Happening Today
Funeral for fallen Green Beret, Hefner hearing, and more
— Six months before the state’s presidential primary election, Secretary of State William Galvin will appear at a voter registration drive this morning at South Station, as his office encourages Massachusetts residents to register, check their registration and update their party or address when necessary. South Station, 700 Atlantic Ave., Boston.
— Funeral services will be held for U.S. Army Master Sgt. Luis DeLeon-Figueroa of Chicopee, who was killed in action Aug. 21 in Faryab Province, Afghanistan, Bethany Assembly of God, 580 Main St., Agawam, 9:30 a.m.
— After Judge Mary Ames scheduled additional pre-trial hearings this week in the Bryon Hefner assault case, parties meet for a hearing at which prosecutors are expected to report on a request from Hefner’s defense lawyer to see records and messages from the alleged victims, Suffolk County Courthouse, Pemberton Square, 11 a.m.
— Hampshire College President Ed Wingenbach holds a press briefing following a ‘Launch of Hampshire’s Future’ event, Robert Crown Center, Hampshire College, Amherst, 2 p.m.
— Eric Rosengren, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, visits Stonehill College for an event highlighting the recent opening of the college’s new $30 million Leo J. Meehan School of Business building, with Rosengren giving a presentation about the state of the U.S. economy, Kate Phalon McCarthy Auditorium, May School of Arts & Sciences, Stonehill College, 320 Washington St., Easton, 5 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
Marty’s bad summer: Ex-city official pleads guilty to taking $50K bribe from developer
The Boston Calling verdict. Now this. Not a good summer for Mayor Marty Walsh. From James Sanna at Banker & Tradesman: “A former Boston Planning and Development Agency official has agreed to plead guilty for taking a $50,000 bribe from an unidentified developer in exchange for trying to influence a key Zoning Board of Appeals vote following an FBI and IRS investigation.”
And the Globe’s Tim Logan and Milton Valencia are naming the little-known developer who allegedly paid the bribe. And the key Zoning Board of Appeals member reportedly involved? Still not named. But we’re sure the feds know the name. Their investigation is ongoing.
Confrontation looms between cops and Rollins over Straight Pride Parade arrests
The controversial Straight Pride Parade was indeed held over the holiday weekend in Boston – and it led to dozens of police arrests of counter-protesters, some on assault-and-battery charges, reports WGBH’s Tori Bedford. More than a few of the left-wing counter-protesters, who say they were there to battle right-wing fascists, are complaining about “hostile” and “aggressive” police action, including the pepper-spraying of counter-protesters.
But another confrontation, at least politically, is brewing between the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Union and Suffolk DA Rachael Rollins, who cops say needs to come down hard on protesters, reports a three-reporter team at the Herald. In case you’ve forgotten, Rollins has a do-no-prosecute list of charges she won’t pursue as a reformist DA – and so things could get interesting. The Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter and Andrew Martinez report that US. Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are already lining up in support of those arrested over the weekend.
The Globe’s John Hilliard and Universal Hub’s Adam Gaffin have more on the parade, with the latter posting lots of photos and videos of the day’s events.
Blowing smoke? Mayflower Wind promises lowest US wind price yet
CommonWealth magazine’s Bruce Mohl reports that Mayflower Wind, a joint venture of Shell New Energies and EDP Renewables, is bragging that its proposed prices for a second offshore wind farm in Massachusetts will be the lowest ever in the United States, contrary to pre-bidding fears that wind-energy prices might spike upwards. Mayflower has yet to release details of its bid, so we’ll see.
They’re back – and their fall legislative plate is full
The Globe’s Matt Stout reports that Beacon Hill will soon be stirring with activity, now that summer is over (unofficially). On the fall legislative agenda: Funding for transportation and education, health-care reform, Registry of Motor Vehicle hearings, plastic-bag ban legislation, etc.
And then there’s this, via Western Massachusetts News: “Bill Would Let Massachusetts Residents Living In Country Illegally Get Driver’s Licenses.”
The secret of Elizabeth Warren’s summer success? Progressive orthodoxy
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren had a spectacular summer, as she firmly broke into the top tier of Democratic candidates for president, and yesterday she was consolidating her gains at a Labor Day rally in New Hampshire, the Globe’s Jeremy Fox reports. She may need New Hampshire more than she wishes, according to the Herald’s Joe Battenfeld, who writes that changes to Iowa’s caucus voting rules will create havoc for Warren and other candidates.
Meanwhile, in a column we’re sure will be widely disseminated, the NYT’s David Brooks dismisses the notion that Warren’s summer surge is due to her grit and detailed policy plans. Instead, he says it all comes down to Warren’s willingness to “conform to progressive orthodoxy.”
Cape Cod’s tough summer of sharks, tornadoes and taxes
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren may have had a great summer. But the AP’s Philip Marcelo at WBUR reports things were a little different on Cape Cod, where sharks, tornadoes and a new state tax on home rentals appear to have put a dent in the hospitality industry.
She’s out: Ehrlich won’t run for Moulton’s seat in Congress
One down, two to go. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, who recently abandoned his quest for president, has one fewer potential primary foe to worry about in his home congressional district: Rep. Lori Ehrlich, who announced she would not run against the incumbent, Paul Leighton reports at the Salem News. But that still leaves at least two other Democrats considering primary challenges to Moulton. Btw: Ehrlich explains her decision more fully in a Lynn Item op-ed.
MassDOT mulls yanking ‘sponsor a highway’ billboards by pot companies
The Globe’s Dan Adam reports on a debate over whether the state’s laws governing marijuana advertisements are too restrictive, as MassDOT mulls whether to pull “sponsor-a-highway” billboards paid for by pot companies. The problem with the roadway signs: They don’t include state-required warnings related to the use of marijuana.
Pot shop openings resume after hiatus
Let the openings resume. After a summer hiatus that saw the number of recreational marijuana shops in the state stuck at around 20, several new dispensaries are slated to open this week after receiving final licenses from the Cannabis Control Commission, Felicia Gans reports in the Globe. New shops were approved for Salisbury — the first in a community bordering New Hampshire — Somerset and Montague. NBC 10 reports the Somerset store actually opened Monday with little to no fanfare — by design.
Meanwhile, the Globe’s Naomi Martin reports on new openings you probably haven’t seen: Pot shops owned by black entrepreneurs, who are upset about the lack of minorities getting coveted licenses.
Green Beret soldier’s body arrives back home
Gov. Charlie Baker was among hundreds of people paying their respects over the weekend as the body of Green Beret Master Sgt. Luis DeLeon-Figuero, who was recently killed in Afghanistan, returned home to Chicopee. Peter Goonan has the story at MassLive, along with lots of photos of the solemn, flag-adorned procession. Funeral services for DeLeon-Figuero will be held this morning (see our Happening Today section above for details).
Veteran groups and lawmakers seek clarity on ‘Gold Star’ designations
Speaking of those who served our country, lawmakers and veterans groups are seeking clarity over who qualifies for “Gold Star” status in Massachusetts – whether it covers only those who die in combat or those who also die on active duty. Christian Wade at the Gloucester Times has more.
Natick’s World War II museum abruptly shuts down
If you haven’t visited Natick’s Museum of World War II yet, too late. The Globe’s Steve Maas reports that the museum, a true history buff’s nirvana, has abruptly closed its doors, amid a legal battle with a billionaire who has quietly purchased the museum’s core belongings and plans to move most of the artifacts to Washington D.C.
The center of our political universe: Shrewsbury
The Herald’s Mary Markos reports on the nomination of a Shrewsbury detective lieutenant, who just so happens to have coached Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito’s son in youth football, to a lifetime clerk magistrate post. It should make for an interesting Governor’s Council meeting later this week. Needless to say, the Herald’s Howie Carr sees a lot of Shrewsbury political dots – and he makes some connections.
Markey and Kennedy agree on one thing: Trump must go
They never openly acknowledged they’re running against each other, or likely to run against each other, but U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, who is mulling a primary challenge to Markey, both attended a major Labor Day event yesterday and bashed away at President Trump, not at each other, reports Andy Metzger at CommonWealth magazine. Btw: Kennedy sure looked like a Senate candidate yesterday, as this WCVB video tweet shows.
Senator presses Baker to disclose more on non-disclosures
From the Herald’s Mary Markos: “State Sen. Diana DiZoglio is questioning Gov. Charlie Baker’s claim — that he only uses secret silencing settlements when a sexual harassment victim requests it — because he has refused to produce documentation to back it up. ‘If you were telling the truth, you would produce the proof,’ DiZoglio told the Herald.”
Deadly tracks: Two die over weekend after commuter rail collisions
Two people were killed after being struck by commuter rail trains over the weekend. The Telegram’s David Dore of reports a 20-year-old woman died after being struck by a train on the Leominster line early Monday. Just a day earlier, in Middleboro, a man was struck and killed after authorities said he trespassed on the tracks and was struck by a Boston-bound train, Marc Larocque reports at the Enterprise.
Cause for hope? Opioid overdose calls plummet in Lowell
Here’s a data point that could be reason for optimism on the opioid-crisis front. The company that provides EMS services in Lowell says the number of opioid overdose calls it has responded to is down by a third, Elizabeth Dobbins reports in the Lowell Sun. Trinity EMS says it answered 317 “opioid related illness” calls through July, compared to more than 400 in the same period last year.
Model UN Professional Development Workshop @ Democracy Center
Whether you’re an experienced MUN Advisor or brand new to Model UN, you’ll walk away from this workshop with time-saving tools, tactics, and strategies to help your students succeed in Model United Nations.
Best Delegate Model United Nations
Policy Breakfast Highlighting Fail First Reform in Massachusetts
Join us for a breakfast to learn about fail first policies impacting patients in Massachusetts. Delayed treatment can mean disease progression. That’s why “fail first” reform for patients with arthritis, cancer, Crohn’s and colitis, and other chronic diseases is so critical.
The Arthritis Foundation, CSRO, and the Mass Medical Society
Stone Social Impact Forum
Innovative education leader Geoffrey Canada, president and founder of Harlem Children’s Zone, is the inaugural speaker for the Stone Social Impact Forum, a new signature series highlighting civic change agents who advance social change and innovatively address areas of inequality in our society.
Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate
The Somerville Surge
Join NAIOP for a deep dive into the transformative projects underway in Somerville, including Assembly Row, Boynton Yards, Union Square and more.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Boston police union head pushes for Straight Pride protest prosecutions – Boston Herald
Massachusetts
Seismic recording facility Weston Observatory threatened by lack of money – MetroWest Daily News
Plymouth 400 partners with NBC for upcoming celebration – Patriot Ledger
Central Mass. schools, health departments, crack down on teen vaping – Telegram & Gazette
Nation
Amateurs Identify U.S. Spy Satellite Behind President Trump’s Tweet – NPR
President Trump trails Democrats by historically large margins – CNN
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