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Massachusetts Daily Intel

@massachusettsintel.bsky.social
1K followers 275 following 181 posts

Massachusetts Daily Intel delivers daily, independent coverage of the news, politics, and stories shaping Massachusetts substack.com/@massachusettsintel?r=…

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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 7h
The EEOC is asking a federal judge to force Harvard to hand over documents on its DEI programs, saying the university failed to fully comply with a subpoena in a probe of alleged bias against White, Asian, male, and heterosexual workers.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Polls show Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly plan to keep legal cannabis. A MassINC survey of about 8,000 likely voters found 61% would vote "No" on Question 8, versus 27% "Yes," and a UNH poll put opposition at 71%. The repeal measure is on the November ballot.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The merger would be the largest energy merger in U.S. history massachusettsintel.substack.com/p/new-englan...
massachusettsintel.substack.com
New England States Urge Regulators to Reject $67 Billion NextEra-Dominion Merger
The protest asks the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to deny the application or, at a minimum, hold an evidentiary hearing.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Five years ago, Brockton could buy a fire truck for $631K. Now, the next two would cost more than $1M EACH, $2.3M total. Officials cite consolidation, reduced competition, demand and lingering supply-chain issues. Delivery times can stretch to 5 years.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The Sagamore Bridge replacement is moving full steam ahead. Mass has authorized $956M in federal funding, with another $371M expected in Oct., $1.327B total. The funding clears the way for the RFP stage, with 3 joint ventures competing for the project. The state expects to award the contract in ‘27.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
After a stormy weekend, the Boston region isn’t done with the nor’easter yet. More rain and wind are expected Monday, though conditions should be less intense. Coastal flood advisories and flood watches remain in effect overnight, with drier, sunnier and warmer weather arriving Tuesday. Stay safe
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
🚨 Harvard University in Cambridge received a bomb threat Monday morning at Memorial Hall. The area around Memorial Hall and Science Center Plaza is being avoided, and Memorial Hall is closed until further notice. Cambridge police are assisting Harvard University Police with the response.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Boston is suing the Trump administration to recover $20 million in federal funding withdrawn last year. The money was earmarked for street upgrades in Roxbury, including roadway safety, traffic flow, public transit and accessibility along three major thoroughfares.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
OMB's rare 'pocket rescission' targets refugee and housing programs nationwide as Massachusetts also absorbs a denied blizzard aid appeal #MaPoli #Massachusetts massachusettsintel.substack.com/p/federal-cu...
massachusettsintel.substack.com
Federal Cuts Compound as Trump Administration Rescinds $1 Billion, Weeks After Denying Blizzard Aid
OMB's rare 'pocket rescission' targets refugee and housing programs nationwide as Massachusetts also absorbs a denied blizzard aid appeal
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Reposted by Massachusetts Daily Intel
Beacon Press @beaconpress.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
BEING HEUMANN makes the smart decision of not being a cradle-to-grave biopic. Instead, it dramatizes and focuses on a particular period of Judy Heumann’s life: how she helped organize the 1977 Section 504 sit-ins. @ebertvoices.bsky.social buff.ly/Ykry0fw
buff.ly
Being Heumann review: Powerful message overcomes storytelling cliches
A film that wholeheartedly believes in the power of its story and message.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
A nor'easter is moving in through the weekend, that means heavy rain, strong winds, and coastal flooding possible. A few reminders to stay safe: secure loose outdoor items, avoid driving through flooded roads. Stay far away from downed power lines, and keep phones charged with flashlights ready.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Gov. Healey’s plan would redirect surplus capital gains revenue into a new health care fund and add money for food aid staffing as federal policy changes take effect. massachusettsintel.substack.com/p/healey-fil...
massachusettsintel.substack.com
Healey files $2.24 billion spending bill to offset federal cuts to health care and food aid
Governor's plan would redirect surplus capital gains revenue into a new health care fund and add money for food aid staffing as federal policy changes take effect.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Attorneys General are urging Congress to Regulate AI. Gov. Healey is doing the same. #MaPoli #Massachusetts #News massachusettsintel.substack.com/p/massachuse...
massachusettsintel.substack.com
Massachusetts Joins States Urging Congress to Regulate AI as Beacon Hill Weighs its Own Rules
Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell signed a 26-member coalition letter as Gov. Maura Healey presses lawmakers to add AI safety rules to a pending economic development bill.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
A possible nor'easter could bring heavy rain, strong winds, and power outages this weekend, and officials want residents to prepare now. Secure patio furniture, grills, and trash cans, test your sump pump, and make sure your generator is ready.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The Big E has canceled The Beach Boys' Sept. 24 show, the fair announced on Instagram. The lineup also included Marcy Playground, Fozzy, James McCarthy and Well Suited. Refunds will be processed automatically, with no action required. The Big E did not give a reason.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
A potent coastal storm, possibly an early fall nor'easter, is expected to hit New England this weekend. Heavy rain, coastal flooding, and damaging winds could arrive late Friday and last through Sunday, with outages and flight delays possible at Logan and T.F. Green.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Massachusetts officials want ICE to explain apparent detentions in New Bedford this week. Mayor Jon Mitchell says at least eight people have been detained, and Gov. Maura Healey says locals report at least a dozen, including fathers. ICE has not confirmed or denied an operation.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Plymouth County's three commissioners have asked a judge to deny the county treasurer's request to block payment of the new county administrator's $185K salary, arguing that state law leaves the treasurer no discretion to withhold a claim already approved respectfullyno.substack.com/p/plymouth-c...
respectfullyno.substack.com
Plymouth County Commissioners Urge Judge to Reject Treasurer’s Bid to Block Administrator’s Pay
Board says the pay fits inside an approved appropriation, while two eliminated positions covered the cost
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
👇👇 massachusettsintel.substack.com/p/states-sue...
massachusettsintel.substack.com
States Sue to Stop $1.4B in Payments to Cancel Offshore Wind Leases
Eight East Coast attorneys general argue the Trump administration is misusing a taxpayer-funded settlement account to pay developers to abandon wind projects and invest in fossil fuels instead.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
If you bought certain generic drugs from May 2009 to December 2019 you may be eligible to claim compensation. A federal judge has preliminarily approved a plan to pay consumers from about $96.5 million in settlements with drugmakers accused of fixing prices.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Gov. Maura Healey said she is filing legislation to suspend the state's gas tax for two months, cutting 24 cents a gallon off gas and diesel. Prices have climbed since the Iran war began, and AAA says diesel hit a record $6.52 Tuesday, with gas at $4.47.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Massachusetts' 2026 MCAS results show no rebound. The share of 10th graders meeting expectations in English fell 6 points for the second straight year, to 45%, down from over 60% five years ago. Grades 3–8 held roughly flat, and the slump hit nearly every type of district.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
A new audit from State Auditor Diana DiZoglio found the Mass. Dept. of Unemployment Assistance broke state laws and missed federal standards from 2022 to 2024. It cites poor customer service, delayed payments, weak complaint tracking, and scarce in-person help at regional offices.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Massachusetts just missed the cut in WalletHub's 2026 Happiest States ranking, landing at No. 13. Hawaii took the top spot, followed by New Jersey, Utah, Idaho, and Maryland. The report weighed emotional and physical well-being, work environment, financial security, and community life.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries has teamed up with 10 local chefs, including Row 34's Jeremy Sewall, to feature local flounder on their menus all September. The campaign aims to boost demand for a fish whose prices have been depressed. (We’re here for it. Flounder is delicious.)
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
A strengthening coastal storm could bring soaking rain, strong winds, and rough surf to Massachusetts Friday through Sunday. Forecasters expect 1 to 2 inches of rain inland and up to 5 inches along the coast and Cape Cod. High winds are expected to bring issues. Plan accordingly.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Massachusetts has eradicated the Asian longhorned beetle in Shrewsbury, state officials announced Friday. The town is now out of the Central Mass. quarantine zone, following Holden last year. Crews have removed at least 30,000 trees since the beetle was found in 2008.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Former President Barack Obama is coming to the North Shore on Monday to speak with students and guests at Salem State University. The sold-out event is part of the Salem State Series, which brings nationally recognized leaders, authors, and public figures to campus.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
AG Campbell announced on Sept. 15 that Mass had settled with debt collector Judgment Acquisitions Unlimited, Champion Funding Inc., and owner. The deal wipes out about $52M in debt for more than 6K consumers and permanently blocks Metcalf & his companies from running a debt collection business in MA
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Massachusetts employers cut 7,100 jobs in August, the second straight monthly decline, according to federal data released Friday. July's losses were revised to 4,000 jobs.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Massachusetts has confirmed its eighth human West Nile virus case of 2026, a woman in her 30s exposed in Middlesex County. State health officials said seven of the eight cases are tied to Middlesex and Suffolk counties, where transmission risk remains high.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission began public meetings Sept. 17 on one of its largest regulatory overhauls yet. Testing protocols, medical marijuana licensing and agent training are on the table. It's the commission's third regulatory round of 2026.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
In honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day, the USA flag and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag will be flown at half-staff today. The third Friday in Sept. is commemorated as National POW/MIA Recognition Day since its inception in 1979 through a proclamation signed by Pres. Jimmy Carter.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
State leaders are urging anyone who sees spotted lantern flies to help eliminate them. While they pose no human health risk, they can be harmful to plant life, which could ultimately have a wider impact on the ecosystem The MDAR has a guide for managing spotted lanternflies.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Gov. Healey has appointed Kristen Smidy and Amy O'Leary to the Foundation Budget Review Commission, which is reconvening to review the Chapter 70 school funding formula. Smidy brings experience running rural district budgets, and O'Leary brings deep early childhood expertise. #mapoli
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The Episcopal Diocese of Mass. will spend up to $280,000 to shield its congregations from a 10.5% health insurance premium increase, according to the Rt. Rev. Julia. This cuts the effective increase for parishes to 5.25 per cent for 2027 in what she described explicitly as a one-time measure.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Net spending on GLP-1 drugs totaled nearly $1B In 2025 with ~ 3/4 of spending going to weight loss. After major insurers dropped that coverage, 112,000 fewer commercially insured members used the drugs, which the HPC ties to a 52% decline to $662M less spending in 2026.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection announced more than $1.7 million in grants to fund recycling and reuse businesses. It’s the second time in the past month that the state agency has issued grants to fund those priorities. The list of 16 grant recipients is below.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Winter is coming.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Employer health plans are projected to cost 8.2% more in 2027, the biggest jump since 2003, and workers will likely absorb part of it, per consulting firm Marsh survey of 1,800 US employers, who say costs are rising despite efforts to rein them in.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Eversource has reached a major milestone in its statewide smart meter rollout, installing its 500,000th smart meter in Massachusetts as the energy company continues bringing the technology and its benefits to customers across the state.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Mass taxpayers still cover after hours bail commissioner fees, says State Rep. Steve Xiarhos (R-Barnstable). Since a 2024 law change, the Trial Court pays the $80 fee instead of defendants, which he estimates costs $7M a year. His bill to change it was sent to a study order in March.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The SBA has barred almost 14,000 borrowers in Mass from receiving future small business and disaster loans because it suspects they fraudulently obtained pandemic-era financing. 13,896 borrowers had obtained more than $772 million from the pandemic-era programs.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Boston has canceled its report on the city's ties to slavery. Lead researcher Kerri Greenidge is no longer at Tufts after criticism of the accuracy of her 2022 book. Tufts couldn't find a replacement and returned the full $335,000 contract to the city.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The Massachusetts State Exposition Building will welcome visitors during the 2026 Big E with food, products and experiences from 42 Massachusetts businesses and organizations 🔥🔥
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
A Massachusetts chemical company is looking to develop a site in Maine that would include explosive chemicals. The company, General Biological, wants to build a facility on Portland Street in Berwick.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Historical artifacts and records from the USS Massachusetts have been returned to the decommissioned World War II battleship that now serves as a floating museum at Battleship Cove in Fall River, authorities said Tuesday.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The Patriots made four practice squad moves Monday: RB Hasan Haskins and S Elliott Davison were released, while WR Chandler Brayboy and LB Xavier Holmes were signed. Haskins’ release leaves Lan Larison as the only practice-squad RB, with Corey Kiner now filling the third RB spot.
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The Supreme Court left in place the injunction stopping USPS from forcing new ballot-design approvals and voter-data uploads on states ahead of the midterms. "This is a huge win for free and fair elections." — CT AG William Tong
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Massachusetts Daily Intel @massachusettsintel.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Macklemore says Ed Sheeran dropped him from his tour after the rapper’s pro-Palestinian remarks at MetLife Stadium sparked backlash. Macklemore says Sheeran told him Patriots owner Robert Kraft called & said he “would not be allowed to perform” when the tour reaches Gillette Stadium this month.
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