Jimenez, Ana E. (Montero) – Of Somerville, passed away on Friday, February 16th surrounded by her loving family. She was 74. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Ana E. Jimenez →

Obituary

Happas, Christopher Of Somerville, passed away after a brief illness on Sunday, February 18, 2023. He was 59 years old.
Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Christopher Happas →

By Bob Katzen

“Massachusetts has the opportunity to be a global leader in Applied AI – but it’s going to take us bringing together the brightest minds in tech, business, education, health care and government. Continue reading This Week’s QUOTABLE QUOTES on Beacon Hill →

By Bob Katzen

A bill before the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee would ban the purchase and/or consumption by all Massachusetts consumers and entities of any product made in Russia.
Continue reading BAN ALL PRODUCTS MADE IN RUSSIA (H 343) →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to legislation that would eliminate the current state law requiring that all fortune telling applicants must have lived in the city or town in which they are seeking their license to practice for at least one continuous year prior to filing their application.
Continue reading FORTUNE TELLERS (H 3893) →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to a bill that makes online sales of cars subject to the same law as if the sales were executed at the dealership’s physical place of business.
Continue reading ONLINE CAR SALES (H 351) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 3-36, rejected an amendment that would maintain the current 90/5/5 law under which 90 percent of the capital gains tax collections exceeding $1 billion goes to the Rainy Day Fund, 5 percent to the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund and 5 percent to the State Pension Liability Fund. The amendment would replace a pending 60/20/20 proposal that would send, in fiscal 2024 only, 60 percent of the $1 billion excess to the Rainy Day Fund while sending 20 percent to the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund and 20 percent to the State Pension Liability Fund.
Continue reading SEND 90 PERCENT OF CAPITAL GAINS TAX REVENUE ABOVE $1 BILLION TO THE RAINY DAY FUND (S 3) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 5-34, rejected an amendment that would remove a section in the budget that exempts tax revenue generated from the recently voter-approved Millionaire Tax from counting toward the allowable state tax revenue limitations, under Chapter 62F, which provides that whenever revenue collections in a fiscal year exceed an annual cap tied to wage and salary growth, the excess is returned to taxpayers. Continue reading TAX REVENUE FROM MILLIONAIRE’S TAX (S 3) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 5-33, rejected an amendment that would increase from $1 million to $5 million the amount of money that is tax exempt from the value of a person’s estate when calculating the state’s estate/death tax that a person is required to pay following their death before distribution to any beneficiary. The increase to $5 million would be implemented over ten years. Continue reading INCREASE ESTATE/DEATH TAX EXEMPTION (S 2397) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 5-32, rejected an amendment that would reduce the short-term capital gains tax from 12 percent to 5 percent.
Continue reading REDUCE SHORT TERM CAPITAL GAINS TAX (S 2397) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 33-5, approved an amendment that would require Massachusetts couples who file income tax returns jointly at the federal level do the same at the state level.
Continue reading FILE TAXES JOINTLY (S 2387) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 38-1, approved a tax relief package that supporters said will provide $561.3 million in tax relief in fiscal year 2024 and $1.02 billion per year in subsequent years.
Continue reading TAX RELIEF PACKAGE (H 4104) →

Obituary

Covino, Jr. James J. – Of Tewksbury, formerly of Somerville, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. He was 86. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering James J Covino, Jr →

Obituary

Maria Angelina de Freitas Terra Alvernaz, of Medford, Massachusetts, passed away at home surrounded by the love of her family on Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2024, she was a young 95. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Maria Angelina Alvernaz →

Obituary

Ellen J. Maloney, affectionately known as Josie, formerly Healy, a cherished wife, mother, Nana, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 16. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Ellen “Josie” Maloney →

Obituary

Austin, David N. “Ozzie” – Of Somerville, passed away peacefully holding his beloved partner Gail’s hand on Thursday, February 15, 2024. He was 69 years young. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering David N. Austin →

Obituary

Hegarty, Paul E. a resident of Peabody and formerly of Cambridge, Arlington and Cape Cod passed away at home peacefully surrounded by his loving family.
Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Paul E Hegarty →

Obituary

Mecrones, Anne Marie – Of Medford, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 16, 2024 after a courageous battle with dementia. She was 90 years young. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Anne Marie Mecrones →

The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of Somerville/Medford News Weekly, Boston News Group’s News Publications belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville/Medford News Weekly, Mass Publishing and Boston News Group, it’s publications, its staff or publishers.)

Dear Billy T and Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line,

If I were recently found guilty of a few crimes, awai􏰀ng sentencing that totals a few decades incarcerated, crimes I CLEARLY committed; I would be seeking ANY way to reduce those years to see my loved ones before we all leave the planet. ANYTHING to make that a free me sooner, ANYTHING.
Maybe if I owned a piece of land I would find a way to work the system. A system I had only ever learned to play. I never studied hard or learned the rules, because I never thought they would apply to me or my friends. Continue reading Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line: Good Friends Playing Musical Chairs, LLC By: Robert L. Peters →