Happening Today
Leadership Summit, Women in Leadership, MBTA Control Board, Holder at Harvard
— Comptroller Thomas Shack hosts his third annual Leadership Summit, an event expected to draw Gov. Charlie Baker (9:30 a.m.), Attorney General Maura Healey, Treasurer Deb Goldberg, Auditor Suzanne Bump and Inspector General Glenn Cunha, Boston Public Library, Rabb Lecture Hall, 700 Boylston St., Boston, 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
— Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate convenes women leaders for its second Women in Leadership Conference, with U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, U.S. Reps. Katherine Clark and Rosa DeLauro, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and others expected to attend throughout the day, Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, Columbia Point – Boston, 9 a.m.
— Attorney General Maura Healey will provide opening remarks at the office’s outreach day, Clark University, Worcester, 9 a.m.
— Treasurer Deb Goldberg will attend the PRIM Administration and Audit Committee meeting at 10 a.m., with a PRIM compensation committee following, 84 State Street, 2nd Floor Board Room, Boston, 11 a.m.
— The MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board will open its meeting by heading into a closed-door executive session to discuss a number of issues and then publicly discuss The Ride call dispatch, commuter rail zones, South Station air rights and an update on the Silver Line 3, State Transportation Building, 2nd Floor, Transportation Board Room , 10 Park Plaza, Boston, 12 p.m.
— Public housing officials hold their annual legislative information day, Great Hall, 12:15 p.m.
— Two days before the deadline for lawmakers to act to preempt potential ballot questions, the Public Health Committee holds a hearing on initiative petitions that would set minimum nurse staffing ratios, Gardner Auditorium, 1 p.m.
— Gov. Charlie Baker, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Francisco Ureña and Massachusetts National Guard Adjutant General Gary Keefe gather for a photo opportunity with WWII Veteran Sidney Walton, Room 360, 1:15 p.m.
— Gov. Charlie Baker, Senate President Harriette Chandler, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr and House Minority Leader Brad Jones gather for a closed-door leadership meeting, Room 360, 2 p.m.
— Eric Holder, the former U.S. attorney general, will deliver an Institute of Politics lecture and speak with Archon Fung, co-director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard Kennedy School, 4 p.m.
— Senate President Harriette Chandler speaks at the Simmons College Beta Gamma Sigma induction ceremony, Simmons College Management Building, 300 The Fenway, Boston, 4 p.m.
— Attorney General Maura Healey will deliver remarks at the National Association of Corporate Directors Dinner, Seaport Hotel, Boston, 5:30 p.m.
— Courageous Conversations Towards Racial Justice hosts a panel featuring Boston Globe columnist Adrian Walker as part of its monthly discussions on race and privilege, Milton High School, 25 Gile Rd., Milton, 7 p.m.
For more calendar listings, check out State House News Service’s Daily Advances (pay wall) and MassterList’s Beacon Hill Town Square below.
Today’s Stories
‘Baker to face primary with Trumpist who blames the Holocaust on gays’
WGBH’s Adam Reilly and Mike Deehan have a good summary of everything that went on this past weekend at the Massachusetts Republican state convention in Worcester: The party’s overwhelming endorsement of Gov. Charlie Baker, right-wing fringe candidate Scott Lively nevertheless getting on the GOP ballot for governor, the endorsement of conservative Rep. Geoff Diehl for U.S. Senate and more. The Herald’s Joe Battenfeld and CommonWealth magazine’s Michael Jonas also have good summaries of the convention. Gintautas Dumcius at MassLive reports how Baker is not saying whether he would debate the controversial Lively.
Speaking of Lively, we couldn’t resist going with the headline above, via Adam Gaffin’s Univeral Hub, because, well, it’s funny and happens to be accurate – and so is Adam’s lead on his Saturday post: “Some 27% of the delegates at the state Republican convention in Worcester voted for Scott Lively today, which is more than enough to force a primary with Gov. Baker this September. Lively, who also ran four years ago, really hates the gays, although he says he doesn’t want to see them put to death. Lively came out with his gay Nazi theory after he got tired of being called a Nazi himself.”
Baker is absolutely right to say that the overwhelming majority of GOP delegates endorsed him, not Lively, and that they disagree with Lively’s views. But Lively’s 27 percent supports floats somewhere between a quarter to one-third of the delegates at the convention. That’s not an insignificant number.
Third Congressional snooze-fest snaps awake amid charges of outsiders invading district
According to the Globe’s Matt Stout, the most recent debate in the Third Congressional District primary race was largely a “bloodless policy battle” between 12 Democrats who agreed on most issues – until candidate Lori Trahan brought up the topic of blow-in candidates and their out-of-district financial benefactors. Fyi: Before the second of two debates hosted by the Globe and UMass-Lowell, Stout had a good overview piece on the crowed Dem field in the Third.
In Ohio, it’s a Liz vs Bernie proxy war for governor
On the surface, it looks like a primary race by two progressive candidates duking it out for governor. But the NYT reports that the Ohio contest has also developed into an “early proxy test for supporters” of U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, two possible progressive presidential candidates in 2020.
No criminal charges against top State Police in original Troopergate scandal but …
This issue is not going away due to various other legal actions. Still, Attorney General Maura Healey announced late last week her office won’t be seeking criminal charges against top State Police brass for ordering a trooper to change a police arrest report about a judge’s daughter. But Healey’s office is planning to ask the state Ethics Commission to look into whether State Police officials violated any conflict of interest rules, reports the Globe’s Andrea Estes.
Fyi: Democrats have plenty of other State Police scandals to hammer Gov. Baker with – and that’s precisely what they’re doing, reports Christian Wade at the Newburyport Daily News.
Fired prosecutor now running against former boss in Plymouth County
This should be a fun one to watch. Former Plymouth County DA’s office employee John E. Bradley Jr., who last year won a $248,000 wrongful termination suit against the office in connection with his firing in 2012, is now poised to run against his former boss, reports Marc Larocque at the Brockton Enterprise. Bradley has collected the signatures needed to get him on the ballot as an independent against incumbent DA Timothy Cruz, who is running as a Republican to hold the seat he’s held since being appointed by then-Gov. Jane Swift in 2001.
On second thought: Boston College reverses course, rescinds Bill Cosby honorary degree
After last week’s conviction of Bill Cosby on sexual-assault charges, it looked like Boston College was digging in its heals, saying it wouldn’t rescind the honorary degree it bestowed on Cosby in 1996. But Boston College reversed itself quite quickly, rescinding the degree Friday evening, reports Hayley Glatter at Boston Magazine. As they say, better late than never.
Kennedy rips Fall River plant closing, radio host rips Fall River mayor
U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III took to the floor of Congress late last week to blast Philip Lighting’s decision to close its Fall River factory and lay off scores of workers, reports the Fall River Herald News. Here’s a C-Span video of Kennedy’s address. Meanwhile, radio talk-show host Chris McCarthy at WBSM is pointing the finger at Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia II for dropping the economic-development ball, as well as criticizing Kennedy.
Please don’t throw dog poopy bags down storm drains
It’s apparently a problem in other communities, but it’s just a little more acute in Canton, where town officials are blaming scores of doggie poopy bag tossed down storm drains for blocking the sewage system, reports Glenn Marshall at NBC Boston. “You could call it ‘Poopgate,’ if you wanted to,” said Canton Public Works Superintendent Michael Trotta.
Is cracking down on frequent Lottery winners really such a good idea?
The numbers are shocking: Eighty frequent winners of Lottery scratch games cashing more than 4,000 prizes totaling at least $22.8 million, a rate of winning that completely defies all mathematical odds and that’s causing many to suspect possible manipulation of games, as Lisa Creamer and Jeff Kelly Lowenstin report at WBUR. But a Boston College professor warns that a Lottery crackdown on frequent winners may be misguided because the winners are “likely addicted” to playing the games and sinking millions of dollars into buying tickets.
Globe enlists three outside journalists to review Kevin Cullen’s columns
WGBH’s Emily Rooney has the scoop on the latest development in the ongoing probe of Globe columnist Kevin Cullen’s work: “Beat the Press has obtained an internal Globe memo that explains that the paper has enlisted the services of Boston University College of Communication Dean Tom Fiedler, former AP Executive Kathleen Carroll and former New York Times Public Editor Dan Okrent to review Cullen’s work. … The probe will be two parts: the first focusing on Cullen’s writings and interviews about the Boston Marathon; the second will include a broader look into his entire body of work.”
Long-time newspaper association chief admits he lied about D-Day heroics
Speaking of media controversies, Morley Piper, the long-time head of the New England Newspaper & Press Association, has admitted he lied for years about storming the Normandy beaches during World War II and is expressing sorrow and shame for the lies, reports Alison Bosma at MetroWest Daily News and Paul Leighton of the Salem News at Military.com. We respect the fact that he ultimately fessed up and is expressing remorse. But attending the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day landings at Omaha Beach in France with then President Obama only steps away? There’s telling lies, then there’s living lies.
In Boston, Comey bemoans Trump’s ‘stain’ on America
It’s a battle, it seems, that will never end: James Comey vs. Donald Trump. The former, the ex-FBI director, appeared yesterday before a sellout crowd of about 1,000 attendees at a book-signing event at the Back Bay Events Center, where Comey touted his new tome ‘A Higher Loyalty’ and blasted away at President Trump, according to reports by J.D. Capelouto at the Globe and Antonio Planas at the Herald.
No, Jim, you’re wrong about the phased-in South Coast Rail plan
At CommonWealth magazine, Nicholas Christ and Dave Slutz, co-chairs of the SouthCoast Development Partnership, take a shot at former state transportation secretary James Aloisi for criticizing the planned phase-in of the new South Coast Rail line, noting he had his shot years ago to get the project off the ground and now he’s criticizing others for trying to do what he failed to do. That’s not exactly their words, but it’s close enough.
Meanwhile, Aloisi has a new CommonWealth piece, a sort of counter-counter offensive against the Baker administration’s Pike and West Station plans in Allston.
Mourning period, time-crunch combine to create scramble for Miceli’s House seat
After waiting a week or so out of respect following the sudden death of state Rep. Jim Miceli, would-be candidates to fill his seat surged into public view over the weekend, spurred by a looming election calendar deadline, Kori Tuitt and Aaron Curtis report in the Lowell Sun. Looks like enough candidates will get their papers turned in to local clerks by Tuesday to ensure primaries in both the Democratic and Republican races to replace the 83-year-old Miceli, who passed away earlier this month after serving 21 terms at the State House.
Wynn Resorts may have changed its Everett casino’s name, but its CEO is still walking a tightrope
To appease regulators concerned that its former namesake CEO stands accused of being a serial sexual harasser, Wynn Resorts late last week changed the name of its under-construction Everett casino to ‘Encore Boston Harbor’ from ‘Wynn Boston Harbor.’ But Bruce Mohl reports how Wynn Resorts’ CEO was, and still is, walking a regulatory and political tightrope.
Manhunt ends: Maine authorities used handcuffs of slain sheriff’s deputy to arrest accused killer
This is fitting. From Fox News: “The man wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a Maine deputy was in custody after a four-day intense manhunt, and was arrested with the slain deputy’s own handcuffs, authorities said. John Williams, 29, was captured by authorities Saturday, Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster confirmed during a news conference, adding that he was taken into custody at a camp near Route 139 in Norridgewock.”
‘The murky relationship between a detective and informant’
No, the story is not about the FBI and Whitey Bulger. Instead, it’s about a Somerville police detective, a drug dealer, the Middlesex DA’s office and a very ‘murky’ relationship between them and others. The Globe’s Maria Cramer explains.
After all the American Airlines balloons and cheers, Worcester Regional Airport is still in the red
The announcement by American Airlines a few weeks ago that it would start regular flights out of Worcester Regional Airport was most definitely welcome news. But Lisa Eckelbecker at the Telegram goes over the underperforming history of the airport and notes that it remains a big money loser.
Millionaire-tax cannon fodder: TripAdvisor CEO earned nearly 500 times more than the median pay of his employees
Granted, it was in the form of stock options and, granted, his employees are not exactly underpaid, unless you think a median pay of $99,643 is low. Still, Stephen Kaufer, co-founder and CEO of Needham-based TripAdvisor, made nearly 500 times more in compensation than the median pay of his employees last year, reports Kelly O’Brien at the BBJ. O’Brien has the comparative data.
Brigham & Women’s Hospital facing discrimination suits by Haitian-American nurses
This is going to be a rough week for Brigham & Women’s Hospital. The Globe’s Liz Kowalczyk takes a look at discrimination suits filed against the hospital by two Haitian-American nurses – and the two back-to-back trials that are scheduled to begin this week in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston.
‘Warren has high hopes for pot bill’
From Jordan Graham at the Herald: “U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has had ‘encouraging’ conversations with Republican leadership over a bill she and Republican Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner are crafting that would give states the power to completely legalize marijuana. ‘So far, it’s been encouraging,’ Warren said of conversations with Republican Senate leadership.”
Bill Gates pledges $12M to develop flu vaccine, a century after the devastating 1918 flu pandemic
In Boston for the Massachusetts Medical Society’s annual meeting late last week, Microsoft founder Bill Gates revealed he’s investing $12 million to help develop a universal flu vaccine, reports Jessica Bartlettat the BBJ. Meanwhile, Hayley Glatter at Boston Magazine reports how Gates expressed a little regret he wasn’t more social at Harvard before dropping out in the 1970s.
Report argues state transparency website should be more … transparent
The website designed to offer Massachusetts residents a look at how their tax dollars are being spent needs some work to make it easier to use, the Mass. Public Interest Research Group says. The state scored a B-minus for its overall financial transparency, lower than in recent years but still much-improved from the F the state received in 2010, Steve LeBlanc of the Associated Press reports, via the Greenfield Recorder.
Visa lottery crimps summer hiring for Cape businesses
Here’s an evergreen story with a Trump-era twist: With the first summer-like weather knocking on New England’s doorsteps this week, Cape Cod businesses say they’re scrambling for temporary help in part because of changes in how federal authorities are handing out temporary work visas, Sean Driscoll reports in the Cape Cod Times. Last year’s federal spending bill gives the Department of Homeland Security the ability to boost the pool of H-2B visas, but the department has yet to act and has given no indication when it might do so, despite sharp questioning from U.S. Rep. William Keating.
MassLive’s Shira Schoenberg to receive Mass. Bar Association award
Congrats to Shira Schoenberg, the State House reporter for the Springfield Republican and MassLive.com, who will receive the 2018 Excellence in Legal Journalism Award from the Massachusetts Bar Association. The annual award is presented to “reporters whose coverage of the legal system in Massachusetts best reflects the commitment to truth and justice shared by both the bar and the press,” according to the association.
Free Open House Networking Event
North Shore Technology Council
IEEE 2018 International Symposium on Technologies for Homeland Security
Author Talk and Book Signing with Kathleen Teahan
State Library of Massachusetts
Leonard Bernstein and President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Boston police investigate ‘disturbing’ social media posts – WGBH
Boston fans of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ note a couple of discrepancies – Universal Hub
Massachusetts
Ballot initiative would cost hospitals $1 billion a year, industry-backed study says – Boston Globe
UMass will offer free housing to 21 students displaced by fire – MassLive
Atlantic Union College submits closure plan to state – Telegram & Gazette
Nation
Ronny Jackson won’t return to old job at Trump’s physician – Politico
Migrant caravan reaches the border after grueling trip. Now for the hard part – New York Times
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