This is the third in a series of posts on the new 189th Massachusetts General Court sworn in January 7. WESTFIELD—When John Velis first became the 4th Hampden’s representative, it was too late to file items for the budget himself, let alone legislation that could escape
…And the Feds: We begin today in Ukraine, where an uneasy ceasefire between pro-Russian rebels and the government in Kiev has begun. However, fighting continues in a small town that serves as a major rail junction, testing the truce in its very infancy. Following shootings in Copenhagen that
UPDATED 2/14/15 11:35PM: To reflect a correction. The vote to transfer bond proceeds to overruns on other projects was originally reported to be 13-0. It was, in fact, 12-1 with Fenton in dissent. SPRINGFIELD—Finally holding a meeting after a rush of early-week storms scrubbed its typical
SPRINGFIELD—Entering after a rousing introduction from his political mentor E. Henry Twiggs, longtime city activist Jesse Lederman, a McKnight neighborhood resident, formally kicked off his bid for City Council at-large Wednesday night. Promising to bring a smarter, more innovative direction to 36 Court Street, Lederman called
UPDATED 2/13/15 8:55PM: For grammar. Yesterday Jon Stewart announced that he was leaving his show. Analysts and pundits have been discussing and dissecting this ad infinitum in the hours since leaving almost no point or thought unvisited in his impending departure’s wake. The Daily Show
…And the World: We begin today in Israel, where a new poll has dimmed some of the edge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has show in recent polls. For the first time in a few weeks, Opposition Leader Isaac Herzog appears to have a shot at
HOLYOKE—Capping off a whirlwind day in Western Massachusetts with a listening session, all five of the 413’s senators joined by three of their Eastern colleagues closed out the first Massachusetts Senate “commonwealth conversation.” It was hardly their last, however. The brainchild of newly installed Senate
WESTFIELD—A brief survey of the crowd packed into the Tavern Restaurant might be mistaken for a family reunion or a parents’s event for kids sports teams, but such is the nature of politics in the Whip City. In fact, friends, family and neighbors had gathered
…And the World: We begin today in Australia, where an election in the state of Queensland has rocked the political Land Down Under. Three years after annihilating the Labor party in the state parliament, the Liberal-National (LNP) coalition suffered a huge setback falling from 73
January is bill-filing time at the Massachusetts legislature and area lawmakers, including the newest ones were busy. It is too soon to declare any bill a success—they must pass first—but one piece of legislation Senator Eric Lesser filed has potential beyond the meaning of its