Happening Today
Boston Marathon security
Officials from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the Boston Athletic Association, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, Massachusetts State Police and Boston Police Department discuss public safety planning efforts for the 120th Boston Marathon, Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, Grand Ballroom foyer, 138 St. James Ave., 10 a.m.
Summit on gun violence
Boston Mayor Martin Walsh attends a summit in Rhode Island with other New England mayors and officials to discuss actions that can be taken to prevent gun violence, Zuccolo Recreation Center, 11 Gesler Street, Providence, R.I., 12 p.m.
High-tech address
Gov. Charlie Baker speaks at the Massachusetts High Technology Council’s annual meeting, Bentley University, LaCava Center, Executive Dining Room, 175 Forest St., Waltham, 12:15 p.m.
Opioid crisis
The governor delivers a keynote address on the opioid crisis at the HxRefactored conference, Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St., Boston, 5 p.m.
Today’s Stories
The Wisconsin casualty list
It’s hard to figure out who was hurt more by losing in Wisconsin yesterday: Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Hillary Clinton. We’ll go with Trump, whose loss to Ted Cruz in Wisconsin almost assures a brokered Republican convention in Cleveland this July, or so say the pundits. If there is a brokered convention, does anyone seriously think the GOP establishment is going to allow Trump to get the nomination on a second vote? That’s why the Wall Street Journal’s Holman Jenkins is already writing Trump’s obituary, arguing he was never truly serious enough as a candidate. The prediction sounds too early and rash. But unless Trump regains momentum in the New York primary and elsewhere, he’ll be heading into Cleveland a very weakened candidate.
Hillary? What can you say? Her Wisconsin loss to Bernie Sanders prompts Eric Fehrnstrom in the Globe to recite once again why she’s such awful campaigner. Not in the substance department. But in the actual mechanics of campaigning. She’s still the odds-on-favorite to win the nomination. Yet Bernie Sanders is on a roll and still has a distant shot at toppling her.
The Brian Joyce dirty laundry scandal just got a whole lot more serious
At the recent St. Patrick’s Day breakfast in Southie, there were more than a few yuks at the expense of state Senator Brian Joyce, the target of a federal probe centering around, among other things, his generous use of free dry cleaning services in Randolph. But now the feds are investigating why Joyce’s law firm was hired by the Dolben Company – which allegedly paid Joyce Law Group $250,000 – while the Woburn developer was embroiled in controversy over a proposed housing complex and when the company already had attorneys of its own, according to a Globe story by Andrea Estes and Shelley Murphy.
From the Globe piece: “Investigators are focusing on allegations that Joyce told Dolben officials the project would go smoothly if they retained the Joyce Law Group, and then aggressively opposed it when they rebuffed him, according to the two people familiar with the case. After Dolben hired Joyce, he worked behind the scenes to advance the project, according to e-mails and interviews.”
Finally, a solar deal is reached
Apartment rent prices finally begin to stabilize – for now
But the question is: Will it last? The betting here is that it won’t. That’s because the city of Boston can only do so much to build new apartments and condos. Outside the city, new-home construction stats are well below pre-recession levels, according to a recent Globe story by a certain MassterList author. We might be seeing a lull in rental price increases, but long-term regional trends still point to an overall housing shortage.
Boston City Council may extend own terms
Bernie Sanders is a very, very, very moral man
Then again …
The New England Journal of Medicine’s self-inflicted wounds …
Framingham presses for PILOT
Baker touts economic development plan
Building purchase ends Lawrence ‘odyssey’
Baker-backed Orrall wins national GOP slot
Baker won’t proposed NC travel ban
Go for it! Pats fans sue Roger Goodell and NFL over Deflategate
Today’s Headlines
Metro
At GE Welcome Party, More Questions Raised Than Answered – Boston Magazine
Why is the new Government Center MBTA station leaking two weeks after opening? – MassLive
Boston City Council may vote to extend term to four years – Boston Globe
House, Senate reach solar energy compromise – Boston Globe
General Electric is a $145 million bet. How will we know if Massachusetts won? – Boston Globe
City Council to hold public hearing on IndyCar race – Boston Globe
Massachusetts
Ayer selectmen vote to pursue eminent domain for commuter-rail access – Lowell Sun
After 1972 effort failed, it’s try, try again for Brockton flouride – Brockton Enterprise
Baker Lays Out $918 Million Jobs Plan To Receptive Democrats – WGBH
Rivera’s school department odyssey coming to end – Commonwealth Magazine
Lawrence council OKs purchase of controversial buildings – Lawrence Eagle-Tribune
Plymouth and Norfolk state Senate candidates plan final pushes before primary – Patriot Ledger
‘We did it!’ says tribal leader at Taunton casino groundbreaking Tuesday – Patriot Ledger
Write-in candidate ousts incumbent Stoughton selectman – Patriot Ledger
Medway: Open meeting law complainant will not file with AG – MetroWest Daily News
Framingham board seeks PILOT from Framingham State – MetroWest Daily News
Student group pressures Worcester State to divest from fossil fuels – Worcester Telegram
Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse touts Gov. Charlie Baker’s economic development bill – MassLive
Keiko Orrall narrowly wins Republican National Committeewoman election in Massachusetts – MassLive
Frank Keough denies involvement in East Longmeadow corruption allegations – MassLive
Wampanoags break ground on Taunton casino – Boston Herald
Custody case challenges high court justices – Boston Globe
Mashpee tribe to break ground on casino in Taunton – Boston Globe
S-s-s-stop right there! Lawmakers want to suspend ‘snake island’ plans – Boston Globe
Nation
Ted Cruz deals Donald Trump a major defeat in Wisconsin – Boston Globe
Bernie Sanders continues testing Hillary Clinton’s aura of inevitability – Boston Globe
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