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 [...]

Rabbit, Rabbit, it’s a socially distant rabbit. The stay-at-home order is extended until May 4th with all nonessential businesses to remain closed. While the Board of Elementary & Secondary Education empowered the Commissioner of Education to waive statutory requirements and deadlines during their board meeting, a growing number of states have closed schools for the year. [...]

There are a lot of unanswered questions this morning: Will Governor Baker extend the nonessential work order? Is riding the MBTA safe? What to do about the $3 billion revenue shortfall the state is expecting with delayed tax receipts? Business as usual: A bill expanding unemployment benefits is on the move in Massachusetts state Senate. The [...]

Government didn’t rest over the weekend with rapidly unfolding COVID-19 response continuing. Here’s what you need to know: While many eligible Americans will soon receive their coronavirus stimulus checks, President Trump has officially extended social distancing guidelines to April 30. Is there a split between how Democrats and Republicans are responding to the crisis in state [...]

The U.S. now leads the world in confirmed cases of COVID-19 with more than 82,000 confirmed cases and nearly 1,200 confirmed deaths. Governor Baker is seeking federal disaster aid for Massachusetts to fight the deepening economic and human toll, where unemployment has hit 4.2 percent. In a rare divide, Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh disagree [...]

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus package with direct aid going to many Americans, a huge boost in unemployment benefits, and aid going to larger business with direct oversight and reporting. There’s a lot in this bill that will have huge local impact so buckle up for a deep dive below. Here [...]

The White House and U.S. Senate leadership have come to an agreement on a $2 trillion stimulus package to attempt to bolster the sagging the American economy. Meanwhile, Massachusetts is stepping up its emergency communications with the launch of a new digital alert service, Governor Baker filed an omnibus bill focused on municipal relief efforts but [...]

Congress has yet to come to a resolution on an economic stimulus package. Emergency orders were adopted yesterday rescheduling four special elections and a bill was sent to the Governor’s desk allowing municipalities across the state to change their local elections. Meanwhile, economists and public health experts have drawn clear lines around when we should all [...]