By Bob Katzen
Gov. Healey announced that the state is investing $13 million in the Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition (BRYT) program, an in-school program supporting students who have fallen behind academically due to challenges with their mental health. This is the first time the state has provided funding to establish BRYT in schools. Up until now, the program had only been available to districts with the economic resources to get it off the ground.
Continue reading $13 MILLION FOR STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to legislation that would allow cities and towns to require the installation of an automatic sprinkler system in every newly-constructed 1- or 2-family home.
Continue reading REQUIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS (H 2289) →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to a measure that would require a manufacturer or person that sells Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment to any person or government agency, to provide, beginning January 1, 2025, written notice to the buyer, at the time of sale, if the equipment contains toxic PSAs, as well as the reason such chemicals were added to the equipment. Continue reading PROTECT FIREFIGHTERS (H 2339) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 39-0, approved an amendment that would prohibit cities and towns that foreclose on properties on which the owner owes back property taxes, from keeping all of the profits when the city or town sells the property at auction. Current Massachusetts law allows this practice. The bill would allow the city or town to keep only the amount owed in back taxes and send the remainder to the owner.
Continue reading BAN HOME EQUITY THEFT (S 4) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 39-0, approved an amendment that would increase funding for civics education in schools across the state by $1 million (from $1.5 to $2.5 million).
Continue reading $1 MILLION MORE FOR CIVICS EDUCATION (S 4) →

Bob Katzen

The Senate 39-0, approved an amendment that would increase funding for YWCAs by $350,000 (from $650,000 to $1 million).
Continue reading $350,000 MORE FOR YWCAs (S 4) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 36-3, approved a motion to suspend Senate rules to allow the Senate budget debate session on May 22 to continue beyond 8 p.m. Under Senate rules, the Senate cannot meet after 8 p.m. unless the rule is suspended. The session lasted two hours and 15 minutes beyond 8 p.m. and adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
Continue reading CONTINUE SESSION BEYOND 8 P.M. →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 4-35, rejected an amendment that would retain a current law that requires any excess revenue in capital gains revenue over $1 billion to annually automatically be transferred as follows: 90 percent to the Rainy Day Fund; 5 percent to the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund; and 5 percent to the State Pension Liability Fund. The $1 billion would remain in the General Fund and be spent by the Legislature with no restrictions.
Continue reading CAPITAL GAINS TAX (S 4) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 10-29, rejected an amendment that would abolish the current requirement that Massachusetts married couples who file income tax returns jointly at the federal level do the same at the state level.
Continue reading ABOLISH REQUIREMENT THAT COUPLES MUST FILE TAXES JOINTLY (S 4) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 5-34, rejected an amendment that would establish a 2-week sales tax holiday, from August 6, 2024 to August 19, 2024, allowing consumers to buy most products that cost under $2,500 without paying the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax. State law currently calls for a 2-day sales tax holiday every year.
Continue reading SALES TAX HOLIDAY (S 4) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 40-0, approved a $55.9 billion fiscal 2025 state budget after adding an estimated $89.6 million in spending during three days of debate. The House has already approved a different version and a House-Senate conference committee will eventually craft a plan that will be presented to the House and Senate for consideration and sent to the governor.
Continue reading SENATE APPROVES $57.999 BILLION FISCAL 2025 BUDGET (S 3) →

By Bob Katzen

The House 156-0, approved and sent to the Senate a package designed to benefit veterans in the Bay State by broadening the definition of a veteran, increasing tax credits and state benefits for which they are eligible and modernizing the services on which they rely.
Continue reading VETERANS BENEFITS (H 4661) →

By Bob Katzen

Of the 1,100 amendments filed by senators, only 41 came to a roll call vote. Many others were simply approved or rejected one at a time on voice votes, some with debate and some without debate.
Continue reading “BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE SENATE BUDGET DEBATE” →

(Somerville, MA) Naveo Credit Union collected nearly 100 books during the month of April as part of their Children’s Book Drive. Each year, Naveo Credit Union participates in the statewide book drive spearheaded by the Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA) to benefit the Continue reading Naveo Credit Union collects nearly 100 books to benefit The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless and their A Bed for Every Child program. →

SomerStreets: Carnaval returns for the 14th year to East Somerville on Sunday, June 2, from 2 to 6 p.m.

SOMERVILLE – Somerville is invited to get their dancing shoes on as the 2024 SomerStreets: Carnaval returns Sunday, June 2, from 2 to 6 p.m. (rain date Sunday, June 9)
to kick off the 2024 SomerStreets season, which will include a series of four neighborhood street festivals across Somerville.

Continue reading 2024 SomerStreets Festival Season to Kick off with Carnaval Celebration on Sunday, June 2 →

Obituary

Rose Marie Scanlan – Of Somerville, passed away on May 17, 2024, she was 95.
Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Rose Marie Scanlan →

Obituary

Amirault, Norman J. – Of Winthrop, formerly of Medford passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. He was 94 years old. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Norman J. Amirault →

The Caron Theater was full for graduates, officials, teachers, parents, Awardees, and Donors for the excitement, thanks and memory this Scholarship night brings!! Continue reading Medford Lions and Donors “ROARED” MAY 22 →

Obituary

Kevin T. Cloherty, of Cambridge, passed away on May 21, 2024 in Lexington, he was 68. Born in Somerville, but raised in Cambridge, Kevin was one of ten children born to the late Mary “Mae” (Kelly) and John J. Cloherty.
Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Kevin T. Cloherty →

Obituary

Jeudy, Camille- Of Everett, passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 after a brief illness. He was 66 years old.
Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Camille Jeudy →

Community Open House Will Showcase Proposed Concept Designs
and Collect Neighborhood Feedback

SOMERVILLE – Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Ward 6 Councilor Lance Davis, Ward 5 Councilor Naima Sait, and the City of Somerville’s Engineering Division are inviting the community to an open house on flood relief and water quality improvement efforts planned for Morrison Avenue (Cedar Street to Grove Street) and the surrounding neighborhood. Continue reading Somerville Community Invited to Morrison Avenue Flood Relief & Water Quality Improvements Open House on Monday, June 10 →

SOMERVILLE – The Somerville community is invited to celebrate the city’s Nepali community at a free festival showcasing Nepal’s vibrant and dynamic culture on Saturday, June 1, starting at 4 p.m. (rain date Saturday, June 8) at Union Square Plaza. Continue reading Celebrate Somerville’s Nepali Cultural Community on Saturday, June 1 →

Reverend Dr. Florence (Nottage) King, D.Min., native of Nassau, Bahamas and resident of Medford, Massachusetts was born on September 25, 1941. She was the daughter of the late John and Ophelia (Allen) Nottage. Rev. King’s family immigrated to the U.S. where she became a naturalized citizen who attended school in Cambridge, MA. She peacefully passed away on May 10, 2024, in her home surrounded by her daughters. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Reverend Dr. Florence (Nottage) King →

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

Billy, reducing Walnut Street to Pearl Street to a single lane. Continue reading Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line:Pearl Street Reducing to One Way →