By Bob Katzen

“This moment is personal to me because before I was a state rep, I was a rideshare driver. I know what it feels like to sit behind a wheel. A fair contract means drivers can put food on the table. It means we can pay rent and mortgages. It means we can take care of our children. It means we can spend money in stores, restaurants and small businesses in our neighborhood.” Continue reading THIS WEEK’S QUOTABLE QUOTES ON BEACON HILL →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate approved a House-approved bill that would allow credit unions to compensate their board members for their service. Under current law, board members may only be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
Continue reading ALLOW CREDIT UNIONS TO PAY THEIR BOARD MEMBERS (H 1338) →

By Bob Katzen

The House approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would designate the Jurassic Armored Mud Ball (JAMB) as the official sedimentary structure of the state.

Supporters said that these mud balls are one of the rarest sedimentary structures in the world, representing a unique geologic environment and are only easily seen in Massachusetts. They noted that they can be found in Greenfield, Turners Falls, Gill and Deerfield. They noted that famous Greenfield native and magician, Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller once said, “I may live in Las Vegas and travel the world, but my armored mud balls will always be in Greenfield. Let’s protect them.”
Continue reading MAKE JURASSIC ARMORED MUD BALL THE OFFICIAL SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURE OF THE STATE (H 3438) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate approved legislation that would establish serious criminal penalties for fire code and building code violations that cause the injury or death of a firefighter, construction worker or any member of the public. The measure was first proposed after the March 2014 deaths of firefighters Edward Walsh and Michael Kennedy who perished while fighting a fire that was caused by welders, working without a city permit, on a building next door to the brownstone in which they died.
Continue reading FIREFIGHTERS (S 3251) →

By Bob Katzen

Gov. Healey signed into law legislation that would loosen restrictions on abortions that can be performed after 24 weeks of gestation. The bill removes existing requirements that limit abortions at 24 weeks of pregnancy or later to four specific medical circumstances, and instead allows licensed physicians and providers to rely on their best medical judgment when caring for patients.
Continue reading ABORTION (H 5595) →

By Bob Katzen

Gov. Healey signed into law a bill that supporters said would protect people’s access to library materials and guard against politically motivated book bans in Bay State school libraries and public libraries. The bill requires local policies to be developed using nationally recognized library standards and lays out a process around challenges to library materials. The measure also protects librarians and school library professionals from retaliation.
Continue reading BANNING SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOKS AND MATERIALS (H 5489) →

By Bob Katzen

House 154-0, approved a bill that would expand a current law that requires motorists to slow down and make every effort to change lanes if they are approaching a stationary emergency, maintenance or recovery vehicle with flashing lights on a highway. The bill would expand the law to require motorists to do the same when approaching a stationary utility truck–defined as a vehicle being used to install, maintain, repair, operate or restore communications service, electric or gas distribution or transmission service in an emergency.

Continue reading EXPAND THE “MOVE OVER” LAW (H 5622) →

House 157-0 approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would authorize the creation of a license plate honoring Medal of Fidelity recipients and their families. This medal is provided to the next of kin of a Massachusetts service member or veteran whose death was a result of service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder; a service-connected traumatic brain injury; or a service-connected disease or injury related to exposure to harmful toxins, herbicides, agents or materials, where the exposure occurred while serving in the U.S. armed forces (active duty or reserves), or while serving in the Massachusetts National Guard. The new license plate created under this bill would be made available by the Registry of Motor Vehicles free of charge to recipients of the Medal of Fidelity.
Continue reading MEDAL OF FIDELITY LICENSE PLATE (H 5624) →

With special guests, The Wait!!!!

Get ready for a very special night of great songs, incredible musicianship, and that unmistakable 80s-era sound when Robert Ellis Orrall brings his amazing, original, band to Premiere on Broadway in Somerville, MA on Saturday, September 19! Continue reading Premiere on Broadway Somerville →

City shares moving essentials, helpful resources, a warm welcome, and ways to connect during the Year of the Neighbor

SOMERVILLE—Moving season is here, and the City of Somerville is welcoming new and returning residents with a guide to getting settled, finding City services, and becoming part of the community.
Continue reading New to Somerville? Start Here. →

The Medford Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred at approximately 11:15pm on Sunday, August 16, 2026, in the area of 389 Salem Street. No injuries were reported.
Continue reading Medford Police Investigating Shooting on Salem Street →