By Bob Katzen

State of the Commonwealth Edition
Gov. Healey delivered her annual State of the Commonwealth address to a joint session of the House and Senate. Here are some excerpts from the speech: Continue reading This Week’s QUOTABLE QUOTES On Beacon Hill →

By Bob Katzen

Gov. Healey unveiled a new photography display featuring archival film images of the Statehouse from the 1920s to 1940s, alongside equivalent modern-day film photographs.
Continue reading NEW PHOTO DISPLAY AT THE STATE HOUSE →

By Bob Katzen

Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) and Rep. Natalie Blais (D-Sunderland) filed legislation that would enable the Bay State to develop minimum statewide water quality standards for private wells and expand a financial assistance program to remediate wells affected by PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and other harmful contaminants in drinking water supplies.
Continue reading PROTECT DRINKING WATER SUPPLY (SD 847) →

By Bob Katzen
Marijuana establishments in Massachusetts generated more than $1.64 billion in gross sales in 2024, setting a new annual record for the state. Continue reading MARIJUANA SALES CLIMB TO AN ALLTIME HIGH →

By Bob Katzen

Gov. Healey signed into law legislation that would allow the city of Boston to raise from the current $300 to up to $2,000, the fines imposed on property owners, landlords and businesses that violate the city’s sanitary code. The bill also allows Boston to adjust the maximum fine for inflation every five years. Continue reading BOSTON CAN RAISE FINES (H 4507 →

By Bob Katzen
Gov. Healey signed into law a bill establishing February 4th as Rosa Parks in recognition of the historic civil rights leader. Continue reading FEBRUARY 4TH IS NOW ROSA PARKS DAY (H 3075) →

By Bob Katzen

Gov. Healey signed into law a measure that would allow public transit agencies to use bus-mounted cameras to record and issue fines against illegal parking in bus lanes and bus stops.
The bill sets a minimum fine of $25 and a maximum of $125 for bus lane violations, and a flat $100 fine for bus stop violations. It also prohibits bus lane and bus stop violations caught on camera from being considered “moving violations” that would raise a diver’s insurance premiums. Continue reading CAMERAS ON PUBLIC TRANSIT BUSES (H 4057) →

By Bob Katzen

Gov. Healey signed into law legislation that will allow cities and towns to use cameras, installed on school buses, to identify and record vehicles that illegally pass stopped school buses. The measure does not change the current fines for these violations. The fines would remain at $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense, and $1,000 for a third and subsequent offense. The bill also prohibits these violations caught on camera from being considered “moving violations” that would raise a diver’s insurance premiums. Continue reading ALLOW CAMERAS ON SCHOOL BUSES (H 4940) →

We just finished filming another fun filled episode of “On Air with Billy Tauro” and it was a great show!

Special guest Shawn Zubrzycki appeared talking about his tireless efforts in spearheading a wonderful memorial to honor the Legacy of Kenneth Lonergan by Dedicating a Memorial in Somerville! Kenneth Lonergan spent 30 years at Somerville High School working as a Special Education Teacher and Administrator, directing musical theater and mentoring, coaching and inspiring generations of students. Continue reading On Air with Billy Tauro →

Congratulations to our new commander-in-chief Donald J Trump! Continue reading God Bless America →

Obituary
Ellen T. Brogna-Winter, 71, of Millbury, MA formerly of Somerville, MA, passed away surrounded by her loved ones on January 14th, 2025, after a courageous battle with emphysema.
Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Ellen T. Brogna-Winter →

Transformative MassDOT project will reconnect Somerville neighborhoods and improve safety

SOMERVILLE—Ongoing efforts to “Ground McGrath” Highway (Route 28) in Somerville have received a federal funding boost. Last week, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that the State has been awarded a more than $43
million federal grant to advance the project, which would replace the elevated McCarthy Overpass with a safer, more accessible ground-level road and people-friendly streetscape. The grant is part of more than
$102 Continue reading Grounding McGrath” Boulevard Project to Receive More than $43 Million in Federal Funding →

Obituary
Mary T. (Sousa) Gonda, 92, of Somerville, MA, passed away peacefully on January 18, 2025, at Grace House of Windham, in Windham, NH. Mary lived in Somerville for over 70 years. She was born on August 27, 1932, in Cambridge, MA, to Rose and Alfred Sousa. She was the beloved wife of the late Louis Gonda, of 63 years, and a loving mom to the late Karen Bettencourt.
Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Mary T. (Sousa) Gonda →

Obituary

Michael E. Kerr, age 57, of Somerville, passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2024. Born in Cambridge, he was the son of the late David L. and Patricia A. (Tosi) Kerr. Michael was a passionate and devoted man who lived life to the fullest. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Michael E. Kerr →