyport News

Feb. 18, 2022

• Urban forests may store more carbon than we thought, study finds. via WBUR

• Firefighters sue equipment makers over ‘forever chemicals’ in gear. via WBUR

• Can shabby shopping plazas become vibrant new villages? via The Boston Globe

• NOAA says New England’s temps are warming, sea levels rising faster than the global rate. via The Providence Journal

• Some rural areas see record-breaking opioid overdose numbers. via The Boston Herald

• With sea level rise to come, Mayor Wu is turning her attention to East Boston’s waterfront. via boston.com

• Lowell issues report showing 8% vacancy rate in city government. via GBH

Feb. 17, 2022

• Municipalities see savings in bottle deposit expansion bill. via WWLP

• Lowell City Council takes on vacant jobs in city government. via Lowell Sun

Feb. 16, 2022

• Voting reforms present challenges for local elections administrators. via Cape Cod Times

• With election workers harder to find, city and town clerks look to boost pay. via GBH

• Milton will use COVID relief money for police mental health clinician, cemetery expansion. via Quincy Patriot Ledger

• Appeals court grants injunction against Boston Mayor Wu’s workforce vaccination mandate. via Boston Globe

• U.S. could see a century’s worth of sea rise in just 30 years. via Boston Globe

Feb. 15, 2022

• Massachusetts Statehouse reopening planned for Feb. 22. via New England Public Media

• Report: A year after executive order, work continues dismantling structural racism in Worcester. via Worcester Telegram

• Beverly clerk seeks pay increase for election workers. via Salem News

• ‘Better transit services not free service’: Springfield and PVTA support subsidized busing rather than free fare. via MassLive

• Mask mandate for Massachusetts schools to expire Feb. 28. via New England Public Media

Feb. 14, 2022

• Meet Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne; a community activist who believes in messy, inclusive leadership. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Montague Selectboard looks to fund wastewater projects with ARPA money. via The Recorder News

• Concerned for rural schools, Berkshires lawmakers prep for education funding debate in state budget. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Boston’s city workforce became slightly more diverse over the past year. via The Boston Globe

• Short-term rentals are a cash cow for Great Barrington, but some residents want stricter regulations — even if that means less revenue. The Select Board will vote soon on bylaw regulating the rentals. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Mayor: Recent storms cost Amesbury $170,000. via The Newburyport News

• Speaker Ron Mariano wants ‘equal access’ to the Massachusetts State House when it reopens to the public. via MassLive Media

• Politics and the City: Outbursts reveal remote participation at City Council not perfect. via The Telegram & Gazette

• Quincy city pension investment manager lost $3.5 million in an email phishing scam. via The Patriot Ledger

• $3 Million Open Space Deal Announced. via The Cape Cod Chronicle

• COVID-19 numbers could improve enough to lift Boston’s indoor vaccine requirement ‘in the coming weeks,’ public health commissioner says. via The Boston Globe

Feb. 11, 2022

• A Tradition the Coronavirus Could Not Crush? Town Meeting & Its Moderation …. via Western Mass Politics & Insight

• ‘Modern-day necessity’: Easthampton takes step toward municipal broadband in hopes of improving internet access. via MassLive Media

• Mayor Wu launches push to give Bostonians more say in city’s almost $4B budget. via GBH

• ‘Change is a journey’: Election of first women in decades, first person of color on Chicopee City Council inspires discussions of who should lead the city. via MassLive Media

• The Massachusetts State House has a tentative reopening date, per Senate President Karen Spilka’s office. via MassLive Media

• Cambridge: Should cash from ARPA funds go directly to struggling residents? via Wicked Local

• Employer relations board upholds Baker’s vaccine mandate. via WBUR

• States seek to keep Mass. trash out of landfills. via The Eagle Tribune

• Why Are So Many Mass. Towns Pronounced Differently than They’re Spelled? via Boston Magazine

Feb. 10, 2022

• Mayor Michelle Wu’s push for free buses is spurring other cities and towns to act. via The Boston Globe

• Peabody awarded sensors to monitor pollution. via Salem News

• Gas-powered leaf blowers are noisy and bad for the environment. Boston will soon consider what to do about them. via The Boston Globe

• Boston makes three buses fare-free until early 2024. via GBH

• Mask mandate for Massachusetts schools to expire Feb. 28. via New England Public Media

• New Bedford in line to get $30 million to improve waterfront Marine Commerce Terminal. via South Coast Today

• EPA appeals board rejects attempt to block Berkshire County PCB disposal site. via New England Public Media

• Governor Charlie Baker to release first book. via The Boston Globe

Feb. 9, 2022

• Baker administration unveils building code slide deck; Calls for updates of 2 existing codes and addition of a 3rd. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Leominster, Fitchburg, Clinton move to bilingual ballots in line with Voting Rights Act. via The Telegram & Gazette

• Greenfield relaunches downtown revitalization plans. via The Recorder News

• New study touts pilot-to-permanent bus programs in Everett, Cambridge/Watertown, Arlington. via The Boston Herald

• Salem, once dismissed, now getting top billing on offshore wind; Speaker Mariano calls municipality ‘focal point’ of efforts. via CommonWealth Magazine

• An unexpected item is blocking cities’ climate change prep: obsolete rainfall records. via WBUR

• Here’s when Boston plans to lift its COVID vaccine requirement for certain indoor venues. via WBUR

• Franklin investigating elevated PFAS at a town well. via The Milford Daily News

• Baker’s budget shortchanges upcoming elections, Galvin says. via GBH

• How will Boston bounce back from COVID? via The Boston Globe

• Massachusetts Legislature takes first crack at Charlie Baker’s last budget. via The Boston Herald

• As Massachusetts State House enters 700th day of being closed due to COVID, activists push for reopening. via MassLive Media

Feb. 8, 2022

• Baker seeking major changes in building code; Municipalities could adopt rooftop solar, full electrification requirements. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Baker pushes for approval of $5B bond. via The Newburyport News

• The pandemic has led to a surge in mental health need in Mass., survey finds. via WBUR

• Westfield will deploy 9 air quality monitors in downtown, North Side. via MassLive Media

• COVID spurred bike lane construction. Will the Boston area keep up the momentum? via The Boston Globe

• Worcester becomes latest Mass. community to end indoor mask mandate. via GBH

• 15 mayors and town managers line up behind driver’s license bill. via Salem News

• Biden taps new director for EPA in New England. via The Boston Globe

Feb. 7, 2022

• Massachusetts provides $13M for 300 EV charging stations. via The AP

• Lawrence councilors OK tax exemption for city’s Gold Star parents. via The Eagle Tribune

• Gloucester schools get $120K to address students’ mental health needs. via The Gloucester Daily Times

• FEMA to discuss future coastal erosion, sea level rise in Essex County. via The Gloucester Daily Times

• State releases list of 146 bridge projects. via The Eagle Tribune

• Holyoke group releases first 5-year report on efforts to rescue dilapidated buildings. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Local governments weigh plans to spend APRA funds. via The Eagle Tribune

• Cambridge City Council embarks on manager, auditor and clerk searches. via Wicked Local

• Wu says Boston ready to enforce vaccine mandate after union compromise talks fall apart. via WBUR

• Deadline extended on bill to lower voting age in Northampton elections. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Communities of color get more gas leaks, slower repairs, says study. via WBUR

• 30 minutes in Roslindale: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s block has taken center stage in one of the city’s ugliest political dramas. via The Boston Globe

• A decision made behind closed doors may set clean energy back by two years. via The Boston Globe

Feb. 4, 2022

• Governor Charlie Baker touts priority projects for new federal infrastructure funds. via The Boston Globe

• North Attleboro gets $4.5M to deal with PFAS contamination. via The Sun Chronicle

• Westfield receives $15M state loan for PFAS treatment plant. via MassLive Media

• New Bedford Police was hit by a ransomware attack. Here’s how the city responded. via South Coast Today

• Wu taps Roxbury campaign organizer to lead new Boston Office of Black Male Advancement. via GBH

• Report examines exodus of Amherst school leaders. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

Feb. 3, 2022

• Boston likely to spend $5 million on new round of grants for small businesses. via GBH

• Amherst picked for initiative to boost public art. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Trees are more than scenery. They’re a social justice issue. via The Boston Globe

• What’s the city have going on over there? Check its new online map to find out. via The Gardner News

• Weymouth Food Pantry, town to turn school bus into mobile food pantry. via The Patriot Ledger

• Consultant: To Boost Economy, Orleans Needs To Build Upon Its Assets. via The Cape Cod Chronicle

• Proposal would create commission to study reparations in Boston. via WBUR

Feb. 2, 2022

• With new Mass Save three-year plan, Massachusetts sharpens its best climate-fighting tool. via The Boston Globe

• On Cape Cod, the latest barrage of wind and waves, exacerbated by climate change, turns concern to desperation. via The Boston Globe

• Harwich To Work With Dennis On Wastewater Treatment. via Cape Cod Chronicle

• Baker secures deal with federal government to replace Cape Cod Canal bridges. via GBH

• State to expand behavioral health services. via The Gloucester Daily Times

• Ayanna Pressley, other Boston elected officials of color condemn ‘hateful attacks’ on Michelle Wu. via The Boston Globe

• Secretary of State Galvin filing bill to make documents from the governor’s office open to the public for first time. via The Boston Globe

• Big House Bylaw Heads to West Tisbury Warrant. via The Vineyard Gazette

Feb. 1, 2022

• ARPA money to aid Western Mass. towns hit by July storms. via The Recorder News

• Efforts to modernize Adams government will get underway this spring. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Climate-driven floods will disproportionately affect Black communities, study finds. via WBUR

• Gov. Charlie Baker meets with governors, President Joe Biden, Pentagon officials. via MassLive Media

• After much fanfare, other cities balk at following Boston’s proof-of-vaccination mandate. via The Boston Globe

• Carolyn Dykema joining caravan of departing Massachusetts representatives. via MassLive Media

• Vaccine mandate prompts exit of 1,013 state workers; Latest records indicate 97% compliance in executive branch. via CommonWealth Magazine

Jan. 31, 2022

• Here’s what Berkshire lawmakers say their priorities are as the Legislature enters a busy stretch. via The Berkshire Eagle

• In combating climate crisis, cities team up. via The Salem News

• Deal between CSX and Amtrak could help pave the away for East-West Rail. via The Boston Globe

• ‘I said to myself, “Enough is enough!”’: How a new Lowell city councilor began fighting anti-Asian harassment in the ’80s. via The Boston Globe

• Mayor Wu brings her policy — and personality — to social media. via The Boston Globe

• ARPA money could fuel Leahy School rebuild in Lawrence. via The Eagle Tribune

• Amherst police alternative program expected to be ready by May. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

Jan. 27, 2022

• Same-day voter registration reform left out of House voting bill. via MassLive Media

• Fitchburg State University receives $3 million ARPA grant for downtown Theater Block project. via The Sentinel And Enterprise

• Pittsfield Mayor Tyer elected president of Massachusetts Mayors’ Association. via The Berkshire Eagle

• ‘Walking into the lion’s den’: Cities and towns say they need help as climate change dangers grow. via The Boston Globe

• Coastal resiliency: Public’s input wanted for Sandwich village climate change strategies. via The Cape Cod Times

• Leyden to hire consultant to manage ARPA funds. via The Recorder News

• Gov. Charlie Baker proposes $48.5 billion budget for Massachusetts in the next fiscal year. via MassLive Media

• New mayor of Holyoke turns to recent political rivals for advice. via New England Public Media

• Boston City Council votes to consider making the School Committee an elected body. via GBH

• State Sen. Harriette Chandler not seeking reelection. via WBUR

Jan. 26, 2022

• Governor Charlie Baker says he’ll pursue tax breaks for renters, seniors, parents, and low-income workers. via The Boston Globe

• Harwich Selectmen Back ARPA Funds For Health Dept. via Cape Cod Chronicle

• Wu announces $40 million to fund affordable housing projects. via GBH

• South Shore Plaza needs to step up and step up big’: Braintree mayor seeks increased security. via The Patriot Ledger

• Mass. Senate President calls for same-day voter registration as House takes up voting rights. via GBH

• Massachusetts to host 2,000 Afghans, double expected amount. via WBUR

• Former governor Deval Patrick will become professor at Harvard Kennedy School. via The Boston Globe

Jan. 25, 2022

• Massachusetts State House could partially reopen next month, Senate President Karen Spilka says. via MassLive Media

• Same-day voter registration could be sticking point. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Unvaccinated students in some schools can go maskless. via WBUR

• Judge considers request for injunction over Salem vax mandate. via The Salem News

• 94% of Boston city workers have complied with COVID-19 vaccine mandate, Wu said. via GBH

Jan. 24, 2022

• For Small Towns With Small Work Forces, Omicron Means Small Margins for Error. via The New York Times

• How the pandemic tipped Lenox onto a national list of ‘economically distressed’ communities. via The Berkshire Eagle

• After months of delays, state approves doubling of solar energy. via The Boston Globe

• Baker seeks level funding for local road projects in next year’s capital spending plan. via The Boston Globe

• Municipal officials say 2.7% local aid increase is not enough given rising state revenues. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Wu again extends vaccination deadline for city workers. via GBH

• A look inside the first few weeks of Mayor Macksey’s time in office and priorities for North Adams. via The Berkshire Eagle

• State Senator Lydia Edwards says she will keep East Boston council seat through the end of April. via The Boston Globe

• Racist covenants still stain property records. Mass. may try to have them removed. via WBUR

Jan. 21, 2022

• Burlington Town meeting postponed three weeks due to Omicron surge. via Wicked Local

• Trash is a burning question with mixed answers in some Mass. towns. via WBUR

• With cases surging, Massachusetts officials will ‘pivot’ on COVID testing in schools. via WBUR

• Former Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey starts a new chapter in academia. via The Boston Globe

• Rep. Ehrlich steps down to take FEMA position. via The Salem News

Jan. 20, 2022

• How’s the COVID-19 rapid test distribution going in Massachusetts towns and cities? via GBH

• Work beginning in Amherst on senior-friendly town initiative. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Agawam High School needs $26 million in repairs. via MassLive Media

• With help from the Justice Department, Williamstown Police aim to rebuild a bond with the community. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Here’s what Taunton, Raynham will get from $26B national opioid settlement. via The Taunton Gazette

Jan. 19, 2022

• 2 mayors explain their ARPA spending strategies; Pittsfield, New Bedford officials place some big bets. via CommonWealth Magazine

• House releases $55m bill for COVID testing, school masks. via CommonWealth Magazine

• All around Massachusetts, cities and towns want to go fossil fuel free. Here’s why they can’t. via The Boston Globe

• $1.1 billion in federal aid will help repair 472 bridges in Massachusetts, Rep. Richard Neal says. via The Berkshire Eagle

• New York City to Pittsfield train service could start this summer if final hurdles are cleared. via New England Public Media

• MassDOT, state and local leaders gather in Framingham to celebrate funding. via Milford Daily News

• Marblehead selectmen push for gender-neutral name, language in town bylaws. via The Salem News

• COVID-19 spike putting pressure on police departments’ overtime budgets. via The MetroWest Daily News

• At-home tests mark shift in Massachusetts school COVID-19 surveillance. via New England Public Media

• Municipalities wrangle with how to keep rapid tests in residents’ hands without excluding undocumented immigrants. via GBH

• Attleboro mayor seeks charter change to cover gap in succession. via The Sun Chronicle

• Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Comcast hope for quick resolution in cable TV contract dispute. via MassLive Media

• Do North Adams city employees get paid as much as those in other towns? A grant-funded project will find out. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Homeless people are coming to Worcester for help but the city would like other communities to do more. via MassLive Media

• Supreme Court justices suggest Boston should have flown ‘Christian flag’. via WBUR

Jan. 18, 2022

• In less vaccinated Western Mass., overwhelmed hospitals, but progress on vaccinations. via The Boston Globe

• For marginalized groups, COVID testing shortages a bigger burden. via The Boston Globe

• Charlie Baker files $5 billion bond bill for workforce development, cybersecurity, public safety. via The Boston Herald

• Seven new mayors across Greater Boston offer hope, visions for the future. via The Boston Globe

• Town admin: $770K pedestrian bridge grant ‘a tremendous win’ for Montague. via The Recorder News

• Fairhaven launches Belonging Committee. How the board plans to help better the community. via South Coast Today

• MBTA communities must boost multifamily housing. via The Gloucester Daily Times

• Mass. seeks to claw back at least $2.7 billion in jobless benefits it says were incorrectly paid. via The Boston Globe

• Educators work to keep classrooms open despite COVID surge. via WBUR

• Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga promises reset of City Hall. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Cambridge appoints Christine Elow as permanent police commissioner. via Cambridge Chronicle-Tab

• Families in Alabama have free, full-day prekindergarten while many Mass. families can only dream of it. via The Boston Globe

Jan. 14, 2022

• Supreme Court halts COVID-19 vaccine rule for US businesses, allows mandate for most health care workers. via The Boston Globe

• COVID pandemic is impacting trash services in Massachusetts, causing some to go without trash pickup for weeks. via MassLive Media

• Will Boston’s vaccine requirement for certain indoor venues eventually require boosters? Here’s what Michelle Wu said. via Boston Dot Com

• City bids to buy lots, make them ‘pocket parks’. via Salem News

• Easthampton City Council president seeks to increase understanding, accessibility at meetings. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Gov. Baker pours new funding into COVID vaccination efforts. via MassLive Media

• Some top Mass. lawmakers say the entire state should require proof of vaccination for certain indoor venues. via Boston Dot Com

• A ‘millionaires tax’ in Mass. would net $1.3 billion in revenue, report finds. via WBUR

Jan. 13, 2022

• Cities, towns continue distribution of rapid COVID tests. via Salem News

• Coogan’s fight for ARPA guideline changes leads to $10 million for pandemic revenue losses. via The Herald News

• As state ignores at-home COVID test data, boards of health come up with their own solutions. via GBH

• Judge rejects Boston police and fire unions’ bid to halt Wu’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. via GBH

Jan. 12, 2022

• Brookline to Require Proof of COVID Vaccine at Certain Businesses. via NBC Boston

• Fresh off his gig as North Adams mayor, Tom Bernard set to lead Berkshire United Way. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Infusion of American Rescue Plan money boosts Mass. fuel aid program. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Baker administration changes the rules on offshore wind and clean energy. via The Cape Cod Times

• Vaccinated city employees to receive $500 stipend in Haverhill. via The Eagle Tribune

• Four South Shore towns to open COVID test site Wednesday in Hingham. via The Patriot Ledger

• It was tied in November, but tonight’s Framingham special election results were clear. via The MetroWest Daily News

• Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll joins Democrats vying for lieutenant governor. via WBUR

• Lydia Edwards to take state Senate seat. via The Boston Herald

• House and Senate still can’t agree on police reform oversight. via GBH

• Municipal buildings in Seekonk remain closed for month with more than two dozen town employees currently out due to COVID. via The Sun Chronicle

Jan. 11, 2022

• Long test lines, increasing cases return to COVID-weary Chelsea. via WBUR

• Leominster firefighters receive new gear purchased with American Rescue Plan Act funding. via The Sentinel And Enterprise

• 2021 was the 4th warmest year on record in the US, with damage from climate change costing more than $145 billion. via MassLive Media

• Mariano eyes vaccine mandate for public access to State House; Baker says his state of state address will be at Hynes Convention Center. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Mass. offers QR code to prove COVID vaccine status. via CommonWealth Magazine

• State education leaders extend school mask requirement until Feb. 28. via WBUR

• Tri-Town health board plans public hearing to weigh a possible vaccine mandate for indoor diners. via The Berkshire Eagle

Jan. 10, 2022

• COVID-19 surge exposes Mass. educational inequities in livestreaming classes. via GBH

• Cahill, Driscoll win national awards for climate plans. via The Salem News

• Downtown Pittsfield steps into the digital age with $100K grant for public Wi-Fi network. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Mayor’s office relaunches grant program to help Taunton’s small businesses with tech. via The Taunton Gazette

• State to adopt stringent truck emissions rules. via The Eagle Tribune

• New Lawrence mayor says it’s now the people’s turn. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Natick residents pool resources, share COVID-19 tips in mutual aid group. via MetroWest Daily News

Jan. 7, 2022

• COVID-19 infections are hitting local government services, including snow removal. via GBH

• Federal Infrastructure funding to benefit Haverhill, other communities. via The Eagle Tribune

• Worcester officials look for state, federal help as COVID testing lines create wait times of several hours. via MassLive Media

• COVID surge disrupts trash collection. via The Salem News

Jan. 6, 2022

• This chart may tell us more about the Mass. COVID surge than any other. Here’s why. via The Boston Globe

• Rail Trail, ambulance, police training: How Fall River will spend $20M in COVID funds. via The Herald News

• ‘We will meet this moment.’ Ruthanne Fuller begins second term as Newton’s Mayor. via The Boston Globe

• Amid swell of COVID-19 cases, towns seek extra test kits. via The Recorder News

• Mayor Wu suggests state’s ban on remote learning — even when it’s due to staffing shortages — is too rigid. via Boston Dot Com

• As new COVID cases surge to record highs in Worcester, 110 firefighters are out creating a ‘very critical’ situation. via MassLive Media

• Commission sharply split on qualified immunity proposals. via CommonWealth Magazine

Jan. 5, 2022

• South Hadley to use American Rescue Plan Act funds to buy COVID test kits. via MassLive Media

• Amid process dispute, Barnstable County asks for public input on ARPA spending. via The Cape Cod Times

• Massachusetts could make free breakfast and lunch for all students permanent. via GBH

• Municipalities are adding EVs and hybrids to their fleets. Are they worth it? via The Swampscott Reporter

• Some New Hampshire towns making big money ask, ‘What recycling problem?’ via GBH

Jan. 4, 2022

• Massachusetts comptroller: FY 2021 revenues smashed estimates by $13 billion. via MassLive Media

• 1st Cambodian American mayor in U.S. takes office in Lowell. via WBUR

• Gina-Louise Sciarra sworn in as Northampton’s 45th mayor. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Verga sworn in as Gloucester’s new mayor. via The Gloucester Daily Times

• Boston’s fare-free bus pilot program sets the stage for transit equity, advocates say. via GBH

• Baker approves solar, truck emission initiatives. via CommonWealth Magazine

• It’s a new year, but the same big issues remain for statewide leaders in Massachusetts. via New England Public Media

Jan. 3, 2022

• Local libraries are writing new chapters during the pandemic. via The Boston Globe

• New mayors take office in Gloucester, Framingham, North Adams. via The Boston Globe

• Jennifer Macksey outlines her goals as North Adams first woman mayor. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Holaday reflects on her 12 years as Newburyport mayor. via The Newburyport News

• Firefighters, police unions sue to block Boston’s vaccination mandate for city workers. via The Boston Globe

• Some Boston city employees will work from home beginning Tuesday, Wu says, citing winter surge in COVID-19 cases. via The Boston Globe

• Public asked to stay home, view Lawrence inauguration remotely. via The Eagle Tribune

• Newburyport inauguration shifted to hybrid model. via The Newburyport News

• Coming to a city or town near you: Projects funded by the state’s $4 billion COVID-19 relief bill. via The Boston Globe

• Beverly COVID meeting ends in chaos. via The Gloucester Daily Times

• Boston, MBTA, FTA to meet on fare-free test. via CommonWealth Magazine

Dec. 21, 2021

• You’ll need a vaccine to go inside Boston restaurants, entertainment venues and gyms. via WBUR

• Lynn and Salem expected to follow Boston’s lead on vaccine requirement. via Item Live

• Where (and how) to get a COVID-19 test in Mass.. via The Boston Globe

• At UMass lab, McGovern, state lawmakers tout efforts to combat PFAS in water supplies. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

• State expanding, extending child care grant program. via The Salem News

• Biden’s omicron battle plan to include a half-billion free at-home tests, support for overwhelmed hospitals. via The Washington Post

• State troopers aid Dalton, after half of the local police force tests positive for COVID-19. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Springfield mayor warns restrictions could return as COVID cases spike. via MassLive Media

• Gender neutral changes in Attleboro charter approved … almost. via The Sun Chronicle

• New committee aims to strengthen Southampton’s financial health. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

Dec. 20, 2021

• Mass. rainy day fund hits highest level ever; State has $4.6b, equal to 13% of state expenditures. via CommonWealth Magazine

• PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ constantly cycle through ground, air and water, study finds. via The Guardian

• Edward Augustus Jr., who orchestrated Worcester’s renaissance, shares rare glimpse into his past and what’s beyond city hall. via MassLive Media

• What happens when students remove masks? These Mass. schools are finding out. via The Boston Globe

• Affordable housing trust is ‘another tool in our toolbox’ to make Newton more accessible. via The Boston Globe

• With an eye on older residents, ‘granny flat’ bylaw proposal in works for Dalton. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Rep. Claire Cronin of Easton confirmed as US ambassador to Ireland. via WBUR

Dec. 17, 2021

• How Are Free Home COVID Tests Being Distributed? Mass. Cities Are Being Strategic. via NBC Boston

• Nearly $160 million later, the state’s COVID-19 contact tracing program is ending. via The Boston Globe

• Legislators push for towns’ flexibility to lower speed limits on Massachusetts roads. via GBH

• Carolyn Shores Ness is Recorder’s 2021 Citizen of the Year. via The Recorder News

• Boston aims to tamp down vehicle emissions with more electric charging stations. via GBH

Dec. 16, 2021

• Fenway mass vaccination site reopening. via WBUR

• Worcester City Council reviews federal relief plan: ‘We need to stay nimble,’ says City Manager. via The Telegram and Gazette

• Worcester bans use of controversial facial recognition technology. via GBH

• Pesticide attracts eye of committee, commission. via Newburyport News

• ‘It’s going to be an interesting winter’: Mass. scientists report Omicron variant’s spread appears to be so fast it’s hard to track. via The Boston Globe

• Wu raises fare-free snafu with Buttigieg; FTA issues statement confirming MBTA’s reading of situation. via CommonWealth Magazine

• The largest city in the U.S. bans natural gas in new buildings. via WBUR

Dec. 15, 2021

• Will the Legislature let pandemic mail-in and early voting reforms expire? via WBUR

• Surge renews debate in Massachusetts over indoor mask mandate. via New England Public Media

• Wu’s contracting equity pilot would be a first for Massachusetts. via GBH

• Amherst creates 2 depts. to improve community safety and equity. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Where Will $4 Billion in COVID Relief Money Be Distributed in Mass.? via NBC Boston

• McGee Reflects On His Term In The Corner Office. via Item Live

• DOT kicks off 18-month project to assess viability of North Adams-Boston rail service. via The Berkshire Eagle

Dec. 14, 2021

• As COVID infections rise, cities consider rules on vaccinations. via Salem News

• Springfield warns of ransomware attack on Kronos Private Cloud used to track employee hours and time off. via MassLive Media

• To prevent more mold at high school, South Hadley officials eye costly new HVAC system. via New England Public Media

Dec. 10, 2021

• With days left to sign ARPA bill, Gov. Charlie Baker worries about hurdles to distribute funds across Massachusetts. via MassLive Media

• Toxic PFAS chemicals will be added to Mass.’ official list of hazardous substances. via WBUR

• ‘A pile of lemons.’ Framingham City Council finalizes precinct, district boundaries. via The MetroWest Daily News

• Incoming Amherst councilor representing town at national reparations forum. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

• MassDOT partnership could deliver critical services to your doorstep. via GBH

• As Omicron looms, Mayor Wu turns City Hall into a mass vaccination site. via The Boston Globe

• COVID field hospitals not needed in Massachusetts for now to handle holiday surge, Gov. Charlie Baker says. via MassLive Media

Dec. 9, 2021

• COVID-era mail-in, early voting expansions set to expire Dec. 15. via Boston Herald

• Barnstable County may reach an agreement for spending $41 million in COVID-19 rescue funds. via The Cape Cod Times

• State efforts to address opioid overdoses detailed. via The Gloucester Daily Times

• EPA’s water infrastructure funds could reduce sewage overflows in Connecticut River. via New England Public Media

• Holyoke City Council upholds rule barring city employees from serving in elected office. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Stoughton police create LGBTQ+ community liaison position. via Enterprise News

• Pushing for equity and election reform, Massachusetts activists urge lawmakers to approve same-day voter registration. via MassLive Media

Dec. 8, 2021

• Local governments staff up, team up to confront climate change. via GBH

• North Attleboro gets grant to help mitigate impact of PFAS chemicals in town water supply. via The Sun Chronicle

• With a new requirement to build housing near train stations, towns brace for density — and drama. via The Boston Globe

• Amazon Network Services outage leads to cancellation of parking tickets, shuts down local services in Boston. via The Boston Globe

• Smith College gifts $500K to Northampton. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• West Tisbury Eyes Bylaw to Regulate Big Houses. via The Vineyard Gazette

• Two crucial pillars of the state’s plan to cut carbon emissions have crumbled. Where does it go from here?. via The Boston Globe

Dec. 7, 2021

• Strapped public health departments in Massachusetts poised for massive boost. via WCVB

• Boston announces free COVID-19 rapid tests, larger vaccine clinics for hard-hit neighborhoods. via The Boston Globe

• Natick ends water ban because PFAS levels remain safe. via MetroWest Daily News

• A false sense of security’: Critics question the state’s COVID testing program in schools. via WBUR

• Haverhill’s new Department of Public Health ramping up. via Eagle Tribune

Dec. 6, 2021

• State tax revenues keep heading higher; Mass. already challenged in spending billions in federal aid. via CommonWealth Magazine

• COVID vaccine booster supply not an issue as Governor Charlie Baker calls on cities and towns to expand clinics. via MassLive Media

• State to get federal money to remedy drinking water contamination. via Gloucester Daily Times

Dec. 2, 2021

• Racial, income disparities leave high numbers of young children unvaccinated amid race against Omicron variant; data show wide disparities in vaccination rates between low-income and wealthier communities. via The Boston Globe

• ‘Launching the city out of the pandemic’: @NewBedford_MA Mayor @JonMitchellNB outlines $80M COVID relief plans. via South Coast Today

• Boston City Council greenlights Mayor Wu’s $8 million free bus expansion proposal. via GBH

• Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker will not seek reelection. via The Boston Globe

• Middlesex DA’s office reports 39% spike in hate-related incidents in one month. via GBH

Dec. 1, 2021

• Negotiators reach ARPA spending bill deal; no details released on $4 billion compromise plan. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Braintree’s ‘anti-blight’ law targets dilapidated commercial, industrial properties. via The Boston Globe

• State panel weighs restrictions on herbicide. via Gloucester Daily Times

Nov. 30, 2021

• FEMA money still available for COVID-related expenses. via The Eagle Tribune

• Governor Baker: QR code vaccine passport coming soon. via GBH

• Brockton and Worcester health officials brace for the omicron variant. via GBH

• Judge strikes down Boston’s eviction moratorium. via The Boston Globe

Nov. 29, 2021

• Chelsea and Chinatown are building microgrids to solve big energy, climate challenges. via WBUR

• Greenfield, Montague, Deerfield and Sunderland awarded $250K grant to support public health coordination. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Chatham joins at least two other Cape towns in PFAS lawsuit. via Cape Cod Times

• Foxborough moves to drop civil service hiring rules for police. via The Boston Globe

• Schools struggling to ease mask mandates. via Newburyport News

Nov. 22, 2021

• County commissioners, Assembly spar over ARPA spending process, court action possible. via Cape Cod Times

• Northampton, Amherst restaurants press state for continued outdoor dining as COVID rules set to expire. via MassLive Media

• Somerville and Boston want rent control, but Beacon Hill could get in the way. via WBUR

• Mayor Wu says she will sign Boston fossil fuel divestment ordinance Monday. via The Boston Globe

Nov. 19, 2021

• Baker pulls Mass. out of TCI emissions pact, citing lack of buy-in from other states. via WBUR

• Acton announces allocations for ARPA funding. via Wicked Local

• ARPA funds to benefit internet build-out, housing assistance in Greenfield. via The Recorder News

• Officials scrambling to find solutions as violence breaks out in schools nationwide. via GBH

• Buoyed by early results, Boston and Worcester push to extend free public transit. via WBUR

• Select Board earmarks $100,000 for Newbury food pantry. via Newburyport News

• Judge rules Hopedale Select Board has final say in protecting forestland. via Milford Daily News

• In historic shift, Hadley splits tax rate. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Newton seeks community input to help guide support for lower-income residents. via The Boston Globe

Nov. 18, 2021

• Massachusetts transportation agencies still sorting through federal infrastructure law. via The Boston Globe

• Senate approves mental health access plan. via Eagle Tribune

• Boston City Council says no to fossil fuel investments. via The Boston Globe

• Fewer people appear to want to become police officers. Chiefs have theories as to why. via MetroWest Daily News

• Judge denies request to halt mask mandate in Mass. schools. via The Boston Globe

• Mass. could have an all-renewable energy future, but challenges remain, report says. via WBUR

Nov. 17, 2021

• Expanded voting by mail ends next month in Massachusetts, ramping up calls for a permanent law. via The Boston Globe

• Cambridge’s battle over bike lanes could be coming to a community near you. via GBH

• Senate to take up mental health access bill. via Eagle Tribune

• ‘We have so much work to do.’ Michelle Wu sworn in as mayor of Boston. via The Boston Globe

• Mariano plans to seek another term as Massachusetts House Speaker. via WBUR

• ‘Failure to elect.’ Recount results in tie for Framingham’s District 3 council seat. via Metrowest Daily

• Gov. Lamont puts TCI on hold in Connecticut; Mass. finds itself in go-it-alone position. via CommonWealth Magazine

Nov. 16, 2021

• Infrastructure bill signed by Biden allocates at least $9 billion to Mass., and transportation advocates have ideas on how to spend it. via The Boston Globe

• Colrain’s town-wide broadband project nearing completion. via The Recorder News

• Here are the problems Dighton hopes federal infrastructure money will help fix. via Taunton Gazette

• ‘Ready to be your mayor’: Joshua Garcia sworn in as Holyoke’s 45th and first Latino mayor. via The Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Meet the next mayor of Somerville: Katjana Ballantyne; “I know from experience that in Somerville we can continue moving forward as long as we work together, we can build a city where we all thrive.”. via Boston Dot Com

• Fall River, New Bedford would stay separate in latest Congressional district proposal. via MassLive Media

Nov. 15, 2021

• National orgs representing local governments are asking Congress for more flexibility in how ARPA funds can be used. via Gloucester Daily Times

• After breaking barrier, Holyoke’s first Latino mayor ready to focus on the basics; Josh Garcia is bringing his municipal management know-how to City Hall. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Massachusetts lawmakers must act to extend vote-by-mail, Secretary of Commonwealth Bill Galvin warns. via WCVB

• Shop local and get paid is part of North Attleboro plan for federal aid money. via The Sun Chronicle

• After 600 days, the Massachusetts State House remains closed to the public. It appears to be the only state capitol still shut on this continent. via The Boston Globe

• COVID-19 cases increase among Mass. students, staff statewide. via The Boston Globe

Nov. 10, 2021

• Easton holds ‘vote & vax’ clinic before town meeting. via The Boston Globe

• In the void of national climate legislation, locals lead the way. via The Boston Globe

• Mass. senators unveil wide-ranging mental health measure. via The Boston Globe

• Lawrence is miles from the ocean. But homeowners are seeing huge increases for flood insurance. via WBUR

Nov. 9, 2021

• Mass. to get windfall from federal package for infrastructure needs. via Eagle Tribune

• Baker’s hate crimes task force releases guide to handle and prevent incidents in schools. via The Boston Globe

• Mayor Kim Janey reflects on short, but historic time as Boston’s mayor. via WBUR

• Radical changes and big incentives as Mass Save becomes a climate fighting tool — but is it enough?. via The Boston Globe

• Braintree Town Council passes anti-blight law that would fine property owners $300 per day. via Patriot Ledger

Nov. 3, 2021

• PFAS advisory: State asks people to limit or not eat fish caught at 5 Cape Cod ponds. via Cape Cod Times

• Senate ARPA bill includes $400m investment in mental health. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Massachusetts urges active vaccination role for schools. via New England Public Media

• The 2020 census likely left out people of color at rates higher than a decade ago. via WBUR

Nov. 2, 2021

• Lawmakers propose new Congressional maps for Mass. via The Boston Globe

• Study details Northampton’s internet needs; ballot question would allow city to continue pursuit of a municipal broadband internet system. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• As cable companies lose customers, public access TV channels are paying a price. via Milford Daily

• Election officials predict low turnout for local races across Massachusetts on Tuesday. via WBUR

• Worcester’s vaccine mandate began Monday with 93% of city side employees complying, officials said. via MassLive Media

Nov. 1, 2021

• Mass. Races To Watch Outside Of Boston On Election Day. via GBH

• PFAS detection leads to water treatment plant repairs in Wilmington. via Lowell Sun News

• Why the UN’s climate conference matters to Boston and Massachusetts. via WBUR

• Can ARPA spending spur transformative change? So far, most of the money is going into existing programs. via CommonWealth Magazine

• A short but historic mayoral term: Kim Janey matters. When Kim Janey inherited the seat left behind by Marty Walsh, it showed Bostonians something they’d never seen before: A Black woman mayor. via The Boston Globe

• Hundreds of Mass. state workers have been suspended, fired or resigned over vaccine mandate. via WBUR

Oct. 29, 2021

• New Massachusetts legislative district maps sent to Gov. Charlie Baker for review. via MassLive Media

• ‘Forever chemicals’ widespread in Mass. surface and ground water, says new report. via WBUR

• Across western Massachusetts, a half-dozen contested mayoral elections Tuesday. via New England Public Media

• Massachusetts surpasses major COVID vaccination milestone, Gov. Charlie Baker announces. via MassLive Media

• Norton residents endorse master plan for future. via The Sun Chronicle

• Get jabbed or get tested: Vaccine mandate begins Monday for Worcester municipal employees. via The Telegram & Gazette

Oct. 28, 2021

• Lawmakers poised to send new political maps, increasing number of majority-minority districts, to Baker. via The Boston Globe

• Amherst awarded $450,000 grant to develop public safety program sending unarmed responders to some 911 calls. via MassLive Media

• New Methuen voting precinct maps head for state approval. via Eagle Tribune

• Tyngsboro special town meeting moves to adopt ‘town manager’ form of government, must be approved by Legislature. via The Lowell Sun

• Tyer puts $500,000 more behind second round of At Home in Pittsfield home improvements. via Berkshire Eagle

Oct. 27, 2021

• Cambridge to join with Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop to trace COVID as state opts to end its contact-tracking program. via Cambridge Day

• Lawmakers push for more funds to fix sewer outfalls. via Eagle Tribune

• Massachusetts schools cannot require negative COVID test for a student’s return to class after holidays or vacations, DESE says. via MassLive Media

• Municipal coalition endorses public bank to aid small businesses, cities, and towns. via The Boston Globe

• Massachusetts school mask mandate extended to Jan. 15, 2022. via New England Public Media

Oct. 26, 2021

• Learning with COVID: How educators and students are finding a ‘new normal’. via WBUR

• Mass. economy shows sixth consecutive quarter of growth. via WBUR

• Study affirms bright future for ‘blue economy’. via Newburyport News

Oct. 25, 2021

• Lawmakers poised to unveil ARPA spending bill. via The Boston Herald

• State House moves toward reopening, but timeline remains unclear. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Chelsea, a city hit hard by COVID, has become a vaccination standout. via The Boston Globe

• Mass. lawmakers relax decades-old rule to allow public retirees to work more while getting pensions. via The Boston Globe

• Groveland hires its first town administrator. via Eagle Tribune

• Acting Mayor Kim Janey to challenge US Census count of Boston residents. via The Boston Globe

• Buckland Town Meeting passes zoning changes to increase affordable housing. via The Recorder News

• Hopkinton High School is first school in Mass. to lift mask requirement. via WBUR

Oct. 21, 2021

• Add paper to the list of things in short supply; shortage caused cancelation of mail-in voting brochure. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Providers’ Council honors Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno as Municipal Official of the Year. via MassLive Media

• Mental Health Treatment Is A Key Component To Mass. Pandemic Recovery, Baker Says. via GBH

• New work week: Tuesday through Thursday; MassDOT commuter planning tool finds new pattern. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Mass. lawmakers draw new maps to help candidates of color. via WBUR

• Framingham expected to host new majority-minority legislative district. via Metrowest Daily

Oct. 20, 2021

• Senate adds 6th majority-minority district in Brockton; lawmakers set to vote on redistricting plans. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Greenfield mayor, residents exchange visions for using ARPA funds. via The Recorder

• Brookline seeks community input on spending federal stimulus money. via The Boston Globe

• Fare-free Worcester buses called bright spot in transit recovery; business group backs discount fares for intermittent commuter rail riders. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Western Mass. town pushes for new tax on recreation to fund ambulance service. via New England Public Media

• Coming together: New Sandwich Town Hall will allow office consolidations and ‘higher tech’. via Cape Cod Times

• Chatham Joins Coalition To Support ‘Mansion Tax’. via Cape Cod Chronicle

Oct. 19, 2021

• North Attleboro OKs borrowing for PFAS treatment; more likely to come. via The Sun Chronicle

• EPA unveils strategy to regulate toxic ‘forever chemicals’. via WBUR

• Following record-low influenza season, low natural immunity, health officials recommend getting flu vaccine. via MassLive Media

• Racial equity scorecard will grade ARPA spending. via The Eagle Tribune

• Mass. Senate faces blowback over proposed new districts. via Enterprise News

• About 4% of state employees have not complied with Gov. Baker’s vaccine mandate. via WBUR

Oct. 18, 2021

• Flooding could shut down Logan airport, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure in Mass., and the risk is only growing, report says. via The Boston Globe

• Advocates press lawmakers on redistricting, call for changes to proposed maps. via The Boston Globe

• Gov. Baker signs school meals bill. via Eagle Tribune

Oct. 15, 2021

• Educators say school mask policies likely to continue. via Newburyport News

• Closing the ‘digital divide’: Interest in municipal internet is rising on the South Shore, nationwide. via Patriot Ledger

• Amherst offers free asymptomatic COVID test kits. via MassLive Media

• EPA makes it official: Gloucester consent decree ended. via The Gloucester Times

• Gov. Baker files bill to put DOER in charge of procuring clean power. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Worcester School Committee votes to move away from at-large elections. via CommonWealth Magazine

Oct. 14, 2021

• Eversource withholding millions of dollars in taxes from 87 Massachusetts communities. via MassLive Media

• Municipal light plants partnering with offshore wind developer. via Newburyport News

• Stronger together: Beverly, Salem officials team up to tackle climate work. via Salem News

• Methuen adopts diversity and inclusion ordinance. via The Eagle Tribune

• Baker shifts thinking on offshore wind; calls for major infrastructure investment, end to price cap. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Boston will offer free swim lessons in communities of color to combat drownings. via The Boston Globe

• Salem Gears Up For The Return Of Halloween Festivities — With Caution. via GBH

Oct. 13, 2021

• Lawmakers propose new districts for Massachusetts’ 200 state House and Senate seats; new map would add 15 majority-minority districts, reflecting population growth among communities of color. via The Boston Globe

• Western Mass. would lose a state House seat under redistricting proposal. via New England Public Media

• Gov. Baker activates the National Guard to help with COVID testing in schools. via WBUR

• Hopkinton High School becomes first in state to get approval to lift mask mandate. via The Boston Globe

• Get the candy bowl ready. Dr. Fauci says Halloween is a go this year. via WBUR

• These images show what Boston landmarks will look like underwater depending on the climate choices we make. via The Boston Globe

Oct. 12, 2021

• Secretary of state pushes for three days to count votes in November election. via The Boston Globe

• Clerk to City Council: State lawmakers asked to go by city maps for census-driven redistricting. via The Telegram & Gazette

• Karen Spilka promises ‘we will get it done’ on ARPA spending bill. via The Boston Herald

• So far this year, schools report far higher rates of COVID-19 in students, staff. via WBUR

• Massachusetts ‘got pretty lucky’ with no EEE cases so far in 2021. via WBUR

• Lawmakers brace for new political maps. via The Eagle Tribune

• The silent majority in support of housing action; voices dominating local debates often don’t reflect the broader sentiment. via CommonWealth Magazine

Oct. 8, 2021

• Public health advocates urge state to ban PFAS in food packaging. via Patriot Ledger

• Some towns yearn for commuter rail silence. via CommonWealth Magazine

• This district’s population center is Latino-majority Lawrence. But white Andover residents have long held the state Senate seat; advocates say new political maps are needed to empower communities of color. via The Boston Globe

• Mass. National Guard to Drive School Buses in 4 New Communities Amid Shortage. via NBC Boston

• Baker appoints new MBTA board; Longtime Massport official Betsy Taylor will be chair. via CommonWealth Magazine

Oct. 7, 2021

• Public health, equity, homeless are proposed Amherst COVID relief spending priorities. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Methuen hires Andover accounting firm to administer spending of $46M ARPA money. via Eagle Tribune

• Kim Janey signs executive order to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day in Boston. via Boston Dot Com

• Hingham and Carver among 14 districts sued over legality of school mask mandates. via Patriot Ledger

• Cases of Legionnaires’ disease detected in the Merrimack Valley. via Eagle Tribune

Oct. 6, 2021

• Sept. collections exceed projections by 14%. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Senate committee report urges action on addressing inequities post-COVID; work, housing, transportation policies could widen wealth gaps. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Mass. Senate panel produces wide-ranging list of spending options amid pandemic. via New England Public Media

• State regulators roll out combined sewer overflow discharge notice rules. via Gloucester Times

• New ordinance to squeeze emissions from Boston’s largest buildings. via WBUR

• Newton taps federal COVID relief funds to support city trees, local trails. via The Boston Globe

• What Are The Legislative Hurdles For Same-Day Voter Registration In Massachusetts?. via GBH

• Cambridge School Committee OK’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for eligible students. via The Boston Globe

Oct. 5, 2021

• Lawmakers to consider legislation that would make vote-by-mail and early voting permanent. via WBUR

• As it considers how to prioritize American Rescue Plan Act funds, Great Barrington seeks input from residents. via Berkshire Eagle

• North Adams Planning Board adopts design standards and moves forward on ‘Smart Growth’ zoning. via Berkshire Eagle

• ARPA spending: Massachusetts lawmakers consider reduced MBTA fares, WiFi investments. via MassLive Media

• Massachusetts planning to spend ‘some’ ARPA money by Thanksgiving. via Boston Herald

• Gov. Charlie Baker selects Terrence Reidy as new Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. via MassLive Media

Oct. 4, 2021

• With redistricting, federal stimulus decisions, and more on the menu, there could be legislative feast before Thanksgiving. via The Boston Globe

• PFAS contamination: Of 21 Barnstable ponds tested, 21 had contaminants, town report finds. via Cape Cod Times

• COVID-19 concerns remain as Salem, Topsfield celebrate autumn traditions. via The Boston Globe

• Berkshire County likely to see four Mass. House seats cut to three in redistricting. via Berkshire Eagle

• States, cities slow to spend pandemic funds. via AP News

• Lawmakers pressed to approve school building money; Voc-tech schools ask for ARPA funding. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Delays hinder state’s pooled testing program for schools; staffing challenges at CIC Health cited. via CommonWealth Magazine

• From COVID tests and contact tracing to angry parents, school nurses say it’s hard to keep up. via WBUR

• Massachusetts schools sitting large pot of federal COVID relief funds. via MassLive Media

• State gauging landscape for new COVID-19 vaccinations . via Salem News

• COVID spreading at the highest rate through Central and Western Massachusetts; See how your town compared. via MassLive Media

Oct. 1, 2021

• Mass. Senate presses to make vote-by-mail permanent, institute same-day registration. via The Boston Globe

• Worthington broadband internet network completed. via MassLive Media

• Chelmsford board backs plan for PFAS removal. via Eagle Independent

• Norwell contends with discolored water while trying to reduce PFAS levels. via Patriot Ledger

• School districts are scrambling to find food for student meals; supply chain and staffing shortages combined with vast expansion of free lunch programs are overwhelming cafeterias this fall. via The Boston Globe

Sept. 30, 2021

• Nantucket Study committee: Consider Town Meeting change. via The Inquirer and Mirror

• Buildings to be likely focus of carbon emissions fight. via Newburyport News

• Lowell is making a comeback; the former industrial city’s revival efforts have stalled in the past, but this time the push has momentum and money behind it. via The Boston Globe

• Budget watchdogs identify ‘immediate’ needs as Massachusetts sits on mountain of coronavirus aid, surplus dollars. via Boston Herald

• COVID Vaccine Mandate Set For Eligible Amherst-Pelham Students. via New England Public Media

• Nearly three-quarters of Boston city workers have provided proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test under first phase of mandate. via The Boston Globe

Sept. 29, 2021

• ‘Clock ticking’ on $4.9B in ARPA funding as Massachusetts spending lags. via Boston Herald

• COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts Continue In Western Massachusetts. via New England Public Media

• Massachusetts State Lottery produced $1.112 billion in net profit for Commonwealth during 2021 fiscal year, breaks record. via MassLive Media

• Should Great Barrington control how homeowners rent their property? Early bylaw talks stir resistance. via Berkshire Eagle

• COVID for the foreseeable future? Herd immunity seems unlikely as experts discuss annual boosters, holiday surges. via MassLive Media

• Breakthrough COVID cases in Massachusetts decreased last week along with total cases. via MassLive Media

• Advocates propose sweeping changes to state’s political map. via The Boston Globe

• Sciarra, Warner Top Northampton Mayoral Preliminary. via New England Public Media

Sept. 28, 2021

• Bristol County joins three counties to administer $389 million in federal ARPA funds. via South Coast Today

• Expert: Too Soon To Tell If COVID-19 Cases Have Plateaued In Western Massachusetts. via New England Public Media

• Mass. Extends School Mask Mandate Through October. via WBUR

Sept. 27, 2021

• Police to form partnership to help ‘most vulnerable’. via Salem News

• Trick-or-treating outdoors this Halloween as COVID pandemic continues is ‘absolutely’ safe, CDC director says. via MassLive Media

• New Bedford wins three-year lawsuit against ABC Disposal over recycling fees. via South Coast Today

Sept. 24, 2021

• Mass. Schools Report More Than 2,200 New COVID-19 Cases Among Students. via NBC10Boston

• State says nursing homes should be ready to give COVID-19 booster shots next week. via The Boston Globe

• Court denies Massachusetts State Police union’s attempt to delay COVID-19 vaccine mandate. via WCVB

• Mass. House Agrees to Vaccine Mandate For Reps, Staff. via GBH

Sept. 23, 2021

• Boston Council Puts Big Buildings On Track To Achieve Carbon Neutrality By 2050. via GBH

• Lawmakers seek to fortify coast communities. via Gloucester Times

• Springfield Enlists Public School Students To Help Improve Low Vaccination Rate. via New England Public Media

Sept. 22, 2021

• How To Spend $5 Billion In COVID Relief: Mass. State Legislature Hears Public Health Proposals. via GBH

• Easton sues chemical companies over PFAS in water. via The Boston Globe

• Leicester voters overwhelmingly seal the deal: Town buys former Becker College campus. via Telegram & Gazette

• Newton mayor designating $125,000 in federal COVID funds for local arts. via The Boston Globe

• Tyngsboro selectmen support significant change in local governance. via Lowell Sun News

• With state testimony, local leaders seek public health system investment. via The Recorder News

Sept. 21, 2021

• Massachusetts Lawmakers Reach Agreement On Reprecincting Process Change. via WBUR

• Gov. Baker creates first-of-its-kind clean heat commission to help state reach climate goals. via Boston.com

• Report outlines 10 recommendations on how the Worcester Fire Department can prevent line-of-duty deaths. via MassLive Media

• Job Gains In Massachusetts Slowed To A Trickle in August. via New England Public Media

Sept. 20, 2021

• Salem To Require A Negative COVID-19 Test To Attend Halloween Events. via WBUR

• Top city officials prepped for first run of new election system in Tuesday preliminary. via Lowell Sun News

• Workers are going back to the office, just not how they expected to. via The Boston Globe

• Local PAC seeks to dispel misinformation. via Salem News

• Milford is installing signs and remote cameras, with plans to prosecute illegal dumping. via Milford Daily News

Sept. 17, 2021

• In first report of new school year, state shows 1,230 coronavirus cases among students, 190 among staff. via The Boston Globe

• Springfield mayor: Spike in COVID cases ‘very alarming and scary’. via MassLive Media

Sept. 16, 2021

• More Than 90% Of State’s ARPA Money Not Allocated. via WBUR

• Region’s mayors see ‘sense of urgency’ on housing, climate change. via Salem News

• After Mold Mess And Back-And-Forth With State, South Hadley High To Begin School Year Online. via New England Public Media

• Voters shrug at Boston’s ‘historic’ mayor’s race; Turnout lower than 8 years ago, despite population growth. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Races for mayor, council shaping up in Easthampton. via Daily Hampshire Gazette

• Costs pushing more people into poverty in Mass.. via Newburyport News

Sept. 15, 2021

• After years of planning, Boston Planning & Development Agency board sets new rules for building in flood-prone parts of Boston. via The Boston Globe

• North Adams City Council passes ‘Smart Growth’ zoning. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Newton to implement master plan for bicycling and pedestrians. via The Boston Globe

• New England Forests Can Help Slow Climate Change. A New Report Shows Exactly How Much. via WBUR

• Governor Charlie Baker plans another run at health care reforms. via The Sentinel And Enterprise

• Leicester town meeting approves money to buy Becker College campus, ballot vote next week. via Telegram & Gazette

• In hard-fought race, Boston’s mayoral field is cut down to Wu and Essaibi George. via The Boston Globe

• Charlie Baker says a lot of people got the COVID-19 outbreak in Provincetown all wrong. via Boston.com

• Advocates renew plans to expand bottle bill. via The Eagle Tribune

• Voters across Greater Boston make decisions in preliminary mayoral races Tuesday. via The Boston Globe

Sept. 14, 2021

• 15 city preliminary elections set for today. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Lawmakers hear more pitches for ARPA relief money. via The Eagle Tribune

• Boston’s new mayor will be sworn in mid-November, not January. via The Boston Globe

• Gov. Baker: National Guard to assist with school transportation; House Speaker Mariano says federal aid spending plan could come by Thanksgiving. via CommonWealth Magazine

• Report: ‘Hundreds’ of Mass. schools still waiting for state’s COVID test supplies. via Boston.com

• ‘Greener alternative’: Cape businesses support plastic water bottle ban, seek substitutes. via The Cape Cod Times

Sept. 13, 2021

• Whatever happens in Tuesday’s preliminary mayoral election, Boston is on the brink of change. via The Boston Globe

• Low COVID-19 teen vaccination rates plague many hard-hit Mass. communities as students start school. via The Boston Globe

• Settlement agreement: Wayland will make elementary playground more accessible. via Metro West Daily

• Here’s what the next six months of the pandemic will bring. via The Boston Globe

Sept. 10, 2021

• Springfield To Require Masks Indoors Across The City, As Officials Urge ‘Shots In The Arms’. via New England Public Media

• EPA Recommends Superfund Status For Lower Neponset River. via WBUR

• 20 years after 9/11, New Englanders reflect on a defining moment. via The Telegram & Gazette

• Colrain voters OK debt exclusion; funds to support school repairs. via The Recorder News

• School bus company pays $165,000 to settle idling charges; Diesel engines ran for 20 minutes outside New Bedford schools. via CommonWealth Magazine

Sept. 9, 2021

• Amid spike in cyberattacks, Mass. officials debate how to protect state networks. via The Boston Globe

• Massachusetts schools will be required to resume COVID case reporting, officials say. via MassLive Media

• Pembroke seeks residents for climate resiliency workshop. via The Patriot Ledger

• Here’s where the COVID-19 booster shot rollout stands. via The Boston Globe

• Zoom official contacts West Stockbridge Police after hacker interrupts meeting with threats, racial slurs. via The Berkshire Eagle

• Somerville Mayor To Take Over Environmental Council When Terms Ends. via WBUR

Sept. 8, 2021

• Chatham Poised To Reactivate Shuttered Well; Another Well Shows Rise In PFAS Contamination. via The Cape Cod Chronicle

• Toxic Firefighting Foams A Challenge To Replace Quickly. via New England Public Media

• UN Report: Weather Disasters Have Become 5 Times As Common, Thanks In Part To Climate Change. via New England Public Media

• 2021 has been warmer and wetter: Boston had the warmest and 3rd wettest summer on record, Worcester had 4th wettest summer, 11th warmest on record. via MassLive Media

• Massachusetts traffic is back. It’s also different. Is it about to get worse?. via Boston.com

Sept. 7, 2021

• As Barnstable hunts for new sources of public drinking water, PFAS contamination rears its ugly head. via The Cape Cod Times

• Somerville Aims For Climate Resilience And Equity With New Urban Forest Report. via GBH

• Some Hope Voting By Mail Could Boost Dismal Turnout In Local Mass. Elections. via WBUR

• Fall River is getting its first female veterans agent — how her unique experience will help. via The Herald News