NEWS
CommonWealth Beacon cracks open the stories, personalities, and political machinations that impact residents across the state.
Explore sharp, thoughtful reporting that explores local dust-ups, statewide legislative trends, transformative court rulings, and policies that shape life in Massachusetts.
Dionne would use ‘bully pulpit’ to press for more local aid
Elizabeth Dionne appeared on GBH Radio on Tuesday and detailed how she sees the state Treasury addressing “affordability via local aid.”
Healey visits South Coast fire station she’s trying to save
Fire Station 9, which covers a portion of the city’s North End neighborhood, had been billed for closure this fall as part of a round of city layoffs and program cuts intended to resolve what Mayor Jon Mitchell has said is a $32 million budget deficit for the city.
Green Line upgrades needed to pave way for new trains
Shutdowns of complete sections of train lines have become the norm in recent years, as the MBTA officials looks to speed up repairs.
How much leeway should officials have to deny gun licenses? SJC will decide.
Under the version of the state gun law in place at the time, as well as the sweeping 2024 gun law that retooled many of the state’s firearms laws, local licensing officials like police chiefs can consider a broad range of evidence to determine whether someone is suitable to be granted a license to carry.
Rising costs await winners this election cycle
As cost-of-living pressures bearing down on Massachusetts residents become painfully obvious, the state’s gubernatorial candidates are centering affordability in their 2026 campaigns.
The next Quabbin fight is already here
The part of the plan that’s arguably generating the most blowback is the process the MWRA is deploying to win approval from state officials.
‘A self-fulfilling cycle’: Why Gateway Cities consistently have lower voter turnout
Cities like Worcester — where the poverty rate is twice as high as the state’s — may have trouble getting people to the polls this November. The state’s most disadvantaged and diverse urban communities often have some of the lowest voter turnout rates. In the last midterm election year, nine of the 10 municipalities with the lowest voter turnout were Gateway Cities.
Healey proposes two-month gas tax suspension
Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue last week launched an ad saying he would suspend the gas tax “until prices stabilize.”
Mass. unemployment agency ‘mismanaged’ call center performance, ‘failed’ to quickly pay claimants, auditor concludes
The auditor’s report unveils how even before the agency was thrust into turmoil with record-breaking poor performance during a time of a relatively stable job market, out-of-work Massachusetts residents weren’t receiving the help they needed in a timely fashion.
Most residents think Massachusetts is a great place to live, and also unaffordable
People who are finishing their education are almost twice as likely to consider leaving Massachusetts in the next five years, quantifying a dynamic many have long suspected in a state that welcomes crowds of college students every year.
Mass. sheds 7,100 jobs in August as losses mount
The total number of job losses in the last two months – about 11,100 – almost matches the jobs gained since September.
Feds end oversight of MBTA that began in 2022
The Federal Transit Administration officially closed its safety management inspection of the Department of Public Utilities’ safety oversight management of the MBTA.
SJC again upholds MBTA Communities housing law
As most cities and towns got into compliance with the housing law — eagerly or dragging their feet along the way — some holdouts were hoping that the state’s high court would rule that they did not have to rezone. It was a longshot bid, after the SJC already upheld the law as enforceable by the attorney general’s office in early 2025.
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