SOMERVILLE – This spring, Somerville’s Board of Health (BOH) voted for the City to join a growing
national movement to create a Nicotine-Free generation by adopting new public health regulations limiting the sale of nicotine products, which went into effect May 1.
Continue reading Somerville’s Nicotine-Free Generation Policy Begins as New Sales Regulations In Effect →

Obituary

Pierre A. Germain – Of Medford, passed away on Monday, May 5, 2025. He was 55 years old.

Born in Port Au Prince, Haiti. He was the son of Alceus Pierre and Manite Germain. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Pierre A. Germain →

By Bob Katzen

Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. Continue reading HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION On Beacon Hill? →

By Bob Katzen

“It was great to welcome Suni Williams to the Statehouse and back home to Massachusetts. Her resilience and dedication to service serves as an incredible model for young people across the state, reminding them that their potential is as limitless as outer space. We hope that some of the students who joined us today will be inspired to pursue careers in STEM and truly reach for the stars.” Continue reading This Week’s QUOTABLE QUOTES On Beacon Hill →

By Bob Katzen

Would create a special legislative commission to study and develop recommendations for supporting investments, policies and practices designed to “promote equity in agriculture for socially disadvantaged groups in the commonwealth that have been historically or systematically excluded or have had less access to resources and opportunities based on cultural, racial or ethnic prejudice.” Continue reading AGRICULTURAL EQUITY FOR MINORITIES (S 53) →

By Bob Katzen

Would require that any rodeos comply with the rules, regulations, standards and practices established by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association. Continue reading RODEOS (H 139) →

By Bob Katzen

Would prohibit the aquaculture of octopus in tanks or other controlled environments for human consumption. Aquaculture is defined as “waters used primarily and directly in the commercial cultivation of aquatic organisms including finfish, mollusk or crustacean in a controlled environment.” Continue reading OCTOPUS (H 127) →

By Bob Katzen

Would establish a 16-member Commission to Study the Safety of Food and Food Additives to investigate the health impacts of certain foods and food additives and propose policy and regulatory changes to enhance food safety in Massachusetts. Continue reading SAFETY OF FOOD AND FOOD ADDITIVES (H 113) →

By Bob Katzen

The Elder Affairs Committee held a hearing on a proposal that would amend current state law under which the federal Older Americans Act of 1965, signed by the late President Lyndon Johnson, offers social and nutrition services for seniors over 60 years old. Under current law, the state administers the Act using two definitions: “greatest economic need” and “greatest social need.” Continue reading SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY AND HIV STATUS (H 776) →

By Bob Katzen

Photo by William Tauro

The Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee held a hearing on a bill that would establish a grant program run by the Department of Energy Resources to help cities and towns offset the cost difference between buying zero-emission electric school buses and traditional diesel-powered ones. The grant program would prioritize support for communities in which the median household income is below the state’s median income or where the 5-year average rate of emergency department visits for childhood asthmas is greater than the state’s 5-year average rate.

Continue reading SWITCH SCHOOL BUSES FROM DIESEL TO ELECTRIC (S 2241) →

By Bob Katzen

Gov. Maura Healey announced that she will be implementing a hiring freeze across the Executive Branch, beginning May 27, in response to “widespread economic uncertainty at the national level and a tightening state budget outlook for fiscal year 2026.” Continue reading Governor Maura Healey’s HIRING FREEZE →

By Bob Katzen

House 154-3, approved a consolidated amendment adding $25 million in funding to Labor and Economic Development programs in the $61.47 billion fiscal year 2026 state budget. Much of the funding was for projects and programs proposed by individual representatives for their local districts.
Continue reading CONSOLIDATED LABOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AMENDMENT (H 4000) →

By Bob Katzen

House 154-3, approved a consolidated amendment adding $5.8 million in funding to Energy, Environmental and Food Assistance programs in the $61.47 billion fiscal year 2026 state budget. Much of the funding was for projects and programs proposed by individual representatives for their local districts. Continue reading CONSOLIDATED ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOOD ASSISTANCE AMENDMENT (H 4000) →

By Bob Katzen

House 154-2, approved a consolidated amendment adding $10.5 million in funding to Housing, Judiciary and Public Safety programs in the $61.47 billion fiscal year 2026 state budget. Much of the funding was for projects and programs proposed by individual representatives for their local districts. Continue reading CONSOLIDATED HOUSING, JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAETY AMENDMENT (H 4000) →

By Joe Viglione

As Jim McCarty tells the story of the Yardbirds on tour, Peter Asher is presenting his life in the world of rock and pop, and will be doing so in a two pm matinee at 7 Medford St., Arlington, across from Arlington Catholic High School which I escaped from around 1969. There is parking in back of the high school. Medford St. is off of Mass Ave., and there are multiple MBTA bus lines that stop directly at the theater.

Continue reading Peter Asher At Regent Theater Arlington Matinee 2 PM Sunday May 18, 2025 →

Ines F. Santos of Somerville passed away on May 16, 2025. She was the beloved wife of the late Gabriel Dos Santos. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Ines F. Santos →