Happening Today
Student gun-reform march, MGM Springfield presser, Cannabis Control
— Students and gun reform advocates launch a three-day, 50 mile march from Worcester to Springfield’s Smith & Wesson headquarters to push for stricter gun accountability, Worcester City Hall, 455 Main St., Worcester, 9: a.m.
— Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, who oversees the School Building Authority, attends a groundbreaking ceremony for the Worcester South High School project, 170 Apricot St., Worcester, 9 a.m.
— The day before MGM Resorts opens the doors in Springfield to the state’s first resort casino, the company will hold a press conference that will feature MGM Resorts International executives, all five members of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and government officials, including Gov. Charlie Baker, MGM Springfiled, 11 a.m.
— Attorney General Maura Healey makes her regular ‘Ask the AG’ appearance on ‘Boston Public Radio,’ WGBH-FM 89.7, 12 p.m.
— The Cannabis Control Commission meets and is expected to review, and possibly vote on, proposed pot lab testing licenses, Gaming Commission conference room, 12th floor, 101 Federal St., Boston, 1 p.m.
— Auditor Suzanne Bump, Sen. Rodrigues and Rep. Schmid tour Westport River Vineyards to discuss needed improvements to the state’s agricultural preservation restriction program, Westport River Vineyard, 417 Hixbridge Rd., Westport, 1:30 p.m.
— Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and Treasurer Deborah Goldberg are among those expected to attend the opening celebration for the 128,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art Dearborn STEM 6-12 Early College Academy, the first school in Boston intentionally designed and built for STEM, 36 Winthrop Street, Roxbury, 3:30 p.m.
— Jay Gonzalez and Robert Massie, Democrats running for governor, along with DA candidates in Suffolk and Middlesex counties, attend the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization’s ‘candidate accountability night,’ Boston Teachers Union, 180 Mt. Vernon St., Dorchester, 7 p.m.
For more calendar listings, check out State House News Service’s Daily Advances (pay wall – free trial subscriptions available) and MassterList’s Beacon Hill Town Square below.
Today’s Stories
Local Trump supporters are standing by their man
A day after President Trump’s former lawyer and campaign manager took devastating legal hits that now imperil the Trump presidency, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Geoff Diehl is standing by the president, though not with as much gusto as normal, reports Hillary Chabot at the Herald. Local Trump voters are also standing by their man, reports Sophia Eppolito and Marek Mazurek at the Globe.
Not all Republican-leaning folks are standing shoulder to shoulder with the president, especially when it comes to allegations that then presidential candidate Trump authorized secret payments to Stormy Daniels et gang to remain quiet about past extramarital affairs. From conservative Herald columnist Michael Graham: “Trump fans, please: Just stop. We already have one Bill Clinton. We don’t need another.”
But is the Trump presidency really in peril? The Globe’s Evan Horowitz says indicting or impeaching Trump is going to be a lot more difficult than some think, for both legal and political reasons. Shannon Young at MassLive and Spencer Buell at Boston Magazine have the non-surprising reactions of local Democratic pols to the president’s legal woes. Finally, the NYT has an interesting piece on how national Republicans are actually urging GOP candidates to distance themselves from Trump, while Democrats are exhibiting caution on calls for impeachment, fearing any overt move to impeach the president will merely anger many voters.
Steven Tyler to Trump: Stop playing Aerosmith songs at rallies!
Here’ one local celeb not standing by the president. From Variety: “Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler is demanding President Donald Trump stop using the band’s songs at rallies, like the one held at the Charleston Civic Center in West Virginia on Tuesday (August 21). … Tyler has in turn sent a ‘cease and desist’ letter through his attorney Dina LaPolt to the White House accusing the President of willful infringement in broadcasting the song, which was written by Tyler, Joe Perry and Mark Hudson.”
All systems go for MGM Springfield opening tomorrow …
They’ve conducted the dry runs and gotten the final regulatory thumbs up, so it’s all systems go as far as the opening launch tomorrow morning of MGM Springfield’s new $1 billion resort casino. Jim Kinney at MassLive has the details. MGN and government officials, including Gov. Charlie Baker, plan to hold a press conference today about the big launch. See our ‘Happening Today’ section above for details.
Globe: Towns are indeed shaking down pot license applicants – and skirting state law
Could this lead to legal challenges – and further delays in the opening of some pot shops and facilities in Massachusetts? The Globe’s Dan Adams has examined the local community agreements reached between towns and pot license applications and “found all 19 provisional licenses issued by the commission are tied to host community agreements that appear to violate the agency’s own guidance on how such deals should be structured.” And dozens of other agreements awaiting regulatory approval also appear to skirt a state law and commission guidance, he reports.
Neal and Amatul-Wadud spar over defense spending, ObamaCare and ‘fresh blood’
In a televised debate, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal and Springfield attorney Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, who is challenging Neal in the First Congressional Democratic primary race, clashed over defense spending and health care, among other issues, with Amatul-Wadud emphasizing the need for “fresh blood” in Congress, reports the Berkshire Eagle’s Larry Parness, who described the debate as “brisk and spirited.” Monica Ricci at WWLP and Shannon Young at MassLive have more on the debate that was televised by WWLP-22News.
No-Show-Zakim’s record of not voting is actually a little worse than Galvin’s ad claims
The Globe’s Milton Valencia looks into Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s claim in a campaign ad that his Democratic primary opponent, Josh Zakim, who’s referred to in the commercial as “No-Show Zakim,” didn’t bother to vote in 15 past elections. The number is actually 16. Valencia goes over the record.
Warren and her husband made nearly $1M in 2017
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who’s up for re-election this year and eyeing a run for president in 2020, and her husband, Bruce Mann, earned nearly $1 million in 2017, about half of it from the sale of her books, including last year’s ‘This Fight is Our Fight.’ Gintautas Dumcius at MassLive has more on Warren’s release of tax returns dating back 10 years.
The Herald is on an anti-incumbent progressive roll
First the Herald’s conservative editorial board endorsed progressive candidate Josh Zakim over incumbent Bill Galvin in the Democratic primary for secretary of state. Now it’s endorsing progressive candidate Ayanna Pressley over incumbent Michael Capuano in the Third Congressional Democratic primary race. We assume the Herald will revert to its conservative norm in the general election.
Do as we say not as we did: Gonzalez slams Baker for same welfare policy proposed by Patrick
He says there’s a difference. But his explanation doesn’t make sense. Anyway, Shira Schoenberg at MassLive reports how Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Gonzalez has been slamming Republican Gov. Charlie Baker for his “unconscionable” proposal this past legislative session to change welfare eligibility – even though Gonzalez’s former boss, Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, proposed the same thing.
‘Generous offer’
The Globe’s Jon Chesto examines the numbers and concludes that the deal to attract the Pawtucket Red Sox to Worcester was a “generous offer” and “one of the biggest economic development packages in Massachusetts since Governor Charlie Baker took office nearly four years ago.” Meanwhile, Michael Jonas at CommonWealth magazine lets two sports economists got it over whether the PawSox deal is really worth it to Worcester or the state.
Meanwhile, Worcester’s run of good news extends to its airport
Worcester is about to land another one. Massport will announce next week that the city’s airport will get a third national carrier, Melissa Hanson reports at MassLive. Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis, who chairs the Massport board of directors, called the news “significant” and suggests the airline in question will be a household name.
Citing Uber effect, Foxboro gives Gillette more room to serve alcohol
Foxboro officials have green-lighted a request from Gillette Stadium to expand the areas where it can sell alcohol outside the stadium itself, citing a growing number of fans who arrive to games and other events via ride-hailing services like Uber. The newly expanded footprint for alcohol sales comes three years after selectmen last approved an expansion, Rick Foster reports at the Sun Chronicle.
Diehl and Kingston: Scaredy cats or campaign chess players?
The Globe’s Joan Vennochi has a column examining why Republican U.S. Senate candidates Geoff Diehl and John Kingston are avoiding so many debates with fellow GOP candidate Beth Lindstrom. Vennochi is calling the guys “two non-profiles in courage.” But she also points out the tactical reasons why they’re reluctant to debate, i.e. either wanting to split the vote or not wanting to split the vote.
Greenfield’s homeless camp solution: The Common is closed to everyone
The city of Greenfield has officially closed its common to everyone until October 1, a move made ostensibly to allow crews to clean the area but one that could also solve the tricky problem of a homeless encampment that popped up there in July. Joshua Solomon reports at The Recorder that police plan to be on hand with public works crews on Friday morning to remove any of the 20 people still living there in tents who refuse to leave.
Former John Bircher sues Boston for refusing to let him fly a Christian flag at City Hall Plaza
From Universal Hub’s Adam Gaffin: “Hal Shurtleff, a West Roxbury resident and former John Birch Society member, is suing the city for refusing to let him fly a flag with a prominent cross on one of the three flagpoles at City Hall Plaza for a pro-Christian event he wants to hold on City Hall Plaza on Sept. 17. The city denied his similar flag request last year.”
A day in the life of the crowded Third District race
It’s actually more like a day plus seven hours. Anyway, the Globe’s Matt Stout has it covered, reporting on what a typical campaign day looks, sounds and feels like in the crowded Third Congressional primary race among Democrats. The story is accompanied by photos.
Fyi: One of the candidates in the crowded Third contest, Lori Trahan, has gotten a nice boost from the Lowell Sun, which just endorsed her in the Democratic primary.
Buckle up for safety, always buckle up
Though seat belt usage in Massachusetts still lags the national average, more Bay State motorists are nevertheless buckling up, saving a total of 115 lives in the state in 2016, according to a new study by the University of Massachusetts Traffic Safety Research Program. SHNS’s Katie Lannan at Wicked Local has the details. Meanwhile, the Enterprise notes that Brockton has the lowest seat belt usage in the state. … Some of you Baby Boomers out there will recognize the headline above as being tied to a certain commercial (YouTube).
You don’t say: ‘Trump, Warren complicate GOP primary for U.S. Senate’
Eli Sherman at Wicked Local takes a look at the challenges facing the three GOP candidates for U.S. Senate, namely Donald Trump, who’s constantly making things more difficult for them, and incumbent Elizabeth Warren, whose polls numbers are sky high in this bluest of blue states.
About that other DA race in eastern Massachusetts …
Most media attention has been focused on the big Suffolk DA race. But Rachelle Cohen at the Globe takes a look at the Middlesex DA primary race, which has turned into a sort of winner-take-all contest since no Republican will be running in November. Progressive candidate Donna Patalano is really putting the pressure on incumbent DA Marian Ryan, as Cohen notes.
They’re off: Students marching from Worcester to Springfield’s Smith & Wesson
Bob Oakes and Yasmir have a preview story on the planned high-school student march that’s scheduled to start in Worcester this morning and lasts until Sunday, when they’ll rally at the Springfield headquarters of Smith & Wession to demand that the company stop making guns banned in Massachusetts and donate $5 million toward gun violence research. Among those taking part: Davig Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland, Florida school shooting earlier this year.
Campaign Ca$h
In MASSterList’s feature, Campaign Ca$h, our research team this week takes a look at the finances in the gubernatorial election. This edition has information on Charlie Baker. Click the banner to view a mobile-friendly, complete PDF list of his expenditures and donors since 1/1/2018. All information is from the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (ocpf.us).
Stay tuned for more races throughout the election cycle. If there’s a particular race that you’d like us to consider for upcoming coverage, email dart@massterlist.com.
Download the report here (desktop – XLSX format)
Springfield native posthumously awarded Medal of Honor
From Brooks Sutherland at the Herald: “A Springfield-born Air Force sergeant who was killed trying to save a Navy SEAL in Afghanistan in 2002 was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor yesterday. President Trump presented the nation’s highest military honor to Valerie Nessel, the widow of fallen U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. John A. Chapman, at the White House, commending his bravery and ‘final act of supreme courage,’ in helping save more than 20 American service members.”
Towns looking more closely at what’s in your curbside recycling bins, Part II
SHNS’s Colin Young at CommonWealth magazine reports on a new $2.6 million ‘Recyle Smart’ program launched by the state. The program is basically trying to teach residents what can and can’t be put into curbside recycling containers. WBUR was reporting on the recycling-contamination issue earlier this week.
Gay Head Tribe strikes deal with gambling partner
The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head said Wednesday it had struck a deal with another tribe’s casino arm, moving it one step closer to opening a small bingo hall on its tribal property on Martha’s Vineyard, reports George Brennan reports at the Martha’s Vineyard Times. Global Gaming Solutions, which is operated by the Oklahoma-based Chickasaw nation, would run the gaming hall, which federal officials have said could open without state approval.
In Lawrence, a scramble to fix poll access by primary
It’s not just candidates scrambling to get ready for the Sept. 4 primary. Keith Eddings at the Eagle-Tribune reports that Lawrence officials are in a scramble to address accessibility issues at all of the polling places in the city in time for the state primary. The city set aside $58,000 for the work, which includes ramps and sidewalk fixes, after the Department of Justice ordered improvements in April, citing deficiencies first noted two years ago.
Checking in on would-be mayor Tito Jackson
Maddie Kilgannon of WGBH catches up with former Boston city councilor and mayoral candidate Tito Jackson and finds him dividing his time between campaigning for district attorney hopeful Rachel Rollins, helming a medical marijuana startup and making no plans to run for office anytime soon.
Parks for All: How City Parks Address Inequity
The Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center invites a panel of experts to address the question of how cities can achieve equitable access to open spaces.
Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library
Former Governor Michael Dukakis kicks off Canvass for Katie McBrine for State Senate
Join Michael and Kitty Dukakis for coffee and breakfast pastries before heading out to canvass for Dr. Katie McBrine. Please arrive by 11AM to hear the Duke introduce Katie. Canvassing will begin about 12PM. Bring the kids!
Committee to Elect Katie McBrine
International Conference on Planetary Science and Particle Physics (CSE)
Conference Series LLC Ltd cordially invite all the participants from all over the world to share their latest research in the field of Planetary Science and Particle Physics at International conference on Planetary Science and Particle Physics which is going to be held on August 27-28, 2018 at Boston, USA.
21st International Conference on Past and Present Research Systems on Green Chemistry
Conference Series is glad to announce 21st International Conference on Past and Present Research Systems on Green Chemistry, August 27-28, 2018 at Boston, USA. Green Chemistry 2018 will be organized around the theme “Encouraging World Towards Pure Techniques”.
International Conference on Clinical Pediatrics and Medicine (CSE) A
ConferenceSeries LLC Ltd is privileged to announce its “International Conference on Pediatric Hospital Medicine” with the innovative theme “Dynamic and Collegial approach of Pediatric Hospitalists” which will be held during August 29-30, 2018 inBoston, USA.
4th Annual Congress on Infectious Diseases (CSE) A
Conference Series LLC LTD Conferences invites all the participants from all over the world to attend “4th Annual Congress on Infectious Diseases” during August 29-30, 2018 Boston, USA which includes prompt keynote presentations, special sessions, workshops, symposiums, oral talks, poster presentations and exhibitions.
John Angus & Harvard RTC hosting: Meet & Greet for Candidate Rick Green
John Angus and the Harvard Republican Town Committee invite you to Meet Congressional Candidate Rick Green at the Hildreth House (15 Elm Street Harvard, MA) from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM on Wednesday, August 29th. This is your opportunity to speak with Rick about any issues or concerns you might have about Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional district. We hope to see you there!
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Dockless rides keep landing in Boston – Boston Herald
$73 million school in Roxbury is first newly constructed BPS building in 15 years – Boston Globe
Massachusetts
Unhappy with $62K salary, Webster town clerk cuts back workweek – Telegram & Gazette
Quincy mayor halts National Grid permits until company ends worker lockout – Patriot Ledger
PawSox picked Worcester out of about 20 possible cities – Worcester Business Journal
Nation
Trump team’s narrative on hush money not just misleading. It’s a lie. – Washington Post
Betsy DeVos is said to weigh letting school districts use federal funds to buy guns – New York Times
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