CommonWealth Beacon
@cwbeacon.bsky.social
Politics, ideas, & civic life in MA. CommonWealth Beacon's in-depth coverage is a primary news & information source for policymakers, civic leaders & citizens. www.commonwealthbeacon.org
ICYMI: In the face of efforts to erase parts of US history, Massachusetts must take a stand #OPINION
In the face of efforts to erase parts of US history, Massachusetts must take a stand
As the federal government creates gaps in the record, we can support organizations filling the voids with voices from the past and present who speak to the core values of the Declaration of Independence...
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 6:00 PM
ICYMI: In the face of efforts to erase parts of US history, Massachusetts must take a stand #OPINION
ENERGY: Mass. falling short of key climate targets, with some bright spots, after one year of Trump attacks
Mass. falling short of key climate targets, with some bright spots, after one year of Trump attacks
The state’s self-assessment comes as it races to reduce its carbon pollution to 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and produce no new net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 — all while confronting a...
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 4:41 PM
ENERGY: Mass. falling short of key climate targets, with some bright spots, after one year of Trump attacks
NEW: Mass. falling short of key climate targets, with some bright spots, after one year of Trump attacks
Mass. falling short of key climate targets, with some bright spots, after one year of Trump attacks
The state’s self-assessment comes as it races to reduce its carbon pollution to 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and produce no new net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 — all while confronting a...
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 3:05 PM
NEW: Mass. falling short of key climate targets, with some bright spots, after one year of Trump attacks
ICYMI: ‘It just requires people to be destitute’: Healey draws criticism over push to tighten eligibility for safety-net program
‘It just requires people to be destitute’: Healey draws criticism over push to tighten eligibility for safety-net program
Five years after lawmakers scrapped the asset limit attached to the Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children program, Gov. Maura Healey wants to bring it back at a higher threshold — a move...
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 2:55 PM
ICYMI: ‘It just requires people to be destitute’: Healey draws criticism over push to tighten eligibility for safety-net program
ICYMI: Healey budget boosts court funding after year of uncertainty
Healey budget boosts court funding after year of uncertainty
Judicial leaders last spring expressed pointed concern that operations and administrative costs in the Trial Courts could force the courts to trim hundreds of positions without a funding increase from...
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 2:44 PM
ICYMI: Healey budget boosts court funding after year of uncertainty
ICYMI: Healey’s budget proposal seeks to trim environmental programs roughly 4 percent
Healey’s budget proposal seeks to trim environmental programs roughly 4 percent
The impact of the federal reconciliation package enacted by President Trump last year coupled with slower growth are forcing Healey to reexamine funding across the board. EEA is not immune from the shifting...
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 1:50 PM
ICYMI: Healey’s budget proposal seeks to trim environmental programs roughly 4 percent
STATE GOVERNMENT: With auditor’s office funding on the line, DiZoglio and Legislature play nice for an hour
With auditor’s office funding on the line, DiZoglio and Legislature play nice for an hour
A day after Diana DiZoglio sued the Legislature over her stalled audit attempt, both she and lawmakers avoided the topic during a routine budget hearing.
buff.ly
February 13, 2026 at 12:37 PM
STATE GOVERNMENT: With auditor’s office funding on the line, DiZoglio and Legislature play nice for an hour
NEW: With auditor’s office funding on the line, DiZoglio and Legislature play nice for an hour
commonwealthbeacon.org/government/s...
commonwealthbeacon.org/government/s...
With auditor’s office funding on the line, DiZoglio and Legislature play nice for an hour
A day after Diana DiZoglio sued the Legislature over her stalled audit attempt, both she and lawmakers avoided the topic during a routine budget hearing.
commonwealthbeacon.org
February 13, 2026 at 12:10 AM
NEW: With auditor’s office funding on the line, DiZoglio and Legislature play nice for an hour
commonwealthbeacon.org/government/s...
commonwealthbeacon.org/government/s...
COURTS: Reluctant MBTA Communities start to buckle
buff.ly/biYjVse
buff.ly/biYjVse
February 12, 2026 at 11:02 PM
COURTS: Reluctant MBTA Communities start to buckle
buff.ly/biYjVse
buff.ly/biYjVse
OPINION: As the federal government creates gaps in the record, we can support organizations filling the voids with voices from the past and present who speak to the core values of the Declaration of Independence -- and its complicated legacy.
In the face of efforts to erase parts of US history, Massachusetts must take a stand
As the federal government creates gaps in the record, we can support organizations filling the voids with voices from the past and present who speak to the core values of the Declaration of Independence...
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 4:41 PM
OPINION: As the federal government creates gaps in the record, we can support organizations filling the voids with voices from the past and present who speak to the core values of the Declaration of Independence -- and its complicated legacy.
ICYMI: Mass. climate chief missed her own deadline to calculate the cost of state’s climate commitments
Mass. climate chief missed her own deadline to calculate the cost of state’s climate commitments
Hoffer set out to put a price tag on the state’s net-zero climate commitment and develop a menu of options for how to pay for it. That price is still not yet known more than a year after the report...
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 12:57 PM
ICYMI: Mass. climate chief missed her own deadline to calculate the cost of state’s climate commitments
HEALTH: ‘It just requires people to be destitute’: Healey draws criticism over push to tighten eligibility for safety-net program
‘It just requires people to be destitute’: Healey draws criticism over push to tighten eligibility for safety-net program
Five years after lawmakers scrapped the asset limit attached to the Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children program, Gov. Maura Healey wants to bring it back at a higher threshold — a move...
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 12:37 PM
HEALTH: ‘It just requires people to be destitute’: Healey draws criticism over push to tighten eligibility for safety-net program
COURTS: Healey budget boosts court funding after year of uncertainty
Healey budget boosts court funding after year of uncertainty
Judicial leaders last spring expressed pointed concern that operations and administrative costs in the Trial Courts could force the courts to trim hundreds of positions without a funding increase from...
buff.ly
February 11, 2026 at 11:01 PM
COURTS: Healey budget boosts court funding after year of uncertainty
ICYMI: Applying for financial aid should be a Massachusetts high school graduation requirement #OPINION
Applying for financial aid should be a Massachusetts high school graduation requirement
Making FAFSA completion a graduation requirement in Massachusetts isn’t about mandating college. It’s about removing barriers and expanding opportunities.
buff.ly
February 11, 2026 at 7:20 PM
ICYMI: Applying for financial aid should be a Massachusetts high school graduation requirement #OPINION
New in OPINION: In the face of efforts to erase parts of US history, Massachusetts must take a stand
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/in-t...
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/in-t...
In the face of efforts to erase parts of US history, Massachusetts must take a stand
As the federal government creates gaps in the record, we can support organizations filling the voids with voices from the past and present who speak to the core values of the Declaration of Independence...
commonwealthbeacon.org
February 11, 2026 at 5:59 PM
New in OPINION: In the face of efforts to erase parts of US history, Massachusetts must take a stand
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/in-t...
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/in-t...
ENERGY: Healey’s budget proposal seeks to trim environmental programs roughly 4 percent
Healey’s budget proposal seeks to trim environmental programs roughly 4 percent
The impact of the federal reconciliation package enacted by President Trump last year coupled with slower growth are forcing Healey to reexamine funding across the board. EEA is not immune from the shifting...
buff.ly
February 11, 2026 at 4:41 PM
ENERGY: Healey’s budget proposal seeks to trim environmental programs roughly 4 percent
NEW: ‘It just requires people to be destitute’: Healey draws criticism over push to tighten eligibility for safety-net program
commonwealthbeacon.org/government/s...
commonwealthbeacon.org/government/s...
‘It just requires people to be destitute’: Healey draws criticism over push to tighten eligibility for safety-net program
Five years after lawmakers scrapped the asset limit attached to the Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children program, Gov. Maura Healey wants to bring it back at a higher threshold — a move...
commonwealthbeacon.org
February 11, 2026 at 2:55 PM
NEW: ‘It just requires people to be destitute’: Healey draws criticism over push to tighten eligibility for safety-net program
commonwealthbeacon.org/government/s...
commonwealthbeacon.org/government/s...
NEW: Healey budget boosts court funding after year of uncertainty
commonwealthbeacon.org/courts/heale...
commonwealthbeacon.org/courts/heale...
Healey budget boosts court funding after year of uncertainty
Judicial leaders last spring expressed pointed concern that operations and administrative costs in the Trial Courts could force the courts to trim hundreds of positions without a funding increase from...
commonwealthbeacon.org
February 11, 2026 at 2:43 PM
NEW: Healey budget boosts court funding after year of uncertainty
commonwealthbeacon.org/courts/heale...
commonwealthbeacon.org/courts/heale...
NEW: Healey’s budget proposal seeks to trim environmental programs roughly 4 percent
commonwealthbeacon.org/government/s...
commonwealthbeacon.org/government/s...
Healey’s budget proposal seeks to trim environmental programs roughly 4 percent
The impact of the federal reconciliation package enacted by President Trump last year coupled with slower growth are forcing Healey to reexamine funding across the board. EEA is not immune from the shifting...
commonwealthbeacon.org
February 11, 2026 at 1:50 PM
NEW: Healey’s budget proposal seeks to trim environmental programs roughly 4 percent
commonwealthbeacon.org/government/s...
commonwealthbeacon.org/government/s...
COURTS: DiZoglio sues Beacon Hill leaders for snubbing voter-approved audit
DiZoglio sues Beacon Hill leaders for snubbing voter-approved audit
In the more than a year since the law took effect, legislative leaders have continued to refuse to turn over any documents, and DiZoglio hopes to force a constitutional reckoning before the state's highest...
buff.ly
February 11, 2026 at 12:37 PM
COURTS: DiZoglio sues Beacon Hill leaders for snubbing voter-approved audit
CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Parole rates in Massachusetts on the rise
Parole rates in Massachusetts on the rise
The 2024 paroling rate in Massachusetts was 68%, according to a presentation by Gomez to the Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration. The body of lawmakers, stakeholders and officials...
buff.ly
February 10, 2026 at 11:02 PM
CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Parole rates in Massachusetts on the rise
NEW: DiZoglio sues Beacon Hill leaders for snubbing voter-approved audit
commonwealthbeacon.org/courts/dizog...
commonwealthbeacon.org/courts/dizog...
DiZoglio sues Beacon Hill leaders for snubbing voter-approved audit
In the more than a year since the law took effect, legislative leaders have continued to refuse to turn over any documents, and DiZoglio hopes to force a constitutional reckoning before the state's highest...
commonwealthbeacon.org
February 10, 2026 at 6:43 PM
NEW: DiZoglio sues Beacon Hill leaders for snubbing voter-approved audit
commonwealthbeacon.org/courts/dizog...
commonwealthbeacon.org/courts/dizog...
