Matt Murphy

Senate President Karen Spilka and Gov. Maura Healey in speeches last week both highlighted their desire to make community college free for at least some students, but a question remains about how expansive such an initiative should be. Healey, in her inaugural address, said her first budget would create and fund a new program called MassReconnect to pay […]

Gov. Maura Healey holds her first Cabinet meeting this morning as she gets down to business after a day and night of celebration. Healey took the oath of office yesterday and delivered her inaugural address before the House and Senate before a rock-ous celebration at the TD Garden last night where pop-folk musician Brandi Carlile entertained the crowd. The […]

Gov.-elect Maura Healey officially takes the reins of state government today when she and Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Driscoll take their oaths in the House chamber. If yesterday was about Gov. Charlie Baker (who’s still on the clock until noon) and his “Lone Walk” out of the State House and power, today is about Healey and what comes next. […]

Inauguration week continues today when newly elected and reelected lawmakers take their oaths of office and Democrats caucus to elect a speaker and Senate president in what promises to be a far less dramatic affair than what is transpiring in Washington. California Republican Kevin McCarthy’s failure to lock down the votes to become speaker yesterday marked the first […]

The mystery headliner for Gov.-elect Maura Healey’s inaugural celebration has been revealed. Singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile will perform at the TD Garden on Thursday night alongside a number of local performers to help Healey and Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Driscoll kick off their new administration, the Healey inaugural committee announced this morning. “As forces across this country try to sow […]

It’s been quite a ride since I took over writing this newsletter in April. Thank you for all your tips, edits, encouragement and, of course, critiques. Keep it coming in 2023. With the year drawing to a close, we thought it only fitting to take a look back on 2022 and some of the storylines that drove […]

The rain and wind from Winter Storm Elliott have arrived, making a mess of travel two days before Christmas as hundreds of flights around the country, including dozens in and out of Logan, have already been cancelled. While Massachusetts is expected to be spared the snow, heavy rains and strong winds will pummel the state throughout the day before giving […]

Good morning. It’s officially winter. But don’t let that get you down. The days are about to start getting longer, if only by a minute today. Gov.-elect Maura Healey last week called her new climate chief, Melissa Hoffer, “unstoppable.” She’s going to need to be. The Baker administration has left Healey with a blueprint to achieve its climate […]

Compiling an early list of issues the Legislature must confront in the new year? Don’t forget about drivers for ride-hailing and food delivery apps like Uber and DoorDash. The question of how employees for these app-based services should be treated under state law was supposed to be THE issue of the 2022 cycle in Massachusetts, with tens of […]

IN TRANSITION NEWS, Attorney General-elect Andrea Campbell has hired Patrick Moore to be her first assistant attorney general. Moore has worked as deputy counsel to Govs. Deval Patrick and Charlie Baker and he served as associate counsel and advisor for presidential personnel in the Obama White House. The role as number two to the attorney general is currently held by Kate […]