Happening Today
Baker tours offshore wind training facility, House informal, and more
10 a.m. | Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities meets to hear a presentation from the Mass. Rehab Commission, to discuss values statements and to discuss lessons learned during the pandemic.
10 a.m. | Scientists from the Nature Conservancy unveil a new offshore wind mapping tool that the organization describes as “similar to Zillow but for offshore wind.
11 a.m. | House meets in an informal session.
11:45 a.m. | Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides, and MassCEC Interim CEO Jennifer Daloisio visit an offshore wind training facility in New Bedford.
5 p.m. | Boston city officials hold virtual meeting to hear from artists, youth, and art-focused organizations on how federal stimulus funds can be used to help the creative arts sector.
Today’s Stories
Tuesday’s preliminary elections roundup
It was another rush to the polls yesterday for the 11 cities that held preliminary elections. Here’s a rundown of the results from across the state:
– In Newburyport, City Councilor at large Charlie Tontar and School Committee member Sean Reardon will face off in the city’s mayoral election in November, reports Newburyport Daily News’ Heather Alterisio.
– At-large Councilor Michael Sullivan and Blandford Town Administrator Joshua Garcia advance to the Holyoke general mayoral election, reports Western Mass Politics & Insight’s Matt Szafranski.
– Jennifer Macksey and Lynette Bond are moving forward in the North Adams mayoral contest, reports Berkshire Eagle’s Greta Jochem. Macksey received the most votes last night.
– Lawrence’s interim Mayor Kendrys Vasquez and City Councilor Brian DePena will face off for mayor in November’s general election, reports Eagle-Tribune’s Jill Harmacinski. Vasquez earned the most votes.
– Attleboro’s incumbent mayor Paul Heroux will go head to head with challenger Todd McGhee for the city’s top office, reports The Sun Chronicle’s George W. Rhodes. Heroux garnered the most votes.
– In Beverly, incumbent Mayor Michael Cahill will face off with Esther Ngotho, reports Patch’s Scott Souza.
– Fall River Herald News’ Audrey Cooney reports that Mayor Paul Coogan cruised to an easy first-place victory in the city’s preliminary mayoral election. He’ll face City Council President Cliff Ponte in November.
– In Everett, Mayor Carlo DeMaria Jr. and City Councilor Fred Capone advanced to the November ballot, reports Boston Globe’s John Hilliard.
– Lowell Sun’s Alana Melanson, Jacob Vitali, Prudence Brighton rounded up the election results from Lowell, where voters participated in a new hybrid district and at-large model.
– In Chicopee, MassLive’s Jeanette DeForge has the results for the two preliminary elections for school committee and city council.
‘City Hall was for sale’
He’s going away. Former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia was sentenced to six year in prison after he was convicted extorting bribes from cannabis businesses looking to open in the city, reports Herald News’ Linda Murphy, Dan Medeiros, Jo C. Goode, and Lynne Sullivan. The judge who handed down the sentence, Douglas Woodlock, said “City Hall was for sale.”
More from the Herald News team: “Despite overturning much of the jury’s guilty verdict against Correia on Monday, Woodlock laid into him saying, ‘there has to be additional time for those who know the risk of what it means to be a public servant.’”
MBTA looks to fire Green Line operator involved in crash
MBTA officials will take steps to fire the operator of the Green Line trolley that crashed into another train while going three times the posted speed limit, reports State House News Service’s Chris Lisinski. The news came hours after the National Transportation Safety Board published a report about the collision. The crash resulted in minor injuries for 24 passengers and three crew members.
The Boston Globe’s Taylor Dolven has additional details from the NTSB report, including a finding that “the operator of the striking train placed the master controller in a full-power position prior to the accident.”
On the docket: Senate committee poised to take up Rollins’ nomination
It’s a start. Boston Herald’s Sean Phillip Cotter reports the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee appears poised to begin considering President Biden’s nomination of current Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins to be the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts on Thursday. Rollins is one of 14 nominees the committee will consider, though a timeline on a vote to confirm is still uncertain.
From WBUR and GBH radio waves
Here’s an interesting segment from WBUR’s “Radio Boston:” A day in the life of a Massachusetts contact tracer. WBUR spoke to Alexander Brent, an investigator with the Massachusetts Community Tracing Collaborative, the contact tracing team with Partners in Health.
And on GBH’s “Greater Boston,” Attorney General Maura Healey criticized Gov. Charlie Baker on his opposition to same-day voter registration, commented on Texas’ abortion ban, and wouldn’t say whether she would run for governor.
MCAS test results shows toll pandemic has taken on students
Add test scores to the many things the pandemic has taken a toll on. Associated Press’ Steve LeBlanc reports that MCAS test results from spring 2021 showed more students overall had gaps in their knowledge of math and, to a degree, English language arts compared to those in the same grade pre-pandemic.
More from LeBlanc: “In 2021, 46 percent of students in grades 3-8 scored “meeting expectations” or higher in English language arts, while 33 percent scored the same in math. Both represent a drop compared to 2019, when 52 percent of students scored “meeting expectations” or higher in English language arts and 49 percent did so in math.”
House seeks to craft new offshore wind policy
While touring a wind farm off Rhode Island, Massachusetts House leaders said they were preparing legislation to change bid requirements for wind projects, reports State House News Service’s Colin A. Young. About two dozen representatives joined House Speaker Ronald Mariano for a boat tour of Block Island Wind Farm, the first commercial offshore wind farm in the country.
Looking for a ‘game plan’
For two hours, Rep. Bud William listened at to Massachusetts trial court employees from across the state at event in Springfield speak about mistreatment and discrimination they have experienced. MassLive’s Douglas Hook reports that afterward, Williams said he is “going to try to develop a game plan, to develop a strategy.” The Springfield Democrat chairs the Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion Committee.
Essaibi George tells super PACs to stay out of the race
Stay out. That’s the message Boston City Councilor and mayoral candidate Annissa Essaibi George is sending to super PACs who want to get involved in the race for the city’s top office, reports Dorchester Reporter’s Gintautas Dumcius. Both Essaibi George and her rival, City Councilor Michelle Wu, have two super PACs supporting their campaign.
Janey not backing down on request to withdraw harbor plan
Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey is standing her ground on a request to withdraw the city’s downtown waterfront municipal harbor plan, reports Boston Businesses Journal’s Catherine Carlock, even after Gov. Charlie Baker said his administration wouldn’t support the withdrawal without a new plan in place. In a statement, Janey said she “stands by her decision” to withdraw the plan and “intended to lead a planning process that centered resilience, equity, and community around our shared waterfront.”
Narrowest of margins: Single vote tips Montague race
Today’s reminder that every vote counts comes from the town of Montague, where Matthew Lord was declared the winner of a seat on the select board, emerging atop a four-candidate field after tallying 193 votes, one better than second-place finisher Joanna Mae Boody. The Greenfield Recorder’s Julian Mendoza reports the results are still considered unofficial and that a recount is not out of the question.
Little help here: Swampscott health board wants state to mandate mask-wearing
They don’t want to go it alone. The Swampscott Board of Health wants to make mask-wearing mandatory across the community but members say it should be state officials who are enacting mandates for everyone in the state, Katelyn Sahagian of the Lynn Item reports.
Get out: Harvard Yard off-limits to non-students as university cites ‘safety and health’ of students
Students only after 5. Harvard University says it will restrict access to Harvard Yard, allowing only students with active IDs through the gates after 5 p.m. in a move the school says is meant to enable freshmen to settle in without worrying about ‘safety and health’ concerns brought in from the outside. Noah Caza and Vivian Zhao of the Harvard Crimson have the details.
Rolling Stones play private party at Gillette
It must have been one rocking show. The Rolling Stones performed at a private party hosted by Patriots owner Robert Kraft in Gillette Stadium Monday, reports Boston Globe’s Mark Shanahan. The legendary group played a 15-song set to a crowd of about 300 people, including Gov. Charlie Baker and first lady Lauren Baker.
Today’s Headlines
Metro
Department of Education board member floats receivership for Boston Public Schools – Boston Herald
Tribe wants Boston University to change name of Myles Standish dorm – Boston.com
Toast valued at nearly $20 billion in one of Boston’s most anticipated IPOs – Boston Globe
Massachusetts
Amherst leaders say personnel departures concerning – Daily Hampshire Gazette
Nation
Trump sues New York Times and niece Mary Trump over tax records story – Washington Post
Biden set to play peacemaker for warring Democratic factions – Politico
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