Maura Healey

Massachusetts recently passed a literacy bill mandating evidence-based reading instruction and banning discredited methods like three-cueing. Lexington Public Schools, a high-performing district, faces scrutiny for using balanced literacy approaches despite strong student test scores, challenging the state's new science of reading policies.

Governor Maura Healey intervened in a negotiation stalemate between Mass General Brigham and over 4,000 nurses and 450 home care clinicians ahead of a potential historic strike. The nurses seek cost-of-living increases, affordable health insurance, and limits on temporary staff, while home care workers negotiate their first union contract. Healey urged both parties to resolve the dispute to avoid disruptions to healthcare services.

Donna Festinger, a Massachusetts woman, attended the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C. to represent her state after Massachusetts and other states boycotted the event. She criticized the boycott as 'shameful' and expressed disappointment in state leaders for not supporting the celebration of American heritage. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, known for opposing President Trump, mocked the fair and claimed it was financially exploitative.

A Massachusetts woman, Donna Festinger, attended the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C. to represent her state after Massachusetts and other states boycotted the event due to opposition to President Donald Trump. Festinger criticized the decision by state leaders, including Governor Maura Healey, as 'shameful' and expressed disappointment that several states did not support the celebration of American heritage.

Massachusetts will extend the statute of limitations for rape cases involving DNA evidence, allowing indefinite prosecution if DNA matches a suspect after 15 years. Governor Maura Healey signed the law as part of her budget proposal, responding to advocacy from survivors and reports showing most states allow longer timelines for such cases.

Lawmakers sent Governor Maura Healey a $63.4 billion annual budget bill with a 3.9% increase over the previous year's spending. The budget allocates $2.7 billion from a surtax on high-income households, split between education and transportation, and avoids tax or fee increases. Officials highlighted the budget's alignment with Healey's proposal and its sustainable spending growth.

Legislators in six states have approved measures to address patient medical debt, including laws capping interest rates, prohibiting wage garnishment, and requiring hospitals to inform patients about financial assistance programs. Hawaii's bill awaits a governor's signature, and other states have introduced similar legislation.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced $31.2 million in funding for childcare financial assistance, allowing 2,000 more children to benefit from early childhood education. She visited the YMCA in Pittsfield's Childcare Center and interacted with children.

Massachusetts will pause data center tax incentives until energy and environmental protections are established, as Gov. Maura Healey emphasized the need to prevent rising utility costs and environmental harm. The new framework requires data centers to use clean energy, avoid shifting costs to other consumers, and contribute to clean energy goals, with the state noting it is not a major data center hub due to high costs and regulations.

The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Trump administration can end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Syrian immigrants, overturning previous court protections. Massachusetts officials warned this would disrupt healthcare workers and families, while the White House called it a victory for enforcing TPS as a temporary measure.

Vineyard Wind 1, the first U.S. commercial-scale offshore wind project, is operational but not at full capacity. The project faces financial disputes with turbine supplier GE Vernova and landlord BP Hancock LLC over unpaid sums, while Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey celebrated its completion in New Bedford, emphasizing job creation and environmental benefits.

Governor Maura Healey's health care affordability work group, operating confidentially, has reached the midpoint of its process and is expected to deliver initial recommendations to the governor within weeks. The group, formed in January, aims to address rising health care costs through 'new and innovative' solutions, with ongoing work planned through the year.

The Senate energy bill proposes ending the Gas System Enhancement Program (GSEP) by 2030, aiming to save $1.46 billion by narrowing its scope. The legislation highlights growing legislative division between the House and Senate over energy policy, with the Senate targeting cost concerns related to GSEP, which allows gas companies to recover costs from ratepayers for replacing aging pipes.

Massachusetts is considering not opting into a federal scholarship tax credit program that could provide $2.2 billion annually for educational supports, with critics labeling it a voucher program but advocates arguing it benefits public school students. Refusing the program would mean losing funds to other states or the Treasury.

Melissa Hoffer, Massachusetts' first state climate chief, leads Governor Maura Healey’s climate agenda but faces challenges including rising energy costs and policy shifts under President Trump. Her role involves coordinating state agencies to advance climate initiatives, though progress is hindered by stalled projects and voter concerns over utility bills.

Massachusetts Secretary of Housing Juana Matias states the state is on track to meet its goal of building 222,000 new homes by 2035 despite permitting challenges. The state faces funding gaps amid a potential Trump administration shift and a pending rent control ballot question, with over half of residents cost-burdened by housing expenses.

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line, operational since January, has delivered only marginal increases in hydropower to the region, with 27 days of zero power flow in its first six months. The project, part of a 2016 Massachusetts law requiring renewable energy procurement, faces challenges as current hydropower imports may fall below previous levels, compounded by the new Champlain Hudson Power Express line diverting Canadian supply.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey praises Scottish soccer fans (Tartan Army) for boosting the local economy and creating a vibrant atmosphere during World Cup matches in Boston. The governor discusses plans to extend World Cup-related benefits like extended bar hours and transit services beyond the event.

The House Ways and Means Committee reduced the Senate's $3.94 billion environmental borrowing bill to $3.078 billion, removing policy riders like the Plastics Reduction Act and other provisions. The revised bill aligns closer to Governor Maura Healey's original $2.9 billion proposal, focusing on environmental protections while streamlining permitting for infrastructure projects.

A Massachusetts real estate group, NAIOP, has shifted stance to support a compromise on rent control, potentially averting a November ballot showdown. The move follows Governor Maura Healey's openness to negotiation and efforts by tenant groups to propose a less restrictive alternative, though two other real estate groups remain opposed.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a $10 million annual tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) over three years, driven by Massachusetts Port Authority CEO Rich Davey. The initiative aims to reduce aviation emissions by incentivizing SAF adoption, though environmental groups and critics question its cost-effectiveness and long-term impact.

The article argues that reinstating end-of-course testing for graduation in Massachusetts is unlikely to improve student outcomes, citing data showing declining test scores despite past penalties. It notes that scores began slipping a decade ago under high-pressure systems like No Child Left Behind and the Massachusetts MCAS program, with similar declines observed globally.

Governor Maura Healey nominated Raquel Webster of National Grid and Thomas Johnson, assistant clerk magistrate in Boston, to the District Court bench. She also plans to elevate Judge Zachary Hillman to the Appeals Court.

Massachusetts lawmakers passed a bill to remove outdated and offensive language related to disabilities from the state's General Laws, replacing terms like 'handicapped' and 'disabled' with more respectful phrasing. The legislation, introduced by Sen. Pat Jehlen, updates 346 legal sections and will be signed by Gov. Maura Healey.

Massachusetts lawmakers passed a bill to remove offensive and outdated language describing people with disabilities from the state's General Laws. The legislation replaces terms like 'handicapped,' 'disabled,' and the 'r-word' with respectful alternatives such as 'person with a disability' and updates 346 sections of state law. The bill now awaits approval from Gov. Maura Healey.

Republican Brian Shortsleeve threatened to veto $110 million in legislative funding unless lawmakers comply with an audit by Auditor Diana DiZoglio. The House passed a bill limiting the scope of the audit to administrative functions and blocking courts from resolving disputes. DiZoglio accused the Legislature of violating separation of powers by restricting the audit.

Governor Maura Healey supports a proposal to extend last call to 3 a.m. in Massachusetts from June 1 to August 31, aiming to boost tourism during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 250th American Revolution celebrations. The bill, introduced by Rep. Carole Fiola, allows cities to establish 'social consumption districts' with later alcohol sales, addressing Massachusetts's limited nightlife reputation.

The Department of Justice filed lawsuits against Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington after these states refused to issue undercover license plates to ICE agents. The DOJ claims the states' refusal violates the Constitution's Supremacy Clause and discriminates against federal law enforcement, while the states argue they are not obligated to assist with civil immigration enforcement.

Firefighter Robert 'Bobby' Kilduff Jr., a 24-year Boston Fire Department veteran and Marine Corps veteran, died after falling from a third-floor window while battling a three-alarm house fire in Dorchester. Officials praised his heroism, noting all residents were rescued safely, and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey ordered state flags lowered in his honor.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has asked the US Navy to help retrieve bodies and evidence from a sunken fishing vessel, the Lily Jean, which sank in January, leaving seven crew members dead. The governor's office is seeking to recover a video recorder and hard drive that could determine the cause of the sinking. The Navy is assessing the feasibility of recovering the remains of lost crew members.

Mike Minogue, a combat veteran and former Abiomed CEO, is running for Massachusetts governor as a political outsider, leveraging his business background and financial advantages against establishment GOP rivals Brian Shortsleeve and Mike Kennealy. He aims to challenge incumbent Maura Healey, criticizing her as 'bankrupting our state' and emphasizing accountability and transparency in his campaign.

Mike Minogue, a combat veteran and former Abiomed CEO, is running for Massachusetts governor as a political outsider, challenging two Charlie Baker administration veterans. He emphasizes his business and military background, along with a campaign focused on accountability and affordability, to unseat incumbent Governor Maura Healey.