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By Chris Lisinski

BOSTON — While a new wrinkle has emerged, House and Senate Democrats appear to be heading for a relatively early session agreement on legislation allocating $200 million for local road and bridge work and another $150 million for...

By COLIN A. YOUNG

BOSTON — From fish being reeled in by anglers in Taunton to the drinking water at an elementary school in New Salem, so-called forever chemicals known as PFAS are everywhere, the questions and comments from lawmakers from various corners of...

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON — If all 200,000 newly eligible undocumented immigrants apply for a driver’s license next fiscal year, their applications would far exceed the number of first-time license applications the Registry of Motor Vehicles issues every year.On...

By COLIN A. YOUNG

Tax season starts this week on Beacon Hill, when the Revenue Committee will dive into the specifics of Gov. Maura Healey’s tax relief and reform plan as well as about 50 other bills that deal with similar tax credits and tax code changes.The hearing...

By Bob Katzen

THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House and Senate for the week of March 13-17. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call examines the salaries and other benefits received by local state senators. $73,655 BASE SALARY FOR ALL 40 SENATORS...

By STEVE PFARRER

The Fine Arts Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has continued to rebound from the pandemic with an expanded program this year featuring a range of shows in music, dance, theater and movement.As spring officially arrives, the schedule...

By Chris Lisinski

BOSTON — Bishnu Tamang’s home in Massachusetts has always been infested with cockroaches.After immigrating years earlier from Nepal, Tamang moved to a public housing apartment in Brookline in 2015 with her 4-year-old son, where she found not only...

By JAMES PENTLAND

NORTHAMPTON — Supporters of enhanced passenger rail service in western Massachusetts packed the Senior Center Tuesday to testify before the legislative commission studying the project’s governance and funding.From as far afield as Greenfield, Palmer...

By MADDIE FABIAN

HOLYOKE – Adults 60 and older can now access mental health support in their own homes and at community sites thanks to a new mental health outreach team launched by WestMass ElderCare earlier this year. WMEC is a Holyoke-based nonprofit that provides...

By Bob Katzen

THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of March 6-10. There were no roll calls in the House last week.$368 MILLION SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (S 23): Senate 40-0, approved a $368 million...

By Chris Lisinski

BOSTON — Some of the last vestiges of the COVID-19 emergency declaration will end in May when Gov. Maura Healey will lift the modified public health emergency and walk back a vaccine mandate for tens of thousands of executive branch workers.The Healey...

By ERIN TIERNAN

BOSTON — New polling suggests statewide support for another minimum wage hike and as lawmakers weigh a push to raise the wage floor, an advocacy coalition is now actively pondering a ballot question to “force the issue.”The Change Research survey...

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

AMHERST — Educational issues pertaining to schools across western Massachusetts, including transportation, rural inequities and a lack of sufficient state aid peppered the discussion of a Joint Ways and Means Committee hearing at the University of...

By Maddie Fabian

The Station of the Cross Catholic Media Network recently expanded its reach across western Massachusetts. The network now broadcasts on 730 AM in Springfield, reaching western Massachusetts and Hartford, with a potential of over 2.2 million...

By Taylor Brokesh

The term “urban forest” may sound like an oxymoron, but it actually might be the key to mitigating climate change. A bill proposed in the state Senate aims to create a program that would increase tree canopy cover in cities to combat excessive heat in...

By JUSTIN SILVERMAN

During the early months of COVID-19, governors in New England states issued executive orders allowing municipalities to meet online so long as the public could attend remotely. The democratic benefits of this arrangement quickly became evident....

By CHRIS LARABEE

SPRINGFIELD — After 30 years under the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts’ umbrella, the food rescue nonprofit Rachel’s Table will become its own standalone organization this summer. The separation will give Rachel’s Table full fiscal,...

By ALANIS BROUSSARD

Even though child care is an essential need for families in the United States, a history of limited government support prevents many families every day from getting the adequate child care they need.For years, the American child care system has...

By Bob Katzen

THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on a roll call from the week of Feb. 27-March 3. There were no roll calls in the Senate last week.$353 MILLION SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (H 57): House 153-0, approved and...

By CHRIS LISINSKI

BOSTON — What’s the first step in dealing with an overflowing bathtub?That’s the question MASSPIRG legislative director Deirdre Cummings asks to make her pitch for a sweeping new bill aimed at wrangling the presence of PFAS chemicals in food...