New England Public Radio

Henry Epp

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill: Taxes, Budget And Marijuana Lobbying

Key budget leaders in the Massachusetts House have said no new “broad-based” taxes are needed for the next state budget, even though tax revenues for the current fiscal year keep coming up short.

Like most Mondays, we checked in with Matt Murphy, a reporter for the State House News Service in Boston. He explained when lawmakers say they’re not raising “broad-based” taxes, that doesn’t mean no new taxes at all.

Click the audio player above to hear Henry Epp’s conversation with Matt Murphy about the week ahead on Beacon Hill.

In Springfield, Gambling Officials Brush Off East Windsor Casino Plan

Gambling officials in Massachusetts are brushing off news this week that Connecticut’s two Native American tribes are moving forward with a casino plan in East Windsor to compete with MGM Springfield.

“Will it impact some of our visitation if it ever comes to fruition? Perhaps, but as you know, we’re putting up a really unique product here as an urban resort,” said Mike Mathis, head of MGM’s Springfield project, which is scheduled to open in 2018.

Despite that confidence, MGM is suing to block Connecticut’s third tribal casino.

Regardless, Steve Crosby, head of the Gaming Commission, said he believes MGM can handle any potential competition.

“If circumstances change, if the competitive environment changes significantly, then we’ll have to take a look at that,” Crosby said. “But at this stage of the game, we’re proceeding on pace, and think they’re pretty well situated to deal with whatever they have to deal with.”

The Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes signed an agreement Thursday with East Windsor. It still needs the approval of the Connecticut legislature.

What Could Another Connecticut Casino Mean For East Windsor And Springfield?

This week, Connecticut’s two federally recognized Native American tribes picked East Windsor as the site of a third casino in the state. The gambling complex would be just 13 miles from the MGM casino that’s under construction in Springfield, and that’s not an accident. The Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes are looking to fend off the new competition.

The new casino could be built right off Interstate 91, at the site of an abandoned movie theater. That’s where we spoke to the First Selectman of East Windsor, Bob Maynard.

Listen to Henry Epp of New England Public Radio interview Maynard by clicking the audio player above.

 

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill: Baker Meets Trump, SJC Nomination Up For Hearing

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker met with President Donald Trump Monday morning in Washington D.C., along with other governors who are in the nation’s capital for the winter meeting of the National Governor’s Association. Governor Baker and President Trump are both Republicans, but Baker has kept his political distance from Trump. He’s spoken out against some of the Trump Administration’s early actions, including the controversial travel ban.

For more, we spoke with Matt Murphy, reporter with the State House News Service. He’s been covering the Governor’s Association meetings in Washington.

Click the audio player above to hear New England Public Radio’s Henry Epp interview Matt Murphy of the State House News Service.

 

Online Ridicule Follows Re-branding Of ‘Pioneer Valley’ As ‘West Mass’

For decades, the three counties of Massachusetts along the Connecticut River  — Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden — have been collectively known as the Pioneer Valley, but some boosters of the region decided the moniker is old-fashioned and confusing. So the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts spent $80,000 to hire a consultant from Oklahoma to re-brand this region.

The result: “West Mass.” It was launched with a two-minute video.

That video, and the brand, have been met with criticism and mockery on social media.

To hear a defense of “West Mass,” we spoke to Greg Chiecko, the director of sales for the Big E, and a board member of the visitors bureau.

To hear Henry Epp’s interview with Greg Chiecko, click the audio player above.

Ware, Mass. Soldier Dies In Iraq In ‘Non-Combat’ Incident

A 21-year-old soldier from Ware, Massachusetts has died in Iraq, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. Brian Odiorne died in what the Defense Department calls a “non-combat related incident” in Al Anbar Province on Monday. Odiorne was a 2014 graduate of Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, where he was a machine shop student and played on the football team.

“He was just an overall wonderful student, an excellent machine shop student, and was an asset to Pathfinder,” said Principal Mary Jane Rickson.

In the Army, Odiorne was a private first class, assigned to Fort Hood, Texas. The Department of Defense said his death is under investigation.