Latest Massachusetts state government News
Boston mayor unveils plan to address rise in COVID cases
BOSTON (AP) — Boston Mayor Marty Walsh on Thursday unveiled a plan to tackle the city's rising number of confirmed coronavirus cases by urging more people to get tested. The “Get The Test Boston” pledge is designed to encourage residents to get a COVID-19 test, and enlists the help of several...
Baker pans ranked voting; will it matter with 1.8M votes in?
BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Charlie Baker says he's not a fan of ranked choice voting, which is on the ballot in Massachusetts. But with more than a third of registered voters already casting ballots, the Republican governor's opposition may not make much of an impact. After months of steering clear of the debate...
NY discourages travel to Massachusetts, adds CA to advisory
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York's governor on Tuesday urged residents to avoid nonessential travel to neighboring Massachusetts, and added California to the state's COVID-19 advisory list. Residents from states on New York’s list must self-quarantine for 14 days. Only seven states, including New...
Baker: Surge in new virus cases driven by people under 30
BOSTON (AP) — The recent surge in confirmed coronavirus cases in Massachusetts is being driven in large part by an increase among younger people, Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday. Whereas 15% of new cases in April were among people under age 30, now 37% of the new confirmed cases are people in that age...
Deaf advocate fired for ties to fraternity with racist tones
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts’ chief advocate for the deaf has been fired following a state investigation into his connections to a college fraternity known for wearing robes resembling those of the Ku Klux Klan and making Nazi-like salutes. Steven Florio, who had been head of the state Commission for...
Legislation to regulate hospital signs passes state Senate
BOSTON (AP) — Legislation to require the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to create regulations to improve hospital signs, lighting and surveillance has passed the state Senate. The bill referred to as Laura’s law will require the department to implement regulations on emergency room...
UMass to bring more students back; 19 new deaths in state
BOSTON (AP) — The University of Massachusetts Amherst plans to bring more students back to campus for the spring semester in conjunction with a more robust coronavirus testing program, school officials said Friday. First-year and transfer students will be given the option to live on campus, as will...
Governor announces stimulus package as virus cases rise
BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Charlie Baker announced a $774 million plan Thursday that he said will help stabilize the economy as Massachusetts grapples with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The plan includes $115 million for businesses that have been hit particularly hard by virus restrictions, especially in the...
More than 460 bridges in poor condition, awaiting repairs
RANDOLPH, Mass. (AP) — More than 460 bridges in Massachusetts are in poor condition and will stay that way without further investment, the state's secretary of transportation said. The Patriot Ledger reported Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack said at a meeting this week that the number of bridges...
State to audit 2 school districts; 22 new COVID-19 deaths
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts education officials have made good on a promise to audit school districts that have not updated their timeline for bringing students back for in-person instruction despite community coronavirus transmission rates considered safe. State Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley in a...
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