The deadline has passed to register to vote or change party affiliation ahead of the Massachusetts primary election. That’s only two-and-a-half weeks away, and it’s made for quiet times in the legislature. But there’s still quite a bit of action going on outside the Statehouse.
Click the audio player above to hear New England Public Radio’s Carrie Healy talk with the State House News Service’s Matt Murphy.
Peter Benes has devoted the last 30 years to tracing the history of early American traveling entertainers. Benes says it started in 1686 in Boston, with these entertainers traveling to Hartford, Springfield and right on up the Pioneer Valley. They brought with them — “pop culture,” or some early form of it.
Benes and New England Public Radio’s Carrie Healy met in an Historic Deerfield tavern, to talk about the findings in his new book — “For A Short Time Only” — named after a popular catch phrase used by performers to advertise their shows.
Click the audio player above to hear the interview.
Correction: In the introduction to this interview , we incorrectly identified the location as a “meetinghouse.” It was a tavern.
What made The Short List this week?
Click the audio player above to hear New England Public Radio’s Carrie Healy explore these issues with Larry Parness of the Daily Hampshire Gazette and “Vaya Con Muñoz” radio host and marketing consultant, Natalia Muñoz.
The Massachusetts Legislature restored millions in spending to the state budget during a rare Saturday session, over the objections of Governor Charlie Baker. State House News Service reporter, Matt Murphy tells New England Public Radio’s Carrie Healy, lawmakers squeezed in some work over the weekend in-between national party conventions…as they face a July 31st deadline to wrap up formal sessions.
The next Massachusetts budget is now in the hands of a committee of six lawmakers — they’ll work out the differences of the versions of the spending plans passed by the House and Senate. Both chambers stuck to a similar bottom line — with no new taxes and a slight up-tick in spending.
Click on the audio player above to hear New England Public Radio’s Henry Epp discuss what lawmakers will be focused on this week in Boston with State House News reporter Matt Murphy.
There’s a wide variety of hearings and topics ahead at the Statehouse this week. One likely contentious formal session will be held on Thursday, as the Massachusetts Senate considers charter school expansion legislation. As we do most Monday’s, we check in with Matt Murphy at the Statehouse News Service. He tells New England Public Radio’s Carrie Healy that the compromise bill has charter backers and opponents both unhappy.
For Carrie Healy’s conversation with Matt Murphy about the week ahead on Beacon Hill, click the audio player above.