Eighty million Americans start to receive stimulus checks today State economy facing unprecedented times Newton state Senator files vote-by-mail legislation First-time gun purchases reach all-time high Massachusetts high court to hear ballot signature case Trump cuts off new funding for the World Health Organization Recreational cannabis shops get their day in court Lessons in Leadership: Women [...]
Massachusetts joins six other northeast states in economic compact Senator Elizabeth Warren wants the next relief package focused on essential workers Governor Baker commits resources to the City of Chelsea as cases surge Mayor Marty Walsh announces first COVID-19 tests for general public COVID-19 is changing everything, except candidate’s signature-gathering process (so far) College campuses this [...]
Senate bill slashes candidate signature requirement for primary ballot access As COVID-19 surges and unemployment spikes, food banks are at a breaking point The new normal: electronic advocacy and legislating during COVID-19 Commercial fishermen are on the brink and the CARES Act doesn’t provide enough relief Hazard pay negotiated for nurses working in state hospitals and [...]
Governor Baker’s executive orders ease health care license restrictions, initiating an all-call for health professionals The City of Chelsea is a hotspot of COVID-19 Competing proposals for additional coronavirus relief fail in the U.S. Senate State Department of Unemployment Assistance releases guidance on CARES Act Twelve Boston banks agree to defer mortgage payments for homeowners A [...]
President Trump attacks vote-by-mail efforts Western Massachusetts legislators join call for demographic data on COVID-19 cases State Police cadets will join their first responder colleagues early Public schools are canceling April vacation; Worcester schedules last day of school Why isn’t Congress working remotely? File under: The Most Maine thing ever -- Maine Musher and her Siberian [...]
State health providers will receive an additional $800 million beginning in July. Grocery stores are reducing their occupancy and hours beginning today. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley pushes for release of racial and ethnic data on COVID-19 patients As candidates struggle to collect signatures required to appear on the 2020 ballot will Massachusetts Legislature reduce the required number [...]
A statewide relief fund is available to residents negatively affected by COVID-19. Speaker Nancy Pelosi seeks $1 trillion for next COVID-19 relief bill. State budget leaders host virtual economic roundtable this morning. Small businesses struggle with cumbersome and confusing application for relief funds. 2020 could be the shortest Presidential election ever. Why? Today’s COVID-19 silver lining: [...]
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh recommends a city-wide curfew beginning today. Top American health leaders tell Americans to brace for the toughest week yet. State education officials wait to decide on cancelling the rest of the academic school year leaving many parents, educators and health care professionals with concerns. Housing advocates call on the Legislature to quickly [...]
Here are today’s legislative takeaways: Homeowner and tenant protection bills are separately advancing through both branches of the Massachusetts legislature but have not made it to the governor’s desk yet. Bills moving the state tax collection deadline, allowing for take-out sales of beer and wine, allowing boards to meet virtually and pushing back municipal property tax [...]
Talks have begun on what “Round Four” of Federal COVID-19 relief legislation could look like. Small businesses should apply quickly for relief. State revenues are among the growing list of economic losses of COVID-19, and budget writers are starting from scratch. Boston City Council passed a mostly symbolic resolution 12-1, calling for a moratorium on rent [...]