State high court hears arguments in GOP mail-in voting suit

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts’ highest court heard arguments Wednesday in a Republican challenge to the state’s new mail-in and early voting law, which is expected to take effect for September’s primary. The judges, after peppering both sides with constitutional questions for...

High court ruling impacts Massachusetts gun licensing rules

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts police chiefs should no longer deny or impose restrictions on licenses to carry a gun just because the applicant doesn't have a “good reason" to carry, the state's attorney general said in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Attorney General...

Ex-state senator charged with stealing gun from constituent

BOSTON (AP) — A former Massachusetts state senator and Republican candidate for Congress has been charged after allegedly stealing a gun from an elderly constituent and misleading investigators about what happened, Attorney General Maura Healey said Friday. Investigators said Dean...

Massachusetts House approves bill to protect abortion access

BOSTON (AP) — The Democrat-controlled Massachusetts House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday that aims to protect abortion providers and people seeking abortions from actions taken by other states. The action is part of a wider effort by officials to build a firewall to...

Families brace for changes to pandemic-era free school meals

ESSEX, Vt. (AP) — Before the pandemic, there was no room in the budget for Kate Murphy’s children to buy lunch at school. She and her husband would buy in bulk and make bag lunches at home. So the free school meals that were made available to students nationwide amid the crisis have brought...

Democrat Chang-Díaz ends campaign for Massachusetts governor

BOSTON (AP) — State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz said Thursday that she is ending her campaign for governor of Massachusetts, leaving state Attorney General Maura Healey as the only viable Democrat still in the running. Chang-Díaz, in her announcement that came one year to the day after...

Gov. Baker, lawmakers at odds over suspending state gas tax

BOSTON (AP) — Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and Democratic leaders in the Massachusetts House and Senate are at odds over temporarily suspending the state’s gas tax. Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano issued a statement Wednesday in response to...

Gov. Baker signs bill ensuring mail-in ballots, early voting

BOSTON (AP) — A voting rights bill designed to ensure that mail-in ballots and early voting become permanent fixtures in future Massachusetts elections was signed into law Wednesday by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker. The new law, which had passed the Democrat-controlled...

Massachusetts' highest court rules that a referendum on imposing a "millionaire tax" can go before voters in November

Massachusetts House OKs bill to expand mental health access

BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts House approved a bill Thursday designed to expand access to mental health services. Democratic House leaders said the proposal addresses a variety of pressing needs including acute psychiatric care, the behavioral health of young people,...