Happening Today
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Recognizing state employees
Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Secretary of Administration and Finance Kristen Lepore attend the Human Resource Division Performance Recognition Awards Program recognizing state employees, State House, Great Hall, 2 p.m.
Applied Life Sciences Center
President Stanley Rosenberg speaks at the grand opening ceremony of the new University of Massachusetts Institute for Applied Life Sciences Center, 240 Thatcher Rd., Amherst, 10 a.m.
Bump portrays Hillary Clinton
Auditor Suzanne Bump portrays Hillary Clinton in the JFK Presidential Library and Museum’s Election Year Debate for High School Students, with Holyoke City Council president Kevin Jourdain playing Donald Trump in the mock debate, John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, Columbia Point, Boston, 10:30 a.m.
New court service center
Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants, Trial Court Chief Justice Paula Carey, and Trial Court Administrator Harry Spence speak at the opening of the Court Service Center at the Worcester Trial Court Complex, the fourth court service center opened by the Trial Court in 2016, 225 Main St., Worcester, 11:30 a.m.
Evans on the air
Boston Police Commissioner William Evans is interviewed on Boston Public Radio for the show’s monthly ‘Ask the Commissioner’ segment, WGBH-FM 89.7, 12 p.m.
Through Her Eyes Connector
Attorney General Maura Healey speaks at the Center for Human Development’s 12th annual Through Her Eyes Connector, a conference held to address issues facing young women who are at risk of personal and social dangers, MassMutual Convention Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield, 12:30 p.m.
Today’s Stories
The Odd Couple: DeLeo and Rosenberg at odds over ballot questions
Let’s see: House Speaker Robert DeLeo announces he supports charter school expansion, while Senate President Stan Rosenberg announces he’s against it. DeLeo is against marijuana legalization, but Rosenberg announces he’s for it. Bob and Stan, Felix and Oscar. Same difference. … Links via MassLive and Herald.
Senate candidate arrested, shackled and dragged to Virginia for military hearing
This is a weird one, from the Associated Press at WATD: “A U.S. Navy Reserve lawyer, from Marshfield, who is a Massachusetts state Senate candidate, has been jailed overnight after refusing a judge’s order to testify at the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. U.S. Marshals Service spokeswoman Lynzey Donahue says attorney Stephen Gill was taken Tuesday to the Washington area, where he testified via video conference in a pretrial hearing at Guantanamo.” Gill lost the Republican primary for state Senate on the South Shore and is now running as a write-in candidate for the seat held by Sen. Patrick O’Connor.
“It’s good to be out of three-point restraints and leg irons, which I recently was forcibly put in at gunpoint and whisked away from my home here in Massachusetts to a jail cell in the commonwealth of Virginia,” Gill told WATD.
Weird enough for you?
It’s a TV cage-match over cage-free ballot question
Tired of all the charter school and marijuana-legalization TV ads? Take heart: You can now watch a barrage of new Question 4 television ads instead, as supporters and opponents begin airing commercials over the initiative that would regulate how farm animals are treated, reports Joshua Miller at the Globe. How much food prices might go up if the measure passes – and prices will go up, both sides agree – is now at the heart of the debate, Miller notes.
None of the above: Herald declines to make presidential endorsement
Under the headline “None of the above for president,” the Herald says it just can’t bring itself to endorse anyone for president this year, not Hillary, not Donald, not Gary, not Jill. “So these are our choices — which is why for the first time in decades the Boston Herald will not make an endorsement in the presidential contest. We urge our readers to look deep into their own consciences — as we will all have to do — and do the best they can.”
Uncertain election slows Dunkin’s roll
Ok, now it’s getting serious. Dunkin Donuts said yesterday the coffee chain will open fewer shops this year than it had originally hoped—in part due to “franchise uncertainty very much connected to the election,” Donna Goodison of the Herald reports. “Uncertainty is not good for our business, because franchisees have to invest, and they want some certainty to invest,” Dunkin Brands CEO Nigel Travis said. “Everyone is sick to death of the election.”
GOAAAAAL! Baker and Walsh enthusiastic about new stadium for soccer moms and kids (and Bob Kraft)
A new stadium at the site of the former Bayside Expo Center wouldn’t be just for Robert Kraft’s New England Revolution soccer team. It would also be good for kids and families and others, Gov. Baker and Mayor Walsh pronounced yesterday, as the two acknowledged talks are still ongoing to build a new stadium near UMass Boston, reports the Globe’s Shirley Leung. “It could be great for all the kids who play soccer,” said Baker. “A facility like that could be used by kids and by UMass Boston and by the community at large,” Walsh said.
Council approves controversial Children’s Hospital expansion
As expected, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Public Health Council on Thursday gave its approval for Boston Children’s Hospital to proceed with construction of its new $1 billion clinical building. As expected, opponents say they will appeal while they also pursue a separate lawsuit, Lynn Jolicoeur reports at WBUR. Interesting side note: Just hours before the council’s vote, Mayor Marty Walsh came out in favor of the project, reports the BBJ’s Jessica Bartlett. It was a done deal by then, so the mayor’s letter had no impact, it should be noted.
Baker decides it’s probably a good idea to give some guidance to self-driving cars
From David Harris at the BBJ: “Massachusetts roads may be closer to becoming a testing ground for self-driving cars. On Thursday, Gov. Charlie signed an executive order that will create a special working group focused on autonomous vehicles.” In a statement, the governor said: “The guidance the AV Working Group provides will be instrumental in ensuring companies can further develop autonomous vehicle technology in the commonwealth and do so while maintaining the safety of our roadways.”
Baker makes news by saying he won’t vote to repeal a law he just signed into law
If he said it, we suppose it has to be news, even though the real news would have been if Gov. Baker said yesterday on WGBH that it was really his evil twin self who signed the dastardly transgender-rights bill into law and that his virtuous side would vote to repeal it in 2018. But he didn’t say that and so you have to go with what you got, as reported by Amanda McGowan at WGBH.
Curt Schilling’s real pitch: His talk-show career?
CommonWealth magazine’s Jack Sullivan wonders whether former Red Sox ace Curt Schilling is less interested in running against Elizabeth Warren in 2018 than promoting his budding talk-show host career. Others are wondering the same thing, though no one knows for sure. “Only Curt knows if he’s serious about doing this,” Gene Hartigan, a Republican analyst for WBZ and former executive director of the Republican State Party, says of Curt running for senator. “Right now, he’s trying to establish himself as a conservative talk show host. He’s campaigning for his status as an entertainer. There’s a question if this is all being played out for the sake of the media.”
Gloucester police chief investigation shuffled off to AG, US Attorney
The Essex County district attorney has turned over the investigation into former Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello to the office of Attorney General Maura Healey and US Attorney Carmen Ortiz, Ray Lamont of the Gloucester Times reports. The DA’s office said the two agencies “are best able to investigate these matters” involving the chief’s cell phone use that led first to the firing and then a negotiated retirement package Campanello.
Warren, Tsongas and Clark back Sudbury in fight over transmission line
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Reps. Niki Tsongas and Katherine Clark have allied themselves with a Sudbury group of residents adamantly opposed to the building of a massive transmission line through the heart of the town, reports Brad Avery at MetroWest Daily News. “As a mandated project, we are supportive of strengthening the regional electric grid and do not dismiss the demand for more reliable service, but not at the expense of creating potentially lasting damage to the environment, significant economic burdens, and potential health concerns,” the trio wrote in joint letter to Gov. Charlie Baker in support of residents.
SJC chief launches study of race and sentencing
Ralph Gants, chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, said he has commissioned a study of potential sentencing disparities based on race, Milton Valencia of the Globe reports. Gants has asked Harvard Law School to create a research team to look further into data produced by the state’s Sentencing Commission that found African-American and Hispanic defendants are more likely to be sent to prison than whites. “We need to learn the truth behind this troubling disparity and, once we learn it, we need the courage and the commitment to handle the truth,” Gants said.
Walsh to T Union: I’ve got your back
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh threw his support behind the Carmen’s Union yesterday, appearing at their State House rally and saying he stands with the workers on the issue of MBTA privatization, Jordan Graham of the Herald reports. “I will stand with you until this issue is over,” Walsh told rallying workers, taking a position that puts him in direct opposition to his good friend, Gov. Charlie Baker, who sees privatizing some services as a way to fix structural budget issues at the T.
Harvey Silverglate comes out swinging on Sal DiMasi’s behalf
In his inaugural “Freedom Watch” column at WGBH, Harvey Silverglate, who used to write a column by the same name at the now defunct Boston Phoenix, comes out swinging on behalf of Sal DiMasi, urging U.S. Judge Mark Wolf to release the former Massachusetts house speaker from his ‘House of Pain’ imposed prison. “I do not believe that Judge Wolf should worry about DiMasi being given special treatment,” the civil liberties lawyer writes. “He should promptly terminate DiMasi’s sentence and demonstrate that, at least in some extreme circumstances, the federal criminal justice system is capable of performing in a civilized manner.”
Sunday public affairs TV
Keller at Large, WBZ-TV, Channel 4, 8:30 a.m. Political analysts Charley Manning and Joanna Weiss join host Jon Keller to discuss the final presidential debate and the charter school ballot question battle.
This Week in Business, NECN, 11 a.m. N.H Republican candidate for governor Chris Sununu talks about economic goals for the Granite State; Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce chief executive Jim Rooney discusses recommended management changes for the MBTA; and Boston Business Journal editor Doug Banks reviews the Forbes Under 30 conference and other business issues.
On the Record, WCVB TV, Channel 5, 11 a.m. This week’s guest: House Speaker Robert DeLeo, who talks politics and legislative matters with anchor Ed Harding and State House reporter Janet Wu.
CEO Corner, NECN, 11:30 a.m.. Jim Heppelmann, chief executive of PTC, talks about how this company brings together the physical and digital worlds to help more than 28,000 companies in many different sectors.
CityLine, WCVB TV, Channel 5, 12 p.m. With host Karen Holmes Ward, this week’s focus: In the Business of Art and Money.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Hours before vote, Mayor Walsh throws weight behind Children’s expansion – Boston Business Journal
Boston Children’s $1B expansion gets final approval – WBUR
Boston to start testing autonomous cars this year, official says – WGBH
Vote on GE’s new complex postponed after open-meeting protest – Boston Globe
Massachusetts
Mass. unemployment rate drops to new low – Boston Business Journal
UMD Charlton College of Business celebrates opening – Standard-Times
Staples aims to monetize its brand – Worcester Business Journal
Cage-free egg fight heats up on TV – Boston Globe
Marshfield senate candidate held by US Marshals – Boston Globe
High turnout forecast as early voting debuts – Boston Herald
Ground broken in Worcester for new Table Talk pies building – Telegram & Gazette
Warren, Tsongas, Clark oppose Hudson to Sudbury power line project – MetroWest Daily News
Nation
Clinton’s debate victory margins historic – CommonWealth Magazine
Michelle Obama emerges as Clinton’s most potent surrogate – Washington Post
NH poll shows Ayotte down 8 points in race that could decide control of Senate – Washington Post
Next to Clinton, Trump has spent a fraction on ads – New York Times
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