Massachusetts state government
Top Democratic lawmaker nixes Baker's sales-tax free plan
By Steve Leblanc Jun. 25, 2021 03:54 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — The top Democrat in the Massachusetts Senate on Friday dismissed a proposal by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker to expand the state’s annual two-day...

EXPLAINER: Will Massachusetts do enough to limit evictions?
By Steve Leblanc Jun. 25, 2021 12:20 PM EDT

State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz announces campaign for governor
By Steve Leblanc Jun. 23, 2021 08:28 AM EDT
Baker: State reaches goal of 4.1M residents fully vaccinated
Jun. 22, 2021 03:42 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts has reached its goal of fully vaccinating 4.1 million residents against the coronavirus, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday.
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Top elections official urges quick action on mail-in voting
By Steve Leblanc Jun. 22, 2021 01:26 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — With current no-excuse mail-in voting laws set to expire at the end of the month, state lawmakers need to hurry up and take action to extend...
Governor unveils plan to spend $2.8B in federal relief funds
Jun. 17, 2021 03:30 PM EDT
HAVERHILL, Mass. (AP) — Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said Thursday he hopes to use nearly $3 billion in federal pandemic-relief funds to support...
New law extends some Massachusetts pandemic-era policies
By Steve Leblanc Jun. 16, 2021 03:49 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — Some pandemic-era policies that had expired on Tuesday — such as allowing restaurants to offer take-out cocktails — were quickly extended...
Company agrees to pay state $3.5M for undelivered face masks
Jun. 16, 2021 02:09 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — A company that authorities say failed to deliver on a contract to supply one million N95 face masks to the state of Massachusetts and then made...
Use of ride hailing plummeted in Massachusetts in 2020
Jun. 14, 2021 06:49 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — The use of ride hailing services plummeted in Massachusetts in 2020 as the pandemic shuttered businesses and forced many to work from home.
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Massachusetts lawmakers push to extend mail-in, early voting
Jun. 10, 2021 05:37 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts Senate approved a bill Thursday extending many of the policies adopted when the pandemic hit last year — including mail-in...
2022 race for lieutenant governor is beginning to shape up
Jun. 07, 2021 04:28 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — The 2022 race for lieutenant governor is beginning to shape up on Beacon Hill.
On the Democratic side Acton state Rep. Tami...
4 hardest-hit communities to receive pandemic aid money
By Steve Leblanc Jun. 04, 2021 01:59 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — Four communities that state officials say were short-changed in federal pandemic relief aid will receive a total of $109 million from the federal...
Child care providers offered free pooled coronavirus testing
Jun. 04, 2021 09:23 AM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — A Boston-based nonprofit and the state Department of Early Education and Care have teamed up to protect child care facilities across the state...
Governor, lawmakers wrangle over federal pandemic aid funds
By Steve Leblanc Jun. 03, 2021 03:47 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Charlie Baker and Democratic leaders in the Massachusetts House and Senate are in a full-blown spat over $5.3 billion in federal pandemic...
Supporters hope to make virtual public hearings permanent
By Steve Leblanc Jun. 02, 2021 04:10 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — In pre-pandemic days, attending a public hearing typically meant setting aside a chunk of time — maybe even asking for time off work or...
Massachusetts to offer $25 grocery gift cards for vaccines
Jun. 02, 2021 03:35 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — Getting a coronavirus shot in Massachusetts could save residents a few dollars off their grocery bills, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday.
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Massachusetts vaccinations up; Montpelier to lift mask rule
May. 30, 2021 12:22 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — Coronavirus developments around New England:
MASSACHUSETTS
More than half the population of Massachusetts...
Massachusetts lifts mask rule; Maine reports 108 new cases
May. 29, 2021 12:18 PM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — Coronavirus developments around New England:
MASSACHUSETTS
It’s back to nearly normal in Massachusetts.
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Legislative panel to hammer out compromise state budget plan
May. 29, 2021 09:15 AM EDT
BOSTON (AP) — The debate over a new state budget now heads to a Legislative conference committee after the Massachusetts Senate this week passed its version of...
Baker signs order lifting state of emergency on June 15
May. 28, 2021 09:39 AM EDT
Gov. Charlie Baker signed an order Friday officially lifting Massachusetts' pandemic state of emergency on June 15.
The order has been in...