New England Public Radio

The Week Ahead On Beacon Hill

Early voting has begun in Massachusetts, and the ballots include four important questions. Last week, Senate President Stan Rosenberg said he would vote for the ballot question legalizing recreational marijuana.

Rosenberg previously said he was concerned about whether police would be able to identify people driving under the influence of marijuana, and whether the proposed tax rate for the drug was too low. Now Rosenberg said he will vote yes, and then the legislature will work to “improve the law.”

Click the audio player above to hear Murphy and New England Public Radio’s Carrie Healy discuss Rosenberg’s position, electronic tolling on the Mass Pike and the politics of gun control that could jeopardize a judicial nomination this week.

The Short List: Drug Lab Scandal, Transgender Debate, Hockey Returns

NEPR'S WEEK IN REVIEW

What made The Short List this week?

  • Even more drug cases were affected than were first believed: up to 30,000 drug cases involved testing and/or testimony of former chemist Sonja Farak who worked in the Amherst, Massachusetts Police drug lab. massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said that Farak used drugs on the job nearly every day for eight years.
  • The Massachusetts Senate is scheduled to vote next week on a transgender bill; Governor Charlie Baker is still on the fence.
  • Hockey in Springfield, Massachusetts. One team leaves and another is on its way: is this sustainable?

Click on the audio player, above, to hear New England Public Radio’s Carrie Healy explore these issues with Rick Hurst, publisher of the African American Point of View newspaper, and Matt Szafranski of the Western Mass Politics & Insight blog.

Shutesbury Residents To Vote On Resolution Calling For Broadband Action

Residents of Shutesbury, Massachusetts, will vote on a resolution Saturday urging the Baker Administration to hurry up and get broadband internet to the town.

The so-called “Last Mile” project, which would bring broadband internet to rural communities, has been subject to lengthy delays. The latest started a few months ago when Governor Charlie Baker halted all broadband funding in order to conduct a review of the program. Shutesbury Select Board Chair April Stein says the resolution is one way for townspeople to show their frustration.

“I believe we’re going to have resounding from our community for the resolution,” Stein says. “I think it will bring some sense of relief that maybe we can get something done.”

The Shutesbury resolution calls for Baker to come up with a plan by the end of June. In a possible sign of some movement, the governor this week appointed two new staff members to lead the Last Mile Project.

The Week Ahead on Beacon Hill

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.

The Week Ahead on Beacon Hill

Along with most schools across the state, Beacon Hill is a bit sleepy this week. Most committees are taking a break – and neither the House nor the Senate are holding formal sessions.  But there is some work going on. As we do most Mondays, this week, NEPR’s Carrie Healy checks in with State House News Service reporter Matt Murphy for a look at the week ahead.

Click on the audio link above to hear a conversation between State House News Service reporter Matt Murphy and NEPR’s Carrie Healy.

State Rep: Baker’s DCF Changes “A Good Start”

A good start is what one Pittsfield lawmaker is calling Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s reforms to the embattled Department of Children and Families. Among the initiatives the governor announced Monday are plans to reduce caseloads for social workers and hiring, as well as retaining staff. Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier says those issues are at the root of DCF’s problems.

“While more kids are being screened in because there are so many more needy families and social workers are leaving, those caseloads are rising,” Farley-Bouvier says. “As long as that is happening, as long as those caseloads are so high, we’re going to continue to have problems at DCF.”

DCF has been under fire over the last couple years after high-profile cases of abuse and murder of children under the agency’s care.